Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

As everyone rushed to agree respectfully, Li Ji really couldn't tell who was who for a moment.

But when he looked up, Li Ji could see clearly the few people sitting at the table drinking.

Immediately, Li Ji nodded to his left and right with a smile on his face, and continued walking forward. He found that Liu Qi did not appear, and the seat reserved for Li Ji was also the main seat.

Since Liu Qi was not there, Li Ji did not pretend to refuse. Instead, he waved his sleeves, sat down in the main seat, raised the wine cup, and smiled.

"Today is the celebration banquet you have prepared for me, please join me in enjoying it!"

Immediately, everyone at the banquet raised their glasses in agreement and drank up the contents in their cups, thus opening the curtain for the banquet.

One after another, the programs that were arranged in advance also appeared one after another.

The singers and dancers, in the melody, their soft waists seemed boneless, and their graceful postures, the light veil slipped down and their breasts were revealed...

If Li Ji had not always been surrounded by stunning beauties, and had not occasionally admired Diao Chan's stunning dance, he would probably have lost his composure for a moment.

Under Cai He's active introduction, these charming singers and dancers were all trained by Madam Cai personally after Liu Jingsheng took over Jingzhou.

"Old Liu is indeed a respectable man who knows how to enjoy life..."

Li Ji said this subconsciously in his mind, his thoughts moved slightly, and he looked at Cai He who had a flattering smile on his face.

What an inadvertent recommendation. If these singers and dancers are like this, doesn't it imply that Madam Cai, who trained these singers and dancers, is even better?

At this moment, Li Ji even suspected that if he only showed a little interest in Madam Cai, he would have another beauty on his bed tonight and successfully become Liu Qi's stepfather.

Even if he did not express his interest, Cai He could still leave an impression in Li Ji's mind, which would bring him many benefits in the future.

Li Ji's mind raced, but he didn't make any statement, which disappointed Cai He, who was quietly observing Li Ji's expression.

In Cai He's mind, Liu Bei was naturally the best choice, but Li Ji was also an excellent choice second only to Liu Bei.

If Cai could gain Li Ji's favor, and through a woman, he could firmly tie Cai to the state hero, that would undoubtedly be enough to guarantee Cai's interests in Jingzhou, and even go a step further.

Cai He even believed that many of the noble families participating in the banquet had such plans, but they just hadn't had the right opportunity to speak up.

As the banquet went on, other programs, some vulgar and some elegant, such as sword dancing, verbal duels, and wrestling, were performed one after another.

The banquet ended only after both the host and the guests had a great time and Li Ji made the excuse of being tired.

This banquet undoubtedly had more political significance than entertainment significance. Li Ji needed to attend the banquet to appease the people of Jingzhou, and the people of Jingzhou also hoped to use this opportunity to please Li Ji and test Li Ji's attitude towards the people of Jingzhou.

So, the show is good...

However, after participating in such a banquet, Li Ji, who actually had to deal with all parties, felt quite tired.

When Li Ji returned to the mansion that was arranged as his residence and rested for a while, Liu Qi came to visit him as expected.

Liu Qi did not appear at the banquet in order to avoid embarrassment for all parties.

After all, with the young master by his side, he has some influence on everyone to use their strengths to please others.

However, after the banquet, Liu Qi couldn't wait to go to the door to seek answers.

"My Lord, was my late father's death instigated by my uncle?"

Liu Qi's questions were extremely direct and sharp. Even after Liu Qi had completely handed over the power of Jingzhou, he asked again. I'm afraid he didn't want to get a false answer.

"My lord knows nothing. It was Sun Bofu who killed Liu Jingzhou out of revenge..."

After a pause, Li Ji replied with some apology, "The lord will definitely give you an explanation on this matter."

Just after getting this answer, Liu Qi seemed to have put a big stone down in his heart and said.

"In this way, Qi will not be ashamed to face my father in his grave. Jingzhou is entrusted to you, my Lord. Please treat the people well."

"Moreover, Liu Pan, Wen Pin, and Huang Zhong are all loyal and brave men. Even if they are unwilling to change their allegiance for the time being, they will definitely not betray their master when they return to their loyalty in the future."

After saying this, Liu Qi left somewhat shakily.

Li Ji officially took control of Xiangyang, and then used Xiangyang as the center to send orders to the cities of Jingzhou, and officially began to control Jingzhou. The explosive news that Li Ji, the Grand Commander of Yangzhou and the Governor of Wujun, led 60,000 troops and defeated Yuan Shu's 120,000 troops in one battle, and took control of Jingzhou, also spread like a hurricane.

Qingzhou.

When this news reached Cao Cao, he was both shocked and angry.

"Pig! What a stupid pig!!!"

"Even if 120,000 pigs were placed on the plains to charge, they couldn't be killed completely in one day. What on earth is Yuan Gonglu doing?!"

"With Yuan Gonglu's defeat, most of Jingzhou will be taken by Liu Da'er. Jingzhou and Yangzhou will be connected, and the entire north and south banks of the Yangtze River will be taken by Liu Da'er. When he marches north to the Central Plains, who can stop him?"

Not only did Cao Cao curse Yuan Shu in an unruly manner, but the counselors at the table also had ugly expressions on their faces.

If the entire Han Dynasty is divided into three parts with the Yellow River and the Yangtze River as the boundary.

Today, Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao are competing for the top spot to the north of the first section of the Yellow River, while Lu Bu, Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, and various small princes are entrenched to the south of the second section of the Yellow River.

The third paragraph: The main figures on both sides of the Yangtze River are Liu Bei, Liu Biao, Tao Qian and Yuan Shu.

Now, with Liu Biao dead and Yuan Shu defeated, most of Jingzhou fell into Liu Bei's hands, and one third of the world had been controlled by Liu Bei.

After Liu Bei consolidated his territory in Jingzhou, he would inevitably lead his troops northward.

Can Yuan Shu stop Liu Bei?
Once Yuan Shu can no longer be stopped, it will be the turn of Lu Bu, Cao Cao and others...

too fast!
It all comes down to it being too fast!
In Cao Cao's estimation, neither Liu Biao nor Yuan Shu would be a match for Liu Bei and Li Ji, but it should not be a problem to drag on for several years.

As a result, Cao Cao felt that in just the time it took him to snore, the situation in Jingzhou changed drastically.

Cao Cao had just spent a lot of effort to pacify the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou and tried every means to restore the people's livelihood in Qingzhou and accumulate money and food, but Liu Bei was about to become a hegemon across Jing and Yang states.

After a moment, Cao Cao sat back in the main seat, his slender and oppressive eyes fixed, and he spoke in a deep voice.

"Time is running out! There is no time for me to slowly restore people's livelihood in Qingzhou and accumulate money and food for a year or two before marching to attack Yanzhou."

"We must send out troops this year at the earliest or early next year at the latest. Otherwise, when Liu the Great Ear leads his troops north, we will still be sitting here in Qingzhou waiting to be killed."

At the end of his speech, Cao Cao's eyes fell on the butler Xun Yu, who was placed with high hopes.

In Cao Cao's view, Xun Yu's ability in governing may not be inferior to Li Ji's.

Even though Qingzhou was deserted and plagued by problems, Xun Yu successfully put Qingzhou back on track after initially conquering it. The level of governance he demonstrated was so great that Cao Cao would be ashamed of himself.

Therefore, Cao Cao hoped that Xun Yu would be able to make it clear with a wave of his hand that the money and food would be prepared when the troops were sent out, just as Li Ji inexplicably came up with countless money and food for Liu Bei to squander.

Facing Cao Cao's gaze, Xun Yu, who had been busy with government affairs day and night and looked a little more haggard than before, just wanted to sleep.

What is impossible in reality can be achieved in dreams.

Qingzhou had been ravaged by the Yellow Turbans for more than a year or two. The people fled in droves and the fields were left deserted. How could Xun Yu possibly raise money and food from the land of Qingzhou to support Cao Cao's troops in such a short period of time?

After a long while, Xun Yu spoke slowly with a bitter face.

"At the earliest, it will be possible to supply the three-month needs of a 50,000-man army in the second half of next year."

However, Cao Cao was obviously not satisfied with this answer.

By the second half of next year, it might be too late.

Jing and Yang were connected, and Tao Qian of Xuzhou was Liu Bei's ally. By the time Liu Bei had almost digested Jingzhou a year later, he might have the conditions to lead his troops north to the Central Plains.

If he sends troops again at that time, could it be to compete with Liu Bei in the Central Plains?

Seeing that the atmosphere in the meeting room was becoming increasingly solemn, Cheng Yu, who had recently joined Cao Cao, slowly stood up and spoke.

"My Lord, I have a plan that can greatly ease the pressure on money and grain." (End of this chapter)