The Battle of Yan Ford took place along the southern banks of the
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He (Chinese: , Standard Beijing Mandarin, Mandarin: ''Huáng hé'' ) is the second-longest river in China, after the Yangtze River, and the List of rivers by length, sixth-longest river system in the world at th ...
in the late
Eastern Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
. The battle was closely preceded by the
Battle of Boma
The Battle of Boma or Battle of Baima was the first of a series of battles that led to the decisive Battle of Guandu between the warlords Yuan Shao and Cao Cao in northern China in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Although Cao Cao won t ...
, and was part of a series of engagements leading to the decisive confrontation between the rival warlords
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao (, ; died 28 June 202), courtesy name Benchu (), was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil wars that occurred to ...
and
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
at the
Battle of Guandu
The Battle of Guandu was fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in 200 AD in the late Eastern Han dynasty. Cao Cao's decisive victory against Yuan Shao's numerically superior forces marked the turning point in their war. The victory ...
in 200. Following the death of one of Yuan Shao's elite generals,
Yan Liang
Yan Liang () (died 200) was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was slain by Guan Yu at the Battle of Boma.
Life
Little is known about Yan Liang's life. The only historic ...
, in the previous battle, the death of another famed general
Wen Chou
Wen Chou () (died 200) was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. His force was defeated by that of rival warlord Cao Cao in the Battle of Yan Ford and he was killed in the midst of ...
in this battle greatly demoralised Yuan's army, which was heading towards Guandu.
Background
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were heading toward a direct confrontation since the late 190s, and the first months of 200 saw the opening of hostilities at the Battle of Boma after years of manoeuvring. With a feint, Cao Cao was able to split off Yuan Shao's main force gathered at Liyang (黎陽; northwest of present-day
Xun County
Xun County or Xunxian () is a county in the north of Henan province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Hebi and located on the transition of the East China Plain and the Taihang Mountains.
Xun County has a his ...
, Henan) across the river from Boma (白馬; near present-day
Hua County
Hua County or Huaxian () is a county under the administration of Anyang City, in the north of Henan province, China.
Its predecessor administrative area Huazhou/Hua prefecture was first established in 596 during the Sui dynasty. In 606 it was ...
, Henan) and hence relieve the siege at Boma, killing Yuan Shao's attacking general Yan Liang. Considering that the position at Boma was unsuitable for a determined defence, Cao Cao voluntarily abandoned the outpost and evacuated its population and supplies to the west along the river. With that, Yuan Shao finally crossed the Yellow River in pursuit of Cao Cao's baggage train. However, Cao Cao was not satisfied with just abandoning all lands between Guandu and the river to the enemy — he had also wanted to make his enemy pay dearly by resisting the enemy advance during the predetermined fallback to Guandu.
The battle
As a result of Cao Cao's feint during the Battle of Boma, Yuan Shao had brought the advance-guard of his army up the Yellow River toward the western Yan Ford (延津; north of present-day
Yanjin, Henan). It was probably at this ford that Yuan Shao's army made the crossing, which was unhindered by Cao Cao.
[de Crespigny, Jian'an 4: note 15] By this time, Yuan Shao was almost due north of Cao Cao's defensive positions at Guandu and his base in the capital of
Xu City.
Cao Cao's men also reached Yan Ford and made camp below a ridge known as the Southern Slope (), 20 ''
li'' west and 50 ''li'' south of Boma. As Cao Cao's position was on the southern side of a dyke some distance away from the river (meant to control seasonal floodwaters),
his men were concealed from Yuan Shao's view while Cao Cao had to send lookouts to scout for enemy movements. The lookout first reported five to six hundred enemy cavalry on their way, then reported that there were slightly more cavalry than before and the size of the infantry force was beyond measurement. At this point Cao Cao stopped the lookout from reporting, and had his horsemen undo the saddles and release the horses.
The baggage train from Boma appeared on the road north of the dyke at this time, in plain view of Yuan Shao's men.
[de Crespigny, Jian'an 4: note 16] Some of Cao Cao's officers became uneasy at the prospect of so many enemy horsemen, and suggested to return and defend the camp. Cao Cao's strategist
Xun You
Xun You (157–214), courtesy name Gongda, was a statesman who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China and served as an adviser to the warlord Cao Cao. Born in the influential Xun family of Yingchuan Commandery (around present-d ...
objected, saying: "This is the way we bait the enemy! How can we leave?"
[Leban, p. 358] Cao Cao glanced at him and smiled.
Wen Chou
Wen Chou () (died 200) was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. His force was defeated by that of rival warlord Cao Cao in the Battle of Yan Ford and he was killed in the midst of ...
and
Liu Bei
Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler. Although he was a distant relative of the H ...
, commanders of Yuan Shao's cavalry, leading five to six thousand cavalry, came one after the other. Cao Cao's men asked to mount their horses, but Cao Cao denied them until Yuan Shao's horsemen, ever increasing in number, split off to raid the baggage train. Cao Cao then gave the permission to mount the horses, and all of Cao Cao's horsemen, less than 600 in number, jumped onto their horses and charged at the enemy. Yuan Shao's army was defeated and Wen Chou was killed in action.
Aftermath
Yan Liang and Wen Chou were the most highly regarded generals in Yuan Shao's army, and both were killed in two successive battles. Yuan Shao's men became greatly shaken.
With the victory at Yan Ford, Cao Cao was able to retreat back to his base in Guandu (官渡; northeast of present-day
Zhongmu County
Zhongmu County (; postal: Chungmow) is a county of Henan Province, South Central China, it is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan. It has an area of and a population of 680,000. Located in the ...
, Henan) with the men and supplies without incident.
Yuan Shao followed close behind and made camp at Yangwu (陽武; near present-day
Yuanyang County, Henan), immediately north of Guandu. He had ignored
Ju Shou
Ju Shou (died 200) was an adviser serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
Life
Ju Shou was from Guangping County (), Julu Commandery (), which is in present-day Quzhou County, Hebei. He was allegedly a ...
's advice to leave a garrison at Yan Ford as a cautious step, and had all his forded forces concentrated at Yangwu, and now a decisive battle became imminent.
In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''
The Battle of Yan Ford was the opening event in chapter 26 of the 14th-century historical novel ''
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' () is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 184 AD and ...
''.
The battle described in the novel closely followed the one in history until Cao Cao made the call to charge at Wen Chou's forces. At that time
Zhang Liao
Zhang Liao () (169–222), courtesy name Wenyuan, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He served briefly in the state of Cao Wei, founded by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, in the ...
and
Xu Huang
Xu Huang () (died 227), courtesy name Gongming, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He later served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period under the first ...
, two of Cao Cao's best generals, gave chase. Wen Chou fired two arrows from atop his horse, one of which sliced off the feather on Zhang Liao's helmet and the other hit Zhang Liao's horse in the face. Brandishing his poleaxe, Xu Huang came for Wen Chou but had to retreat when a band of enemy soldiers came to their commander's rescue.
Leading a dozen riders,
Guan Yu
Guan Yu (; ), courtesy name Yunchang, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Along with Zhang Fei, he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on ...
then cut off Wen Chou's escape and engaged in a duel with the enemy. Within three bouts, Wen Chou attempted to flee. However, Guan Yu's horse, the
Red Hare
The Red Hare or Chi Tu () was a famous horse owned by the warlord Lü Bu, who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
In historical records
The Red Hare was mentioned in Lü Bu's biographies in the historical texts ''Records of the T ...
, was of a superior breed and soon caught up. Guan Yu then slew Wen Chou from behind.
Notes
References
*de Crespigny, Rafe
"To Establish Peace: being the Chronicle of the Later Han dynasty for the years 189 to 220 AD as recorded in Chapters 59 to 69 of the Zizhi tongjian of Sima Guang". Volume 1.Faculty of Asian Studies, The
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
, Canberra. 1996. .
*Leban, Carl. ''Ts'ao Ts'ao and the Rise of Wei: The Early Years''.
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
. 1971.
*Luo Guanzhong, ''
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' () is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 184 AD and ...
''.
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