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Battle of Xu Province
Xu Province in Dynasty Warriors 8
Date 193~194
Spring 200
Location Xu Province (modern day Xuzhou, Jiangsu)
Result Tao Qian retains his territory (194)
Cao Cao conquers Xu and employs Guan Yu (200)
Forces
Tao Qian's Forces (194)
Liu Bei's Forces (194, 200)
Cao Cao's Forces
Commanders
Tao Qian (194)
Liu Bei (194, 200)
Guan Yu (200)
Cao Cao

The Battle of Xu Province (徐州坡の戦い, rōmaji: Joshūha no Tatakai) or literally "Battle of Xu Province Bank" in the Asian ports was an attack Cao Cao launched against Tao Qian in retaliation to avenge his father's death. Historically while Cao Cao did bring his army, he retreated before any real confrontation could take place to suppress an internal rebellion raised by Zhang Miao. Tao Qian later gave the territory to Liu Bei, who would later lose it to Lu Bu. The games and novel exaggerate this to become a full scale battle.

After Lu Bu's death at Xiapi, Liu Bei led troops to Xu Province in order to lead the expedition against Yuan Shu. While Yuan Shu was defeated, Liu Bei killed Che Zhou, Xu Province's governor and took the province for himself. Fearing an alliance between Liu Bei and Yuan Shao, Cao Cao reclaimed the province and convinced its defending officer, Guan Yu to temporarily serve him.

Role in Games[]

Dynasty Warriors[]

In Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2, the stage is used for both Shu and Wei's stories. Shu's story involves Liu Bei and his brothers guarding the southern supply depot, while Wei's story involves Cao Cao advancing towards Tao Qian's main camp. The battle ends when either Liu Bei or Tao Qian defeats. The treasure trove is guarded by Lu Zhishen.

In Dynasty Warriors 7, players must fight against Cao Cao for control of the province. They must defeat Xu Zhu and Xiahou Yuan to take the central garrison. Lu Bu arrives as reinforcements to take Xu for himself.

In Dynasty Warriors 8, players must pursue Tao Qian's officers and eliminate the dragon boulder trap. They must also defeat Guo Jia's fire attack units before setting the castle or boulder traps on fire.

In Lu Bu's hypothetical route, Lu Bu's forces arrive to assist Liu Bei in the defense of Xu Province. They rescue Liu Bei's stranded officers, clear the castle, and rescue Liu Bei from an ambush. The subsequent counterattack on the Wei main camp results in victory, and Cao Cao retreats.

Warriors Orochi[]

Xu Province makes its appearance in Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate as a collaboration stage featuring Sterkenburg Cranach. The stage also contains a labyrinth-like area with its own separate background music.

The stage makes an appearance in Warriors Orochi 4, as the rebel army led by Sun Quan, Yukimura and Kanetsugu must rescue Aya and Kagekatsu from the Oda army's offensive. After defeating all officers, Xu Huang and Taishi Ci appeared and charge the rebel main camp. They must defeat the rest of Oda army quickly. With the rebel army victorious, Xu Huang and Taishi Ci join their cause.

Later on the Coalition receives word that new heroes have appeared in the area and marches to assist Jiang Wei, Huang Zhong and Wei Yan against the combined Olympian-Toyotomi forces. As the Coalition makes their escape after successfully rescuing the newly-arrived allies, enemy reinforcements emerge to intercept them. Nobunaga, wanting to confirm Hideyoshi's true intentions, moves to confront him alone. Surrounded by Hideyoshi and his strategists Mitsunari and Yoshitsugu, he transforms using the Ouroboros bracelet and fights Mitsunari, who has also harnessed the power of the bracelet, allowing Hideyoshi to withdraw. After fighting their way through opposition forces, which includes Athena, the Coalition finally reaches the escape point.

Kessen[]

In Kessen II, the first battle between Liu Bei and Cao Cao takes place in Xu Province. Players are introduced to a tutorial sequence by Mei Sanniang, which forces them to lose Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. Liu Bei's scenario involves Liu Bei and his army marching from the south to oppose Cao Cao and reclaim Diao Chan. He can reinforce his brothers or destroy the enemy storehouse. Cao Cao's scenario has Policy and War Council, with the option to recruit Guo Jia. Xiahou Yuan offers to decoy Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, while Xun Yu suggests an ambush near the ally storehouse. The story ends with Liu Bei eventually fleeing from Xu due to Cao Cao's overwhelming numbers.

Historical Information[]

Cao Cao, a Chinese general, conquered Yan Province in 192 and established a base there. His father, Cao Song, was murdered by Tao Qian's men, leading Cao Cao to launch a campaign against him. Cao Cao's forces captured ten of Tao Qian's cities and captured Pengcheng, killing 10,000 defenders. Tao Qian fled to Tancheng and sacked numerous cities, killing 100,000 civilians. In 194, Cao Cao's army returned to Xu and plundered some counties. Tao Qian requested aid from General Tian Kai, who appointed Liu Bei as Inspector of Yu Province. Cao Cao defeated Liu Bei near Xiangben, but was forced to retreat due to rebellions. Liu Bei rebelled against Cao Cao in 200 and sided with Yuan Shao.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms[]

After claiming the emperor for himself and establishing Xuchang as the temporary capital, Cao Cao had his father, Cao Song, relocate to the city. Tao Qian volunteered to send Zhang Kai as an escort for Cao Song, but Zhang Kai saw all the riches Cao had, and killed him to take the riches. Cao Cao then launched punitive expedition and began sweeping through the province.

Lacking any real military strength, Tao Qian held a council with his advisors, and they advised to call for nearby warlords for help. Liu Bei of Pingyuan led his troops and successfully held back the invaders, who were forced to withdraw as Lu Bu had invaded Puyang and put the entire control of Yan Province in jeopardy.

After Cao Cao's withdrawal, Tao Qian, now ailing, called upon Liu Bei to be Xuzhou's new governor. Out of kindness, Liu Bei insisted on leaving the province to Tao. At the behest of his brothers, Tao Qian, and his advisors, Liu Bei finally accepted the province after the third time the request was made. Over time, Liu Bei would shelter the defeated Lu Bu, who turned on his host when he left, and took the province for himself.

Lu Bu would eventually be defeated at Xiapi, and control of the province was left to Che Zhou. Liu Bei, however, was given troops to defeat Yuan Shu. Before he accomplished this task, he killed Che and retook the province for himself. While Liu Bei was at Xuzhou, Cao Cao had discovered a conspiracy plot against him led by Emperor Xian himself. After leading a purge that killed most of the suspects that had written their names in a pledge to kill Cao, Liu Bei became fearful for his own life. With Yuan Shao defeating Gongsun Zan at the north and an inevitable conflict between the two looming, Cao Cao's advisors warned him to deal with Liu Bei before he could ally himself with Yuan.

Guo Jia believed that Yuan Shao was indecisive and slow, and would not send reinforcements or attack his rival's territory during this time. True to this, Yuan ignored Shen Pei's suggestions to attack. Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, who were stationed at Xiaopei, were routed and fled to join Yuan Shao. Guan Yu, however, was guarding Xiapi, and Liu Bei's family. Despite being heavily surrounded, Guan Yu held his position firmly. In response, Cao Cao's troops lured him out and captured the city and the isolated Guan Yu was approached by Zhang Liao. Zhang Liao pleaded with his friend to not commit suicide, and Guan agreed to submit, but only on three conditions.

  1. There will be no mistreatment to Liu Bei's concubines
  2. Guan Yu would surrender to Emperor Xian, not Cao Cao
  3. He will be allowed to leave once he knows the whereabouts of his brothers

Cao Cao accepted the first two conditions, the second meaning little to him as he controlled the imperial court by this point. The third, however, instantly dampened his thoughts. Zhang Liao, however, told his lord that Guan Yu was a man of honor, and that this was a potential chance to steal him away and win him over. Thus, Cao Cao accepted the third condition, and Guan Yu formally surrendered. Guan would later serve as an integral part of Cao Cao's eventual victory at Guandu, and would leave the warlord upon learning of his brother's place in Yuan Shao's army.

Gallery[]

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