Liu Yu, courtesy name Bo'an, was a native from Donghai's Tan County. His grandfather Liu Jia had served as Grand Minister of Ceremonies. Liu Yu was initially recommended as a filial and incorrupt official, and later gradually rose to the position of Inspector of Youzhou. The people and minority ethnic groups admired his good governance, with the Xianbei, Wuhuan, Fuyu, and Huimo tribes all regularly paying tribute. None dared to disturb the borders, and the common people happily praised him. Eventually, he resigned from his post due to official duties.
During the early period of the Zhongping era, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, breaking through several counties in Jizhou. The court appointed Liu Yu as the magistrate of Ganling, tasking him with providing relief to the disaster-stricken people. Liu Yu lived a simple life and set a good example for others. He was later promoted to the position of Zongzheng.
At that time, General Zhang Wen of Chariots and Cavalry was suppressing bandits on the border and had transferred three thousand Wuhuan cavalry from Youzhou. Due to issues with food supplies and unpaid wages, these Wuhuan cavalrymen all rebelled and returned to their own country. Zhongshan's former Prime Minister, Zhang Chun, privately told the former Prefect of Taishan, Zhang Ju, "The Wuhuan have all rebelled now, looking to revolt. Bandits in Liangzhou are also causing trouble, and the court can't control it. Moreover, there are people in Luoyang giving birth to children with two heads. These are all signs that the Han Dynasty's fate is nearing its end, and there will be the emergence of two emperors! If you join me in leading the Wuhuan army, we might be able to achieve great things." Zhang Ju agreed.
Four years later, Zhang Chun and others allied with the Wuhuan leaders, attacked Ji County, burned down the city, plundered the people, and killed the Protector of the Wuhuan Jichou, the Prefect of Beiping on the right, Liu Zheng, and the Prefect of Liaodong, Yang Zhong, among others. Their army numbered over ten thousand, stationed in Feiru. Zhang Ju proclaimed himself the "Son of Heaven," while Zhang Chun declared himself the "General of the Mighty Heaven and King of Anding," sending letters to different provinces and counties claiming that Zhang Ju was the current Emperor of Han, demanding that Emperor Ling of Han abdicate, and commanding the court officials to welcome him. Zhang Chun also sent the Wuhuan Qiaowang and others to lead fifty thousand infantry and cavalry into Qingzhou and Jizhou, breaking through Qinghe and Pingyuan, killing many officials and civilians.
The court knew that Liu Yu had great prestige and profound benevolence in the north. In the second year, he was appointed as the governor of Youzhou. When Liu Yu arrived in Ji County, he disbanded the army stationed there, worked hard to spread virtues, and establish credibility. He also sent envoys to inform King Qiao and others that the court was magnanimous and willing to offer them a chance for survival. He also offered rewards for capturing Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun. Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun fled beyond the borders, while the majority surrendered. Zhang Chun was later killed by his subordinate Wang Zheng, who then sent Zhang Chun's head to Liu Yu. Emperor Ling of Han sent envoys to appoint Liu Yu as the Grand Commandant on the spot and granted him the title of Marquis of Rongqiu.
During Dong Zhuo's reign, he was appointed Grand Marshal and granted the title of Marquis of Xiangben. In the first year of Chuping, the court summoned him to succeed Yuan Wei as Grand Tutor. However, due to interrupted transportation, the court's orders could not be delivered. The Youzhou region, which Liu Yu governed, was on the frontier and faced significant expenses. Every year, over two hundred million in taxes had to be collected from Qingzhou and Jizhou to keep operations running. At that time, transportation was cut off everywhere, and goods could not be delivered. Despite this, Liu Yu was committed to implementing lenient policies, encouraging agricultural development, and opening up the market for the Hu people in the Shanggu area, facilitating the transportation of the abundant salt and iron resources in Fuyang District. The people were very happy, with a bumper harvest that year, and the price of grain fell to just thirty coins per stone. The people of Qingzhou and Xuzhou, to escape the turmoil caused by the Yellow Turban Army, millions fled to Liu Yu, who welcomed them warmly, helping them to resettle and establish their lives, allowing these refugees to forget the days of hardship. Despite his high status, Liu Yu lived a very frugal life, wearing tattered clothes and rope sandals, and rarely having meat with his meals. Witnessing Liu Yu's lifestyle, the lavish and wasteful officials and nobles began to change their ways and genuinely submitted to him.
At the beginning, the court ordered Gongsun Zan to lead a campaign against the Wuhuan and instructed him to follow Yu Fan's leadership. However, Gongsun Zan was solely focused on recruiting troops and building his own power, and even allowed his soldiers to disturb the people. Yu Fan governed with integrity and compassion, prioritizing the welfare of the people, so his relationship with Gongsun Zan grew increasingly strained. The following year, the Governor of Jizhou, Han Fu, the Administrator of Bohai, Yuan Shao, and other generals from Shandong discussed and believed that the court was inexperienced and under the control of Dong Zhuo, and with the uncertainty of life and death due to the distance across the mountains, they decided to support Yu Fan, a respected royal relative of high virtue, as the new emperor. They sent the former Prefect of Lelang, Zhang Qi, and others to present this proposal to Yu Fan, asking him to accept the title. When Yu Fan saw Zhang Qi and the others, he sternly reprimanded them, stating, "Now the world is in chaos, the Emperor is displaced and in distress. I have received great grace from the court, but have not been able to erase the shame of the nation. You have each taken control of your own provinces and commanderies, should be united in loyalty to the court, yet instead plot against one another. This is truly unreasonable!" He firmly refused. Han Fu and others then requested Yu Fan to become the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, allowing him to appoint officials and confer titles on his own, but Yu Fan still refused and had the envoys arrested and killed. Yu Fan then dispatched his subordinate, Tian Chou, the Prefect of Beiping, along with Xian Yu Yin, an Attendant, at great risk to secretly go to Chang'an to report to Emperor Xian. Emperor Xian was delighted to see Tian Chou and the others and expressed his desire to return east. At that time, Yu Fan's son, Yu He, served as a Palace Attendant, so Yu Fan secretly sent Yu He to leave Wuguan and inform Emperor Xian that he was preparing to gather troops to meet him. As Yu He passed through Nanyang, General Yuan Shu learned of this and detained Yu He, and sent word to Yu Fan to gather troops and head west. Yu Fan subsequently dispatched several thousand cavalry to rendezvous with Yu He and escort Emperor Xian, but Yuan Shu ultimately refused to release Yu He.
Initially, Gongsun Zan saw through Yuan Shao's schemes and stubbornly refused to allow Yu Xu to dispatch troops, but Yu Xu ignored him. Gongsun Zan was left with no choice but to secretly advise Yuan Shao to agree to peace talks to regain military authority. From then on, the animosity between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao intensified. Not long after, Yuan Shao found the fleeing Yuan Shu and kept him by his side. Although Gongsun Zan faced repeated defeats at the hands of Yuan Shao, he continued to attack him relentlessly. Yu Xu was concerned about Gongsun Zan's quiet but ambitious demeanor and feared that if he succeeded, he would become even more lawless, so he strongly opposed sending troops and gradually reduced the supplies to Gongsun Zan.
Gongsun Zan was infuriated, repeatedly defied orders and oppressed the populace. Yu Xu rewarded the goods given to the Hu and Yi tribes, which Gongsun Zan repeatedly plundered. Having reached his breaking point, Yu Xu sent someone to report Gongsun Zan's atrocities. Gongsun Zan also submitted a report accusing Yu Xu of inadequate provision of food and supplies, resulting in mutual accusations and counterattacks, putting the court in a bind. Gongsun Zan decided to fortify Ji City to guard against Yu Xu. In spite of Yu Xu's numerous requests for a meeting, Gongsun Zan consistently claimed to be ill and avoided meeting. Yu Xu then secretly plotted to take down Gongsun Zan and discussed the plan with Dong Cao Yuan and Wei You, the Prefect of Beiping.
Wei You said, "Right now, everyone is looking to you, counting on you as their strategist and military commander. You can't afford to lose a single one. Gongsun Zan is talented in both civil and military affairs and very capable. Even if he has a few flaws, we should overlook them." After hearing Wei You's advice, Yu Xu decided against attacking Gongsun Zan.
Legend has it that Yu Xu died not long after, but the resentment he harbored never faded. Four years later, in the winter, he finally led a hundred thousand troops to personally attack Gongsun Zan. Before setting off, an official named Cheng Xu from Daijun approached Yu Xu, removing his hat as a sign of respect, and offered his advice, "Although Gongsun Zan has many faults, his guilt has not been formally established. Instead of sending someone to inform him first and giving him a chance to repent, launching a reckless attack isn't in the nation's best interest! Moreover, the outcome is uncertain. It would be better to first station troops as a show of force, applying pressure with military might. Gongsun Zan will surely regret his actions, admit his guilt, and surrender without a fight." Yu Xu felt that Cheng Xu was stalling on purpose and disrupting his plans, so he angrily killed Cheng Xu to set an example for others. He then ordered his soldiers, "Do not harm innocent civilians, only kill Gongsun Bogui!"
At that time, an official named Gongsun Ji, who was favored by Gongsun Zan due to their shared surname, was also in the province. Gongsun Ji learned of Yu Xu's plan and hurriedly informed Gongsun Zan of the news at night. Many of Gongsun Zan's troops were spread out at the time, and the situation was critical. Fearing he could not escape, he quickly breached the eastern city wall to escape. Yu Xu's army lacked combat experience, and he was also concerned about the people's homes, ordering that they not be set ablaze. As a result, the siege was slow, and the city remained uncaptured for some time. Gongsun Zan selected hundreds of elite soldiers, took advantage of the wind to set fire, and directly charged into Yu Xu's camp. Consequently, Yu Xu faced a crushing defeat and retreated north to Juyong County with his officials. Gongsun Zan pursued relentlessly, breaching the city walls in just three days, capturing Yu Xu along with his entire family and bringing them back to Jicheng, and assigning him to continue handling administrative duties in the province.
Coincidentally, at this time, the emperor sent the messenger Duan Xun to increase Yu Xu's fiefdom, putting him in charge of the affairs of six provinces; at the same time, he appointed Gongsun Zan as the Commander, naming him the Marquis of Yi and allowing him to command Youzhou, Bingzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou. Gongsun Zan falsely accused Yu Xu of plotting with Yuan Shao and others to declare himself emperor, and then forced Duan Xun to kill Yu Xu at the market in Jicheng. Before killing him, Gongsun Zan even made Yu Xu sit down and then cursed him, saying, "If you, Yu Xu, can really become the emperor, heaven will surely send wind and rain to rescue you!" At that time, there was a severe drought and hot weather, so Gongsun Zan killed Yu Xu. He then sent Yu Xu's head to the capital, but on the way, his former subordinate Wei Dun seized his head and buried him. Gongsun Zan then appointed Duan Xun as the governor of Youzhou. Yu Xu was kind to people and deeply loved by the populace. He had a high reputation in all the northern provinces, and everyone mourned him.
At first, Yu Xu lived very frugally; even when his hat was torn, he wouldn't replace it; he'd just mend it himself. But after his death, Gongsun Zan's soldiers searched his house and found that his wives and concubines were all dressed in luxurious silk and satin, dressed up extravagantly, which raised suspicions about him. Later, He Shi learned about this from Yuan Shao and reported Gongsun Zan's actions to him.
Gongsun Zan, courtesy name Bogui, was from Zhiren in Liaoxi, and his family had been high-ranking officials for generations, holding a rank equivalent to two thousand stones. Because his mother had a humble background, he could only start as a small county official. However, he was quite handsome, had a loud voice, spoke eloquently, and was quite knowledgeable. The governor admired his talents and married his daughter to him. Later, he studied with his teacher Lu Zhi in Goushi Mountain in Zhuojun. Although he did not read many books, he still had some knowledge. Later, he was recommended for a position in the imperial finance office.
Once, the governor Liu Jun was in trouble and was to be escorted back to the capital for trial. According to the rules, family members of the accused were not allowed near. Gong Sun Zan, in order to save his father-in-law, disguised himself as a guard, personally attending to the governor's needs and escorting him all the way to Luoyang. The governor was sentenced to exile in Jinan, and Gong Sun Zan set up food and wine on Beimang Mountain, offering sacrifices to his ancestors. He then cried in front of the wine cup, saying, "I used to be a son, now I am an official of the court, and I have to go to Jinan. The miasma in Jinan is so thick; I might not return, and this means saying goodbye to my ancestors!" As he spoke, tears streamed down his face, and he kowtowed to his ancestors before leaving. The onlookers sighed for him endlessly. Unexpectedly, shortly after he left, he received word of his pardon!
Gong Sun Zan returned to his county, was recommended for his filial piety and integrity, and became the Chief Historian of Liaodong. Once, he led a dozen men on a patrol outside the border and encountered hundreds of Xianbei cavalry. Gong Sun Zan quickly led his men to an empty pavilion and said to his subordinates, "If we don't run now, we will all die!" Then, he took two spears and rushed out to fight the enemy, killing dozens of them. However, half of his men also died, but they managed to escape in the end.
During the Zhongping period, Liu Yan sent Liu Zan to manage the Wuhuan cavalry, while the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Zhang Wen, went to suppress the rebels in Liangzhou. The Wuhuan rebelled and, together with Zhang Chun and the other rebels, attacked Ji County. Liu Zan pursued Zhang Chun, distinguished himself, and was promoted to the rank of Cavalry Captain. Zhang Chun, along with the rebel Hu Qiuli and others, raided and pillaged the regions of Yuyang, Hejian, and Bohai, even invading Pingyuan County, leaving dead bodies everywhere. Liu Zan caught up with them, fought them at Shimen in the vassal state, and defeated the rebels, abandoning their wives and children as they fled across the border. Liu Zan brought back all the men, women, and children they had captured.
However, Liu Zan pursued with too much fervor, deep into enemy lines, with his retreat cut off. Consequently, he was surrounded by Qiu Li and his forces at Guanzi City in Liaoxi, and was besieged for over two hundred days. They ran out of food, and even the warhorses were consumed. Once the horses were gone, they resorted to boiling shields and crossbows for sustenance. Despite their desperate resistance, they were unable to prevail, so Liu Zan had to bid farewell to his soldiers and each escape for their lives. During that period, relentless rain and snow fell, and many soldiers perished from freezing or starvation along the way, estimated at around fifteen to sixteen percent. The rebel army was also starving and fled to Liucheng. The court appointed Liu Zan as a Colonel of the Defectors, bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Duting, and also allowed him to serve concurrently as the Chief Historian of the vassal state.
Liu Zan oversaw the army, tasked with border defense, and engaged with the border rebels. Whenever an alarm sounded, Liu Zan would fly into a rage, as if seeking vengeance, and swiftly pursued the enemy, sometimes launching night attacks. The rebels trembled at the sound of Liu Zan's voice, knowing how formidable he was, and dared not resist. Liu Zan often led dozens of skilled archers, all riding white horses, referring to themselves as the "White Horse Yi Cong." The Wuhuan warned one another to steer clear of this long history on a white horse. They even drew a portrait of Liu Zan shooting arrows on horseback, and whoever struck the portrait would shout in celebration. From that point on, the rebel army retreated beyond the frontier and did not dare to invade again.
Liu Zan was determined to completely eradicate the Wuhuan, which led to a conflict between Liu Zan and Liu Yu. In the second year of Chuping, the Yellow Turban army of 300,000 troops from Qingzhou and Xuzhou invaded the Bo Sea region, intending to join forces with the Heishan army. Liu Zan led 20,000 infantry and cavalry to fight them south of Dongguang, achieving a decisive victory, killing over 30,000 enemies. The Yellow Turban army abandoned tens of thousands of vehicles and escaped across the Yellow River. When they were halfway across the river, Liu Zan fiercely attacked them again, causing another major defeat with tens of thousands of casualties, and the Yellow River ran red. Liu Zan captured over 70,000 prisoners and seized countless vehicles, horses, weapons, and treasures, and his reputation reverberated throughout the land. The court appointed him as the Fenyu General and granted him the title of Marquis of Ji.
Liu Yu wanted to send troops to support Yuan Shu, but Liu Yan advised against it. However, fearing that Yuan Shu would hold a grudge against him if he found out, he sent his younger brother Liu Yue with over a thousand cavalry to approach Yuan Shu and strengthen their ties. As a result, Yuan Shu sent Liu Yue to follow his general Sun Jian to attack Yuan Shao's general Zhou Xin, and Liu Yue was struck down by an arrow on the battlefield. Liu Yan held Yuan Shao responsible for this and led his troops to camp at Pan River, preparing to exact revenge. He then submitted a memorial to the court, saying...
I have heard that since ancient times, the relationship between ruler and subject emphasizes propriety and righteousness, using rituals to cultivate the people and laws to maintain order. Now, this General Yuan Shao, Commander of Chariots and Cavalry, on the surface, has inherited the legacy of his ancestors, holds a high position, and wields great power, but in reality, he is a shameless libertine, known for his frivolous behavior.
When he served as a magistrate, the country was in turmoil, with the Empress Dowager in power and the He family supporting her rule. Yuan Shao not only failed to administer justice but also ingratiated himself with corrupt officials, leading to chaos and nearly endangering the state's affairs. This is Yuan Shao's first major offense!
Dong Zhuo abused power, holding the Emperor hostage, but Yuan Shao could not come up with a good solution to save the monarch; instead, his betrayal of the monarch constitutes Yuan Shao's second major offense as he abandoned his responsibilities and fled.
While in Bohai, Yuan Shao ought to have taken action against Dong Zhuo, but instead, he secretly raised troops without informing his own family, resulting in the massacre of the entire family of the Grand Tutor. This failure of benevolence and filial piety represents Yuan Shao's third major offense!
After initiating a rebellion for nearly two years, Yuan Shao disregarded state affairs, focusing only on expanding his influence, plundering resources, pursuing frivolous endeavors, oppressing the people, and resulting in widespread discontent. This is Yuan Shao's fourth major offense!
He forced Han Fu to surrender his territories, forged imperial edicts using gold and jade seals, and issued orders in a theatrical manner. This behavior, reminiscent of Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han Dynasty, signals a path toward ruin. His actions clearly indicate he is on a path to rebellion. This is Yuan Shao's fifth major offense!
Yuan Shao also consulted fortune-tellers to observe celestial phenomena, predict fortunes, bribed them, and enjoyed leisure with them, attacking regions on auspicious days. Such conduct is unbecoming of a minister. This is Yuan Shao's sixth major offense!
Yuan Shao and former Prefect Liu Xun were initially allies in rebellion, but Liu Xun later surrendered to Zhang Yang and made significant contributions. However, Yuan Shao brutally executed him over a trivial dispute, believing in the slanderous words of corrupt individuals and committing wrongful deeds. This is Yuan Shao's seventh major offense!
The Governor of Shanggu, Gao Yan, and the Minister of Ganling, Yao Gong, were both extorted by Yuan Shao under the pretext of corruption. Unable to pay the amount he demanded, both of them were killed by him. This constitutes Yuan Shao's eighth major crime!
As the "Spring and Autumn Annals" state, "One should honor their mother." Yuan Shao's mother was Fu Bi, of humble origins, yet he rose to high positions and relished wealth and power, always seeking advancement without ever thinking of stepping back. This is the ninth major crime of Yuan Shao!
There was also Sun Jian, the Governor of Changsha, who had previously served as the Inspector of Yuzhou. He successfully drove out Dong Zhuo and restored the ancestral temples, making great contributions to the court. However, Yuan Shao sent a young general to take his position, cut off his supply lines, and prevented him from advancing, allowing Dong Zhuo to evade capture for an extended period. This is the tenth crime of Yuan Shao!
In the past, during the decline of the Ji Zhou dynasty and the erosion of royal authority, the princes rebelled and the emperor moved around. Thus, Duke Huan of Qi convened a meeting at Keting, and Duke Wen of Jin held a covenant at Jiandu, attacking Jing and Chu, and eliminating the states of Cao and Wei to maintain ritual order. Though I may be of humble status and not as esteemed as the sages of old, I have been favored by the court, entrusted with significant responsibilities, wielded military power, and commanded to quell the rebels, joining fellow generals and governors in the campaign against Yuan Shao and his allies. If the campaign succeeds and the wrongdoers are brought to justice, it would be a way to embody the loyal and patriotic spirit of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin.
Yuan Shao led his troops to attack Liu Yao, and the cities throughout Jizhou all turned against Liu Yao and pledged allegiance to Yuan Shao. In his fear, Liu Yao entrusted the seal of the Bohai Commandery to his brother Liu Fan and sent him to the Bohai Commandery in an attempt to win him over. To Liu Yao's surprise, Liu Fan betrayed Yuan Shao and led the troops from Bohai to help Liu Yao. Liu Yao then proclaimed himself the governor of the three provinces: Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Yanzhou, appointed officials in the counties, and fought a major battle against Yuan Shao at Jieqiao. In the end, Liu Yao was defeated and retreated to Ji County. Yuan Shao dispatched General Cui Juye with tens of thousands of troops to besiege Gu'an, but after failing to capture it, he withdrew his troops and retreated south. Liu Yao dispatched fifteen thousand infantry and fifteen thousand cavalry to pursue Yuan Shao's forces at Juma River, defeating Yuan Shao's forces and killing seven to eight thousand soldiers. Liu Yao pressed his advantage, capturing numerous counties and advancing all the way to Pingyuan, and then sent his governor of Qingzhou, Tian Kai, to occupy Qidi. Yuan Shao sent tens of thousands of troops to engage Tian Kai for two years, depleting their food and supplies, with exhausted soldiers pillaging the local populace, leaving the countryside barren. Yuan Shao had no option but to send his son Yuan Tan to take over as governor of Qingzhou and confront Tian Kai, who was defeated and retreated. That year, Liu Yao defeated and captured Liu Yu, fully seizing control of Youzhou, which further fueled his ambition. There was an old nursery rhyme that went, "Yan is in the south, Zhao is in the north, the central area is as vast as a whetstone, only here can one escape the world." Liu Yao interpreted this nursery rhyme as referring to Yizhou, prompting him to relocate his base there. He initiated extensive construction projects in Yizhou, erecting dozens of towers and pavilions near the Yishui River, connecting to the Liao Sea.
Liu Yu's subordinates, including Xian Yufu from Yuyang, united to lead the state's army, wanting to seek revenge together. Xian Yufu felt that Yan Rou from the Yan State had a good relationship with the Wuhuan people, so he recommended him to be the Sima of the Wuhuan. Yan Rou recruited tens of thousands of Hu and Han soldiers and fought against Zou Dan, the Prefect of Yuyang appointed by Liu Yan, in Lubei, killing over four thousand, including Zou Dan. The Wuhuan Qiaowang, recalling Liu Yu's kindness, led more than seven thousand Wuhuan and Xianbei cavalry to join Xian Yufu in welcoming Liu Yu's son Liu He, and combined forces with Yuan Shao's general Qu Yi, bringing their total to one hundred thousand troops, to attack Liu Yan. In the second year of Xingping, they defeated Liu Yan at Baoqiu, beheading more than twenty thousand people. Liu Yan retreated to Yi Jing, cultivated the land, and gradually became self-sufficient. After over a year of stalemate, Qu Yi's army ran out of food and grass, the soldiers were starving and exhausted, and the remaining few thousand soldiers fled. Liu Yan pursued and defeated them, capturing all their vehicles and supplies.
At that time, a drought was followed by a locust plague, and food became extremely expensive. The common people were so starved they turned to cannibalism. Yuan Shao, boasting of his abilities, did not care about the lives of the common people at all. He harbored grudges and forgot favors, clinging to minor grievances. He targeted all the respected figures in the state. He constantly muttered, "These well-dressed officials are only out to get rich through their positions; how can they appreciate others' kindness?" As a result, his favorites were mostly businessmen and thugs. He oppressed the people everywhere; even his own kin resented him. As a result, the officials Yuan Shao appointed in Daijun, Guangyang, Shanggu, and Youbeiping were all killed, and they allied with the auxiliary army and the He army.
Yuan Shao felt the situation was not good, so he hid in Gaoping and had iron gates installed. He forbade any males over the age of seven from entering Yimen. He only brought some of his concubines to attend to him and had them bring him all the documents and reports. He also trained these women to shout loudly so that they could relay orders several hundred meters away. He distanced himself from guests and trusted no one, causing all his strategists and generals to gradually lose loyalty. After that, he rarely fought battles. When asked why he had changed his approach, Yuan Shao replied, "I used to drive the rebellious Hu people back beyond the frontier, quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Mengjin, and at that time I felt that the world was at my fingertips. But now, the war has only just begun, and I realize that this battle is beyond my control. It’s wiser to cease fighting, focus on farming, and tackle the famine first. The art of war teaches that a hundred-story building doesn’t need to be besieged. Now my encampments stretch for thousands of miles, with over three million bushels of grain stockpiled, enough to sustain us until the situation in the world changes." In the third year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao launched a major attack against Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao sent his son Yuan Xu to ask the Heishan Army for help, while he planned to lead his elite cavalry to flank him from the western mountains and cut off Yuan Shao's retreat. Guan Jing, the Chief Clerk, advised him, "Now the generals and soldiers all want to disband. The only reason they remain is their reluctance to leave their families behind, and they are still counting on you. Let’s hold our ground and delay; perhaps Yuan Shao will withdraw on his own. If you go out, there will be no one left to guard our rear, and Gaoping will be in immediate danger!" Yuan Shao then dismissed this idea. Yuan Shao continued to press forward; his forces began to dwindle, and he was forced to retreat, constructing three layers of fortifications to secure his position.
In the spring of 191 AD, Zhang Yan, the leader of the Black Mountain Army, and Xu led a hundred thousand troops from three directions to rescue Liu Yu. Before they arrived, Liu Yu secretly sent a letter to Xu, saying, "Back in the day when chaos reigned supreme, corpses were everywhere; just thinking about that scene is terrifying. I never expected to experience it firsthand today. Yuan Shao's attack is like a ghost, the siege towers battering my city walls, war drums and horns shaking the earth; the situation is dire, and there's no time to catch my breath. Right now, I feel like a trapped bird, helplessly watching the floodwaters engulf the high ground. You must do your best to delay Zhang Yan and quickly come to support me! Between father and son, our hearts are already connected; no need for many words. You must quickly lead five thousand cavalry to ambush in the low-lying area to the north; when you see a fire on my side, quickly come to my aid. I will break out of the city and fight bravely; even if I die in battle, it will be worth it! If not, after I die, no matter how vast the world may be, there will be no place for you!" Yuan Shao received Liu Yu's letter and set fire at the agreed time, and Liu Yu thought the reinforcements had arrived, so he left the city to fight. As a result, Yuan Shao set up an ambush, and Liu Yu was defeated, retreating back to the city to defend. Knowing that he would not survive, Liu Yu first killed his sisters, wife, and children before setting himself on fire. Yuan Shao's army quickly attacked the city walls and killed him. Guan Jing, witnessing Liu Yu's defeat, sighed with regret and said, "If only I had advised the general not to personally engage in battle; the outcome might have been different. I've heard that if a gentleman puts others in danger, he must share their hardships; how can he live alone?" After speaking, he charged into Yuan Shao's army and was killed in battle. Xu was killed by the Tuyuhun. Tian Kai also fell in battle against Yuan Shao.
Xian Yu Fu led his army to surrender to Cao Cao, who appointed him as the General of the Frontier and granted him the title of Marquis of Duting. Yan Rou led his troops to follow Cao Cao in attacking the Wuhuan and was appointed as the Wuhuan Protector, receiving the title of Marquis of Guannei. Zhang Yan gradually lost his followers after being defeated by Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao was about to pacify Jizhou, Zhang Yan led his remaining troops to surrender in Yecheng and was appointed as the General of Pingbei, granted the title of Marquis of Anguo.
Historical records note: From the emperor to the nobles, everyone lived in luxury and did not know the meaning of hard work. Diligent and frugal individuals who stood out from the rest were a rarity. Liu Yu adhered to his principles, admired scholars, and took honesty and kindness as his guiding principles. Truly, he was a nobleman of the Han dynasty! If Liu Yu and Liu Zan could work together, unite the people, defend the rich land of the Yan and Ji region, organize the army, show military strength, and seize the opportunity presented by the warlords' struggle for power—relying not on fate but on human efforts—then what ancient achievements would be beyond reach?
Tao Qian, also known as Gongzu, was a native of Danyang. In his youth, he was a scholar and held minor official positions in the state and county. He was promoted four times and became the aide of General Cheqi Zhang Wen, leading a campaign westward to pacify the border regions. Amid the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Xuzhou, Tao Qian was appointed as the Governor of Xuzhou. He led his troops to a decisive victory over the Yellow Turban army, restoring peace to Xuzhou.
At that time, although Dong Zhuo was killed, Li Jue and Guo Si were stirring up chaos in Guanzhong. Contact with various places was cut off, and Tao Qian often sent envoys to secretly go to Chang'an to offer tribute. The court issued an edict to promote him to Governor of Xu Province, appointing him General of Eastern Protection, and bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Liyang. At that time, the people of Xu Province lived in abundance, with plentiful harvests, and many refugees ran to Xu Province. However, Tao Qian did not use people properly, and his governance was not very good. His subordinate, the Attendant Censor Zhao Yu, was a well-known upright person, but Tao Qian alienated him because of his righteousness, and he was eventually sent to Guangling as the Prefect. Tao Qian, on the other hand, trusted dishonorable people like Cao Hong, and many good people were harmed by these individuals. As a result, Xu Province gradually descended into chaos. In Xiapi, a man named Que Xuan proclaimed himself the "Son of Heaven." Tao Qian initially joined forces with him, but later killed him and absorbed his army.
Initially, Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, fled to Langye to avoid the turmoil of war. At that time, one of Tao Qian's generals was guarding YinpIng, and those soldiers coveted Cao Song's treasures, so they attacked and killed him. In the fourth year of Chunping, Cao Cao attacked Tao Qian, capturing Pengcheng and Fuyang. Tao Qian retreated to Tancheng, but Cao Cao's assault on Tancheng was unsuccessful and he withdrew his troops. On the way back, Cao Cao also took over Qulu, Juling, and Xiaqiu, killing everyone in these three cities—tens of thousands of men, women, and children—leaving no survivors, and the Sishui River ran red with blood, unable to flow. From then on, those five cities became deserted, devoid of any signs of life. The refugees who had sought refuge in Xu Province because of Li Jue's rebellion were all killed by Cao Cao.
In the first year of Xingping, Cao Cao attacked Tao Qian again, occupying Langye, Donghai, and other places. Tao Qian feared for his life and sought to flee back to his ancestral home in Danyang. Coincidentally, at this time, Zhang Miao welcomed Lu Bu to occupy Yanzhou, and Cao Cao turned back to fight Lu Bu. That year, Tao Qian succumbed to illness.
At first, Zé Róng, who hailed from the same region as Liu Bei, gathered a band of several hundred followers to join Liu Bei. Liu Bei sent him to be in charge of the grain transportation for all three counties of Guangling, Xiapi, and Pengcheng. However, this fellow cut off the grain supply for all three counties and then embarked on a massive construction project to build a grand Buddhist temple known as Fútú Temple. The temple featured a dazzling golden roof, towering structures, and numerous halls surrounding it, capable of hosting over three thousand people! He even crafted a golden Buddha statue adorned in exquisite silk robes. Every time they bathed the Buddha, they would put out a lot of food and wine, lay out mats on the road, and there were at least tens of thousands of people coming to eat, drink, and watch the spectacle! Later, when Cao Cao attacked Liu Bei, chaos erupted in Xuzhou. Zé Róng took tens of thousands of people and three thousand horses to escape to Guangling. The Prefect of Guangling, Zhao Yu, even treated him as an honored guest! Zé Róng made a fortune in Guangling, then, taking advantage of being drunk, he killed Zhao Yu, looted with his soldiers, then crossed the river and fled to Yuzhang. There, he murdered the Prefect of Yuzhang, Zhu Hao, and seized control of Yuzhang City. Later, he was defeated by the Inspector of Yangzhou, Liu Yao, and fled to the mountains, where he was eventually killed. Zhao Yu, courtesy name Yuándá, hailed from Langye. He was honest and upright, hated evil, and devoted himself to learning. Even his relatives and friends rarely saw him. He was upright, never believed rumors, and did not act recklessly. The Grand Herald Zhòng Fú even recommended him as a man of integrity. He praised him, stating, "He inspired virtue and morality, shining like a beacon in the northern city. His benevolence could reach the lowest levels, and his loyalty was to defend the country. His talents were outstanding, and his martial skills were fierce. His reputation was never-ending, and his influence was difficult to overcome. Xú Fāng drained him, yet he remained humble and steadfast."
