sign in sign up
<<
Home , Liang Province, Liu Bei, Liu Zhang (warlord), Ma Chao, Sun Quan, Zhang Lu (Han dynasty)

CHAPTER SEVEN

MILITARY MATTERS 209–217

Northwest and southeast 209–214 Bei and Quan 209–214 Two surrenders: and 215–217 and

Military chronology1

209 Sun Quan attacks without success; Cao Cao establishes military colonies winter: Sun Quan’s forces capture Jiangling and Nan occupies the south of province 210 dies; Sun Quan cedes the bulk of Jing province to Liu Bei 211 autumn: Cao Cao defeats the warlords of at Huayin invites Liu Bei into Yi province 212 winter: Cao Cao attacks Sun Quan on the Yangzi Liu Bei turns against Liu Zhang 213 summer: Cao Cao returns to , leaving a no-man’s land south of the Huai Chao is driven from Liang province; he joins 214 Xiahou Yuan destroys the warlords of Liang province summer: Sun Quan’s army captures Huan city in Lujiang Liu Zhang surrenders to Liu Bei, who takes over Yi province autumn: Cao Cao attacks Sun Quan without success 215 Sun Quan attacks Liu Bei in Jing province; Liu Bei cedes him territory Cao Cao attacks Zhang Lu and receives his surrender in Han- zhong

1 The major source for Cao Cao’s military activity from 209 to 217 is SGZ 1:32–49. The operations are presented in chronicle order by ZZTJ 66–67:2097–2148; deC, Establish Peace, 404–509. 288 chapter seven

216 Cao Cao settles the Xiongnu in Bing province 217 Cao Cao attacks Sun Quan, who makes a formal surrender

After the partial conquest of Jing province in 208, followed by his defeat at the Red Cliffs, Cao Cao entered a period of several years’ intense and varied activity, leading military campaigns to the south and west while seeking at the same time to enhance his authority with an effective civil administration and a splendid court. Now in his mid- fifties, he displayed great energy in a complex political situation, even as uncertainty about his ultimate ambitions caused some advisers to flatter him and others to turn against him. From one month to the next, Cao Cao had to deal with different aspects of government, while his rivals to the south re-arranged their territories. Though the pattern of events is clear enough, this compli- cated period is better considered by themes than by simple chronol- ogy. I therefore devote the present chapter to the military enterprises of Cao Cao and his rivals; following chapters consider Cao Cao’s deal- ings with the emperor, his internal policies, and such of his personal thoughts and feelings as may be discerned from his own writings and the records of discussion at his court.

Northwest and southeast 209–214

At the beginning of the Chinese year 209, Cao Cao was at his base territory about Xu city and Ye, while two of his armies were on the defensive in the south: under siege in Jiangling on the middle Yangzi, and Hefei city attacked by Sun Quan. Sun Quan had sent a detachment under towards the Huai River, but this was turned back quite quickly, and his main effort was directed at Hefei. As the offensive was maintained through the first months of the year, Cao Cao became concerned and led his army to the southeast; for the time being Cao Ren had to be left to his own resources. By the third month, Cao Cao and the main body of his troops had reached Qiao county in Pei, still a considerable distance from Hefei, but Sun Quan was confused by a false report that relief was close at hand and was persuaded to withdraw.2 With the immediate danger past, Cao Cao moved more slowly, downstream to the Huai and then

2 Chapter Four at 192–193.