Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Regarding the representatives of the Yu Province aristocratic families who had hurriedly come to show their goodwill, Li Ji granted them all an audience, but he did not make any promises.

Showing an attitude was one thing, making a promise was another…

Although in later generations, a qualified politician was expected to treat political promises like toilet paper—to be used when needed, wiped with when needed, and discarded when needed.

But in this era, which still placed considerable importance on political promises and the virtues of benevolence, filial piety, propriety, and trustworthiness, Li Ji would naturally not do anything that would actively corrupt social morals.

Therefore, in order to quickly stabilize the situation in Yu Province and dismantle the forces supporting Yuan Shu, Li Ji received the representatives of the various aristocratic families with great enthusiasm and cordiality.

When asked about his views and attitudes towards the various aristocratic families, Li Ji naturally expressed admiration and respect, recounting the glorious deeds of their ancestors as if they were his own family treasures.

However, when it came to future actions in Yu Province, Li Ji pushed everything onto Liu Bei, claiming that he did not dare to act on his own authority and would rely entirely on his lord's arrangements.

His main approach was to be enthusiastic and generous, but to claim ignorance on every issue.

The appearance of Yuan Yin, however, surprised Li Ji considerably.

The prominent members of the Yuan family known to the world were Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, but in reality, as one of the most prominent aristocratic families of the Great Han, the Yuan clan naturally could not have only two or three descendants.

Before Yuan Shao's grandfather, Yuan Tang, passed away, he had twelve sons, so one could imagine how many brothers of the same generation Yuan Shao had.

Yuan Yin, in Li Ji's memory, was one of Yuan Shu's loyal cousins, and also one of the most capable members of the Yuan clan, besides Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, among the surviving sons.

Li Ji rubbed his fingers over the invitation that Yuan Yin had sent to the Xiang County government office. After pondering Yuan Yin's intentions, he also granted Yuan Yin's request for an audience.

Under the oppressive gaze of Xu Chu's tiger-like eyes, Yuan Yin did not lose his composure. Instead, he maintained the demeanor and bearing expected of a Yuan clan member and bowed to Li Ji.

"Yuan Yin of Runan greets Marquis Guoshi."

Li Ji, who was pretending to be processing documents, sized up Yuan Yin in secret for a while before speaking.

"May I ask, in what capacity has Your Excellency come here?"

Faced with Li Ji's deliberate provocation and rudeness, Yuan Yin was not annoyed. Instead, he bowed and replied humbly.

"I come in the capacity of the Runan Yuan clan."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji's eyes flickered slightly.

This answer was quite interesting.

Yuan Yin had always held a position under Yuan Shu, assisting Yuan Shu in controlling Yu Province and coordinating relations with the various aristocratic families in Yu Province.

Now, Yuan Yin appeared here, not mentioning Yuan Shu at all, and merely claiming to represent the Runan Yuan clan. This was indeed quite interesting.

Li Ji revealed a look of incomprehension, put down the documents in his hand, and asked further.

"But as I know, Your Excellency is an important minister under Yuan Gonglu. Could it be that your arrival here is secretly authorized by Yuan Gonglu?"

"Yin knows that his talent is insufficient to reverse the decline, and has already resigned from his position to my cousin. Now, I am merely a commoner, and have been recommended by the elders of my clan to be the acting patriarch of the Runan Yuan clan."

Yuan Yin's humble and obedient answer caused Li Ji's eyes to move.

Even though Li Ji had long understood that the essence of aristocratic families was a community of interests bound by blood, he did not expect the Runan Yuan clan's choice to be so decisive.

Yuan Yin's answer was undoubtedly telling Li Ji that the Runan Yuan clan had separated from Yuan Shu.

Or rather, Yuan Shu, the Yuan family member who had always claimed to be the orthodox heir of the Yuan clan, had instead become a branch that was being separated out.

And Yuan Yin was the acting head of the family who had been pushed out by the Runan Yuan clan to "kneel and lick" Li Ji.

At this point, Li Ji had completely understood Yuan Yin's intentions. In essence, he was no different from the other representatives of the Yu Province aristocratic families.

Immediately, Li Ji became enthusiastic, not only talking with Yuan Yin intimately for a long time, but also taking the initiative to insist on inviting Yuan Yin to stay in the Xiang County government office for a period of time.

At this, Yuan Yin fell into a moment of silence.

Being pushed out by the Runan Yuan clan as a "kneeling and licking hero" did not mean that Yuan Yin lacked ability.

On the contrary, it was precisely because the Yuan clan elders understood Yuan Yin's ability that they would let Yuan Yin shoulder this heavy responsibility and come to befriend Li Ji.

And Yuan Yin also knew that Li Ji's move to keep him was to erect a banner in front of the Yu Province aristocratic families, so that some Yu Province aristocratic families who were still not awake would realize what was called the general trend.

Even the Runan Yuan clan had chosen to abandon Yuan Shu and kneel and lick Li Ji in advance, which was tantamount to the Runan Yuan clan personally announcing to the world that Yuan Shu had become "a skeleton in the tomb."

Yuan Yin also had feelings for his cousin Yuan Shu. Although Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao had a bad relationship, Yuan Shu had never treated his own people who had joined him unfairly.

Yuan Yin had always despised this kind of behavior, which was equivalent to stepping on Yuan Shu when he was at his most down and out!

Therefore…

Yuan Yin raised his head with a firm gaze and bowed.

"That is my wish, I dare not refuse."

A few smiles immediately appeared on Li Ji's face, and Yuan Yin also showed a flattering smile and said.

"The name of Marquis Guoshi is like thunder to my ears. To be invited by the Marquis to stay here for a few more days, to have a few more opportunities to ask the Marquis for advice, is better than reading ten thousand books."

"The Yuan clan deserves its reputation as having four generations and three dukes, and deeply understands righteousness."

Li Ji replied with a smile, and then reached out to invite Yuan Yin to take a walk around the county government office.

Wouldn't it be a waste of the Runan Yuan clan's determination if he didn't go out and let some aristocratic family representatives see it with their own eyes?

While Yuan Yin's face was full of smiles, he couldn't help but feel a bit bitter in his heart.

'I'm sorry, Brother Gonglu, now what Yin is carrying is the heavy responsibility of the Runan Yuan clan, and I have no choice but to submit to the Marquis. I believe that brother can also understand Yin, right…'

But no matter how bitter he was in his heart, Yuan Yin never dared to show it in the slightest. The two of them walked out of the county government office all the way, and seemed to be having a very happy conversation.

Afterwards, Li Ji, in front of countless attracted aristocratic family spies, arranged for Yuan Yin to live in the county government office.

At the same time, Li Ji had already secretly sent people to spread the purpose of Yuan Yin's visit in the city, which undoubtedly set off a storm in the hearts of the Yu Province aristocratic families.

Almost at the same time, the confidants of each family quickly left Xiang County and relayed this important information back.

No one knew better than the Runan Yuan clan itself about the situation inside Yuan Shu.

Now, with Li Ji appearing in Xiang County like a divine soldier, while Yuan Shu was blocking Ruyang City and not allowing anyone to enter or leave, the Yuan clan took the initiative to come to Xiang County to kneel and lick Marquis Guoshi.

How could the Yu Province aristocratic families not be shocked by the hidden meaning in this?

Especially the large number of Yu Province aristocratic family representatives who were still wavering, almost subconsciously felt that they had knelt and licked too late, too late. How could they let the Runan Yuan clan kneel and lick first?

As this information spread, the Yu Province aristocratic families who knew about it almost all chose to send representatives to Xiang County as soon as possible.