Battle of Wuchao 烏巢之戰

Cao Cao and Yuan Shao held out against each other at Guandu for several months. Cao Cao beheaded enemy generals in every fight, but his troops were few and his provisions ran out, and his soldiers were exhausted; the Biography of Yuan Shao records that during the long standoff the common people grew weary and many rebelled to side with Yuan Shao. Cao Cao told the transport workers that in fifteen days he would defeat Yuan Shao and trouble them no more. In Jia Xu's biography, Jia Xu said that although Cao Cao surpassed Yuan Shao in four respects, he had failed to reach a decision in half a year because he was concerned with complete safety, and if he seized the decisive moment, he could settle it in no time. Records, Wei 1 §68Records, Wei 6 §53Records, Wei 10 §80–81

In the 10th month of winter Yuan Shao had grain carried by cart and had Chunyu Qiong and four others escort it with more than 10,000 troops, and Chunyu Qiong camped at Wuchao, 40 li from Yuan Shao's camp. In the Biography of Yuan Shao, Ju Shou proposed sending the general Jiang Qi to set up a separate detachment outside to cut off raids by Lord Cao, but Yuan Shao did not follow him. Zhang He's biography records that Chunyu Qiong and the others supervised the grain transport and were stationed at Wuchao. Records, Wei 1 §68Records, Wei 6 §53Records, Wei 17 §42

At this time Yuan Shao's strategist Xu You fled over and urged Cao Cao to attack Chunyu Qiong and the others. The Annals of Emperor Wu say this was because Xu You was greedy for wealth and Yuan Shao could not satisfy his desires, while Xun Yu's biography records that when Shen Pei arrested Xu You's wife and children over his family's lawbreaking, Xu You in anger betrayed Yuan Shao. In Xun You's biography, Xu You said that Chunyu Qiong and the others had come with more than 10,000 troops to meet the grain, and with the general arrogant and the soldiers lax, they could be intercepted and attacked. Those around Cao Cao were doubtful, but Xun You and Jia Xu urged him on. Records, Wei 1 §69Records, Wei 10 §32 · 59–60

Cao Cao left Cao Hong to guard the camp (Xun You's biography says Xun You and Cao Hong), personally led 5,000 infantry and cavalry out at night and reached Wuchao around daybreak. Chunyu Qiong and the others, seeing how few Cao Cao's troops were, drew up outside the gate of their camp, but when Cao Cao attacked swiftly they fell back to defend the camp. As Cao Cao was attacking the camp, cavalry sent by Yuan Shao drew near, and those around him proposed dividing the troops to hold them off. Cao Cao angrily said, "Report to me when the enemy is at our backs," and the soldiers all fought to the death, crushing Chunyu Qiong and the others and beheading them all. Yue Jin's biography records that he fought hard and beheaded Chunyu Qiong. Records, Wei 1 §69–70Records, Wei 10 §60Records, Wei 17 §21

In Zhang He's biography, Zhang He said that Cao Cao's troops were elite and that if Chunyu Qiong and the others were defeated the great cause would be finished, and urged a swift rescue, but Guo Tu said that if they attacked the main camp Cao Cao would surely return, and Zhang He countered that Cao Cao's camp was strong and could not be taken. Yuan Shao sent only light cavalry to rescue Chunyu Qiong and attacked Cao Cao's camp with his main army, but could not take it. The Annals of Emperor Wu record that Yuan Shao told his eldest son Yuan Tan that if they seized Cao Cao's camp while he was attacking Chunyu Qiong, Cao Cao would have nowhere to return to, and had Zhang He and Gao Lan attack Cao Hong. Records, Wei 17 §43Records, Wei 1 §70

On hearing that Chunyu Qiong had been defeated, Zhang He and the others came and surrendered. Zhang He's biography says that Zhang He, fearing slander from the shamed Guo Tu, came over, and Xun You's biography records that Zhang He and Gao Lan burned their siege towers and surrendered, and when Cao Hong was suspicious and would not accept them, Xun You had them accepted, saying they had come in anger because their plans were not used. Yuan Shao's army collapsed, and Yuan Shao and Yuan Tan abandoned their troops, fled and crossed the Yellow River. Xun Yu's biography records that a surprise force attacked Yuan Shao's separate encampment and beheaded Chunyu Qiong and the others, and Yuan Shao withdrew and fled. Records, Wei 1 §70Records, Wei 17 §44Records, Wei 10 §60 · 32