Battle of Yan Ford The Battle of Yan Ford was a battle that took place along the southern banks of the Yellow River in the late Eastern Han Dynasty . The battle was closely preceded by the Battle of Boma , and was part of a series of engagements leading to the decisive confrontation between the rival warlords Yuan Shao and Cao Cao at the Battle of Guandu in 200 . Following the death of one of Yuan Shao ' s elite generals , Yan Liang , in the previous battle , the death of another famed general Wen Chou in this battle greatly demoralised Yuan ' s army , which was heading towards Guandu . Background . Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were heading toward a direct confrontation since the late 190s , and the first months of 200 saw the opening of hostilities at the Battle of Boma after years of manoeuvring . With a feint , Cao Cao was able to split off Yuan Shao ' s main force gathered at Liyang ( 黎陽 ; northwest of present - day Xun County , Henan ) across the river from Boma ( 白馬 ; near present - day Hua County , Henan ) and hence relieve the siege at Boma , killing Yuan Shao ' s attacking general Yan Liang . Considering that the position at Boma was unsuitable for a determined defence , Cao Cao voluntarily abandoned the outpost and evacuated its population and supplies to the west along the river . With that , Yuan Shao finally crossed the Yellow River in pursuit of Cao Cao ' s baggage train . However , Cao Cao was not satisfied with just abandoning all lands between Guandu and the river to the enemy — he had also wanted to make his enemy pay dearly by resisting the enemy advance during the predetermined fallback to Guandu . The battle . As a result of Cao Cao ' s feint during the Battle of Boma , Yuan Shao had brought the advance - guard of his army up the Yellow River toward the western Yan Ford ( 延津 ; north of present - day Yanjin , Henan ) . It was probably at this ford that Yuan Shao ' s army made the crossing , which was unhindered by Cao Cao . By this time , Yuan Shao was almost due north of Cao Cao ' s defensive positions at Guandu and his base in the capital of Xu City . Cao Cao ' s men also reached Yan Ford and made camp below a ridge known as the Southern Slope ( 南阪 ) , 20 " li " west and 50 " li " south of Boma . As Cao Cao ' s position was on the southern side of a dyke some distance away from the river ( meant to control seasonal floodwaters ) , his men were concealed from Yuan Shao ' s view while Cao Cao had to send lookouts to scout for enemy movements . The lookout first reported five to six hundred enemy cavalry on their way , then reported that there were slightly more cavalry than before and the size of the infantry force was beyond measurement . At this point Cao Cao stopped the lookout from reporting , and had his horsemen undo the saddles and release the horses . The baggage train from Boma appeared on the road north of the dyke at this time , in plain view of Yuan Shao ' s men . Some of Cao Cao ' s officers became uneasy at the prospect of so many enemy horsemen , and suggested to return and defend the camp . Cao Cao ' s strategist Xun You objected , saying : " This is the way we bait the enemy ! How can we leave ? " Cao Cao glanced at him and smiled . Wen Chou and Liu Bei , commanders of Yuan Shao ' s cavalry , leading five to six thousand cavalry , came one after the other . Cao Cao ' s men asked to mount their horses , but Cao Cao denied them until Yuan Shao ' s horsemen , ever increasing in number , split off to raid the baggage train . Cao Cao then gave the permission to mount the horses , and all of Cao Cao ' s horsemen , less than 600 in number , jumped onto their horses and charged at the enemy . Yuan Shao ' s army was defeated and Wen Chou was killed in action . Aftermath . Yan Liang and Wen Chou were the most highly regarded generals in Yuan Shao ' s army , and both were killed in two successive battles . Yuan Shao ' s men became greatly shaken . With the victory at Yan Ford , Cao Cao was able to retreat back to his base in Guandu ( 官渡 ; northeast of present - day Zhongmu County , Henan ) with the men and supplies without incident . Yuan Shao followed close behind and made camp at Yangwu ( 陽武 ; near present - day Yuanyang County , Henan ) , immediately north of Guandu . He had ignored Ju Shou ' s advice to leave a garrison at Yan Ford as a cautious step , and had all his forded forces concentrated at Yangwu , and now a decisive battle became imminent . In fiction . The Battle of Yan Ford was the opening event in chapter 26 of Luo Guanzhong ' s historical novel " Romance of the Three Kingdoms " . The battle described in the novel closely followed the one in history until Cao Cao made the call to charge at Wen Chou ' s forces . At that time Zhang Liao and Xu Huang , two of Cao Cao ' s best generals , gave chase . Wen Chou fired two arrows from atop his horse , one of which sliced off the feather on Zhang Liao ' s helmet and the other hit Zhang Liao ' s horse in the face . Brandishing his poleaxe , Xu Huang came for Wen Chou but had to retreat when a band of enemy soldiers came to their commander ' s rescue . Leading a dozen riders , Guan Yu then cut off Wen Chou ' s escape and engaged in a duel with the enemy . Within three bouts , Wen Chou withdrew and attempted to evade . However , Guan Yu ' s horse , the Red Hare , was of a superior breed and soon caught up . Guan Yu then slew Wen Chou from behind . According to historical texts , Wen Chou was killed by Cao Cao ' s troops during the rout . Nothing was mentioned about him being slain by Guan Yu .