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In the turbulent years of Later Han, northern China witnessed the dramatic rise and fall of the Yuan clan – once masters of four provinces under Yuan Shao, now torn apart by fratricidal strife after his death.
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In the chaotic aftermath of Yuan Shao’s death in 202 CE, his sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang turned from heirs into enemies, igniting a civil war that would seal the fate of northern China.
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After capturing Yecheng, Cao Cao promptly executed the highly meritorious Xu You to win the hearts of the people in Jizhou (Ji Province) and secure the support of the local gentry. Simultaneously, he began seeking out influential local talents to join his ranks, aiming to consolidate his rule over Ji Province.
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From September 202 to April 204 CE, the power struggle between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang – sons of the late warlord Yuan Shao – unfolded as a tragic drama of mistrust, betrayal, and self-destruction.
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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) –…
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The decision of Zhao Yun, one of the most revered generals of the Three Kingdoms era, to initially serve under Gongsun Zan rather than the powerful Yuan Shao has long puzzled readers. Given Yuan Shao’s prestigious lineage, vast resources, and early dominance in northern China, his court seemed the natural destination for ambitious talents.…
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The peaceful transfer of Ji Province (Jizhou) from Han Fu to Yuan Shao in 191 AD is one of the most perplexing episodes in the early Three Kingdoms period. On the surface, it appears as an act of noble selflessness—Han Fu, overwhelmed by external threats, voluntarily yields power to a more capable leader.
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The story of Yuan Shao’s seizure of Ji Province from Han Fu is often portrayed as a brilliant political maneuver—a bloodless coup achieved through psychological pressure and strategic deception.