In 219 CE, Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao and seized Hangzhog, then he declared himself King of Hanzhong in Chengdu. To honor Guan Yu, who had long guarded Jing Province, Liu Bei enfeoffed him as General of the Front. Eager to prove his worth, Guan Yu launched a bold offensive against Cao Cao’s forces in the north.
Guan Yu’s northern campaign
He left Mi Fang to defend Jiangling and Fu Shiren to hold Gong’an (south of Jiangling), ordering both to supply troops and provisions for his campaign. With his rear secured, Guan Yu marched on Fancheng (Fan City).
The defender, Cao Ren, respected Guan Yu’s prowess and stationed Yu Jin and Pang De with reinforcements north of the city for mutual support. But fate intervened: the summer monsoon brought relentless rain, causing the Han River to burst its banks. Floodwaters submerged Yu Jin’s camp, forcing his men onto high ground.
Seizing the moment, Guan Yu attacked by boat. Trapped and overwhelmed, Yu Jin surrendered, while Pang De refused and was executed. The victory sent shockwaves through Cao Cao’s realm – even Xuchang trembled, and rebellions flared south of the Yellow River.
Sima Yi’s masterstroke
Alarmed, Cao Cao proposed relocating the imperial capital. But Sima Yi objected:
“Yu Jin fell to flood, not defeat. More importantly – Sun Quan and Liu Bei are allies in name only. Sun Quan covets Jing Province. Offer it to him in exchange for attacking Guan Yu from behind. Fancheng will be saved.”
Cao Cao agreed. He dispatched Xu Huang to relieve Fancheng and sent envoys to Sun Quan.
Sun Quan’s resentment and Lü Meng’s rise
Though Sun Quan and Liu Bei had divided Jing Province, tensions simmered. The recent death of Lu Su – who favored alliance with Liu Bei – cleared the way for Lü Meng, his successor at Lukou (modern Jiayu, Hubei).
Once a rough soldier who claimed “no time to read,” Lü Meng had transformed under Sun Quan’s urging into a strategic thinker. Lu Su himself had marveled:
“You’re no longer the man I knew three days ago!”
Unlike Lu Su, Lü Meng saw Guan Yu as a looming threat: arrogant, ambitious, and dismissive of Sun Quan. When Cao Cao’s envoy arrived, Lü Meng urged immediate action:
“Guan Yu scorns you. If we don’t strike now, we’ll regret it later.”
Sun Quan, still seething from Guan Yu’s infamous insult – “My tiger daughter won’t marry your dog son!” – readily agreed.
The deception: Lü Meng feigns illness
Lü Meng proposed a ruse:
“I’ll pretend to fall ill and withdraw. Guan Yu, fearing me, keeps strong garrisons in the rear. Once I’m gone, he’ll move those troops to Fancheng – leaving Jingzhou vulnerable.”
He recommended Lu Xun, Sun Quan’s young nephew-in-law, as his replacement:
“He’s unknown to Guan Yu – perfect for deception.”
Sun Quan approved. Lu Xun, upon assuming command, wrote Guan Yu a humble, flattering letter:
“Your victories awe the world! Yet Cao Cao is cunning – stay vigilant. I, a mere bookish youth, rely on your guidance.”
Flattered and reassured, Guan Yu transferred troops from Jiangling and Gong’an to the front, fatally weakening his rear.
The White-Robed Crossing: A silent invasion
Lü Meng secretly led elite troops to Xunyang (northeast of Wuxue, Hubei). His men hid in ship cabins, while rowers dressed as merchants in white robes – hence the name “White-Robed Crossing”.
Guards, seeing only “trading vessels,” were caught off guard. Lü Meng’s forces seized all outposts without alarm and marched swiftly on Gong’an.
Fu Shiren, resentful of Guan Yu’s harsh rebukes over delayed supplies, surrendered immediately. He then persuaded Mi Fang in Jiangling to open the gates. Within days, all of southern Jing Province fell – without a major battle.
Winning Hearts: Lü Meng’s benevolent occupation
Understanding that loyalty could not be seized by force alone, Lü Meng enacted strict discipline:
- Freed Yu Jin from prison.
- Forbade looting – even executing a fellow townsman who took a civilian’s straw hat to protect his armor.
- Personally visited soldiers’ families, providing food, clothing, and medicine.
When Guan Yu’s envoys came to protest the betrayal, Lü Meng let them tour Jiangling. They returned to find Guan Yu’s troops demoralized – each man more concerned for his family’s safety than for revenge.
The fall of a legend: Guan Yu’s last stand
With his rear lost and army disintegrating, Guan Yu abandoned Fancheng and retreated. He tried to retake Jiangling but failed. Isolated, he fled to Maicheng (southeast of Dangyang, Hubei).
Sun Quan offered surrender. Guan Yu, who had once refused Cao Cao’s generous terms, pretended to consider it – then staged a decoy:
- Scarecrows and banners manned the walls.
- He escaped through the north gate under cover of night.
But Lü Meng and Sun Quan had anticipated this. Ambushes surrounded Maicheng. Guan Yu fought valiantly but was captured and executed shortly after.
The tripartite balance shifts
Sun Quan absorbed all former Liu Bei territories in Jing Province. The Sun–Liu alliance shattered, setting the stage for decades of conflict between Wu and Shu.
As recorded in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), Lü Meng’s campaign was a masterpiece of psychological warfare, strategic deception, and humane governance – proving that the sharpest weapon is not the sword, but the mind.
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