Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
Xiaoyao Ford, east of Hefei, Anhui, China
What happened
Cao Cao's generals Zhang Liao, Li Dian and Yue Jin held the fortress of Hefei against the warlord Sun Quan. Sun Quan tried to take Hefei, but Zhang Liao led a small, fast attack at dawn that stalled the siege. When illness spread through his camp, Sun Quan withdrew. His rearguard was cut off at Xiaoyao Ford, where a bridge was down, and his officer Ling Tong held off the pursuers while Sun Quan crossed the river.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The defence of Hefei made Zhang Liao one of the most famous generals of the Three Kingdoms era. Cao Cao promoted him to General Who Attacks the East.
What came next
Cao Cao turned west against Zhang Lu of Hanzhong, while Sun Quan and Liu Bei made peace by dividing southern Jing Province. Zhang Liao kept guarding the eastern frontier.
Did you know?
After the battle, Zhang Liao asked a captive who the purple-bearded rider had been, and learned it was Sun Quan himself.
Timeline
- 208–209After Red Cliffs, Cao Cao leaves about 7,000 troops to guard Hefei.
- c. 214Cao Cao leaves the generals a sealed letter marked 'Open when the enemy comes'.
- 214–215Zhang Liao's dawn sortie and the action at Xiaoyao Ford.
- 222Zhang Liao dies at Jiangdu.