Jian Yong should have traveled from Jingzhou to Xuzhou via the Yangtze River by boat. However, after Sun Ce deployed his troops, the entire Yangtze Waterway was blocked by Zhou Yu, and the plan to pass through Yuzhou instantly turned into a pipe dream.
In addition, since Huang Chengyan was related to Liu Biao by marriage, it would not be easy for the Huang Family to leave if Liu Biao managed to counterattack and reclaim Jingbei. To mention earlier discussions with Yi Ji, the alliance had basically become an empty promise, as for Huang Xu, he had been sent away long ago.
Eventually, on Huang Yueying's suggestion, the Huang Family decided to travel to Yanzhou by land via Wancheng, and then on to Mount Tai. This significantly slowed their pace, which is why even though Jian Yong had gone to Jingzhou before the end of the year, he had not yet returned to Mount Tai.
