Battle of Han River
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Han River was fought between the warlords Liu Bei
and Cao Cao
in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. The battle was the last major engagement in the Hanzhong Campaign
, in which Liu Bei emerged victorious and subsequently declared himself King of Hanzhong
.
earlier in 219 and his general Xiahou Yuan
was killed in action. In retaliation, Cao Cao led a large army to attack Liu Bei's camp at the south of the Han River. Liu Bei sent his generals Zhao Yun
and Huang Zhong
to resist the enemy. Huang Zhong and Zhang Zhu went to destroy the enemy's supplies while Zhao Yun would remain in the camp with Zhang Yi
unless they did not return.
and his troops arrived. When Cao Cao heard of this he sent Xu Huang
from the rear, and Huang Zhong was surrounded. Zhang Zhu and some soldiers tried to escape but were intercepted by Wen Ping. They were both surrounded, and when Huang Zhong did not return to camp by noon, Zhao Yun went to look for him.
Zhao Yun told Zhang Yi to guard the camp carefully, and have archers and crossbowmen on both sides on the base. He then dashed to the foot of the North Mountain to find Huang Zhong and saw the latter surrounded. Zhao Yun rescued Huang Zhong, but they quickly surrounded and pursued by the enemy. Zhao Yun fought his way to the main camp, but when he heard that Zhang Zhu was wounded and fell behind he went back to rescue him.
When Zhang Yi heard that Cao Cao's army was in pursuit of Zhao Yun, and was headed towards the main camp he thought they should close the gates and while they make preparation. However, as soon as Zhao Yun returned to camp he ordered all flags and banners removed, all drums silenced, and the gates to be left open completely. He stationed all his archers and crossbowmen in a covered area outside, and he stood in front of the gates. Fearing an ambush, Cao Cao ordered his men to retreat. As his men began to retreat Zhao Yun ordered his men to beat the drums as loudly as they could, and rain arrows down on the retreating enemy.
Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Zhang Zhu closed down on Cao Cao's army. They rushed toward the Han River, and in confusion many were pushed in to the river and drowned. Meanwhile Meng Da
and Liu Feng
arrived and burned all the enemy supplies at the North Mountain.
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
and Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. The battle was the last major engagement in the Hanzhong Campaign
Hanzhong Campaign
The Hanzhong Campaign was a military campaign launched by the warlord Liu Bei to seize control of the commandery of Hanzhong from his rival Cao Cao. The campaign took place between 217 and 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, in which Liu Bei emerged victorious and subsequently declared himself King of Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
.
Background
Cao Cao was defeated by Liu Bei at the Battle of Mount DingjunBattle of Mount Dingjun
The Battle of Mount Dingjun was fought between the warlords Liu Bei and Cao Cao in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Liu Bei's victory in the battle marked a major milestone in his Hanzhong Campaign.-The battle:...
earlier in 219 and his general Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...
was killed in action. In retaliation, Cao Cao led a large army to attack Liu Bei's camp at the south of the Han River. Liu Bei sent his generals Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...
and Huang Zhong
Huang Zhong
Huang Zhong was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was most noted for his victory in the Battle of Mount Dingjun, in which his force routed that of Xiahou Yuan, who was slain during battle...
to resist the enemy. Huang Zhong and Zhang Zhu went to destroy the enemy's supplies while Zhao Yun would remain in the camp with Zhang Yi
Zhang Yi (Bogong)
Zhang Yi , style name Bogong, was a general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Originally from Wuyang and a descendant of Zhang Liang, he became Liu Bei's commander after Liu Bei had captured Yizhou...
unless they did not return.
The battle
Huang Zhong was supposed to go and burn the supplies of grain Cao Cao had at the North Mountain. Huang Zhong's troops marched in the night, and at sunrise they saw the granary. Just as Huang Zhong's horsemen began starting a fire, Cao Cao's general Zhang HeZhang He
Zhang He was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He continued serving the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period until his death....
and his troops arrived. When Cao Cao heard of this he sent Xu Huang
Xu Huang
Xu Huang was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei, founded by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, during the Three Kingdoms period...
from the rear, and Huang Zhong was surrounded. Zhang Zhu and some soldiers tried to escape but were intercepted by Wen Ping. They were both surrounded, and when Huang Zhong did not return to camp by noon, Zhao Yun went to look for him.
Zhao Yun told Zhang Yi to guard the camp carefully, and have archers and crossbowmen on both sides on the base. He then dashed to the foot of the North Mountain to find Huang Zhong and saw the latter surrounded. Zhao Yun rescued Huang Zhong, but they quickly surrounded and pursued by the enemy. Zhao Yun fought his way to the main camp, but when he heard that Zhang Zhu was wounded and fell behind he went back to rescue him.
When Zhang Yi heard that Cao Cao's army was in pursuit of Zhao Yun, and was headed towards the main camp he thought they should close the gates and while they make preparation. However, as soon as Zhao Yun returned to camp he ordered all flags and banners removed, all drums silenced, and the gates to be left open completely. He stationed all his archers and crossbowmen in a covered area outside, and he stood in front of the gates. Fearing an ambush, Cao Cao ordered his men to retreat. As his men began to retreat Zhao Yun ordered his men to beat the drums as loudly as they could, and rain arrows down on the retreating enemy.
Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Zhang Zhu closed down on Cao Cao's army. They rushed toward the Han River, and in confusion many were pushed in to the river and drowned. Meanwhile Meng Da
Meng Da
Meng Da was a military general who served under Liu Zhang, Liu Bei, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Takeover of Yi Province:...
and Liu Feng
Liu Feng
Liu Feng was an adopted son of the warlord Liu Bei, and served as a general in Liu Bei's army during the late Han Dynasty of China.-Early life:...
arrived and burned all the enemy supplies at the North Mountain.