Battle of Wancheng

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Battle of Wancheng

Part of the wars of the Three Kingdoms

Date	197
Location	Wancheng (present-day Nanyang), Henan
Result	Cao Cao flees

Combatants

Commanders

Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Yellow Turban Rebellion – Campaign against Dong Zhuo – Jieqiao – Wancheng – Xiapi – Yijing – Guandu – Changban – Red Cliffs – Tong Pass – Hefei – Mount Dingjun – Fancheng – Xiaoting – Southern Campaign – Northern Expeditions (Jieting) – Shiting – (Wuzhang Plains)

The Battle of Wancheng (宛城之戰) was a historical battle fought in the later years of the Han Dynasty between the warlords Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu in 197.

Cao Cao led his army to attack Wancheng, while Zhang Xiu, the ruler of Wancheng, was worried and afraid of Cao Cao's mighty army. His strategist Jia Xu suggested that he feigned surrender first and then later draw up a plan to defeat Cao Cao.

As Jia Xu had predicted, Cao Cao accepted Zhang Xiu's surrender and allowed him to remain in control of Wancheng. Later, Cao Cao was attracted to Zhang Xiu's deceased uncle Zhang Ji's widow, and took her as a concubine. Zhang Xiu felt humiliated and longed to get back at Cao Cao. Cao Cao heard about Zhang Xiu's displeasure and plotted to kill Zhang. However, the plan was leaked out and Zhang Xiu launched an attack in the night on Cao Cao's camp. In this battle, Cao Cao's loyal bodyguard Dian Wei was killed while defending the front gate and allowing his master to escape through the back gate. Cao Cao's son Cao Ang offered his steed to his father and bravely stayed behind to hold off the enemy, allowing his father to escape while he was killed in the battle. Cao Cao's beloved nephew Cao Anmin was also killed in the battle.

This battle was one of the most humiliating moments in Cao Cao's life.