Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

“I don't blame you.”

Li Ji responded, and then Pang Tong continued, “Teacher, if we spend time and effort on disaster relief and helping the people, not to mention the impact it will have on the army currently deep behind enemy lines, more importantly, they are the people of Yu Province, which is equivalent to aiding the enemy.”

“It cannot be done!”

“Even if the teacher has a benevolent heart and cannot bear to see the people suffer, you should allocate food for disaster relief and pacify the unrest after pacifying Yu Province. That is the best policy.”

In fact, Li Ji wasn't unaware of this. It was precisely because he understood this that he raised this question, hoping to be persuaded by others.

Facing what Pang Tong said, Li Ji lowered his eyes slightly and then said, “However, those famine-stricken victims are first and foremost citizens of the Han Dynasty, and only then are they people of Yu Province. As Han officials, how can we divide them by region and turn a blind eye with peace of mind?”

“Moreover, if the Lord were here, I'm afraid he would not hesitate to find ways to provide disaster relief on the spot, and would not turn a blind eye to the people.”

Many people present were moved by these words, but there were also quite a few who disagreed.

To some extent, this is the conflict between reason and emotion, reality and ideals.

Wei Yan spoke with a hint of tact, “Marquis, precisely because of this, we should not delay the speed of our march because of the people, and quickly besiege Runan, so that the people of Yu Province can be free from Yuan Shu's tyranny.”

Zhuge Liang frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes as he looked at Wei Yan, and then stood up and said, “Given the current situation in the world, Yu Province has no external support. As long as Runan is captured and Yu Province is pacified before winter, a few days sooner or later will not make a significant difference.”

“But if we ignore the famine-stricken people, the famine will inevitably cause riots. Once riots break out, the entire Yu Province may fall into chaos, which is unacceptable.”

Seeing Zhuge Liang enter the fray, Sima Yi couldn't help but chime in with sarcasm, saying, “The view of a child!”

“In times of chaos, the lives of the people are as worthless as grass. If we halt our progress today for the sake of some people, the enemy may very well use the people as shields tomorrow. Should we then hesitate to move forward?”

“If you want to save the people, then find a way to quickly pacify the world. Even if it comes at some cost, it is ultimately better than allowing the chaos to continue and drag on like this.”

Chen Deng frowned and retorted, “What you think is wrong!”

“If we can use this as an excuse to disregard the people today, then when the world is pacified in the future, should we then use the construction of palaces to demonstrate our majesty as an excuse to engage in large-scale construction and waste the people's wealth?”

“The Lord has always based himself on benevolence and virtue. Then he should always have a benevolent heart, so that the world will submit, the people will respect him, and he will not fail the mandate of heaven.”

For a time, the four members of the staff, led by the four of them, not only failed to persuade Li Ji to make a decision, but instead, they began to argue fiercely with each other, each holding their own opinions.

“Enough!”

Li Ji gave a light shout, causing the scene to return to silence once again.

After a moment, Li Ji picked up a dead branch and threw it into the bonfire, and said in a low voice, “Only the incompetent make choices. Supporting the Han Dynasty and helping the world and protecting the people are the goals; defeating Yuan Shu and taking Yu Province is an indispensable process.”

“The two cannot be abandoned, nor can either be given up. If you have any good strategies to achieve both, please speak up.”

However, although this matter was said simply, it caused everyone to show a bitter expression.

The most fundamental and direct way to solve the famine is undoubtedly to solve the food problem.

But this is Yu Province, where can Li Ji have enough food for disaster relief?

Even if the nearby cities must store a large amount of money and food, Yuan Shu sent a lot of loyal supervisors to the cities.

Even if Li Ji captured the cities of Yu Province before, those desperately fighting supervisors would immediately burn the city's granaries, leaving Li Ji with no money or food.

If it weren't for this, why would Li Ji be so troubled?

Now that Li Ji has shifted the pressure to the staff, everyone on the staff also has a bitter look on their faces. Not to mention Pang Tong's ugly face, even Zhuge Liang's brows are tightly furrowed.

As time passed, Gu Wei took the initiative to add firewood to the bonfire twice, but the people gathered together could not come up with a good strategy.

Even if some strategies can be used, they are full of flaws or have too much impact…

Just then, Sima Yi suddenly said, “Teacher, I have a plan.”

“Yi'er, please speak.”

Sima Yi said in a low voice, “In Yu Province, those who can solve the famine disaster with food are only the Yu Province aristocratic families.”

Li Ji frowned slightly, not rushing to speak, but continuing to listen.

The Yu Province aristocratic families, how could Li Ji not have considered this group?

It's just that compared with the Jing and Yang aristocratic families, the Yu Province aristocratic families are simply the difference between country bumpkins and rich second generations in the capital.

Almost all of the top aristocratic families of the Han Dynasty are located in Yu Province. Even if Yu Province is chaotic to the current situation, the Yu Province aristocratic families have still not been affected in any way.

As crazy as Yuan Shu is, facing such a desperate situation, he also chooses to attack the people of Yu Province, and dare not have any thoughts about the Yu Province aristocratic families.

Even in the chaotic Yu Province to this day, among those who plunder in the chaos, there are many people from small and medium-sized Yu Province aristocratic families.

Impoverishing the people of the world to enrich one family can be regarded as a traditional habit of a considerable number of aristocratic families.

Therefore, Yu Province may be chaotic and poor, but it does not mean that the Yu Province aristocratic families are poor.

On the contrary, the more chaotic the world is, the faster the development speed of the aristocratic families tends to be.

Whether it is the Yuan family, Lu Bu, or even Cao Cao, they have to rely on the power of the aristocratic families to govern the place, which naturally increases the development of the aristocratic families.

It is also the Jing and Yang aristocratic families, which are now controlled by Liu Bei, who were led to the overseas Yi Province by Li Ji's operation, which invisibly weakened the aristocratic families within the scope of the Han Dynasty.

However, the Yu Province aristocratic families are not only seriously united, but also have a high status and a huge influence.

Even if Yuan Shu is about to be overthrown, many aristocratic families are gradually drawing a clear line with Yuan Shu in order to avoid disadvantages and seek advantages, but Yuan Shu undoubtedly represents the interests of the aristocratic families more.

Before the Jing and Yang aristocratic families have been able to clearly obtain huge benefits overseas, in the eyes of the aristocratic families of the world, Liu Bei is undoubtedly still not in line with the interests of the aristocratic families, and naturally will not take the initiative to move closer to Liu Bei.

Even if Yuan Shu really falls, in the eyes of the arrogant Yu Province aristocratic families, there are still other choices that are better than Liu Bei.

“If we try to persuade them with words, I'm afraid the Yu Province aristocratic families will not help.”

Li Ji gave a conclusion.

Even if Yuan Shu is about to be overthrown, many aristocratic families are gradually drawing a clear line with Yuan Shu in order to avoid disadvantages and seek advantages, but Yuan Shu undoubtedly represents the interests of the aristocratic families more.

Before the Jing and Yang aristocratic families have been able to clearly obtain huge benefits overseas, in the eyes of the aristocratic families of the world, Liu Bei is undoubtedly still not in line with the interests of the aristocratic families, and naturally will not take the initiative to move closer to Liu Bei.

Sima Yi smiled “hehe” and said, “Words are useless, but naturally there are other ways to make the aristocratic families hand over enough food for disaster relief.”

“Explain in detail.”

Li Ji raised his eyebrows slightly and said.

However, after a slight pause, Sima Yi gestured to Li Ji with his eyes.

This look… an eagle's gaze and a wolf's stride, with a bit of Jia Xu's scheming.

Immediately, Li Ji, understanding, got up and walked to the side, and Sima Yi quickly followed, and said in a low voice.

“Teacher…” (End of this chapter)