Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Chapter 324: Dong Zhuo Enters the Capital

For Li Xiang, his father Li Ji was a presence both unfamiliar and familiar.

Unfamiliar, because Li Xiang had no memory of Li Ji from the time he could remember things.

Familiar, because almost everyone around him was talking about him; everyone in Wu Commandery, from officials to foot soldiers, changed their attitude after learning that he was Li Ji's son.

"Li Ji's son," "Son of a national hero"...

These two names had accompanied Li Xiang's growth since he was old enough to understand things.

His loving mother had also been teaching him how to read and write every night since he could remember, strictly demanding proper speech and conduct.

On the contrary, playing with A Dou in the commandery governor's mansion during the day was Li Xiang's only entertainment.

Moreover, his uncle Liu Bei, who held a high position in the city, also doted on Li Xiang, granting him everything he asked for.

But this did not mean that Li Xiang could act recklessly. Instead, Zhao Ji regulated his words and deeds outside, which made Li Xiang's feelings towards his father Li Ji, who had caused all of this, undoubtedly complex.

Originally, Li Xiang had thought that Li Ji's demands on him would be even stricter, so Li Xiang was especially careful with his words and deeds today, fearing that he would be reprimanded by his father.

Moreover, under his father's questioning, Li Xiang also answered with a suspended heart, hoping to gain his father's praise and recognition.

However, what Li Xiang did not expect was that Li Ji did not approve or reprimand him. On the contrary, the attitude revealed was so unexpected.

This made Li Xiang, who was originally quite unfamiliar with Li Ji, suddenly feel a trace of fatherly love.

For a moment, a burst of grievance surged in Li Xiang's heart. He slightly opened his hands, wanting to hug his father in front of him and complain about his mother's strict demands.

However, Li Ji was personally sent back by Liu Bei, and the gatekeeper had already rushed into the mansion to report.

Therefore, at this moment, the Zhongting Marquis Mansion was wide open, and Zhao Ji came out in a hurry, her face full of joy, and called out.

"Husband!"

Hearing Zhao Ji's voice, Li Ji turned his head and saw Zhao Ji, whom he hadn't seen for more than two years, and whose temperament was becoming more and more dignified and elegant. For a moment, his eyes could no longer accommodate anything else, and he quickly stood up and walked towards Zhao Ji.

This time, Li Xiang, who had just opened his arms, directly pounced into the air.

When Li Xiang reacted, he found that his father and mother seemed to be affectionately walking into the mansion under the embrace of a large group of servants and maids.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten Li Xiang's existence for a moment.

Only the gatekeeper, who was preparing to close the gate at the end, suddenly noticed Li Xiang standing outside.

This surprised the gatekeeper, who quickly leaned over and asked.

"Young master, why are you standing here and not entering the mansion with the Marquis?"

Li Xiang didn't say anything, only felt a sense of desolation rising in his heart for no reason. He sighed slightly and completely shattered the idea of complaining to his father about his mother that had just surged in his heart.

It could be seen that his father clearly cared more about his mother than himself.

Li Xiang's small face was filled with great sorrow, and his small figure slowly stepped into the gate that had not yet been completely closed.

In the next few days, Li Ji spent time with Zhao Ji, who he hadn't seen for a long time, trying to get Li Xiang another playmate, so as not to make him look like a little adult every day at such a young age.

On the other hand, Li Ji was flipping through various documents from Wu Commandery and Kuaiji Commandery to confirm the development and changes in Wu Commandery and Kuaiji Commandery, which had been in Liu Bei's hands for the past two years.

Commerce, arable land, official roads, craftsmen...

With enough good land as a foundation, and after two full years of stable development and recuperation.

Unlike the disaster-stricken Central Plains, the people of Wu Commandery and Kuaiji Commandery were gradually showing signs of living and working in peace and contentment, and there were already some scenes of peace and prosperity.

Among them, what Li Ji was most concerned about was the population change in Wu Commandery and Kuaiji Commandery.

Although it was impossible to conduct a population census every year, the current population size could be roughly estimated from various aspects of side records.

The population of Wu Commandery finally caught up with Nanyang Commandery and broke through the two million mark, and even the population of Kuaiji Commandery broke through 1.3 million.

Moreover, this was just the beginning.

As the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, the number of newborns in the past two years had almost soared year by year, and it was expected that this year would set a new record.

In addition, Li Ji had also received visits from guests these days, Guan Yu, Gu Yong, Xu Sheng, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong...

Interestingly, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, who had assisted in governing Wu Commandery for the past two years and had gradually been called "One Li, Two Zhangs" along with Li Ji in Jiangdong, had no intention of visiting.

Even a considerable number of Jiangdong aristocratic officials who were very close to Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong also did not visit, as if they had agreed in advance.

"Interesting, it seems that there are indeed many people eyeing my position as commandery assistant."

Li Ji said with a smile.

At this moment, standing in front of Li Ji were Guo Jia and Xiahou Lan.

Compared to two years ago when they were still slightly immature, Guo Jia and Xiahou Lan were undoubtedly much more mature now, which gave Li Ji the feeling that his children had grown up in the blink of an eye.

Among them, Guo Jia, who had been drinking and having fun with many scholars in the past two years, looked like a romantic and unrestrained scholar, and his demeanor showed his casualness. The wine gourd hanging on his waist was more than an inch larger.

On the contrary, Xiahou Lan had completely lost his former playful shadow, and his temperament had a sense of stability and old-fashionedness.

Guo Jia almost instantly understood the meaning of Li Ji's words and said.

"What the Two Zhangs can see in their eyes may only be Jiangdong. They still think that since you have been granted the title of Marquis of Liaoxi Commandery, you will leave Wu Commandery and go to Liaoxi Commandery to take office soon. It is reasonable not to contact you at this moment."

Li Ji nodded slightly, not surprised that Guo Jia could say this answer, then turned his eyes to Xiahou Lan and asked.

"Then Mingzheng thinks, what should I do?"

After Xiahou Lan pondered for a while, he replied.

"I humbly think that you should ignore it. This can show your magnanimity and prevent your lord's subordinates from having only one voice."

Li Ji looked at Xiahou Lan and nodded slightly, saying. "Mingzheng is also good, you have made great progress. It is very good to be able to see this."

Hearing this, Xiahou Lan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Guo Jia, who was standing aside, glanced at Xiahou Lan, his eyes somewhat helpless.

Quite good...

The implication was that there was still room for improvement.

However, Guo Jia also knew that Xiahou Lan was only of medium to upper quality. Even if Liu Bei and Li Ji both focused on cultivating him, Xiahou Lan was still somewhat insufficient.

Although Guo Jia and Xiahou Lan's personalities were inherently incompatible, Guo Jia, who secretly felt sorry, felt a little unhappy and subconsciously picked up the gourd to take a sip.

But Guo Jia considered that Li Ji did not like drinking during the day, so he hung the gourd back.

In fact, Li Ji was indeed a little disappointed in his heart, but he also understood that talent could not be forced.

It was not to say that Xiahou Lan's answer was wrong, but that Xiahou Lan was only discussing the matter on its own merits, which was not enough.

Those who do not observe the overall situation will inevitably have omissions in one corner.

In terms of the general trend of the world, the chaos was becoming increasingly apparent. For the Liu Bei Group, playing internal balance would be a foolish internal consumption.

Li Ji tolerated the existence of the Two Zhangs, not simply to have another voice under Liu Bei's command to avoid suspicion from Liu Bei, but to allow the Two Zhangs to temporarily draw out the power of the Jiangdong aristocratic families.

In this way, not only could the power of the Jiangdong aristocratic families be gradually turned from dark to light, but it would also be more convenient for Li Ji to centrally guide or deal with the aristocratic families.

Therefore, the key has never been the Two Zhangs, but the Jiangdong aristocratic families represented by the Two Zhangs.

Of course, now was still not the time for Li Ji to deal with the "Two Zhangs". Their existence was still of great use.

"Being under the command of the lord, personal contradictions are insignificant, as long as the Two Zhangs do their best for the lord."

Li Ji first said to define the matter, then turned his eyes back to Guo Jia and Xiahou Lan and said.

"Fengxiao, Mingzheng, you have both become talents, and it is not convenient to waste your lives as small bookboys. I want to arrange your destinations under the lord's command. I wonder if you have any objections?"

In this regard, Guo Jia and Xiahou Lan had long been mentally prepared, and they also knew that Li Ji had specially summoned them here for this matter.

Therefore, Guo Jia and Xiahou Lan both bowed and said.

"We are willing to listen to your arrangement."

"I have already informed the lord about this matter in advance. Fengxiao will temporarily serve as the army's chief clerk, and Mingzheng will temporarily serve as the army's military officer," Li Ji said.

"Yes!"

Guo Jia and Xiahou Lan both directly agreed without showing the slightest reluctance.

However, the difference between these two positions also invisibly revealed that Li Ji valued Guo Jia slightly more.

The chief clerk, in name, is responsible for managing the army's large and small documents, but in reality, he can listen in and participate in the decision-making of various affairs at any time.

As for the "military officer", what he is in charge of is the military law in the army, responsible for military law supervision and military law enforcement, obviously preparing to start cultivating Xiahou Lan's ability to independently lead an army.

As the latest intelligence from Luoyang came, Li Ji couldn't help but twitch his eyebrows heavily.

[Luoyang is in chaos, General He Jin was killed, eunuchs such as Zhang Rang and Duan Gui hijacked the Emperor Liu Bian and fled to Beiman Mountain, where they were rescued by Dong Zhuo. Then Dong Zhuo led a large army to station in Luoyang and took over the Luoyang garrison...]

Before Li Ji could think about this matter carefully, Xiahou Bo was sent by Liu Bei to invite him to discuss important matters.

Knowing that Liu Bei was restless after hearing about "Dong Zhuo entering the capital," Li Ji didn't delay and went straight to the government office with Xiahou Bo.

Li Ji's sudden appearance surprised many officials within the government office.

However, Li Ji ignored the reactions of those officials, big and small, and went straight to the side hall where Liu Bei usually handled documents.

As soon as Li Ji entered, Liu Bei greeted him with a rather agitated expression, prompting Li Ji to subconsciously say,

"My lord, I know you are quite anxious at the moment, but please be patient..."