Xiahou Yuan: Encyclopedia II - Xiahou Yuan - Life

Xiahou Yuan - Life

Xiahou Yuan was born in the county of Qiao (谯, present day Bozhou, Anhui). He was a benefactor to Cao Cao, his later lord, even during their younger days in the county. The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms records an incident where Cao Cao committed a crime, for which Xiahou Yuan took the blame, though the innocent man was eventually acquitted through efforts by Cao Cao.

In 190, Cao Cao was raising an army to join the coalition against Dong Zhuo, the tyrannical warlord who held the emperor hostage. Xiahou Yuan heeded the call together with his elder cousin Xiahou Dun. For many years, Xiahou Yuan stayed close to Cao Cao's side during his various regional campaigns.

After the Battle of Guandu in 200, Xiahou Yuan was placed in charge of the food supplies to troops in Yanzhou (兖州), Yuzhou (豫州), Xuzhou (徐州). Under his strict supervision, Cao Cao's force was able to recover quickly from the major battle.

In 213, Ma Chao besieged Ji (冀, east of present day Gangu, Gansu) in Liangzhou (凉洲). Xiahou Yuan led a force to its rescue, but the city fell before he could arrive. Ma Chao, aware of his enemy's coming, met Xiahou Yuan 200 li outside Ji. Xiahou Yuan's troops were outmatched and had to retreat east to Chang'an.

A year later, Ma Chao attacked Mount Qi (祁山). Many believed that Cao Cao's order was required before help could be sent, but Xiahou Yuan decided that it would take too long to seek the approval of his lord, who was 2,000 li away in Ye. He then took over the initiative and sent out Zhang He with 5,000 troops as the pioneer force, while he tailed behind with the supplies. By the time Xiahou Yuan arrived at Mount Qi, Zhang He had already defeated Ma Chao.

After the victory, Xiahou Yuan began to prepare for an offensive against Ma Chao's former subject Han Sui. When Han Sui got wind of the plan, he retreated westwards. Xiahou Yuan pursued him all the way to Lueyang (略阳). Understanding that Han Sui's force was largely made up of men from the Qiang tribe in Changli (长离), Xiahou Yuan decided to attack Changli in order to draw Han Sui out from behind fortifications.

Leaving behind most of his supplies, Xiahou Yuan led a light force to ransack Changli. True to his predictions, Han Sui came to the tribe's rescue. Seeing that they were outnumbered, Xiahou Yuan's men wanted to build defense works before engaging the enemy. However, believing that such construction would further exhaust his troops, who were already worn from the travel, Xiahou Yuan ordered an immediate engagement and prevailed.

With Han Sui removed, Xiahou Yuan went on to put down other oppositions in the region. By 215, most of the Qiang tribes had surrendered to Wei. Cao Cao was full of praise for his general. Quoting Confucius, he said to Xiahou Yuan, "I cannot do as well as you." The minority tribes were so filled with awe for Xiahou Yuan that whenever Cao Cao met with the chiefs, he never failed to impress them with the general's name.

In 216, Zhang Lu surrendered Hanzhong to Cao Cao. Xiahou Yuan was then left in defense of this strategic commandery that lied between the territories of Cao Cao and Liu Bei. The year after, Liu Bei led a force upon Hanzhong, and met with Xiahou Yuan at the Yangping Pass.

The confrontation dragged on for more than a year. One night, Liu Bei set fire to the barbed fence Xiahou Yuan erected around his camp at the foot of Mount Dingjun (定军山). Alarmed by the attack, Xiahou Yuan sent Zhang He to defend the eastern corner of the camp, while he guarded the south. Liu Bei's main force pressed against Zhang He, outmatching the latter. Xiahou Yuan had to dispatch a fraction of his own troops to Zhang He's rescue.

Accompanied by thundering drums, a division of Liu Bei's troops led by Huang Zhong then descended upon Xiahou Yuan's dwindling force. The battle became a rout and Xiahou Yuan himself was killed in battle. Hanzhong soon fell to Liu Bei's forces and would not be reclaimed until decades later.

After his death, Xiahou Yuan was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min, literally meaning the sympathetic marquis.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Life", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki