by Lord_Cao_Cao » Sun Jan 14, 2018 8:11 am
When Liu Dai was killed in 192, Cao Cao himself was Administrator of Dong Commandery (so basically on the same level as Zhang Miao and the others). Cao Cao was invited by Liu Dai's subordinate Bao Xin to lead his armies against the Yellow Turbans and become the new Governor of Yan Province, which Cao Cao did. The Yellow Turbans were defeated, but Bao Xin died in the conflict. So Cao Cao did not take Yan over militarily (or rather the position of governor), but was recommended to govern it, since the position of governor was vacant. Zhang Miao therefore became his subordinate and rebelled alongside Chen Gong in 194.
In the same year, Chen Wen died, who was Governor of Yang Province. Yuan Shu recommended Yuan Yi as his replacement (I think they were cousins), but he was murdered on his way.
Qiao Mao was killed by Liu Dai in 190.
Kong Zhou was actually Governor of Yu Province IIRC. But he was also dead by the point Cao Cao became Governor of Yan.
As for Xuchang, I don't think it is noted anywhere. It must have been between 192 and 196 - considering that Yuan Shu was Administrator of Nanyang in northern Jing until 193 and wielded some influence in Yu Province (he appointed Sun Jian as Kong Zhou's replacement back in 190 and later Sun Ben), I would take a guess and say that Cao Cao took Xuchang when he fought Yuan Shu in 193 and forced him to flee to Shouchun in Yang Province.
EDIT: Thinking about it, when the Yan rebellion happened and Lu Bu invaded, don't the sources say that Cao Cao only retained control over like two or three cities? Not sure whether that was only directed to his territory in Yan or his whole territory. So it could be that Xuchang was rather taken after 194.
Last edited by
Lord_Cao_Cao on Sun Jan 14, 2018 9:51 am, edited 1 time in total.