Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Zhang Fei's boorish remark caused many people in the tent to chuckle, while others secretly disdained and despised him.

Sima Yi was undoubtedly the one who most despised Zhang Fei's boorish behavior.

However, Sima Yi's face did not reveal the slightest change in expression, and he did not even interrupt when the others were analyzing the situation, only speaking at this moment.

"Teacher, I have a shallow idea, please correct me if I'm wrong."

"Speak without hesitation."

Li Ji signaled Sima Yi to speak.

Sima Yi cupped his hands in salute to everyone, appearing low-key and humble.

This made Pang Tong obviously curl his lips and mutter.

"What are you pretending for?"

Even though Sima Yi was scheming and deep, he was still somewhat naive.

In the process of daily interaction and communication among the students, intelligent people such as Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu could easily perceive Sima Yi's true nature.

Sima Yi ignored Pang Tong's sarcasm and instead regarded it as a good opportunity to make a name for himself, saying.

"Teacher, in my opinion, the situation in Xuzhou is now beset by internal and external troubles. Externally, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu are attacking from both sides, and internally, Tao Qian and the Xuzhou aristocratic families each harbor their own ulterior motives."

"To resist external threats, one must first pacify internal conflicts."

"The Xuzhou army has suffered repeated defeats, and its morale is low, but it still has tens of thousands of usable soldiers."

"Therefore, if the Imperial Uncle Liu can replace Tao Qian and reorganize the Xuzhou forces, combining the strength of Xuzhou and Yangzhou, even if Cao Cao and Yuan Shu's forces are strong, they can still be resisted."

"Now the army is located in Xiaqiu County, which is more than two hundred miles away from Xiapi City. The march will take about seven days, but the march speed can be delayed further, and arrive at the appropriate time when Cao Cao's army starts to press on Xiapi again."

When Sima Yi said this, he paused slightly, and a hint of ferocity appeared in his still somewhat immature eyes, saying.

"At that time, the situation in Xuzhou will take a sharp turn for the worse. When the Imperial Uncle Liu arrives at Xiapi City, he can use the righteousness of 'assistance' as an excuse to enter the city. Even if Tao Qian is wary, he will definitely not refuse."

"At that time, the Imperial Uncle Liu only needs to drop a cup as a signal, and prepare internal support in the city in advance, and he can take Xiapi City in an instant, and use Tao Qian's name to unite the Xuzhou forces, and the predicament will be mostly resolved."

This plan is not complicated, but it points directly to the key.

Tao Qian has no other choice.

Cao Cao raised his army in the name of "revenge". Once Tao Qian falls into Cao Cao's hands, no matter what, Cao Cao will definitely kill Tao Qian.

Therefore, no matter how the situation in Xuzhou develops, others may be able to surrender, but Tao Qian will definitely not surrender to Cao Cao.

Once Cao Cao begins to besiege Xiapi City, Tao Qian's remnants who retreat to Xiapi City will not be able to defend Xiapi City for long.

Therefore, after Liu Bei leads his army to Xiapi City and asks to enter the city, Tao Qian has no way to refuse and dare not refuse.

As long as Liu Bei's army enters the city, then Tao Qian is the fish on the chopping board, the only difference is whether it is done beautifully or ugly.

In Li Ji's view, this plan can only be said to be very Sima-like, and it is also a simple and effective method at the moment.

But as Li Ji expected, as soon as Sima Yi's words fell, Liu Bei shook his head and refused.

"This time, I, Bei, have entered Xuzhou for the sake of righteousness, for the sake of protecting the people of Xuzhou, and not for seizing power. Although this plan can be effective, I am unwilling to use it."

Suddenly, Sima Yi's face looked slightly stiff.

The youthful version of Sima Yi not only did not have much opportunity to directly contact Liu Bei, but also was far from being able to understand people's hearts.

In Sima Yi's view, even if Liu Bei's governance and reputation are based on the word "benevolence", it is only an external slogan.

With such a large Xuzhou in front of him, how can he be bound by the mere word "benevolence"?

If Xuzhou is lost, then it is really lost;

If benevolence is lost, you can earn more territory.

Seeing this, Sima Yi subconsciously felt that Liu Bei was deliberately putting on airs, and then persuaded.

"Imperial Uncle Liu doesn't need to worry about his reputation being damaged, as long as he does it secretly."

"With Tao Gongzu's age and repeated defeats, claiming to the outside world that he is depressed and bedridden, and entrusting Xuzhou to Imperial Uncle Liu, the world will definitely believe it."

Liu Bei smiled dumbly after hearing this.

"Military Advisor Sima, no matter how beautifully this matter is done, it can deceive the world, but it cannot deceive those who are interested. There is no need to mention this matter again."

If Liu Bei really wanted to seize Tao Qian's Xuzhou, he would have been persuaded by Li Ji long ago, so why would he be here?

Even Li Ji couldn't persuade Liu Bei on this matter, let alone Sima Yi.

It was only because Liu Bei saw that Sima Yi was Li Ji's student that he was so patient.

And seeing Liu Bei's resolute tone, some generals in the tent who did not pay much attention to morality and were greatly moved by the suggestion of attacking Tao Qian, the old fellow, also extinguished the idea of helping to persuade him.

"Yes."

Sima Yi frowned slightly and cupped his hands to retreat.

However, even though Liu Bei did not adopt Sima Yi's suggestion, the problem that Sima Yi pointed out was also to the point.

With the Yuan and Cao families coming aggressively, if Liu Bei and Tao Qian cannot cooperate fully and are deeply trapped in internal and external troubles, it may be very detrimental to the situation.

Subconsciously, Liu Bei looked at Li Ji, who had always been calm, and asked.

"Zikun, do you have a good plan?"

Li Ji got up and saluted, and then answered unhurriedly. "The analysis of the military advisors just now has stated the situation quite thoroughly, and I also agree with 'To resist external threats, one must first pacify internal conflicts'."

"And the lord is benevolent, since he does not want to seize the Xuzhou foundation, then he should go the other way and speed up the march to arrive at Xiapi as soon as possible."

Liu Bei nodded repeatedly and asked.

"And then what?"

Li Ji chuckled and said. "With the lord's benevolence, how difficult is it to regain Tao Qian's trust?"

At present, Tao Qian has suffered repeated defeats and is probably already confused.

At this moment, Liu Bei led a large army straight into Xuzhou, and it is most normal for Tao Qian, whose heart is completely messed up, to be wary of Liu Bei.

Some brothers, when in distress, do not hesitate to spend all their wealth to help;

But there are also brothers who, when caught in the same net, mention each other's names eight hundred times in three pages of confession, and rush to take care of their sister-in-law after getting out of trouble.

Generally speaking, routines win people's hearts, but often sincerity is the ultimate killer.

Since Liu Bei has no intention of seizing Xuzhou, with Liu Bei's charm, why worry about not being able to gain Tao Qian's trust?

After being reminded by Li Ji, Liu Bei suddenly realized.

Immediately, Liu Bei, who understood the urgency of the situation, discussed with Li Ji, and immediately decided to temporarily hand over the army to Li Ji to lead.

Liu Bei then took Zhou Tai as his guard, and Zhang Fei led seven thousand cavalry to protect him along the way, and rushed to Xiapi City to meet Tao Qian first.

The distance from Xiaqiu County to Xiapi City takes about seven days for infantry to march.

But with cavalry galloping at full speed, it is more than enough to cross more than two hundred miles to reach Xiapi City within two days.

Especially when the movements of Cao Cao's army have been clearly investigated, the journey to Xiapi City is basically a plain area, so there is no need to worry about Liu Bei's safety at all.

(End of this chapter)