While Yuan Shu expanded his power in the south, Gongsun Zan, to the north, was spiraling into disaster. After the brutal execution of Liu Yu in 193 AD, Gongsun Zan believed he had finally secured complete control over You Province(Youzhou), free from any rival authority. Yet he fatally underestimated one crucial force: the will of the people.
The fatal mistake
Liu Yu had governed You Province since 188 AD—a span of over five years. Before his arrival, the region was plagued by constant warfare and widespread poverty. Under Liu Yu’s leadership, the province experienced unprecedented stability. He streamlined the bureaucracy, offered amnesty to rebels, and restored order.
Geographically isolated, You Province had long relied on financial support from Qingzhou and Jizhou. To reduce this dependency, Liu Yu promoted agriculture, opened border markets for trade with northern nomadic tribes, and developed salt and iron mining—revitalizing the local economy. As a result, the people enjoyed peace and prosperity.
Moreover, Liu Yu treated the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes with respect and benevolence, earning their deep admiration. In an era of chaos, You Province became a rare haven of stability. Consequently, Liu Yu was revered by both the Han civilians and the surrounding tribes.
Gongsun Zan’s cold-blooded murder of this beloved leader shattered that peace. Though he seized political control, he alienated the very people he sought to rule.
A Province on the Brink
The region under Gongsun Zan’s control—half of You Province (the other half ruled by Gongsun Du in Liaodong)—became a tinderbox ready to ignite. Soon after Liu Yu’s death, natural disasters struck. A severe famine caused grain prices to soar, driving desperate citizens to cannibalism.
Instead of aiding the suffering, Gongsun Zan doubled down on oppression, using his military to loot what little remained. His arrogance and disregard for human life fueled widespread resentment.
At this critical moment, former officers of Liu Yu—Xianyu Fu, Xianyu Yin, and Qi Zhou—saw their chance. They united behind Yan Rou, appointing him as Commander of the Wuhuan Cavalry. Yan Rou rallied tens of thousands of Hu (non-Han) and Han people, forming a powerful resistance force.
Yan Rou led his army against Zou Dan, the Administrator of Yuyang appointed by Gongsun Zan, and defeated him decisively, killing Zou Dan and over 4,000 of his troops. This victory ignited a firestorm of rebellion across You Province.
The Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes, who had long respected Liu Yu, now joined the fight against Gongsun Zan, turning his military position into a nightmare.
The coalition against Gongsun Zan
Meanwhile, Liu He, the son of the murdered Liu Yu, gathered forces to avenge his father and reclaim You Province. Sensing an opportunity, Yuan Shao—Gongsun Zan’s archrival—seized the moment to weaken his enemy. He sent his elite general Qu Yi to join Liu He’s campaign, lending legitimacy and military strength to the cause.
The rebel forces converged swiftly. United under a common banner, their army swelled to over 100,000 soldiers.
Gongsun Zan, refusing to back down, mobilized his remaining troops for a decisive battle at Baoqiu. But his army, demoralized and despised by the populace, stood no chance against the motivated coalition.
In the Battle of Baoqiu, Qu Yi’s forces crushed Gongsun Zan’s army. The defeat was catastrophic. Gongsun Zan fled with the remnants of his forces to Yi County, where he entrenched himself behind massive fortifications.
With Gongsun Zan defeated, local commanderies across You Province rose in revolt, executing his appointed governors and declaring allegiance to the new order. Seizing the moment, Yuan Shao installed his son, Yuan Xi, as Inspector of You Province, effectively claiming the region for the Yuan clan.
The siege of Yi County
After the disaster at Baoqiu, Gongsun Zan never recovered. His ambitions were reduced to mere survival. He ordered the construction of deep moats and towering defensive walls within Yi County, stockpiling food and weapons. His strategy mirrored that of Dong Zhuo’s infamous Meiwu fortress—a last refuge for a paranoid warlord clinging to power.
Yet, even this stronghold could not save him.
Meanwhile, Gongsun Zan’s ally Tian Kai, who had controlled parts of Qingzhou, was defeated by Yuan Tan, Yuan Shao’s eldest son. Tian Kai fled to Yi County, bringing only more desperation.
Yuan Tan pressed eastward, attacking Kong Rong, Chancellor of Beihai. After a fierce campaign, Yuan Tan captured Beihai. Kong Rong escaped alone, but his wife and children were taken prisoner. Yuan Tan advanced all the way to the coast, extending Yuan control across the region.
The final trap: Deception and destruction
Yi County resisted for a time, but Yuan Shao himself soon arrived to lead the siege. Gongsun Zan attempted to send a secret message to his son, begging for reinforcements. But Yuan Shao intercepted the messenger.
Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Shao devised a cunning ruse. He disguised his troops as relief forces sent by Gongsun Zan’s son, luring the desperate warlord out of his fortress.
Gongsun Zan took the bait. As he emerged to meet the “rescue army,” Yuan Shao’s forces ambushed and routed his troops. Defeated once more, Gongsun Zan retreated into the city for the final time.
Yuan Shao then ordered his soldiers to dig tunnels beneath the city walls, reaching the foundations of Gongsun Zan’s tower. Once in place, they collapsed the structure from below.
With the fortress breached and escape impossible, Gongsun Zan chose death over surrender. He first killed his family, then ascended to the top of his burning tower and set it ablaze, perishing in the flames.
The legacy of a fallen warlord
Gongsun Zan’s collapse was not sudden—it was the inevitable result of moral failure, strategic shortsightedness, and the loss of popular support. Unlike Liu Bei, who inspired loyalty through compassion, Gongsun Zan ruled through fear and force.
His murder of Liu Yu, a symbol of virtue and stability, turned the people against him. His refusal to aid the starving, his brutal governance, and his isolationist fortress mentality sealed his fate.
Once a rising star of the north, Gongsun Zan became a cautionary tale—a warlord who had the power to build an empire but lacked the wisdom to hold it.
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