Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

“Lord Marquis, please reconsider! General Zhou’s words were only for your benefit; his offense doesn't warrant death…”

“If you execute him for a momentary slip of the tongue, no one will dare to offer advice to you in the future.”

“General Zhou has always been straightforward and outspoken, possessing the spirit of the General of Chariots and Cavalry. He has absolutely no intention of sowing discord.”

For a time, the generals pleaded for Zhou Cang's life.

Seeming to be swayed by some of their words, Guan Yu's expression gradually softened, but he still spoke loudly with lingering anger.

“Guan’s life is Brother’s life, Guan’s body is Brother’s body…”

“Not to mention the oath of shared life and death between us brothers, Brother would never harm Guan.”

“Even if Brother wanted to use Guan’s head for some reason, Guan would willingly bind his own hands and let Brother take it. How can you even mention a Hongmen Banquet for these meager military powers? It's simply a joke.”

After a pause, Guan Yu rebuked Zhou Cang.

“In consideration of your past merits, this time you are spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment. Thirty strokes of the staff, demoted from your position to a mere foot soldier under my command. Do you have any objections?”

Zhou Cang quickly replied, “I dare not!”

Guan Yu surveyed the generals in the tent and shouted, “From now on, if I hear such remarks again, no matter who it is, Guan will definitely execute them without mercy.”

“Understood.”

The generals responded in unison.

Guan Yu didn't delay for even a moment. He quickly began to sort out the defenses of Jing Province, handing them over to capable subordinate generals. He also personally inspected the border, confirming that Lü Bu was unlikely to invade in the short term, before taking five hundred ax-wielding soldiers as escorts and returning to Shouchun by waterway.

However, Guan Yu was fast, but Zhang Fei was even faster.

Zhang Fei, who commanded troops in Yu Province, was primarily responsible for training and commanding cavalry. The actual defense of Yu Province was under the responsibility of Zhuge Liang.

After receiving Liu Bei's letter, Zhang Fei didn't even personally visit Zhuge Liang, this junior, to report.

Zhang Fei merely sent a soldier to inform him, then handed over the cavalry to a deputy general and led his eighteen Yan Yun riders to Shouchun, traveling day and night.

By the time Zhuge Liang, who was far away in Qiao County, received the news, Zhang Fei was already about to leave the border of Yu Province.

Zhuge Liang, who was entrusted with important tasks by Li Ji and was mainly responsible for the military and political affairs of Yu Province, had grown rapidly in just two years and already possessed some of the qualities that Li Ji considered to be of a Martial Marquis.

But even Zhuge Liang, who had grown to this extent, couldn't help but lose his composure and become angry when he learned of this matter, and couldn't help but write a document to Shouchun.

When this document was delivered to Li Ji, Li Ji, who didn't understand the reason, read it through and couldn't help but be stunned.

Zhuge Liang, who was extremely well-cultivated, seemed to only be reporting on the defense of Yu Province in the document. There was no direct mention of Zhang Fei's name throughout the entire document, but Li Ji could feel a sense of national essence between the lines no matter how he looked at it.

This made Li Ji couldn't help but smile wryly.

Zhang San was already an outlaw, let alone Zhang Fei, this Third Master Zhang?

Especially Zhang Fei, who had been influenced by Li Ji, was truly unbeatable, unrebukable, and had no connections as strong as his for ninety-nine percent of the people, whether they were friends or foes.

Moreover, it was rare for Liu Bei and his brothers to reunite. Even if Li Ji wanted to reprimand Zhang Fei, it would seem a bit tactless for Li Ji to spoil the fun at this time.

Immediately, Li Ji tapped the table for a while, then suddenly opened his mouth and said to Gu Wei.

“Why was this document sent to me? Documents submitted by local prefectures and counties should first be sent to Grand Master Gu for preliminary review and processing.”

“Take it away and send it to Grand Master Gu.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Wei thought that he had made a mistake in his busy schedule, so he quickly stepped forward to take the document and looked down at the document, which indicated Zhuge Liang's name.

‘This… this is correct…’

Gu Wei couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

Although Li Ji didn't directly reform the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system, except for the Grand Commandant and Minister of Works, who still retained their names but had no real power, the scope of responsibilities of the Nine Ministers had been adjusted by Li Ji.

Now, the documents sent in the name of the local prefectures and counties are all initially processed by Grand Master Gu Yong.

Only documents sent directly in the name of individuals are directly delivered to Chancellor Li Ji for processing.

“Chancellor, is this… a mistake?” Gu Wei confirmed again and again.

Li Ji continued to work on official business while waving his hand and said, “It's a mistake, it's a mistake. Just send it to Grand Master Gu.”

“Yes.”

Gu Wei seemed to have understood something, and then retreated.

When Gu Yong saw the document that Gu Wei had sent over, which had been unsealed and stated that it was “sent by mistake,” Gu Yong first glanced at the contents in confusion, and then suddenly scanned it again in disbelief.

“Grand Master Gu, was this sent by mistake?”

Gu Wei asked with a pointed intention.

Gu Yong's pupils seemed to be a little empty, and he nodded with an unchanged expression and replied.

“It was indeed a mistake.”

Immediately, after Gu Wei left, Gu Yong summoned his subordinate, the Vice Grand Master, handed the document to the other party, and said sternly.

“Handle it officially.”

After the Vice Grand Master took the document, he glanced through it, pondered for a long time, and then summoned his subordinate, the Grand Master Clerk, handed the document to the other party, and reiterated “Handle it officially.”

And Lu Su, the Grand Master Clerk who had recently joined this small imperial court through the recommendation system, after glancing through the document.

Soon, Lu Su understood the meaning that Zhuge Liang secretly expressed in the document. Lu Su, who had not yet understood the twists and turns, honestly issued a document questioning and reprimanding Zhang Fei.

Three days later, Zhang Fei's broken voice rang out outside the temporary official office.

“Which damned bastard had the guts to issue me this broken document, causing me to be reprimanded by Brother…”

“Who is Lu Su, the Grand Master Clerk? Come out to me!”

“Come out immediately and practice with me on the training field…”

Lu Su, who was diligently working in the area assigned to the Grand Master's subordinates in the official office, couldn't help but tremble when he heard the thunderous voice.

Before Lu Su could figure out what was going on, the Vice Grand Master who came in saw that Lu Su was still on duty here, and was shocked, saying.

“Why is Zijing still here? Leave quickly.”

“What?” Lu Su was a little confused.

The Vice Grand Master didn't expect Lu Su to not have taken a break these past few days, and quickly urged.

“If you don't leave, if the General of Chariots and Cavalry finds this place, Zijing might suffer. Don't say too much, leave quickly.”

“Even if the General of Chariots and Cavalry is highly valued by the Great King, this is an important official office. Grand Master Gu Yong is also highly valued by the Great King. Are you afraid that the General of Chariots and Cavalry will cause trouble? I will report to the Grand Master.”

Lu Su said sternly.

However, the Vice Grand Master's next words completely stopped Lu Su's footsteps.

“The Grand Master is on leave today.”

Lu Su is only honest and sincere, but not stupid.

Grand Master Gu Yong, who is busy every day, just happens to be on leave from the official office today?

Is it intentional? Or an accident? Or an intentional accident?

“Lu Su!? Who is Lu Su, come out and confront me…”

At this moment, the thunderous voice was getting closer and closer, making the face of Lu Su, who was originally full of righteousness, lose some color.

(End of this chapter)