Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

The others remained silent.

Kuai Liang's gaze quietly swept around, noticing that Cai Zhong and Cai He were visibly restless, and many others from aristocratic families also had shifty eyes.

It wasn't just Kuai Liang; the other aristocratic families were also gradually recovering from the devastating defeat that had decimated the main force of Jing Province, realizing that Jing Province had become a sinking ship, about to be submerged.

Liu Qi lacked the ability to turn the tide; once Xiangyang fell, perhaps Liu Qi could barely survive and flee to Jingnan, but most of the aristocratic families present were rooted in Xiangyang. How could they be willing to flee south with Liu Qi?

Therefore, after a period of silence, Cai He hesitated for a moment before standing up and speaking.

"Young Lord, the overall situation is dire. Holding onto this isolated city will only lead to its eventual fall to Yuan Shu. Why not try to negotiate peace with Yuan Shu?"

Liu Qi, upon hearing this, was somewhat indecisive and asked, "Would Yuan Gonglu be willing to negotiate peace?"

"Yuan Shu's deployment of troops is ostensibly to avenge Sun Jian. Now that our lord has unfortunately been killed, as long as we hand over Huang Zu, Yuan Shu will have no justification for his actions and will have to withdraw his troops," Cai He said.

"Absolutely not!"

Almost as soon as Cai He finished speaking, Wen聘 suddenly stood up, angrily questioning him.

"Your actions are intended to make the Young Lord unrighteous and disloyal, seeking glory by betraying your lord? Avenging Sun Jian is just an excuse; what Yuan Shu is plotting is Jing Province."

"Once the Young Lord promises to hand over Huang Zu, Huang Zu, who is stationed in Wancheng, will inevitably rebel. Once Huang Zu rebels, Wancheng will also fall into Yuan Shu's hands, and Nanyang will completely belong to Yuan Shu."

"Without Nanyang, even if Yuan Shu withdraws his troops today, when Yuan Shu attacks Xiangyang again in the future, what will Xiangyang use as a shield? How will we defend Xiangyang?"

Immediately, the uncontrollably angry Wen聘 turned and bowed towards Liu Qi, saying, "Young Lord, Cai He's heart is treacherous, please execute this villain!"

"How dare you!"

Cai He and Cai Zhong were both furious, standing up to retort.

"I was merely trying to share the Young Lord's burden by suggesting a good plan, trying to get Yuan Shu to withdraw his troops? Otherwise, can you, Wen聘, defend Xiangyang?"

Wen聘 gritted his teeth but couldn't say that he could defend it.

Seeing this, Cai Zhong seized the opportunity to say, "That's right, Xiangyang cannot be defended. The only option is to negotiate peace. If even negotiating peace is not possible, the Young Lord might as well surrender. Only then can he preserve his life."

At this moment, Wen聘 could no longer bear it and quickly interrupted.

"Young Lord, anyone can surrender, but the Young Lord must not surrender. Others can surrender and perhaps retain their wealth and status, but if the Young Lord surrenders, only the executioner's axe awaits him."

"I think it is you, Wen聘, who is spreading rumors to confuse the masses…"

"Shut up, you traitor seeking glory by betraying your lord!"

For a time, the generals led by Wen聘 and the aristocratic families led by Cai Zhong and Cai He began to argue fiercely.

Sitting on the main seat, Liu Qi looked at both sides, each seeming to have some reason, and his heart was in a state of chaos, completely unable to make a decision.

"Enough!"

Finally, the unbearable Liu Qi slammed the table and shouted angrily, temporarily silencing the chaos.

This made Liu Qi understand that not only was the overall situation gone, but even the people's hearts had begun to scatter, and he was even clearer that his ability was probably not enough to defend Jing Province.

However, in addition to being gentle, Liu Qi also had some backbone.

Liu Biao's bones were not yet cold, and his foundation was about to be seized by Yuan Shu, which made Liu Qi feel that he would probably have no face to meet Liu Biao under the nine springs.

"I have decided not to surrender and not to negotiate peace. Even if Xiangyang falls, I will die in the provincial governor's mansion."

Liu Qi said in a deep voice, expressing his attitude.

Seeing this, Kuai Liang sighed and stood up to speak.

"Young Lord, there is only one way to make Yuan Shu retreat right now."

"Zirou, please speak," Liu Qi asked for advice.

Kuai Liang said in a deep voice, "That is to seek help from the Imperial Uncle Liu. The Imperial Uncle Liu and the Lord are both members of the Han imperial family, and they are determined to support the Han Dynasty. They will definitely not bear to see the foundation of their clan seized by outsiders and will definitely send troops to help the Young Lord."

Liu Qi fell into a period of silence upon hearing this.

Cai He subconsciously wanted to speak out against it.

Ask Liu Bei to send troops?

Wouldn't that be inviting a wolf into the house? Even if Yuan Shu is driven away, Jing Province will inevitably belong to Liu Bei.

However, just as Cai He was about to stand up, Cai Zhong grabbed Cai He's sleeve first and whispered in Cai He's ear.

"Kuai Zirou's method is not bad. Compared to Yuan Shu, the Imperial Uncle Liu is also a good choice, and the Imperial Uncle Liu's foundation is weaker, unlike Yuan Shu, who is originally from the Runan aristocratic family and relies more on us."

"Besides, Yuan Shu, who comes from the Yuan family, may not be able to see your sister."

"But the Imperial Uncle Liu is different. I heard that the Imperial Uncle Liu's wife is just a farmer's daughter. The Imperial Uncle Liu and the Lord are both members of the Han imperial family, and your sister is pregnant with the Lord's flesh and blood. Presumably, the Imperial Uncle Liu will not mind…"

Hearing this, Cai He felt his heart pounding. After standing up, he said loudly.

"What Kuai Zirou said is very true. The Imperial Uncle Liu is a benevolent ruler and will probably not sit idly by and watch the foundation of his clan be seized by others."

After Cai He spoke, the other aristocratic families also expressed their support one after another.

Wen聘 wanted to object, but thinking about the current situation in Jing Province and the Imperial Uncle Liu's reputation, which has not had any flaws so far, he could only choose to remain silent.

Looking at the voices of agreement below like a tide, but with few opponents, Liu Qi may still be concerned about whether Sun Ce killed Liu Biao, but he also understood that this seemed to be the only option.

Immediately, Liu Qi raised his hand to suppress the sound and turned to look at Sun Qian, who had been listening quietly all along, and asked.

"I wonder if Mr. Gongyou can send a message to the Imperial Uncle, asking the Imperial Uncle to send troops to relieve the plight of Jing Province?"

Sun Qian stood up, bowed, and frowned slightly.

"Without the court's order, my lord, as the governor of Yang Province, should not interfere in the affairs of Jing Province. However, if Jing Province is in trouble, we cannot fail to help. Why don't I send a message to my lord, asking him to increase his troops in Shouchun, forcing Yuan Shu to return to Yu Province, how about that?"

Kuai Liang immediately interjected.

"This is one time and another. How can the Imperial Uncle Liu stubbornly adhere to the court's laws? This time, it is the Nanyang Commandery Administrator Yuan Shu who has the ambition of a wolf and is acting against the heavens, attacking Jing Province. The Imperial Uncle Liu's dispatch of troops is just to correct the chaos."

Sun Qian hesitated for a long time, and then said.

"This… this is still not appropriate. Why not report this matter to the court and let the court mediate or order my lord to send troops, how about that?"

The imperial court?

Everyone respects the imperial court on the surface, but in reality, who really takes the imperial court seriously? Yuan Shu is even less likely to withdraw his troops under a court order.

Until the other civil and military officials took turns persuading Sun Qian to request Liu Bei to send troops, Sun Qian also declined three times before reluctantly agreeing, and he also looked like he dared not guarantee that Liu Bei would agree.

Of course, as long as they are not truly devoid of political wisdom, they all know that this is just a superficial pretense.

The more Sun Qian is like this, the more Kuai Liang and other enlightened people understand that Liu Bei is preparing to enter Jing Province.

The sky in Jing Province… is about to change!

And before that, a great battle is about to break out.

It is a pity that in this game, most of the civil and military officials in Jing Province are clear that they are not the players.

On the contrary, they are more like prizes. Whichever side wins, that side can get them.

Although Yuan Shu besieged Xiangyang, the water network around Xiangyang is well-developed. Yuan Shu has not even formed a navy, let alone block the water network.

Therefore, the intelligence of Xiangyang and Sun Qian's message are being sent to Chaisang rapidly along the waterway.

(End of this chapter)