In February 195 AD, during a high-level meeting in Chang’an, Li Jue ordered the assassination of his fellow warlord Fan Chou, who had grown increasingly influential and independent. The killing, carried out by Li Jue’s nephew Li Li, shattered the fragile alliance among the warlords controlling the Han court. From this point on, mutual suspicion and paranoia plagued the leadership in Chang’an, weakening their collective hold on power.
In May 195 AD, Yuan Shao, having consolidated his power in the north, launched a decisive campaign against Kong Rong, the Chancellor of Beihai State in Qing Province (Qingzhou). After a prolonged struggle, Yuan Shao’s forces captured Beihai, forcing Kong Rong to flee. This victory allowed Yuan Shao to fully annex Qing Province, significantly expanding his territory and resources, and establishing him as the dominant power in northern China.
In June 195 AD, the uneasy truce between Li Jue and Guo Si finally collapsed. The two warlords, who had jointly controlled Chang’an and Emperor Xian, began open warfare, plunging the capital into chaos once more.
Meanwhile, in the east, Cao Cao and Lü Bu clashed in the Battle of Ju Ye in Yan Province (Yanzhou). After a series of engagements, Lü Bu was decisively defeated by Cao Cao’s forces. This victory marked a turning point in Cao Cao’s campaign to reclaim Yan Province from Lü Bu’s occupation.
In July 195 AD, Zhang Ji, seeking to stabilize the situation, arranged for Emperor Xian to be moved from Chang’an toward the old capital Luoyang. However, the imperial convoy was ambushed and seized by Yang Feng, a fickle warlord, and former subordinate of Li Jue who had turned rebel.
Around the same time, Liu Bei, now the Governor of Xu Province (Xuzhou), made a critical decision: he granted refuge to Lü Bu, who was fleeing from Cao Cao, and allowed him to garrison in Xiaopei. This act of mercy would later backfire, as Lü Bu would eventually betray Liu Bei and seize Xu Province.
In August 195 AD, Yang Feng, now in open rebellion, formally seized control of Emperor Xian, using the emperor as a political pawn. This further destabilized the central government and marked the beginning of the emperor’s long and perilous journey eastward—a journey that would become known as the Emperor’s Eastern Return.
In September 195 AD, Liu Yao, the Inspector of Yang Province (Yangzhou), dispatched Zuo Rong, a Buddhist leader and military commander, to seize control of Yuzhang Commandery (modern-day Nanchang, Jiangxi). This campaign was part of Liu Yao’s effort to expand his influence southward, though it ultimately led to conflict with local leaders and Zuo Rong’s eventual downfall.
December 195 AD was a month of major turning points:
Cao Cao captured Yongqiu, the last stronghold of Zhang Miao’s rebellion. With the fall of Yongqiu, Cao Cao fully reclaimed Yan Province, solidifying his power base in central China.
In the north, the Battle of Baoqiu took place, where Yuan Shao inflicted a crushing defeat on Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan was forced to retreat to Yijing, where he would spend his final years in isolation, marking the decline of his power.
Meanwhile, Sun Ce, having convinced Yuan Shu to let him lead an army, launched a campaign against Liu Yao, the Inspector of Yang Province. Liu Yao was soundly defeated, paving the way for Sun Ce’s conquest of Jiangdong and the foundation of the Sun family’s future state of Wu.
During the winter of 195 AD, as Emperor Xian made his eastward journey and eventually reached Hedong, Ju Shou, a chief strategist of Yuan Shao, urged his lord to welcome the emperor to his territory. Ju Shou famously argued that by “holding the Son of Heaven to command the vassals”, Yuan Shao could gain supreme political legitimacy and unify the realm under his banner.
However, Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong, other key advisors, opposed the idea, fearing the emperor would limit Yuan Shao’s autonomy. Ultimately, Yuan Shao abandoned the plan to hold the emperor as hostage.
This decision proved to be a catastrophic strategic blunder. One year later, Cao Cao would seize the emperor and move him to Xuchang, using the imperial authority to legitimize his campaigns and undermine his rivals—a masterstroke that Yuan Shao had failed to anticipate.
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