Battle of Jieqiao 界橋之戰

Yuan Shao had risen with Han Fu to attack Dong Zhuo, but when Han Fu was defeated by Gongsun Zan at Anping, Gongsun Zan entered Ji Province under the pretext of attacking Dong Zhuo, secretly intending to fall upon Han Fu. Taking advantage of Han Fu's fear, Yuan Shao sent Gao Gan and Xun Chen to persuade him that, since Gongsun Zan was riding his victory southward, he should yield Ji Province to Yuan Shao. The Chief Clerk Geng Wu and others tried to stop him, but Han Fu would not listen and handed over Ji Province. The Annals of Emperor Wu record this as Yuan Shao threatening Han Fu and taking Ji Province in the autumn, in the 7th month of the 2nd year of Chuping (191). Records, Wei 6 §39–43Records, Wei 1 §18

At this time Yuan Shu had stationed Sun Jian at Yangcheng to hold off Dong Zhuo, but Yuan Shao had Zhou Ang seize the position. Gongsun Zan's younger cousin Gongsun Yue, who had gone to Yuan Shu, attacked Zhou Ang together with Sun Jian and was killed by a stray arrow. Enraged, Gongsun Zan said, "My brother's death—the calamity began with Yuan Shao," and sent out troops to camp at the Pan River, intending to take revenge on Yuan Shao. Records, Wei 8 §11–12

Alarmed, Yuan Shao gave the seal and ribbon of Administrator of Bohai that he himself wore to Gongsun Zan's younger cousin Gongsun Fan and sent him to Bohai Commandery, hoping to win his support. But Gongsun Fan used the troops of Bohai to help Gongsun Zan defeat the Yellow Turbans of Qing and Xu Provinces, and Gongsun Zan, his forces now even stronger, advanced to Jieqiao. Gongsun Zan made Yan Gang Inspector of Ji Province, Tian Kai Inspector of Qing Province and Shan Jing Inspector of Yan Province, and set up commanderies and counties. Records, Wei 8 §12–13

Yuan Shao encamped at Guangchuan and had his general Qu Yi lead the van against Gongsun Zan, capturing Yan Gang alive. Gongsun Zan's army was defeated and fled to Bohai, and Gongsun Zan returned to Ji County with Gongsun Fan and built a small fort to the southeast of the main city. Records, Wei 8 §13

The biography of Dong Zhao records that when Yuan Shao met Gongsun Zan at Jieqiao, Li Shao, the Administrator of Julu, and the prominent men of the commandery all wanted to side with Gongsun Zan because his troops were strong. Yuan Shao put Dong Zhao in charge of Julu, and Dong Zhao, forging a proclamation from Yuan Shao, beheaded Sun Kang and several dozen others who had led the plot, and settled the commandery. Records, Wei 14 §45–46

According to the biography of Cheng Yu, at this time Liu Dai, Inspector of Yan Province, was on friendly terms with both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, and Gongsun Zan, after defeating Yuan Shao's army, told Liu Dai to send away Yuan Shao's wife and children and break with him. Cheng Yu urged him to side with Yuan Shao, saying that although Gongsun Zan had now crushed Yuan Shao's army, he would in the end be captured by Yuan Shao, and before Gongsun Zan's Attendant Officer Fan Fang could get back with his cavalry, Gongsun Zan was badly defeated by Yuan Shao. Records, Wei 14 §5–7