The chaos in the Central Plains

Three kingdoms 21

In November 197AD,after defeated Yuan Shu袁术,Cao Cao曹操 again marched south to fight with Zhang Xiu张绣,after capturing Wuyin舞阴, he retreated.

The following year followed in March 198 AD,Cao Cao made a third conquest of Zhang Xiu. Before sending troops, his stragetist Xun You荀攸 advised him not to worry, “Zhang Xiu is apparently dependent on Liu Biao, but there are conflicts between them, and they are sure to conflict over time. If we rush to attack Zhang Xiu, and Zhang Xiu acts as Liu Biao's shield, Liu Biao will definitely not sit back and watch., which will be unfavorable to our army. ”

But Cao Cao did not listen,Instead on marching. This time, they surrounded Rangcheng穰城,which was defended by Zhang Xiu,but after two months of continuous sieged, it had not yet been captured. Then Cao Cao heard that Yuan Shao袁绍 wanted to sneak attack Xuchang许昌,and rob the Emperor Xian of Han汉献帝（reign 189-220AD）,He hurriedly retreated from Rangcheng.

Zhang Xiu immediately led his troops in pursuit,Liu Biao also sent the soldiers of Jingzhou荆州,blockbing the way back of Cao Cao,forming a pincer attack with Zhang Xiu. Cao Cao used the method of digging tunnels,defeated the coalition forces by surprise. After the victory, he quickly continued to retreat north,Zhang Xiu again personally led the army in pursuit,his stragetist Jia Xu贾诩 advised him not to chase Cao Cao,but Zhang Xiu didn't listen,sure enough, he was defeated by Cao Cao himself.

After Zhang Xiu retreated, Jia Xu encouraged him to pursue this time,Zhang Xiu followed Jia Xu's advice,Collected the remnants and pursued again,defeated Cao Cao's rearguard forces very soon. Cao Cao then led the remnants back to Xuchang.

Originally Cao Cao thought that Zhang Xiu was a weak guy,unexpectedly, he lost several times,fighting with Zhang Xiu for three times did not get anything,Instead, felt into trouble. So Cao Cao had to follow the advice of Xun You,temporarily gave up the Southern Expedition against Zhang Xiu,and turned his gaze to Lu Bu吕布 in Xuzhou徐州.

Liu Bei 刘备 was recommended as the Provincial Governor of Xuzhou after Tao Qian's陶谦 death,while Lu Bu was later driven out from Yanzhou兖州 by Cao Cao,Liu Bei accepted him. But Liu Bei didn't expect that Lu Bu took advantage of Liu Bei's war with Yuan Shu, he colluded with Yuan Shu to sneak up on Liu Bei's rear.

Lu Bu captured Liu Bei's family and made himself to be the Provincial Governor of Xuzhou. Liu Bei was not only defeated by Yuan Shu in front, but also lost his base in the rear. In desperation, he had to ask Lu Bu for peace. Lu Bu made a favor,returned Liu Bei's family,then let Liu Bei to Station in Xiaopei小沛.

soon Liu Bei recruited his former troops in Xiaopei, soon reassembled more than 10000 soldiers. Lu Bu was afraid that Liu Bei would become stronger,so he led his troops to attack Liu Bei and Liu Bei was defeated. Liu Bei had to go to Xuchang to join Cao Cao,Cao Cao then appointed Liu Bei as the provincial governor of Yuzhou豫州,giving him some food and soldiers,Letting him to return to Xiaopei to recruit the former troops and contain Lu Bu.

198 AD,in the same year as Cao Cao's 3rd campaigns with Zhang Xiu,Lu Bu rebelled against the imperial court again, allying with Yuan Shu. He also sent his mighty general Gao Shun高顺 and Zhang Liao 张辽 to attack Xiaopei,Liu Bei was defeated again. Cao Cao urgently sent Xiahou Dun夏侯惇 to rescue,while he were also defeated by Gao Shun and Zhang Liao.

In September of the same year, Xiaopei fell,Liu Bei again fled to Cao Cao,his family members were captured by Lu Bu again. Being Liu Bei's family member in a chaos world was really dangerous,this guy behaved the same as his ancestors Liu Bang刘邦，the founder of Great Han Empire ,their ability to escape was superb although repeatedly being defeated. He was impossible to be caught,but could not win a battle either,he had only to left his wife and children behind and run away again and again. He fled between warlords and wandered everywhere,it's really sad and pitiful.