Yuan Shao

袁紹

**Yuan Shao**, courtesy name **Benchu**, was a warlord in China during the waning years of the Han dynasty. He was part of the famous Yuan clan of Ru'nan.

He notably opposed Dong Zhuo's rise to power taking offense at him deposing Liu Bian and killing Yuan Shao's kin, notably his uncle Yuan Wei. He founded a coalition against Dong Zhuo but it failed due to lack of coordination and infighting. During this time frame, he wanted another man named Liu Yu to be the new Emperor in opposition to Dong Zhuo but Liu Yu refused. When Liu Yu was replaced by Gongsun Zan, he and Yuan Shao fought each other. This quarrel ended up with Yuan Shao winning and Gongsun Zan dead.

Yuan Shao was now the most powerful warlord in Northern China and soon became extremely arrogant, executing a general simply because that general grew arrogant too. He disregarded advice from officials such as Tian Feng and Ju Shou. When they advised him to attack Cao Cao while he was weak, Yuan Shao ignored them. Soon, Cao Cao grew powerful and prepared for war against Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao invaded, Tian Feng and Ju Shou once again offered their strategies but Yuan Shao grew mad at both of them and ignored them again. When he was defeated at the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao executed Tian Feng due to him being framed for celebrating Yuan Shao's defeat. Yuan Shao tried to reclaim his lost power but he soon grew ill and died.

## Biography

Yuan Shao was purportedly the bastard son of Yuan Feng and soon was adopted by his elder uncle, Yuan Cheng, who had no heirs. However, Yuan Cheng himself soon after died after Yuan Shao's birth at a relatively young age.

Regardless of who Yuan Shao's father may have been, they died soon after his birth. His relatives that held the Excellency posts (most likely Yuan Feng and Yuan Wei) felt strong bonds towards him. He was friends with Cao Cao when he was young. He was soon made a Gentleman. Upon his capping ceremony, he went to Puyang to act as its chief. His reputation was stated to be clean at this point.

When his mother died, he mourned for her and when finished, mourned for his late father as well. All in all, he spent six years inside a 'mount hut' (冢廬). He eventually returned to Luoyang but lived in seclusion afterwards, only meeting with those who had good reputations or knew. he cared for the warriors of sacrifice (死士) as well. Despite this, he liked adventure, and frequently went out with (the following are courtesy names) Zhang Mengzhuo, He Boqiu, Wu Ziqing, Xu Ziyuan, Wu Deyu, and others. Also, they all refused to go to court for positions, even if summoned. This caused Zhao Zhong to murmur with his cronies, "Yuan Benchu sits in his growing reputation, refusing any summons and caring for the warriors of sacrifice. Who knows what this boy wants to do anymore?" Yuan Wei somehow heard this and warned Yuan Shao, "You are about to destroy our family!" Only then did Yuan Shao answer the summons.

## Personality & Traits

In his younger years, he was very charismatic (many scholars grew attached to him), humble (he was able to defer to scholars that held lower ranks), and commanding.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 袁紹字本初，汝南汝陽人也。
Sanguozhi 06
2. ↑ 紹即逢之庶子，術異母兄也，出後成爲子。

Wang Chen's Book of Wei
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 紹生而父死，二公愛之。幼使爲郎，弱冠除濮陽長，有清名。
Yingxiongji
4. ↑ 長子平，平弟成，左中郎將，並早卒；
Hua Jiao's Book of Han
5. ↑ As Yuan Shao was adopted by Yuan Cheng, historical records would then record Yuan Cheng as Yuan Shao's official father and not Yuan Feng. If it is Yuan Cheng, either he was dead by the time or was simply unlucky and somehow died shortly after.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 紹有姿皃威容，能折節下士，士多附之，太祖少與交焉。
Sanguozhi 06
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7. ↑ Pei Songzhi first quotes the Book of Wei, but then says if the Yingxiongji is true, then Yuan Shao was actually Yuan Cheng's son, as Yuan Cheng was stated to die relatively young. Pei Songzhi noted that mourning for one's father who was still alive (Yuan Feng) was not recorded in the Book of Rites and thus, improper and rude. He then asks, "how can one be a descendant, yet behave like this?" He then concludes both records are ambiguous on Yuan Shao's father.
臣松之案：《魏書》云「紹，逢之庶子，出後伯父成」。如此記所言，則似實成所生。夫人追服所生，禮無其文，況於所後而可以行之！二書未詳孰是。
8. ↑ 遭母喪，服竟，又追行父服，凡在冢廬六年。禮畢，隱居洛陽，不妄通賔客，非海內知名，不得相見。又好游俠，與張孟卓、何伯求、吳子卿、許子遠、伍德瑜等皆爲奔走之友。不應辟命。中常侍趙忠謂諸黃門曰：「袁本初坐作聲價，不應呼召而養死士，不知此兒欲何所爲乎？」紹叔父隗聞之，責數紹曰：「汝且破我家！」紹於是乃起應大將軍之命。
Yingxiongji