During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, warlords engaged in constant warfare to seize territory. Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, though half-brothers, turned against each other due to conflicting interests, each forming their own military alliances. Initially, Yuan Shu, Gongsun Zan, and Tao Qian belonged to the same faction. However, driven by self-interest, Yuan Shu…
To eliminate the threat posed by Liu Bei and Lü Bu’s control of Xuzhou, Cao Cao adopted a step-by-step strategy proposed by Xun Yu. First, he used the “Feeding Two Tigers to Fight” stratagem, petitioning the court to appoint Liu Bei as Governor of Xuzhou while secretly ordering him to execute Lü Bu. This…
The “Feeding two tigers to fight”, “Two tigers competing food” or “Two tigers fight for food” was a stratagem devised by Xun Yu for Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty, originating from Chapter 14 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It refers to creating conflict between two rival parties, instigating them to…
After the court-appointed Inspector of Yang Province, Liu Yao, occupied Danyang Commandery, Yuan Shu was deeply unwilling to accept this. He immediately appointed his subordinate Hui Qu as the Inspector of Yang Province, with Wu Jing as the general, and sent them along with Sun Ben to attack Liu Yao. However, they were unable…
Throughout his life, Cao Cao formed deep friendships with many individuals, though due to various reasons, he also fell out with numerous close friends, ultimately becoming mortal enemies. Among those who eventually turned against him, Zhang Miao and Yuan Shao are two poignant examples.
Li Jue was originally a general under Dong Zhuo. After Dong Zhuo was killed by Wang Yun and Lü Bu, he declared independence and, following the strategy of his advisor Jia Xu, attacked the capital city of Chang’an. Today, let’s discuss how Li Jue defeated Lü Bu and successfully captured Chang’an.
After three long years of terror under Dong Zhuo’s tyrannical rule, the Han Dynasty finally breathed free. In 192 AD, Wang Yun, the loyal minister, and Lü Bu, the mighty warrior, succeeded in their daring plot to assassinate the warlord Dong Zhuo.
In the chaotic aftermath of the warlords’ campaign against Dong Zhuo, one man stood out for his valor and military prowess—Sun Jian, known as “Tiger of Jiangdong”, the fearless warrior of the Three Kingdoms Era. As the coalition of eastern lords hesitated, Sun Jian pressed forward, defeating Dong Zhuo’s forces in battle after battle.…
In the turbulent year of 190 AD, as warlords across China ignited the flames of rebellion against Dong Zhuo, a quiet but pivotal moment unfolded far to the south. The Han court, under Dong Zhuo’s control, appointed Liu Biao, a member of the imperial clan and a respected scholar-official, as the new Inspector of…