Battles and events

In the Romance, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei swear brotherhood in a peach garden, vowing to live and die together. The scene establishes the bond that defines Shu Han's founding narrative.

The peasant uprising that shattered the Han dynasty's authority and set the warlord era in motion.

The coalition of regional lords against Dong Zhuo in 190, who withdrew to Chang'an after the eastern forces seized the passes. The campaign showed the Han court's loss of control.

Cao Cao's forces fought at Xingyang in the early warlord period. Cao Hong was among the commanders; the battle was part of the contest for control of the Central Plain.

In 190, during the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian defeated Dong Zhuo's forces at Yangren. It was the coalition's only significant victory; Sun Jian faced Lü Bu and Hua Xiong.

A coalition of warlords marched on the tyrant who held the emperor hostage.

In 194–195, Cao Cao and Lü Bu fought for control of Yan Province with Puyang at the centre. The campaign ended in stalemate; Cao Cao eventually recovered the province.

In 197, Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shu at Kuangting. Yuan Shu's power in the Huai region collapsed; he fled and later died in failure.

In 198–199, Cao Cao and Liu Bei besieged Lü Bu in Xiapi. The city fell after flood and defection; Lü Bu was captured and executed, removing the last major warlord in the east.

Cao Cao's decisive victory over Yuan Shao that secured his dominance over the north.

In 207, Cao Cao led a force through the north to attack the Wuhuan at White Wolf Mountain. Zhang Liao urged the attack; Cao Cao won a decisive victory and the Wuhuan leader was killed.

In the Romance, Liu Bei travels three times to invite Zhuge Liang out of retirement. The episode introduces the Longzhong Plan and establishes Zhuge Liang as the indispensable strategist of Shu.

In 208, Cao Cao's cavalry caught up with Liu Bei's refugees at Changban. Zhang Fei held the bridge at the rear whilst Zhao Yun fought through the ranks to rescue Liu Bei's son; Liu Bei escaped to Jiangxia.

The Battle of Chibi (208 CE) is the same engagement as the Battle of Red Cliffs. The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's southern campaign.

The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei destroyed Cao Cao's fleet and forged the tripartite division.

In 211, Ma Chao and Han Sui led a coalition of northwestern warlords against Cao Cao at Tong Pass. Cao Cao held the pass, crossed the river to threaten their rear, and used a ruse to split Ma Chao and Han Sui; the coalition collapsed.

Cao Cao and Sun Quan fought at Ruxu on the Yangtze in 213–214. Sun Quan's forces, including Gan Ning, held the line; Cao Cao withdrew. The battle confirmed the Yangtze as the border.

In 214, during the siege of Luocheng in Liu Bei's conquest of Yi Province, Pang Tong was killed by an arrow. The battle was part of the campaign that led to Liu Zhang's surrender.

Liu Bei's campaign to take Yi Province from Liu Zhang in 214 CE, establishing his territorial base in the west. The conquest involved both military action and political manoeuvring.

In 215, Zhang He led Wei forces into Ba commandery; Zhang Fei defeated him at Baxi (Brazil). The battle secured Shu's hold on the region and is one of Zhang Fei's celebrated victories.

In 215, Sun Quan besieged Hefei with a large force. Zhang Liao led a small garrison and made a daring sortie that broke the siege; Sun Quan withdrew.

Liu Bei's campaign (217–219) to seize Hanzhong from Cao Cao. Victory gave Shu Han a strategic base and led to Liu Bei declaring himself King of Hanzhong.

A key battle in Liu Bei's conquest of Hanzhong in 219 CE, where Huang Zhong killed Xiahou Yuan, securing Shu Han's control of the strategic Hanzhong region.

In 219, Guan Yu besieged Fancheng and Xiangyang; a flood destroyed Yu Jin's relief army. Xu Huang later broke the siege whilst Lu Meng captured Jiangling; Guan Yu was caught and executed.

In 219, during the struggle for Hanzhong, Cao Cao sent troops to oppose Liu Bei. At Hanshui (Han River) the two sides clashed; Zhao Yun's empty-fort ploy and counter-attack secured a Shu victory.

Liu Bei's catastrophic defeat at the hands of Eastern Wu that crippled Shu Han.

After the Battle of Yiling, Wu forces under Zhu Ran defended Jiangling against Wei. The successful defence secured Wu's hold on the middle Yangtze.

In the Romance, Zhuge Liang leads a southern campaign and captures the tribal king Meng Huo seven times, releasing him each time until Meng Huo submits. The campaign secures Shu's southern flank before the Northern Expeditions.

In 228, Ma Su lost the strategic pass at Jieting to Zhang He, forcing Zhuge Liang to abandon the first Northern Expedition.

In 228, Lu Xun led Wu forces to a major victory over Cao Xiu at Shiting. Cao Xiu fell into a ruse and was defeated; the battle confirmed Wu's ability to defend the middle Yangtze.

Five gruelling campaigns to restore the Han — and the death of the Sleeping Dragon.

In 244, Wang Ping and Fei Yi held Xing Shi against Cao Shuang's Wei invasion. The successful defence preserved Shu's northern frontier.

In 249, while Cao Fang and Cao Shuang were at the Gaoping tombs, Sima Yi seized Luoyang, closed the gates, and had Cao Shuang and his faction executed. The coup gave the Sima family control of the Wei court.

In 252, Wu forces defeated Wei at Dongxing (eastern Wu). The victory defended Wu's territory and involved Ding Feng and other Wu generals.

In 254, Cao Fang's attempt to remove Sima Shi failed. Sima Shi deposed the emperor and installed Cao Mao, tightening the Sima clan's grip on Wei.

The conquest that ended Liu Bei's dream of restoration.

In 263 CE, Wei armies under Deng Ai and Zhong Hui invaded and conquered Shu Han. Liu Shan surrendered; the first of the three kingdoms fell.

Deng Ai's daring crossing of the Yinping mountains in 263, which brought Wei forces onto the Chengdu plain and led to Liu Shan's surrender.

In 264, after the conquest of Shu, Zhong Hui plotted with Jiang Wei to rebel against Sima Zhao. The plot was discovered; Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were killed.

In 272, Wei forces attacked Xiling; Lu Kang led Wu's defence and relieved the siege. The battle confirmed Lu Kang as Wu's chief defender of the western frontier in the late period.

In 280, the Jin dynasty conquered Eastern Wu. Sun Hao surrendered; the Three Kingdoms period ended and China was reunified under Jin.

The final campaign that reunified China under the Jin dynasty.

The civil war (291–306 CE) among the Jin imperial princes that followed the reunification of China. It weakened the dynasty and contributed to the loss of the north.