Han Ji

The rewards for meritorious service were distributed on the second day. Guan Yu was enfeoffed as Marquis of Hanshou and awarded 300 catties of gold. Zhang Fei was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinting and awarded 200 catties of gold. Zhao Yun was enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting and awarded 200 catties of gold. Qian Zhao was enfeoffed as Marquis of Guannei and awarded 100 catties of gold. Jia Xu's fief was increased by 300 households. Jian Yong was awarded 100 catties of gold. The pensions for fallen soldiers were doubled, and the orphans of the fallen soldiers were supported by the government until they reached the age of sixteen.

The surrendered generals were also given different arrangements. Zhang He was appointed as a Lieutenant General, and his troops retained their original organization and were incorporated into Liu Bei's central army. Gao Lan was appointed as a Deputy General.

After being captured, Chunyu Qiong was kept in a separate tent. When Jian Yong went to count the surrendered soldiers, he casually asked Chunyu Qiong a few questions about the details of the deployment of Yuan Shao's former troops. Chunyu Qiong sat on the straw mat without answering. Liu Bei did not kill him.

The captured supplies were cataloged and stored. Armor was repaired and distributed to battalions lacking armor, bows and crossbows were assigned to newly formed crossbowman teams, and provisions replenished the grain shortage at Guandu. Any surplus was transported back to Luoyang and stored there.

In his memorial, Liu Bei deliberately listed a long string of names, from generals who died in battle to auxiliary soldiers who died of illness—all those whose names could be found were included. He said that these people died for the Han Dynasty, and the court should remember them.

After Emperor Xian saw the memorial, he had the Imperial Secretary read it aloud in its entirety during the court assembly. It took almost half an hour to finish reading the names.

Emperor Xian's edict arrived at Guandu at the end of October.

The imperial edict was read by the Minister of Ceremonies, who stood before the central command tent of the Guandu camp. The entire army was arrayed, stretching from the camp gate to the earthen wall. The wind made the flags flutter loudly.

"The Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty decrees: General Liu Bei, Marquis of Wuxiang, is unparalleled in loyalty and bravery, and his achievements surpass all others under heaven. In the Battle of Guandu, he defeated the treacherous minister Yuan Shao with a smaller force, thus restoring order to the state. His merit is so great that it covers the entire world. Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there has been no such achievement. Even Huo Guang's pacification of the Han Dynasty and Dou Rong's surrender to the Han are no more remarkable. Now, Liu Bei is promoted to Chancellor, in charge of all affairs of state. He is granted special honors, including the privilege of wearing a sword and shoes in the palace, not having to hasten his steps when entering the court, and not being called by name during audiences. His fief is increased by 5,000 households, bringing the total to 10,000 households. He is bestowed with the Nine Bestowments: carriages and horses, clothing, musical instruments, vermilion doors, a platform for receiving guests, tiger-like guards, bows and arrows, axes and halberds, and black millet wine. He shall assist the government as Chancellor, oversee all military affairs inside and outside the capital, and bring order to the world."

Liu Bei knelt to receive the imperial edict. He raised both hands above his head to catch the rolled-up yellow silk. He stood up and faced the entire army. Holding the edict in his hands, he loudly read the entire text to the army. After reading it, he turned around.

"The victory at Guandu was achieved by the soldiers on the front lines. Every life was sacrificed to make this possible."

Emperor Xian issued another edict: posthumously granting honors to the fallen soldiers. Zhao Guang was posthumously awarded the rank of General of the Household, and his pension was doubled. All the orphans of the fallen soldiers were to be supported by the government until they reached the age of sixteen, after which they would be granted ten mu of land.

Zhao Yun accepted the posthumous edict from Zhao Guang, knelt on one knee, pressed the edict to his chest, and remained silent. After standing up, he walked to Qian Zhao.

The two exchanged a glance. Qian Zhao nodded. Zhao Yun handed him the imperial edict, which Qian Zhao took and put into a hidden pocket inside his armor.

Earlier in September, Cao Cao responded to Yuan Shao's call to attack Yu Province.

Cao Cao led 30,000 men, choosing the moment when Yuan Shao and Liu Bei were locked in a fierce standoff at Guandu to launch his attack. He watched as the two tigers fought, and he waited to reap the benefits. His letter to Yuan Shao was grand and righteous: "In response to Lord Yuan's call, let us join forces to attack Liu Bei."

Cao Cao's army first attacked Runan. The governor of Runan was appointed by Liu Bei, and the garrison consisted of only three thousand men. The city walls were not high, and the moat was narrow. Cao Cao besieged the city for three days, and when the arrows ran out, the defending general opened the gates and surrendered.

Next, they attacked Yingchuan. Yingchuan was Xun Yu's hometown, and the governor of Yingchuan was someone Xun Yu had recommended. The defending army dug trenches outside Yangdi City, which was located on the outskirts of Yingchuan. After five days of fighting, Cao Cao's vanguard broke through the trenches, but the rest of the army was suppressed by the defending army's crossbowmen.

Just as the fighting in Yingchuan was at its fiercest, Zhang Xiu launched an attack from Wancheng. Zhang Xiu led 8,000 men, splitting into two groups. One group of 4,000 went to Runan, and the other group of 4,000 went to Yingchuan.

On their way to Runan, halfway there, they encountered Cao Cao's contingent on the official road north of Runan. A skirmish ensued, and Cao Cao's army retreated into Runan city, while Zhang Xiu's forces blocked the city walls. Cao Cao's army dared not leave the city, and Zhang Xiu did not attack. The two sides remained locked in a stalemate.

After joining forces with the garrison at Yingchuan, the vanguard of Cao Cao's army outnumbered the garrison's own. The vanguard retreated twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) and withdrew to Changshe.

Zhang Xiu did not pursue, but instead pushed his defensive line outwards for several miles. He left Cao Cao a message: I will only defend, not attack. If you retreat, I will not pursue. If you do not retreat, I will stand here until you do.

Cao Cao received the battle report in Xuchang and had been sitting at his desk for a long time, his fingers tapping repeatedly on the table. Cheng Yu stood beside him, holding two urgent reports from Runan and Yingchuan.

"My lord, it's been a month. We've captured Runan but can't hold it, and we can't capture Yingchuan. Zhang Xiu's reinforcements have arrived. If we continue fighting, we'll only deplete our supplies."

Cao Cao asked, "What did Yuan Shao say?"

Cheng Yu said, "Yuan Shao has not replied. At Guandu, Yuan Shao and Liu Bei are still in a stalemate. But scouts report that Liu Bei's supply lines are still transporting grain, and he has not collapsed yet."

Cao Cao placed the urgent report on the table. "Order that all troops in Runan and Yingchuan be withdrawn."

In October, news arrived that the grain supplies at Wuchao had been burned, Yuan Shao's entire army had collapsed, and he had only managed to escape north with eight hundred cavalry.

Cao Cao was eating. A personal guard ran in to report, and Cao Cao's chopsticks stopped in mid-air, with a piece of meat still in his mouth. He slowly put down his chopsticks, finished chewing the meat, and swallowed.

He stood up and walked to the map, looking at the location of Guandu. After a while, he called Cheng Yu and Guo Jia over.

"Yuan Shao has been defeated," Cao Cao said. "Liu Bei has won."

Cheng Yu said, "My lord, Yuan Shao was defeated too quickly. We didn't even have time to reap the benefits."

Cao Cao said, "No. The advantage is still there. Guandu is over. Yuan Shao's army has collapsed like a house of cards. Now Ye City is empty, and Qingzhou is also empty. He can't hold the four provinces of Hebei by himself. Yuan Shao's main force died at Guandu, and now the garrison in Qingzhou is definitely insufficient. Attack Qingzhou."

Cao Cao mobilized his troops, abandoning his attack on Yu Province, and instead headed northeast into Qing Province.

When Xun Yu heard this news in Chang'an, he said to Liu Bei, "Cao Cao didn't contribute anything at Guandu, but now he's going to divide up the spoils."

Liu Bei said, "Let him divide it. Hebei is so big, I can't take it all by myself. He's currently targeting Yuan Shao's weakest link. Let him take it. First, let's stabilize Guandu."

He wrote very politely in his letter to Cao Cao, using the tone of a lord addressing a colleague. The messenger took the letter to Xuchang, and after reading it, Cao Cao smiled and said to Guo Jia, "Liu Bei's letter isn't congratulating me; it's a reminder not to eat too much."

Mid-October. Ye City.

When Yuan Shao's remnants retreated into Ye City, the guards at the city gate almost didn't recognize them. Eight hundred cavalrymen, their horses so thin you could see their ribs, their faces covered in mud, their lips cracked and bleeding.

Yuan Shao rode on his horse, the brocade robe still unstitched from the tear he had made when boarding the boat across the Yellow River, the exposed lining stained with river mud. A few strands of his hair were disheveled, and his beard was covered in ash.

Shen Pei stood at the city gate to greet him. Seeing Yuan Shao's appearance, he said nothing, but simply ordered his personal guards to bring a jar of wine and several basins of hot water. Yuan Shao dismounted, his legs buckling and he nearly knelt; Yuan Tan supported him from the side.

Upon entering the main hall of the governor's mansion, Yuan Shao sat down in the main seat. Of the seal he had brought back from Guandu, only half remained; the other half had been lost on the road during their retreat.

Shen Pei said, "My lord, reports have come from all the provinces. Qingzhou has been occupied by Cao Cao, who has taken Pingyuan. Bingzhou is still in our hands, but all the counties are short of troops. The remnants that we can gather are on their way back. So far, less than 30,000 have returned."