Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

“Where righteousness lies, life and death we defy! Heaven bears witness, the White Horse stands as proof!”

This slogan seemed to forge the very soul of the White Horse Riders, instilling in them a spirit that feared not death under Zhao Yun's leadership.

Besides the two thousand White Horse Riders, Li Ji now commanded two thousand Wu County cavalry. These Wu County cavalry had previously been incorporated into Gongsun Zan's forces and experienced campaigns beyond the Great Wall, making them elite cavalry.

However, during drills on the training field, when the two thousand White Horse Riders faced off against the two thousand elite Wu County cavalry, even when the White Horse Riders abandoned their favored mounted archery in favor of a chaotic melee with spears, the White Horse Riders still emerged victorious.

This was even before Zhao Yun personally led the White Horse Riders. If Zhao Yun himself were to lead them, he could likely unleash the true power of this unit, which seemed to be developing in both mounted archery and shock tactics.

Realizing this, Li Ji seemed to understand why the thirty thousand-plus Wuhuan stragglers, who had barely been gathered together, ultimately chose to surrender.

It seemed that any resistance was futile, only serving to excite their opponents further as they relentlessly pierced through their lines. It was, in essence, despairing.

Standing on the deck of the Yingzhou-bound ship, Li Ji gazed at the horizon, pondering silently.

‘Nearly thirty thousand elite soldiers bearing down on Yingzhou, how could we possibly lose?’

‘I wonder if Wenhe has made any progress in Yingzhou during these four months...’

… …

Meanwhile, within Wu County.

Liu Bei naturally paid close attention to the war in Youzhou, and Li Ji sent back war reports as quickly as possible.

Therefore, Liu Bei was very familiar with the course of the Youzhou war, and while he was deeply moved, he often sighed secretly whenever he heard others discussing the Youzhou war.

He only regretted not being able to fight alongside Li Ji in the lands of You and Yan, to slay the invading enemies with a heart full of sincerity.

However, Liu Bei undoubtedly felt a sense of pride in Li Ji being praised as a "national pillar" by Liu Yu.

Therefore, on this day, Liu Bei made a special effort to leave the government office early and return to his mansion, which he had not visited for six days.

“Husband.”

Seeing Liu Bei's return, Madam Gan, who looked like a jade beauty from afar, hurried forward to greet him.

“Thank you, Madam, for taking care of the affairs of the mansion these past few days.”

Liu Bei comforted Madam Gan with a few words, exchanged a few pleasantries about the family, then changed the subject and asked.

“I wonder where A'dou is?”

“He is playing with Li Xiang in the backyard under the care of the maids,” Madam Gan replied.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei immediately went to the backyard with excitement.

At this moment, in the backyard, besides the two maids, there were two adorable, jade-carved children, about one year old, playing on a soft blanket.

Liu Bei's appearance made the two maids, who were carefully taking care of the children, hurriedly salute.

One of the children, who looked chubby, even staggered up from the soft blanket, opened his arms, and wobbled towards Liu Bei, stammering in a childish voice.

“Fa… Father…”

Immediately afterward, the chubby child firmly hugged Liu Bei's calf, looked up, and blinked at Liu Bei.

Seeing this, Liu Bei smiled and reached out to lift the chubby child up, asking.

“A'dou is a good boy.”

Seeming to understand Liu Bei's praise, A'dou, who was lifted high, smiled on his chubby face, and then did not forget to stretch out his hands, preparing to receive Liu Bei's warm embrace.

However, in the next moment, Liu Bei's movements changed, and he directly handed A'dou to Chun Tao, the maid who usually served Madam Gan.

In a sudden change, A'dou, who was in Chun Tao's arms, looked blank, and for a moment could not react to why his father's embrace seemed to be farther away.

However, Liu Bei did not pay attention to A'dou's cute expression, but walked forward several steps with an even greater smile, and hugged Li Xiang, who was still sitting on the soft blanket playing with some small objects, and said with a face full of affection.

“Xiang'er, have you missed your uncle these days?”

“Ya ya ya…”

Compared to A'dou, Li Xiang, who was born a little earlier, still could not speak, and could only make "ya ya ya" sounds, only looking at Liu Bei with bright eyes, and then reaching out his small hands to grab Liu Bei's beard.

Being grabbed by a few strands of his beard and pulled hard, even Liu Bei's expression twitched slightly in pain.

However, Liu Bei did not get angry, but lowered his head slightly, so that Li Xiang could grab it more firmly, and said with a smile.

“Hahaha, Xiang'er still hasn't learned to speak, ah. Do you know that your father has already gained the name of a national pillar? I wonder what achievements Xiang'er will have in the future. Your uncle is very much looking forward to it, Xiang'er, you must grow up quickly and be your father's and uncle's arms.”

“Ya ya ya ya~~~”

Li Xiang made incomprehensible sounds, but instead grabbed Liu Bei's beard even more firmly.

This made A'dou, who was being held in Chun Tao's arms, tilt his head, and the look of doubt on his face seemed even greater…

Chun Tao looked at Li Xiang, whom Liu Bei was happily teasing, and then looked at A'dou, who was born to the madam in her arms, and recalled Madam Gan's instructions to praise A'dou in front of Liu Bei whenever she had the opportunity, and immediately went forward with A'dou in her arms, saying.

“My lord, A'dou has also been missing you these past few days. He has already learned to say many words at the age of one, and often asks: Where is Father.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei turned his head to look at A'dou in Chun Tao's arms, but did not let go of Li Xiang in his arms. He merely said with a face full of praise.

“A'dou is very clever, I am very happy, I am afraid this is also thanks to the madam's daily guidance.”

Seeing this, Chun Tao only felt a sense of powerlessness and incomprehension in her heart.

Clearly, A'dou was Liu Bei's嫡子, but why, in Liu Bei's limited energy in taking care of family matters, A'dou failed to get much of Liu Bei's attention. Instead, Li Xiang forcibly took away most of the fatherly love that A'dou already didn't enjoy much.

Immediately, Chun Tao recalled some of the words that occasionally circulated among the maids, and then said as if unintentionally.

“My lord, there have been rumors in the neighborhood recently that the young master A'dou has already learned to say many words, but Li Xiang, who was born on the same day, has not learned to speak, could it be that Li Xiang…”

Seeing the sudden coldness on Liu Bei's face, Chun Tao was immediately frightened and her complexion turned pale, and she hurriedly swallowed the words she had not finished saying.

Li Qin, the maid in charge of taking care of Li Xiang, slightly raised her head, which was originally lowered, and there was a hint of killing intent in her eyes as she looked at Chun Tao.

Even Li Qin could easily read that what Chun Tao said was a heart-wrenching statement, let alone Liu Bei.

However, looking at Chun Tao's frightened and pale face and A'dou in Chun Tao's arms, Liu Bei's originally cold face became kind again.

However, Liu Bei ignored Chun Tao's meaning, but continued to tease Li Xiang in his arms, making Li Xiang giggle.

Li Xiang's especially clear "giggle" laughter and bright eyes made Liu Bei couldn't help but smile and say.

“It is often said that the more intelligent a child is, the later they speak. Our Xiang'er is Zikun's 嫡子, so he is different from others. It is normal for him to speak later, isn't it?”

“Giggle~~”

Li Xiang continued to laugh, but instead pulled Liu Bei's beard even harder.

Chun Tao, whose face was pale with fright, watched Liu Bei continue to tease Li Xiang as if he didn't care, and from time to time let out a burst of hearty laughter. Only then did her originally raised heart slowly let go.

Liu Bei teased Li Xiang tirelessly in the backyard for a full half an hour, until the sky was almost completely dark. Only then did Li Qin couldn't help but step forward and say.

“My lord, the madam has instructed that Li Xiang must be taken back to the mansion before dark.”

Liu Bei, who had almost completely not felt the passage of time, was slightly stunned, looked up at the sky, and then realized it.

As early as before Li Ji led his troops away from Wu County, Liu Bei had discussed with Li Ji about the upbringing of A'dou and Li Ji, so that Li Xiang would eat and play with A'dou during the day, in order to cultivate the relationship between these sworn brothers.

Helplessly, Liu Bei reluctantly hooked Li Xiang's nose with his finger, and then handed Li Xiang to Li Qin's arms, letting Li Qin take Li Xiang back under the protection of a group of personal guards.

Afterward, Liu Bei, who had been sending Li Xiang to the gate of the mansion, took A'dou from Chun Tao's hand and hugged him in his arms, then walked towards the study.

Xiahou Bo, who had been guarding outside the backyard, saw this and followed Liu Bei into the study in a very sensible manner.

After entering the study, a trace of anger clearly appeared on Liu Bei's face, and he asked Xiahou Bo.

“Jichang, how does your Brocade Guard supervise the affairs in the city? Words of slander against Xiang'er have even reached my ears. Do you, the commander of the Brocade Guard, not want to be the commander anymore?”

Xiahou Bo, who was completely unaware of the situation, was frightened and hurriedly bowed to admit his guilt.

This unkind tone also frightened A'dou, who was originally enjoying Liu Bei's embrace, and he cried loudly.

Seeing this, Liu Bei gently patted A'dou with one hand, appeasing A'dou's crying, and then continued to say to Xiahou Bo.

“Investigate, see if there is anyone behind the scenes guiding these remarks. No matter who it is, they should all be killed!”

“Yes.” Xiahou Bo hurriedly responded.

Immediately, Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said.

"Furthermore," Liu Bei continued, "Zikun was right before. We must carefully screen the servants in the house. Select some people from the Peach Garden group to supervise within the residence. I absolutely cannot tolerate any remarks that would damage or undermine the relationship between Adou and Xiang'er reaching their ears."

"Especially the maids who usually take care of Adou and Xiang'er, they must all be carefully selected."

Xiahou Bo noted everything down. Seeing that Liu Bei was about to leave the study with Adou, he quickly stepped forward to report.

"My Lord, the imperial court has sent a letter stating that an envoy will arrive in Wu Commandery soon, seemingly related to Mister Zikun."

"Hmm?"

Liu Bei paused, his expression becoming grave. (End of Chapter)