Cao Cao's Northern Expedition 3（Three Kingdoms 38）

History of Three Kingdoms

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Catalog of Three Kingdoms’ history

Although most of the surrounding counties have already belonged to Cao Cao, only Yecheng邺城 has been unable to be conquered for a long time. As the headquarters of the Yuan family, Yecheng is exceptionally strong and sturdy. Shen Pei审配, who is responsible for guarding the city, has a strong character and is difficult to summon him surrender.

In order to capture the city, the Cao army built earthen mountains, dug tunnels, and erected scaling ladders . All possible methods had been used, but they still couldn't work. One of Shen Pei's subordinate conspired to surrender with the city, and he ordered someone to secretly open a small door in Yecheng, causing over 300 soldiers of Cao's army to rush into the city in an instant. But this behavior was discovered by Shen Pei in time. He ordered the soldiers to push down the large stones prepared in advance from the city wall, and the small door was completely closed. The 300 soldiers who entered the city were all killed.

In May of the year 204 AD, the Cao’s army dug trenches outside the city, attracting water from Zhang漳 River to pour into the city, completely cutting off the connection between Yecheng and outside.

In July of the same year, Yuan Shang袁尚, who was still attacking his big brother Yuan Tan in Pingyuan,finally led more than ten thousand soldiers back to rescue Yecheng.

In order to establish contact with the defenders inside the city, Yuan Shang sent one of his official Li Fu李孚 to try to enter the city. Therefore, Li Fu pretended to be the special envoy of Cao's army, and with only three cavalry, swaggered to the south gate of Yecheng. After arriving, Li Fu shouted loudly. Shen Pei heard Li Fu's voice and ordered the defenders at the top of the wall to put down the rope and hang the three of Li Fu up. Seeing Li Fu, Shen Pei was filled with sorrow and joy, shouting "hooray!".

The soldiers reported it to Cao Cao , who smiled and said, "what a talent! Look, since this person can enter, he must have a way out." Li Fu knew that pretending to be Cao's man would definitely be useless, so he asked Shen Pei to release some of the old and weak soldiers to save food. Shen Pei selected thousands of the old and weak, and asked them to hold white flags, take advantage of the night to go out from the three gates of the city together and surrender to Cao Cao. Li Fu then led the three cavalry, dressed as old and weak, to blend in with the crowd and leave calmly.

Soon, Yuan Shang's army arrived at Yangping Village,which is 20 km away from Yecheng. Shen Pei also led his army out of the city and stationed in the north, preparing to pincer attack Cao Cao both inside and outside with Yuan Shang, and break through the encirclement of the Cao army.

Seeing this situation, Cao Cao ordered the front army to hold their ground and led the rear army to launch a fierce attack on Shen Pei,who had fewer soldiers. Shen Pei could not resist and had to retreat to the city.

Later, Cao Cao gathered his entire army to attack Yuan Shang. After a fierce battle, Yuan Shang was also defeated and retreated to the bank of Zhang River. Cao Cao immediately led his army to attempt to surround Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang knew he was not match for Cao Cao, so he sent his men to ask Cao Cao for surrender, but was rejected by Cao Cao.

Previously, Xu Rong徐荣, Lu Bu吕布, Zhang Xiu张绣, Yuan Shu袁术, Liu Bei刘备, and Yuan Shao袁绍, each opponent had caused great troubles for Cao Cao. He had played high-level competitions for a lifetime, but suddenly faced a level-8 player like Yuan Shang. Cao Cao seemed to be unsatisfied and addicted to playing.

Seeing that Cao Cao did not agree his surrender, Yuan Shang fled overnight and led his remaining soldiers to Lankou蓝口. Cao Cao followed closely behind and surrounded Yuan Shang again. Many Yuan Shao's generals surrendered directly in the battlefield.

At this point, Yuan Shang's army was completely scattered. Yuan Shang fought hard to break through the encirclement and fled to Zhongshan中山. The Cao army captured all of Yuan Shang's supplies and his seal of the General-in-Chief. Cao Cao ordered people to show them to the defenders of Yecheng, and their mentality suddenly collapsed. Shen Pei loudly encouraged the soldiers to hold on and took advantage of Cao Cao's patrol outside the battalion to ambush and shoot with a strong crossbow, almost hitting Cao Cao.

From May to August, Yecheng had been besieged for three months, with no food supply in the city and over half of the population starving to death.

Shen Pei's nephew Shen Rong沈荣 was responsible for guarding the east gate. On the night of August 2, 204 AD, Shen Rong opened the city gate and let Cao Cao's army enter the city, causing the fall of Yecheng.

At that time, Shen Pei was standing on the corner tower and happened to see the scene of Cao's army entering the city. He knew that he was powerless, so he ordered someone to urgently go to the prison in the city and execute all of Xin Ping's辛评 family who were imprisoned there.

After being captured alive, Shen Pei was taken to Cao Cao, kept speaking frankly and cursing incessantly. Cao Cao admired his loyalty,at first, he didn't want to kill Shen Pei, but Xin Ping's younger brother Xin Pi辛毗 was by his side, crying for the death of Xin Ping’s entire family. Cao Cao had no choice but to order the execution of Shen Pei.

Yuan Xi袁熙 is the second son of Yuan Shao,and his wife,Lady Zhen甄, came from a prominent family in Jizhou冀州 and is renowned for her gentleness, virtuous demeanor, and both talent and beauty. After Yuan Xi was appointed as the Provincial Governor of Youzhou幽州, lady Zhen stayed in Yecheng to stay with her mother-in-law, Lady Liu刘.

Cao Cao always had a habit of collecting wives of other men. After entering Yecheng to handle important military affairs, he wanted to summon lady Zhen ,while being reported that his son Cao Pi曹丕 had already been there.

It turned out that on the night of August 2, after Shen Rong let Cao's army enter the city, Cao Pi, who was in a hurry, led his troops straight towards Yuan's mansion. Lady Zhen was very afraid that she hided her head on Lady Liu's lap. Lady Liu is a woman who can do anything to save herself. Even for her own biological son Yuan Tan袁谭,she can pass him to others, letting alone Yuan Xi ,who is not borned by her,and his wife Lady Zhen ,had nothing to do with her even more.

Seeing Cao Pi's evil look, Lady Liu immediately understood his intentions. Faced with such an opportunity that not only could she survive, but could also continue to enjoy glory and wealth, Lady Liu, who had already become a worldly-wise person, how could she miss it? She held lady Zhen's chin with her hand and forcefully lifted her daughter-in-law's head, saying, "Please take your time to appreciate it". To put it bluntly, it should be called inspection. As soon as Cao Pi saw Lady Zhen, she was indeed pretty and unparalleled in beauty. Cao Pi was so greedy that he scratched his ears and cheeks. That night, he slept with Lady Zhen directly.

After learning about it, Cao Cao officially bestowed lady Zhen to Cao Pi as his wife. That year, Cao Pi was 18 years old and lady Zhen was 22 years old.

Later on, Cao Cao did indeed treat Yuan Shao's family well. Not only did retuned the treasures of the Yuan family which plundered by soldiers, but also rewarded them with a lot of property and paid the living expenses on time.Lady Liu was able to maintain her wealth and prosperity for life.

A few days later, Cao Cao personally went to Yuan Shao's grave to offer sacrifices, while deploying the continued pursuit of Yuan Tan,Yuan Shang and other Yuan Shao’s sons and nephews,reminisced about the past towards Yuan Shao's tombstone, tears streaming down his faces, crying with sadness.

From that year on, Cao Cao moved his headquarter to Yecheng, and all his Direct subordinates also moved north. As the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xuchang only retained the residence of Emperor Xian献（reigned 189-220AD） and some officials of Han court.

One year later, in the year 205 AD, Cao Cao returned the seal of the Provincial Governor of Yanzhou兖州 to the Emperor, and was appointed as the Provincial Governor of Jizhou. The headquarter of the Yuan family, Yecheng邺城, had since become the center for issuing political and military orders in northern China for almost 400 years.

To be Continued