Campaign against Yuan Shu

Campaign against Yuan Shu
Part of the wars of the Three Kingdoms
Date 199 Location {{{place}}} Result Liu Bei victorious
Belligerents
Liu Bei	Yuan Shu
Commanders and leaders
Liu Bei	Yuan Shu

The Campaign against Yuan Shu in 199 was initiated by Liu Bei during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period in China. Liu Bei emerged victorious against Yuan Shu's forces.

Campaign

Yuan Shu had taken the imperial seal and declared himself emperor but was defeated by Lü Bu and Cao Cao. After Lü Bu’s demise seemed certain, Yuan Shu sent messengers to incite the Shan Yue, as well as clan leaders like Zu Lang, to attack Sun Ce. Sun Ce quickly defeated Zu Lang, and continued to strengthen his position in the Southeast. Yuan Shu’s position, meanwhile, only grew worse and worse. Yuan Shu’s treasury held no money and his military was not strong enough to defend against a rebellion or invasion. Because of this, Yuan Shu overthrew Gongsun Zan and decided to head north to seek help from Yuan Shao. Knowing this, Liu Bei borrowed solders from Cao Cao and went after Yuan Shu. Zhang Fei slew Ji Ling with a single blow, causing Yuan Shu's army to fall into chaos. Yuan Shu finally opted to incinerate his palace buildings and escape to the Qian hills, where Lei Bo and Chen Jian, two of his former followers, had been hiding. When Lei Bo and Chen Jian refused to support their former lord, Yuan Shu wrote to Yuan Shao, formerly his enemy, and stated that he would give up the imperial seal if Yuan Shao would help him. Yuan Shao dispatched his son, Yuan Tan, to escort Yuan Shu over the Huai River, through Xiapi and north to Qing. Liu Bei, Yuan Shu’s adversary for a long time, intercepted Yuan Shu’s small band of followers before it could make it to Yuan Shao’s territory. While trying to return to Shouchun Yuan Shu died. Liu Bei used this campaign to escape Cao Cao's influence and gained independence in Xu Province.

Sources

• Comprehensive biography of Yuan Shu