Chen Yan, a modern history enthusiast, accidentally traveled to Liaodong at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It coincided with the time when Gongsun Kang beheaded Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi's head was presented to Cao Cao, temporarily stabilizing the situation in Liaodong. At that time, the Gongsun family lived in a corner, with Wuhuan and Xianbei invaders to the north, intimidated by Cao Cao's forces in the south, and fighting among the princes in the west. They did not have enough food and armor, and it seemed difficult to have a chance to conquer the Central Plains.
Chen Yan has no fantasy powers. He only relies on his familiarity with the historical trends of the Three Kingdoms and basic modern knowledge of farming and military training to make cautious suggestions. He first assisted Gongsun Kang in rectifying the civil service and promoting new farming methods to accumulate grain. He then improved ordnance and reorganized the frontier army to control the barbarians, gradually consolidating the foundation of Liaodong.
Then, taking advantage of the melee between the princes of the Central Plains, he proposed strategies to unite the weak and control the strong, first swallowing up the small surrounding forces, and then waiting for an opportunity to move south. At key moments such as the aftermath of Guandu and the Battle of Chibi, Chen Yan repeatedly offered strategies that suited the current situation and helped Gongsun Kang escape from the predicament of Liaodong. He gradually grew from a border prince to a powerful contender in the world, starting a road to hegemony that would rewrite the pattern of the Three Kingdoms.
