Campaign against Yuan Shu
Encyclopedia
The campaign against Yuan Shu was a punitive expedition
that took place in 199 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. The campaign was initiated by the Han Dynasty
government
against the Zhong Dynasty of Yuan Shu
, after Yuan declared himself "Son of Heaven
", an act perceived as treason
against the Han government. The campaign concluded with the defeat of Yuan Shu and collapse of the Zhong regime.
, a symbol of the Emperor
's authority, was lost in Luoyang
when Dong Zhuo
destroyed the capital and forced Emperor Xian
and Luoyang's residents to move to Chang'an
, the new capital. Sun Jian
from the coalition against Dong Zhuo
found the Imperial Seal by chance in the ruins of Luoyang and kept it for himself. Sun Jian was a general under Yuan Shu then, so when Yuan heard that Sun had the Seal, he held Sun's wife hostage and forced Sun to pass the Seal to him. Ever since Yuan Shu obtained the Imperial Seal, he dreamed of becoming Emperor.
Around 196, when Sun Ce
(Sun Jian's son and successor) was attacking territories in Jiangdong
controlled by warlords such as Liu Yao
and Wang Lang
, Yuan Shu perceived his control over southern China as secure and hurriedly declared himself a "Son of Heaven" (i.e. Emperor), starting a new Zhong (仲) dynasty in Huainan. Yuan Shu's action was viewed as treason
against the Han Dynasty government, causing Sun Ce to break ties with him and giving other warlords a reason to attack his regime. The imperial court, which was under Cao Cao
's control then, issued edicts to Sun Ce and Lü Bu
, urging them to exterminate Yuan Shu.
(a general under Yuan Shu), asking them to severe relations with Yuan Shu. Both Wu Jing and Sun Ben responded to Sun Ce's call and took his side. As a consequence, Yuan Shu lost Guangling and the territories conquered by Sun Ce in Jiangdong, dramatically reducing his influence in southern China. Meanwhile, Lü Bu defeated Yuan Shu's forces at the north of the Huai River and pillaged the area. In an effort to turn the tide, Yuan Shu sent an army to invade Chen, but was defeated by Han Dynasty forces led by Cao Cao. Yuan Shu then relocated his base to south of the Huai River.
When Yuan Shu's influence had been reduced to a minimal, internal conflict arose among the members of the alliance formed against him. Lü Bu, upon request from Yuan Shu, attacked Liu Bei, who received support from Cao Cao to fight back. The conflict led to the Battle of Xiapi
in 198, fought between the allied forces of Cao Cao and Liu Bei against Lü Bu. Facing a dire situation, Lü Bu turned to Yuan Shu for aid. Yuan Shu sent only about 1,000 cavalry to reinforce Lü Bu, but the force was defeated before it reached Xiapi. As Lü Bu's downfall seemed inevitable, Yuan Shu sent messengers to incite the Shanyue
tribes and bandit leader Zu Lang to attack Sun Ce
. Sun Ce defeated the enemy and continued to strengthen his influence in Jiangdong.
On the other hand, Yuan Shu's situation was faring badly; his treasury was empty and his military was too weak to resist an invasion or suppress a rebellion. As a result, Yuan Shu opted to incinerate his palace complexes and escape to the Qian hills, where two of his former followers, Lei Bo
and Chen Lan, were currently hiding. However, Lei Bo and Chen Lan refused to accept Yuan Shu, so Yuan Shu wrote to his clansman Yuan Shao
, promising to give Yuan Shao the Imperial Seal if the latter would help him. In response, Yuan Shao dispatched his son, Yuan Tan
, to escort Yuan Shu to Qing Province (covering present-day Shandong
). En route to Qing Province, Yuan Shu was intercepted by Liu Bei, who borrowed troops from Cao Cao, so Yuan Shu had no choice but to turn back to Huainan. Yuan Shu eventually died of illness on the way back to his capital Shouchun.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
as follows:
Yuan Shu sent Zhang Xun to lead 200,000 troops to attack Lü Bu in Xu Province. The army consisted of seven divisions: Zhang Xun led the center army; Qiao Rui
led the first left army; Lei Bo
led the second left army; Han Xian led the third left army; Chen Ji led the first right army; Chen Lan led the second right army; Yang Feng led the third right army. Each commander was tasked with conquering a certain town.
Lü Bu found out from his scouts that Zhang Xun's objective was to conquer Xu Province; the other towns targeted were Xiaopei
, Yidu
, Langya, Jieshi, Xiapi
and Junshan. Yuan Shu's armies were moving at a speed of 20 miles a day, and were plundering the countryside as they advanced. When Lü Bu discussed the issue with his advisors, Chen Gong
blamed Chen Gui
and Chen Deng
for instigating the attack. However, Chen Deng laughed at Chen Gong's anxiety and presented Lü Bu with a strategy to defeat Yuan Shu. Lü Bu agreed and ordered Chen Deng to proceed with the plan. A memorial was sent to the imperial court, relaying the strategy on how to deal with Yuan Shu.
Lü Bu again pursued and this time he encountered Yuan Shu's personal army. Beneath a yellow silken parasol sat Yuan Shu on horseback, clad in silver armour with a sword handle showing at each wrist. Yuan Shu railed at his opponent and sent his general Li Feng to fight Lü Bu. After the second round, Li Feng's hand was injured and he dropped his spear. Lü Bu immediately pressed the attack and his army prevailed. The other side fled, leaving much spoils, clothing, armour, and horses. Yuan Shu's army had not gone far before they encountered Guan Yu
's troops. Yuan Shu's army sustained heavy casualties while Yuan managed to escape only with a handful of soldiers. With this victory, Lü Bu, accompanied by Guan Yu, Han Xian, and Yang Feng (note: Han Xian and Yang Feng defected from Yuan Shu's side to Lü Bu) returned to Xu Province. Banquets were held in celebration and Lü Bu appointed Yang Feng as Administrator of Langya, and Han Xian as Administrator of Yidu. They were immediately sent to their cities on Chen Gui's advice.
The wounded Yuan Shu was now caught between Cao Cao, Lü Bu, and Sun Ce. When Yuan Shu ran low on supplies, he raided Chenliu. In response, Cao Cao personally led his army to destroy Yuan Shu. Letters were sent to Liu Bei, Lü Bu, and Sun Ce, calling them to join in the attack. Liu Bei was the first to answer the call and when he joined Cao Cao, he offered the heads of Han Xian and Yang Feng, explaining that while they were administrators in Xu Province, they condoned their soldiers to harm civilians. Cao Cao thanked Liu Bei for getting rid of them. When Lü Bu arrived, Cao Cao treated him courteously, promising to grant him his official seal as soon as they returned to Xuchang. Lü Bu was exceedingly pleased with this. Then the three armies merged, Cao Cao commanded the center, Lü Bu the left, and Liu Bei the right. Xiahou Dun
and Yu Jin
led the vanguard.
Qiao Rui led the vanguard of Yuan Shu's army, engaging Xiahou Dun on the outskirts of Shouchun. Xiahou Dun rode out to challenge him, and Qiao Rui fell in the third bout, and his army withdrew into the city. Sun Ce's army was approaching from the west, and would arrive shortly. The three other land divisions each took a direction to attack. Cao Cao attacked the north, Lü Bu the east, and Liu Bei the south. Yuan Shu saw that the situation was desperate, so he appointed Li Feng, Yue Jiu
, Liang Gang, and Chen Ji to defend Shouchun with 100,000 troops. Yuan Shu took the rest of the troops and escaped the city by crossing the Huai River
. He gathered the wealth of the city and took it with him.
Cao Cao's army needed large quantities of food every day, and since the land around Shouchun had been struck by famine for several years, there was no way to get new food supplies. Therefore, Cao Cao hastened the military operations while the defenders tried to prolong the battle as much as they could. A month passed and the siege seemed as unsuccessful as before. The food supplies were low, so Cao Cao sent a letter to Sun Ce, whom immediately sent 100,000 carts of grain. Cao Cao's tactics from then on ensured that the united army worked non-stop to end the siege as quickly as possible. Soon the walls were scaled, the gates ramped in, and the besieged were captured. The enemy generals, Li Feng, Yue Jiu, Liang Gang, and Chen Ji were all captured and executed in public. All the insignia and symbols of Yuan Shu's regime were burned, and the city was wrecked. Yuan Shu was not pursued and the three armies returned to their capitals.
of Koei's video game series Dynasty Warriors
. The player can only play as Liu Bei's forces in that stage.
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
that took place in 199 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. The campaign was initiated by the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
government
Government of the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty of ancient China was the second imperial dynasty of China, following the Qin Dynasty . It was divided into the periods of Western Han and Eastern Han , briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of Wang Mang...
against the Zhong Dynasty of Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the imperial court in 189. He was said to be a younger cousin of the warlord Yuan Shao, but was actually Yuan Shao's younger half-brother...
, after Yuan declared himself "Son of Heaven
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
", an act perceived as treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
against the Han government. The campaign concluded with the defeat of Yuan Shu and collapse of the Zhong regime.
Background
The Imperial SealImperial Seal of China
The Imperial Seal of China, or the Heirloom Seal of the Realm is a Chinese jade seal carved out of the He Shi Bi, a historically famous piece of jade.-Creation:...
, a symbol of the Emperor
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
's authority, was lost in Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
when Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
destroyed the capital and forced Emperor Xian
Emperor Xian of Han
Emperor Xian of Han , personal name Liu Xie, style name Bohe, was the last emperor of the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
and Luoyang's residents to move to Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, the new capital. Sun Jian
Sun Jian
Sun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo, a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power...
from the coalition against Dong Zhuo
Campaign against Dong Zhuo
The Campaign against Dong Zhuo was a punitive expedition initiated by a coalition of regional officials and warlords against Dong Zhuo, Chancellor of State, in 190 during the late Han Dynasty of Chinese history...
found the Imperial Seal by chance in the ruins of Luoyang and kept it for himself. Sun Jian was a general under Yuan Shu then, so when Yuan heard that Sun had the Seal, he held Sun's wife hostage and forced Sun to pass the Seal to him. Ever since Yuan Shu obtained the Imperial Seal, he dreamed of becoming Emperor.
Around 196, when Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
(Sun Jian's son and successor) was attacking territories in Jiangdong
Jiangnan
Jiangnan or Jiang Nan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of the Yangtze Delta...
controlled by warlords such as Liu Yao
Liu Yao (warlord)
Liu Yao , style name Zhengli, was a warlord in the Jiangdong region during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He ruled for a brief period of time before Sun Ce invaded and conquered his territories.-Biography:...
and Wang Lang
Wang Lang
Wang Lang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty and a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Through his granddaughter's marriage to Sima Zhao, he would become great-grandfather of Sima Yan, who later became the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty.-Early life...
, Yuan Shu perceived his control over southern China as secure and hurriedly declared himself a "Son of Heaven" (i.e. Emperor), starting a new Zhong (仲) dynasty in Huainan. Yuan Shu's action was viewed as treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
against the Han Dynasty government, causing Sun Ce to break ties with him and giving other warlords a reason to attack his regime. The imperial court, which was under Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's control then, issued edicts to Sun Ce and Lü Bu
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
, urging them to exterminate Yuan Shu.
The campaign
Upon receiving news that Yuan Shu had declared himself a "Son of Heaven", Sun Ce sent letters to his uncle Wu Jing (the Administrator of Guangling, who was under Yuan Shu) and cousin Sun BenSun Ben
Sun Ben, style name Boyang , was the eldest son of Sun Qiang and older brother of Sun Fu. He was three years older than Sun Ce. He served Sun Jian first in the campaign against Dong Zhuo. After Sun Jian's death, he took control of the army and went to serve Yuan Shu. He would soon rejoin Sun Ce....
(a general under Yuan Shu), asking them to severe relations with Yuan Shu. Both Wu Jing and Sun Ben responded to Sun Ce's call and took his side. As a consequence, Yuan Shu lost Guangling and the territories conquered by Sun Ce in Jiangdong, dramatically reducing his influence in southern China. Meanwhile, Lü Bu defeated Yuan Shu's forces at the north of the Huai River and pillaged the area. In an effort to turn the tide, Yuan Shu sent an army to invade Chen, but was defeated by Han Dynasty forces led by Cao Cao. Yuan Shu then relocated his base to south of the Huai River.
When Yuan Shu's influence had been reduced to a minimal, internal conflict arose among the members of the alliance formed against him. Lü Bu, upon request from Yuan Shu, attacked Liu Bei, who received support from Cao Cao to fight back. The conflict led to the Battle of Xiapi
Battle of Xiapi
The Battle of Xiapi was a battle fought by the forces of Lü Bu against the allied armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei in 198 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
in 198, fought between the allied forces of Cao Cao and Liu Bei against Lü Bu. Facing a dire situation, Lü Bu turned to Yuan Shu for aid. Yuan Shu sent only about 1,000 cavalry to reinforce Lü Bu, but the force was defeated before it reached Xiapi. As Lü Bu's downfall seemed inevitable, Yuan Shu sent messengers to incite the Shanyue
Shanyue
Shanyue was a tribe that was resided in the Yue area of ancient China during Han Dynasty. Since the Southern part of China was not yet controlled by the Han ethnicity , the Shanyue people would performe regular raids against Han citizens to gather living essentials...
tribes and bandit leader Zu Lang to attack Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
. Sun Ce defeated the enemy and continued to strengthen his influence in Jiangdong.
On the other hand, Yuan Shu's situation was faring badly; his treasury was empty and his military was too weak to resist an invasion or suppress a rebellion. As a result, Yuan Shu opted to incinerate his palace complexes and escape to the Qian hills, where two of his former followers, Lei Bo
Lei Bo
Lei Bo was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. When Yuan Shu declared himself emperor after obtaining the Imperial Seal, Lei Bo left him. Lei Bo then secluded himself at Chen near Songshan, where he became a bandit....
and Chen Lan, were currently hiding. However, Lei Bo and Chen Lan refused to accept Yuan Shu, so Yuan Shu wrote to his clansman Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
, promising to give Yuan Shao the Imperial Seal if the latter would help him. In response, Yuan Shao dispatched his son, Yuan Tan
Yuan Tan
Yuan Tan was the oldest son of the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. After Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Tan split with his youngest brother Yuan Shang over the successorship to their father's realm. Yuan Tan sought help from the warlord Cao Cao and defeated Yuan...
, to escort Yuan Shu to Qing Province (covering present-day Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). En route to Qing Province, Yuan Shu was intercepted by Liu Bei, who borrowed troops from Cao Cao, so Yuan Shu had no choice but to turn back to Huainan. Yuan Shu eventually died of illness on the way back to his capital Shouchun.
Aftermath
After Yuan Shu's death, his family and former followers planned to surrender to Sun Ce, but they were captured and held in Lujiang by Liu Xun. In 199, Sun Ce defeated Liu Xun and conquered Lujiang, freeing Yuan Shu's family and men.In fiction
The campaign against Yuan Shu was described in Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
as follows:
Yuan Shu sent Zhang Xun to lead 200,000 troops to attack Lü Bu in Xu Province. The army consisted of seven divisions: Zhang Xun led the center army; Qiao Rui
Qiao Rui
Qiao Rui was an official serving under the warlord Yuan Shu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Qiao was commander of Yuan's second army during his campaign against Lü Bu, but lost when Han Xian and Yang Feng deserted to Lü's army. When Cao Cao attacked Yuan Shu, Qiao led a...
led the first left army; Lei Bo
Lei Bo
Lei Bo was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. When Yuan Shu declared himself emperor after obtaining the Imperial Seal, Lei Bo left him. Lei Bo then secluded himself at Chen near Songshan, where he became a bandit....
led the second left army; Han Xian led the third left army; Chen Ji led the first right army; Chen Lan led the second right army; Yang Feng led the third right army. Each commander was tasked with conquering a certain town.
Lü Bu found out from his scouts that Zhang Xun's objective was to conquer Xu Province; the other towns targeted were Xiaopei
Xiaopei
Xiaopei is an ancient Chinese town located in present-day Pei County, Jiangsu. During the late Han Dynasty period, it was under the jurisdiction of Xu Province, governed by Tao Qian. Before Tao died, he handed his governorship over to Liu Bei. Liu Bei took refuge in Xiaopei when Lü Bu seized Xu...
, Yidu
Yidu, Hubei
Yidu is a county-level city in Hubei, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Yichang....
, Langya, Jieshi, Xiapi
Pizhou
Pizhou City is a county-level city in northern Jiangsu province, China. As of 2006 it had a population of 163,000. Administratively, Pizhou is under the jurisdiction of the larger city of Xuzhou.-History:...
and Junshan. Yuan Shu's armies were moving at a speed of 20 miles a day, and were plundering the countryside as they advanced. When Lü Bu discussed the issue with his advisors, Chen Gong
Chen Gong
Gong Chen was an advisor to the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. However, he started his career under Cao Cao before defecting to Lü Bu and was executed when the latter was defeated by Cao....
blamed Chen Gui
Chen Gui
Chen Gui, style name Hanyu , was a minister serving under the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. The loyalty of Chen Gui then caused him to plot with Cao Cao and betray Lü Bu. He and his son Chen Deng then manipulated Lü Bu, contributing to Liu Bei and Cao Cao's...
and Chen Deng
Chen Deng
Chen Deng, style name Yuanlong , was a strategist during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He was the son of Chen Gui.-Biography:...
for instigating the attack. However, Chen Deng laughed at Chen Gong's anxiety and presented Lü Bu with a strategy to defeat Yuan Shu. Lü Bu agreed and ordered Chen Deng to proceed with the plan. A memorial was sent to the imperial court, relaying the strategy on how to deal with Yuan Shu.
Lü Bu again pursued and this time he encountered Yuan Shu's personal army. Beneath a yellow silken parasol sat Yuan Shu on horseback, clad in silver armour with a sword handle showing at each wrist. Yuan Shu railed at his opponent and sent his general Li Feng to fight Lü Bu. After the second round, Li Feng's hand was injured and he dropped his spear. Lü Bu immediately pressed the attack and his army prevailed. The other side fled, leaving much spoils, clothing, armour, and horses. Yuan Shu's army had not gone far before they encountered Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
's troops. Yuan Shu's army sustained heavy casualties while Yuan managed to escape only with a handful of soldiers. With this victory, Lü Bu, accompanied by Guan Yu, Han Xian, and Yang Feng (note: Han Xian and Yang Feng defected from Yuan Shu's side to Lü Bu) returned to Xu Province. Banquets were held in celebration and Lü Bu appointed Yang Feng as Administrator of Langya, and Han Xian as Administrator of Yidu. They were immediately sent to their cities on Chen Gui's advice.
The wounded Yuan Shu was now caught between Cao Cao, Lü Bu, and Sun Ce. When Yuan Shu ran low on supplies, he raided Chenliu. In response, Cao Cao personally led his army to destroy Yuan Shu. Letters were sent to Liu Bei, Lü Bu, and Sun Ce, calling them to join in the attack. Liu Bei was the first to answer the call and when he joined Cao Cao, he offered the heads of Han Xian and Yang Feng, explaining that while they were administrators in Xu Province, they condoned their soldiers to harm civilians. Cao Cao thanked Liu Bei for getting rid of them. When Lü Bu arrived, Cao Cao treated him courteously, promising to grant him his official seal as soon as they returned to Xuchang. Lü Bu was exceedingly pleased with this. Then the three armies merged, Cao Cao commanded the center, Lü Bu the left, and Liu Bei the right. Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Cao Cao's original family name was Xiahou, but his father Cao Song was the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng, so Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao share blood relations...
and Yu Jin
Yu Jin
Yu Jin was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He joined Cao in the early years of the civil wars that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty...
led the vanguard.
Qiao Rui led the vanguard of Yuan Shu's army, engaging Xiahou Dun on the outskirts of Shouchun. Xiahou Dun rode out to challenge him, and Qiao Rui fell in the third bout, and his army withdrew into the city. Sun Ce's army was approaching from the west, and would arrive shortly. The three other land divisions each took a direction to attack. Cao Cao attacked the north, Lü Bu the east, and Liu Bei the south. Yuan Shu saw that the situation was desperate, so he appointed Li Feng, Yue Jiu
Yue Jiu
Yue Jiu was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. In 197, when Yuan Shu was attacking Chen , the warlord Cao Cao led a campaign against Yuan Shu...
, Liang Gang, and Chen Ji to defend Shouchun with 100,000 troops. Yuan Shu took the rest of the troops and escaped the city by crossing the Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
. He gathered the wealth of the city and took it with him.
Cao Cao's army needed large quantities of food every day, and since the land around Shouchun had been struck by famine for several years, there was no way to get new food supplies. Therefore, Cao Cao hastened the military operations while the defenders tried to prolong the battle as much as they could. A month passed and the siege seemed as unsuccessful as before. The food supplies were low, so Cao Cao sent a letter to Sun Ce, whom immediately sent 100,000 carts of grain. Cao Cao's tactics from then on ensured that the united army worked non-stop to end the siege as quickly as possible. Soon the walls were scaled, the gates ramped in, and the besieged were captured. The enemy generals, Li Feng, Yue Jiu, Liang Gang, and Chen Ji were all captured and executed in public. All the insignia and symbols of Yuan Shu's regime were burned, and the city was wrecked. Yuan Shu was not pursued and the three armies returned to their capitals.
Modern references
The campaign is featured in the sixth installmentDynasty Warriors 6
is a hack and slash video game set in Ancient China, during a period called Three Kingdoms . This game is the sixth official installment in the Dynasty Warriors series, developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game was released on November 11, 2007 in Japan; the North American release...
of Koei's video game series Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
. The player can only play as Liu Bei's forces in that stage.