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

A moment of silence followed. Xi Lang picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and slowly said, "Brother Ji Chang, having something in your hands is one thing, but being able to hold onto it is another. Cao Cao still has tens of thousands of troops in Wancheng, and he can mobilize a large army to march south from Xuchang at any time. Although you have captured Xiangfan, if Cao Cao's army launches a major counterattack, can you hold them?"

Ma Liang did not answer directly, but instead moved his finger back to Hanzhong at the western end of the map.

"Brother Xi, that's a good question. Then please take another look."

His fingers started from Hanzhong and slowly moved eastward along the Han River.

"Grain supplies from Hanzhong can be loaded onto ships and transported down the Han River, reaching Xiangyang in just over ten days. Soldiers from Shangyong, ironware from Fangling, and ore from the southern countryside can all be transported directly to Xiangyang and Fancheng by water. Previously, when Cao Ren defended Fancheng, his supply route was by land—from Wancheng through Xinye to Fancheng, a journey of hundreds of miles. With laborers transporting the supplies, it was considered lucky if three out of ten shi of grain were delivered to the front lines. The main reason why Cao Ren was besieged by Guan Yu for several months was the lack of supplies."

His finger stopped at Xiangyang.

"But now, we're using the waterways. One shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain from Hanzhong will still be one shi when it reaches Xiangyang, carried downstream. We need no laborers, no mules, no guards—both banks of the Han River are in our hands. Who would dare rob us of our grain?"

All four people at the table turned pale.

Having lived along the Han River for generations, they understood better than anyone the vast difference between water and land transport. The Xi family had been merchants for generations, and Xi Lang was particularly acutely aware of the advantages and disadvantages. Transporting grain from Wancheng to Xiangyang by land would cost three shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain for every ten shi. By water, however, the cost for the same distance was negligible.

This isn't just a matter of cheap versus expensive. It's a matter of how far an army can fight and how long it can hold out.

Ma Liang's finger continued eastward, past Xiangyang, pointing towards the lower reaches of the Han River.

"Further downstream is Jiangxia."

His voice was lowered slightly.

"Although Lord Guan has temporarily retreated, the main force of his navy remains. If Xiangfan is secured, Lord Guan's navy can sail up the Han River and join forces with us in Xiangyang. At that time, the Shu Han army and navy can sail down the Han River eastward and directly threaten Jiangxia."

Ma Liang did not linger in this direction, but instead moved his finger northward from Xiangyang, past Xinye, and towards Wancheng.

"Look to the north. Wancheng is the southern shield of Xuchang. If our army can gain a foothold in Xiangfan, we can march north and directly attack Wancheng. If Wancheng falls, Xuchang will be wide open. Cao Cao has already been defeated by Wei Yan in Hanzhong. If he is threatened from the south, it will be a two-pronged attack."

His finger finally returned to Xiangyang, and he pressed a heavy point on the map.

"Nanxiang, Rangcheng, Fancheng, and Xiangyang—these four cities control the middle reaches of the Han River. If we advance, we can attack Wancheng and Luoyang to the north, and take Jiangxia to the east, advancing by both land and water, with complete flexibility. If we retreat, we can rely on the natural defenses of these fortified cities, and with a steady supply of provisions from Hanzhong, what can Cao Cao do to our 100,000-strong army?"

Ma Liang turned around to face the four people at the table. The lamplight reflected on his face, and his eyes held a radiance that had been suppressed for a long time and was finally being released.

"This strategy, from taking Nanxiang to taking Rangcheng, and then to the surprise attacks on Fancheng and Xiangyang, was all personally planned by Deputy Commander Liu."

He paused, his voice carrying a hint of genuine admiration and appreciation.

"Do you all know how old Deputy Commander Liu is this year?"

The people at the table looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Twenty-four," Ma Liang answered himself. "At the age of twenty-four, he already saw the grain ships from Hanzhong sailing downstream, the cities of Xiangfan forming a line, and the strategic depth that allowed for both offense and defense. Cao Cao in Xuchang and Sun Quan in Jiangdong were probably still in shock. He had already completely reversed the defeat that had led to Guan Yu's death and the annihilation of his army!"

He picked up his wine cup and raised it to the four people at the table.

"Ji Chang is not saying all this today to ask you to make an immediate decision. I simply want you to see the situation clearly. Xiangfan is now in my hands, and the Han River is now in my hands. From now on, the Shu Han grain ships will sail on this waterway, and the Shu Han flag will fly. If you are willing to work together with the King of Hanzhong and Deputy General Liu, your family businesses will not only remain intact, but will also grow to a scale that was impossible before, thanks to this waterway."

He finished his drink, his gaze calm and resolute.

"If you are unwilling, Deputy Commander Liu will not force you. It's just that this waterway will not be available to you."

The hall remained quiet for a long time.

The charcoal in the brazier crackled, and the Han River on the map seemed to flow realistically under the lamplight. The four men at the table all stared at that winding blue line, each lost in their own thoughts, yet remaining silent.

Xiang Chong was the first to speak.

The Xiang family had the deepest ties with Shu Han. Xiang Chong's cousin, Xiang Chong, was serving as a military supervisor under Liu Bei, and his elder brother, Xiang Lang, had also worked with Liu Bei under Liu Biao.

He put down his wine cup and smiled.

"Ji Chang, there's no need to say more. The Xiang family were originally Han officials, and since Liu Bei is the King of Hanzhong, the Xiang family will naturally follow him. The Xiang family still has three granaries in Xiangyang, and I will send the grain registers to the governor's office tomorrow."

Pang Lin was the second to speak.

The Pang family had an even deeper connection with Shu Han—Pang Tong was Liu Bei's military advisor and general, who died in battle at Luocheng, and Liu Bei wept bitterly for him. Pang Lin, Pang Tong's cousin, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed.

"If Brother Shiyuan were still alive, I wonder what he would think of the situation today." He raised his head. "The Pang family is willing to assist Deputy Commander Liu."

The third is Xi Lang.

The Xi family had been merchants for generations, valuing tangible profits above all else. Xi Lang stared at the map for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Brother Ji Chang, you said that grain ships from Hanzhong can sail directly down to Xiangyang. Could merchant ships from Xiangyang possibly sail directly up to Hanzhong?"

Ma Liang nodded: "Of course."

Xi Lang then asked, "What about downstream? Is it possible to reach Jiangling? Is it possible to reach Jiangxia?"

Ma Liang said, "Lord Guan's navy is still here. Once Xiangyang and Fancheng are secured, the waterways will naturally be able to flow freely."

Xi Lang picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and slammed it down. "The Xi family owns three shipyards in Xiangyang, with over two hundred merchant ships of various sizes. Tomorrow I will have someone deliver the ship registers to the water fortress."

In the end, only Kuai Jun remained.

The Kuai clan was the most prominent family in Xiangyang. Although Kuai Yue had been summoned to the court by Cao Cao, the Kuai clan's influence in Xiangyang remained. Kuai Jun remained silent the longest. It wasn't that he didn't want to nod, but rather that his mother and brothers were still in Xuchang.

If he were to surrender to Liu Feng here, his mother and brothers in Xudu would become hostages in Cao Cao's hands.

Ma Liang noticed his hesitation and slowly walked up to him.

"The widow of Lord Yidu is still in Xudu. Ji Chang knows your predicament," he said in a low voice. "Kuai Shi, you don't need to make a public statement. Just secretly provide provisions, and Ji Chang will cover for you in everything else."

Kuai Jun raised his head, met Ma Liang's gaze for a moment, then stood up and bowed deeply to Ma Liang.

"Thank you for your understanding, Brother Jichang. The Kuai family is willing to contribute three thousand shi of private grain to aid the army."

Ma Liang supported his arm and squeezed it tightly.

That night, Ma Liang saw off the four guests and returned to the main hall alone. The map still hung on the screen, and the lamplight was gradually dimming. He stood in front of the map, his gaze sliding from Hanzhong all the way to Xiangyang, then from Xiangyang to Jiangxia, and finally settling on Wancheng.

He recalled the look in Liu Feng's eyes as he looked down at Xiangyang from the watchtower.

Twenty-four years old.

When Ma Liang was twenty-four, he was still studying and discussing philosophy in Xiangyang, believing that worldly affairs were nothing more than classical texts and articles. Meanwhile, Liu Feng, also twenty-four, had already captured Xiangfan and drawn a complete strategic chain on the map. The cities along the Han River were like chess pieces, which he placed one by one on the chessboard.

It wasn't luck.

Ma Liang rejected the idea in his heart. From taking the southern route to support Guan Yu, to Kou Zun's feigned attack on Wancheng to contain Cao Zhi, to the grain transport ships secretly hiding elite troops to launch a surprise attack on Fancheng, and then to ordering Deng Ai to enter Xiangyang first and set it on fire—every step was not isolated.

This was a complete plan, a plan that had already taken shape in his mind when Liu Feng led his army away from Shangyong.

While everyone thought he was just Liu Bei's adopted son and Guan Yu's subordinate general, this young man was already playing his own game.

Ma Liang walked to the table, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a few lines on the map.

"Grain ships from Hanzhong can reach Xiangyang in ten days by sailing downstream. Merchant ships from Xiangyang can reach Hanzhong in fifteen days by sailing upstream. With the entire middle and upper reaches of the Han River in our hands, we can advance to attack Wan and Luo, or retreat to defend our natural defenses. In time, Xiangfan will be a sharp blade stuck in northern Jingzhou, keeping Cao Cao awake at night and Sun Quan unable to eat."

He put down his pen, looked at the Han River on the map, and suddenly smiled.

"Deputy General," he said in a low voice, "your plan is bigger than I thought."

The next morning, Liu Feng saw the four grain registers, ship registers, and lists of military aid presented by Ma Liang in the back hall of the governor's mansion.

He didn't rush to look through it, but instead asked Ma Liang a question first.

"What is Mr. Kuai's attitude?"

Ma Liang explained Kuai Jun's predicament. After listening, Liu Feng remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Since Kuai Yue's widow is still in Xuchang, the Kuai family's secret grain donations are enough. There's no need to force them to make a public statement."

He opened the grain register and glanced at the numbers. The Xiang family's granary held 3,000 shi of grain, the Pang family's 2,000 shi, the Xi family's 1,500 shi, and the Kuai family's 3,000 shi. Adding the surplus grain seized from the Xiangyang government granary, the total grain amounted to over 15,000 shi.

"How long will it last for the army?" Liu Feng asked.

Ma Liang did the math: "Seven thousand people, eating about thirty shi of grain a day. Fifteen thousand shi can last for more than a year. If we add the grain and fodder that will be transported from Hanzhong, Xiangfan will not lack food for two years."

Liu Feng closed the grain register, stood up, and walked to the map that Ma Liang had drawn overnight.