Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

“That's not surprising. Success comes from secrecy, and failure from loose talk.”

Facing Jian Yong's doubts, Jia Xu indifferently said.

“Liu Zhang's ability to control his subordinates is insufficient, and their hearts are restless. If there is a traitor among his trusted confidants, they will naturally reveal the route he took.”

Many people in the council hall nodded slightly, feeling that this explanation made perfect sense.

Only Li Ji felt that Jia Xu, the old fox, might be subtly implying his contact with Zhang Song.

However, Liu Zhang's limited ability to control his subordinates was also a fact.

People like Zhang Song, “physically in Yi Province, but with their hearts in Yang,” were perhaps just one of many.

Especially when Dong Zhuo died and Luoyang was in chaos, Liu Zhang did not forget to personally welcome his three loving elder brothers who were held hostage in Luoyang.

However, by the time Li Ji had the energy to pay attention to Liu Zhang, the news released by Liu Zhang was that the three brothers seemed to have been robbed by the remnants of Dong Zhuo's forces and their whereabouts were unknown.

No one knew whether this statement was true or false.

However, since then, Liu Zhang seemed to have completely settled down and clearly began to indulge in pleasure.

Even after the “Anti-Dong Zhuo Alliance” ended and Liu Zhang returned to Yi Province, Li Ji knew that Liu Zhang had obviously stopped focusing on winning over the aristocratic families of Yi Province, assuming the attitude of being Liu Yan's sole successor and indulging in pleasure.

With such a lord, it was not surprising that his subordinates had wandering minds.

“In that case, it seems highly likely that it was indeed Liu Jingsheng who did it.”

Liu Bei frowned, feeling caught in a dilemma.

If it was indeed Liu Biao who did it, his purpose was obvious: to plot for Yi Province.

Currently, more and more news confirmed that Liu Yan was seriously ill, and the news from the Brocade-Clothed Guards during the “Grand Military Exercise” was that while Liu Zhang was away, Liu Yan carried out a large-scale bloody purge in Yi Province, eliminating many people.

This was clearly paving the way for Liu Zhang, waiting for Liu Zhang to return to Yi Province to appease the people, so that Liu Yan could smoothly transition the power of Yi Province to Liu Zhang.

However, now that Liu Zhang was missing, Yi Province was instead facing a crisis of having no successor.

How long could the seriously ill Liu Yan last?

Liu Bei was not a fool either. Recalling Li Ji's analysis when Liu Qi suddenly became close to Liu Zhang, he said.

“Currently, perhaps Liu Jingsheng also knows the news of Liu Yizhou's serious illness, and is just waiting for Liu Yizhou to die, then Liu Jingsheng may coerce Liu Jiyu into entering Sichuan.”

Yi Province, without a master, even with its natural barriers, how could it stop Liu Biao, who was using Liu Zhang as a stepping stone?

The Jing Province army advanced straight in, Yi and Jing would be connected as one, and Liu Bei, located in Yang Province, would instead be at a disadvantage.

For a time, those in the council hall who understood this point couldn't help but frown, thinking about ways to break the situation.

Zhang Fei looked at the seemingly solemn atmosphere in the council hall and said in a loud voice.

“Brother, in my opinion, why think so much? That Liu Zhang is a guest invited by you, brother. Now that he has been attacked in Liu Biao's territory, then send a large army to knock on his door and make Liu Biao hand him over immediately.”

“General Zhang, this matter is not that simple. First of all, we have no evidence…”

Jian Yong sighed and continued.

“Furthermore, Lord Marquis also said just now that if our lord sends a large army to knock on his door at this moment, I am afraid that in the eyes of the world, this would be our lord taking this as an excuse to seize the foundation of a clan member, which would put our lord in an unrighteous situation.”

The difficulty of this matter lies in the fact that it is difficult to prove one's innocence and one cannot recklessly use force.

Liu Bei looked around and, seeing that the civil and military officials seemed to be frowning, finally focused on Li Ji, who was closest to him, and asked.

“Zikun, do you have any good策?”

Li Ji put the folding fan in his hand on the table, stood up and saluted, answering.

“Lord, you can send people to Yi and Jing as envoys respectively. On the one hand, explain to Liu Yizhou that this matter has nothing to do with you, and on the other hand, first test Liu Jingzhou's attitude.”

“What is the benefit of this?” Liu Bei asked in confusion.

Without even sending people, Liu Bei could roughly guess that the effect of sending envoys in this way would be largely futile.

Li Ji naturally understood that even if Su Qin and Zhang Yi were reborn as envoys, they would not be able to persuade Liu Biao to release people with their silver tongues, but some things might be useless if done, but they had to be done.

“It's just to show the world our attitude.”

“Then, after sending the envoys, what should we do?” Liu Bei continued to ask.

“Respond to all changes with不变, and secretly station troops in Chaisang.” Li Ji answered.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's heart stirred, but seeing the unusual look on Li Ji's face, he understood.

Immediately, Liu Bei, according to Li Ji's suggestion, ordered Jiang Qin to mobilize the navy to move to Chaisang, and then let Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun each lead their elite troops to station in Chaisang.

Moreover, a large number of military settlements were urgently planned around Chaisang, preparing to build Chaisang into the military settlement center of Yuzhang and Lujiang, so that military households could be quickly mobilized for combat in wartime.

Shouchun and Chaisang, these two places had gradually become important places for stationing troops in Yang Province.

And when the meeting ended and everyone dispersed to start their own work.

Jia Xu almost subconsciously quickened his pace to leave the council hall, but he was still a step late. Before he could walk out of the gate of the State Shepherd's Mansion, he was invited back to the council hall by Xu Chu, who had received Li Ji's order in advance.

When Jia Xu returned to the council hall again, there were only Liu Bei, Li Ji, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and others in the hall.

At the sight of this small meeting, Jia Xu understood that troublesome things were probably unavoidable, but his expression remained as usual. After saluting Liu Bei and others, he sat down next to Li Ji.

“Bang!”

The next moment, Xiahou Bo closed the door of the council hall and personally guarded outside the door.

Liu Bei, who was sitting in the main seat, no longer had the dignified demeanor of not showing his emotions as before. He first slowly drank a sip of tea before speaking.

“There are no outsiders here, everyone can speak freely.”

Zhang Fei's spirit was shaken when he heard this, and he excitedly said. “Brother, are you planning to listen to my opinion, prepare to press the border with a large army, and directly take Jing Province?”

“Third brother can remain silent.”

Liu Bei added, which immediately made Zhang Fei sit down with a bitter face, causing a burst of laughter in the hall.

Immediately, Liu Bei covered his smile and said.

“Zikun, how long will it take for the internal affairs of Yang Province to completely stabilize?”

Li Ji estimated and answered. “At the earliest, it will be in April or May next year.”

This time does not mean that there are still riots within Yang Province, but that Yang Province is now not only carrying out reforms in the military system, but also re-counting and sorting out the household registration and farmland.

This is an extremely tedious but important process. Only by completely mastering the household registration and farmland of Yang Province can one be considered to truly control Yang Province.

Before this, Yang Province was not without combat capabilities, but only after completely controlling Yang Province could the stability of the rear be guaranteed. (End of this chapter)