With the Han River and Yangtze River in his grasp, travel between the provinces under Liu Bei's rule became far more convenient. So long as no extreme weather struck, ships could carry people and goods anywhere, tightening exchanges between every region. This was also the strategic significance of Liu Bei's all-out launch of the Hanzhong campaign.
Song Chen and the others transferred from the Yangtze River to the Han River, then to the Dan River, finally docking at Three House Pavilion in Dan River County. At the time, Meng Da, General Who Pacifies the North and Administrator of Nanxiang, was inspecting the area.
When Meng Da learned that they were an envoy party from Yang Province, and that Song Chen himself led it, he insisted on keeping them at Three House Pavilion to rest. Only after warmly entertaining them for a full day did he let them proceed.
Meng Da had earned merit by welcoming Liu Bei into Shu. Later, under orders, he captured Shangyong and jointly defended it with Liu Feng. At the time, Shangyong lay far from Chengdu, the political center, and was neither a wealthy strategic stronghold like Hanzhong or Jiangling. Spending every day with Liu Feng left him ill at ease, and for a time Meng Da had felt his future was hopeless.
When Guan Yu launched his great assault on Xiangyang and Fancheng, Meng Da received Fa Zheng's letter and led troops out to aid Guan Yu. He successfully seized the key city of Xiangyang and, for his merits, Liu Bei promoted him to a general bearing a distinguished title, a qualitative leap in Meng Da's official career. Fa Zheng had stated clearly in his letter that it was Lantian who had recommended him; otherwise, the proud Guan Yu might not have put him to