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In previous articles, we discussed why Yuan Shu launched an attack on Xuzhou and how he managed to turn Lü Bu against his ally, Liu Bei. Yuan Shu won this war, but after exhausting his efforts and paying a heavy price, he gained nothing. Liu Bei lost—utterly and completely. The only beneficiary was Lü…
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In 195 AD, after being defeated by Cao Cao, Lü Bu fled from Yan Province to Xu Province and sought help from Liu Bei. Despite the objections of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei, upholding his reputation for benevolence and righteousness, stationed Lü Bu at Xiaopei (present-day Pei County, Jiangsu) and formed an…
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Historically, Cao Cao carried out two large-scale massacres in Xuzhou. The first occurred in 193. According to According to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when his father was killed by a general under the command of Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, Cao Cao led his army to attack Tao Qian, capturing over ten…
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In 194 AD, Cao Cao launched a massive invasion of Xu Province (Xuzhou) to punish Tao Qian for the murder of his father, Cao Song. Overwhelmed by Cao Cao’s forces, Tao Qian was unable to resist. Liu Bei, then a minor warlord, personally led reinforcements to aid Xu Province, demonstrating his growing reputation for…
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January 193: Cao Cao counters Yuan Shu’s advance In January 193 AD, Yuan Shu launched a northern campaign against Chenliu, preparing to attack Cao Cao in the northwestern part of Yan Province(Yanzhou).