Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Ji, who was riding a horse, subconsciously pulled the reins and stopped.

Li Ji did not directly answer Liu Bei, but instead asked a question. “My lord, how about we let the army rest for half an hour before continuing on our way?”

After receiving Liu Bei's permission, Li Ji immediately ordered the entire army to rest in place, and then ordered all the guards, including Xu Chu and Zhou Tai, to retreat beyond one hundred and fifty steps.

After everyone else had retreated, Li Ji, who had also dismounted with Liu Bei, said with a serious face.

“My lord, I oppose the decision you just made.”

“My mind is made up, opposition is useless,” Liu Bei scolded.

“I object!” Li Ji repeated again.

Seeing this, Liu Bei also pulled a long face and said. “Li Zikun, don’t forget that I am the lord, are you trying to rebel… defy me?”

Seeing Liu Bei using his status to suppress him, Li Ji also retorted in a serious manner.

“This is acting wilfully, not listening to good advice, not what a wise lord would do. Bo Fu and Gong Jin are enough to hold back Cao Jun for a while. It would be the most prudent approach for me to personally assist the lord in advancing north to Yishui.”

Liu Bei retorted in a stiff tone. “Zikun's suggestion is good, but I have my own considerations and will not adopt it.”

This sentence made Li Ji a little anxious.

Li Ji naturally knew that Liu Bei insisted on this because he was worried about the outbreak of the plague and his own safety.

In this regard, Li Ji might be deeply moved, but how could he accept Liu Bei taking greater risks for this?

Liu Bei regarded Li Ji as a brother, how could Li Ji not regard Liu Bei as a like-minded friend?

Originally, during the fierce debate outside the city of Xia Pi, Li Ji even wanted to leave Liu Bei in Xia Pi and lead the army into Donghai County himself.

However, under Liu Bei's insistence, Li Ji had to give in, and considering that Liu Bei would be at minimal risk if he stayed by his side, he agreed.

However, what Li Ji didn't expect was that Liu Bei's first forceful intervention in his military strategy would be at this moment.

And seeing that Liu Bei had no intention of reasoning at all, Li Ji, in his anxiety, could only resort to sophistry and asked back.

“If the lord does not trust my ability and judgment, why did you appoint me as your military advisor and commander? Why not let me retire and live in seclusion in the mountains?”

Liu Bei's expression twitched, and he retorted. “These are two different things, why must Zikun confuse them?”

If Liu Bei didn't trust Li Ji, how could he risk his own life to protect Li Ji's safety?

In military and political affairs, Liu Bei's trust in Li Ji could be said to be unbreakable.

However, the plague was a natural disaster, and in Liu Bei's impression, Li Ji was still the weak scholar who would fall ill at the slightest thing.

It's just that Liu Bei had his own persistence, and Li Ji also had his own considerations.

With so many variables ahead, how could Li Ji feel at ease letting Liu Bei lead the army alone?

If Liu Bei were to encounter any accident, the blow to the Liu Bei group would be immeasurable.

Li Ji's position in the Liu Bei group might be unmatched, but the banner that truly united the people was always Liu Bei.

Just like the aristocratic banner raised by Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, the banner of using talent raised by Cao Cao with the help of Xun Yu, the banner of the imperial court raised by Lu Bu after controlling Sili…

Different lords raise different banners, and the talents they attract to serve are also completely different, just like Xun Yu would never accept Liu Bei, and Zhuge Liang despised Cao Cao.

And the banner of supporting the Han Dynasty and treating people with benevolence raised by Liu Bei, unknowingly also attracted many like-minded civil and military officials.

Some civil and military officials whose ideas are not completely consistent, but who have joined Liu Bei for other reasons, will unknowingly work hard towards the goal of raising the banner under Liu Bei's influence.

Therefore, once the lord encounters an accident, it often leads to the disintegration of the entire group.

Therefore, whether out of personal or public interest, Li Ji could not agree with Liu Bei's decision and said sharply.

“Does the lord really want to force me to remonstrate to the death?”

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Bei was so shocked that his original stiff attitude instantly softened, and he said urgently. “Zikun, don’t be impulsive.”

Li Ji cupped his hands and said. “Please, my lord, take back your order.”

Liu Bei subconsciously turned his back, waved his hand, and refused. “Impossible!”

Immediately, before Li Ji could continue to speak, Liu Bei, with his back to him, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and continued.

“The great cause can be without Liu Xuande, but it cannot be without Li Zikun.”

“The people of Xuzhou must be saved, and Zikun must not take risks. In my opinion, it is a win-win strategy for Zikun to stay here to hold off Cao's bandits.”

Li Ji's eyes twitched, and he said through gritted teeth. “This is only a lower strategy.”

“A lower strategy is not necessarily inferior, this is also a principle.”

Liu Bei said with emotion, and closed his eyes slightly.

At this moment, what unconsciously appeared in Liu Bei's mind was what Cao Cao said yesterday:

【If I were to kill Li Zikun, Guan Yunchang, and Zhang Yide, would you be able to remain calm?】

Humans are not sages, and Liu Bei also knew that he couldn't do it, and even felt a bit of fear because of it.

For the great cause, Liu Bei was not afraid of death, but he could not accept anything happening to Li Ji, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

Therefore, even if Liu Bei also knew that Li Ji's decision was the best strategy, he still insisted on his own decision.

With this thought in mind, Liu Bei slowly said.

“If Zikun still objects, then don’t blame me for ordering Zhongkang to forcibly tie Zikun up.”

At this moment, Li Ji looked at Liu Bei with his back to him, as if he had lost all his strength and means.

No matter how many clever plans Li Ji had, no matter how eloquent he was, Liu Bei clearly understood everything, but he still insisted, even resorting to force to force Li Ji to submit, what could be done?

After a long silence, Li Ji slowly spoke.

“Since that's the case, then please, my lord, leave me with ten thousand soldiers, that will be enough.”

“Ten thousand?”

Liu Bei shook his head and said.

“Cao's bandits have an army of fifty thousand in their hands, plus the ten thousand soldiers led by Zhu Ling, totaling sixty thousand? How can ten thousand stop them, leave Zikun with fifty thousand soldiers.”

Li Ji retorted.

“The rearguard force is not about quantity, and the lord continues to advance north, focusing on quickly breaking through the obstruction of the thirty thousand Cao troops with lightning speed, requiring even more troops, at least twice the enemy's strength.”

“Therefore, it is the limit for the lord to divide two thousand troops to me at most, no more.”

Liu Bei chuckled and said. “Compared to Zikun, I dare not call myself knowledgeable about the military, but at least I have been influenced by Zikun for many years, the mere thirty thousand Cao soldiers can be easily broken, Zikun need not worry.”

Hearing these words, Li Ji's heart skipped a beat.

If these were Liu Bei's intentional words of comfort, that would be fine, Li Ji was afraid that Liu Bei was really so confident, and it was possible that the lord and his minister would really be planted in Xuzhou. (End of chapter)