Chapter 7: Yuan Shao Fights Gongsun Zan at The River Pan; Sun Jian Attacks Liu Biao Across The Great River

At the end of the last chapter, Sun Jian was surrounded but managed to escape with the help of Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang, though over half his troops were lost. He retreated to the South Land, and hostilities with Liu Biao became open.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao, stationed in Henei, faced a shortage of supplies and borrowed from Han Fu, Imperial Protector of Jizhou. Yuan’s adviser, Peng Ji, proposed a plan: send a letter to Gongsun Zan, urging him to attack Han Fu while promising support. Once Han Fu sought Yuan’s help, Jizhou would fall into Yuan’s hands effortlessly.

Gongsun Zan agreed, and Yuan warned Han Fu of the threat. In panic, Han Fu consulted advisers Xun Chang and Xin Ping. Xun Chang advised surrendering the region to Yuan Shao, arguing that Yuan could protect them better than resisting Gongsun Zan. Despite objections from Commander Geng Wu, who likened Yuan to a tiger entering a sheepfold, Han Fu handed Jizhou to Yuan.

When Yuan arrived in Jizhou, Geng Wu and Guan Chun attempted an assassination but failed. Yuan’s generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, killed them on the spot. Yuan granted Han Fu an honorary title but stripped him of authority, entrusting administration to his confidants. Humiliated, Han Fu abandoned his position and fled to Zhang Miao.

Learning of Yuan’s takeover, Gongsun Zan sent his brother Gongsun Yue to demand his share. Yuan feigned interest but had Gongsun Yue ambushed and killed, blaming the act on Dong Zhuo’s soldiers. Furious, Gongsun Zan marched against Yuan, and their armies clashed at River Pan.

Meeting on the bridge, Gongsun Zan accused Yuan of betrayal. Yuan retorted that Han Fu had willingly yielded control. A duel followed between Gongsun Zan and Yuan’s general, Wen Chou. Overpowered, Gongsun retreated, but Wen Chou broke through his formation, scattering his forces. Gongsun fled to the hills, pursued relentlessly until his horse stumbled.

As Wen Chou closed in, a young warrior appeared—Zhao Yun of Changshan. Formerly under Yuan Shao, Zhao left after seeing his disloyalty. He intercepted Wen Chou, engaging him in a fierce fifty-bout duel until reinforcements arrived, forcing Wen Chou to retreat.

Gongsun Zan, grateful for Zhao Yun’s help, welcomed him into his service. The next day, Gongsun divided his forces, placing his elite White Horse Cavalry—famed for striking fear into northern tribes—in the center. Prepared for battle, Gongsun aimed to reclaim his honor and territory.

Yuan Shao’s army prepared for battle with Yan Liang and Wen Chou commanding archers and crossbowmen on the flanks, while Qu Yi led the center with bowmen and infantry. Yuan Shao held the reserves in the rear. Gongsun Zan, cautious of Zhao Yun’s loyalty, placed him at the rear. Yan Guang led the vanguard, and Gongsun Zan himself commanded the center, standing by a grand red standard.

From sunrise to noon, Gongsun Zan’s drums rolled, but Yuan Shao’s forces remained still. When Yan Guang advanced, Qu Yi’s troops unleashed a sudden barrage, killing him and scattering his forces. Qu Yi pressed the attack, cutting down Gongsun Zan’s standard bearer and breaking the enemy’s formation. Gongsun Zan retreated, pursued by Qu Yi, until Zhao Yun intercepted. In a swift duel, Zhao Yun defeated Qu Yi and rallied Gongsun Zan’s forces, turning the tide and securing victory.

Yuan Shao, confident in Qu Yi’s earlier success, rode out with Tian Feng to observe. But Zhao Yun, charging through Shao’s guards, scattered them and forced Yuan Shao to retreat. Despite reinforcements, Shao’s troops struggled, and Gongsun Zan regrouped at the bridge. Just as defeat seemed imminent, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei arrived with reinforcements, driving Yuan Shao to flee.

Gongsun Zan praised Liu Bei’s timely arrival. Zhao Yun and Liu Bei formed a deep bond, promising to meet again despite parting ways.

Meanwhile, at the capital, Dong Zhuo’s adviser Li Ru proposed using an imperial decree to broker peace between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. Both leaders agreed, and the armies withdrew, ending the conflict. Gongsun Zan memorialized Liu Bei’s efforts, leading to his promotion to Governor of Pingyuan. Zhao Yun, disillusioned with both leaders, confided in Liu Bei before their tearful farewell.

Elsewhere, Sun Jian planned an attack on Liu Biao after Yuan Shu’s instigation. Ignoring his brother Sun Jing’s warnings, Jian pressed on with his son Sun Ce. Initially successful, Jian captured arrows from Huang Zu’s forces and launched a counterattack, routing the enemy and taking Fankou. However, Huang Zu regrouped, and Jian pursued him to Xiangyang.

During a deceptive retreat, Huang Zu’s ally Lu Gong lured Sun Jian into an ambush in the hills, where falling boulders and arrows mortally wounded Jian. Huang Zu rallied Liu Biao’s forces, launching a counterattack that overwhelmed Sun Jian’s troops. Jian’s death devastated his army, and his son Sun Ce vowed revenge.

With Huang Zu as a prisoner, Sun Ce negotiated peace, trading Zu for his father’s remains. However, Liu Biao’s strategist Kuai Liang intervened, plotting treachery. The outcome of these events remains to be revealed.