Chapter 1507

On that land gently brushed by the dust of history, the stories of the Three Kingdoms still circulate among the people, becoming topics of conversation after tea and meals. As Zhuge Liang's "Tripartite Confrontation" strategy took root in people's hearts, although there were occasional frictions between Shu Han, Cao Wei, and Eastern Wu, they generally maintained a delicate balance. However, beneath this seemingly calm surface, undercurrents were surging, and all parties were silently accumulating strength, waiting for the right moment.

In Shu Han, a wealthy landlord named Li Gui, due to his vast family business and local influence, became the focus of everyone's attention. Although Li Gui was born in poverty, he gradually accumulated a substantial family fortune through his own intelligence and unremitting efforts. He owned vast fields and countless gold and silver treasures, making him the premier wealthy man in the area.

One day, Li Gui was hosting guests at his home. After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food, everyone began to discuss the current situation. A guest sighed: "Now that the three kingdoms are in a tripartite confrontation, it seems peaceful, but in reality, undercurrents are surging. I don't know when this calm water surface will be broken again."

Upon hearing this, Li Gui smiled slightly and said: "What you all say is very true. However, although we are commoners, we can also contribute to the country's peace and stability. Although I, Li Gui, am untalented, I am willing to donate funds to assist the army to ensure the peace of the country."

Upon hearing this, the guests cast looks of admiration one after another. One of them asked: "Brother Li, how exactly do you plan to assist the army?"

Li Gui pondered for a moment and said: "I plan to donate funds to purchase grain, fodder, weapons, and other military supplies to support the soldiers on the front lines. At the same time, I am also willing to recruit some brave men to form a volunteer army to prepare for any unexpected needs."

After hearing this, the guests praised Li Gui's generosity and righteousness one after another. They knew that Li Gui's words were not empty; he indeed had the strength and ability to put his promises into practice.

However, just as Li Gui was preparing to implement his plan, an uninvited guest broke into his mansion. The visitor was wearing a gorgeous robe and had an arrogant look on his face; one could tell at a glance that he was a powerful and influential figure.

"Li Gui, I heard you plan to donate funds to assist the army?" the visitor asked straight to the point.

Li Gui was stunned for a moment, then replied politely: "That is correct. Although I, Li Gui, am a commoner, I am also willing to contribute to the country's peace and stability."

Upon hearing this, the visitor sneered and said: "Hmph, do you think that a small landlord like you can influence the situation of this world? Let me tell you, the major affairs of this world are for those heroes and great men to worry about; you all just need to keep to yourselves and live your own lives well."

After hearing this, Li Gui was displeased, but he did not show it. He politely sent the visitor away, but in his heart, he pondered: "This person is so arrogant and rude; he clearly looks down on us commoners. However, although I, Li Gui, am not a hero or a great man, I know that when it comes to the rise and fall of the country, every man has a responsibility. I must prove that even we commoners can contribute to the country's peace and stability."

Thus, Li Gui became even more determined in his resolve. He began to actively prepare grain, fodder, weapons, and other military supplies, and recruited a group of brave men to form a volunteer army. He personally led this volunteer army to the front lines to support the soldiers of Shu Han.

On the front lines, Li Gui and his volunteer army demonstrated tenacious combat effectiveness and a selfless spirit of dedication. They fought side by side with the soldiers of Shu Han, jointly resisting the enemy's offensive. Their heroic deeds soon spread throughout Shu Han, and they became heroes in the mouths of the people.

However, Li Gui was not satisfied with this. He knew deeply that to truly maintain the country's peace and stability, one still needed to solve the problem at its root. Thus, he began to actively engage in political activities, attempting to promote Shu Han's political reform and economic development through his own influence.

He proposed many beneficial suggestions and measures, such as reducing the burden on the commoners, increasing agricultural productivity, and strengthening border defense construction. These suggestions and measures were widely accepted and adopted by the Shu Han court, laying a solid foundation for Shu Han's prosperity and stability.

Under Li Gui's efforts, Shu Han's political situation gradually stabilized, and the economy also developed rapidly. The living standards of the commoners were improved, and the country's strength was enhanced. And Li Gui himself, due to his outstanding contributions and selfless spirit of dedication, became a legendary figure of Shu Han.

However, peace did not last long. As time passed, new conflicts began to gradually emerge. The struggle between Eastern Wu and Cao Wei became increasingly fierce, and Shu Han also faced threats from the north. Against this background, Li Gui once again exerted his wisdom and courage.

He proposed the strategy of uniting with Eastern Wu to jointly resist Cao Wei and personally went to Eastern Wu to lobby. In Eastern Wu, relying on his eloquence and wisdom, he successfully persuaded the Emperor and high officials of Eastern Wu. In the end, Shu Han and Eastern Wu formed an alliance to jointly resist Cao Wei's offensive.

In this war, Li Gui once again led his volunteer army to march. They fought side by side with the joint forces of Shu Han and Eastern Wu, jointly resisting Cao Wei's offensive. Their heroic deeds once again spread throughout the Three Kingdoms, becoming a celebrated story in the mouths of the people.

After Li Gui became a high official of Shu Han, he did not slack off because of this; instead, he handled state affairs even more diligently, committed to promoting the comprehensive development of Shu Han. He knew deeply that the prosperity of a country does not lie solely in the strength of its military power, but more importantly in the comprehensive improvement of economy, culture, education, and many other aspects.

Thus, Li Gui began to set about reforming Shu Han's economic system. He advocated farming and encouraged the commoners to reclaim wasteland and plant crops to increase agricultural productivity. At the same time, he also implemented a series of policies to reduce the burden on the commoners, such as lowering taxes and reducing corvée labor, allowing the commoners to produce with peace of mind and gradually become wealthy.

In terms of culture, Li Gui also made huge contributions. He advocated Confucian culture, established schools, and hired famous teachers to cultivate a large number of talents for Shu Han. These talents played important roles in later political, economic, and cultural fields, laying a solid foundation for Shu Han's prosperity and stability.

In addition, Li Gui also paid great attention to border defense construction. He knew deeply that only by ensuring the safety of the frontiers could the stability of the country be guaranteed. Therefore, he strengthened the training of border defense troops and improved the army's combat effectiveness. At the same time, he also established friendly diplomatic relations with neighboring countries and resolved many border disputes through peaceful negotiations, winning a good international reputation for Shu Han.

Under Li Gui's efforts, Shu Han gradually moved toward prosperity and stability. The commoners lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the country's strength increased day by day. However, Li Gui was not satisfied with this.