The campaign
Battle of Guandu
官渡之战
In 200, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao contested the Central Plains at Guandu. Outnumbered, Cao Cao held his lines until a defector from Yuan Shao’s camp revealed where the army’s grain was stored at Wuchao. Cao Cao led a night raid and burned the depot; Yuan Shao’s army collapsed, and the north fell to Cao Cao within a few years.
See the realm in 200 on the historical atlasThe people
Who fought it
Sources
Historical sources
- Chronicle资治通鉴 · 卷六十五·建安十三年
The Guandu campaign broke Yuan Shao’s bid for dominance in the north and strengthened Cao Cao.
- Historical record三国志 · 魏书一·武帝纪
At Guandu, Cao Cao’s smaller force defeated Yuan Shao’s larger coalition after a prolonged confrontation.
- Historical record三国志 · 魏书十·荀彧荀攸贾诩传
When Cao Cao considered retreating from Guandu for lack of food, Xun Yu urged him to hold on for an opening.
- Later annotation三国志 · 裴松之注·魏书十四·程郭董刘蒋刘传
Fu Zi, quoted in the annotation, attributes to Guo Jia an argument contrasting ten advantages of Cao Cao with ten weaknesses of Yuan Shao.
- Historical record三国志 · 魏书六·董二袁刘传
When Xu You’s family was arrested by Shen Pei and his advice went unheeded, Xu You defected to Cao Cao and revealed the grain depot at Wuchao.