18 Facts About Yuan Shu

Yuan Shu, courtesy name Gonglu, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Yuan Shu rose to prominence following the collapse of the Han central government in 189.

Yuan Shu declared himself Emperor of China in 197 under the short-lived Zhong dynasty, two years before his death in 199.

Yuan Shu was from Ruyang County, Runan Commandery, which is in present-day Shangshui County, Henan.

Yuan Shu's family had for over four generations been a prominent force in the Han civil service, having produced numerous members in high positions since the first century CE.

Yuan Shu is sometimes described to be a younger cousin of the warlord Yuan Shao, but was actually Yuan Shao's younger half-brother.

Yuan Shu participated in the Campaign against Dong Zhuo led by Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shu was joined by Sun Jian, whom he appointed to Inspector of Yu Province.

Sun Jian succeeded in defeating and killing Dong's general Hua Xiong, but Yuan Shu grew wary that Sun would become too successful and no longer submit to his command, and temporarily secretly cut off Sun's food supplies, thereby hindering his advance.

Yuan Shu allied with Yuan Shao's northern rival Gongsun Zan, and Yuan Shao in turn allied with Yuan Shu's southern rival Liu Biao.

Yuan Shu sent Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao, but his proxy was killed in the Battle of Xiangyang.

Sun Jian's nephew Sun Ben took over Sun Jian's command and formally joined Yuan Shu, who granted him the title of Inspector of Yu Province.

In early 193, Yuan Shu suffered repeated defeats, such as the Battle of Fengqiu, by the combined armies of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shu fled to Shouchun in Jiujiang on the southern bank of the Huai River.

Yuan Shu deposed Inspector Chen Wen of Yang Province and took the title for himself, claiming to be Lord of Xu Province.

Yuan Shu was less successful in expanding his rule in Xu Province, where he fought against Liu Bei and Lu Bu; the latter briefly allied himself to Yuan Shu in 196, but betrayed him again and drove him back to Shouchun.

Yuan Shu declared himself emperor under the short-lived Zhongshi dynasty in early 197, citing superstition as his justification, including the Chinese characters for his given name Shu and courtesy name Gonglu, and his possession of the Imperial Seal, which was given to him by the late Sun Jian.

Yuan Shu died shortly thereafter of starvation, being unable to swallow the coarse food that his soldiers ate.