Wu’s ruler, Sun Ce, died young due to illness and was succeeded by his younger brother, Sun Quan. Sun Quan is a great ruler, loved by his officers and people.
His power is growing steadily. Yuan Shao, in his attempt to win Sun Quan’s favour against Cao Cao, tried to send a messenger in order to ally with Sun Quan.

Because of worrying that Cao Cao might invade Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao sent troops in the He Bei states: Ji Zhau, Qing Zhou, You Zhou and Bian Zhou, which total 700,000 men all march toward the capital, Xu Chang. Cao Cao quickly came out a strategy that less people less rations. Cao Cao thought that an elite can defeat 10 men. Thus, Cao Cao decided to sent only 70,000 men to the battle field. Cao Cao’s 70,000 and Yuan Shao’s 700,000 meet in a showdown south of Yellow River, at Guan Du peak. The decisive battle between major powers is about to begin.

According to Ju Shou, Yuan Shao’s assistant, Cao Cao’s supplies were not as much as them. Therefore, he suggested not to rush the battle, this is to deplete Cao Cao’s supply. They only need to defend their headquarter. Once Cao Cao ran out of food, they’ll be easily defeated. However, Yuan Shao did not listen to Ju Shou’s advised and put him to the jail.

Yuan Shao then ordered 700,000 men surrounds the capital in all directions. In the 90 miles perimeter, they were all tightly guarded with highly spirited troops. Because of Cao Cao afraid that they were running out of supplies, he ordered all his armies to attack Yuan Shao. However, Cao Cao was defeated by Yuan Shao and hiding in the city.

Yuan Shao then, came out with another idea called mole tactic. They would dig a tunnel through the enemy’s base. The next day, Cao Cao realized that the enemy was very quiet. Their spices then noticed that the enemies were digging tunnel into their base. Cao Cao quickly thought of an idea, to dig a deep trench around the city.

Yuan Shao’s strategy to drag out the war was to demoralize Cao Cao’s troops. And Cao Cao’s rations began to deplete. Cao Cao wrote a letter to Xu Chang to request for supplies. However, the messenger was captured by Xu You, Yuan Shao's adviser. Yuan Shao thought the letter was actually Cao Cao’s tricked. At the same time Shen Pei's, also Yuan Shao's adviser asked his spy to circulate a letter that Xu You was good friend with Cao Cao and he was seriously involved in the case of corruption. Thus, this letter has caused Yuan Shao did not trust Xu You anymore.

When Xu You told Yuan Shao a strategy against Cao Cao. Since Cao Cao’s supply was short, he told Yuan Shao to attack Xu Chang and the capital at the same time. But Yuan Shao suspicious him and charged him with corruption and embezzlement. Finally, Xu You left Yuan Shao and joined Cao Cao.

After Xu You joined Cao Cao, Cao Cao was shocked that if Yuan Shao follow advised from Xu You, his troops could have been defeated by Yuan Shao. Xu You then, advised Cao Cao to attack Wu Chao. Because Yuan Shao stored most of his supplies in a depot in Wu Chao. The man who guard the depot was a drunkard called Chunyu Qiong.

Chunyu Qiong must be unaware of a carefully staged raid.

Before Cao Cao’s raid, Ju Shou, Yuan Shao’s assistant, insisted to see Yuan Shao although he was in jail. He told Yuan Shao that there would be a night raid in Wu Chao. However, Yuan Shao did not believe him and put him back to the jail.

That night, Cao Cao sent 5,000 elites broke the first line of guard and proceeds to Wu Chao for the raid.

Meanwhile, when Yuan Shao heard Wu Chao was broke, he ask Zhang He and Gan Lan to attack Guan Du, because he thought that nobody was in Guan Du since Cao Cao personally led the troops to attack Wu Chao. However, Guan Du was actually defended by troops that already prearranged by Cao Cao. Zhang He and Gao Lan were unable to break in.

Shen Pei, Yuan Shao assistant, thus, took this opportunity and told Yuan Shao Zhang He and Gao Lan were not loyal to him, because they were unable to break Guan Du. Yuan Shao at that time was panic and ask his messenger to call Zhang He and Gan Lan back. Zhang He and Gao Lan learnt from the messenger that Yuan Shao was going to punish them if they went back to see him. Thus, this forced them decided to stop the battle and surrender to Cao Cao.

That was Spring 200 A.D. It was midnight of 5^th Jian An Year, 10^th month day 23. The raid was successful. Yuan Shao was an indecisive man and lacks wisdom. While Cao Cao has a great acumen in war and very decisive, even time of crisis.

After defeat of Wu Chao, Yuan Shao had series of defeats and lost almost all of his 700,000 men. Despite his best effort, at the end of the war, he only had about 800 men left. While Cao Cao, whose ambition was to encroach the entire kingdom. This battle was a big progress.