Han Ji

Yan Xiang said, "Go north and seek refuge with Yuan Shao. He is Your Majesty's brother and will take Your Majesty in. Yuan Shao now controls four provinces and has a strong army. Out of brotherly affection, he will not abandon Your Majesty."

Yuan Shu said, "Yuan Shao? Would he even take me in? After I became emperor, he was so angry that he didn't speak to me for years. He's now the most powerful warlord in the land; would he even give me a second glance?"

Yan Xiang said, "Your Majesty, no matter what, Yuan Shao is still Your Majesty's brother. Blood is thicker than water. He will not watch Your Majesty die."

Yuan Shu remained silent for a long time. He recalled events from many years ago. Back then, he and Yuan Shao were still in Luoyang, working together under He Jin. Yuan Shao was the Commandant of the Capital Region, and he was the General of the Tiger Guard. The two brothers worked together, trying to eradicate the eunuchs. Later, He Jin died, Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Yuan Shao fled, and he fled too. The two brothers went their separate ways.

"Alright. Head north. To join Yuan Shao."

Yuan Shu was helped onto the carriage and laid down. Yan Xiang rode beside him on a thin horse. The group set off from Shouchun, heading north. There were fewer than a thousand men, all emaciated and pale from hunger, barely able to walk. Their weapons were also lost; swords were dulled, spears were broken, and they were of little use.

When Yuan Shu's army reached the territory of Xuzhou, they were intercepted by Cao Cao's army.

Xuzhou was Cao Cao's territory. Cao Cao stationed troops in Xuzhou, with Xiahou Dun as the garrison commander. Xiahou Dun had long received Cao Cao's orders to strictly guard against Yuan Shu's northward advance. He set up checkpoints in Pei County, Xiao County, and Pengcheng, checking all passing travelers.

As soon as Yuan Shu's convoy reached the territory of Pei County, it was spotted by scouts. Xiahou Dun led three thousand cavalrymen and intercepted Yuan Shu outside Pei County.

Yuan Shu was imprisoned in a small hut outside Pei County. The hut had earthen walls, a thatched roof, a wooden door, and torn paper windows, letting in a cold draft. Yuan Shu lay on the bed, covered with a tattered quilt. Yan Xiang squatted beside the bed, feeding him water.

"Your Majesty, please have some water."

Yuan Shu took a sip of water; it was cold and bitter. He swallowed it and coughed twice. His whole body trembled as he coughed, like a withered leaf in the wind.

"Yan Xiang, I am going to die."

Yan Xiang's tears fell. "Your Majesty, please don't say such things. You will get better."

Yuan Shu said, "I know. I won't live much longer. I'm not resigned to this. I've been emperor for three years, and I have nothing. No imperial seal, no empire, no people. The imperial seal is in Liu Bei's hands. I don't even have a real imperial seal."

Yan Xiang said, "Your Majesty, the imperial seal is not important. What is important is the hearts of the people."

Yuan Shu said, "The hearts of the people? My men have all deserted. The hearts of the people are gone too."

He closed his eyes and stopped speaking. His breathing grew weaker and weaker.

A few days later, Yuan Shu died. He died in a small house outside Pei County. Yan Xiang was the only person by his side when he died.

Yuan Shu's remnants were absorbed into Cao Cao's army. There were over eight hundred men, but fewer than three hundred were able-bodied. Xiahou Dun incorporated the able-bodied into his own ranks, while the old and weak were given travel expenses to return home and farm.

When the news reached Chang'an, Liu Bei was speaking with Xun Yu in the General's Mansion. Li Shun rushed in and knelt on the ground. "My lord, Yuan Shu is dead. He died in Pei County. Cao Cao has taken over his remaining forces."

Liu Bei remained silent for a while.

"Yuan Shu is dead. Who's next?"

In June of the seventh year of Xingping, in Jiangdong, Wu County.

Sun Ce stood at the bow of the boat, gazing westward. He was clad in iron armor, a sword at his waist, and a spear in his hand. The sunlight shone brightly on the river, so dazzling that he squinted.

A river breeze blew by, causing his cloak to flutter and rustle behind him. Zhou Yu stood beside him, dressed in a white robe, holding a rolled-up map in his hand. The map was new, marked with the mountains, rivers, and cities of Jiangxia, Yuzhang, Luling, and other places.

"Bo Fu, Huang Zu is in Jiangxia with 20,000 troops. His navy is at Xiakou. We will set off from Jiangdong, advance westward along the Yangtze River, first defeat his navy, and then besiege his city."

Sun Ce said, "If we defeat the navy, we can besiege the city?"

Zhou Yu said, "Once Huang Zu's navy is defeated, Jiangxia will become an isolated city. Liu Biao is in Xiangyang and will not stand idly by; he will surely send troops to rescue it. But you, my lord, can defeat the reinforcements first, and then take Jiangxia."

Sun Ce said, "Alright. Send troops."

Sun Ce led 10,000 naval troops and 5,000 cavalrymen from Wu Commandery, heading west along the Yangtze River. The navy was on the river, and the cavalry on the shore, advancing by both land and water. The fleet stretched for over ten miles, its sails and masts like a forest, flags fluttering in the wind. The dust raised by the cavalry on the shore blotted out the sun. After ten days, they reached the territory of Jiangxia.

Huang Zu set up a naval fortress at Xiakou. The fortress was built on a shallow riverbank, with a foundation of wooden piles, covered with planks, and surrounded by a fence. Hundreds of warships of varying sizes were moored inside. Huang Zu stood on the watchtower of the fortress, watching Sun Ce's fleet on the river, his hands trembling.

"How many men?" he asked his subordinate.

The general said, "At least ten thousand. They have more ships than us, and their sails are higher."

Huang Zu said, "Hold the line. Send someone to Xiangyang to request reinforcements from Liu Biao. Quickly!"

The subordinate turned and ran away.

Sun Ce did not rush to attack. He ordered his fleet to form a line on the river, blocking the waterway. Huang Zu's navy was trapped in the water fortress and could not get out. Sun Ce then ordered his men to set up camps on the shore, with cavalry patrolling around them to prevent Huang Zu's infantry from breaking out from the bank.

Zhou Yu stood beside Sun Ce, looking at Huang Zu's naval camp. "Bo Fu," he said, "Huang Zu's naval camp is built on a shallow beach. At low tide, the water is too shallow for large ships to enter. Let's wait until low tide, then use small boats to rush in and set his ships on fire."

Sun Ce said, "Wait for the tide to recede. Send down the order to prepare for a fire attack."

By evening, the river had receded. The water in front of Huang Zu's water fortress had become very shallow; the large boats ran aground, but the small boats could still move. Sun Ce's charioteers pushed the small boats into the water, and the boats were piled high with dry grass, grease, and sulfur. Each boat had two people: one to pole the boat and the other to light a fire.

With a wave of his flag, Zhou Yu sent a hundred fire ships charging forward simultaneously. The fire ships sailed downstream and crashed into Huang Zu's water fortress. Torches ignited the dry grass on the ships, and the fire spread rapidly.

Huang Zu's ships were burned, flames soaring into the sky and thick smoke billowing. Soldiers jumped into the river; some drowned, others were shot dead. The guards in the water fortress were blinded by the smoke; some fell from the watchtowers, others knelt on the ground and surrendered.

Huang Zu stood atop the watchtower, his face deathly pale as he gazed at the sea of ​​fire below. His personal guards cried out, "General, retreat! The water fortress cannot be held!"

Huang Zu gritted his teeth. "Retreat! Retreat to Jiangxia City!"

He led his remaining troops out of the back gate of the water fortress and fled along the riverbank towards Jiangxia City. Sun Ce's cavalry pursued them and slaughtered them, killing or wounding most of Huang Zu's men.

The naval stronghold fell. Huang Zu's navy was almost completely annihilated. Sun Ce captured more than thirty warships and took more than two thousand prisoners. He stood in Huang Zu's naval stronghold, watching the flames on the river.

"Gongjin, Jiangxia City is just ahead. Besiege it."

Sun Ce led his navy and cavalry westward to the city of Jiangxia. Jiangxia was located on the north bank of the Yangtze River. Its walls, though not high, were sturdy and made of stone. A moat spanned the city gate, with a drawbridge. Flags bearing the character "Huang" (yellow) flew atop the walls. Guards stood on the walls, bows and crossbows in hand.

Huang Zu stood on the city wall, looking at Sun Ce's army outside the city. The navy had blocked the river, and the cavalry had blocked the roads on the shore. He was trapped inside the city and could not get out.