Wubei Zhi (Vol. 11)

A Study of Strategy: The Three Kingdoms, Part II

"Transporting supplies by boat has been a great difficulty for a long time. The former administrative seat of Beiping Commandery a frontier region in the northeast was located in Pinggang, where a road once ran from Lulong to Liucheng. However, since the Jianwu era 25–57 CE, the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, this path has fallen into ruin and been cut off, though faint trails still exist. If the army turns back from Lulong Pass, crosses the hazardous heights of Baitan literally "White Sandalwood", and emerges into undefended territory, the distance is short and the terrain favorable. By catching the enemy unprepared, Tadun the supreme leader of the Wuhuan tribes can be captured without a fight."

Cao Cao ordered Tian Chou a local leader who had refused to serve the Yuan family but joined Cao Cao to restore order to the north to lead his followers as guides. They ascended Xuwu Mountain, carving through hills and filling in valleys for over five hundred lioriginal: li; a traditional unit of distance, roughly 500 meters or one-third of a mile. They passed through Baitan, traversed Pinggang, and crossed the lands of the Xianbei a nomadic people who would later become a major power in North China, heading east toward Liucheng.

The enemy only discovered the approach when the army was less than two hundred li away. Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi, and Tadun led several tens of thousands of cavalry to meet the army in battle. In the eighth month, Cao Cao climbed White Wolf Mountain and suddenly encountered the enemy. He unleashed his troops to attack; the enemy host suffered a massive collapse. They beheaded Tadun, and more than two hundred thousand soldiers surrendered. Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi fled to Liaodong the region further east, beyond the Great Wall. They still had several thousand cavalry with them, and some urged Cao Cao to pursue and attack them. Cao Cao said: