Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

However, Wei Yan wasn't particularly eloquent, and could only repeatedly say:

“I misspoke in the heat of the moment. Please don't take offense, Governor, please don't take offense.”

After Li Ji had reprimanded Wei Yan again, he didn't dwell on it. He snorted coldly and then said:

“I recommended you to the Lord as the main general for two reasons: first, your abilities are acceptable, and second, the situation in Tan County is unclear. The main general needs to be bold, meticulous, and possess great courage and strategy to achieve any gains.”

“Among the generals in the army, only Wen Chang can shoulder this important task.”

Wei Yan was overjoyed upon hearing this. In addition to his awe of Li Ji, he also felt a bit more gratitude.

While Li Ji secretly observed Wei Yan's expression, he continued:

“However, Xun Yu, who is stationed in Tan County, is a man of great wisdom, and there are many defending soldiers in Tan County. It is not advisable to attack forcefully, and using unconventional tactics also carries risks. Therefore, I have also asked Pang Tong to accompany the army as your military advisor.”

“Although Pang Tong is young, his talent and wisdom are already remarkable. He possesses a natural aptitude. You should discuss everything with Pang Tong before making decisions, do you understand?”

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan subconsciously turned his head to look at Pang Tong, who was standing beside him.

Wei Yan not only resembled Guan Yu in appearance, but also shared some of his arrogance.

Although Wei Yan had often listened in on the discussions of the staff, he greatly admired their inferences and judgments.

However, the thought of such a young teenager being his military advisor, and possibly even having to listen to him, made Wei Yan feel awkward.

But with Li Ji standing right in front of him, personally endorsing Pang Tong and warning him, Wei Yan didn't dare to disobey.

However, Li Ji had repeatedly recommended and promoted him, so Wei Yan subconsciously regarded himself as a general of Li Ji's faction.

Considering that Pang Tong was a student of Li Ji, and in Wei Yan's eyes, also one of his own, it wasn't too difficult to accept.

“This subordinate understands.”

Seeing Wei Yan agree, Li Ji was quite satisfied.

No matter what, Pang Tong was still just a young man. Even if he showed remarkable ability, most military officers were rough men, and they all possessed arrogance.

Getting them to listen to the advice of a young man was not an easy task.

Wei Yan, who was eager to improve, was undoubtedly the most agreeable of the generals in this regard.

This greatly moved Pang Tong, who had been silent all along. He understood that everything Li Ji was doing was paving the way for him, giving him an opportunity to display his abilities.

The turmoil in his heart was so great that Pang Tong, who was usually quite lively, calmed down. He didn't say anything, but solemnly bowed to Li Ji, his eyes seemingly burning with fire.

Living in this era where appearances were everything, Pang Tong, who was born ugly, undoubtedly grew up amidst the ridicule of others.

Pang Tong seemed not to care, and even appeared lively and arrogant on weekdays. But wasn't this Pang Tong's way of maintaining his dignity, and he had always yearned for recognition.

Just as Zhang Song was willing to go through fire and water for Li Ji, a kindred spirit, Pang Tong's respect and love for Li Ji had reached their peak at this moment.

A teacher doesn't despise a disciple for being ugly and embarrassing, so how dare a disciple embarrass his teacher?

Tan County!

I, Pang Tong, will take it!

At this moment, Pang Tong even had the idea of making a military pledge: if he failed to take Tan County, he would offer his head in apology.

Immediately, Li Ji called Pang Tong to his side and encouraged him with a few words. Pang Tong also changed his usual lively and flamboyant demeanor. His calm demeanor made Li Ji feel a little unaccustomed.

After handing over the command flag and counting the soldiers and supplies, Wei Yan immediately led an army of 10,000 men towards Tan County without delay.

In terms of direction, the blocked location of the Yi River and Tan County were both to the north, but the Yi River was in a north-northwest direction, while Tan County was in a north-northeast direction, about a hundred miles apart.

However, if one wanted to launch a surprise attack on Tan County, the faster the better. Therefore, Wei Yan led the army, disguised as a vanguard clearing the way, and left first.

After Wei Yan led the army away, Li Ji turned to discuss the matter of the rearguard with Liu Bei.

The surprise attack on Tan County could only be considered a long shot.

If it succeeded, that would naturally be the best, as it would severely damage Cao Jun's logistics and supplies.

However, a distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. After Liu Bei bypassed Cao's camp and continued north to the Yi River, Cao's army would inevitably launch a full-scale pursuit after resting.

In addition, there were still 30,000 Cao troops ahead.

If Liu Bei's army, which had penetrated deep into enemy territory, failed to break through the obstruction of Cao's army in time, it would be tantamount to actively falling into Cao's encirclement.

Therefore, the plan to launch a surprise attack on Tan County could be used, but more importantly, someone had to be left behind to hold off Cao Cao's army, buying time for Liu Bei to break through the obstruction of the 30,000 Cao troops ahead and get to the Yi River to clear the bodies.

As long as the threat of a possible epidemic outbreak in the Yi River was gone, Liu Bei would have the initiative, whether he continued to find an opportunity to defeat Cao's army in Donghai County or temporarily retreated to Xiapi to rest.

As for the person who would stay behind to hold off Cao Cao, Li Ji had already made a decision in his mind and said:

“Lord, the people to hold the rear are none other than Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. With Sun Ce as the main general and Zhou Yu as the military advisor leading the troops to hold the rear, it shouldn't be difficult to block Cao's army for ten days to half a month.”

After hearing this, Liu Bei did not nod in agreement as he had in the past. He frowned and pondered for a while, then said:

“Inappropriate.”

This surprised Li Ji, who asked:

“Is it possible that the Lord is worried about the lack of ability of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu?”

“The matter of holding the rear concerns the life and death of the entire army. Bo Fu and Gong Jin are indeed outstanding talents, but Bei is still not very reassured…”

After a pause, Liu Bei raised his eyes and looked at Li Ji, saying:

“The person to hold the rear must be Zi Kun.”

Upon hearing this, Li Ji was stunned.

Although holding the rear has always been an extremely dangerous task, this time holding the rear was not a retreat, but rather to hold off Cao's army and delay enough time, so it was not considered dangerous.

In Li Ji's opinion, as long as a certain amount of troops were allocated to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, they could do it, and it would naturally be more secure for him to personally hold the rear.

However, relatively speaking, Li Ji was more concerned about the situation at the front and preferred to accompany Liu Bei…

Suddenly, Li Ji, who had been weighing the pros and cons, paused and said with a wry smile:

“The Lord dares to go to the Yi River in person, so how can Ji retreat?”

At this moment, after Li Ji reacted, he realized that Liu Bei had denied the suggestion of having Sun Ce and Zhou Yu hold the rear, not because he doubted their ability, but purely to protect Li Ji.

There was an epidemic ahead, Sima Yi was afraid, so how could Liu Bei not have even a trace of worry?

It was just that what Liu Bei was worried about was not himself, but Li Ji. He was unwilling to let Li Ji accompany him to the Yi River to take risks, fearing that Li Ji would contract the epidemic.

But Liu Bei had already made up his mind at this moment, and said in a deep voice:

“There is no need to say more about this matter. Zi Kun, listen to the order. I order you to be the main general, leading 50,000 elite soldiers, with Zhang Fei, Xu Chu, and Chen Dao as generals, to stay here and hold the rear. You must hold off Cao's army for ten days.”

“After ten days, if I have no other military orders to send, you shall immediately lead the army back to Xiapi.”

(End of chapter)