Dong Zhuo, courtesy name Zhongying, was a man from Lintao in Longxi. When he was young, he liked to make friends with heroes, and he traveled extensively in Qiang territory, becoming close friends with many local leaders. Later, he returned home to farm, but those Qiang leaders still often came to see him, and Dong Zhuo would feast and celebrate with them, even slaughtering cattle and sheep to entertain them. The leaders were deeply touched, and when they returned, they contributed funds to gift him thousands of livestock. In the later years of Emperor Huan of Han, the court recruited affluent young men from six counties to serve as Yulin soldiers. Dong Zhuo, because of his strong martial arts and great strength, could draw two bows simultaneously and shoot arrows with both hands, was chosen. He served as a military commander, followed General Zhang Huan to fight in Bingzhou, achieved notable victories, was promoted to Langzhong (a military rank), and was rewarded with nine thousand bolts of silk, which Dong Zhuo shared with his troops. Later, he was subsequently summoned and served successively as the governor of Bingzhou, the prefect of Hedong, and was promoted to General, participating in the suppression of the Yellow Turban Army, but the campaign ended in defeat, resulting in his punishment. Later, Han Sui and others rebelled, and Dong Zhuo was appointed as General again to resist Han Sui in the west. In the area north of Wangyuanxia, he was surrounded by tens of thousands of Qiang and Hu troops, and his food and forage were running out. Dong Zhuo pretended to fish, built a dam at the ferry on the retreat route, formed a pool by storing water, flooded an area spanning dozens of miles, then secretly bypassed the enemy from under the dam and broke the dam to release water. By the time the Qiang and Hu troops discovered and caught up, the water was already deep and impassable. At that time, the six divisions of the imperial army launched an attack on Longxi; five divisions failed; only Dong Zhuo's forces successfully retreated and took position in Fufeng. He was subsequently appointed as the former General and Marquis of Li Xiang, and later summoned to serve as the governor of Bingzhou.
The Han Emperor Ling died, and Liu Bian succeeded to the throne as Emperor Shao. The Grand General He Jin and the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat Yuan Shao conspired to kill the eunuchs, but the Empress Dowager did not agree. He Jin then sent someone to invite Dong Zhuo to bring troops to the capital, and secretly wrote a letter to Emperor Shao saying, "The eunuchs, led by Zhang Rang, have usurped power and thrown the country into chaos. Just like Zhao Yang's uprising at Jinyang, eliminating the corrupt officials in the court, I am now sounding the alarm and calling for the punishment of Zhang Rang and his ilk!" He hoped to force the Empress Dowager to comply. Before Dong Zhuo arrived, He Jin met his downfall. The eunuchs, including Duan Gui, took the Emperor and fled to Xiaopingjing. Dong Zhuo marched his troops to greet the Emperor at Beimang, and then returned to the palace. At this time, He Jin's younger brother, the Cavalry General He Miao, was killed by He Jin's own men. He Jin and He Miao's subordinates lost their backing and all defected to Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo also dispatched Lu Bu to assassinate the Chief Commandant Ding Yuan and incorporate his army, thus, military power in the capital was firmly in Dong Zhuo's hands.
First, he sent someone to locate the Cavalry Commandant stationed at Mount Tai, Bao Xin, to assist in recruiting soldiers and acquiring horses. Upon arriving at Bao Xin's camp, Bao Xin said to Yuan Shao, "Dong Zhuo holds a large army and has ambitious plans. If we don't act now, we'll be at his mercy later; while he's still new and his troops are tired and worn out, attacking him would allow us to seize him!" Yuan Shao, intimidated by Dong Zhuo, hesitated to act, so Bao Xin had no choice but to return home.
Next, because it hadn't rained for a long time, Dong Zhuo was relieved of his position as Minister of Works from Liu Hong. He was soon promoted to Grand Marshal and was granted the power of the Imperial Seal and the authority of the Tiger Guards. Then, Dong Zhuo deposed the Emperor, demoting him to the King of Hongnong. Shortly after, he killed the King of Hongnong and Empress Dowager He. The young son of Emperor Ling ascended the throne as Emperor Xian. Dong Zhuo appointed himself Chancellor and was titled Marquis of Mei, allowing him to meet the Emperor informally, wearing his sword and shoes in court. He also granted the title of Lady Chiyang to his mother, providing her with household officials. With the court in chaos, Dong Zhuo arrived with his elite troops, allowing him to seize power, depose and enthrone Emperors, control the weapons in the arsenal, and the treasures of the nation, terrifying the world. Dong Zhuo was cruel and unjust, using harsh laws to oppress the people, punishing even the slightest offenses, making it impossible for the common people to survive.
Once, Dong Zhuo sent troops to attack Yangcheng. It happened to be the Lantern Festival, and the common people were all offering sacrifices at the shrine. Dong Zhuo's army beheaded all the men in Yangcheng, looted their carts, cattle, women, and possessions, hanging the severed heads from the carts and axles, then brought them back to Luoyang, claiming a great victory over bandits while shouting praises. Upon entering the city, they burned the heads, treated the women and weapons as slaves and spoils of war, and even raped the palace maids and princesses. Dong Zhuo's cruelty reached such an extent!
Initially, Dong Zhuo trusted the Minister of Works Zhou Bi and the Colonel of the City Gate Wu Qiong, relying on their recommendations to appoint Han Fu, Liu Dai, Kong Rong, Zhang Zi, Zhang Miao, and others as local officials. However, these officials united to plot against Dong Zhuo. When Dong Zhuo heard about this, he believed that Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong, and others had betrayed him by informing against him, and in response, he had them all executed.
Let me tell you about Wang Kuang, the governor of Hanoi. He stationed Mount Tai troops at the He'yang ferry, preparing to attack Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo, however, dispatched a deceptive force to pretend to cross the river at Pingyin ferry, but secretly led his elite troops to cross the river at Xiaopingbei ferry, bypassing Wang Kuang's back for a surprise attack. As a result, he decimated Wang Kuang's forces north of the ferry, almost wiping them out. Seeing the heroes of Shandong rising up in rebellion, Dong Zhuo felt both fearful and uneasy.
In the second month of the first year of the Chuping era, Dong Zhuo moved the emperor to Chang'an, burned down the palaces in Luoyang, and even dug up the tombs to loot the treasures within. After arriving in Chang'an, Dong Zhuo declared himself the Grand Tutor and gave himself the title "Shangfu." He rode in a luxurious blue and gold chariot with claw patterns painted on the yoke, which the common people referred to as the "Ganmo chariot." Dong Zhuo's brother, Dong Min, was appointed Left General and granted a title; his nephew, Dong Huang, became the Central Army Supervisor, overseeing military power. Dong Zhuo's relatives and friends all became high-ranking officials in the court. When these court ministers saw Dong Zhuo, they would dismount their carriages to pay their respects, but Dong Zhuo utterly disregarded them. Dong Zhuo also ordered that officials ranked third and below in the Three Excellencies must personally report to his residence.
Dong Zhuo built Mei Wu in Meixian, which was roughly the same height as Chang'an City. He stored enough food for thirty years and figured that if he succeeded, he would rule the world; if not, he could live out his old age here in peace. Once, Dong Zhuo went to inspect Mei Wu in Meixian, and the court officials all went out to greet him at the Hengmen Gate. Dong Zhuo set up a banquet and warmly entertained the surrendered northern rebels. However, during the banquet, Dong Zhuo brutally cut off their tongues and chopped off their hands and feet, gouged out their eyes, and even threw some into a boiling pot, leaving them to die slowly, writhing on the table. The guests were terrified, their faces drained of color, but Dong Zhuo continued to eat and drink, unaffected.
Through observing celestial phenomena, the Grand Historian predicted that a high-ranking official would be executed. At that time, the General, Zhang Wen, had a bad relationship with Dong Zhuo, who had been itching to get rid of him. Seizing the opportunity of the unusual celestial event, Dong Zhuo framed Zhang Wen for colluding with Yuan Shu and had him beaten to death. Dong Zhuo's rule was extremely brutal, with strict rules for rewards and punishments. He often resorted to torture, and people falsely accused each other, resulting in countless deaths. The common folk were full of complaints, and when they crossed paths, they only dared to exchange glances without saying a word. Dong Zhuo ordered the destruction of bronze statues and vessels, and the melting down of all five-zhu coins to be re-cast into small coins with a diameter of just five fen, lacking any patterns and crudely made without polishing. As a result, the coins became worthless, while goods became extremely expensive, with a measure of grain costing tens of thousands of coins. Eventually, the coins became utterly worthless.
In April of the year 192 AD, Minister Wang Yun, Imperial Secretary Shi Sun Rui, and Lu Bu conspired to eliminate Dong Zhuo. At that time, the Emperor had just recovered from illness and held a grand court assembly in the Wei Yang Palace. Lu Bu instructed his fellow cavalry captain Li Su and others to disguise themselves as guards at the Yeting Gate with about a dozen of his personal soldiers, while he himself held the Emperor's edict. When Dong Zhuo arrived, Li Su and his men intercepted him. Dong Zhuo exclaimed, asking where Lu Bu was. Lu Bu said, "Carrying out the Emperor's orders!" and then killed Dong Zhuo, and exterminated his entire clan. Dong Zhuo's secretary, Tian Jing, attempted to inspect his body, but Lu Bu killed him too. After killing these three men, no one dared to move. The people of Chang'an celebrated among themselves, and those who had been loyal to Dong Zhuo were arrested and executed.
Initially, Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, General Niu Fu, stationed his forces in Shan County and sent commanders Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji to attack Chenliu and Yingchuan. After Dong Zhuo's death, Lu Bu sent Li Su to Shan County with the Emperor's command to execute Niu Fu. Niu Fu and his men fought with Li Su, who defeated them and fled to Hongnong. Later, Lu Bu killed Li Su. Following this, some soldiers in Niu Fu's camp defected at night, causing panic among the others. Niu Fu feared the entire army had turned against him, so he gathered his gold and silver treasures and, accompanied by a few trusted associates, including Hu Chier, scaled the city walls and crossed the Yellow River. Hu Chier and his men coveted Niu Fu's treasures and killed him, presenting his head in Chang'an.
When Li Jue and his men returned, Niu Fu had already been killed. Everyone had lost their protection and wanted to escape back home. Since there was no pardon, and they heard that Chang'an was going to kill all the people from Liangzhou, they were terrified and unsure of what to do next. So they listened to the advice of Jia Xu, took their troops westward, and recruited more soldiers along the way. When they reached the gates of Chang'an, the army had swelled to over 100,000 soldiers. They, along with Dong Zhuo's former subordinates Fan Chou, Li Meng, Wang Fang, and others, surrounded the city of Chang'an. Ten days later, Chang'an fell, and they clashed with Lu Bu inside the city. Lu Bu was defeated and fled. Li Jue and his men released their troops to attack the city, killing everyone, regardless of age. Corpses littered the streets. Wang Yun, who had been involved in the killing of Dong Zhuo, was also killed by them, and his body was thrown into the market. Dong Zhuo's remains were buried in Meixian County, but later a fierce storm struck, collapsing his tomb, and water flowed in, washing away his coffin. Li Jue was appointed General of the Chariots and Cavalry, Marquis of Chiyang, and served as Commandant of the Capital, with the powers of a provisional governor; Guo Si was appointed Rear General, Marquis of Meiyang; Fan Chou was appointed Right General, Marquis of Wannian. Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou controlled the court. Zhang Ji was appointed General of the Cavalry, Marquis of Pingyang, stationed at Hongnong.
It is said that in that year, both Han Sui and Ma Teng surrendered to the court and brought their armies to Chang'an. The court appointed Han Sui as the General of the West and sent him back to Liangzhou; Ma Teng was appointed General of the West and stationed in Meixian. At that time, Privy Secretary Ma Yu conspired with Grand Counselor Zhong Shao, General of the Household Liu Fan, and others to have Ma Teng attack Chang'an while they would support him from within the city to eliminate Li Jue and his allies. When Ma Teng's army reached Changping Pavilion, their plan was leaked, forcing Ma Yu and the others to flee to Huaili. Dong Zhuo's general Li Jue pursued Ma Teng, who was defeated and fled back to Liangzhou; Li Jue then attacked Huaili, where Ma Yu and the others all died in battle.
At that time, the Guanzhong region (Sanfu) had hundreds of thousands of households. Li Jue and his men allowed their troops to plunder and loot, attacking cities, leaving the common people hungry and impoverished. Over two years, they resorted to killing and cannibalism, nearly wiping each other out. The generals fought amongst themselves for power and profit, and in the end, Han Sui killed Li Jue and absorbed his forces. Li Jue and Guo Si distrusted each other and fought in Chang'an. Li Jue detained the emperor in the military camp, set fire to the palace and city gates, looted government offices, and took all the emperor's belongings, including vehicles and clothes, back to his home. Li Jue even sent people to ask for peace with Guo Si, who captured all of them. They attacked each other for several months, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths before it finally came to an end.
It is said that Yang Feng and Song Guo from the Ju army were planning to get rid of Ju, but their plot was exposed. Yang Feng had no choice but to rebel with his troops. Ju's subordinates also rebelled, weakening his power. Zhang Ji came from Shanxi to mediate and managed to rescue the emperor, traveling to Xinfeng and Balin. However, Guo Si wanted to take the emperor back to Meiwu. The emperor, frightened, quickly fled to Yang Feng's camp, where Yang Feng defeated Guo Si, who then fled to the South Mountain. Yang Feng and General Dong Cheng escorted the emperor back to Luoyang.
Ju and Guo Si regretted letting the emperor go and joined forces to pursue him to Caoyang in Hongnong. Yang Feng quickly contacted his old friends from Hedong, including Han Xian, Hu Cai, and Li Le, who had previously led the Baibo army. They joined forces to fight against Ju and Guo Si, but Yang Feng was defeated in the battle. Ju and Guo Si then unleashed their wrath, killing many officials and looting women from the palace while rampaging through Hongnong. The emperor escaped to Shan, crossed the Yellow River, lost his supplies, and had to walk with the empress and a few nobles until they found temporary refuge in a local's house in Dayang.
Yang Feng, Han Xian, and others took the emperor to Anyi, where the emperor was forced to ride in a bullock cart. Grand Commandant Yang Biao, Grand Minister Han Rong, and a dozen other attendants followed. Han Xian was appointed as the General Conquering the East, Hu Cai as the General Conquering the West, and Li Le as the General Conquering the North, alongside Yang Feng and Dong Cheng in governance. Han Rong was sent to Hongnong to negotiate with Ju and Guo Si, returning the looted palace women, officials, and the emperor's belongings. At that time, there was a locust plague and drought, resulting in a food shortage. Officials had to eat dates and wild vegetables to survive. The various generals were dissatisfied with each other, creating chaos and depleting their food supplies. Yang Feng, Han Xian, and Dong Cheng had no option but to return the emperor to Luoyang.
Coming out of Jiguan, walking along the Zhi Road, Zhang Yang sent food and greeted them all the way, even appointing Yang Feng as the Grand Marshal. This is all recorded in the "Yang Biography." When the emperor returned to Luoyang, the imperial palace had been burned down, the streets were desolate and dilapidated, and officials had to hide in the thickets or scrape by against the walls. Each state and county had to defend themselves with their own troops, and no one came to their aid. More and more people went hungry; even officials below the rank of Shangshu had to venture up the mountains to gather firewood, and many starved to death under the walls.
It is said that when Cao Cao welcomed the emperor to Xuchang, those who opposed him, Xian and Feng, did not obey the law, each ran away and caused trouble in the areas of Xuzhou and Yangzhou, and were eventually taken down by Liu Bei. Dong Cheng, who followed Cao Cao for a short time, was also killed. In the second year of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao sent the palace attendant Pei Mao along with troops from the west to take on Hu Jue, and wiped out the entire Hu Jue family. As for Si, he was attacked by his general Wu Xi and died in Mi County. Those starving soldiers headed to Nanyang to loot but were taken out by the people of Nanyang, and his son Xiu took over his troops.
As for Cai and Le, they remained in Hedong. Cai was killed by his enemies, and Le died of illness. As for Sui and Teng, they ran back to Liangzhou and started fighting each other again. Later, Teng became the Captain of the Guard, and his son Chao took over his troops. In the sixteenth year of the Jian'an era, Chao and the generals in Guanzhong rebelled together. Cao Cao led his troops to defeat them, as recorded in the "Wu Ji." Sui fled to Jincheng and was killed by his own subordinates. Chao occupied Hanyang, while Teng's family was wiped out. Zhao Qu and his rebel forces attacked Chao, who fled to Hanzhong to seek refuge with Zhang Lu, and later went to Liu Bei, where he met his end in Shu.
Yuan Shao, whose courtesy name was Bencui, was from Ru'nan, in Ru'yang County. His great-grandfather Yuan An held the position of Minister over the Masses during the Han Dynasty. From Yuan An onward, four generations of his family held positions among the Three Excellencies, making their power significant and well-known across the land. Yuan Shao was both handsome and charismatic, which helped him win many followers. Even the young Cao Cao had connections with him. Yuan Shao worked as a General Clerk and later as an Imperial Censor, gradually rising through the ranks until he eventually became the Colonel-Director of Retainers.
After the death of Emperor Ling of Han, his mother's brother, Grand General He Jin, teamed up with Yuan Shao to get rid of the eunuchs in the palace. But the Empress Dowager was against it. He Jin planned to bring in Dong Zhuo to pressure the Empress Dowager into submission. When the eunuchs and palace attendants caught wind of it, they quickly rushed to apologize to He Jin, saying that they would follow his arrangements. Yuan Shao urged He Jin to seize the opportunity to wipe out the eunuchs, but He Jin did not agree. He asked Yuan Shao to organize the troops in Luoyang and search for the eunuchs' hideouts. He also had Yuan Shao's younger brother, Yuan Shu, select two hundred trustworthy soldiers to replace the palace guards and bolster security. As a result, the eunuchs tricked He Jin by pretending to have orders from the Empress Dowager, lured him into the palace for a discussion, and then killed him, throwing the palace into chaos. Yuan Shu took his soldiers to torch Jia De Hall and Qing Suo Gate in the Southern Palace to force the eunuchs out, but they wouldn't budge and took the Emperor and Prince Chenliu (his brother) hostage to make their getaway. Yuan Shao killed every last one of the eunuchs, no matter how young or old. Some eunuchs were mistakenly killed just for not having beards, and they were spared only when they revealed their bodies by removing their clothes. Even some eunuchs who behaved well could not escape death, highlighting the brutal slaughter of the time, with over two thousand dead. Later, when they were pursued, Duan Gui and the others all ended up jumping into the river to commit suicide. The Emperor finally managed to return safely to the palace.
Dong Zhuo found Yuan Shao and discussed the idea of deposing the emperor and installing the Prince of Chenliu. At that time, Yuan Shao's uncle Yuan Wei was the Grand Tutor, and Yuan Shao agreed with Dong Zhuo on the surface, saying, "Such a major matter, I must discuss it with the Grand Tutor." Dong Zhuo said, "The Liu clan's power cannot be allowed to continue!" Yuan Shao ignored him, drew his sword, cupped his fists in salute, and left. After Yuan Shao left, he fled to Jizhou. Zhong Zhou Bi, Wujiong, and Helian Ye, who were all prominent scholars at the time, were trusted by Dong Zhuo, but they secretly helped Yuan Shao. They advised Dong Zhuo, saying, "The matter of deposing the emperor is not something ordinary people can decide. Yuan Shao is short-sighted; he fled in fear and has no other intentions. If you rush to apprehend him, it will only create chaos. The Yuan family has been officials for generations, and their students and supporters are widespread. If he gathers heroes and recruits soldiers, those heroes will all join him, and Shandong will be under his control. It's better to pardon him and appoint him as a prefect so he can avoid punishment and there will be no danger." Dong Zhuo thought they made sense, so he appointed Yuan Shao as the Governor of Bohai and also gave him the title of Marquis of Kangxiang. Yuan Shao raised troops from Bohai, preparing to eliminate Dong Zhuo, as noted in the "Records of Wu." Yuan Shao declared himself General of Chariots and Cavalry, becoming the leader, and together with the Governor of Jizhou, Han Fu, planned to install Liu Yu, the Governor of Youzhou, as emperor. They even sent a memorial to Liu Yu, but he dared not accept. Later, Han Fu's army was defeated by Gongsun Zan in Anping. Gongsun Zan pursued victory under the guise of attacking Dong Zhuo, but was actually intent on annexing Han Fu's territory. Han Fu was in a state of great anxiety.
At this time, Dong Zhuo marched westward into Guanzhong, and Yuan Shao pulled back his troops to Yanjin. Han Fu became increasingly panicked and allowed his advisors, such as Gao Gan from Chenliu and Xun Chen from Yingchuan, to persuade him, saying, "Gongsun Zan is currently winning battles and heading south, with all the counties responding to him. Yuan Shao is also bringing troops from the east. We can’t figure out what they’re up to. General, your situation is too dangerous!" Han Fu asked, "What should we do?" Xun Chen said, "Gongsun Zan is leading troops from Yan and Dai; their military strength is too strong to resist! Yuan Shao is a prominent figure of this era; he definitely won't listen to you. Jizhou is an important strategic location in the world. If they team up and clash outside the city, we’re done for! Yuan Shao is your old friend and ally. For your own good, why not give Jizhou to him? If Yuan Shao gets Jizhou, Gongsun Zan won't be able to contend with him and will definitely treat you well. Once Jizhou is in Yuan Shao's hands, you’ll be seen as someone who stepped aside for the worthy, and you can live in peace. General, please don't hesitate!" Han Fu, who was originally timid and fearful, agreed as soon as he heard the suggestion. Han Fu's Chief Clerk Geng Wu, Attendant Min Chun, and Supervisor Li Li all urged him, "Although Jizhou is remote, we have a million troops and enough food for ten years. Yuan Shao is just a lonely figure, completely dependent on us. He’s like a baby in our hands; if we cut off his resources, he’ll be finished. Why should we give the province to him?" Han Fu said, "I’ve worked alongside Yuan Shao for years, and my abilities are not as good as his. Modesty and humility are virtues praised by the ancients; don’t you understand?" Advisors Zhao Fu and Cheng Huan suggested using force to resist, but Han Fu did not listen. In the end, Han Fu handed Jizhou over to Yuan Shao, who then became its governor.
Ju Shou said to Yuan Shao, "General, you have achieved fame at a young age, and your reputation is known throughout the country. At the critical moment of the emperor's abdication, you showed loyalty and righteousness. When you escaped alone on horseback, even Dong Zhuo was quite alarmed. Crossing the Yellow River and heading north, the Bohai Commandery surrendered without a fight. Leading soldiers from a commandery and gathering troops from Jizhou, you've made quite an impact in the Hebei region, and your reputation resounds throughout the world. Even with the Yellow Turbans causing chaos and the Black Mountain Bandits running wild, if you lead your army east, Qingzhou will fall; then you can head back and take out the Black Mountain Bandits, and Zhang Yan will be history; then turn your troops north, and Gongsun Zan will surely be finished; scare the northern tribes into submission, and the Xiongnu will follow suit. You’ve got a huge territory north of the Yellow River, covering four provinces, uniting heroes from all corners, and have a million-strong army. You can easily bring the emperor back to the capital, restore the ancestral shrine and state temple in Luoyang, command the realm, and crush the remaining rebellions. With this strength, who can be your opponent? In just a few years, you could easily pull all this off."
Yuan Shao was thrilled to hear this and said, "This is exactly what I have in mind!" He quickly appointed Ju Shou as the military supervisor and General of Fervor. Dong Zhuo sent Hu Mu Ban of the Imperial Guard and Wu Xiu, the Grand Architect, with an edict to persuade Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shao had Wang Kuang, the Prefect of Henan, take them out. When Dong Zhuo heard that Yuan Shao controlled the eastern region, he ordered a massacre of Yuan Shao's family, including the Grand Tutor Wei Xie and others. At that time, many ambitious and brave folks rallied to Yuan Shao, eager to help him get revenge. Every state and county raised their troops, and not a single one wasn’t flying Yuan Shao's banner.
Yuan Shao's subordinate, Yuan Shu, who was also his brother, felt afraid and requested to leave and seek refuge with Zhang Miao. Later, Yuan Shao sent someone to meet with Zhang Miao to discuss matters and whispered privately to Zhang Miao. Yuan Shu was also present at the time and felt that they were plotting against him; shortly after, Yuan Shu ran to the restroom and took his own life. Initially, when Cao Cao welcomed the emperor to Xuchang, this was not Yuan Shao's intention. When Yuan Shao was in Hedong, he even sent Guo Tu from Yingchuan to deliver a letter to Cao Cao. After Guo Tu returned, he suggested that Yuan Shao also bring the emperor to Ye City, but Yuan Shao did not listen. Later, Cao Cao brought the emperor to Xuchang, regained control over the territory of Henan, and Guanzhong also submitted. Only then did Yuan Shao regret his earlier decision and want Cao Cao to move the emperor to Juancheng, closer to himself for easier control, but Cao Cao refused. The emperor appointed Yuan Shao as Grand Commandant, later promoted him to Grand General, and also conferred upon him the title of Marquis of Ye, but Yuan Shao declined the title of Marquis. Not long after, Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan in Yi Jing and absorbed Gongsun Zan's troops. He then sent his eldest son Yuan Tan to serve in Qingzhou. Ju Shou advised him, "This will definitely spell trouble!" Yuan Shao did not listen and said, "I want each of my sons to govern a province!" He also sent his second son Yuan Xi to Youzhou and his nephew Gao Gan to Bingzhou. With over a hundred thousand troops under his command, led by Shen Pei and Feng Ji, with Tian Feng, Xun Chen, and Xu You as strategists, and Yan Liang and Wen Chou as generals, one hundred thousand elite soldiers and ten thousand warhorses were preparing to launch an attack on Xuchang.
Before this, Cao Cao sent Liu Bei to Xuzhou to fend off Yuan Shu. After Yuan Shu died, Liu Bei killed Che Zhou, the Governor of Xuzhou, and garrisoned troops in Pei County. Yuan Shao dispatched cavalry to support Liu Bei. Cao Cao then sent Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to attack Liu Bei, but they failed. In the fifth year of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao personally went to the east to attack Liu Bei. Tian Feng, frustrated, advised Yuan Shao to take advantage of the opportunity to attack Cao Cao's rear, but Yuan Shao said his son was sick and did not agree. Tian Feng angrily tapped his cane on the ground, saying, "This is a rare opportunity that comes once in a thousand years, but it was missed because of the child's illness, what a shame!" After Cao Cao arrived, he defeated Liu Bei, who then fled to Yuan Shao.
Yuan Shao dispatched troops to assault Liyang and also sent Yan Liang to attack Liu Yan in Baima. Ju Shou hastily advised Yuan Shao, "Yan Liang is a bit impulsive; although very brave, he should not be allowed to lead troops alone!" Yuan Shao did not listen at all. Cao Cao rushed to Liu Yan's aid, fought with Yan Liang, defeated him, and killed him.
After crossing the Yellow River, Yuan Shao set up camp south of Yanjin, allowing Liu Bei and Wen Chou to challenge Cao Cao. Cao Cao defeated them, killed Wen Chou, and captured one of Yuan Shao's generals in a subsequent battle. Yuan Shao's troops were thrown into panic. Cao Cao then returned to Guandu. Ju Shou reiterated, "The northern troops are numerous, but their fighting capability is inferior to that of the south; the south has less food and wealth than the north; in the south, battles should be swift, while in the north, they tend to be prolonged. We should fight slowly and delay the time." Yet, Yuan Shao remained obstinate.
Yuan Shao's camp gradually moved forward, approaching Guandu, and the two sides went to war. Cao Cao's army initially faced some setbacks and retreated to their camp to fortify their defenses. Yuan Shao constructed a tall watchtower and built earthen mounds to rain arrows down on Cao Cao's camp. Cao Cao's camp was fortified with shields, and the soldiers were very afraid. Cao Cao then constructed catapults to bombard Yuan Shao's watchtower, bringing it crashing down. Yuan Shao's soldiers cried out, "Thunderbolt Catapult!" Yuan Shao also dug tunnels, trying to sneak attack Cao Cao's camp. Cao Cao dug a long trench around the camp for defense and sent elite soldiers to attack Yuan Shao's supply convoy, achieving a decisive victory and incinerating all of Yuan Shao's supplies. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were locked in a stalemate for a long time, the common people were worn out, and many people defected to Yuan Shao, while Cao Cao's army was also short of supplies. At that point, Yuan Shao sent Chunyu Qiong with more than 10,000 men to the north to transport supplies, and Jushou advised Yuan Shao: "You can send General Jiang Qi to lead a troop to provide support outside, so as to cut off Cao Cao's food supply." Yuan Shao still didn't listen. Chunyu Qiong set up camp at Wuchao, about 40 li from Yuan Shao's main camp. Cao Cao assigned Cao Hong to guard the camp, took 5,000 infantry and cavalry, and stealthily launched an attack on Chunyu Qiong under the cover of darkness. Yuan Shao dispatched cavalry for rescue, but they were defeated and scattered. Cao Cao defeated Chunyu Qiong and his forces, slaughtering them all. On his way back, before reaching the camp, Yuan Shao's generals, Gao Lan and Zhang He, surrendered along with their troops. Yuan Shao's army was utterly vanquished, and Yuan Shao and Tan (referring to Tan Xian) fled on horseback, crossing the Yellow River. The remaining soldiers feigned surrender, only to be all slaughtered by Cao Cao.
Ju Shou did not manage to cross the river with Yuan Shao and was captured, subsequently being sent to Cao Cao. Cao Cao treated him quite well. Later, Ju Shou attempted to return to Yuan Shao's side but ended up being executed. Initially, when Yuan Shao headed south, Tian Feng advised him, "Cao Cao is very skilled in warfare, whose strategies are constantly changing. Although he doesn't have many troops, we must not underestimate him! We should adopt a strategy of prolonged warfare. General, you hold strategic positions and command troops from four provinces, unite with heroes from various regions, develop agriculture and military internally, select elite troops, form strike teams, and seize opportunities to launch surprise attacks to harass the Henan region. If the enemy sends reinforcements to the left, we attack the right; if they send reinforcements to the right, we attack the left, wearing them out and disrupting their lives. This way, with minimal effort on our part, they will be thoroughly exhausted. In less than two years, we can easily defeat them. Now, you have abandoned the strategy of stability and put everything on one decisive battle. If we lose, it will be too late for regrets!" Yuan Shao did not listen to him. Tian Feng continued to advise him, but Yuan Shao got angry, thinking Tian Feng was undermining morale, so he arrested Tian Feng and tortured him. After Yuan Shao's army was defeated, someone said to Tian Feng, "You will definitely be reinstated by Yuan Shao." Tian Feng replied, "If the army had won, I would have been safe; now that the army has lost, I am definitely going to die." When Yuan Shao returned, he told those around him, "I didn't listen to Tian Feng's advice, and now I am being mocked." So he killed Tian Feng. Yuan Shao appeared generous and gentle, maintaining a dignified facade, not showing his worries or joys, but deep down, he was suspicious and resentful, and killing Tian Feng was a typical example of this behavior. There were many rebellions in Jizhou, and Yuan Shao went to suppress them. After his army's defeat, he fell ill and passed away seven years later.
Once upon a time, Yuan Shao had a son named Yuan Shang, who was quite the handsome lad. Yuan Shao wanted to appoint him as his successor, but that decision hadn’t been made yet. At that time, among Yuan Shao's followers, Shen Pei and Feng Ji supported Yuan Shang, while Xin Ping and Guo Tu supported Yuan Tan. Everyone believed Yuan Tan, being older and more seasoned, should be the one to lead. Shen Pei and his group feared that if Yuan Tan took charge, Xin Ping and Guo Tu would come after them, so they slyly backed Yuan Shang according to what Yuan Shao had hinted before. By the time Yuan Tan showed up, it was already too late, and he named himself General of Chariots and Cavalry. From that point on, a rivalry brewed between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang.
Cao Cao marched north to attack Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. Yuan Tan's troops were camped out in Liyang, and Yuan Shang sent a few soldiers to help Yuan Tan, with Feng Ji providing counsel. Yuan Tan called for help from Yuan Shang, but Shen Pei and others disagreed with his request for reinforcements. In a fit of rage, Yuan Tan had Feng Ji killed. Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River to attack Yuan Tan, who called for help from Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang wanted to send reinforcements to Yuan Tan, but he worried Yuan Tan might seize the chance to boost his own power and take command of the troops. So, he left Shen Pei to hold down the fort at Ye city and personally led troops to support Yuan Tan, going head-to-head with Cao Cao in Liyang. From September to February of the following year, a few battles broke out, and Yuan Shang was slowly forced back into the city to hold his ground. Cao Cao got ready to lay siege to the city, but Yuan Shang managed to slip away in the night. Cao Cao chased after them to Ye city, snatched their food supplies, took Yin'an, and then headed back to Xuchang.
Cao Cao marched south to attack Jingzhou, and his army arrived at Xiping. Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang seized the opportunity to clash once more. Yuan Tan was defeated and retreated to Pingyuan. Yuan Shang pursued closely, so Yuan Tan had no choice but to send Xin Pi to ask Cao Cao for help. Cao Cao then dispatched troops to rescue Yuan Tan, reaching Liyang in October. When Yuan Shang heard that Cao Cao was heading north, he abandoned Pingyuan and returned to Ye. His generals, Lv Kuang and Lv Xiang, defected and surrendered to Cao Cao. In a surprising move, Yuan Tan secretly forged a general's seal and impersonated Cao Cao's orders to Lv Kuang and Lv Xiang. Seeing through Yuan Tan's ruse, Cao Cao made peace with him, reassured him, and then led his troops back. Yuan Shang assigned Shen Pei and Su You to defend Ye while he attacked Yuan Tan in Pingyuan. Cao Cao marched again, preparing to attack Ye. When he reached Huan River, fifty miles away from Ye, a man named Xu You in Ye sought to betray the city by surrendering to Cao Cao. The plot was uncovered, and he fought with Shen Pei in the city, but after being defeated, he fled to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao then launched an all-out assault on Ye City, digging tunnels to attack the city, while Shen Pei dug trenches inside the city to resist. Shen Pei's general Feng Li opened the city gates, letting in over 300 soldiers of Cao Cao. When Shen Pei discovered this, he began hurling large stones from the city walls to block the gate, trapping the soldiers inside. Cao Cao maintained his siege, digging a forty-mile trench around the city. At first, the trench was shallow, making it seem like it could be easily crossed. Shen Pei mocked Cao Cao's actions and refused to engage. Overnight, Cao Cao deepened and widened the trench to a depth of two zhang, and also diverted the Zhang River to flood the city. From May to August, more than half the population starved to death. Upon hearing of Ye City's peril, Yuan Shang rallied over ten thousand troops for a rescue mission, coming from the west and arriving at Yangping Pavilion from the east, seventeen li away from Ye City. They lit fires by the Fu River to signal the people in the city, who responded in kind. Shen Pei led his troops out of the north gate, intending to join forces with Yuan Shang to attack Cao Cao. However, Cao Cao turned the tables and defeated them, causing Yuan Shang to flee to Quzhang to regroup. Before any battle took place, Yuan Shang, growing fearful, sent Yin Kui and Chen Lin to negotiate surrender, but Cao Cao refused. Yuan Shang then fled to Lankou, with Cao Cao in hot pursuit. Yuan Shang's generals, including Ma Yan, surrendered to Cao Cao, leading to the collapse of Yuan Shang's army. Yuan Shang fled to Zhongshan. Cao Cao seized all of Yuan Shang's supplies, including his seals, tokens, and clothing, and displayed them to his family. The morale of Ye City's residents plummeted. Shen Pei's nephew, Shen Rong, opened the east gate at night, letting Cao Cao's troops in. Shen Pei engaged them in battle within the city and was captured. Shen Pei maintained his composure and refused to surrender, leaving onlookers in awe. In the end, Cao Cao killed Shen Pei. Later on, Gao Gan surrendered Bingzhou to Cao Cao, who appointed him as governor.
When Cao Cao attacked Ye city, Tan Sichang quickly occupied several places such as Ganling, Anping, Bohai, and Hejian, and then went to attack the Chancellor of Zhongshan State, Tian Feng. Tian Feng fled to Gu'an and sought refuge with Yuan Xi. Tan Sichang absorbed Tian Feng's troops. Cao Cao prepared to attack Tan Sichang, who first took Pingyuan and Nanpi, and then stationed his troops in Longcou. In December, Cao Cao's army surrounded Longcou. Tan Sichang did not engage in battle, but secretly escaped at night and fled to Nanpi, where he camped by the Qinghe River.
In January, Cao Cao captured Nanpi; Tan Sichang and his subordinates were killed. Yuan Xi and Tian Feng were defeated by Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan and fled to the Wuhuan in Liaoxi. Jiao Chu proclaimed himself the Governor of Youzhou, betrayed Yuan Shao, surrendered to Cao Cao, and arranged a formation of tens of thousands of people, violating the oath of the White Horse Alliance, and ordered, "Those who disobey orders will be beheaded!" Everyone fell silent, and one by one made blood oaths. When it was Han Heng's turn, he said, "I have received great kindness from Yuan Shao and his son. Now that they have failed, I have neither the wisdom to save them nor the courage to die for them. It is unreasonable in both emotion and reason to ask me to worship Cao Cao. I absolutely cannot do it!" The people present all changed their expressions because of Han Heng's words. Jiao Chu said, "To accomplish great deeds, one must uphold great righteousness. The success of things does not depend on one person. We can first soothe Han Heng's emotions to inspire everyone's loyalty."
Gao Gan defected, captured the Prefect of Shangdang, and led troops to guard Hukou Pass. Cao Cao sent Yue Jin and Li Dian to attack him, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt to capture him. The following year, Cao Cao personally led an expedition against Gao Gan. Gao Gan left his generals Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng to guard the city, and he himself went to seek help from the Xiongnu Chanyu. Failing to receive assistance, he fled with only a few people, intending to run south to Jingzhou. However, he was captured and killed by a Commandant at Shangluo.
Twelve years later, Cao Cao went to Liaoxi to attack the Wuhuan. Tian Feng and Yuan Xi fought against the Wuhuan army and were lured into a trap and killed by Gongsun Kang, who then sent their heads to Cao Cao. Cao Cao admired Han Heng's principled nature and tried to recruit him several times, but he refused to come out and eventually died at home.
Yuan Shu, styled Gonglu, was the son of the Minister of Works Yuan Feng and the younger brother of Yuan Shao. He was known for his generosity and righteousness. He passed the imperial examination, became a Junior Official, and held various official positions both inside and outside the court. Later, he became a Colonel and a General of the Household Troops. When Dong Zhuo wanted to depose the emperor, he appointed Yuan Shu as the General of the Rear. Out of fear of Dong Zhuo's power, Yuan Shu fled to Nanyang. When the Administrator of Changsha, Sun Jian, killed the Administrator of Nanyang, Zhang Zi, Yuan Shu seized the opportunity to take control of Nanyang. Nanyang had a population of several million, but Yuan Shu lived extravagantly, indulged in desires, and levied taxes arbitrarily, leading to widespread discontent among the people. He had conflicts with Yuan Shao and poor relations with Liu Biao, so he allied with Gongsun Zan in the north, while Yuan Shao allied with Liu Biao in the south. The two brothers were at odds with each other, neglected their neighbors while forging alliances with distant allies. Such was the situation!
Yuan Shu attacked Chenliu with his troops. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao joined forces to attack him, defeating Yuan Shu's army. Yuan Shu fled to Jiujang with what was left of his troops, killed the Inspector of Yangzhou, Chen Wen, and proclaimed himself the Inspector of Yangzhou. He also appointed Zhang Xun, Qiao Rui, and others as generals. After Li Jue took control of Chang'an, he wanted to form an alliance with Yuan Shu, so he appointed Yuan Shu as the General of the Left, bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Yangzhai, gave him a seal of authority, and sent the Grand Tutor Ma Midi to formally confer him the official title. However, Yuan Shu snatched Ma Midi's seal, detained him, and refused to let him leave.
Chen Gui from Pei County is the son of the previous Grand Commandant, Chen Qiu. The strategist under Cao Cao, Xun Yu, and Chen Gui are from the same clan; they have known each other since childhood and have a good relationship. Xun Yu wrote a letter to Chen Gui saying, "Back in the days when the Qin Dynasty lost the people's hearts, heroes from all over the world rose up to vie for control, and in the end, those who were both smart and brave took control. Now, the world is in chaos, on the verge of collapse. This is a prime opportunity for heroes to make their mark! Our families have a long-standing relationship; how can we just stand by? If we are to achieve great things, you are my right-hand man!"
At that time, Chen Gui's son, Chen Ying, was in Xiapi. Xun Yu even threatened to kidnap Chen Ying to force Chen Gui to comply. Chen Gui replied, "Back in the late years of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Er Shi acted recklessly, cruelly ruling the world, and the people were suffering greatly, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Qin Dynasty. Although it is a time of chaos now, it has not reached the level of tyranny as in the Qin Dynasty. General Cao Cao is brave and martial, rising according to the will of heaven to restore order and pacify the world; this is something we can foresee. I believe you should join me in wholeheartedly supporting the Han Dynasty, rather than secretly plotting against it and risking your life; isn't that a waste? If you can see the error of your ways, there's still time. As your old friend, I just want to be honest with you; even though it may be harsh, it is for your own good! If you want me to follow Cao Cao for personal gain, there's no way I can do that; I would rather die than comply!"
In the winter of 192 AD, the emperor was defeated in Cao Yang. Lu Bu said to his followers, "Now the Liu family dynasty is weak; the entire country is in chaos. Our Lu family ancestors have been court officials for four generations, and the common people support us. I want to follow the will of heaven and satisfy the people; what do you all reckon?" But no one dared to speak.
The chief scribe responsible for recording documents, Yan Xiang, stepped forward and said, "In the past Zhou Dynasty, from Hou Ji to King Wen, accumulating virtues and achieving accomplishments, holding two-thirds of the land, while still serving the Shang Dynasty. Although your family has been prominent for generations, it is still not as powerful as the Zhou Dynasty; although the Han Dynasty is weak, it is still not as tyrannical as King Zhou of Shang!" Lu Bu was very unhappy after hearing this, his face darkened. He used Zhang Jiong's seal to declare himself emperor, changed the governor of Jiujang to Intendant of Huainan, established three dukes and nine ministers, and even performed rituals to Heaven and Earth. He became more and more extravagant and wasteful, with hundreds of women in the harem dressed in silk and satin, enjoying lavish meals and fine drinks, while the soldiers suffered from freezing temperatures and starvation. The Jianghuai region was thoroughly plundered, and the common people were starving to the point of cannibalism. Lu Bu was initially defeated by Cao Cao and then faced another defeat, fleeing to his subordinates, Lei Bao and Chen Lan, at Mount Lianshan, only to be turned away. He was filled with anxiety and fear, unsure of what to do. He planned to return the throne to Yuan Shao and go to Qingzhou to seek refuge with Yuan Tan, but he fell ill and died on the way. Lu Bu's wife and children sought refuge with Liu Xun, his former subordinate and the Governor of Lujiang. Later, after defeating Liu Xun, Sun Ce took in Lu Bu's family. Lu Bu's daughter entered Sun Quan's palace, his son Lu Yao became a court physician, and Lu Yao's daughter married Sun Quan's son Sun Fen. Liu Biao, styled Jingsheng, was from Gaoping in Shanyang. He was famous at a young age and was regarded as one of the "Eight Geniuses." He was very tall, over eight feet, and quite handsome. He served as an aide in the Grand Marshal's office and later as a commander in the Northern Army. After Emperor Ling of Han's death, he was appointed as the Inspector of Jingzhou. At that time, wars erupted across Shandong, and Liu Biao deployed his troops to Xiangyang.
Yuan Shu was in Nanyang at that time; he allied with Sun Jian to launch an attack on Liu Biao's territory, so he sent Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao. Unfortunately, Sun Jian was struck and killed by a stray arrow, his army was defeated, and Yuan Shu was unable to defeat Liu Biao. Later, Li Jue and Guo Si attacked Chang'an, wanting to recruit Liu Biao as an ally, so they appointed Liu Biao as General Who Guards the South and Governor of Jingzhou, also giving him the title of Marquis of Chengwu and the authority of a ceremonial dagger. The imperial court was based in Xuchang, and although Liu Biao sent tribute, he secretly formed an alliance with Yuan Shao. Jingzhou's official Deng Xi advised Liu Biao, but Liu Biao ignored him, and he never returned to public service until Liu Biao's death.
Zhang Ji marched his troops into Jingzhou and attacked Rangcheng, but he was also killed by a stray arrow. Officials in Jingzhou came to congratulate Liu Biao, but he replied, "Zhang Ji came here out of desperation, yet the host was disrespectful and even engaged in fighting; this was not my intention as Governor! You should extend condolences, not congratulations!" Then, Liu Biao had someone take over Zhang Ji's army; when Zhang Ji's soldiers heard about this, they were happy and all pledged allegiance to Liu Biao.
Changsha Prefect Zhang Xian rebelled, disobeyed Liu Biao's orders, and Liu Biao besieged him for several years without success. Later, Zhang Xian died of illness, and his son Zhang Yi was appointed as the new Prefect of Changsha. Liu Biao then attacked Zhang Yi, recapturing Lingling and Guiyang counties, controlling the northern region of Hanchuan, with control over a territory that spanned thousands of miles and commanding an army of over 100,000 soldiers.
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao confronted each other at Guandu. Yuan Shao sent someone to request assistance from Liu Biao, and although Liu Biao agreed, he failed to send troops to aid Cao Cao. Instead, he wanted to watch from the sidelines as the situation unfolded in the Jianghan region to see how the world would change. Han Song and Liu Xian, who served under him, advised him, "Now that heroes are vying for control of the world, the two major forces of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao are deadlocked. The fate of the world lies in your hands, General. If you want to make a move, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the opportunity. If you do not wish to act, then you should choose whom to follow. With a hundred thousand troops at your disposal, you are merely watching from the sidelines. By not helping Cao Cao, an astute leader, and failing to reach an agreement with Yuan Shao, you will draw the ire of both sides, leaving you in a difficult position. Cao Cao is astute, and all the talents of the world flock to him. He will surely defeat Yuan Shao first and then advance south to confront Jianghan. By then, General, you may find it difficult to resist! Therefore, for your own benefit, it would be better to directly surrender Jingzhou to Cao Cao. He will undoubtedly appreciate your loyalty, and you will enjoy wealth and prosperity, securing a legacy for your descendants. This is the best course of action!" Liu Biao's general, Kuai Yue, also advised him, but Liu Biao hesitated. He sent Han Song to spy on Cao Cao. After Han Song returned and detailed Cao Cao's prestige and virtues, he also advised Liu Biao to send his son as a hostage to Cao Cao. Liu Biao suspected Han Song of speaking for Cao Cao and was enraged, wanting to kill him. He interrogated others who went with Han Song and confirmed Han Song's loyalty before letting him go. Liu Biao appeared refined on the surface but was suspicious in his heart, and this incident is a prime example. Liu Bei sought refuge with Liu Biao, who treated him kindly but did not elevate him. In the thirteenth year of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao attacked Liu Biao, who passed away before Cao Cao could reach Jingzhou.
At first, Liu Biao and his wife were very fond of their younger son Liu Cong and wanted to make him their heir. However, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun spoke on Liu Cong's behalf, so they sent their eldest son Liu Qi to Jiangxia to serve as the governor, and everyone supported Liu Cong as the heir. This led to a bitter rivalry between Liu Qi and Liu Cong.
Later, Kuai Yue, Fu Xun, and others advised Liu Cong to surrender to Cao Cao. Liu Cong replied, "Currently, we are occupying the entire territory of Chu together, guarding the foundation left by our ancestors, and observing the situation of the world. What is wrong with that?" Fu Xun responded, "Compliance and resistance are key considerations, and strength and weakness follow a certain pattern. To go against the ruler as a subject is rebellion; using the newly established state of Chu to oppose the entire country is ill-advised; to use Liu Bei to go against Cao Cao is also inappropriate. These three points are all weaknesses, and trying to resist Cao Cao's army is surely a dead end! General, think about it: how do you compare to Liu Bei?" Liu Cong said, "I am not as good as him." Fu Xun said, "Since you admit that Liu Bei is not a match for Cao Cao, even if you hold onto the territory of Chu, you won't be able to protect yourself; if Liu Bei is a match for Cao Cao, he won't listen to you either. I hope you won't hesitate anymore, General!"
When Cao Cao's army arrived at Xiangyang, Liu Cong surrendered along with the entire prefecture. Liu Bei escaped and fled to Xiakou. Cao Cao appointed Liu Cong as the Inspector of Qingzhou and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis. Kuai Yue and others, fifteen in total, were all granted titles of nobility. Kuai Yue became the Palace Attendant, Fu Xun became the Grand Herald, Zhuge Liang became the Palace Attendant, Cai Mao became the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, and the others were also appointed to significant positions.
Historical evaluations say: Dong Zhuo is cruel and brutal, ruthless and merciless. Since the beginning of recorded history, there probably hasn't been anyone worse than him. Yuan Shu is extravagant and licentious, unrestrained and ultimately met a bad end, all of which he brought upon himself. Yuan Shao and Liu Biao both have a dignified appearance and demeanor, and were once renowned. Liu Biao occupied the south of the Han Empire, Yuan Shao controlled the Hebei region, but both appeared magnanimous but were inwardly envious, prone to scheming yet indecisive, talented yet ineffective, ignored sound advice, favoring the inexperienced over the experienced, giving in to personal biases, ultimately leading to their descendants being scattered and the country being destroyed, which is hardly unfortunate. Xiang Yu ignored Fan Zeng's advice and ultimately lost his kingdom; Yuan Shao killed Tian Feng, far worse than Xiang Yu!
