Battle of Bowang

Battle of Bowang
Part of the wars at the end of the Han dynasty
A scene from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms illustrated in a mural of the Long Corridor in the Summer Palace, Beijing: Zhang Fei scoffs at the newcomer Zhuge Liang and reluctantly takes his orders
Date 202 CE Location Bowang (near present-day Fancheng District, Hubei) Result Liu Bei victory
Belligerents
Liu Bei	Cao Cao
Commanders and leaders
Liu Bei	Xiahou Dun

Battle of Bowang
Traditional Chinese	博望之戰
Simplified Chinese	博望之战
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Bówàng Zhī Zhàn
Battle of Bowang Slope
Traditional Chinese	博望坡之戰
Simplified Chinese	博望坡之战
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Bówàngpō Zhī Zhàn

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Bówàng Zhī Zhàn

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Bówàngpō Zhī Zhàn

The Battle of Bowang, also known as the Battle of Bowang Slope, was a battle fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Liu Bei in 202 in the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Liu Bei originally sought refuge under the northern warlord Yuan Shao after being defeated by Cao Cao in 200 at Xu Province. However, he left Yuan Shao after the latter was defeated by Cao Cao at the Battle of Guandu in late 200, and went to Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) to seek shelter under the governor Liu Biao. Liu Biao initially welcomed Liu Bei and put him in charge of Xinye, but he gradually grew suspicious of Liu Bei as the latter became increasingly influential in Jing Province. As a result, Liu Biao sent Liu Bei to Bowang near Jing Province's northern border to defend against an invasion by Cao Cao.

At the same time, Cao Cao's forces were at war in northern China with Yuan Shao's remnants, led by Yuan's sons Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang. To counter Liu Bei's maneuvers, Cao Cao sent his generals Xiahou Dun, Li Dian and Yu Jin to lead an army south to attack Liu Bei.

During the battle, Liu Bei suddenly set fire to his camp and retreated south. Xiahou Dun gave chase but Li Dian cautioned him, "I suspect that there's an ambush because the bandits (referring to Liu Bei's forces) are retreating for no reason. The paths to the south are narrow and the bushes are thick there. Do not pursue." Xiahou Dun ignored Li Dian's warning and left Li behind to guard the camp while he led the rest of his troops to pursue Liu Bei's retreating army. As predicted by Li Dian, Liu Bei did indeed set an ambush, and Xiahou Dun fell into the trap and was defeated. Li Dian's regiment came to Xiahou Dun's rescue and Liu Bei retreated after seeing Li Dian's reinforcements.

In the battle, Liu Bei's general Zhao Yun captured Xiahou Lan, an enemy commander who was from the same hometown as Zhao. Zhao Yun requested that Liu Bei spare Xiahou Lan's life and recommended Xiahou to be a military judge.

...
Wikipedia