Liang Province Rebellion

The Liang Province Rebellion

Please note: this article is very comprehensive and still a 'stub', expect expansion soon

The Battle
In 185, the Minister of Works, Zhang Wen, replaced Huangfu Song as acting commander against the Liang rebels, and he, the Bearer of the Gilded Mace, Yuan Pang, General who Routes the Caitiffs, Dong Zhou, and General who Terrifies Criminals, were all sent under Zhang Wen to fight the Liang rebels. Zhang Wen had requested that Sun Jian act as adviser to his army as well. Zhang had more than 100,000 total men under him, and set camp at Meiyang. Han Sui and Bian Zhang brought their troops to Meiyang, and won more battles against Zhang Wen than they lost. However, in January, Dong Zhou combined his forces with Bao Hong of Youfufeng and they attacked the rebels. Han Sui and Bian Zhang were completely defeated and retreated to Yuzhong.

Zhang Wen sent Zhou Shen with 30,000 to pursue them, and Sun Jian requested that Zhuo give him 10,000 so that he could cut out the supply lines. He said that Han Sui and Bian Zhang had no grain, and that they would surrender if their supplies were cut, but Zhou Shen refused. He besieged the city, but Han Sui and Bian Zhang sent men out to Kuiyuan gorge, and they were able to cut off Zhou Shen’s supplies instead. Zhou Shen dropped his equipment and retreated.

Dong Zhou and 30,000 troops had also been sent by Zhang Wen to attack the Qiang in Xianlian. However, the Qiang and other barbarians surrounded him, and he was running out of supplies. He built a dam in a nearby river and acted as though he would catch fish, but then he moved his men across the river. When the rebels approached, the area was so badly flooded that they could not pursue Dong Zhuo. He was able to make it back to Youfufeng.

At this point in the histories, there is a record of Zhang Wen summoning Dong Zhuo, and Dong being late. Then, when Zhang reprimanded him, Dong Zhou replied in an disrespectful manner. Sun Jian is recorded as having suggested killing Dong for breaking military law, and because he would cause future trouble. Rafe and I both believe that this seems unreasonable, since Dong Zhuo had seen victory at Meiyang and had maintained control of his army even during his retreat. It seems more likely that this has been added by later historians to cast Dong Zhou in a bad light, while making Sun Jian seem extraordinarily perceptive.

In January 187, Zhang Wen was recalled back to the capital. Dong Zhuo remained as General of the Van.

One year later, Wang Guo and his rebels attacked Chencang. Huangfu song was ordered to subdue him and take command over Dong Zhuo. Song was again appointed to General of the Left, and he combined his and Dong’s armies, which totaled over 40,000.

Dong requested of Huangfu Song to be allowed to help those at Chencang. Huangfu replied that Wang Guo’s men were too high in spirit, and that Chencang could hold, but an attack on Wang would fail. He said it would be better to wait until Wang exhausted himself attacking, and then when his spirits were low, an attacked would guarantee victory. 80 days passed, and finally Wang Guo began to withdraw from Chencang.In March of 189, Huangfu Song attacked the retreating troops. Dong Zhuo told him that attacking desperate bandits was a mistake, but Huangfu Song replied that they were not desperate bandits, but were attacking a discouraged army, who would be too confused by the attack to successfully counter them. He went alone and set Dong Zhuo as the rear guard. He completely defeated them, and took more than 10,000 heads. Dong Zhuo was angry and ashamed, and he bore a grudge against Huangfu Song from this time on.

Han Sui and the other leaders removed Wang Guo from power, and forced the former prefect of Xindu, Yan Zhong of Hanyang, to take command, but he grew sick a died. Then, the leaders struggled for power and began to kill each other.