Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

But even though Li Ji refused again and again, he was unable to overcome the overwhelming public sentiment and had to agree with reluctance.

Aristocratic families are often like fence-sitters, leaning towards whichever side is stronger.

For such a group of guides, if Li Ji did not want to enter Xiangyang, they would probably be the first to get anxious.

However, to be on the safe side, Li Ji sent Zhou Tai to lead troops to Xiangyang to take over one side of the city wall to avoid the Hongmen Banquet after entering Xiangyang.

Although this possibility is extremely small, it is not a reason to be careless.

Throughout history, countless celebrities and heroes have died inexplicably due to their overconfidence, just like some people do not believe that 17 cards can kill them instantly.

Now Jingzhou seems to be in his pocket, and there is no obstacle that can stop Li Ji from controlling Jingzhou, but it is always right to be a little more cautious.

After Zhou Tai took over one of the city walls with the help of a group of guides from aristocratic families, Li Ji led his troops to Xiangyang at a leisurely pace.

As Li Ji's chariot slowly stopped in front of the city gate, Liu Qi and Sun Qian led a group of Jingzhou civil and military officials and aristocratic families to rush forward to greet them.

"Greetings to the Duke of Guoshi!"

This voice first rang out among the civil and military officials and aristocratic families of Jingzhou, then spread to the many soldiers on guard in the surrounding areas, and finally a large number of onlookers also shouted in unison.

The people's hearts were with him, and Jingzhou returned to Liu.

There is nothing more.

Even though Li Ji was well aware that there must have been a lot of human arrangement involved, he was still quite satisfied.

"You are all being so rude to me, please stand up quickly."

Li Ji quickly returned the salute, then stepped forward to help Liu Qi up, maintaining respect for Liu Qi on the surface.

This also made a considerable number of civil and military officials who still had some loyalty to their former master Liu Biao feel a little relieved.

Li Ji exchanged a few diplomatic words with Liu Qi, and they tried to evade the issue.

Immediately, Liu Qi waved his hand and Cai Zhong came up holding a tray covered with a red cloth, on which was the seal of the governor.

"Master, what do you mean?"

Li Ji was shocked and asked.

Liu Qi bowed and said, "Now that my father has passed away, Jingzhou still needs to wait for the court to arrange another governor position. Qi is originally a commoner, so he is not qualified to hold the governor's seal."

"And the emperor's uncle is a role model for the clan, and he also helped Jingzhou to repel Yuan Shu. It is reasonable that the emperor's uncle should temporarily manage the seal of Jingzhou. Please do not shirk your responsibility, my lord."

Li Ji heard this, his face became serious and said.

"Sir, are you trying to frame me for being disloyal? How can I accept the seal of a state on behalf of my lord? Even if you are worried that it will be taken away by thieves, you should hand it over to my lord in person for temporary custody."

Liu Qi hesitated for a moment, then stopped insisting and whispered something.

"What the Marquis said can be done, Qi, but I have a question that I need the Marquis to answer."

"Speak everything you know, and speak everything you know."

Li Ji answered like this, and then walked towards Xiangyang City side by side with Liu Qi.

Although Li Ji declined the seal of Jingzhou, Liu Qi was tactful enough to hand over his military power, and the entire Xiangyang was almost completely taken over by Li Ji at the same time.

Taking Xiangyang undoubtedly means that the first step has been taken towards controlling the entire Jingzhou.

Next, we just need to follow the steps and we can rely on Xiangyang to control Jingzhou.

After taking over Xiangyang, Li Ji did not immediately attend the celebration banquet held by the Jingzhou nobles, but instead asked Liu Qi about the location of Liu Zhang who was under house arrest.

...In a courtyard blocked by soldiers in Xiangyang City.

After being attacked by Liu Biao's men, Liu Zhang was imprisoned in this courtyard.

Even though he had no worries about food and drink every day, Liu Zhang, who was originally a little fat boy, still gained a lot of weight due to his depressed mood.

'Freedom!'

Liu Zhang finished today's portion of food, then slumped down on the steps and looked up at the sky. A crystal tear slowly slid down from the corner of his eye.

Being imprisoned here, his life was in danger at any moment, and even Liu Zhang could not remember how long he had been imprisoned.

In his dreams at midnight, Liu Zhang was worried that he would be dragged out and beheaded by Liu Biao the next moment.

All Liu Zhang could do, apart from waiting patiently for the next meal after each one, was to fantasize about everything outside the yard.

In this courtyard, the only person imprisoned with Liu Zhang was Zhang Song.

Unlike Liu Zhang who had gained a lot of weight, Zhang Song was just the opposite. He seemed to have shrunk a lot. His cheekbones were so distinct on his face, making him look even uglier.

"My lord, the ground is cold, don't catch a cold." Zhang Song advised.

“No matter how cold the ground is, can it be colder than my heart?”

Liu Zhang answered weakly, and then asked subconsciously, "Zi Qiao, do we really have a chance to get out?"

"Of course there will be someone to rescue us." Zhang Song replied with a firm tone.

After hearing this, Liu Zhang's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again. He turned to look at Zhang Song and said.

"Zi Qiao, luckily you are still here to talk to me occasionally, but I don't know when father will be able to rescue us."

Originally, Liu Zhang was quite disgusted with Zhang Song's ugly face, and he promoted Zhang Song only because he followed Li Ji's advice. It was like spending a huge sum of money to buy a horse bone, which showed his attitude of promoting the Yizhou family.

Even such an ugly man as Zhang Song, I, Liu Zhang, was able to give him important positions. Isn't this enough to show my attitude towards the Yizhou aristocratic families?
This was Liu Zhang's original intention.

Therefore, after Liu Zhang felt that his position in Yizhou was gradually consolidated, he naturally ignored Zhang Song more and more.

But as the saying goes: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Liu Zhang was imprisoned here for an unknown period of time, with only Zhang Song by his side.

This not only made Liu Zhang gradually get used to Zhang Song's ugly face, but he also felt that Zhang Song had a unique appearance and beauty. He was also very moved by Zhang Song's behavior of often sharing his food with him.

Feeling Liu Zhang's burning gaze filled with gratitude and trust, Zhang Song hardly even raised his eyelids, his eyes only fixed on the direction of the door.

Having been detained for so long, he may have been cut off from information.

However, Zhang Song learned a little about the direction of the current situation from the unintentional words of the guards who delivered meals to him every day, as well as the changes caused by Yuan Shu's siege on the city.

This made Zhang Song vaguely guess that perhaps the marquis had already arrived in Jingzhou.

With the arrival of the Marquis, hope has also arrived.

Just keep on holding on...

My Lord, you will never forget me!
At this moment, Zhang Song seemed to be dazzled, and the courtyard gate that had been closed for more than half a year slowly opened.

Li Ji, dressed in a blue scholar's robe, with one hand on the sword at his waist and the other holding a folding fan, stood behind the open door with his body slightly sideways, his eyes calm and gentle, looking at something with a smile on his face.

Zhang Song was stunned for several breaths, then a wry smile subconsciously appeared on his face and he muttered.

"My photographic memory is sometimes not so good. I can always imagine the Marquis's voice, appearance and smile exactly..." (End of this chapter)