Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Within Zhang Fei's residence in Zhuo County, not all servants were arranged by Zhang Fei to join the initial volunteer army; a few old servants remained in the residence.

Therefore, Li Ji, residing in the mansion, didn't need to arrange his own meals with the Eighteen燕雲 Riders. Instead, while patiently awaiting news from Liu Bei, he briefly summarized his insights on military strategy from the past few days and continued to concentrate on reading.

Although Zhuge Liang once boasted: 'A general who is not versed in astronomy, does not recognize geography, does not know the mysteries of formations, does not understand Yin and Yang, does not read battle maps, and does not comprehend military strategy is a mediocre talent.'

However, Li Ji believed that this was largely Zhuge Liang's attempt at 'Versailles-esque' boasting, subtly implying he was an all-rounder. Li Ji didn't entirely agree with Zhuge Liang's statement.

After all, although Zhuge Liang was regarded by later generations as the 'embodiment of wisdom,' his record of commanding troops was marked by seven attempts to conquer Qi Mountain, all ending in failure.

In contrast, Li Ji more admired commanders like Han Xin, Bai Qi, and Huo Qubing, who had achieved the pinnacle in certain areas of military strategy.

In terms of being an all-rounder, perhaps Han Xin, Bai Qi, Huo Qubing, and others were far inferior to Zhuge Liang, this 'hexagon warrior,' but their single-minded ability in military affairs broke through the limits, directly making them invincible in their time.

However, Li Ji's self-positioning was never that of a mere strategist. Instead, he embraced all kinds of content related to astronomy, geography, mysterious formations, Yin-Yang and Eight Trigrams, military strategy, and internal governance.

It was just that, as Li Ji roughly browsed through Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's collection of books, he found that there were no books involving more mysterious things such as strange formations and Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams, which made Li Ji feel a little regretful.

However, Li Ji slightly adjusted his mood, brewed himself a pot of hot tea, and began to read with relish, comparing and contrasting it with his past experience, vision, knowledge, and so on, feeling quite rewarding.

A feeling of being gradually filled with knowledge made Li Ji feel inexplicably satisfied and happy.

Of course, Li Ji was so active and motivated, partly because he was very aware that he might need to use this knowledge soon.

Concerning his life and future dreams, it naturally made Li Ji extremely focused, unconsciously completely immersed in it, and instead felt the joy of being filled with knowledge bit by bit.

Suddenly, Li Ji heard a voice in his ear.

"Mr. Zikun has a good taste. He is not arrogant after a great victory, but instead calms down to read."

Li Ji turned his head slightly and saw a man in his early twenties standing at the entrance of the courtyard, wearing a scholar's robe, with a short beard under his jaw, and a seemingly unrestrained posture.

Moreover, although this man spoke loudly, his steps still did not step into this small courtyard, maintaining the most basic respect for Li Ji, who was currently living in it.

"I have been standing here watching Mr. Zikun for an hour. Mr. Zikun's eyes do not look sideways, and he is immersed in the book, which really makes me admire him."

Li Ji thought for a moment and confirmed that he had not encountered this person in his memory.

"Who are you?"

Li Ji got up and saluted, asking.

"I am Jian Yong, styled Xianhe, an old friend of Xuande. I was studying in Youzhou before. When I learned about Xuande's oath of brotherhood in the peach garden and the formation of a volunteer army, I hurried back to Zhuo County to help."

Jian Yong quickly returned a salute and said.

Immediately, some impressions about Jian Yong appeared in Li Ji's mind.

One of Liu Bei's early advisers, who followed him throughout his life, never abandoning him despite the ups and downs and defeats. Although he was not good at military strategy, he was also a practical person and was good at debate and discussion, so his reputation was not great.

In an instant, Li Ji's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically invited Jian Yong to take a seat, saying.

"So it's an old friend of Xuande, please!"

Afterwards, Li Ji casually re-brewed tea with a leisurely demeanor.

Jian Yong looked at Li Ji's movements, which seemed to be as artistic as scraping foam, rubbing tea, shaking fragrance, entering the sea, butterfly dance, exhibiting tea, falling butterflies, and returning to one, and his expression gradually became solemn.

Looking at the tea soup that Li Ji finally sent to him, Jian Yong quickly and solemnly held it up with both hands, took a sip, and exclaimed.

"Good tea."

Li Ji smiled indifferently, and still smiled without saying a word.

Because Li Ji himself didn't know what was good about this tea. This tea was just a portion of tea that Li Ji asked the old servant to take casually.

With Zhang Fei's character of chewing peonies and being addicted to alcohol, how could he deliberately collect some good tea?

Rather than saying that Jian Yong knows how to taste tea, it is better to say that Jian Yong was shocked by Li Ji's series of unclear tea ceremony skills, so naturally it is good tea.

Even if you don't think it tastes good, it must not be a problem with the tea, but that your mouth is not in the right state today.

"Please have tea."

Li Ji then repeatedly poured tea for Jian Yong, enthusiastically inviting Jian Yong to savor the tea brewed in this way.

Jian Yong is really a practical person. While staring at Li Ji's set of tea ceremony movements, he kept pouring tea into his stomach, carefully tasting where the tea brewed in this way was good.

Until Jian Yong belatedly filled his stomach with tea, and Jian Yong's eyebrows seemed to be wrinkled, with a bitter expression, Jian Yong couldn't help but clasp his hands and said bluntly.

"Mr. Zikun's tea ceremony skills are also my first time seeing and hearing. It is very different from the common tea ceremony of boiling tea, but the elegance and charm of the posture seem to be much better, and it has its own style, which can be described as eye-opening."

"A mere minor skill is not worth mentioning."

Li Ji said modestly, but he didn't say that he had specially practiced this in order to win over a female senior in a tea art club.

No matter what, this is a technique that has been iterated and optimized for more than two thousand years, and it is completely different from the current mainstream tea boiling ceremony, but naturally there will be many unspeakable charms.

Besides, Jian Yong is really amazing.

The tea at this time is different from the stir-fried tea of later generations. Most of them are baked, which leads to a much heavier bitter taste. Therefore, the mainstream tea ceremony at this time is tea soup, and many similar seasonings to salt are added to reconcile the taste.

Therefore, the tea brewed by Li Ji in the way of later generations' tea ceremony will also be much bitter, but Jian Yong drank a stomach full of bitter tea without saying a word.

Good man!

He understands what is called elegance, how can he shout bitterness.

After a pause, Li Ji said.

"If Xianhe is interested in this kind of tea ceremony, if there is free time in the future, I can teach it."

When Jian Yong heard this, he was overjoyed, and even the bitterness between his eyebrows disappeared a lot. He quickly got up, bowed, and thanked him. "In that case, Xianhe pays homage to Master Li."

Li Ji quickly helped Jian Yong up and said. "Never do this, you and I are both friends of Xuande, we should discuss as peers."

"Those who are accomplished are teachers, and Master Li wants to pass on the tea ceremony to me, so I should worship him."

Jian Yong said seriously, and his heart was full of sincerity.

For Jian Yong, who is good at communication, he understands that mastering a tea ceremony technique that is different from the mainstream tea boiling ceremony and is extremely charming is really like adding a layer to the old monk's temple - wonderful on top of wonderful!

Furthermore, Li Ji's open-minded and unselfish behavior towards first-time visitors also made Jian Yong admire him from the bottom of his heart as a gentleman.

"No, no, if Xianhe does this, then don't blame me for getting angry." Li Ji pretended to be angry and said.

Jian Yong hesitated for a moment, and did not decline, clasping his hands and saying.

"Zikun, it is my fault. If there is anything I can help Zikun in the future, Xianhe will never refuse."

When Li Ji heard this, a smile bloomed on his face, and it was a smile from the bottom of his heart.

Wasn't the purpose of Li Ji's deliberate playing of tea ceremony tricks for this sentence?

"Um..."

Li Ji pondered for a moment and said. "Speaking of which, I do have some trivial matters that I may need Xianhe to handle for a while."

"We hit it off at first sight, Zikun, just say it, as long as it is within my ability, I will never refuse."

Jian Yong agreed without hesitation, and did not even ask Li Ji to first fulfill the "pie" of teaching the tea ceremony.

Afterwards, Li Ji's face became serious, and he talked about the suggestion that Liu Bei take in the homeless young men and women.

It was just that, after Guan Yu left, Li Ji carefully improved the arrangements for those young men and women, and suddenly realized a problem that was neither big nor small.

Temporarily supporting those young men and women with money, food, and materials is a small matter, and Li Ji also believes that after he specifically explains the plan to Liu Bei, Liu Bei will definitely not be stingy with those money and food.

However, there are too few available people under Liu Bei now, and even Guan Yu and Zhang Fei still lack a lot if they want to be independent.

And those young men and women can only be placed in Zhuo County in the short term, and they must also need a trusted confidant to stay and be responsible for management.

This matter has troubled Li Ji.

After all, no matter how powerful Li Ji is, it is impossible for him to conjure up capable and trusted confidants for Liu Bei out of thin air.

Therefore, Li Ji was troubled by this and worried that he would not be able to find a suitable candidate for a while.

Unexpectedly, Jian Yong happened to come to his door, how could Li Ji let Jian Yong go?

Perhaps, Jian Yong only heard that Liu Bei had defeated the Yellow Turban Army with Li Ji's help, so he hurried over to visit Li Ji to satisfy his curiosity.

However, after Jian Yong introduced himself, Li Ji had already arranged Jian Yong's work affairs for the next year properly, just waiting for Jian Yong to automatically put on the set.

Of course, Li Ji would naturally not say that he was too happy to meet you, a fool, but instead stated what he wanted to entrust from Liu Bei's standpoint.

"So it is, Zikun is really a benevolent person."

Jian Yong looked at Li Ji with admiration in his eyes.

"Suggest that Xuande adopt the homeless boys and girls. Saving their lives is truly benevolent. Practicing the way of benevolence, how could I lag behind?"

The honest Jian Yong stood up again, clasped his hands, and said with fervor, "As long as Jian Yong has a bite to eat, I will never let those boys and girls suffer from cold and hunger."

"Excellent!"

Li Ji looked at Jian Yong with admiration, as if he saw a "nanny" rising up!

Just then, Guan Yu's voice rang out at the entrance of the courtyard.

"Mr. Zikun, Guan has been ordered by my elder brother to escort the homeless boys and girls from the Yellow Turbans back. They are now settled in the Peach Garden outside the city."

Li Ji said with a smile, "Perfect, Xianhe, come with me to take a look."

Jian Yong also inexplicably felt a sense of glorious mission upon himself, and responded.

"It is my wish, I dare not refuse."

Immediately, just as Li Ji reached out to pull Jian Yong along, Jian Yong stopped after taking two steps.

"That, Zikun..." Jian Yong's voice was quite embarrassed.

"Hmm?"

Jian Yong stammered, "Please allow me to go to the restroom first..."

...

Li Ji.

After Jian Yong emptied his overfilled belly a little, Li Ji and Jian Yong, led by Guan Yu, headed to Zhang Fei's Peach Garden outside Zhuo County.

This Peach Garden manor covered an area that was unexpectedly large. After a cursory glance, it was comparable to two or three football fields in size, almost entirely covered with peach trees, creating a truly beautiful scene.

"Yunchang, is this perhaps the Peach Garden where you three brothers swore brotherhood?" Li Ji asked.

"It is."

Guan Yu replied.

"It is because this place is quite meaningful that when my third brother sold off his family property, he kept this manor aside from the residence in the city, unwilling to sell it."

Li Ji nodded and praised, "Truly a good place."

Soon, Li Ji saw the group of boys and girls escorted back by Guan Yu. Many were dressed in rags, with disheveled hair and dirty faces, and their eyes, mostly innocent and ignorant, also carried fear of the unfamiliar unknown, making people feel particularly sympathetic.

"Mr. Zikun, these boys and girls are all between the ages of eight and fourteen, with one thousand six hundred and thirty-nine boys and five hundred and thirteen girls," Guan Yu introduced.

Li Ji nodded, not asking why the difference in the number of boys and girls was so large.

It wasn't so-called preference for boys over girls, but after losing the protection of their elders, the girls' physique was naturally much weaker than the boys'. A slight cold could kill them on the arduous journey.

As for why there were no boys and girls under the age of eight, it was naturally because without the protection of their elders, all those under eight had died.

And those over fourteen already possessed a certain degree of self-sufficiency. Even if they didn't choose to return home, they would respond to the recruitment and become soldiers.

Jian Yong, who had previously traveled and studied in other counties of Youzhou, truly felt the harm of the Yellow Turbans, and said with gritted teeth.

"The Yellow Turban bandits are truly hateful! Extremely hateful!!!"

"Although countless people were not killed by the Yellow Turban bandits themselves, how many people died because of the Yellow Turban bandits? How many families were broken and destroyed?"

"I cannot coexist with them under the same sky, and I wish I could draw my sword and kill the bandits, and devour their flesh raw!"

In contrast, although Li Ji's heart was also turbulent, he had after all seen the scene of more than 50,000 miserable and pitiful Yellow Turban people gathered together, so his expression didn't change much.

Li Ji said to Guan Yu, "Yunchang, please tell Brother Xuande that the two hundred soldiers will be temporarily under my command."

"That was exactly what my elder brother meant."

Guan Yu responded, and then hurriedly led the cavalry back to Daxing Mountain.

For Liu Bei now, the most important thing was still the matters on Daxing Mountain, and Guan Yu was also shouldering part of the recruitment matters.

It was precisely because Li Ji's position in Liu Bei's heart was extremely high at the moment that even though Liu Bei didn't fully understand the reason, he still regarded it as a matter that needed to be prioritized, and sent Guan Yu to escort the boys and girls back first.

Therefore, Guan Yu didn't delay for a moment and hurriedly returned to Daxing Mountain to assist Liu Bei.

Afterwards, Li Ji and Jian Yong truly began to get busy, directing the two hundred soldiers to temporarily settle these boys and girls.