14 Facts About Yuan Tan

Yuan Tan, courtesy name Xiansi, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who was the eldest son of Yuan Shao, a warlord who occupied much of northern China during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Yuan Tan sought help from his father's rival, Cao Cao, and defeated Yuan Shang with Cao's help.

Tan left Ye to station at Pingyuan; however, when he arrived Qing Province, the Yuan forces only controlled one city within the province, and Yuan Tan's position was only a commandant.

Still, Yuan Tan managed to seize Beihai State from Kong Rong in the east in 196, and expelled Tian Kai in the north to expand his domain in the area.

Yuan Tan was quite successful on his expansion, and was welcomed by the common people of the Province.

In 200, Yuan Tan accompanied his father at the Battle of Guandu against Cao Cao.

When Yuan Tan rushed back from his duty elsewhere, he could not revert the situation, the only thing he could do was to proclaim himself "General of Chariots and Cavalry", his father's former title.

Yuan Tan allied with his brother and stationed his troops in Liyang against the attack but his request for more troops was turned down by Yuan Shang, who feared his elder brother would take over military control.

Cao Cao agreed, but his actual intention of allying with Yuan Tan was to make it easier to defeat Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, and with them gone, he would then eliminate Yuan Tan easily.

Yuan Tan's returning force tried to converge with that in the city but the attempt was foiled.

Cao Cao soon turned his force against Yuan Tan, who retreated to Nanpi.

In 205, Yuan Tan was eventually defeated and killed in action in the Battle of Nanpi against Cao Cao.

In Chapter 33 of the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Tan was said to have sent Xin Ping as an emissary to Cao Cao while besieged in Nanpi to seek surrender but was declined.

When Xin returned, Yuan Tan accused him of treason since his brother Xin Pi served in Cao Cao's camp.