The Three Kingdoms began with island farming

Chapter 702 No Poison When You Speak Out
Huang Quan frowned slightly as he read Sima Yi's letter.

Liu Fan, however, sat leisurely on his throne and said calmly, "Sima Yi is preparing to come and assist me. What do you think?"

"It's like a weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken," Zhang Song said bluntly.

He was never very magnanimous.

Previously, he had always felt that he was not being given important responsibilities under Liu Yan.

Now that they are under Liu Fan's command and have finally seen a glimmer of hope, they naturally do not want anyone to come and share the spoils.

Li Yan nodded in deep agreement upon hearing this.

He shares the same view as Zhang Song.

We've worked so hard to get our lord to where we are today, and on paper, we're even the strongest of the seven kings. What's with this guy suddenly coming to steal our glory?

Liu Fan nodded slightly, then looked at Huang Quan and Dong He.

Huang Quan's expression was slightly conflicted, but after hesitating, he still said truthfully, "I have heard of Sima Yi before."

"He was a student of various schools of thought who once displayed extraordinary talent during the Hundred Schools of Thought Contest at the Jixia Academy and was deeply respected by his peers."

"Moreover, even within the Great Qi, his position is extremely special. He was privately handpicked by Tian Ze as one of the three core members of the next generation of the Great Qi."

Huang Quan paused slightly at this point.

Looking sincerely at Liu Fan, he said in a deep voice, "This boy is very capable."

Dong He nodded slightly.

Both of them were broad-minded and open-minded, and over this period of time, they had been completely won over by Liu Fan's performance and were wholeheartedly serving him. Naturally, they considered issues entirely from Liu Fan's perspective.

In their view, it's a good thing to have such capable people come to help; the more the merrier.

Although Liu Fan's strength on paper is currently very strong, they are also well aware that the gap between their side and the other six kings is actually quite large.

Even if the data advantage is on paper, it probably won't last long.

Now is an era of great contention, with war between the two great empires imminent. Liu Fan's weakness will inevitably lead to a lack of stamina, and his already meager lead will soon be overtaken.

Liu Fan twirled the mutton-fat jade thumb ring in his hand, the crisp clinking sound echoing in the council hall.

"Gongheng, tell me, why did Sima Yi choose to assist me?" Liu Fan asked in a cryptic tone.

Upon hearing this, Huang Quan glanced apologetically at Li Yan and Zhang Song, whose expressions were displeased.

Don't blame him for siding with outsiders. Development is the top priority right now. As long as the Han Dynasty can develop rapidly, who cares whether he comes as an enemy or a friend, to help or to steal credit?

It doesn't matter if it's a black cat or a white cat, as long as it can catch mice, it's a good cat.

Moreover, given Sima Yi's status and position in Tian Ze's eyes, he would not stay with them for long and would eventually return, posing no threat to them.

Li Yan and Zhang Song just can't figure it out right now, but they should be able to understand it later.

In fact, this not only reflects a rejection of Sima Yi, but also an instinctive wariness and fear of the Great Qi.

Tianze never interfered in the affairs of the seven kingdoms in order to avoid unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings.

But now that a capable minister has been parachuted in, they can't help but be suspicious.

However, judging from his lord's tone, he still wanted to recruit Sima Yi.

At times like these, it is essential to unite all forces that can be united.

Even if Sima Yi's arrival was ill-intentioned, as long as it benefited them, that was enough.

The most crucial thing right now is to analyze why Sima Yi chose them.

"Among the seven kings, the civil and military officials under our lord's command are relatively the weakest overall," Huang Quan stated bluntly without any attempt to conceal his opinion.

Upon hearing this, Li Yan, Zhang Song, and the others blushed slightly, their eyes filled with anger and helplessness.

The truth is the most hurtful. They had to admit that what Huang Quan said was true.

Although both Lü Bu and Gongsun Zan had few civil and military officials under their command, their quality was high!

Even if they were all tied together, they wouldn't dare to claim victory against just one Li Ru.

The same applies to the combination of Fa Zheng and Han Sui.

As for the military commanders, needless to say, these two alone are far superior to them.

Liu Fan nodded slightly, signaling Huang Quan to continue.

He himself was well aware of this.

Not only were his civil and military officials the weakest among his own, but he was also the weakest among the seven kings.

"Although on the surface, our lord is the strongest, everyone knows the truth in their hearts."

"So we are the weakest, the most harmless, and the easiest to control."

It is said that it is non-toxic.

To avoid unnecessary internal strife when Sima Yi arrives in the future, Huang Quan simply laid everything out on the table.

"Sima Yi's choice of us was expected. Because the subjects of the Great Qi have never truly let down their guard against the seven princes."

"Helping us grow stronger will effectively balance the other six kings, prevent premature outbreaks of conflicts, and lay the foundation for a stable external environment in the future."

"We are Sima Yi's best pawns."

Although Sima Yi is still young, Huang Quan has never underestimated him.

It is remarkable that they still have the mind to come and train at such a time, and that the Great Qi even tacitly approves of it.

Its position within the Great Qi is self-evident.

What is the source of this status? It is ability, of course.

After all, given Sima Yi's noble family background and the fact that he was not a veteran or close advisor under Tian Ze, his status was not advantageous, and it would be good enough if he were not secretly ostracized and squeezed out.

The only way to get ahead is through your own strength.

Moreover, Huang Quan had learned during the time of the Hundred Schools of Thought that those who could stand out were all geniuses who appeared only once in a hundred years among the various schools of thought.

The Miscellaneous School was one of the strongest schools of thought, and Sima Yi's ability to rank first was a testament to his skill.

"What can he bring us?" Liu Fan asked calmly, his expression unchanged after hearing Huang Quan's words.

"The polymath emphasizes practicality and incorporates the strengths of various schools of thought, making him a master of governance. If this young man can assist us, he will surely be able to resolve many of the current domestic conflicts and problems, and greatly accelerate the development of our great Han Dynasty."

Liu Fan nodded, then looked at Li Yan and Zhang Song.

What are your thoughts on this?

"I am worried that this young man harbors treacherous intentions. His abilities are indeed extraordinary, but precisely because of this, if he were to plant a hidden threat within our Han Dynasty, we fear we would be unable to detect it," Li Yan said through gritted teeth.

Liu Fan nodded: "Then do you think that Sima Yi's arrival is more beneficial or detrimental to us?"

Li Yan's expression turned slightly grim: "Your Majesty, I do not know."

Liu Fan looked at Zhang Song, who quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your subject also does not know."

Over this period of time, the oppressive aura emanating from Liu Fan has become increasingly heavy.

The officials who once acted with ease in front of Liu Fan are now feeling some pressure.

Seeing this, Liu Fan's lips curled slightly: "Since none of you know, then let's give it a try."

"Let this boy come and assist us, and the two of you will support him from the sidelines. If he has any ulterior motives, I'm sure you'll be able to detect them."

(End of this chapter)