Battle of Guandu
200 CE · Guandu (northeast of present-day Zhongmou, Henan) · China · Ancient
Cao Cao launched a surprise raid on the Wuchao granary, and the morale of Yuan Shao's army collapsed in a general rout
Belligerents
Cao Cao
- Commanders
- Cao Cao, Xun You
- Strength
- About 20,000-30,000
Yuan Shao
- Commanders
- Yuan Shao, Yan Liang, Wen Chou
- Strength
- About 100,000
Background
In the standoff at Guandu, Yuan Shao had many troops and ample grain, while Cao Cao had few troops and little grain. Xu You defected to Cao Cao and proposed burning the grain stores at Wuchao.
Course of the battle
- Standoff at GuanduThe two armies faced each other across Guandu for months, and Cao Cao's army ran out of grain and was in peril
- Surprise raid on WuchaoCao Cao personally led lightly armed troops in a night raid on Wuchao, burning Yuan Shao's grain depot
- Yuan army collapsesWith their supplies burned, Yuan Shao's troops fell into confusion and retreated in disarray along the whole front
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 200 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Guandu (northeast of present-day Zhongmou, Henan) |
| Result | Cao Cao launched a surprise raid on the Wuchao granary, and the morale of Yuan Shao's army collapsed in a general rout |
| Winner | Cao Cao |
| Casualties | Yuan Shao's main army was annihilated, and tens of thousands of surrendered troops were buried alive |
| Territorial change | Cao Cao laid the foundation for unifying the north, and the Yuan clan's power went from strength to decline |
Impact
The key battle that laid the foundation for Cao Cao's unification of the north, after which the three-way division of the Three Kingdoms gradually took shape.
See the world in 200 on the map →