Chen Yan, a modern history enthusiast, accidentally traveled to Jingzhou three years after Jian'an and became an inconspicuous staff member under Liu Biao. Although Jingzhou was prosperous at that time, it was hampered by nobles such as Cai Mao and Kuai Yue inside, and surrounded by Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Sun Quan outside. Liu Biao was growing increasingly pessimistic and only wanted peace.
Without the blessing of a golden finger, Chen Yan could only rely on his familiarity with the situation in the Three Kingdoms and pragmatic strategies to start from the grassroots level: first, he would use the "Plan Equalization Policy" to stabilize grain crops, and then use the "Recruitment and Training Method" to develop an elite unit and gradually gain Liu Biao's trust. He traveled among the nobles to resolve conflicts, joined forces with Liu Bei to temporarily secure the western front, secretly communicated with Jiangdong to contain Cao Cao, and helped Jingzhou break out of its predicament step by step.
From resisting Cao Cao's southern expedition to going north to fight for the Central Plains, Chen Yan assisted Liu Biao to break out of the "defensive" rut and use Jingzhou as the foundation to unite vertically and horizontally. After more than ten years of campaign, he finally defeated the heroes, ended the chaos of the late Han Dynasty, and achieved the hegemony of unifying the nine states.
