Battle of Wancheng 曹操與張繡的戰爭

Zhang Xiu was a clan nephew of the General of Agile Cavalry Zhang Ji (張濟). Zhang Ji, stationed at Hongnong, attacked Rang to the south when his soldiers were starving and was killed by a stray arrow, and Zhang Xiu took command of his followers, stationed himself at Wan and allied with Liu Biao. Liu Biao, saying that Zhang Ji had come out of desperation and it was because the host had failed in courtesy that swords had been crossed, accepted only condolences and took in Zhang Ji's followers. Jia Xu secretly made common cause with Zhang Xiu and went to him, and Zhang Xiu treated Jia Xu with the courtesy of a son or grandson. Records, Wei 8 §56–57Records, Wei 6 §84Records, Wei 10 §74–75

In the 1st month of the 2nd year of Jian'an (197), when Cao Cao advanced south and halted his army on the Yu River, Zhang Xiu and the others surrendered with all their followers. The biography of Dian Wei records that when Cao Cao invited Zhang Xiu and his commanders to a banquet, Dian Wei stood behind him holding a great axe and glaring, so that none of them dared raise their heads. When Cao Cao took Zhang Ji's widow, Zhang Xiu bore a grudge, and when Cao Cao, hearing of this, secretly planned to kill Zhang Xiu and the plan leaked out, Zhang Xiu made a surprise attack on Cao Cao some ten days later. Cao Cao was hit by a stray arrow, his eldest son Cao Ang and his nephew Cao Anmin were killed, and Dian Wei died after holding the camp gate and receiving dozens of wounds. Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 18 §64–66Records, Wei 1 §43

Cao Cao withdrew to Wuyin. Amid the confusion in the army, Yu Jin led the several hundred men under him back without letting them scatter, attacked the Qingzhou troops who were plundering, and set up camp against the enemy before explaining himself. Cao Cao defeated Zhang Xiu's cavalry when it came raiding, and Zhang Xiu fled to Rang and joined Liu Biao. Cao Cao said that he had come to this pass through the mistake of not taking hostages at once after receiving the surrender of Zhang Xiu and the others, and that from now on he would not be defeated again. Records, Wei 17 §29–31Records, Wei 1 §43

When Cao Cao went back from Wuyin, the counties of Nanyang and Zhangling rebelled again and went over to Zhang Xiu; Cao Hong attacked them without success, halted at She County, and was repeatedly raided by Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao. In the 11th month, in winter, Cao Cao campaigned south in person and reached Wan, captured alive Liu Biao's commander Deng Ji, who held Huyang, and took Wuyin. The biography of Cao Ren records that when Cao Cao attacked Zhang Xiu, Cao Ren separately overran the neighboring counties and took more than 3,000 men and women captive. Records, Wei 1 §45Records, Wei 9 §31

In the Battle of Rang in the 3rd year of Jian'an (198), Cao Cao surrounded Zhang Xiu at Rang in the 3rd month, but in the 5th month Liu Biao came to Zhang Xiu's rescue and cut off the army's rear; at Anzhong Cao Cao dug tunnels, hid surprise troops and heavily defeated the troops of Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao, and in the 7th month he returned to Xu. The biography of Zhang Xiu records that Zhang Xiu went back and held Rang, and that Cao Cao attacked him year after year without success. According to the biography of Jia Xu, when Cao Cao, after attacking Zhang Xiu repeatedly, suddenly withdrew one morning, Zhang Xiu ignored Jia Xu's advice, pursued him and was defeated, then pursued again with his scattered troops as Jia Xu advised and won. Records, Wei 1 §46–47Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 10 §75–77

When Cao Cao was facing Yuan Shao at Guandu, Yuan Shao sent a man to summon Zhang Xiu and also sent a letter to Jia Xu. Jia Xu, at Zhang Xiu's seat, refused Yuan Shao's envoy, asking whether one who could not tolerate his own brother could tolerate the worthy men of the realm, and urged following Cao Cao, saying that Lord Cao supported the Son of Heaven, that because his strength was weak he would welcome them, and that one with the ambition of a hegemon or king would set aside private grudges. In the 11th month, in winter, of the 4th year of Jian'an (199), Zhang Xiu led his followers to surrender and was enfeoffed as a full marquis; Cao Cao took his hand and feasted with him, took Zhang Xiu's daughter as a wife for his son Cao Jun, and appointed Zhang Xiu General Who Displays Martial Might. Zhang Xiu fought hard at Guandu and earned merit. Records, Wei 10 §78–80Records, Wei 1 §55Records, Wei 8 §58