After Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao, he had reversed the unfavorable situation, and at this time he began to have a basis for seeking the north, and then Yuan Shao fell ill and died, and his sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang fought for power, which also became an opportunity for Cao Cao to seize the north.

But just as Cao Cao was victorious, Guo Jia suggested that Cao Cao postpone his move, temporarily abandon the offensive against Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, and retreat to wait and see, waiting for the two Yuan to fight. As Guo Jia expected, the contradiction between Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan broke out, and Yuan Tan turned to Cao Cao in order to confront Yuan Shang, and Cao Cao also took the opportunity to march north again and achieved brilliant results.

[Boss Cao who thinks too much]

After Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao in Guandu, he thought that Yuan Shao could no longer be a threat to himself at present, so he was ready to take the opportunity to eliminate Liu Biao in Jingzhou first, and then defeat Yuan Shao in turn.

Just like when Cao Cao beat Lu Bu to death in Yanzhou, and then suddenly wanted to provoke Liu Bei in Xuzhou.

At this time, Xun Yu stood up again, he was actually a little speechless, but in the face of himself, the lord could only say: "Yuan Shaogang has just suffered a defeat, and the army is discouraged, he should take the opportunity that he has not yet gotten rid of the predicament and sweep it away." And you have to go on an expedition between the Yangtze River and the Han River, if Yuan Shao picks up the remnants and takes advantage of the weakness to raid from behind, your career will be in vain. ”

Something similar Xun Yu had actually said during the Battle of Yanzhou, but Cao Cao's memory didn't seem to be very good, but Cao Cao had one good thing, that is, he could correctly follow the advice of his subordinates, so Cao Cao gave up the idea of crusading against Jingzhou, concentrated on dealing with Yuan Shao, and defeated Yuan Shao's army again in Cangting.

【Crusade to the North】

In the seventh year of Jian'an (202), Yuan Shao died of illness, and Yuan Shang inherited Yuan Shao's throne, but the eldest son Yuan Tan was not convinced, and the contradiction between the two became deeper and deeper. Yuan Tan led his army to garrison Liyang at that time, and Yuan Shang gave Yuan Tan very few troops and sent Feng Ji to follow him. Yuan Tan then asked for more troops, and the trial and others discussed not giving it, Yuan Tan was angry and killed Feng Ji.

The contradiction between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang became deeper and deeper, but Cao Cao also took the opportunity to send troops to attack the north in September of the same year.

At that time, Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River to attack Yuan Tan, and Yuan Tan complained to Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang was also very entangled in the face of this situation, and he had to save it, but if he sent troops to support, he was afraid of being annexed by Yuan Tan, so Yuan Shang simply led the army to support Yuan Tan. In this way, Yuan Tan was indeed rescued, and Yuan Tan could not take the opportunity to expand his strength.

But the side effect is that Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang are both there, and there are two leaders within the Yuan army, and the internal estrangement is quite deep, and it is impossible to form a joint force, and the result is 1+1