Following Yuan Shao’s death, his once-formidable domain did not fall to external conquest alone – but collapsed from within. As depicted in Chapter 32 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the bitter rivalry between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang over succession turned allies into enemies and opened the gates of Jizhou (Ji Province) – the heartland of northern power – to Cao Cao.
While the novel dramatizes this episode with vivid intrigue and heroic defiance, historical records in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) and Zizhi Tongjian confirm the core truth: internal division among the Yuan brothers was Cao Cao’s greatest strategic advantage. This account synthesizes literary narrative and historical fact to reveal how fratricidal ambition paved the way for Cao Cao’s consolidation of northern China.
Yuan Shao’s death and the seeds of division
After his defeat at the Battle of Cangting (201 CE), Yuan Shao – already weakened by illness and despair – succumbed to his ailments.
According to both the Romance and historical sources like the Sanguozhi, Yuan Shao favored his youngest son, Yuan Shang, over his eldest, Yuan Tan, despite the latter’s seniority and military experience.
Though Yuan Shao never issued a formal decree about the succession before his death, his preference was clear – and deeply destabilizing. Yuan Tan, the rightful heir by tradition, felt cheated. Tensions simmered beneath a fragile alliance as the brothers nominally united against Cao Cao but secretly maneuvered for dominance.
As the Sanguozhi notes:
“Tan was elder and capable; Shang was younger and handsome.”
Yuan Shao’s emotional bias, not political prudence, dictated his choice – sowing the seeds of civil war.
Cao Cao exploits the rift: The Siege of Ye City
Recognizing the fracture in the Yuan camp, Cao Cao launched a new campaign into Ji Province in 204 CE. Yuan Shang led the defense but was decisively defeated in open battle and forced to retreat behind the walls of Yecheng (Ye City), the provincial capital.
Here, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms introduces a dramatic stratagem:
Xu You, the former Yuan advisor who had defected at the Battle of Guandu, advised Cao Cao to divert the Zhang River and flood Ye City.
Cao Cao followed the plan, causing chaos within the besieged city – starvation, panic, and internal betrayal ensued.
While historical texts like the Sanguozhi do mention the flooding of Ye City during the siege, they attribute the idea to Cao Cao’s own generals rather than Xu You specifically. Nevertheless, the tactic’s effectiveness is undisputed: it broke the city’s resistance.
Brothers turned enemies: Yuan Tan’s fatal alliance
Amid the siege, Yuan Tan saw an opportunity. Rather than aid his brother, he secretly allied with Cao Cao, hoping to use the warlord’s might to eliminate Yuan Shang and claim Ji Province for himself.
This treachery did not go unnoticed. Yuan Shang, enraged, marched out to confront his brother – abandoning the very defenses needed to hold Yecheng. The result was catastrophic: with Yuan forces divided, Cao Cao stormed Ye City.
Inside, Shen Pei, the loyalist commander who had backed Yuan Shang, chose martyrdom over surrender. As recorded in both history and fiction, he was captured and executed – but died defiant, cursing Cao Cao to the end. His steadfastness became a symbol of doomed loyalty in a crumbling regime.
Cao Cao’s political mastery after conquest
Upon entering Ye, Cao Cao displayed remarkable statesmanship:
- He strictly enforced military discipline, forbidding looting.
- He comforted the populace, restored order, and honored local elites.
- He even paid respects at Yuan Shao’s tomb, publicly mourning his old rival – a gesture that won over many former Yuan officials.
This blend of firm control and conciliatory policy transformed conquest into consolidation. See also how Cao Cao turned treason into loyalty after the Battle of Guandu to know more about Cao Cao’s political mastery. Where the Yuan brothers failed through selfishness and infighting, Cao Cao succeeded through strategic patience and political intelligence.
The irony of inheritance
The tragedy of the Yuan clan lies in its self-destruction. Had Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang united, they might have prolonged resistance in the north. Instead, their mutual suspicion and ambition handed Cao Cao the richest province in China without a protracted war. As the Romance of the Three Kingdoms poignantly illustrates – and history confirms – their power struggle did not preserve their father’s legacy; it buried it. In the end, Cao Cao’s rise was not just a triumph of arms, but of unity over division.
Leave a Reply