Flight from Changban

This is an important battle that takes place during the Conquest of Eastern China period in 215 AD - 219 AD.

The Battle of Changbanpo was a highly important battle that marked the birth of what would soon be the rise of Liu Wuchan to power in the west.

Cao Xue's Conquest
Following the collapse of the Imperial Han, the warlord Cao Cao had used this as an opportunity to quickly grow his forces. Defeating rival warlords such as Guang Du, Zha Ji, Hanhui, and others, he managed to gain a large army and much land up till his death in 211 AD.

His children, under the leadership of mainly Cao Xue, continued in their father's footsteps. They first bested Yuan Xi and his army in the north at Guandu. From there, the Cao Family began to turn their attention to the southeast, where warlords Liu Biao and Sun Jing quarreled for control of the east of China.

Liu Wuchan on the Run
Prior to this, the woman from Luosang Village named Liu Wuchan had done much as well. Aiding in The Rushin Rebellion, serving under Tao Qian and later under Yuan Xi before his fall. She, alongside Liu Weitai and Jian Yong had managed to build a small but stable force in China as well. However, she was constantly in fear of the Cao Family, as partial blame for Cao Cao's death at the hands of Ji Yang fell onto Wuchan.

Sun Qian advised Liu Wuchan that she first needs to find a strong ally to help her combat the Cao Family, to which she could find one in the south with Sun Jing's Forces. However the armies of Cao Chun stood in her way from a quick escape. As such, she became trapped in Xinye.

The Sleeping Dragon
In 218 AD, Liu Wuchan had learned about a woman named Zhugeshi, known as the Sleeping Dragon. She was a well-known mastermind, and had brilliance and strategies that could most likely help in her escape.

Paying the woman a visit three times, Liu Wuchan was finally able to meet with Zhugeshi. The Sleeping Dragon told the young woman a prophecy, that China would soon be divided into three parts, under three rulers Liu Wuchan thought that she was referring to the Cao Family, Sun Jing, and Liu Biao, and was surprised to see that she would take the place of Liu Biao as 1/3 of China would be hers, and that in the end she would unify the land.

Zhugeshi also tells Liu Wuchan that she must first fight her way through Cao Chun's blockade and head for Jing Province and Sun Jing. After aiding in driving away Cao Xue and her forces, Liu Wuchan is to rise up and capture Jing, then take the lands in the west. Uncertain that she could do these things, Liu Wuchan still obliged, and was prepared to undergo this task.

The Vengeful Cao Family
Meanwhile, Cao Xue had still saw that Liu Wuchan would be trouble, as well as still held a high grudge towards her for the death of Cao Cao. With Cao Annin aiding in the west and Cao Zhi leading attacks against Sun Jing and Liu Biao, Cao Xue began making plans of her own to wipe out Liu Wuchan's Forces before they can grow too strong and be a problem for her later.

Cao Xue and Jia Hu rallied together many officers such as Dan Han Ye, Mao Xing, Xiahou Wei, Cao Zhen, and many other talented officers under her command as well as her brother's and sister's officers such as having Cao Chun and Wei Xu prepare to make a move against Liu Wuchan, and Gao Lan and Gao Rou to leave the front lines and accompany her.

Run from Xinye
Soon, Liu Wuchan set out from Xinye with her forces to head to Jing Province, via Changbanpo. However, one thing that was holding her back was her need to take the people of Xinye with her that were on her side. Refusing to abandon them, she advances towards Changbanpo with a heavy horde of refugees, Zhugeshi, Liu Weitai, and Zhao Lei being the ones to act as both a vanguard and a rearguard to them all.