Yuan Shao, styled Bencu, was a native of Runan and the grandson of Situ Tang. His father, Yuan Cheng, served as a General of the Household Affairs, was robust and strong, enjoyed socializing, and was well-liked by everyone from the Grand General Liang Ji downwards.
In his youth, Yuan Shao served as a court official and was later appointed as the magistrate of Puyang County, but stepped down after his mother passed away. After completing his three-year mourning period, he mourned for his father. Following the mourning period, he moved to Luoyang. Yuan Shao was handsome and charismatic, and he loved to recruit talent and build his reputation. His family had held court positions for generations, leading to a steady stream of guests. He treated everyone with humility and respect, and he treated scholars and officials equally, regardless of their status. His carriages and horses crowded the streets. Palace officials looked down on him. The Palace Attendant Zhao Zhong said in the palace, "Yuan Bencu acts high and mighty, and likes to have some loyal followers; I wonder what this young man is really up to?" When his uncle, the Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, heard about this, he called Yuan Shao and rebuked him with Zhao Zhong's words, but Yuan Shao didn't change his ways.
Later, Yuan Shao was recruited as an aide by Grand General He Jin and subsequently served as an Imperial Censor and a General of the Elite Cavalry. In the fifth year of the Zhongping era, the court set up the Eight Commandants of the Western Garden, and Yuan Shao was appointed as an Assistant Military Commandant.
After the death of Emperor Ling, Yuan Shao advised He Jin to attack Dong Zhuo's army, seize the Empress Dowager, and execute the eunuchs. Yuan Shao himself was promoted to the position of Colonel of the Capital. This event is also documented in the "Biography of He Jin." When Dong Zhuo's troops arrived in Luoyang, Cavalry Commandant Bao Xin said to Yuan Shao, "Dong Zhuo holds power over the court and commands a strong army; he surely has ulterior motives. If we don't get rid of him now, we'll lose control later. He has just arrived, and his troops are tired; if we attack him now, we will surely catch him." Yuan Shao, fearful of Dong Zhuo, hesitated to take action. After a period of time, Dong Zhuo planned to depose the Emperor and said to Yuan Shao, "The ruler of the realm should be a wise individual. Every time I recall Emperor Ling, it infuriates me. Marquis Dong (Dong Zhuo's self-proclaimed title) seems suitable; we should make him Emperor now." Yuan Shao replied, "The Emperor is still young and has not committed any wrongdoings known to the world. If General violates the rites and laws, deposes the Crown Prince, and installs a commoner as Emperor, I'm afraid no one will agree." Dong Zhuo slammed the table, pointed at Yuan Shao, and shouted, "How dare you speak like this! Do you think the affairs of the world are not in my hands? I can do whatever I want; who dares to disobey!" Yuan Shao cunningly responded, "This is a matter of national importance; please let me go out and discuss with the Grand Tutor." Dong Zhuo then said, "The Liu family’s descendants aren’t worth preserving." Yuan Shao was furious and exclaimed, "Are there truly no other heroes in the world besides Dong Zhuo?" He drew his sword, bowed, and walked out. He affixed his official seal at the East Gate before fleeing to Jizhou.
Dong Zhuo tried every means to win over Yuan Shao. At that time, the Imperial Attendant Zhou Bi and Captain of the City Gate Wu Qiong were highly trusted by Dong Zhuo. They privately said to him, "Deposing and enthroning the emperor is not something ordinary individuals can manage. Yuan Shao does not have the ability to do so. He fled out of fear and has no ulterior motives. Rushing to capture him could cause trouble. The Yuan family has built a strong reputation over four generations, with students and former officials spread throughout the land. If Yuan Shao recruits heroes and gathers a team, all the heroes in the world will respond to him, and Shandong will no longer be yours. It would be wiser to pardon him, make him a county governor, and keep him content to prevent any risks." Dong Zhuo found their reasoning sound and sent someone to offer Yuan Shao the title of Governor of Bo Hai and appointed him as Marquis of Kangxiang. Yuan Shao also held the position of Colonel-Director of Retainers.
One year later, in the first year of the Chuping era, Yuan Shao mobilized troops from Bo Hai. He, along with his brother Yuan Shu (General of Chariots and Cavalry), Governor of Jizhou Han Fu, Inspector of Yuzhou Kong Zhou, Inspector of Yanzhou Liu Dai, Administrator of Chenliu Zhang Miao, Administrator of Guangling Zhang Chao, Administrator of Henan Wang Kuang, Administrator of Shanyang Yuan Yi, Administrator of Dong commandery Qiao Mao, and Magistrate of Jibei Bao Xin, all mobilized their forces simultaneously, each commanding tens of thousands of troops, under the pretext of attacking Dong Zhuo. Yuan Shao and Wang Kuang set up camp in Henan, Kong Zhou camped in Yingchuan, Han Fu camped in Yecheng, and the remaining troops camped in Suanzao. They forged an alliance and elected Yuan Shao as their leader, and Yuan Shao declared himself General of Chariots and Cavalry, also serving as Colonel-Director of Retainers.
Dong Zhuo heard that Yuan Shao had raised an army in Shandong, so he ordered the execution of Yuan Shao's uncle Yuan Kui, as well as all the Yuan family members in the capital, exterminating their entire clan. Dong Zhuo sent out Han Rong, Yin Xun, Hu Muban, Wu Xun, and Wang Gui to persuade Yuan Shao and others to lay down their weapons. As a result, Yuan Shao sent Wang Kuang to kill Hu Muban, Wang Gui, Wu Xun, and others, while Yuan Shu killed Yin Xun. Only Han Rong was spared due to his good reputation.
At that time, many heroes and warriors had joined Yuan Shao, and everyone sympathized with Yuan Shao's family tragedy, wanting to avenge him. All the states and counties raised troops, all of them rallied under the Yuan family banner. Han Fu saw that the people's sentiments were entirely with Yuan Shao, and he was jealous of the support Yuan Shao received, fearing that Yuan Shao might plot against him. He often sent officials to guard Yuan Shao's house to prevent him from raising troops. Qiao Zhao forged a letter purportedly from the Three Excellencies, spreading it through the post stations to expose Dong Zhuo's crimes, explaining the danger the emperor was in, and hoping everyone would unite to save the country. Han Fu finally agreed to support Yuan Shao's rebellion. Then he asked everyone, "Are we supporting the Yuan family or the Dong family?" Liu Hui immediately got angry and said loudly, "We are raising troops for the country; what does it matter whether it's for the Yuan family or the Dong family?"
Han Fu still harbored suspicions towards Yuan Shao and always withheld military provisions from him, hoping to weaken his forces and bring about his downfall.
The following year, Han Fu's subordinate, Ju Yi, rebelled, and Han Fu was defeated by him. Yuan Shao already resented Han Fu, and now he was even more aligned with Ju Yi. Yuan Shao's advisor, Feng Ji, said to Yuan Shao, "To achieve great things, merely occupying a province won't suffice; we must establish a solid foothold. Ji Province is now powerful, and Han Fu is incompetent. We can discreetly reach out to Gongsun Zan and have him march his troops southward. Han Fu will surely be terrified, and then we can send some eloquent people to explain the situation to him. In his panic, he will undoubtedly relinquish his position." Yuan Shao found it reasonable, placed even greater trust in Feng Ji, and immediately wrote a letter to Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan then led his troops, under the pretense of attacking Dong Zhuo, but in truth, he aimed to annex Han Fu.
Then Yuan Shao sent his nephew Gao Gan from Chenliu and Xun Chen from Yingchuan, among others, to persuade General Han, saying, "Gongsun Zan is currently winning battles and advancing southward, with many counties responding to him. Yuan Shao is also leading troops from the east, and his intentions are uncertain. Privately, we feel that your situation is dangerous!" When Han Fu heard this, he panicked and asked, "What should I do then?" Xun Chen said, "You pride yourself on being generous and accommodating. How do you compare to Yuan Shao in this regard?" Han Fu said, "I can't compare." "You are calm under pressure, possessing great wisdom and bravery. How do you compare to Yuan Shao?" Han Fu said, "I can't compare." "You have been generous to all, benefiting every household. How do you compare to Yuan Shao?" Han Fu said, "I can't compare." Xun Chen said, "Although Bohai may be just a county, it's almost as large as a province. You are currently inferior to Yuan Shao in these three aspects, yet you still cling to this position. Yuan Shao is a prominent figure of our time and will not be subordinate to you. Furthermore, Gongsun Zan leads the armies of Yan and Dai, and their combat power is formidable. Ji Province is an important strategic location, and if the two armies join forces in battle, your life could be in serious jeopardy! Yuan Shao was your ally before and is also a former acquaintance. The best solution now is to give Ji Province to Yuan Shao. He will take good care of you, and Gongsun Zan will not dare to challenge you again. In this way, you will earn the honorable reputation of 'yielding to the worthy' and be able to live peacefully. I urge you not to hesitate!"
Fu, who has always been timid and easily frightened, agreed to Yuan Shao's request. When the Chief Historian Geng Wu, the Adjutant Min Chun, and the Cavalry Officer Ju Shou heard about it, they hurriedly advised, "Although Ji Province is remote, it has a strong military force with a million armored soldiers and enough food reserves for ten years. Yuan Shao is currently deep in hostile territory, utterly dependent on us. It's like a baby in our grasp; as long as we cut off his nourishment, he will starve to death immediately. Why give Ji Province to him?" Fu said, "I hail from Yuan Shao's homeland, and my talents are inferior to his. The ancients valued modesty and humility in assessing virtue; why do you have to oppose it?" Previously, Fu's subordinates Zhao Fu and Cheng Huan led ten thousand crossbow-equipped soldiers stationed in Mengjin. Upon hearing the news, they rushed back with their troops to oppose Yuan Shao, but Fu remained opposed. So he resigned from his official position, relocated to the former residence of the eunuch Zhao Zhong, sent his son with the official seal, and formally relinquished Ji Province to Yuan Shao.
Yuan Shao then assumed the position of Governor of Jizhou. The court also specially appointed Fu as General of Valor and Might, but did not grant him any real military authority. Yuan Shao then appointed Ju Shou as his assistant and said to him, "Now that traitors are causing chaos, and the court is relocating, our Yuan family has received the emperor's grace for generations. I am committed to doing everything I can to restore the Han Dynasty. However, Duke Huan of Qi wouldn't have been able to dominate without the support of Guan Zhong, and King Goujian could not have restored his country without Fan Li's help. I now want to work together with you to stabilize the country and its people. Do you have any good strategies to help me?" Ju Shou replied, "General, you have entered the court at a young age and made a name for yourself. At this critical moment of establishing your achievements, you have shown loyalty and bravery, taking the bold step of riding out alone; even Dong Zhuo feared you. Crossing the Yellow River to march north, the Bohai Commandery has submitted to you. Now you command the troops of a commandery and have incorporated the army of Jizhou, shaking the Hebei region and making a name for yourself in the world. If you lead a large army eastward, you could crush the Yellow Turban Army; if you turn back to deal with the Black Mountain Army, you could wipe out Zhang Yan; if you return north, you could capture Gongsun Zan; if you deter the Rong and Di tribes, the Xiongnu will also settle down. You control the territories north of the Yellow River and hold sway over four provinces, gather heroes from across the land, command a million troops, welcome the emperor back to Chang'an, restore the ancestral temple in Luoyang, issue commands throughout the realm, and punish those who defy you. With these advantages to contend for the world, who can resist you? In a few years, your achievements will be realized." Yuan Shao happily said, "That's exactly what I'm thinking!" He immediately recommended Ju Shou as General of Valor and Might in a memorial, giving him the authority to oversee and coordinate the other generals.
Han Fu had two particularly honest and upright subordinates at that time: one was Shen Pei, who was from Wei County, and the other was Tian Feng, hailing from Julu. These two, because they were too upright, struggled to get ahead under Han Fu. Later, Yuan Shao came and promoted both of them; Tian Feng became a deputy and Shen Pei became an official. It was evident that Yuan Shao held them in high regard. Han Fu was already suspicious and fearful of Yuan Shao, so he made up an excuse to leave and sought refuge with Zhang Miao. Later, Yuan Shao sent someone to meet Zhang Miao. The two of them were whispering and discussing something, with Han Fu sitting nearby, convinced they were plotting against him. Not long after, Han Fu went to the restroom and took his own life.
That winter, Gongsun Zan defeated the Yellow Turban Army and stationed himself at Pan River, commanding great respect. The cities in the Hebei region surrendered to him one after another. Seeing this, Yuan Shao personally led his troops to attack Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan had thirty thousand troops, arranged in a square formation, with ten thousand cavalry as the flanks, making them highly formidable in battle. Yuan Shao first sent Ju Yi with eight hundred elite soldiers and one thousand powerful crossbows to lead the attack. Gongsun Zan underestimated Yuan Shao's forces, so he ordered the cavalry to charge. However, Ju Yi's army hid behind shields and suddenly shot arrows, taking Gongsun Zan's army by surprise. They were decisively defeated, and even Gongsun Zan's appointed governor in Jizhou, Yan Gang, was killed. They also captured over a thousand pieces of armor and severed heads. Ju Yi pursued them to Jieqiao, where Gongsun Zan organized a counterattack but was defeated again. Ju Yi directly attacked Gongsun Zan's main camp, breached the central command tent, and the remaining troops of Gongsun Zan scattered. Yuan Shao, who was stationed over ten miles away, dismounted and rested upon hearing that Gongsun Zan had been defeated, accompanied only by a handful of strong crossbows and over a hundred halberd-wielding soldiers. However, over two thousand of Gongsun Zan's cavalry caught up, surrounded Yuan Shao, bombarding him with arrows. Tian Feng quickly supported Yuan Shao and guided him to take refuge behind the city walls. Yuan Shao took off his helmet and threw it on the ground, declaring, "A true man should meet his end on the battlefield; how can he hide in a corner and run away?" He then urged his soldiers to shoot arrows together, injuring many of Gongsun Zan's cavalry. Not recognizing Yuan Shao, they retreated slightly. At this moment, Ju Yi arrived with reinforcements, causing Gongsun Zan's cavalry to break and retreat. Three years later, Gongsun Zan sent troops to challenge Longcou, but Yuan Shao triumphed over him once again. Gongsun Zan eventually retreated to Youzhou and never dared to stir up trouble again.
In the year 184 AD, the emperor sent Grand Chancellor Zhao Qi to mediate conflicts in the Guandong region and called for a ceasefire. Yuan Shao wrote a letter to persuade Cao Cao, saying, "Grand Chancellor Zhao upholds the virtues of Duke Zhou and Duke Shao, coming to mediate by imperial order, to express the court's benevolence, and expressing a desire for peaceful coexistence, like dark clouds parting to let the sunshine through! In the past, Jia Fu and Kou Xun fought each other, but later Emperor Guangwu intervened and they both went on a campaign together. The conflict was resolved, and people praised them at the time. Personally, I feel that establishing a friendly relationship with you, General, is your grace, and it is also my wish!" After hearing this, Cao Cao led his troops to retreat south.
On the third month during the Upper Su Festival, Yuan Shao held a grand banquet in Boluo Jin. Suddenly, news broke that the Wei County army had rebelled, along with tens of thousands of Black Mountain bandits, capturing Ye City and killing the county magistrate. The guests at the banquet, who lived in Ye City, were pale, and some even cried, yet Yuan Shao remained calm and collected, showing no signs of panic. There was a rebel named Tao Sheng, who referred to himself as the "General of Peaceful Han," but he helped Yuan Shao by leading his troops from the west gate into Ye City, closing the gates, preparing vehicles, and escorting Yuan Shao's family and other dignitaries in the city to Chi Qiu. Yuan Shao returned to Chi Qiu and set up camp there, appointing Tao Sheng as the General of Jianyi.
In June, Yuan Shao sent troops to enter the Cangyan Valley at Chaoge Lu Changshan to campaign against Gan Du. After a five-day siege, Gan Du was defeated, and more than 10,000 of his soldiers were killed. Yuan Shao then marched north along the mountain, attacking Black Mountain Bandits such as Zuo Zizhang and others, and all of them were killed. He then attacked Liu Shi, Qing Niujiao, Huang Long, Zuo Xiao, Guo Daxian, Li Damu, Yu Digeng, and others, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands and the destruction of their camps. Later, Yuan Shao engaged in battle with Black Mountain Bandit Zhang Yan, as well as Siying Tuge and the Yanmen Wuhuan in Changshan. Zhang Yan had tens of thousands of elite troops and thousands of cavalry. After more than ten days of prolonged fighting, both sides were exhausted and ultimately retreated. Because of his arrogance and insubordination, Yuan Shao had Qu Yi executed and incorporated his army. In the year 192 AD, Yuan Shao was appointed as the Right General. That winter, the emperor was chased by Li Jue and others to Caoyang. Ju Shu advised Yuan Shao, saying, "General, your family has assisted the court for generations, and your family's loyalty and righteousness are well-known. Now that the court is in exile and the ancestral temples have been destroyed, look at those states and counties; they profess to uphold justice, but in reality, they are all fighting for territory and no one is concerned with saving the nation and its people. Now that the cities we control are secure, with a strong military and popular support, we should advance west to meet the emperor, then move the capital to Ye City, leverage the emperor to command the vassals, and use a powerful army to suppress those forces that do not obey the court. Who could stand against us?" Yuan Shao originally intended to follow Ju Shu's advice.
But Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong from Yingchuan opposed, saying, "The decline of the Han Dynasty has been ongoing for a long time. It's not easy to revive it now. Moreover, heroes are emerging now, each occupying their own territory and easily gathering troops numbering tens of thousands. It's like the Qin Dynasty losing its deer; whoever seizes it first becomes the king. If we go to meet the emperor now, all matters must be reported to the court, obeying the emperor's orders, which will limit our power; if we don't obey, it's considered disobedience, which is not a good solution." Ju Shou retorted, "Welcoming the court now aligns with both righteousness and the right timing. If we don't act quickly, someone else will surely take the lead. Opportunities come and go; success cannot afford to be delayed. I hope you can seriously consider my suggestion." However, in the end, the emperor did not move the capital to Ye City, and Yuan Shao did not get his wish.
Yuan Shao had three sons: Yuan Tan (styled Xiansi), Yuan Xi (styled Xianyong), and Yuan Shang (styled Xianfu). Yuan Tan was older and intelligent; Yuan Shang was younger and good-looking. Yuan Shao's concubine Lady Liu was highly favored; she especially liked Yuan Shang and often praised him in front of Yuan Shao, who also thought Yuan Shang was handsome and wanted to make him his heir. So, he sent Yuan Tan to Qingzhou as governor to pave the way for Yuan Shang. Ju Shou advised, "As the saying goes, 'When ten thousand people chase a rabbit, only one can catch it,' because everyone has clear roles, that's why they can succeed. In ancient times, heirs were determined based on age and ability, and if their virtues were comparable, they would draw lots. I hope you can learn from the rise and fall of past dynasties and understand the importance of division of labor and cooperation. If you don't change your mind, disaster will stem from this decision." Yuan Shao, however, said, "I want my sons to each govern their own territories and demonstrate their abilities." So, he appointed his second son Yuan Xi as governor of Youzhou and his nephew Gao Gan as governor of Bingzhou.
In the year 198 AD, Cao Cao welcomed the emperor and relocated the capital to Xuchang, and issued a decree reproaching Yuan Shao for his vast territory and numerous troops, only concerned with forming factions and not following the court's orders to diligently serve the king, instead waging wars everywhere. Yuan Shao wrote in response:
...
I have heard that in the past, when people sighed, snow would fall from the sky, and cried in sorrow causing city walls to collapse. When I read these records before, I thought they were true, but now I realize they were fabricated. Why do I say this? I come from humble origins, sacrificed everything for the country, yet my loyalty brought calamity, my honesty was met with suspicion. I have suffered day and night, my heart in anguish, yet there were no collapsing walls or falling snow, so the assertions of Zou Yan and the Qi women are unfounded.
I rose from selling firewood to the position of an official, serving in the Xiantai and later promoted to a military officer. At that time, Zhang Rang and others disturbed the court, encroached on imperial authority, harmed loyal subjects, and formed cliques. Therefore, General He Jin, hating treachery for the country, considered me somewhat honorable and capable, appointing me as a military commander and often seeking my advice. I did not shy away from power, evade disaster, or pursue wealth, but planned and acted in unity with He Jin. Unfortunately, before our loyal plans could be fully implemented, He Jin was defeated, the Empress Dowager was held captive, the palace was set on fire, and the young emperor faced danger. With He Jin already murdered and the army's morale low, I alone led over a hundred soldiers, defended the palace like a ferocious tiger, intimidated the officials, and fought the villains with all my strength, ultimately vanquishing them. This is the ironclad proof of my service to the country!
That scoundrel Dong Zhuo took advantage of the situation to cause chaos and had evil intentions. My father, brothers, and relatives all followed him to assist the emperor, not fearing the loss of everything, but focused solely on the country's stability. Therefore, I decisively left him and went to plan big things outside the river. At that time, Dong Zhuo was busy wooing foreign aid and recruiting heroes, so he specially sent someone to the county where I was located to give me the military command. There was no conflict between me and Dong Zhuo at that time. If I were after wealth and looking to cash in on the chaos, I could easily secure high positions and riches, with no worries when I stepped down. But I’m no fool, only wanting to serve the country with a firm stance. So I rallied heroes and troops from across the land, raised a million soldiers, drank horses at Mengjin, and made a blood alliance at Zhanghe.
Later, the Governor of Jizhou, Han Fu, secretly had evil intentions, wanting to seize power alone, and actually cut off my army's food supply. I had no way to continue the fight, resulting in the slaughter of my entire family on the same day. Even the animals mourned, but I appeared completely unfazed, because loyalty and personal ties can't go hand in hand. If I cared about personal feelings, I would not be able to accomplish great things. This is also the proof of my sacrifice for the country!
Speaking of the Yellow Turban rebels, numbering a hundred thousand, setting fires, slaughtering, and plundering, Qingzhou and Yanzhou were in chaos, and the Black Mountain Army and Zhang Yang's troops also ravaged Jizhou. I quickly returned with my troops to quell the rebellion. Before we could even start the battle, those crafty foes were terrified, and Han Fu was terrified out of his wits, quickly confessing his errors and pleading for mercy, while Zhang Yang and the Black Mountain Army surrendered at the same time. At that time, I decided to follow Dou Rong's example from the past and let Cao Cao, a councilor, temporarily act as the Governor of Yanzhou.
Coincidentally, I encountered Gongsun Zan leading his army southward, burning, killing, and looting everywhere, invading our northern territories. I immediately led my army to set out like a whirlwind to engage Gongsun Zan. With heaven's help, we achieved victory in every battle. In fact, I come from a noble family and grew up in the capital, and I had never fought in a battle before. Moreover, starting from my ancestors, several generations have served as court officials, relying on civil governance to serve the court, never making any major mistakes. I didn't intend to compete with Gongsun Zan in martial arts or in killing more enemies on the battlefield. I just felt that if those rebels weren't dealt with, it would be a disgrace to the country according to the records of the "Spring and Autumn Annals." For the country's sake, I had to fight hard despite the harsh conditions, hoping to achieve victory and make contributions. The country has not yet stabilized, so how could I dare to slack off!
Later, the Grand Equerry Zhao Qi was ordered to summon me and conveyed the Emperor's generous decree, saying that some minor mistakes should be eliminated, and a new beginning with the people should be made. After receiving the imperial decree, I immediately turned my army southward. This shows my respect for the Emperor's authority and my unwillingness to be negligent.
The officers I recommended were all upright, brave, and experienced veterans. They charged into battle, with more than half of them killed or injured, but their merits were not recorded. On the other hand, the local officials were competing for glory, being duplicitous and indecisive, yet each of them was promoted and given power over the provinces and counties. Therefore, there was a sense of anxiety and much discussion both inside and out.
I heard that in times of peace and prosperity, virtuous and respected individuals can hold high positions of power; but in times of crisis, those who achieve great deeds can receive generous rewards. Your Majesty, while you are on a faraway expedition, the sacrifices in Luoyang have been neglected, causing grief and despair across the country. People with ambitions are outraged. Therefore, loyal subjects, even if they lose their lives or limbs, don’t complain at all, all because of their loyalty! However, now rewards are given to those who have not contributed, while the accomplishments of loyal subjects are suppressed, shaking the expectations of the people. Is this part of Your Majesty's grand strategy, or has it been deceived by treacherous villains?
I've been made a Marquis, ranked at two thousand stones, and have already enjoyed the greatest favor from Your Majesty. How could I dare to expect higher rewards? I truly feel for the soldiers who fight hard but don’t get recognized for their efforts. They are loyal to the country, yet they are treated like criminals. It is like Meng Tian lamenting in prison and Bai Qi sighing in defeat! Grand Tutor Ridi is in a powerful position, entrusted with the crucial Eastern Expedition, but ignores royal orders and abuses his power, and the people he promotes are all abandoned by everyone. Your Majesty, however, adopts his strategies, appoints him as an adviser, which has turned my brothers and me into enemies, escalating our conflicts. Even though I want to put down my weapons, things have come to this point, and I feel like I have no choice left.
I fear that Your Majesty's wise gaze may have overlooked certain matters, and Your Majesty's ears may not have heard everything. I earnestly beseech you to share my memorial with the ministers so they can assess my transgressions. If my actions are deemed a crime, then Duke Huan and Duke Wen should likewise face execution; if those who fail to punish traitors are regarded as virtuous ministers, then Zhao Dun should not be recorded as having committed regicide. Though I am merely a lowly commoner, my ambitions remain steadfast. If I can express my true intentions and fulfill the late emperor's hopes, then even if it means bowing my head to accept punishment, I will do so gladly! I only hope that Your Majesty will be as fair and just as depicted in 'Shi Jiu', dismiss the words of those wicked sycophants, and not let me leave regrets after my death.
Yuan Shao was appointed Grand Commandant and granted the title of Marquis of Ye. At that time, Cao Cao was serving as Grand General, and Yuan Shao felt embarrassed and pretended to decline the position. Cao Cao, alarmed, hastily ceded the position to Yuan Shao. Two years later, Cao Cao dispatched the architect Kong Rong with the emperor's decree to officially confer the title of Grand General upon Yuan Shao, along with symbols of power, including bows, arrows, and axes, and a hundred elite soldiers. He also granted him authority over the provinces of Ji, Qing, You, and Bing, thus pacifying Yuan Shao.
Every time Yuan Shao received an imperial edict that he deemed unfavorable, he would think of ways to bring the emperor to his side. He instructed his subordinates to tell Cao Cao that Xuchang was damp, Luoyang was in disrepair, and the capital should be moved to Zhencheng for the sake of safety and convenience. Cao Cao directly refused. Tian Feng sternly advised Yuan Shao, "It's not feasible to move the capital now. You should quickly take Xuchang, welcome the emperor, and issue orders to the world in the name of the imperial edict. Otherwise, you'll regret it too late!" Yuan Shao ignored his advice. In the spring of the fourth year, Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan, occupied the land of Youzhou, as noted in the "Biography of Gongsun Zan."
Yuan Shao controlled the territory of four provinces, with hundreds of thousands of troops under his command. However, he became increasingly arrogant and became increasingly dismissive of the tributes to the court. His chief clerk Geng Bao confided in him, "The Red Emperor's virtue is waning, and the Yuan family is descended from the Yellow Emperor. You should heed the will of heaven and fulfill the people's wishes." Yuan Shao showed Geng Bao's words to the military officers, and everyone dismissed Geng Bao as a fool and believed he deserved to be executed. Seeing the differing opinions, Yuan Shao had no choice but to kill Geng Bao to silence any dissent. Then, he selected one hundred thousand infantry and ten thousand cavalry to prepare to attack Xuchang. He appointed Shen Pei and Feng Ji responsible for military operations, while appointing Tian Feng, Xun Chen, and Xu You as military advisers, and Yan Liang and Wen Chou as generals.
Ju Shou gave Yuan Shao a suggestion, saying, "A few years ago, we fought against Gongsun Zan for so long that the people are exhausted, the warehouses are empty, and the taxes are crushing. This poses a significant risk to the country! We should first send someone to report the victory to the emperor, then let the people rest and recover, and resume production. If the emperor does not accept this proposal, we can claim that Cao Cao has blocked our route to Luoyang, and then slowly station troops in Liyang and gain control of the Henan region, build more ships, repair weapons, and send elite cavalry to harass Cao Cao's borders, keeping him on edge. We will reap the benefits and secure victory."
Guo Tu and Shen Pei, however, said, "Military strategy says that surrounding the enemy from all sides enables successful attacks. With your prestige and the formidable army from Hebei, attacking Cao Cao will be a walk in the park! If we don't attack now, it will be even harder in the future!"
Ju Shou countered, "War is to save the needy and eliminate tyranny; this is what we call a just army. Relying on numbers and forceful actions is arrogance. The army of justice is invincible, while arrogance will fail. Cao Cao is now welcoming the emperor and has built a palace in Xudu. If we march south with our troops now, it will not be justifiable. Furthermore, the key to victory in war is not just about the strength of the troops. Cao Cao has established a strong command structure, and his soldiers are well-trained, unlike Gongsun Zan's passive forces. If we abandon a cautious strategy and engage in a meaningless battle, I'm really concerned for you!"
Guo Tu said, "When King Wu attacked King Zhou, it wasn't exactly a righteous army. Besides, when we fight against Cao Cao, how can we claim that our cause is unjust? Furthermore, our army is composed of elite soldiers who are eager to achieve great feats. If we don't seize this opportunity to accomplish great things now, it would be like 'missing a heaven-sent opportunity and suffering the consequences!' King Goujian of Yue became dominant because he seized the opportunity, while King Fuchai of Wu perished because he missed it. As the military supervisor, your role is to maintain stability, not to act opportunistically and adapt to circumstances!" Yuan Shao believed Guo Tu's words. Seizing the opportunity, Guo Tu falsely accused Ju Shou, saying, "Ju Shou commands both the internal and external troops, and if his power continues to grow, how can we keep him in check? Unity between ruler and subject leads to prosperity, while discord between them leads to ruin, as stated in the 'Book of Master Huangshi'! Moreover, let him manage the external troops, but he shouldn't be aware of the internal matters." Therefore, Yuan Shao divided Ju Shou's army into three parts, each commanded by Ju Shou, Guo Tu, and Chunyu Qiong. Before the plan could be executed, things took a different turn. Five years ago, Liu Bei killed the Inspector of Xu Province, Che Zhou, and took over Pei County, opposing Cao Cao. When Cao Cao heard about it, he was alarmed and personally led his troops to fight against Liu Bei. At this time, Tian Feng advised Yuan Shao, "The one contending with you for supremacy is Cao Cao! Currently, Cao Cao is busy fighting Liu Bei, and this battle is likely to drag on. You should quickly lead your troops in a surprise attack on Cao Cao's base and take him down in one fell swoop. This is a rare opportunity!" However, Yuan Shao declined, claiming his son was ill. Tian Feng, in frustration, struck the ground with his crutch and shouted, "Oh no, we've missed our chance! It's a pity to miss such a great opportunity because of a child's illness!" Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao got angry and distanced himself from Tian Feng from then on.
Cao Cao swiftly defeated Liu Bei because he feared Yuan Shao would cross the river to launch an attack. Liu Bei fled to Yuan Shao, who subsequently led his troops to assault Xuchang. Tian Feng saw that the earlier opportunity had been missed, and it was unwise to act rashly. He advised Yuan Shao, "Cao Cao has just defeated Liu Bei; Xuchang City is definitely not empty. Besides, Cao Cao is a military genius, known for his unpredictability. Even if his forces are weak, we cannot underestimate him. It would be better for us to defend for a long time, occupy the strategically important mountains and rivers, have the military forces of four provinces, forge alliances with heroes outside, foster agriculture and military development internally, select elite soldiers, divide them into several special forces, exploit vulnerabilities, and consistently disrupt Henan. If he saves the east, we attack the west; if he saves the west, we attack the east, wearing him down and disturbing the populace. Without much effort on our part, he will be the first to collapse. In less than three years, we can easily defeat him! But now you have forsaken the strategy of steady progress, betting everything on a single battle. If it fails, it will be too late to turn back!"
Yuan Shao completely ignored him. Tian Feng's sincere counsel infuriated Yuan Shao. He believed Tian Feng was undermining the troops' morale, so he arrested Tian Feng. Yuan Shao then issued a proclamation that stated:
"It is said that a wise ruler anticipates challenges to adapt accordingly, while a loyal minister contemplates challenges to solidify authority."
The announcement suggests that a wise ruler prepares for the worst to avert disasters; a loyal minister reflects on challenges to strengthen his position. The announcement continued:
The once powerful Qin state had an incompetent emperor and a corrupt Zhao Gao, which ultimately led to its tragic downfall, leaving a notorious legacy. During the time of Empress Lü, Lü Lu and Lü Chan seized power, causing chaos in the court and unrest among the people. Later, Marquis Jiang and Marquis Zhu Xuhou rose up against them, dealing with the treacherous officials and supporting Emperor Wen of Han, which led to the prosperity and stability of the country. This really shows the advantages of ministers having power! (Partial original text omitted)
Cao Cao's grandfather was Cao Teng, a palace eunuch, just like Zuo Guan and Xu Huang—greedy, tyrannical villains who harmed the people. His father, Cao Song, relied on currying favor with the powerful to become wealthy, engaging in corruption and bribery, treating the country like his personal playground. Cao Cao himself inherited these bad habits from his family, lacking good morals, being cunning, reckless, and causing trouble, thriving on chaos.
Later, when Dong Zhuo came to power, a guy who caused havoc for the country and its people, Cao Cao seized the opportunity to gather a team and rally everyone to fight back against Dong Zhuo. He welcomed talents no matter their flaws, so Cao Cao also participated in military affairs. Dong Zhuo's men thought Cao Cao had some skills that could be useful. However, Cao Cao could be a bit reckless, charging into battle one moment and retreating sheepishly the next, suffering many defeats and heavy losses.
Dong Zhuo's subordinates saw that although Cao Cao was not great, he still had some value. They sent troops to him, appointed him as the Governor of Dongjun and the Inspector of Yanzhou, and gave him a lot of power, hoping that he could win battles and seek revenge. However, once Cao Cao gained power, he became arrogant and tyrannical, cruelly exploiting the people and persecuting the good, acting without restraint. The Prefect of Jiujiang, Bian Rang, was a righteous and talented man. Because he dared to speak up and counsel, he offended Cao Cao and was eventually killed by him, with his whole family wiped out.
This incident angered people everywhere, who hated Cao Cao, and uprisings against him broke out everywhere. As a result, Cao Cao lost territory in Xu Zhou, was defeated by Lü Bu, and fled eastward, at a loss for what to do. Dong Zhuo's subordinates realized Cao Cao was faltering, but they did not want Lü Bu to gain power, so they sent troops to help Cao Cao. Cao Cao staged a comeback, defeated Lü Bu, and regained his position as the Inspector of Yanzhou. Therefore, although Dong Zhuo's subordinates gained little from Yanzhou, they greatly helped Cao Cao.
After the meeting, the emperor's carriage headed back east, and the treacherous officials started to run amok. At that time, the northern border of Jizhou was on high alert, so there was no time to address these chaotic issues. Therefore, Xun Xun was sent to urge Cao Cao to quickly repair the suburban temples and protect the young emperor. However, Cao Cao took advantage of this opportunity to give in to his ambitions, rule with an iron fist, bully the ministers, violate the law, control the court, and act autocratically. He rewarded and punished at his whim, killing those he disliked and favoring those he liked. Those who openly criticized him were executed, and those who privately discussed him were secretly killed. People on the streets could only share knowing looks, and the officials were reduced to mere puppets in the court.
So, like General Yang Biao, who once held two important positions and had high authority, Cao Cao falsely accused him of baseless crimes out of personal grudges, subjected him to all sorts of torture, and forced him to suffer in silence, completely disregarding the laws. There was also Counselor Zhao Yan, loyal and outspoken, whose reasonable suggestions the Emperor was considering and even preparing to promote. However, Cao Cao, in order to deceive the Emperor and silence opposition, arbitrarily arrested Zhao Yan and had him killed without informing the Emperor. Prince Liang Xiao, the younger brother of the late Emperor, had a tomb of great significance that should have been properly protected. However, Cao Cao personally led troops to dig up the tomb, break open the coffin, drag out the body, and plunder the treasures, which made the Emperor weep for a long time and left the people in deep sorrow. He even established positions like "Commander of the Tomb Raiders" and "Inspector of Gold," destroying everything in his path, looting graves and bodies, leaving no tomb undisturbed. Despite holding high positions, he resorted to banditry, wreaking havoc on the country and its people, with harsh policies, traps, and pitfalls everywhere, instilling fear in the hearts of the people. Therefore, complaints echoed throughout Yanzhou and Yuzhou, and cries of despair rang out across the capital. After researching through ancient and modern books, I found that among the most greedy, ruthless, and unreasonable ministers, Cao Cao's actions stood out as the most despicable. The court had just started investigating corrupt officials from outside when Cao Cao, with his ambitious schemes, aimed to dismantle the pillars of the court, weaken the power of the Han dynasty, eradicate loyal and virtuous officials, and ultimately dominate the region.
In the past, Cao Cao marched north to attack Gongsun Zan with a grand show of force. Gongsun Zan resisted fiercely and defended for a year. Because Cao Cao was unable to breach the defenses swiftly, he secretly wrote a letter to Gongsun Zan, pretending to support him, but actually planning to launch a sneak attack. Therefore, Cao Cao led his troops to the Yellow River, preparing to cross the river and advance north. However, the news leaked, and Gongsun Zan was subsequently defeated, causing Cao Cao's scheme ultimately to fail. Cao Cao encircled the palace with seven hundred of his finest soldiers, taking advantage of the natural defenses provided by the Yellow River, hoping to stand against the might of the Han Dynasty. The court, drawing on the authority and might of the Han Dynasty, conducted campaigns on multiple fronts, with an army of a million strong, deploying elite troops and state-of-the-art weaponry. They crossed the Taihang Mountains from Bingzhou, crossed the Jishui and Luoshui from Qingzhou, and launched an attack from the direction of the Yellow River. The army from Jingzhou attacked from Wancheng and Yexian, with momentum like a raging fire burning the weeds, like pouring boiling charcoal into the sea; what could possibly withstand such force?
Now the Han Dynasty is declining, the legal system is in disarray, and society is rife with chaos. Cao Cao, ostensibly to protect the emperor, was manipulating the emperor to assert control over the feudal lords, fearing chaos of usurpation. This is the reason behind this statement. Now is the time for loyal ministers to lay down their lives for the nation and for martyrs to make great achievements. Shouldn't we strive to achieve this?
Legend has it that Yuan Shao first sent Yan Liang to attack Cao Cao's general Liu Yan in Baimai, while he himself led his troops to Liyang. Before leaving, Ju Shou distributed his family property to his relatives, sighing and saying, "When power is strong, one is invincible; when power declines, it's hard to even protect oneself! Alas!" His brother Ju Zong said, "Cao Cao's troops are not as good as ours; why are you worried?" Ju Shou replied, "Cao Cao showed exceptional talent while he was in Yanzhou. Now he wields the emperor's authority to command the vassals. Although we were able to defeat Gongsun Zan, our army is exhausted, our lord is arrogant and complacent, and the generals are arrogant. The army's defeat is imminent in this battle! Yang Xiong once said, 'The people of the six states are ignorant and ultimately become captives of the Qin state.' Doesn't the current situation prove this?" Cao Cao indeed went to rescue Liu Yan, fought with Yan Liang, and killed Yan Liang. Yuan Shao then crossed the Yellow River and camped south of Yanjin. While on the boat, Ju Shou sighed and remarked, "Our lord has grand ambitions, but fails to put them into action. Will I still be able to cross this vast Yellow River?" He then requested to withdraw, claiming illness, but Yuan Shao refused and was furious. He stripped Ju Shou of his command and transferred it to Guo Tu.
Yuan Shao sent Liu Bei and Wen Chou to issue a challenge, but Cao Cao defeated them and killed Wen Chou. After capturing two of Yuan Shao's generals in two battles, the Yuan Shao army was thrown into turmoil. Cao Cao retreated to Guandu, while Yuan Shao moved forward to secure Yangwu. Ju Shou advised Yuan Shao, "Although the northern army may have a large number of troops, their combat effectiveness is not as strong as that of the southern army; the southern army may have less food, but they have greater resource stockpiles than we do. The southern army is suitable for quick, decisive battles, while the northern army is better suited for prolonged warfare. We should adopt a strategy of protracted warfare to delay the time." Yuan Shao did not listen. Yuan Shao's camp gradually advanced, approaching Guandu, and the two sides prepared for a decisive confrontation. Cao Cao's army was at a disadvantage and retreated to a well-fortified encampment. Yuan Shao constructed a tall watchtower, erected earthen mounds, and rained arrows down upon Cao Cao's camp, as Cao Cao's soldiers advanced, shields raised. Cao Cao deployed stone carts to assault Yuan Shao's watchtower, destroying it completely, and the Yuan Shao army shouted, "Thunderbolt carts!" Yuan Shao also dug tunnels to try to surprise Cao Cao, but Cao Cao dug a long trench in the camp to block it. Cao Cao also sent out a surprise attack on Yuan Shao's supply convoy, achieving a resounding victory and incinerating a significant portion of Yuan Shao's supplies.
The Battle of Guandu lasted for over a hundred days, and the populace of Henan was wearied, with many beginning to turn against Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao sent Chunyu Qiong and others with over ten thousand men to the north to rendezvous and transport supplies. Ju Shou advised Yuan Shao to dispatch Jiang Qi to lead a flanking force to disrupt Cao Cao's supply lines, but Yuan Shao did not listen. Xu You also suggested, "Cao Cao may have fewer troops, but he's committing all of them to halt our advance, so the defenses of Xuchang are likely to be weak. If we send a lightly armed force to quickly attack Xuchang and take it, then Cao Cao will be trapped. Even if we don't take Xuchang, it will render them unable to manage both fronts, leaving them exhausted and overwhelmed, so we can defeat them." Yuan Shao ultimately dismissed this strategy.
Later, Xu You's family ran afoul of the law, and Shen Pei took him into custody. Xu You, feeling overlooked, then defected to Cao Cao and advised him to attack Chunyu Qiong and others. Chunyu Qiong and his men were stationed in Wuchao, forty miles away from Yuan Shao's main camp. Cao Cao personally led five thousand infantry and cavalry to mount a night raid on Wuchao, defeating Chunyu Qiong and his men, killing them all. Initially, upon hearing that Cao Cao was attacking Chunyu Qiong, Yuan Shao told his eldest son Yuan Tan, "If Cao Cao defeats Chunyu Qiong, we can take over his main camp and he will have no way to escape." He then sent Gao Lan, Zhang He, and others to attack Cao Cao's main camp, but they failed to make any headway. Gao Lan and Zhang He, upon hearing of Chunyu Qiong's defeat, then fled to Cao Cao.
At this time, Yuan Shao's army fell into chaos and disarray. Yuan Shao, Yuan Tan, and others wearing straw hats rode horses with eight hundred cavalry across the Yellow River to the north bank of Liyang, entering the main camp of their general Jiang Yiqu. Upon reaching Jiang Yiqu's tent, Yuan Shao shook Jiang Yiqu's hand and said, "I entrust my life to you!" Jiang Yiqu hid behind the tent and had someone else issue orders. Upon hearing that Yuan Shao had arrived, the situation stabilized somewhat. The remaining troops feigned surrender, but Cao Cao executed them all, totaling eighty thousand lives. Ju Shou was captured by Cao Cao's army and shouted, "I did not surrender, I was captured!" When Cao Cao saw Ju Shou, he said, "We were once enemies on opposing sides, and now we meet under these circumstances." Ju Shou replied, "The failure in Jizhou was caused by ourselves; we brought this upon ourselves, leading to our current predicament."
Cao Cao said, "Yuan Shao lacks strategy and is unwilling to accept others' strategies. The country has been in turmoil for a long time and is still not stable. I was thinking of discussing with you how to resolve this." Ju Shou replied, "My uncle, mother, and brother's lives are tied to the Yuan family. If I could receive your favor, dying early would actually be a blessing." Cao Cao sighed, "If I had met you sooner, what else would I have to worry about?" So he granted Ju Shou a pardon and treated him generously. Later, Ju Shou tried to defect to Yuan Shao, but ended up being killed by Cao Cao.
Yuan Shao appears generous at first glance, keeping his emotions in check, but in reality, he was proud and arrogant, not willing to listen to good advice from others. This ultimately led to his failure. After his army suffered defeats, someone told Tian Feng, "You will surely be greatly rewarded now!" Tian Feng replied, "Yuan Shao appears generous, but he is actually quite wary of others. He never accepted my advice, even though I warned him time and again. If he was happy after a victory, he might pardon me; but if he was angry after a defeat, his suspicions would surface. If the campaign had gone well, I might have saved my life, but now that we have lost, I have no hope of survival." When Yuan Shao returned, he sighed, "I did not listen to Tian Feng's advice and have truly become a laughingstock." So he had Tian Feng killed.
Shen Pei's two sons were captured by Cao Cao, which became the spark that ignited the power struggles within Yuan Shao's faction. Meng Dai had a grudge against Shen Pei, so he told Yuan Shao via Jiang Qi: "Shen Pei has taken control, his family wields significant influence, his military strength is also formidable, and moreover, his two sons are still with Cao Cao; they're definitely plotting a rebellion!" Guo Tu and Xin Ping also echoed this sentiment. Yuan Shao then sent Meng Dai to supervise the army and replace Shen Pei in guarding Ye City. Feng Ji, the military officer, didn't see eye to eye with Shen Pei, so Yuan Shao sought Feng Ji's opinion. Feng Ji replied: "Shen Pei is inherently upright; everything he does and says reflects the integrity of the ancients. My lord, you shouldn't doubt him!" Yuan Shao asked: "Aren't you bothered by him?" Feng Ji said: "Our past disagreements were personal, but this is about the nation." Yuan Shao said: "Good!" So Shen Pei was not dismissed, and his relationship with Feng Ji even improved as a result.
Numerous cities in Jizhou rose in rebellion, and Yuan Shao personally went to quell the rebellion. Since the army suffered defeats, he fell ill and passed away in the summer of the seventh year. Before he could choose a successor, Feng Ji and Shen Pei, who had previously looked down on Yuan Tan's extravagance, along with Xin Ping and Guo Tu, disliked Yuan Tan. They all believed Yuan Tan was too old and wanted to name him as the successor. Shen Pei and others were worried that if Yuan Tan became the successor, Xin Ping and the others would come after them, so they forged Yuan Shao's will, backing Yuan Shang as the successor.
