The Battle of Jieqiao (191–192 AD) stands as one of the most pivotal early conflicts in the collapse of the Han dynasty and the rise of regional warlords. It marked a turning point in Yuan Shao’s struggle for dominance in northern China, pitting him against the formidable cavalry general Gongsun Zan.
When people think of Gongsun Zan in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, many immediately associate him with Liu Bei, as the two were classmates under the famed scholar Lu Zhi. Though their relationship was that of schoolmates, Gongsun Zan never achieved the same legendary status as Liu Bei—largely because Luo Guanzhong, the author…
In a previous article, we revealed a historical truth often obscured by Romance of the Three Kingdoms: it was Qiao Mao, not Cao Cao, who first forged an imperial edict to rally the feudal lords against Dong Zhuo. When Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, received Qiao Mao’s proclamation, he agreed to support…