Three Kingdoms: Turmoil and Triumph: From the Start, I Help Liu Bei Secure Xuzhou!

Shen Yan transmigrated into the Three Kingdoms. He had planned to join Cao Cao for a shortcut, but halfway there, he was swept up by Yellow Turban rebels and nearly became cannon fodder.

At the brink of death, Liu Bei led Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun in a charge through the enemy lines, pulling him from a heap of corpses.

"Are the common people safe?"

Those words changed Shen Yan's mind.

This chaotic age didn't need one more strategist. It needed a ruler who truly cared for the people.

After securing Xuzhou, Liu Bei was still basking in the joy of driving Cao Cao back when Shen Yan poured cold water on him:

"My lord, within two years, Yuan Shu will come, Cao Cao will return, and Xuzhou will be in danger!"

Liu Bei panicked. "Sir, how can you save me?"

Shen Yan calmly offered four strategies:

Reclaim wasteland and stockpile grain, recruit worthy men, repair the walls and train the troops, and breed warhorses in abundance.

He also produced a design: the curved-shaft plow. One person and one ox could plow three mu a day, turning wasteland into fertile fields!

Liu Bei knelt in excitement. "Sir, you are truly Xiao He reborn!"

From then on, Xuzhou quietly transformed:

Mi Zhu arrived with a vast fortune, and Lu Su pledged his loyalty.

Guan Yu turned the Yellow Turbans into elite soldiers, while Zhang Fei united the Danyang troops to defend Xuzhou.

Zhao Yun built a new army, and Taishi Ci came riding in...

Two years later, Cao Cao returned to Xuzhou with a massive army, only to find high walls, abundant provisions, and strong, well-mounted troops.

Liu Bei stood atop the city wall, the young strategist at his side.

Shen Yan smiled faintly.

"Lord Cao, can you really bite off Xuzhou this time?"