Sun Jian, having been surrounded by Liu Biao’s forces, owed his escape to the desperate valor of his three generals—Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang. But the cost was terrible: half his army lay dead on the field. Cutting his way through, he led the remnants back to Jiangdong, the lands east of the Yangtze. From that day forward, a bitter enmity festered between Sun Jian and Liu Biao.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shao’s army was encamped at Henei, and supplies were running low. Han Fu, the Provincial Governor of Ji Province, sent grain to sustain them. Yuan Shao’s strategist, Feng Ji, saw an opportunity. “A man of ambition does not beg for crumbs,” he said. “Ji Province is a land of wealth and plenty. Why not take it for yourself, my lord?” Yuan Shao frowned. “I have no good plan for this.” Feng Ji leaned closer. “Send a secret letter to Gongsun Zan. Urge him to attack Ji Province, promising to join forces. He will march. Han Fu is a fool; he will beg you to take over the province to save it. Then we seize it as easily as turning a hand.” Delighted, Yuan Shao dispatched the message. Gongsun Zan, reading the offer to divide the province between them, agreed with joy and raised his army that very day.
But Yuan Shao also sent a secret messenger to Han Fu, warning him of the coming attack. Panic-stricken, Han Fu summoned his advisors, Xun Chen and Xin Ping. Xun Chen counseled him: “Gongsun Zan comes with the fierce warriors of Yan and Dai—his advance is unstoppable. And he has Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to aid him. We cannot stand against him. But Yuan Shao is wise and brave, with many famed generals under his command. Invite him to share the governance of the province. He will treat you well, and Gongsun Zan will be no threat.” Han Fu agreed and sent his aide, Guan Chun, to summon Yuan Shao. But his senior advisor, Geng Wu, protested: “Yuan Shao is a desperate wanderer, dependent on us for his very breath—like an infant in our hands. Cut off his milk, and he starves. Why would you hand over the province to him? This is like inviting a tiger into a flock of sheep!” Han Fu replied, “I was once a subordinate of the Yuan family, and my talents are no match for Yuan Shao’s. In ancient times, the wise yielded to the more capable. Why do you all speak out of jealousy?” Geng Wu sighed bitterly. “Ji Province is lost!” More than thirty officials resigned in disgust. Only Geng Wu and Guan Chun hid outside the city walls, waiting for Yuan Shao.
A few days later, Yuan Shao arrived with his army. Geng Wu and Guan Chun sprang from their ambush, blades drawn, to assassinate him. But Yuan Shao’s general, Yan Liang, cut down Geng Wu with a single stroke, while Wen Chou slew Guan Chun. Yuan Shao entered Ji Province without further resistance. He appointed Han Fu as General Who Displays Might—a hollow title—and placed his own men, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Xu You, and Feng Ji, in charge of the province’s affairs, stripping Han Fu of all real power. Too late, Han Fu regretted his folly. Abandoning his family, he fled on a single horse to seek refuge with Zhang Miao, the Grand Administrator of Chenliu.
When Gongsun Zan learned that Yuan Shao had seized Ji Province, he sent his brother, Gongsun Yue, to demand their promised share. Yuan Shao replied coldly, “Tell your brother to come himself. I would speak with him directly.” Gongsun Yue departed. He had ridden less than fifty li when a band of soldiers burst from the roadside, shouting, “We are servants of Chancellor Dong Zhuo!” They loosed a volley of arrows, and Gongsun Yue fell dead. His attendants fled back to report the news to Gongsun Zan, who burned with fury. “Yuan Shao lured me into attacking Han Fu so he could steal the province for himself! Now he pretends Dong Zhuo’s men killed my brother! How can I let this insult go unavenged?” He raised his entire army and marched straight for Ji Province.
Learning of Gongsun Zan’s approach, Yuan Shao led his forces out to meet him. The two armies confronted each other across the Pan River: Yuan Shao’s men on the east bank of the bridge, Gongsun Zan’s on the west. Gongsun Zan reined in his horse on the bridge and roared, “You faithless wretch! How dare you betray me!” Yuan Shao rode to the bridge’s edge and pointed back. “Han Fu was incompetent—he willingly yielded Ji Province to me. What business is it of yours?” Gongsun Zan spat back, “I once thought you loyal and righteous, and I supported you as our alliance’s leader! Now I see you for what you are: a wolf’s heart in a dog’s body! How can you show your face in this world?” Enraged, Yuan Shao shouted, “Who will seize this man?” Before the words had died, Wen Chou spurred his horse onto the bridge, spear leveled. Gongsun Zan met him there. They clashed for barely ten exchanges before Zan faltered and fled. Wen Chou pursued without mercy. Gongsun Zan plunged back into his own ranks, but Wen Chou charged straight into the heart of the formation, cutting a path of chaos. Four of Gongsun Zan’s finest generals rushed to stop him; Wen Chou ran one through with his spear, sending him tumbling from his saddle, and the other three scattered. He drove Gongsun Zan out the rear of the army and into the hills. “Dismount and surrender!” Wen Chou bellowed. Gongsun Zan’s bow and arrows were gone; his helmet had fallen from his head. With hair flying loose, he urged his horse up a slope—but the animal stumbled, and he was thrown to the ground. Wen Chou raised his spear for the killing thrust.
Suddenly, from the left side of the grassy slope, a young general burst forth. He was tall—eight feet in height (approximately 1.85 meters in Han measures)—with thick brows, large eyes, a broad face, and a strong jaw. His presence radiated power. He charged straight at Wen Chou, and the two clashed for fifty or sixty rounds without either gaining the upper hand. Just then, Gongsun Zan’s relief force arrived, and Wen Chou wheeled his horse and withdrew. The young general did not pursue. Gongsun Zan scrambled up the slope and asked the youth his name. The young man bowed and replied, “I am Zhao Yun, styled Zilong, from Zhending in Changshan. I was once under Yuan Shao’s command, but I saw that he had no heart for serving the emperor or saving the people. So I left him to offer my service to you, my lord. I did not expect to meet you here.” Gongsun Zan was overjoyed. He brought Zhao Yun back to his camp and began to reorganize his forces.
The next day, Gongsun Zan divided his army into two wings, like the spread pinions of a bird. He had over five thousand cavalry, most of them mounted on white horses. Years earlier, when fighting the Qiang tribes, Zan had learned to use white horses as his vanguard—the Qiang fled at the mere sight of them—and he had bred as many as possible ever since. He was known as the White Horse General. Yuan Shao countered by ordering Yan Liang and Wen Chou to lead the vanguard, each commanding a thousand archers, also divided into left and right wings. Those on the left were to shoot at Gongsun Zan’s right flank, and those on the right at his left. He then placed Qu Yi in command of eight hundred archers and fifteen thousand infantry, drawn up in the center. Yuan Shao himself followed with tens of thousands of cavalry and foot soldiers as the reserve.
Gongsun Zan, still unsure of Zhao Yun’s loyalty, assigned him to command a separate force in the rear. He sent his general Yan Gang forward as the vanguard, while he himself took the center, standing on the bridge with his great commander’s banner—a red flag embroidered with golden circles—planted before him. The drums rolled from the hour of the Dragon (7–9 a.m.) until the hour of the Snake (9–11 a.m.), but Yuan Shao’s army did not advance. Qu Yi had ordered his archers to kneel behind their large shields and wait for the signal cannon before firing. Yan Gang’s men advanced with a great clamor, beating drums and shouting war cries, straight toward Qu Yi’s position. Qu Yi’s soldiers remained hidden, motionless, until the enemy was almost upon them. Then a single cannon shot rang out, and eight hundred archers loosed their arrows as one. Yan Gang tried to retreat, but Qu Yi spurred his horse forward, swinging his blade, and cut him down. Gongsun Zan’s army collapsed. The two flanking forces tried to come to the rescue, but Yan Liang and Wen Chou pinned them down with volleys of arrows. Yuan Shao’s main army surged forward, driving all the way to the boundary bridge. Qu Yi reached the bridge first, cutting down the standard-bearer and toppling Gongsun Zan’s embroidered banner. Seeing his banner fall, Gongsun Zan wheeled his horse and fled back across the bridge. Qu Yi pressed the attack, charging straight into the rear guard—and there he met Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun raised his spear and charged. They exchanged barely a few blows before Zhao Yun ran Qu Yi through and hurled him from his saddle. Then, alone, Zhao Yun rode like a thunderbolt into Yuan Shao’s army, slashing left and right as if he were entering an empty field. Gongsun Zan rallied his men and led them back into the fray. Yuan Shao’s army was routed.
Yuan Shao, meanwhile, had sent scouts ahead. They returned with word that Qu Yi had cut down the enemy general and seized the banner, and was pursuing the fleeing remnants. So Yuan Shao relaxed his guard. Accompanied by Tian Feng and a few hundred guards armed with halberds, along with a few dozen mounted archers, he rode out to observe the battle. He laughed heartily. “Gongsun Zan is a worthless man!” But even as he spoke, Zhao Yun burst into view, charging straight toward him. The archers scrambled to draw their bows, but Zhao Yun cut down several of them before they could loose a single shaft, and the rest scattered. Behind him, Gongsun Zan’s main force closed in like a tightening noose. Tian Feng cried out in panic, “My lord, take shelter in that ruined wall!” Yuan Shao hurled his helmet to the ground and roared, “A true man would rather die fighting in the open than hide in a hole to save his life!” His soldiers, inspired by his defiance, fought with desperate courage. Zhao Yun could not break through, and soon Yuan Shao’s main army arrived, with Yan Liang leading his troops as well. They struck from two sides. Zhao Yun shielded Gongsun Zan and fought his way out of the encirclement, back to the boundary bridge. Yuan Shao drove his men forward, crossing the bridge again. Countless of Gongsun Zan’s soldiers drowned in the river as they fled.
Yuan Shao himself led the pursuit. He had gone less than five li when a great cry erupted from behind a hill, and a new force appeared. At its head rode three famous generals: Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. They had been stationed in Pingyuan when they learned of the war between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao, and had come to aid their old ally. Now, the three of them charged forward on horseback, their three legendary weapons gleaming, straight at Yuan Shao. Terror seized him. The precious sword fell from his hand, clattering to the ground. He wheeled his horse and fled, his men sacrificing themselves to get him back across the bridge. Gongsun Zan recalled his troops to camp. After Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had exchanged greetings, Gongsun Zan said, “If you had not come so far to rescue me, Xuande, I would have been utterly destroyed.” He then introduced Zhao Yun. Liu Bei was deeply impressed by the young general and felt a strong desire to keep him close.
Yuan Shao, stung by his defeat, remained behind his fortifications and refused to give battle. The two armies faced each other for over a month. News of the conflict reached Chang’an, where Li Ru advised Dong Zhuo: “Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan are both heroes of our time. Now they are slaughtering each other at the Pan River. You should issue an imperial decree and send mediators to reconcile them. If they feel your grace, they will surely submit to your authority.” Dong Zhuo agreed. The next day, he dispatched Grand Tutor Ma Midi and Grand Servant Zhao Qi to carry the decree. They traveled to the lands north of the Yellow River. Yuan Shao rode out a hundred li to welcome them, knelt twice, and received the imperial command with reverence. The next day, the envoys visited Gongsun Zan’s camp and delivered the same message. Gongsun Zan then sent a letter to Yuan Shao, and the two agreed to make peace. The envoys returned to the capital to report their success. Gongsun Zan disbanded his army that same day, but not before recommending Liu Bei to be the Chancellor of Pingyuan. As Liu Bei parted from Zhao Yun, they clasped hands, tears streaming down their faces, unable to bear the separation. Zhao Yun sighed. “I once mistook Gongsun Zan for a hero. Now I see he is no better than Yuan Shao.” Liu Bei replied, “Bear with him for now. We will meet again.” They parted in tears.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shu, stationed in Nanyang, heard that his half-brother Yuan Shao had taken Ji Province. He sent an envoy to request a thousand horses. Yuan Shao refused. Furious, Yuan Shu’s resentment deepened. The brothers were now openly estranged. Yuan Shu also sent an envoy to Jing Province to borrow two hundred thousand bushels of grain from Liu Biao. Liu Biao refused as well. Burning with hatred, Yuan Shu secretly sent a letter to Sun Jian, urging him to attack Liu Biao. The letter read, in part: “The ambush that blocked your path was the scheme of my brother Yuan Shao. Now he is plotting with Liu Biao to attack Jiangdong. Strike Liu Biao quickly, and I will take care of Yuan Shao for you. Thus both your grudges will be avenged. You take Jing Province; I will take Ji Province. Do not delay!”
Sun Jian read the letter and declared, “Liu Biao once cut off my retreat. If I do not take this chance to avenge myself, when will I ever?” He summoned his generals Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang to discuss the plan. Cheng Pu warned, “Yuan Shu is full of deceit. We cannot trust him.” Sun Jian replied, “I seek revenge for myself. I do not need Yuan Shu’s help.” He ordered Huang Gai to go to the riverbank and prepare the war fleet, loading the ships with weapons, supplies, and horses. A day was set for the campaign. But spies from the river brought word to Liu Biao, who was greatly alarmed. He summoned his civil and military officers. Kuai Liang counseled, “There is no need for worry. Order Huang Zu to lead the troops of Jiangxia as the vanguard, while you, my lord, bring up the main force from Jing and Xiang. Sun Jian must cross rivers and lakes to reach us—how can he bring his strength to bear?” Liu Biao agreed. He ordered Huang Zu to prepare defenses and then raised the main army himself.
Sun Jian had four sons, all born of Lady Wu: the eldest, Sun Ce, styled Bofu; the second, Sun Quan, styled Zhongmou; the third, Sun Yi, styled Shubi; and the fourth, Sun Kuang, styled Jizuo. Lady Wu’s younger sister, who was Sun Jian’s secondary wife, had also borne him a son, Sun Lang, styled Zao’an, and a daughter, Sun Ren. Sun Jian had also adopted a son from the Yu family, named Sun Shao, styled Gongli. He had a younger brother, Sun Jing, styled Youtai. As Sun Jian prepared to depart, Sun Jing led his nephews to kneel before his horse and pleaded, “Dong Zhuo holds power, the Emperor is weak, and the realm is in chaos, with every man carving out his own territory. Jiangdong has only just found peace. To raise a great army over a small grievance is unwise. I beg you, brother, to reconsider.” Sun Jian waved him off. “Say no more. I will sweep across the realm. How can I leave an insult unavenged?” His eldest son, Sun Ce, stepped forward. “Father, if you must go, let me accompany you.” Sun Jian agreed, and together they boarded the ships, sailing toward Fancheng.
Huang Zu had stationed archers along the riverbank. As soon as the ships drew near, they loosed a storm of arrows. Sun Jian ordered his men to stay hidden and not to return fire. For three days, they sailed back and forth, feigning landings dozens of times. Huang Zu’s men kept shooting until their arrows were exhausted. Then Sun Jian collected the arrows that had struck the ships—over a hundred thousand of them. That day, the wind was favorable. Sun Jian ordered his men to unleash a volley of their own. The defenders on the bank could not withstand the barrage and were forced to retreat. Sun Jian’s soldiers stormed ashore. Cheng Pu and Huang Gai split their forces into two columns and struck Huang Zu’s camp directly, while Han Dang drove his troops forward from behind. Attacked from three sides, Huang Zu was utterly defeated. He abandoned Fancheng and fled to Dengcheng. Sun Jian ordered Huang Gai to guard the ships and personally led the pursuit. Huang Zu rallied his remaining troops and formed a battle line in the open field. Sun Jian drew up his own formation and rode out before his banner. Sun Ce, fully armed, reined in his horse at his father’s side, spear held high. Huang Zu advanced with two generals: Zhang Hu of Jiangxia and Chen Sheng of Xiangyang. Huang Zu raised his whip and shouted, “You rat-thieves of Jiangdong! How dare you invade the territory of a member of the imperial Han clan!” He ordered Zhang Hu to issue a challenge. From Sun Jian’s ranks, Han Dang rode out to meet him. They fought for twenty exchanges. Seeing Zhang Hu weakening, Chen Sheng galloped forward to help. Sun Ce saw this. Lowering his spear, he drew his bow and loosed an arrow that struck Chen Sheng full in the face, toppling him from his horse. Zhang Hu, startled by his comrade’s fall, was caught off guard, and Han Dang’s blade took off half his head. Cheng Pu then spurred his horse straight at Huang Zu, who abandoned his helmet and horse, fleeing for his life among the foot soldiers. Sun Jian drove the routed enemy all the way to the Han River. He ordered Huang Gai to anchor the fleet at the confluence.
Huang Zu gathered the remnants of his army and went to report to Liu Biao, describing Sun Jian’s irresistible force. Liu Biao, alarmed, summoned Kuai Liang for counsel. Kuai Liang said, “We have just suffered a defeat. Our soldiers have lost their will to fight. For now, we must dig deep moats and raise high walls to avoid his advance. Meanwhile, we can secretly send a messenger to beg aid from Yuan Shao. That will break the siege.” Cai Mao interrupted, “Kuai Liang’s advice is a fool’s counsel. The enemy is at the city walls, at the very moat. Are we to sit with our hands tied? I am no great talent, but I beg leave to take the army out and fight a decisive battle.” Liu Biao agreed. Cai Mao led over ten thousand men out of Xiangyang and formed a battle line at Xian Mountain. Sun Jian drove his victorious army forward. Cai Mao rode out. Sun Jian said, “This man is the brother of Liu Biao’s new wife. Who will capture him for me?” Cheng Pu, wielding his iron-spined spear, rode out to meet Cai Mao. After only a few exchanges, Cai Mao fled. Sun Jian pressed the attack, and his army slaughtered the enemy until the field was strewn with corpses. Cai Mao escaped into Xiangyang. Kuai Liang argued that Cai Mao had ignored good advice and caused a great defeat, and that by military law he should be executed. But Liu Biao, having recently married Cai Mao’s sister, refused to pass the sentence.
Sun Jian divided his forces and surrounded Xiangyang on all sides, laying siege. Then, one day, a violent wind arose and snapped the pole of his commander’s banner. Han Dang said, “This is an ill omen, my lord. We should withdraw for now.” Sun Jian scoffed. “I have won every battle. Xiangyang will fall any day now. Am I to retreat because of a broken flagpole?” He ignored the warning and pressed the attack even harder. That night, Kuai Liang said to Liu Biao, “I have observed the heavens. A general’s star is about to fall. By the position of the constellations, it points to Sun Jian. Send a letter to Yuan Shao begging for aid.” Liu Biao wrote the letter and asked who would dare carry it through the enemy lines. A brave officer named Lü Gong volunteered. Kuai Liang said, “If you are willing to go, listen to my plan. Take five hundred men, many of them good archers. Burst out of the city and head straight for Xian Mountain. Sun Jian will surely pursue you. Send a hundred men up the mountain to gather stones, and another hundred to hide in the woods with bows. When the pursuers come, do not flee in a straight line—lead them in a winding path to the ambush point. Then rain down arrows and stones. If you succeed, fire the signal rockets, and we will sally from the city to support you. If there is no pursuit, do not fire the rockets, but hurry on your way. The moon is dim tonight. You can leave at dusk.”
Lü Gong prepared his men. At dusk, he quietly opened the eastern gate and led his troops out. Sun Jian was in his tent when he heard the commotion. He quickly mounted his horse and, with only thirty riders, went out to investigate. His scouts reported, “A band of soldiers has broken out and is heading for Xian Mountain.” Without waiting for his generals, Sun Jian led his thirty riders in pursuit. Lü Gong had already set his ambush in the dense woods and on the mountain slopes. Sun Jian’s horse was fast, and he soon outran his men, closing on the enemy. “Halt!” he shouted. Lü Gong reined in and turned to fight. They exchanged a single blow, then Lü Gong fled, disappearing into a mountain path. Sun Jian followed, but Lü Gong had vanished. As Sun Jian started up the mountain, a gong rang out. Stones rained down from above, and arrows flew from the forest. Sun Jian was struck by both stone and arrow. His brains spilled out, and he and his horse died together on Xian Mountain. He was only thirty-seven years old.
Lü Gong then turned on the thirty riders and cut them all down. He fired the signal rockets. Inside the city, Huang Zu, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao led their forces out from different gates. The Jiangdong army fell into chaos. Huang Gai, hearing the clamor, led his naval troops to the fight and ran straight into Huang Zu. After barely two exchanges, he captured Huang Zu alive. Cheng Pu, protecting Sun Ce, was trying to find a way out when he met Lü Gong. Cheng Pu charged forward, and in a few exchanges, ran Lü Gong through with his spear. The two armies fought fiercely until dawn, when they each withdrew to their camps.
Liu Biao’s forces re-entered the city. Sun Ce returned to the Han River, only to learn that his father had been killed by arrows and stones, and his body had been carried into the city by Liu Biao’s soldiers. Sun Ce wept bitterly, and all his men joined in the mourning. “My father’s body is in their hands,” Sun Ce cried. “How can I return home without it?” Huang Gai said, “We have Huang Zu alive as a prisoner. Send someone into the city to negotiate—exchange Huang Zu for your father’s remains.” Before he had finished speaking, a military clerk named Huan Jie stepped forward. “I am an old acquaintance of Liu Biao. Let me go as the envoy.” Sun Ce agreed. Huan Jie entered the city and presented the proposal to Liu Biao. Liu Biao replied, “I have already placed Sun Jian’s body in a coffin. Release Huang Zu immediately, and both sides will lay down their arms. Let there be no more aggression.” Huan Jie bowed and was about to leave when Kuai Liang stepped forward from the side of the hall. “No! No!” he cried. “I have a plan that will ensure not a single man of Jiangdong returns home alive. First, execute Huan Jie, and then we shall act.”
Truly, this was a moment when the pursuit of an enemy had just claimed Sun Jian’s life, and the envoy seeking peace now faced his own doom. What would become of Huan Jie? The next chapter will reveal.