Traveling back in time to Liu Feng, starting with rescuing soldier Guan Yu.

It was 3:45 PM. In the government office of Shangyong City.

Liu Feng, clad in heavy armor and with a long sword at his waist, sat calmly at his command desk, his gaze fixed on the map of Jingzhou spread out on the table, lost in thought. Suddenly, he heard footsteps outside the door, and Meng Da, along with the brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi, entered hand in hand.

The three men were taken aback when they saw Liu Feng dressed in military uniform. They immediately saluted Liu Feng and said in unison, "We, your humble servants, greet the Deputy General!"

Liu Feng nodded slightly, gesturing for the three to sit, and then got straight to the point. He said, "I summoned the three generals here so late at night because of an urgent military situation. I have important matters to discuss with you. Someone, please bring seats for the three of you!"

The brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi were local gentry and powerful figures who had long dominated Shangyong and Fangling, commanding over a thousand followers. When they were allied with Cao Wei, they served as the prefect and grand commander of Shangyong. Although Liu Feng and Meng Da, who had joined forces, forced the brothers to surrender, they dared not easily seize their military power. Historically, before Guan Yu flooded the seven armies, he did indeed send a message to Liu Feng, ordering him to lead troops to support the Xiangfan battlefield. However, at that time, Liu Feng, due to the Shen brothers' recent surrender and the lack of popular support, dared not easily send troops south to Jingzhou.

"To be honest, the three of you are facing a momentous opportunity. I would be unwilling to accept that I cannot achieve this feat and share in the riches with you all!"

The two brothers, Shen Dan and Shen Yi, looked at each other, not understanding what Liu Feng meant.

Meng Da frowned slightly and tentatively asked, "Is the Deputy General right? The Battle of Xiangfan has come to a conclusion?"

"Haha. That's right! Wherever my second uncle Guan Yu's army pointed, the 30,000 reinforcements sent by Cao Cao have been completely annihilated. Their commander, Yu Jin, has already surrendered, and their vanguard, Pang De, stubbornly resisted and refused to surrender, but Guan Yu has already beheaded him. Within ten days, Xiangyang will surely fall! The great cause can be accomplished!"

These few words were like a large stone thrown into the calm lake of the three people's hearts, instantly creating ripples.

Shen Yi, who had always commanded troops, showed an expression of admiration and said in a trembling voice, "Is what the Deputy General says true? I have always heard that Yu Jin is the top general outside the Cao family in the camp, commanding the brave and elite troops of Yan and Zhao. Is he really so easily defeated? Lord Guan... could he really be a god?"

"My father is a descendant of the Han imperial family, of the purest bloodline. Uncle Guan's cause is justified, and he commands a dignified army. Moreover, he is unparalleled in bravery. Let alone the insignificant Yu Jin, even if the traitor Cao Cao himself came, he would find it difficult to stop him. Gentlemen, although I am still young, I know that a true man should establish merit and achieve great deeds to secure a good future for his wife and children! Now, our Han army is advancing like a whirlwind, about to march straight into the Central Plains. I wish to lead troops to support Lord Guan. What do you three think?"

Liu Feng's gaze swept over the three men's faces. As a time traveler, he naturally knew the fate of Guan Yu's defeat and death. But right now, to stabilize the situation and morale of the army in Shangyong, and more importantly, to trick the Shen brothers into marching south together, Liu Feng had no choice but to devise such a scheme.

Even though Guan Yu's army was already at its last gasp, Liu Feng still beat the drums to cheer them on!

Meng Da, however, harbored other plans. These past few days, he had been bullied by his former master, Liu Feng, and feared the forced annexation of his four thousand troops, thus losing his most vital asset for survival. Furthermore, the letter from Cao Pi, the heir apparent of Cao Wei, promising him great honors, had already fueled his rebellious intentions. Seeing this, he quickly spoke up, saying, "Deputy General, I believe your words are inappropriate! Leaving aside the outcome of the Battle of Xiangfan, it's too early to speak of it now. Whether Lord Guan will win, and whether the intelligence is true or false, are still unknown. General, don't rashly send troops; lest you fall into Cao Cao's trap of luring the tiger away from the mountain!"

"Moreover, although Lord Guan is granted the authority to command all military affairs in Jingzhou, we are not under his command. If we rashly send troops and lose the newly acquired three commanderies of Shangyong, I fear the King of Hanzhong will still blame you and us. I once heard someone say that Lord Guan once told the King of Hanzhong: 'Why use an adopted son?' We, on your behalf, must not abandon our posts to assist Lord Guan. Without the King's order, Meng Da dares not accompany you on this expedition!"

Sure enough.

Upon hearing Meng Da's words, Liu Feng secretly sneered. Meng Da's behavior at this moment was exactly as described in historical records, and his words seemed reasonable. Even the Shen brothers, who had been agitated just moments before, became hesitant and uncertain.

"In that case, General Meng, what do you think we should do?"

Seeing Liu Feng's question, Meng Da was secretly pleased, thinking his words had persuaded Liu Feng. He stroked his short beard and said in a deep voice, "You can use the excuse that you've just acquired a prefecture and dare not act rashly. You can write to the King of Hanzhong explaining this matter, and then observe Lord Guan's success or failure. In my opinion, given your current situation, General, being able to hold military power outside the capital is the best course of action to protect yourself!"

The saying "killing someone is like destroying their spirit" applies here! Liu Feng naturally understood the meaning behind Meng Da's words. He meant that given his current awkward position in the Shu Han group, he might be able to save his life by remaining neutral and observing from the sidelines, while showing too much talent would only lead to his death.

But the original owner Liu Feng's experience has proven that this is a dead end!

Liu Feng had no choice but to risk taking another path, showcasing his military talent. He needed to increase his influence and prestige within the army, making Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang hesitant to act against him if they harbored murderous intent. Therefore, Guan Yu had to be saved. Meng Da had to die.

"Lord Zijing (Meng Da's courtesy name), I have heard that the traitor Cao has sent a personal letter to your residence, promising you a high-ranking official position and generous title. I wonder if this is true?" Liu Feng asked in a calm tone, but picked up a wine cup from the table with his left hand.

The wine cup was thrown to the ground and shattered. Hearing Liu Feng's words, Meng Da knew the situation was dire. His expression changed drastically, and he sprang to his feet, drawing his sword with a clang, shouting, "Where are my guards?"

Outside the government office, fifty or sixty elite soldiers in full armor, wielding long blades, suddenly surged out. The leading officer was a burly man, his entire body clad in heavy, dark black armor. He held a long halberd, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent the two Meng Da servants charging at the front flying. Then, with a roar, he shouted, "The Changsha bandit commander is here! Who dares to step forward!"

No sooner said than done. Before Meng Da could struggle, seven or eight armored soldiers pounced on him, twisting him before Liu Feng without a word. A cold glint flashed in Liu Feng's eyes as he drew his longsword. With his left hand, he twisted Meng Da's headscarf, while his right hand brandished the sword.

"Liu Feng! As the heir apparent to the King of Han, you have been arrogant and domineering, arbitrarily killing generals and framing loyal officials. I must go to see the King of Hanzhong and present your crimes to him in person..."

Before the words were finished, blood splattered. Liu Feng, holding Meng Da's head in his left hand, kicked Meng Da's corpse to the ground. His cold gaze swept over the stunned Shen brothers, then he strode to the front of the hall and shouted sternly, "Meng Da is a treacherous coward, plotting rebellion. As the eldest son of the King of Hanzhong, I have received a secret edict from the King to execute this traitor. Why don't you surrender now?"

The Kou clan's army was numerous and powerful, and they were clad in armor and armed with weapons. When Meng Da's followers saw that their lord was dead, they all threw down their short weapons, bowed their heads, and said, "We are willing to surrender to the young general."

Liu Feng casually threw Meng Da's head to the ground, sheathed his sword, strode to the two brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi, and suddenly bowed deeply to the ground.

"Feng acted rashly, causing alarm to the two generals. In reality, the military situation was urgent, and there was a fear of unrest within the army, so Feng had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."

Seeing the blood still wet on Liu Feng's face and the chilling killing intent in his dark eyes, the Shen brothers were terrified, their faces turning ashen. Shen Yi, being a soldier himself and having witnessed bloodshed, finally spoke in a trembling voice, "Deputy General, won't you kill us two brothers?"

Liu Feng laughed heartily, reaching out to pull the Shen brothers back to their seats and refilling their wine cups. "Not only would Liu Feng not dare harm you two," he declared, "but as I just said, I will bestow upon you an immense fortune!"

At this moment, the sounds of footsteps and horses' hooves could be heard outside the government office.

Kou Zun, fully armored, strode into the hall and announced loudly, "Reporting to the Deputy General: I was ordered by you to surround Meng Da's residence as soon as he left. All seventy-two members of the Meng family perished. Meng Da's son, Meng Xing, resisted stubbornly but was killed on the spot. During a search of Meng Da's residence, I found this secret letter. I have come to present it to the Deputy General!"

Liu Feng took the secret letter, glanced at the cloth, and casually handed it to Shen Dan.

"Prefect Shen, please take a look. This is the evidence of Meng Da's collusion with Cao Wei. Hmph! Appointing him as a general and bestowing upon him a title—that brat Cao Pi certainly has a grand scheme. I wonder if you two generals are tempted?"

Shen Dan took the silk scroll and saw that the contents of the secret letter were exactly as Liu Feng had described. Hearing Liu Feng's words, he was terrified, his face turning ashen. He quickly rose and said, "My brother and I have received the grace of the Han Dynasty for generations; we would never dare to betray the King of Hanzhong. Please, Deputy General, understand!"

Liu Feng slowly returned to his seat, secretly relieved. When he had just recounted Meng Da's crimes, he hadn't known that Meng Da's residence truly contained a secret letter from Cao Pi, merely a fabricated charge. But now, with this secret letter in hand, his act of arbitrarily killing a general from the frontier did indeed seem somewhat like acting on the king's orders.

"Generals, please do not doubt me. What I have said about being granted titles and honors is not a joke. Lord Guan's army is currently at its strongest. If we can lead our troops to assist you, we can join forces to first capture Xiangyang, then take Wancheng, recover the Heluo region, and welcome back the Han Emperor. In the future, your names will naturally shine brightly in the annals of history. Why worry about wealth, honor, and fame?"

"this..."

"Since the two generals are still hesitating, I cannot force you to lead the army into battle. You only need to defend the city and protect the people. I will lead my own troops into battle. However, if you miss this golden opportunity, you will regret it too late! Guards, escort the two generals back to their residence."

Of the Shen brothers, Shen Dan was more skilled in strategy. Upon hearing Liu Feng's words, his eyes flashed, and he said, "This matter is of great importance. I wonder if the Deputy General would allow me and my brother to discuss it? Moreover, war is dangerous and perilous; we brothers must be permitted to prepare provisions and equipment and accompany the Deputy General on the expedition as soon as possible!"

"Prefect Shen's words make sense, but the military situation is constantly changing, and Xiangyang is currently in grave danger. If the soldiers under your command shirk their responsibilities and become negligent, we may miss such a golden opportunity! We must find a timeframe."

"How could I not know what the deputy general is saying? Hmm... Within seven days, I will surely be able to mobilize all the soldiers and troops of my clan to follow the deputy general in achieving this unparalleled feat."

Liu Feng strode up to the Shen brothers, grabbed Shen Dan, clapped his hands and laughed, "It's a deal! I'll wait here for good news from Prefect Shen and Grand Commandant Shen."

After the discussion concluded, Liu Feng personally escorted the Shen brothers out of the government office gate. Shen Dan and Shen Yi rode back to their residence side by side, exchanging a glance, both feeling as if they had been reborn. "Brother, do you believe what Liu Feng said just now?" Shen Dan asked in a low voice.

"Whether you believe it or not, we'll find out soon enough. A single falling leaf heralds autumn, and ducks are the first to know when the spring river warms. Although Shangyong is far from Xiangfan, merchants travel back and forth on the Han River without ceasing. We'll send someone to investigate thoroughly. Also, send reliable and discerning members of our clan to inquire at various merchants' offices in Nanxiang County. We'll know the truth in less than five days."

"Wonderful! Brother, no wonder you agreed with that scoundrel Liu Feng to break camp in seven days. It turns out you had already planned this all along."

Shen Dan smiled and said in a deep voice, "If the Han dynasty truly does not end, the Liu family will surely prosper. If General Guan succeeds in his northern expedition to the Central Plains, then we brothers must earn this honor of being granted land and titles for our descendants!"

Kou Zun and Kou Wei stood beside Liu Fengfeng, watching the two men's departing figures, and whispered, "Brother, are you just going to let these two go back so easily?"

"What else can we do? The Shen family is a powerful local clan in Shangyong, with deep roots and a large influence. If we rashly attack them, it will only incite a popular uprising. Moreover, since we are leading our army south, we also need to protect the foundation of the three counties of Shangyong. Therefore, we must rely on the strength of these two brothers."

"But Brother Feng, what these two just said clearly shows that they are unwilling to lead their troops to accompany us south to Jingzhou."

Liu Feng patted Kou Wei on the shoulder and laughed, "Ziwu, a few days can change a lot. Perhaps by then, they will join our army and march south to Jingzhou with the strength of their entire clan! As for the Shen family, we just need to send someone to keep an eye on them. Tonight, we brothers have something more important to do."