Battle of Hubei Province

**Result:** | Sun Jing captures all of Hubei Province, which soon causes a great loss for Liu Yao that leads to a divide of power in Wu Territory.

The Battle of Hubei Province is the second battle where Sun Jing and Liu Yao clashed with each other over control of the Territory of Wu. This battle also led to a divide in power in Wu as Yan Biahu and Wang Lang broke off from their alliance once again.

## Pre-Battle Period

At the end of the second century in 199 AD, the Imperial Han fell with the death of Gong Zuan. Many warlords soon began to fight for control of China in many places.

### Sun Jing's Advance

Following the Han's fall, Sun Jing used this opportunity to rise to power in the east and establish a place for the Sun Family. By now, he has claimed victories in Hefei, Xiaoyao, and Wuhan, and amassed an army of brave warriors such as Cheng Pu, Zhu Zhi, Yu Ran, and many others. making his way to Wu Territory in the east of China to battle against Liu Yao

### Liu Yao's Decline

Ever since his defeat at Wuhan the alliance set in Wu Territory under Liu Yao's rule was failing, and Liu Yao had no choice but to do everything in his power to hold it together. He used Xiang Guang attacking Wu from Changsha as a reason to stick together while he planned to combat Sun Jing at Hubei Province himself.

## The Battle for Hubei Province

In 203 AD, Sun Jing's Forces and Liu Yao's Forces clashed at Hubei's Province to fight over the control of Wu Territory. A large force gathered on both sides of Hubei.

### The Warriors of Liu Yao

Zhuge Jin makes note that Liu Yao, while may not be much of a challenge, is in possession of many talented and strong warriors from Eastern China. Fan Neng is a famous one who made his mark by slaying Song Qian at Wuhan. Yu Mi is a talented general and was an excellent leader at Wuhan, alongside Chen Heng who fought well against Cheng Pu. However one of the officers he was most concerned about was a mighty warrior by the name of Tashi Xiang, who guarded Hubei.

Sun Jing knew that these obstacles, especially Tashi Xiang would be a huge hindrance to their advance into Wu and quickly began to make plans to deal with them.

### Cheng Pu's Charge

Beginning the battle, Cheng Pu and Zhu Huan led the first charge to clear out Liu Yao's vanguard, which was led by Xu Shao. Cheng Pu himself led a frontal advance while Zhu Huan would advance in from the side with Wu Jing. Cheng Pu first clashed against Xu Shao's army at the first forward garrison. Xu Shao attempted to use siege weapons to slow down Cheng Pu, to much little affect.

While Zhu Huan and Wu Jing led forces from the side, Zhang Ying struck from behind the vanguard and engaged them in battle. Many soldiers were lost in the ambush but Zhu Huan and Wu Jing could not afford to withdraw, and continued to fight.

Cheng Pu was soon able to push through Xu Shao and cleared the first garrison. He quickly moved out again to aid Zhu Huan and Wu Jing, besting Zhang Ying and forcing him to withdraw as well, clearing out Liu Yao's vanguard at the forward garrisons.

### Liu Yao's Forces' Advance

However, while Cheng Pu was attacking from the front, Zhang Zhao was informed by scouts that another army of Liu Yao's soldiers led by an officer named Ling Cao was advancing on them from the east. Sun Yi went out to intercept but was forced to withdraw as he was ambushed by Fan Neng and Yu Fan, who joined with Ling Cao in striking to the east.

In order to prevent them from reaching any further, Zhu Zhu and Dong Xi advanced to defend the eastern garrisons from Liu Yao's Forces

However, the moment they did, Wang Lang arrived with Zhou Xin from the east and assaulted Sun Jing's main camp, in which Sun Lang and Jiang Qin stood guard to stop their advance. Liu Yao's main unit had soon began to move up even further and advanced to the center line.

#### **Yan Biahu at Hubei**

Sun Jing's Forces found themselves suddenly caught by a pincer attack as the bandit leader Yan Biahu advanced at them from the south with Yan Yu. He defeated officers such as Hu Gong, and Qian Xiu with ease and continued to advance straight towards Sun Jing.

### Sun Jing's Advance

Seeing his forces about to be surrounded, Sun Jing rallied his remaining men at the main camp and began to abandon it, running from the likes of Yan Biahu and Wang Lang, who led strong forces of their own. Sun Jing fled, alongside Sun Lang, Jiang Qin, Jing Wan, and Han Dang and went forth to meet up with Cheng Pu's unit.

Seeing this, Tashi Xiang of Liu Yao's Forces asked for permission to move out and defeat Sun Jing himself, to with he was denied repeatedly, much to the dismay of Ling Cao, who saw the strength that Tashi Xiang possessed.