#if: xu chanyu | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bookofjin · 3 years

Text

Rise of Sixteen States: 307

Jin's Yongjia era begins.

Ji Sang rises on behalf of Sima Ying who is dead.

19 February 307 – 7 February 308

(Jin's 1st Year of Yongjia)

(Han's 4th Year of Yuanxi)

(Cheng's 2nd Year of Yanping)

On gengchen [18 May], the King of Donghai, Yue, set out to garrison at Xuchang. He used the General who Conquers the East, the King of Gaomi, Jian, as Great General who Conquers the South, Commander-in-chief of the Various Army Affairs of Jing Province, to garrison Xiangyang. He changed the fief of the General who Calms the North, the King of Dongyan, Teng, to be King of Xincai, Commander-in-chief of the Various Army Affairs of Si and Ji Provinces, to garrison Ye. He used the General who Conquers the South, the King of Nanyang, Mo, to be Great General who Conquers the West, Commander-in-chief of All Army Affairs of Liang# and Yong Provinces, garrison Chang'an.

(Liu Yuan)

4th Year of Yuanxi [307 AD], at the time Ji Sang raised up troops in Zhao and Wei; and Luzhuyan of Shang commandery's Four Section Xianbei, the Di chieftain Shan Zhen both surrendered to him. Yuan thoroughly appointed them to offices and feudal ranks. Wang Mi dispatched envoys to come and surrender. He was designated Great General who Garrisons the East, Inspector of Qing province, and Duke of Donglai commandery.

4th Month [19 May – 16 June], Ji Sang rebelled and declared himself King of Zhao. He selected and set up provinces and commanderies.

11th Month [11 December – 9 January 308], Shi Le and the Hu sections and others led the multitudes to come and surrender.

(Wang Mi)

Wang Mi was a native of Donglai. His family had for generations been Two-Thousand shi officals. His grandfather Qi was Wei's Grand Warden of Xuantu. In the time of Emperor Wu he reached Grand Warden of Runan. Mi had talent and ability, and broadly read in books and records. As young he was a knight-errant at the imperial capital. The hermit Dong Zhong saw him on the road, and spoke to him, saying:

You, Lord, have the sound of a dhole and the looks of a leopard, fond of chaos and delighted with misfortune. If Under Heaven is agitated and disturbed, [you] will not become a scholar or great official.

At the end of Emperor Hui's reign, the bewitching thief Liu Baigen rose up in Donglai's Jian county. Mi led his family servants to accompany him. Baigen used him as Senior Clerk.

When Baigen died, he assembled his followers on an islet in the sea. They were defeated by Gou Zhun, and absconded to enter Changguang Mountain as a crowd of thieves. Mi had many opportune schemes, every time he was to plunder a place, he certainly had prepared and planned for [both] success and defeat, and took it over without neglecting a stratagem. With bow and horse he was quick and nimble and his bodily strength was beyond other people. The soldiers of Qing titled him as the Flying Leopard.

1st Year of Yongjia, 2ndMonth [20 March – 18 April, 307], he guided the troops to enter and rob Qing and Xu provinces, declared himself Great General who Conquers the East, and attacked and killed the Two-Thousand shi officials.

(JS004: 2nd Month, xinsi [20 March], Wang Mi, a native of Donglai, rose up with soldiers in rebellion and robbed Qing and Xu provinces. The Grand Warden of Changguang, Song Pi and the Grand Warden of Dongmou, Pang Kang, were both murdered.)

The Grand Tutor, the King of Donghai, Yue, used the Prefect of the Public Communication Chariots, Qu Xian of Donglai as Grand Warden of his home commandery to chastise Mi. Mi struck and killed him. The Inspector of Yan province, Gou Xi, struck Mi and greatly defeated him.

Earlier, Liu Ling of Pingyuan as young was impoverished and lowly. Aged more than twenty, often at the appointed time for labour service in the county his strength would subdue a runaway ox, and running he would catch up with a swift horse. Though people at the time were amazed with him, they were not able to raise him up. Ling touched his chest, sighed and said:

Heaven! Why will there be chaos!

When Gongshi Fan rose up, Ling declared himself a General, and robbed and plundered Zhao and Wei. It happened that when Wang Mi was defeated by Gou Zhun, Ling was defeated by Wang Zan. Mi spoke to Ling, saying:

The Jin troops are still strong, going home there is no placefor burial. Liu Yuanhai formerly was a hostage son, I and him went around in the Imperial City. [We] deeply had affection and bond. Now [he has] declared [himself] King of Han. [I] want to return to him, can it be done?

Ling affirmed it. Thereupon they together dispatched envoys to surrender to Han. Han designated Mi Great General who Conquers the East, Shepherd of Qing and Xu provinces, and Commander-in-Chief of the Various Army Affairs Hemming the Sea, ennobled Duke of Donglai; and used Ling as General who Pacifies the North.

(Shi Le)

1st Year of Yongjia, Spring, 3rd Month[19 April – 18 May], Ji Sang titled himself Great General, and declared he was seeking revenge on the King of Chengdu, Ying's enemies, with executing the King of Donghai, Yue, and the King of Xincai, Teng as his name. He therefore set out with the King of Chengdu's coffin, transporting it within the army. Every affair he disclosed to his spirit, to carry out army orders.

(When Sima Yue gained controlled of the government, he had elevated his brother Teng from Duke of Dongying to King of Dongyan, and then King of Xincai.)

Sang used Le to spur on in front, and he again and again had merit in battle. He was appointed to be General who Sweeps away the Miscreants, and Marquis of Zhongming Precinct. Thereupon Sang together with Zhang Hong's old general Li Feng and others advanced to attack Ye. He appointed Le as Chief Controller of the Vanguard (WS: Chief Commandant of the Vanguard, ZZTJ: General who Chastises the Miscreants.).

Summer, 5th Month [17 June – 16 July], Sang attacked and routed the Grand Warden of Wei commandery, Feng Song, and with a long chase arrived at Ye. At the time within Ye the offices and storehouses were empty and exhausted, yet the King of Xincai, Teng's use of supplies was considerably abundant. He was by nature frugal and stingy, there was nothing which bestirred his kindness. With danger approaching, he then bestowed on the generals and soldiers rice, possibly several thousand sheng, and silks on each a zhang and chi, this was due to people not being employed. Sang thereupon advanced to attack Ye. Teng said:

Your Orphan was in Bing province for seven years, the Hu besieged the city but were not able to overcome it. Ji Sang is a lowly thief, how is he enough to worry about.

When Feng and others arrived, Teng was unable to defend, he led light cavalry and ran, and was murdered by Feng. Teng had four sons, Yu, Jiao, Shao, and Que. Yu was brave and strong. At Teng's murder,Yu chased Feng. Feng threw himself into the water and died. That day, Yu, Jiao, and Shao, and also the Grand Warden of Julu, Cui Main, the Senior Clerk of Chariots and Cavalry, Yang Huan, the Assistant Officer Palace Gentleman, Cai Ke, and others were also murdered by Feng's remaining partisans. And among those various famous families who had drifted and relocated to rely on Ye, the death and destruction was equally complete. Thereupon they burnt the Ye palace, the fires did not extinguish for ten days. They killed more than ten thousand people, carried off the wives, daughters, and precious treasure, and left.

They crossed from Yanjin, and went south to strike Yan province. The King of Donghai,Yue, was greatly afraid. He sent the General who Consoles the Army and Inspector of Yan province, Gou Xi, the Interior Clerk of Chenliu, Wang Zan, and others to chastise them. Sang and Le attacked the Inspector of You province, Shi Xian, at Leling. Xian died there. The beg-for-life Tian Yin led a multitude of 50 000 to save Xian. Le confronted him in battle and defeated Yin. He and Xi and others opposed each other in Pingyuan and Yangping over several months, and in the course of more than thirty battles great and small exchanged wins and losses. The Duke of Shanyang, Liu Qiu was murdered. He was the great great grandson of Emperor Xian of Han.

Autumn, 7th Month, jiyou, New Moon [15 August], the King of Donghai, Yue, advanced to Guandu to chastise Ji Sang, and instructed Gou Xi to be the vanguard. Sang had a long-standing dread for him, and made palisades outside the city to defend himself. When Xi was about to arrive, he halted the army and rested the soldiers, and first dispatched a single rider to demonstrate thereby calamity or happiness. Sang's multitudes were greatly shaken, they abandoned the palisades and escaped at night to man the walls and strengthen the defences.

8th Month, jimao, New Moon [13 September], the General who Consoles the Army, Gou Xi, defeated Ji Sang at Ye.

9th Month, wuchen [2 November], Gou Xi again routed Ji Sang, and captured his Nine Ramparts. Thereupon he settled Ye and turned back.

When Sang and Le were defeated by Xi, they turned back to Pingyang. The dead were more than 10 000 people. They therefore gathered their remaining multitudes and wanted to run to Liu Yuan. The Inspector of Ji province, Ding Shao, intercepted them at Chiqiao [“Red Bridge”], and again greatly defeated them. Sang fled to the horse shepherds, Le fled to Leping.

At the time among the Hu the section heads Zhang Beidu, Feng Motu, and others held close a multitude of several thousand, and were fortifying in Shangdang. Le went to follow them, and became very close to them. Following that, he explained to Beidu, saying:

Chanyu Liu is raising up troops to execute Jin. [If] the section heads resist and do not follow, how will you be able stand alone?

He said:

[I am] unable to.

Le said:

If you should be unable to, your troops and horses must belong somewhere. Now the section groups all are already being awarded and enlisted by the Chanyu, and from time to time gather to discuss their wish to rebel again the section heads and revert to the Chanyu. You ought soon to make a plan for it.

Beidu and others were plain and without wisdom or schemes, and feared the duplicity of the section multitudes. They therefore covertly accompanied Le on single mounts to revert to Yuan. Yuan appointed Beidu King who is Kin to Han and Modu as Chief Controller of the Section Heads. He used Le as General who Assists Han and King who Pacifies Jin to control them. Le hence instructed Beidu to be his older brother, and bestowed on him the family name of the Shi clan, and named him Hui [“Meet”], telling he [Beidu] had come across himself [Le].

Zhang Fulidu of the Wuhuan likewise had a multitude of 2 000, and was fortifying in Leping. Yuan again and again summoned him, but he was unable to come. Le pretended he had offended Yuan, and because of that fled to Fulidu. Fulidu was greatly pleased, and connected with him as if they were brothers. He sent Le to lead the various Hu to rob and plunder. Wherever he turned, he had none in front, and the various Hu submitted in awe. Le perceived the multitudes in their hearts adhered to himself, and therefore accordingly met with and seized Fulidu. He announced to the various Hu, saying:

Now when raising up a great affair, I or Fuldiu, who is capable of being the master?

The various Hu all together pushed forward Le. Le hence released Fulidu and led his section multitudes to return to Yuan. Yuan added to Le Commander-in-Chief of the Various Army Affairs of Conquering and Chastising East of the Mountains, and used Fulidu's multitudes to pair with him.

12th Month, wuyin [11 January 308], men of Bing province, Tian Lan, Bo Sheng, and others beheaded Ji Sang in Leling (JS104: The kingly host beheaded Ji Sang in Pingyuan).

(JS059: When Sang was defeated, they threw [the King of Chengdu, Ying's] coffin inside a former well. Ying's old subjects gathered and buried it.)

(JS059: Earlier, when the Duke of Dongying, Teng, was garrisoning Ye, he pulled along the Bing province generals Tian Zhen, Zhen's younger brother Lan, Ren Zhi, Qi Ji, Li Yun, Bo Sheng, and others with a section multitude of more than 10 000 people to arrive at Ye. He dispatched them to go look for grain in Ji province, they were titled as beg-for-life. When Teng was defeated, Zhen and others intercepted and routed Ji Sang at Chiqiao.)

(Should we assume Tian Yin田禋 and Tian Zhen田甄 are the same person?)

(Li Xiong)

2nd Year of Yanping, Spring,Luo Shang arranged and set up barriers and defence posts reaching Han'an and Bodao. At the time the people of Yi province drifted and relocated be in Jing and Xiang provinces, and in Yuesui and Zangke. Shang arranged and set up for the commanderies and counties to go where people were. He also arranged Army Advisors for the various villages.

3rd Month [19 April – 18 May], drifting people from Guanzhong (JS057: natives of Qin province), Deng Ding, Hong Di, and others, entered Hanzhong, and guarded Chenggu, gradually they began seizing and stealing. They plundered Hanzhong's Dongchenshi in rebellion. The Inspector of Liang# province, Zhang Yin dispatched the Grand Warden of Baxi, Zhang Yan. Yan, the leader [?] of the Serrated Gates Wu Zhao, and the Assistant of Hanguo commandery, Xuan Ding, dispatched troops to besiege them. Di sought aid from Li Xiong.

Summer, 5th Month [17 June – 16 July], Xiong dispatched Li Li, Li Yun, Li Huang, and Li Feng (JS121: Li Guo, Li Yun and others leading more than 20 000) to enter Hanzhong and aid Ding. The Grand Warden, Du Mengzhi (JS057: Du Zhengchong) heard Li had arrived, and instructed Yan to release the siege and protect the provincial city.

Earlier, when Yan attacked Ding, Ding's multitudes were starving and hungry, and he pretended to surrender. He sent one golden receptacle to give to Yan. Yan was delighted, and was delaying his host. Seven days later, Di arrived. Ding turned back to Dongchenshi. Yan advanced to besiege him, and did not heed Mengzhi's words. Li arrived and first attacked Zhao's camp. The camp was routed. Next he attacked Ding, and also routed him. Yan was afraid of fighting, and brought along a hundred cavalry to flee. Li and others greatly routed the provincial army. The Serrated Gates Cai Song withdrew and reported to Mengzhi, saying:

The provincial army has already been routed. The thieves' multitudes cannot be prepared for.

Mengzhi was terrified. The Army-Protector wished for the city to be defended, and spoke to Mengzhi, saying:

The thieves who come, though a multitude, have the conventionality of a guest's manners. Li the Trivial is pressured in the south-east. He will surely not divide off and lodge troops in the outside, and will not go beyond welcoming and pulling out Ding and DI, that is all.

Mengzhi said:

Not so. Xiong dares declare himself emperor and king, and indulges in spreading across Under Heaven. As he has dispatched a significant multitude, he will surely take Hanzhong. Although we have a secure city, the gentlemen and commoners have smashed their courage, it's not possible to prepare with them for the robbers.

He therefore opened the gates to withdraw and flee. The Army-Protector returned back north. Mengzhi entered the Dasang [“Great Mulberry”] Valley with several thousand families of commoners and several thousand chariots. In one night they travelled barely several tens of li. However, Jing Zi of Zitong, since his father had had a grudge with Mengzhi, gathered his sons and younger brothers to pursue him, catching up at the valley mouth. Mengzhi abandoned his children and ran. Jing Zi captured them, and more than a thousand families of functionaries and commoners.

Only the Board of Merit official of Hanguo, Wu Jian, shouldered a raised cane and said:

I, though incompetent, is a great official of a single state. When the state perishes, [I am] not able to survive, and in the end will not belong to the thieves.

He starved to death within the valley.

Mengzhi fled to Weixing. Zhang Yin likewise abandoned his office and escaped to Chang'an. After piling up more than ten days, Li and others pulled out and turned back. They thoroughly moved the people of Hanzhong to Shu. Commoners of Hanzhong, Gou Fang, and Bai Luo led the functionaries and commoners to turn back and defend Nanzheng.

(Zhang Gui)

1stYear of Yongjia, Spring, 1st Month [19 February – 19 March], the Colonel of the Eastern Qiang, Han Zhi, killed the Inspector of Qin province, Zhang Fu. Gui's Junior Office Marshal, Yang Yin talked to Gui, saying:

Now Zhi has gone against instructions, and on his own killed Zhang Fu. Your Enlightened Excellency is the cudgel and axe of a single region, and ought to reprimand the irreverent. This is also the righteousness of the Spring and Autumn era. When the various marquises were wiping out and destroying each other, and Duke Huan was unable to save them, Duke Huan was ashamed of it.

Gui followed him, and dispatched the Controller-Protector of the Centre, Fan Yuan, led a multitude of 20 000 to chastise him. He first conveyed Zhi a letter which said:

Now that the kingly ropes are tangled and twisted, the shepherds and wardens should join forces to toil for the King. Just now [I] have obtained a call to arms from Yong province, stating that you Vassal, has claimed troops for an interior affront. I direct and is entrusted with a single region, the right-principled would be to cut down the rebellious, with a military battalion of thirty thousand, and steeds and couriers continuously sent out. The feeling of cutting wood, in my heart, how could be expressed! When the ancients marched with the host, keeping whole the state was the highest. Vassal, suppose you [came] on a single horse to the army's gates, [I] would combine with the Vassal to pacify the generation's difficulties.

Zhi obtained the letter and surrendered.

[Gui] dispatched the Master of Accounts Linghu Ya on a mission to the King of Nanyang, Mo. Mo was very pleased, he delivered to Gui a sword bestowed by the Emperor, and speaking to Gui said:

From Long [Mountain] and westwards, campaigning and smiting, severing and cutting off, are thoroughly being delegated, like this sword.

#chinese history #r16s

12 notes · View notes

fuyonggu · 5 years

Text

Chen Lin’s Proclamation to Wu (Short Version, No Commentary)

This is the abridged version of this post.

Proclamation to the Generals, Officers, and Subordinates of Wu

By Chen Kongzhang (Chen Lin)

On the first day of the year, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Xun Yu, distributed this proclamation to the various generals, officers, and subordinates of the Southland and to Sun Quan's friends and relatives, both near and far:

"It has been said, 'Happiness and misery have no gate by which they must enter, but each man calls the one or the other for himself'. For the man who 'sees his opportunity and acts', rather than remain amidst adversity and peril, has the wisdom of a great sage; he who, faced with danger and pressed by circumstances, heeds the new situation only in the end, deserves the concern of the knowledgeable; and he who only plunges deeper into the muck and mire, never turning aside from doom, merits the annihilation of the foolish. Thus does the refined and superior gentleman consider danger even while at peace, and contemplates future regrets even when they seem remote, while the inferior man is caught unawares by misfortune and laments his loss, and in the end meets with death and destruction. Is there not a great divide between them?

"Now Sun Quan is a mere whelp, and 'unable to distinguish beans from wheat'; he has not worth enough to 'douse the axe' of authority, nor reputation enough to impress anyone. He is a mere hatchling, still growing his adult feathers. Yet he would seek to wander about and do as he pleases, like a dog who barks at his master; he claims that his boats and ships will let him oppose the imperial majesty, and his rivers and lacks shall save him from august punishment. But he does not recognize that Heaven casts its net wide, and he shall be caught in it; he is nothing but a fish in the pot, who will cook when its time has come.

"Has he his rivers to protect him? Yet by the waters of Lake Dongting there remains not a trace of the three ancient states of Miao. Ziyang (Gongsun Shu) had the Jing Gate to guard him, yet he was defeated; Chaoxian (northern Korea) had their ramparts, but they availed them not; Nanyue had their banners, yet they too perished.

“In ancient times, the King of Wu, Fuchai, inherited the legacy of his father Helü and the trained army provided by Shen Xu (Wu Zixu), and he stood astride the region of Kuaiji. Certainly he could have been called a mighty king. Yet when he sought to prove whose was the premier state and struggled with Jin for supremacy, his capital city was sacked by Goujian of Yue and his soldiers were put to flight at Huangchi, and in the end his state was toppled and destroyed and his corpse fell into the hands of the Yue army.

“During the Han dynasty, there was the Prince of Wu, Liu Bi, who was proud, arrogant, and overbearing. Out of his ferocity and cunning, he sought to start disorder, for he believed that he had a strong army and a rich territory, and that he was powerful enough to bully the capital. But when the Grand Commandant (Zhou Yafu) led his army down to Xingyang, the armies of the seven states cracked like tiles and melted like ice, and before Liu Bi could even say a word of condemnation, his throat had already been cut by the blade of Dantu.

“What to make of the fate of such men? Merely this: that the might of Heaven cannot be opposed, and those who rebel against its will are great criminals indeed.

"Nor can Sun Quan be secure in the power of his army. After all, it has been nearly thirty years by now since Dong Zhuo first began the turmoil. And during that time, great heroes and talents roamed the length and breadth of the land, territorial as bears and implacable as tigers. The most powerful among them were those like the two Yuans (Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu), and the strongest were those like Lü Bu; for more than ten years, they stood astride several provinces, and they wielded power and commanded respect. Even beyond them, there were many remarkable heroes with passion and zeal, gazing like owls and glancing like wolves, and in this struggle for heroic supremacy there were too many people to count. Yet in the end, every one of them fell under the axe and parted with their heads; the clouds dispersed and the plains were scorched, and not a man remained among them.

"More recently, there were the generals of Guanzhong (Ma Chao and his allies), who banded together to rebel and cause chaos. They blocked the two Huas (Huayin and Huayang), occupied the Yellow and Wei Rivers, led the Qiang and other tribes to charge forward, and pushed their vanguard towards the east. They possessed towering zeal and lofty ambitions, and it seemed as though no one could stand against them. Yet the Prime Minister (Cao Cao) took up the military battle-axe and spread the word, and, sure as wind and blazing as fire, he 'led the way in front' and routed the foe before a roll of the drums. The result was 'a heap of corpses by the thousands and tens of thousands, of flowing blood and discarded shields'. These are things which all the realm well knows.

"Later, when the grand army had come to the banks of the Yangzi but had not yet crossed, Han Yue (Han Sui) and Ma Chao scampered off and fled back to Liangzhou, where they once again sought to caw and bark. The traitor and bandit Song Jian, who had declared himself King of the Source of the Yellow River, formed common cause with their evil; they helped each other as the lips support the teeth. It was the same way with the General Who Guards The South, Zhang Lu, who was confident in his defenses and so refused to respect royal authority. These enemies were all deserving of our royal punishment. Thus the Prime Minister merely reviewed the troops and made a demonstration at the Yangzi, then once again put the royal armies in order and charged to the west on campaign, to inflict the punishment of the realm against these foes.

"What were the results? No sooner had mere subordinate generals crossed the Long Mountains when Song Jian and Han Sui parted with their heads, and their heads and banners were sent ten thousand li to us. The moment that our army entered San Pass, the various Di tribes came to submit to us, and their kings, nobles, chiefs, and leaders all fled in the face of our advance. When we advanced to Hanzhong, Yangping Gate fell before us; Zhang Lu's army of a hundred thousand men was no more than fallen earth or rotting fish. Zhang Lu himself scurried away, fleeing into Bazhong, but then cherishing the kindness that he had been shown and repenting of his transgressions, he brought his whole family and returned to surrender. The King of the the tribes of Ba, Pu Hu, and the Marquis of the Cong tribes, Du Huo, each led their forces to come and submit, presenting up Ba commandary, and these leaders were employed in office. Thus with one blow of the horns and one roll of the drums, these two corners of the realm were all pacified; we reaped the full bounty of the western sea without even a clash of the vanguards.

"Such things as these only come about through the might and wisdom of Heaven above and the martial prowess of the very spirits of state; they are not something that the power of a mere mortal can accomplish.

"And how generous and benevolent the court is; most impartial, fully civil and fully trustworthy, and greatly willing to grant titles as a display to all the realm. Having submitted to the dynasty, Zhang Lu, Pu Hu, and Du Huo were all granted fiefs of ten thousand households, Zhang Lu's five sons were all granted fiefs of a thousand households, and more than a thousand of the relatives and subordinates of Pu Hu and Du Huo were granted titles from minor marquises and generals on down. Thus were the people able to enjoy tranquility, and the Four Professions returned to their livelihoods. But as for those who rebelled, Song Jian and Han Yue (Han Sui) and their ilk were all 'buried under a mound', while Ma Chao's wife and children were beheaded at Jincheng and his parents and infants were executed in the Xu marketplace. These were not merely the whims of the state to inflict misfortune here and bestow blessings there; they were the just fruits of the submissive and the traitorous.

"Before it snatches its prey, a raptor will often first ascend in order to muster its full power. Likewise, before King Wu of Zhou's ultimate victory at Muye, he first withdrew from Meng Crossing. So too have we been clearing the brambles and cutting away the thorns, restoring peace among the tribes and the Xia (ethnic Han), such that now all the territory for ten thousand li around has become respectful and submissive, and there is no military trouble to be found.

"And now (~217) we have brought forth this heavenly army against you, one million strong, bolstered with the support of the Chanyu of the Xiongnu, Huwanchu (Huchuquan), the various tribes of the six commandaries, the Wuhuan, the Dingling, and the Chuge, and the Qiang and Bo tribes of Huangzhong. Like the rolling of thunder and the unfurling of a mat, we have swept south from Shouchun. At the same time, the General Who Conquers The West, Xiahou Yuan, and others are leading forth fifty thousand elite armored soldiers. The Di and Qiang tribes of Wudu and the zealous troops of the Ba and Han regions are marching south to the Wen River and the Yangzi to swiftly occupy the regions of Tang and Shu. The armies of Jiangxia and Xiangyang are also on the move, crossing the Xiang and Yuan Rivers and approaching Yuzhang. Lastly, our great fleet of tower ships is skirting the coast of the sea and heading straight for the regions of Wu and Kuaiji. All along this front of ten thousand li, we march as one, advancing along five routes against us. Sun Quan's fate is now at hand.

"Now the Prime Minister, as the agent of the state's authority, is acting to remove threats to the people, and there can be no salvation for the abhorrent chief criminals; they shall surely part with their heads. But 'the branches attached and the leaves that follow' may yet be spared; though the leaders are doomed, their followers need not be condemned. The imperial edict does not decree that such people must die. On the contrary, every time that the Prime Minister has vanquished a powerful foe, he has never failed to first offer opportunities for surrender and only afterwards execute those who would not submit. He has recruited generals and obtained talents, and all such people found their full use in his service. And in all instances, there have been meritorious ministers who have 'stood on tiptoes and craned their necks', who have heeded the situation and responded to circumstances.

“For example, when Yuan Shu treasonously claimed imperial title and the court executed him and his generals, the Administrator of Lujiang, Liu Xun, offered up his commandary to the court and return to the fold of the state. When Lü Bu caused turmoil and the Prime Minister led the army to Xiapi, Zhang Liao and Hou Cheng led their troops out to surrender. When the Prime Minister returned to campaign against Sui Gu, Xue Hong and Jiu Shang opened the gates of his city and submitted. During the battle of Guandu, Zhang He and Gao Huan (Gao Lan) changed sides and performed great deeds. Later, during the campaign against Yuan Shang, the General-Commandant, Ma Yan, the former Inspector of Yuzhou, Yin Kui, and the Colonel of Archers Who Shoot At A Sound, Guo Zhao, came and surrendered during the fighting. When the Prime Minister surrounded Ye, the general Su You turned against Yuan Shang and supported the Prime Minister from the inside, and Shen Pei's nephew opened the gates of the city and let the army in. After Yuan Tan was executed, the great general of Youzhou, Jiao Chu, attacked Yuan Xi and drove him out, then heeded the situation and came to submit.

"There were hundreds of such people, all loyal, strong, stalwart, and zealous, all intelligent, all benevolent. They all joined with the Prime Minister to advise him and help develop his plans, to break and charge on campaigns against his foes, to root out his enemies and pull up their banners, and to restore peace and tranquility within the Four Seas. They did not take such actions lightly! It was truly an instance of 'Heaven displaying its heart', of them 'thinking deeply and considering the long-term'.

"Consider well the crossing-point between good and evil; understand the division between possible and impossible. Let the brave not die a pointless death; let the dutiful not maintain a meager charge. Bow to the reality of circumstances, for there is only one road by which you may preserve yourself. And if you do so, then you may establish a mountain of achievements and enjoy an incalculable salary. Those who in the morning were hated criminals may become the highest of generals by evening. This is what is meant by 'recognizing the situation in the midst of difficulties and exchanging bad fortune for good'.

"There are those who will say I am only enticing you with honeyed words and trying to win you over with trifling kindness. But such people are merely stuck in the mud; they are already lost, yet they do not realize it. How many people shall continue to go along with the flow and be snuffed out in the flames with all the others? Would it not be tragic to throw away a chance for good fortune?

"A few years ago, when the army was at Hanzhong, the eastern flank of the state was far away from the west, and the garrison remaining at Hefei was not even five thousand strong, while Sun Quan personally led tens of thousands of soldiers against it. Yet he was routed and driven off in defeat. Now he thinks to stand against the rolling thunder. He has little hope.

"One must gain the assistance of Heaven through submission to its will, and the help of the people through the building of trust; to act properly is called righteousness, and to show kinship is called benevolence. Yet though Sheng Xiaozhang (Sheng Xian) was a superior fellow, Sun Quan still executed him, and though Sun Fu was his own brother, Sun Quan still killed him. No one is worse than him in being a robber against righteousness and a ruffian against benevolence. Thus the gods and the spirits judge him as guilty, and the people are united in hatred of him.

"Those who would associate with such a criminal are themselves considered wicked bandits. That is why when, in ancient times, Yi Zhi (Yi Yin) abandoned Xia, he did no injury to virtue, but when Fei Lian died for the sake of King Zhou of Shang, he was not considered a worthy man. Why? Because there are times when it is proper to remain, but also times when it is proper to leave.

"Now the Prime Minister deeply cherishes the longstanding legacies and virtues of the old Southland clans, which have been known for many generations. It was not so long ago that the brilliance of Wei Shuying rose above the highest mountains and his reputation spread all throughout the seas, that the moral principles and indulgent love of learning of Yu Wenxiu were widely regarded, and that the peerless talents and cultivated virtue of Zhou Taiming were known by all. Thus their descendants should 'long enjoy much happiness', and their sons and grandsons should be protected and preserved. Yet Zhou Sheng and all his clan, though innocent, have been executed; the lineage has been scattered and lost, falling into oblivion among the trees and grass. Is that not regrettable? And we have heard that Wei Zhourong and Yu Zhongxiang (Yu Fan) have inherited the legacies of their ancestors, so that 'what the father planned, the son must build', 'the wood chopped by the father must be carried by the son'. So too should the old gentry clans of the Wu region, the Gu, the Lu, and all the rest that have enjoyed high status for generations, repay the virtues of the Han dynasty and glorify the good names of their ancestors.

"Indeed, all the generals and officers of Sun Quan, all his marital relations, are fine treasures and useful tools of our state. Yet they are all pressing one another forward, like rain tumbling from the heavens; they are like an axe-blade without a handle, and how can that be used? They are falling into ruin together. Is that not lamentable?

"Among birds, the phoenix builds its nest high up on a lofty ridge, thus displaying the virtues of a worthy sage. But wrens and shrikes build their nests on reeds and twigs, and when the reeds snap the chicks are destroyed; this displays the delusions of the lowly and foolish. And currently, the Southland itself is no different from such a reed or twig, with many worthy people perched upon it. Truly, they are in great danger.

"The court is generous and magnanimous, tolerant and forgiving, and most sympathetic to the lives of the people. They seek the execution of one man alone, but have no suspicion towards anyone else. Thus they present uncommon rewards, in the expectation of uncommon achievements. Is there not some domineering fellow, some man of passion and drive, who will seize this moment to wrest control of their fate? If so, be diligent! For whosoever can arrange a grand undertaking and perform the greatest of achievements will earn great glory and riches; that would lead to the greatest fortune. Or if you cannot bring yourselves to do that, it would still be sufficient for you to analyze well the situation you face and consider how to exchange death for life.

"Even a tiger will gnaw off its own paw if it is bound by a rope, and even a strong fellow will chop off his own wrist if there is a viper on his hand. Why? Because of the danger posed to the whole body. They see the preservation of their whole body as more important than the loss of the limb. Will you then take delight in your misfortune and think you are at peace, continue your wandering and forget to turn back, be blind to the praises of the Daya poem and ignore the ways in which the past worthies exchanged sides, and turn away from a sure means of safety and prefer to remain on the snapping branch? Shall you live your life only one day to the next, until in the end you are lost? For when our great soldiers are flung against you, then the jade will be smashed along with the stone, and even if you sought to save yourself then, it would be too late.

"Thus I have sent forth these offers to recruit you, to offer titles and rewards and this opportunity to reform yourselves. When you receive this proclamation, carefully consider what I have said to you.

"This decree has the force of an imperial edict."

#Chen Lin #Sanguo #Three Kingdoms

6 notes · View notes

the-archlich · 7 years

Text

The War for Hebei (202-207)

The north China plain was a key territory in the regional wars during Han’s collapse. Located north of the great Yellow River, it was one of the most populous and prosperous regions of the Han dynasty. During the early years of the Jian’an War, this region, poetically called Hebei, was the center of conflict between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. After Yuan Shao drove Gongsun Zan into hiding in 195, the region was his personal kingdom in all but name.

After Yuan Shao’s death in 202, the future of the region was in question. While control of Yuan Shao’s possessions had been passed to his youngest son Yuan Shang, this succession was disputed by his eldest, Yuan Tan. South of the Yellow River, Cao Cao looked to take advantage of Yuan Shao’s passing to seize control of the region. From 202-207, these competing factions fought over who would control Hebei, and this war played a large role in shaping the future of the Three Kingdoms. Despite its importance, this war is rarely discussed, particularly in fictional adaptations.

Note: This article was originally titled “The War for Huabei”. I was subsequently informed that “Huabei” traditionally refers to a wider area than I intended and included territories well outside the scope of this article. Following good advice, I have referred to the region north of the Yellow River as Héběi (河北) instead. I use both of these terms in a poetic sense, rather than in a strict geographical or administrative one. It should be understood that the use of these terms is anachronistic and imprecise.

BACKGROUND

From 191-200, Yuan Shao, the Marquis of Kang, oversaw the conquest of northern China under his own banner. When this was complete, he set the members of his family as the heads of the northern provinces to rule in his name. He also secured alliances with the Wuhuan tribes to bolster his army and provide him with some element of protection against the other nomadic raiders. The Yuan family’s hold on the provinces of Qing (under Yuan Tan), You (under Yuan Xi), and Ji (under Yuan Shao himself) was secure. Bing (under nephew Gao Gan) was more troubled. The north of the province was overrun by rebellious Xiongnu tribes and the Heishan region was infested with a large bandit army under Zhang Yan. His control appears to have been limited the commanderies of Yanmen, Taiyuan, Shangdang, and Xihe, which bordered Ji.

Prior to his death, Yuan Shao caused confusion about his succession. Custom dictated that his possessions be left to his eldest son, Yuan Tan. However, Yuan Shao always favored his youngest son, Yuan Shang. Shang also enjoyed the support of Yuan Shao’s later wife, a woman of the Liu family. It is unclear if Lady Liu was Yuan Shang’s mother or if she simply favored the younger candidate. Yuan Shao intended to make Shang his heir, but he never declared a firm decision on the matter. However, he did have Yuan Tan inherit the property of a deceased uncle, which cast doubt on whether Tan should inherit his father’s holdings as well.

Yuan Shao’s top advisers were divided between these two camps. Xin Ping and Guo Tu supported Tan as the successor. Yuan Shang was supported by Shen Pei and Pang Ji for their own reasons. The pair had a feud with Xin Ping and Guo Tu and feared that if Tan succeeded, Xin Ping and Guo Tu would harm them. Shen Pei and Pang Ji also were on bad terms with Tan himself due to his righteous nature. Lady Liu continued to support the younger son as well. It does not appear that there was any noteworthy support for Yuan Xi or Gao Gan.

When Yuan Shao died in the summer of 202, he still had not made his decision clear. Shen Pei and Pang Ji forged his will, declaring Yuan Shang the heir. He took the title of grand general, which had been held by his father since 196. At the time, Yuan Tan was in Pingyuan, his headquarters in Qing province. He traveled to the family capital Ye (in Ji) to take over affairs but was rebuffed by Yuan Shang and his coterie. Although Yuan Tan was incensed, he initially accepted his father’s will as genuine. Rather than return to Pingyuan, he marched somewhat south of Ye and camped at Liyang. He styled himself general of the charioteers, a title which Yuan Shao had claimed when first raising his army.

Liyang was a key strategic point. It commanded the easiest crossing of the Yellow River and was vital for both attack and defense. An accomplished general, Yuan Tan was fully aware of Liyang’s importance and certainly knew that Cao Cao would strike north as soon as he learned of Yuan Shao’s death. It is also quite possible that Yuan Tan envisioned Liyang as the staging ground for an attack against Ye should relations with his brother worsen. Preparing for an impending attack, Yuan Tan requested reinforcements at Liyang. Yuan Shang sent Pang Ji with a small contingent but refused his brother’s subsequent request for greater aid. In anger, Yuan Tan responded by executing Pang Ji.

LIYANG AND HEDONG

Yuan Tan’s fears soon proved correct. In autumn, only four months after Yuan Shao’s passing, Cao Cao launched an invasion of Hebei, with Liyang as his first target. No specifics of this battle are recorded, but the general flow is clear. Yuan Tan mounted a defense, and he held out for a time with great difficulty. He again requested aid from Yuan Shang, and this time the younger brother brought a significant force to assist Liyang, leaving Shen Pei in charge of Ye. For the next several months, Cao Cao and the Yuans fought a series of battles around Liyang, and this conflict stretched into the next year.

While Cao Cao and the brothers fought at Liyang, the Yuan family sought to open a second front in the war. Quartered in southern Bing, Gao Gan was in a position to attack Cao Cao’s holdings in Sili province and potentially threaten his capital from the west. So Gao Gan began an invasion of Hedong commandery. The army was led by Guo Yuan, who was appointed head of that commandery by Yuan Shang.

To aid in this campaign, Gao Gan reached out to a number of leaders who were hostile to Cao Cao. Most notable was Huchuquan, exiled Chanyu of the Xiongnu. He was headquartered in Pingyang and revolted against Cao Cao’s rule while Cao Cao was distracted at Liyang. Cao Cao ordered his director of Sili, Zhong Yao, to attack Pingyang and suppress this revolt. It is of some trivial notice that Zhong Yao was Guo Yuan’s uncle. Huchuquan quickly accepted Gao Gan’s offer of alliance, and Guo Yuan was sent to relieve him. Gao Gan also sent emissaries to hold secret talks with the various warlords of Guanzhong, most notably Ma Teng. Collectively, they controlled a large army and could threaten Cao Cao from the west.

Guo Yuan enjoyed great initial success. He quickly conquered the cities and towns of northern Hedong. The only significant resistance he encountered was at the city of Jiang, led by the local officer Jia Kui. The elders of Jiang eventually surrendered in order to spare Jia Kui’s life. Although Guo Yuan imprisoned Jia Kui and intended to kill him, Jia Kui managed to escape with the help of a defector. After this incident, Guo Yuan arrived at Pingyang and relieved Huchuquan, who was under attack by Zhong Yao.

In order to counter this threat, Zhong Yao sent his subordinate Zhang Ji to negotiate with Ma Teng. Having received offers from both Gao Gan and Zhong Yao, Ma Teng was uncertain who to support. His adviser Fu Gan eventually persuaded him that Cao Cao would ultimately triumph, so Ma Teng agreed to assist Zhong Yao. He sent a detachment under his son Ma Chao and officer Pang De to reinforce Zhong Yao.

With these reinforcements, Zhong Yao was able to turn the tide of the battle. He pulled back some distance from Pingyang, across the Fen river, and waited. As Zhong Yao predicted, Guo Yuan attempted to cross the Fen. While Guo Yuan’s army was divided by the river, Zhong Yao launched an attack. He utterly destroyed Guo Yuan’s army, and Pang De personally took Guo Yuan’s head. The loss of Guo Yuan and his army put an end to Gao Gan’s plans. Huchuquan quickly surrendered and the Guanzhong leaders no longer dared attack Cao Cao. The remaining Yuan forces in Hedong quickly withdrew and the threat was ended.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao continued to fight for control of Liyang. In the second month of 203, Cao Cao managed to score a decisive victory over the Yuan brothers. They were forced to abandon Liyang and retreat to Ye. Cao Cao took a little over a month to consolidate his hold on Liyang, then proceeded to attack Ye in summer. He captured several smaller cities and towns south of Ye and collected the local harvest while attacking the city.

Cao Cao’s first attack on Ye was not entirely successful. The Yuan brothers evidently achieved some victories in field sorties, although not enough to break the siege. Still, Cao Cao attacked the city for a month without being able to penetrate the walls. It was during this time that his adviser Guo Jia proposed withdrawing. He posited that Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were only cooperating because they were under immediate threat. If Cao Cao lifted the pressure holding them together, they would surely turn one another. That would give Cao Cao an opportunity far better than the current one. Cao Cao agreed with Guo Jia’s prediction and retreated from Ye of his own accord. He left a commander to hold Liyang and returned to Xu city.

While this first campaign did not result in the capture of Ye, it was still a resounding success for Cao Cao. He inflicted significant military losses on the Yuan brothers and seized their southern holdings. Most significantly, he now held control of Liyang, which would allow him to cross the Yellow River at will. Additionally, the victories in Hedong secured his western flank. All of this placed Cao Cao in a strong position to resume his conquest at his leisure.

TAN VERSUS SHANG

Guo Jia’s assessment proved correct almost immediately. Yuan Tan wanted to pursue Cao Cao’s retreating army in hopes of securing an easy victory. He also blamed his earlier losses on substandard equipment provided by Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang refused to allow a pursuit, nor did he replace Yuan Tan’s equipment. This greatly angered the elder Yuan and deepened the resentment between the two. After this, Xin Ping and Guo Tu spoke to Yuan Tan and revealed that it was because of Shen Pei that he had not been made heir. Infuriated at being cheated out of his birthright, Yuan Tan rallied his army to attack Yuan Shang’s. The two fought outside the gates of Ye. Lacking local support, Yuan Tan was defeated and withdrew to Nanpi, capital of Bohai commandery in eastern Ji.

In Nanpi, Yuan Tan gathered reinforcements from Qing province, which was firmly loyal to him. Led by the steward of Qing Wang Xiu, they joined Yuan Tan in Bohai. Yuan Tan planned to attack Ye again, though Wang Xiu tried to persuade him against it. He blamed the conflict on false advisers and those who sought to benefit from the feud. Wang Xiu urged Yuan Tan to kill Shen Pei and the others, then reconcile with his brother. Yuan Tan rejected this advice.

Yuan Tan’s plans for an attack were disrupted by a rebellion in Qing province, led by a commander named Liu Xun, based near Pingyuan. Yuan Tan feared that all of Qing might revolt against him, but Wang Xiu soothed him and correctly predicted the course of events. Guan Tong, Administrator of Donglai, led loyalist troops against Liu Xun and crushed his revolt. He then came to join Yuan Tan at Nanpi. Tragically, Guan Tong had to leave his wife and children behind in Donglai and they were killed by bandits in his absence.

In autumn, Yuan Shang marched from Ye and attacked Nanpi. Yuan Tan was defeated and withdrew to Pingyuan. Yuan Shang pursued and besieged the city, and Yuan Tan was hard pressed to defend it. Lacking any other recourse, he sent Xin Ping’s brother Xin Pi to negotiate with Cao Cao and ask for help. During this time, Liu Biao sent messages to both brothers. A stalwart ally of the Yuan family, he urged both of them to stop fighting lest Cao Cao destroy them. Neither brother heeded his advice.

While the Yuan brothers fought, Cao Cao made war on Liu Biao. During Cao Cao’s absence, Liu Biao’s general Liu Bei had captured some territories in southern Yu province. Upon returning from Liyang, Cao Cao retook these territories. When Xin Pi arrived, Cao Cao had just recaptured Xiping in southern Runan. He delivered Yuan Tan’s offer of peace and request for aid. Because Cao Cao was currently engaged against Liu Biao, many of his officers thought it was more important to settle Liu Biao than to return north. Xun You, however, held that Liu Biao was not much of an expansionist and believed that the Yuans would be a greater threat. Xun You also pointed out that this conflict was precisely the opportunity Guo Jia had been waiting for. Guo Jia likewise favored attacking north. At their advice, as well as Xin Pi’s repeated urging, Cao Cao agreed to a truce with Yuan Tan and decided to attack Ye.

In winter, Cao Cao gathered his forces at Liyang. When word of this reached Yuan Shang, he abandoned the siege of Pingyuan and returned to defend Ye. At this time, his officers Lü Kuang and Gao Xiang (frequently misidentified as Lü Xiang) revolted against him and offered their submission to Cao Cao. Yuan Tan also offered the two rebels positions with his army, although they rejected the bribe. In order to secure the alliance between their armies, Cao Cao arranged for his son Cao Zheng to marry Yuan Tan’s daughter. However, since Yuan Shang had returned to Ye, Cao Cao withdrew back to Xu city to wait for a better opportunity.

THE SIEGE OF YE

In spring of 204, Cao Cao again returned to Liyang. In preparation for a significant northward push, he built a dam at the Qi river and built the Bo canal, which would allow him to easily transport supplies.

In the second month of the year, Yuan Shang personally lead another attack on Pingyuan, leaving Shen Pei and Su You in charge at Ye. Cao Cao took the opportunity to advance on the city. Su You planned to turn the city over to Cao Cao, but Shen Pei discovered his plot. Su You was forced to flee for his life, and he soon joined Cao Cao. Cao Cao soon encircled Ye and built the traditional earthworks for a lengthy siege.

A road between Ye and Huguan in Shangdang ensured a flow of supplies and communication between Gao Gan and Yuan Shang. It was guarded by an officer hamed Yin Kai, camped at Maocheng. In the fourth month of the year, Cao Cao personally led a detachment against Maocheng, leaving Cao Hong in charge of maintaining the siege of Ye. Cao Cao easily defeated Yin Kai, cutting Ye off from any western reinforcements. Cao Cao and his subordinates also secured the surrender of several other small cities and towns in the region. On Xu Huang’s advice, Cao Cao heavily rewarded those who surrendered, which encouraged many others to do the same.

At this time, Cao Cao received an offer of support from Zhang Yan, who commanded the Heishan bandits. His territory was mostly in Bing province, although he held influence in western Ji as well. His army was extremely large, and he had a history of hostilities with both Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. Observing the generous rewards Cao Cao gave those who submitted, Zhang Yan also offered alliance. Cao Cao made him a general, and this removed one of his greatest potential obstacles in Hebei.

Upon returning to Ye in the fifth month of the year, Cao Cao redoubled his efforts against the city. Having met with no success through conventional attacks, Cao Cao decided to starve Shen Pei into submission. The greatest disruption to this strategy would be if Shen Pei attacked Cao Cao’s construction crews as they were digging trenches around the city. In order to prevent this, Cao Cao manipulated Shen Pei. He first dug a shallow moat around the city, one low enough that Shen Pei could easily cross it. Seeing this, Shen Pei thought that Cao Cao simply made an error and was not concerned. In the night, though, Cao Cao expanded this moat, making it considerably deeper and wider. He also used the nearby Zhang river to fill it quickly. When morning came, Shen Pei was trapped.

Over the next two months, starvation took its toll on the defenders, and half the soldiers in Ye succumbed. Yuan Shang realized that his city was in danger of falling and withdrew from Pingyuan to reinforce Ye. Rather than take the main road, Yuan Shang made an oblique approach through the hills west of Ye. He set camp at the village of Yangping, less than five miles from Ye. There, he and Shen Pei used fires to signal for a joint attack.

Yuan Shang’s movements proved to be a grave error. Cao Cao recognized the obvious signals and prepared to intercept Shen Pei. When Shen Pei attempted to sortie from Ye, Cao Cao dealt him a heavy defeat. He then proceeded to Yangping and attacked Yuan Shang’s army. Yuan Shang sustained heavy losses and fled to Quzhang. Cao Cao again defeated him, causing him to retreat into the Qi hills. Cao Cao defeated him once more, forcing Yuan Shang to flee again. He took shelter in Zhongshan, with only a remnant of his army and no supplies to speak of.

Prior to arriving at Yangping, Yuan Shang sent a subordinate named Qian Zhao to speak with Gao Gan and request supplies for the army. While Qian Zhao was away, Yuan Shang suffered his defeats and was driven to Zhongshan. Qian Zhao begged Gao Gan to bring reinforcements to Zhongshan, but Gao Gan refused his aid. Frustrated, Qian Zhao left Bing and eventually submitted to Cao Cao.

Yuan Shang’s defeat greatly demoralized the defenders at Ye, though Shen Pei still refused to surrender. He spread false reports that Yuan Xi would soon arrive from You province to relieve them. During one of the final episodes of the siege, Shen Pei nearly succeeded in killing Cao Cao. He had men on the ramparts concealed with crossbows. On one occasion, Cao Cao came out to inspect the siegeworks, and Shen Pei’s hidden men opened fire on him. It was only through sheer luck that Cao Cao was not hit.

These efforts did little to restore the morale of the defenders. During the night on September 13th, Shen Pei’s own nephew Shen Rong opened the eastern gate of the city and let Cao Cao’s army in. Cao Cao stormed the city and overwhelmed the remaining defenders. Although Shen Pei led men to fight Cao Cao in the streets, he was quickly defeated and captured.

Previously, Xin Ping’s family had been held as prisoners in Ye. When Cao Cao entered the city, Xin Pi rode straight for the prison, but Shen Pei executed them before he arrived. Cao Cao spoke with Shen Pei and attempted to secure his submission, but Shen Pei refused to surrender. Cao Cao was impressed by his loyalty and considered letting him live. However, Xin Pi and others demanded he be executed, so Cao Cao obliged them and killed Shen Pei.

The capture of Ye was a major turning point in the war for Hebei. Cao Cao made Ye his personal headquarters. While it served as the nerve center for his further conquest of Hebei, it also became the personal stronghold of the Cao family and functioned as a second capital city. Ye’s capture was seen by many of the Yuan officers as the beginning of the end. Officials throughout Ji flocked to surrender. Most notably, Gao Gan offered his submission. Cao Cao demoted him to the rank of inspector (from governor) but allowed him to keep charge of Bing province.

THE FALL OF THE YUAN

During all of this, Yuan Tan was not idle. He sent men to seize the eastern commanderies of Ji and personally led his army to Zhongshan, where he defeated Yuan Shang. Shang fled north to You province and took shelter with his older brother Yuan Xi. Yuan Tan then consolidated his forces at Longcou. Ji province was now divided between Cao Cao and Yuan Tan, with Cao Cao holding slight advantage. The Cao forces held the south and west while Yuan Tan controlled the north and east. Cao Cao regarded Yuan Tan’s aggressive actions as a breach of their truce and declared his intention to attack him. He also canceled the marriage between their children.

Hoping to protect his holdings in Ji, Yuan Tan gathered his army at Nanpi. This proved to be a tactical error. In the final month of the year, Cao Cao advanced past Nanpi and captured Pingyuan with little resistance. This took from Yuan Tan his traditional stronghold and cut him off from his base of support in Qing province. At that time, Yuan Tan was still receiving aid from the Wuhuan tribes, particularly those under Supuyan, calling himself King Qiao. Cao Cao sent Qian Zhao to the Wuhuan as an ambassador. Qian Zhao persuaded Supuyan not to support Yuan Tan, robbing him of his most powerful ally.

In spring of 205, Cao Cao advanced on Nanpi for his final showdown with Yuan Tan. Initially, the battle went against Cao Cao. Yuan Tan put up a spirited defense and repelled Cao Cao’s initial assaults. The losses were so heavy that Cao Cao intended to retreat, but his general Cao Chun convinced him not to. Instead, Cao Chun led his elite cavalry in a desperate attack against Yuan Tan. He succeeded in breaking through Yuan Tan’s defenses, and Yuan Tan himself was killed while trying to withdraw. Yue Jin quickly led an assault on the city, scaling the walls. Cao Cao’s men stormed Nanpi and claimed victory.

When news of Nanpi’s capture spread, most of Yuan Tan’s subordinates submitted. At the time, Wang Xiu, former steward of Qing, was in Le’an supervising the transportation of supplies. He attempted to lead reinforcements to Nanpi but arrived too late. Instead, he submitted to Cao Cao and was permitted to bury Yuan Tan with due honors. Wang Xiu then persuaded the last of Yuan Tan’s loyalists, led by Guan Tong at Le’an, to submit.

Word of Yuan Tan’s destruction soon reached You province. Two of Yuan Xi’s officers, Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan, revolted against him. They drove Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang out of You entirely. The brothers sought shelter with the Wuhuan at Liucheng while Jiao Chu submitted to Cao Cao. Zhang Yan, who formerly acted as an ally, gave Cao Cao his full submission.

After this, Cao Cao returned to Ye and consolidated his hold on Hebei. He appointed respected men from the northern provinces to senior positions in order to soothe the commoners and the recently submitted. His control of the north was now secure, though local interests still threatened him. While he could call himself the master of Hebei, there were still a few loose threads left for Cao Cao to cut before the war could be fully concluded.

In autumn of 205, Yuan loyalists led by Zhao Du revolted in You and killed Jiao Chu. At the same time, Wuhuan armies under Tadun attacked Xianyu Fu at Gongping. Xianyu Fu was a longtime ally of Cao Cao’s, having submitted to him in 200, and maintained a small presence in the far north, in isolation. Cao Cao quickly led his army to You in response. He easily defeated Zhao Du at Gu’an, then drove the Wuhuan away from Gongping. You province was thus secured.

Gao Gan learned of Cao Cao’s northward advance and sought to take advantage of the situation. He revolted in Bing and blockaded Hu Pass to prevent Cao Cao from sending armies to retake the province. Cao Cao sent Yue Jin and Li Dian to capture the pass, but Gao Gan was able to resist them.

While his armies held Cao Cao off at Hu Pass, Gao Gan turned his attention on Hedong once again. There, he sent agents to secure the loyalty of powerful bandit groups led by Zhang Cheng. Gao Gan also conducted secret negotiations with treacherous local officials led by one Wei Gu. Cao Cao recognized the dangers in Hedong and dispatched a subordinate, Du Ji, to take command of the situation. Du Ji employed a series of plots to play Wei Gu and the other traitors against each other. After successfully dividing their forces, he attacked them with loyalist troops and scattered them.

After Wei Gu’s defeat, Zhang Cheng attacked Yuan county in Hedong, while Gao Gan led an army into the province to support him. Wei Gu also gathered the remnants of his army and joined forces with the others. They all attacked Du Ji, but he put up a robust defense and Gao Gan’s forces could not gain any advantage. They also met with little success in their attempts to conquer the various counties of Hedong.

While Du Ji held his position, Cao Cao sent an adviser named Zhang Ji to raise aid from Ma Teng and the other western warlords. Ma Teng responded with far less prodding than in 202 and quickly led reinforcements to Du Ji’s position. Together, they crushed Gao Gan’s armies. Wei Gu was killed in the battle and the rest were scattered. Gao Gan fled back to Bing with his army in ruins.

After the losses in Hedong, Gao Gan’s men could no longer hold their defense at Hu Pass and he withdrew to Huguan. In spring of 206, Cao Cao personally led an army to besiege him there, leaving his son Cao Pi on command at Ye. Gao Gan attempted to secure reinforcements from the Xiongnu, but Huchuquan refused to meet with him, leaving him isolated. With no hope of outside aid, Gao Gan attempted to flee to Jing province and seek shelter with Liu Biao. However, he was captured by a local official in Shangluo and executed. Cao Cao appointed Liang Xi as the new inspector of Bing and returned to Ye.

THE WUHUAN

By this point, Cao Cao had dealt with all local resistance to his rule. However, he was still concerned by the Wuhuan, led by Tadun. They sheltered the Yuan brothers at Liucheng, beyond traditional Han borders, and launched periodic raids on the northern provinces. Cao Cao believed that the Yuan brothers would use the Wuhuan to reestablish a position in the north. In preparation for a campaign against them, he began to dig canals to transport supplies.

Although most of Cao Cao’s advisers objected to a campaign beyond established borders, Guo Jia strongly advocated an attack on the Wuhuan. He proposed sending a small but elite force that could travel quickly, with minimal baggage, in order to take the Wuhuan by surprise. Cao Cao concurred and assembled a force of his finest officers, including Zhang Liao, Cao Chun, and Zhang Xiu. He also secured the aid of Tian Chou, a man with extensive knowledge of the area.

Cao Cao began his northern advance in the summer of 207. Following the traditional route from Wuzhong, he found that the low-lying plains were flooded by summer rains and the roads were clogged with mud. Additionally, Tadun anticipated Cao Cao’s advance and blocked the usual crossings. This made it impossible for Cao Cao’s army to advance.

Tian Chou happened to know of an alternate route. Two centuries ago, there was a road leading from Lulong in Youbeiping to Liucheng. Although the road itself had been abandoned for hundreds of years, a path still remained that few new about. Since Tadun was focused on Wuzhong, he would not be watching the other route. In order to fool Tadun, Cao Cao feigned retreat from Wuzhong, spreading rumors that since the road was impassable in the summer, he would return in autumn. Tadun’s men believed the rumors and were convinced that Cao Cao was withdrawing. Following Tian Chou’s guidance, Cao Cao found the old path from Lulong and advanced into Wuhuan territory.

Cao Cao advanced rapidly on Liucheng. In autumn, he was finally detected by Wuhuan scouts some 50 miles from the city. Tadun gathered his forces and advanced to meet Cao Cao in battle. Cao Cao took up a defensive position at Mount Bailang (also called White Wolf Mountain) and met the Wuhuan in battle. Observing the fighting from the slopes, Cao Cao saw a weakness in the Wuhuan lines and directed his soldiers to strike there. Zhang Liao broke through the Wuhuan formation and scattered them. Cao Cao’s men quickly overwhelmed the Wuhuan, killing Tadun and a number of other chiefs. The survivors fled or surrendered. After the victory at Mount Bailang, Cao Cao advanced on Liucheng. The Yuan brothers fled, along with the surviving Wuhuan chiefs. Cao Cao subsequently returned to Ye.

The victory at Mount Bailang put an end to Cao Cao’s campaigns in the north. The Wuhuan were destroyed as a local power. Their surviving chieftains submitted and were settled within Chinese territory. Although they caused occasional disturbances, they were never again a serious threat. Having witnessed the fate of those who opposed Cao Cao and the rewards given to those who submitted, the various Xianbei leaders surrendered as well. This secured Cao Cao’s control of the northern border.

Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang, and some of the Wuhuan chiefs sought shelter with Gongsun Kang, who controlled Liaodong. Gongsun Kang promptly executed them all and sent their heads to Cao Cao as a token of surrender. In return, Cao Cao permitted Gongsun Kang to remain in power, ruling over Liaodong in his name. With this, there was no one left to challenge Cao Cao for control of the north.

Despite the success he enjoyed at Mount Bailang, the campaign was not without its losses. Cao Cao withdrew during the winter, and it was impossible for his army to hunt or forage during the return trip. The lack of supplies led to death and illness within the army. These harsh conditions even claimed the lives of Guo Jia and Zhang Xiu. In light of these losses, Cao Caoe rewarded everyone who had spoken out against his campaign when he returned to Ye.

With this, the war for Hebei was concluded. The once powerful Yuan family was virtually exterminated and no longer posed a threat. All local leaders in the north who would resist Cao Cao had been dealt with. The Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Xiongnu all recognized Cao Cao’s authority and offered no significant further resistance. Cao Cao was now the uncontested master of northern and central China. His control over these territories would never face serious threat again. With Hebei secure, Cao Cao was able to focus his attention on the south, where he would face his long-standing enemy Liu Biao and sometime ally Sun Quan for the future of the land.

#yuan shao #cao cao #yuan tan #yuan shang #history #war for hebei

19 notes · View notes