Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

"In my opinion, that Yuan Shu is nothing but a reckless fool, and that Yuan Shao is merely all show and no substance. How could they possibly be the leaders of the heroes of the land?"

Gongsun Zan's expression and tone were both filled with disdain for the two Yuans.

In the eyes of a seasoned general like Gongsun Zan, the two Yuans were just people with good family backgrounds. They were good for empty talk, but how could they be qualified to be the leaders of the Guandong lords?

As for Liu Bei, in reality, Gongsun Zan didn't think that Liu Bei's ability and prestige were much better than his own.

However, Gongsun Zan was a man who valued loyalty.

Since Liu Yu supported Liu Bei to become the leader, then Gongsun Zan was naturally happy to see it happen. It was better to have his own brother as the leader than the two Yuans.

Liu Bei, who was surprised by Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan's supportive attitude, finally reacted and hurriedly declined.

"Compared to Lord Gongzu, my prestige is far inferior; compared to Bo Gui, my military skills are also lacking. How can I be qualified to convince the lords?"

Even though Liu Bei's heart was moved by Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian's proposal at this moment, he still needed to decline on the surface, otherwise, he would appear too arrogant in the eyes of others.

Even Liu Bei was very clear that becoming the "leader" would bring great benefits to his ambition of "reviving the Han Dynasty," which was a temptation that Liu Bei could not resist.

Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan heard this kind of hesitant refusal and understood Liu Bei's meaning.

Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan were not the kind of people who hesitated. As regional officials, once they made a decision, they immediately stated their attitude again, expressing their full support for Liu Bei to strive for the position of leader.

After Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan agreed to support Liu Bei when the alliance was held at noon, they bid farewell and left.

After Liu Bei personally saw Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan off, Liu Bei led Li Ji back to the tent, looking at Li Ji, whose face seemed to always be calm, and asked.

"Zikun doesn't seem surprised by this. Could it be that this matter was already within Zikun's expectations?"

"I wouldn't dare say it was all within my expectations, but I also know that you, my lord, now have the qualifications to compete for the position of leader."

Li Ji replied with a smile, while raising his hand to pour a new cup of tea for Liu Bei.

Liu Bei heard this and knew that Li Ji's words were calm, but he must have been planning in secret for a long time, and it was not a temporary idea.

However, Liu Bei still couldn't help but show a bit of hesitation and said.

"It's just that I am ultimately insignificant. Even with the support of Lord Liu and Lord Tao, I may not be able to convince the heroes."

After a pause, Liu Bei continued. "If I had arrived in Suanzao a few days earlier, so that I could visit each of the lords one by one, I might have been able to win the support of some more lords."

"Unfortunately, I only arrived in Suanzao at dusk yesterday, and the heroes will be swearing an oath of alliance at noon today. Even if I wanted to visit the other lords again, it is already too late."

However, regarding Liu Bei's worries, Li Ji slowly took a sip of tea and said.

"The initiator of this alliance is the Governor of Youzhou, Lord Liu. Lord Liu's attitude is very important. Moreover, compared to the mere sons of aristocratic families, the two Yuans, who have no achievements, you, my lord, as a member of the Han imperial family, leading the heroes to punish Dong Zhuo is the truly rightful thing to do."

"And besides, who would support the two Yuans?"

"A group of old officials who only know how to follow the Yuan family and shout slogans. Even if you, my lord, had arrived in Suanzao earlier, how could you have persuaded those old officials to abandon their patrons and support you with empty words?"

"Therefore, it is better for you, my lord, to arrive now, just in time for the meeting, so that the world will know that your becoming the leader is not due to private exchanges of benefits, but is what the people want and the trend of the times."

Hearing Li Ji say this, Liu Bei suddenly reacted and said. "So, Zikun deliberately controlled the time of arrival in Suanzao, so that I could arrive just before the alliance?"

To this, Li Ji smiled without saying a word.

There may be many coincidences in the world, but Li Ji would naturally not fail to grasp the marching route and the time of arrival in Suanzao.

Among the Suanzao camp, there were also many spies planted by the Jinyi Division, and it was very simple to know which lords had arrived in Suanzao and the date of the oath of alliance.

Li Ji's reaction also gave Liu Bei a bit more confidence, understanding that Li Ji must have made preparations for such an arrangement.

However, Liu Bei still asked with some incomprehension.

"Zikun, there are now thirty-six lords gathering in Suanzao. If the other lords do not support me, besides Lord Gongzu and Bo Gui, even if I want the position of leader, it will be useless."

In front of Li Ji, Liu Bei did not hide his thoughts at all.

The position of leader, the reputation of leading the heroes, will undoubtedly set a tone in the coming chaotic world, which is the tone of who will be qualified to compete for the Central Plains.

In the original trajectory, the experiences between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who were both heirs of the Yuan family, showed the benefits brought by the position of "leader."

Although there was also the reason that Yuan Shu was inherently inferior to Yuan Shao, the reason why Yuan Shao was able to attract countless strategists and fierce generals to compete to join him, boasting that he had "strategists like rain and generals like clouds" under his command.

In addition to the reputation of the Yuan family itself, the blessing of the "leader's" reputation was also crucial.

As for Yuan Shu himself, there were always very few people who joined his command from beginning to end.

Now, Liu Bei, who is gradually aspiring to the world, naturally also wants the position of "leader."

Facing Liu Bei's worries, Li Ji comforted him softly.

"My lord, although the reputation of the Yuan family of the Four Generations and Three Dukes is extremely great, and their disciples and former officials are all over the world, and they are the leaders of the Guandong aristocratic families."

"However, no matter how great the Yuan family's reputation is, how can it compare to the Liu surname of the Han Dynasty?"

"And you, my lord! Now that you are standing in this Suanzao camp, you represent the Han imperial family. Whose side are the people on? As long as you raise your arms at the alliance, you will know who is qualified to become the leader!"

Li Ji's voice was so gentle, but it added a bit of heroism and passion to Liu Bei's heart!

That's right!

Li Ji's words were also the source of pride that Liu Bei had always had in his identity as a "member of the Han imperial family!"

No matter how loud the name of the Yuan family of the "Four Generations and Three Dukes" is, how can it be compared with the Han imperial family?

The Great Han is the Liu family's emperor, and it has not been replaced by the Yuan family, nor will it be covered by the Dong family.

After a while, Liu Bei calmed down and bowed to Li Ji.

"For the sake of the world, for the sake of the Great Han, for the sake of the Han Dynasty, I will fight for this position of leader."

"I, Ji, will do my best to assist you."

Li Ji bowed and replied.

However, just when Liu Bei thought that Li Ji would make various arrangements for the upcoming alliance, Li Ji remained unmoved, only talking and laughing with Liu Bei in the tent.

Seeing that noon was approaching, and Liu Bei was about to go to the central army tent in the Suanzao camp, he couldn't help but ask.

"Zikun, after arriving at the central army tent, is there anything I need to pay attention to?"

"My lord, just sit firmly in your seat."

Li Ji replied with a smile.

After all, the political tradition of China has always been for others to speak on behalf of oneself, and the real protagonist never personally goes down to the field to sell himself like a clown.

That would not only be a disgrace, but also make others think that this person does not even have one or two confidants or supporters to speak on his behalf.

Therefore, all Liu Bei needs to do when he arrives at the central army tent is to sit firmly in his seat and show the demeanor of a member of the Han imperial family.

Immediately, Liu Bei left Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to guard the camp, and led Li Ji and Zhao Yun to the central army tent.

When Liu Bei arrived at the central army tent, the tent was already bustling with noise. The lords of various roads were all bringing two or three confidants to the tent to exchange cups and talk to each other.

"The Inspector of Yangzhou, concurrently the Administrator of Wu Commandery, General Who Protects the Wa, the seventeenth-generation descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, Liu Bei, Liu Xuande of the Han imperial family, arrives!"

As the long string of prefixes reported by the soldiers outside the tent sounded, the actions of the lords in the tent were all stunned, and then their eyes looked towards the direction of the gate of the central army tent.

I saw a man dressed in military attire, with a sword at his waist, a face like jade, lips like rouge, hands over his knees, and a demeanor that was gentle and not lacking in majesty, walking in.

Liu Bei, whose face did not show any joy, anger, timidity, or weakness, glanced around the tent, and then bowed to the people present and said.

"Liu Xuande greets you heroes."

At this moment, there were quite a few people in the tent who were surprised by Liu Bei's appearance. Most of the thoughts that emerged in their hearts were: Is this person the Liu Xuande whose name of benevolence is far-reaching? His appearance is extraordinary, and his demeanor is amazing.

Since Liu Bei only arrived yesterday at dusk, the lords present basically did not have the opportunity to contact Liu Bei in advance.

Just as many lords were thinking about what attitude to take towards Liu Bei, several of the lords who were originally exchanging cups in the central army tent had already gotten up and approached Liu Bei.

In addition to Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian, who were extremely important among the lords.

Liu Zhang and Liu Qi, who had arrived as envoys of Liu Yan and Liu Biao, personally walked to Liu Bei's front and saluted Liu Bei as juniors.

Liu Zhang called Liu Bei "brother," while Liu Qi called Liu Bei "uncle."

This scene surprised the lords present.

It should be known that Liu Zhang and Liu Qi came as envoys of Yizhou and Jingzhou, and were themselves the sons of two state pastors. Their status was extraordinary. Even though they only brought thousands of guards to Suanzao, no one dared to underestimate Liu Zhang and Liu Qi at all. On the contrary, they could be said to be very respectful to them.

However, Liu Zhang and Liu Qi's attitude towards the other small lords could be said to be enthusiastic, but they had never received such attention from Liu Bei, and they personally got up from afar to take the initiative to step forward to greet and salute.

This also greatly changed Liu Bei's weight in the hearts of the lords in the central army tent. Before Liu Bei took the initiative to contact them, the other lords, big and small, also came forward to talk with Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was inwardly a little surprised by this, but outwardly he didn't reveal the slightest hint of it. Instead, surrounded by the assembled lords, he remained graceful and composed. Not only did he not appear flustered, but he even gave each lord who approached him a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

During this time, Liu Bei couldn't help but steal a glance at Li Ji, who was standing in a corner. He recalled how, before arriving at Suanzao, he had worried whether he would even be given a proper look by the other lords.

(End of Chapter)