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

Three days after Liu Feng led his army into Rangcheng, the Shu Han troops, strictly disciplined by Liu Feng, did not harm the people in the city, earning widespread praise. Kou Zun led his personal guards to patrol the city day and night, effectively deterring any restless and arrogant soldiers.

Tian Yu gathered the surrendered soldiers who had surrendered the city. Apart from a few who wished to return to their hometowns to farm, more than a thousand men surrendered to Liu Feng.

Rangcheng Prefectural Government Office.

Liu Feng sat behind a desk in the main hall, with a detailed map of Nanyang Prefecture spread out in front of him. Kou Zun, Deng Ai, Tian Yu, Shen Yi, and other generals and officers sat on either side, but the atmosphere in the hall was somewhat strange.

"General," Shen Yi spoke first, "I believe we should take advantage of Wancheng's vulnerability, advance with light cavalry, catch them off guard, and capture Wancheng in one fell swoop."

Shen Yi was eager to fight. In his view, now that Liu Feng's army had captured Rang County, Wancheng had lost its only southwestern barrier to Nanyang. In addition, with Tian Yu's surrender, Cao Cao's army in Nanyang had suffered heavy losses, and capturing Wancheng was almost a sure thing.

Kou Zun nodded in agreement, saying, "This humble general believes that General Jianxin's words are reasonable. Our army entered Rangcheng and did not harm the people in the slightest, which won the hearts of the people."

"On the other hand, Cao's camp had just experienced the rebellion of Hou Yin and Wei Kai before the New Year, and Cao Ren personally slaughtered the people of Wancheng. The people of Wancheng hated the Cao family to the bone, and Cao's army had already lost the hearts of the people in Nanyang County."

"It is precisely with the momentum of this great victory that we can bring our troops to the gates of Wancheng and perhaps achieve victory in one battle and capture Wancheng."

Deng Ai shook his head in opposition: "That's not advisable. Such underestimation of the enemy and reckless advance could easily lead to... being surrounded by Cao Cao's army. It would be better to... march east to Xin... Xinye, cut off Xu Huang's retreat, and coordinate with... Lord Guan. First, completely take Xiangfan, and then... take Wancheng."

"Hmph! If we hesitate like this, by the time Cao Cao's reinforcements arrive, it will be too late. I, Old Shen, think that speed is of the essence in warfare..."

Liu Feng tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound. He didn't rush to express his opinion, but his gaze fell on the Xiangfan battlefield and further away... Jiangling City.

Guan Yu's army is probably about to collapse.

He looked towards Wancheng. This place was indeed a strategically important and dangerous location; taking it would be like planting a sharp blade in Cao Cao's heartland. However, taking it would undoubtedly come at a great cost. Moreover, Wancheng had recently undergone a major upheaval; its walls were destroyed, and it was no longer the formidable city it once was. If Cao Cao personally led a large army, Liu Feng might not be able to withstand it.

Moreover, Liu Feng, being a time traveler, knew that Guan Yu was about to be defeated and killed. At this time, with his army venturing deep into enemy territory, he was very likely to be surrounded by Cao Cao's army from all sides, including Xiahou Shang in Guanzhong, Cao Ren in Xiangfan, Zhang Liao in Runan, and even Xuchang!

At that time, Liu Feng and his more than 10,000 troops will have no way to escape.

"Wancheng, we can't go there." Just as Liu Feng was hesitating, he heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

"Report—"

A city gate guard hurriedly entered the hall, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice, "General, a troop has been spotted thirty miles west of the city and is heading towards Rangcheng."

Kou Zun abruptly stood up and asked, "How many men are there? What banner are they flying?"

"Judging from the commotion, there are about three thousand people, and they are not carrying any flags... They do not seem to be a regular army."

Why?

"The weapons were a mixed bag, including swords and spears, as well as hoes and axes. The clothing was also a mess, with some wearing leather armor, some wearing cloth, and some even wearing Cao Cao's uniforms."

Kou Zun and Deng Ai exchanged a glance.

Liu Feng suddenly stood up and glanced at the faces of the generals in the hall.

"Come, everyone, follow me up to the city to take a look."

When Liu Feng ascended the west gate tower, the troop had already approached considerably. He could make out its general shape as far as the eye could see, and indeed, as the scouts had said, the troop's formation was chaotic.

The hundred or so people at the front barely maintained their formation, while those behind them moved in groups of three or five, dragging their feet, looking more like refugees than soldiers on a march.

But Liu Feng noticed it wasn't the formation, but the injuries. Almost everyone in the group was wounded. Some had arms in slings, some leaned on wooden sticks, and some had blood-soaked strips of cloth wrapped around their heads. Their clothes were tattered, and their faces were ashen from long-term hunger.

And then there were the eyes. He'd seen those eyes before—eyes filled with hatred, as if a beast lurked within them, ready to devour its prey.

The procession stopped three miles from the city walls, and a lone rider galloped out, heading straight for the city gate. The rider was a young man, appearing to be no more than twenty years old. His face was sharply defined, as if polished by wind, sand, and hardship.

His horse was thin, its mane disheveled, but it ran with great speed, clearly well-cared for. The young man reined in his horse below the city walls, raised his head, and shouted, his voice rough and slightly hoarse.

"May I ask if the person on the city wall is General Liu Feng, the eldest son of the King of Hanzhong?"

Liu Feng braced his hands on the arrow stalks, looking down at him.

"I am Liu Feng. Who are you?"

The man dismounted, knelt on one knee, and clasped his hands in a crisp, clean motion. As he looked down, Liu Feng noticed a long scar on the back of his neck, extending from his ear to his collar, its color whitish, suggesting an old wound.

"My name is Wei Zheng, a native of Wancheng, Nanyang. My father, Wei Kai, and my uncle Hou Yin raised the banner of rebellion against Cao last year. After the rebellion failed, Cao Ren massacred the city, and my father and General Hou both died for their country."

He paused slightly as he spoke, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he were swallowing something.

"I led a few hundred of my remaining men to break through the siege and became bandits in the mountains, barely surviving until now. Hearing that you, General, have captured Rangcheng and defeated Cao Cao's army, I have led my brothers from the mountains and the surviving elders of Wancheng to come and join you. I am willing to serve you, General, and the King of Hanzhong, with utmost loyalty."

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide with rage, and his voice rose sharply.

"My only wish is to one day breach Cao Cao's camp, eat Cao Ren's flesh, sleep on Cao Cao's skin, and avenge my father and all the elders of the city!"

The city walls fell silent instantly.

Liu Feng looked down at the young man kneeling below the city wall, and at the battered but burning with the fury of revenge behind him.

Three thousand people knelt and worshipped towards the city wall. Some had limps, some had slings, and some had wounds that still bled. But their backs were all ramrod straight!

Liu Feng remained silent for a long time.

He had heard the words "Cao Ren massacred Wan" more than once. He had heard of it when he was in Shangyong, and he had heard it mentioned even more often after coming to Nanyang. Hou Yin and Wei Kai led the officials and people of Wan to rebel against Cao, and Cao Ren led his army to quell the rebellion. After the city was captured, he massacred the people, and tens of thousands died.

These are merely a few strokes of a pen in history books, but at this moment, those words suddenly gained weight. They transformed into a living person, kneeling beneath the city walls!

"Open the door," Liu Feng suddenly said.

Kou Zunwei was taken aback for a moment, then said, "General, these people are of unknown origin. What if..."

I said, "Open the door."

Liu Feng's tone left no room for argument, but he immediately added, "Arrange them at the city gate, and order them to lay down their weapons and enter the city on foot."

"promise."

The city gate slowly opened.

Liu Feng turned and walked down the city wall, standing inside the city gate. Behind him stood Kou Zun leading a formation of swordsmen and shieldmen, their blades flashing like snow. Liu Feng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn, as if welcoming an old friend returning from afar.

Wei Zheng led his men into the city in single file, walked straight to Liu Feng, and knelt down again.

The three thousand people behind him immediately knelt down.

"General! We beg the King of Hanzhong and the General to avenge the tens of thousands of innocent people and their lost souls in Wancheng!"

Liu Feng reached out and grabbed Wei Zheng's arm, lifting him off the ground.

"Your father, Wei Kai, together with Hou Yin, raised the banner of rebellion against Cao Cao, and died for the Han Dynasty." Liu Feng looked into his eyes and said, word by word, "He was a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty."

Liu Feng released his grip, speaking calmly as if it were a matter of course.

"The grudge of Wancheng is not a personal one. It is a national enemy of the Han Dynasty. If this grudge is not avenged, I and the King of Hanzhong will have no face to see the elders of Nanyang!"

Wei Zheng's lips trembled violently. He opened his mouth, his throat bobbing, but no word came out. For the past six months, he and his remaining troops and the elders of Wancheng had been barely surviving in the mountains, eating tree bark and chewing grass roots, being pursued by Cao Cao's army, forgotten by the world, and he himself had almost forgotten who he was.

At that moment, Liu Feng told him—you are the descendant of a loyal minister. Wei Zheng's tears finally welled up, but he didn't wipe them away, letting them stream down his weathered face.

Liu Feng patted Wei Zheng on the shoulder, walked past him, and came to the group of three thousand kneeling soldiers.

"Get up, all of you."

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone inside the city gate could hear him clearly.

"From this day forward, you are still subjects of our great Han Dynasty. Those who cannot carry a spear will settle in Rangcheng, and the imperial court will allocate land to you; those who can still wield an iron spear..."

Liu Feng raised his hand and pointed north.

"Then he will join my ranks. One day, he will follow me to fight our way back to Wancheng, to Xuchang, and to Yecheng, where we will eat Cao Ren's flesh and sleep on Cao Cao's skin!"

Three thousand people stood up at the same time, and in that instant, the flames that ignited in countless eyes were even more intense than the great fire that night in Rangcheng.

Standing atop the city wall, Tian Yu took in everything. He remained silent for a long time, then suddenly whispered something only he could hear.

"Lord Xuande, with a son like this, what more could one ask for?"