In 192 AD, after Li Jue and Guo Si seized Chang’an, murdered Wang Yun, and captured Emperor Xian, they established control over the Sili region and eastern Liang Province(Liangzhou), effectively holding the Han central government hostage for the next four years. Though they nominally ruled in the emperor’s name, real power in the empire had already fractured.
A power vacuum in the east
With the imperial court paralyzed, the Guandong region (east of Hangu Pass) descended into chaos. Regional warlords scrambled to expand their influence, forming shifting alliances. Two major factions emerged:
- One led by Yuan Shao, including Cao Cao, Liu Dai (Governor of Yan Province), and Liu Biao of Jing Province.
- The other led by Yuan Shu, allied with Tao Qian, Gongsun Zan, and others.
- Meanwhile, Jiao He, the Inspector of Qing Province(Qingzhou), maintained neutrality—though his authority would soon vanish.
This was the volatile landscape of 192 AD, a year of shifting tides and unclaimed territories.
The struggle for Jizhou: Yuan Shao vs. Gongsun Zan
Yuan Shao, after seizing control of Ji Province(Jizhou) alone and refusing to share it with Gongsun Zan, triggered a years-long conflict between them.
Following the Battle of Jieqiao, where Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan, the latter retreated to You Province(Youzhou). Though the battle was indecisive in terms of major losses, it marked a turning point in momentum.
Gongsun Zan still held parts of western Qing Province and stationed his officers to threaten Yuan Shao’s flank:
- Liu Bei at Gaotang,
- Shan Jing at Pingyuan Commandery,
- Tao Qian at Fagan County.
These forces formed a loose southern front against Yuan Shao’s alliance. However, Liu Bei and Shan Jing were militarily weak and were easily defeated by Yuan Shao’s forces. Tao Qian, surrounded by the territories of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Liu Dai, dared not advance.
Encouraged by these victories, Yuan Shao sent his general Cui Juye north to attack Gusu County in You Province(Youzhou). The siege failed due to strong defenses, and as Cui retreated, Gongsun Zan counterattacked with 30,000 men, crushing the retreating army.
Gongsun Zan pursued into Ji Province(Jizhou), but at Longcou, he was decisively defeated by Yuan Shao. After this loss, Gongsun Zan withdrew to You Province and ceased major offensives.
Meanwhile, Liu Yu, the Governor of You Province, grew increasingly critical of Gongsun Zan’s warmongering and incompetence, leading to a sharp deterioration in their relationship.
The power vacuum in Qingzhou: A proxy War begins
Around the time of the Longcou battle, Jiao He, the Inspector of Qing Province(Qingzhou), died of illness. With no central authority, both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan moved swiftly to claim the province.
- Ignoring imperial appointments, Yuan Shao installed his officer Zang Hong as the new Inspector of Qing Province.
- In response, Gongsun Zan appointed his general Tian Kai to the same position. Tian Kai brought Liu Bei with him, and together they established their base in Qing Province.
For the next two years, Zang Hong and Tian Kai clashed repeatedly across Qing Province, turning it into a battleground for the larger Yuan-Gongsun conflict.
The Yellow Turban migration: From Qing to Yan Province
During Jiao He’s ineffective rule, the Yellow Turban rebels had run rampant in Qing Province. Now, caught between two warring warlords—neither of whom they could defeat—these rebel forces migrated westward into Yan Province(Yanzhou).
They swept deep into the heart of Yan Province, capturing Ren Cheng Kingdom and killing its leader Zheng Sui. They then advanced northward, threatening Dongping Kingdom.
This invasion created a crisis for Liu Dai, the Inspector of Yan Province. His advisor, Bao Xin of Jibei Kingdom, urged caution:
“The Yellow Turbans are numerous but poorly supplied, relying on plunder. If we fortify our cities and wait, their morale will collapse.”
But Liu Dai, overconfident and impulsive, ignored the advice and launched a direct assault. He was defeated and killed in battle.
The Race for Yan Province: Cao Cao vs. Imperial Appointment
Upon news of Liu Dai’s death, the court in Chang’an—now under Li Jue and Guo Si—saw an opportunity. They appointed Jin Shang as the new Inspector of Yan Province and sent him from Chang’an to claim the territory.
But Cao Cao, then serving as Prefect of Dong Commandery (also known as Dongjun, a region within Yan Province), was already positioned to act.
It was at this critical moment that Chen Gong, a native of Dong Commandery(Dongjun) and a rising strategist, defected to Cao Cao’s side. Recognizing the power vacuum, Chen Gong advised:
“To build a great enterprise, you must first possess a province. Now that Liu Dai is dead and the Yellow Turbans threaten the land, the officials of Yan Province will seek a strong leader. Let me persuade them to welcome you as their new governor.”
With Chen Gong’s diplomacy, and support from key figures like Bao Xin and Wan Qian, the provincial administrators—facing both internal chaos and external rebellion—agreed to invite Cao Cao as the new Governor of Yan Province.
Thus, through political maneuvering and alliance-building, Cao Cao peacefully assumed control of Yan Province in late 192 AD.
Securing power: Cao Cao defeats the Imperial Rival
Cao Cao’s appointment, however, was not officially recognized by the Han court. When Jin Shang arrived at Fengqiu County in Chenliu Commandery, he attempted to claim his post by imperial decree.
Cao Cao, determined to consolidate his power, marched his army to Fengqiu and confronted Jin Shang. Outmatched, Jin Shang was defeated and forced to flee south, eventually seeking refuge with Yuan Shu.
By repelling the court-appointed governor, Cao Cao cemented his de facto rule over Yan Province.
The foundation of Cao Cao’s power & rise of a Warlord
Cao Cao’s acquisition of Yan Province was not the result of a single battle, but a masterful combination of:
- Timing (Liu Dai’s death),
- Political insight (Chen Gong’s advice),
- Strategic alliances (Bao Xin, Wan Qian),
- External threats (the Yellow Turbans),
- And military action (against Jin Shang).
This province became the foundation of Cao Cao’s future empire. From Yan Province, he would later defeat the Yellow Turbans, recruit hundreds of thousands into his Qingzhou Army, and launch campaigns that would eventually bring him to dominate northern China.
As Romance of the Three Kingdoms illustrates, in times of chaos, opportunity favors not just the strong, but the swift and the wise.
Leave a Reply