Why is Wancheng, which has never been a military location in history, so important in the Three Kingdoms? In those turbulent times, a small city that was once unknown suddenly became a war-torn town. The surrounding warlord forces are fighting frantically to control the city, and even the reckless heroes who are thousands of miles away have given up everything just to be able to compete here. What secrets does Wancheng hide that makes it so important in that particular time? Is it because of the location, or is it something else? Let's find out.
The strategic significance of Anhui City
Speaking of the importance of Anhui City to the Three Kingdoms period, we must start with a decision made by Sun Ce. Back then, after Sun Ce unified the princes in Jiangdong, he immediately aimed at the city of Anhui City first. Sun Ce knew that in order to gain a foothold in the chaotic world, it was not enough to govern the hinterland, and it was necessary to have a military town as the foundation for future conquests.
At that time, Wancheng was just the county administration of Lujiang County, a small town in the local area, and it was not famous in history. But Sun Ce had a discerning eye and took a fancy to the strategic value of this small city. After some siege and land grabbing, Sun Ce soon incorporated Wancheng into his territory. Soon, Sun Ce appointed his confidant Li Shu as the Taishou of Lujiang, and specially sent people to guard the city of Anhui, which shows how much Sun Ce values this place.
Not long after Sun Ce's death, Sun Quan had just succeeded to the throne, and Li Shu had already had the idea of rebellion. Fortunately, Sun Quan was calm and calm, and quickly sent troops to quell the rebellion, regaining firm control of Wancheng in his hands. An Anhui city that was once just a small town has become an important town for the warlords of Jiangdong, which is really jaw-dropping.
And the importance of Wancheng to Sun Wu does not stop there. Cao Wei and Dongwu have been fighting each other for many years, and the border between the two sides is hundreds of miles long. But on the long front, Wancheng was the best place for Sun Wu to cut off Cao Wei's supply of grain and grass.
In order to support the Northern Expedition of the Great Army, Cao Wei built several canals in the Huainan area to transport grain and grass. Eventually, all of these waterways lead to this part of the city. Once Sun Wu occupied the city of Anhui, it was equivalent to controlling Cao Wei's lifeline. With a steady supply of grain and grass, Sun Wu was able to confront Cao Wei for a long time; But if the city of Anhui is lost, Cao Wei's army on the southern front will fall into the dilemma of thousands of miles of casualties and starvation of grain and grass.
It can be seen how important the military status of Wancheng was during the Three Kingdoms period. It was not only the foundation of Sun Wu's unification of Jiangdong, but also a key link in curbing Cao Wei's southward movement. An inconspicuous small city should take on such a heavy responsibility, it is really destined by three points of heaven and seven points of luck.
The particularity of the geographical environment of Anhui City
To say why Anhui City became a battleground for soldiers during the Three Kingdoms period, the particularity of its geographical environment is the key. Wancheng is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, at the mouth of the Huai River, close to the Yangtze River, which is a strategic point. During the war years, the two sides of the Yangtze River were often the key areas for decisive battles. Whether it is an attack by land and water, or a remote-controlled operation infested by boats and ships, Wancheng occupies an excellent geographical location.
More importantly, the city of Anhui is bordered by Wanshui in the east, and is surrounded by mountains to form a natural barrier. From this point of view, Wancheng is really a fortress place to defend and defend. Not only is it easy to defend but it is easy to defend; The terrain pass forms a natural pass, which is even more difficult to break. For the war situation at that time, the occupation of Anhui City was undoubtedly a prerequisite for victory.
In addition to these favorable times and places, Wancheng also has a different kind of God-given blessing - moderate climate. We all know that Cao Wei and Dongwu have been on the front line of Huainan for many years, and every fight is several years. During the long war years, a rational reserve of grain was an indispensable strategic preparation. However, the humid and hot climate in the south can easily make the grain moldy and insect-insect; In the arid north, the granary is infestation from rats and ants all year round.
Only in this area of Anhui City, the fresh and pleasant climatic conditions are just suitable for the storage of grains. In addition, the surrounding lakes are dense, fertile fields are all over, and the location of Tuntian is also everywhere. It can be said that the geographical environment of Anhui City is unique, which has brought military advantages far beyond other places to the local area.
Another point must be mentioned, as a place where canals meet, Anhui City has extremely convenient water and land transportation. Almost all of the canals built by Wei and Wu in the Huainan region led to this area. Whether it is grain and grass from the canal or warships on the river, they can be smoothly transferred here in Anhui City to fully prepare for future operations.
To sum up, the status of Anhui as an important military town during the Three Kingdoms period is really reasonable. It is located in the important town of the Yangtze River, and it is advantageous to stick along the river; Surrounded by mountains, fortification and grain are suitable; The climate is moderate, the transportation is convenient, and the logistics and supplies are ready. A humble city, with so many advantages in time and place, was destined to play an important role in that turbulent era.
The impact of traffic conditions during the Three Kingdoms period
When it comes to the important position of Wancheng in the Three Kingdoms period, the change of traffic conditions is also a key factor. During the Three Kingdoms period, the battle pattern between Cao Wei and Eastern Wu had undergone earth-shaking changes, and it was precisely because of the changes in traffic conditions that Anhui City became the key point of the decisive battle.
It stands to reason that the strategic position of Wancheng was not too important. It is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, far from the hinterland of the Central Plains and even further away from the northern grasslands. For most of history, neither the Northern Nomadic Legion nor the Central Plains Dynasty would have set their sights on this area. However, during the Three Kingdoms period, due to the drastic changes in the shipping situation along the Yangtze River, the status of Anhui City was suddenly pushed to the strategic high ground.
The battle between Sun Wu and Cao Wei was actually supposed to be concentrated on the eastern line of the Yangtze River, that is, the waterway leading to the Eastern Wu base area. However, due to the long-term lack of dredging, the shipping of the eastern route of the Yangtze River has become increasingly narrow. When Emperor Wen of Cao Wei invaded Wu, the army was unable to pass smoothly because the roads on the eastern front were too narrow, and finally collapsed in the territory of Eastern Wu.
Since the roads on the eastern front have become numerous obstacles, it is natural that the method of fighting by land and water will not work. Cao Wei has been deployed on the Huainan front line for many years, originally to provide logistical support for the Eastern Front fleet. However, once shipping on the eastern front is blocked, the fleet on the front line will fall into a passive situation, and logistics and supply will be unable to begin. Only by moving the battle line to the west and fighting by land and water in the area of Anhui City can the dilemma be resolved.
This is not only Cao Wei's predicament, but also for Soochow. If Eastern Wu wants to attack the north in the future, it must also concentrate its forces in the area of Anhui City, and then advance by land and water, so that it is expected to conquer the Central Plains. It can be seen that the Anhui area is of great strategic significance to both sides.
Moreover, the Huainan region during the Three Kingdoms period was already a transportation hub in itself. In order to solve the transportation problem, Cao Wei dug several canals in the Shouchun area, which directly connected to the water and Anhui, so as to facilitate the exchange of grain, grass and soldiers. The terminus of these canals is the city of Anhui. Therefore, in the operational deployment of that year, Wancheng became a transit station for water and land transshipment, and both offensive and defensive sides had to take this as the goal in order to occupy the transportation advantage.
And it is precisely because of the change of the role of Anhui City, surrounded by mountains and rivers, has become the best stage for the decisive battle. The city of Anhui, which is fought for by soldiers, is surrounded by a barrier taken by land; Goods of grain and grass were easy to come along the boat, so it became an important town for the army to dispatch. For a time, the fishermen's settlements and small towns in this area suddenly became a battlefield of war.
In this way, the special traffic conditions during the Three Kingdoms period pushed Wancheng from obscurity to the strategic heights. This humble corner, due to its key position, suddenly became a battleground for Eastern Wu and Western Wei. This tortuous change allowed Wancheng to play a pivotal role in that turbulent era.
The ambitions and stratagems of politicians
Tracing the important position of Wancheng during the Three Kingdoms period, we have to mention the various behaviors and schemes of those powerful ministers and generals in the area of Wancheng. In fact, it is precisely because of the foresight of Sun Ce, Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang and others that the small city of Anhui was pushed to the forefront and became a pivotal strategic location.
The first to value the value of Anhui City was Sun Ce. After unifying the Jiangdong princes, Sun Ce first set his sights on this town. At that time, Sun Ce was preparing to seize the base of Liu Xun, the Taishou of Lujiang, and advance his ruling territory to the west. And on Liu Xun's territory, there is an important town of Wancheng with acceptable strength. Sun Ce made a decisive attack, immediately garrisoned the garrison after conquering the city of Anhui, and appointed his confidant Li Shu as the new Lujiang Taishou, which shows the importance he attaches to this place. This decision laid the foundation for Sun Wu's later fight in Huainan.
Besides, Cao Cao, he has suffered a lot in the area of Wancheng. In the fourteenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao personally led a large army to the west, trying to regain the lost territory in the middle reaches, but was defeated by Han Dang near Anhui City. In the end, he had to be temporarily stationed in Shu County, but he returned in vain. After that, Cao Cao understood that if he did not control the strategic location of Wancheng, it would be difficult to completely subdue Eastern Wu. So in the nineteenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao personally conquered again, and finally took the city of Anhui, and reclaimed it in the local area in order to build a long-term tuntian. However, Sun Quan was personally recaptured the following year, and Cao Cao's strategy was abandoned. It can be seen that Cao Cao's attention to Wancheng is no different from that of Sun Wu.
Although the two are enemies, they are both well aware of the importance of Anhui City. Cao Cao saw it as the key to cutting off the enemy's grain and grass lines, and Sun Quan saw it as the foundation for the unification of Jiangdong. Later, when Zhuge Liang went on the Northern Expedition, he clearly included Wancheng in the strategic plan.
At that time, Zhuge Liang made a comeback, and his ambition to seize the Central Plains was not small. Although there is a strong city in Guanzhong, it is located in a remote area after all, and it is difficult to compete with the hinterland of the Central Plains. Therefore, Zhuge Liang will pull the battle line to Wancheng and other places, trying to cut off Cao Wei's water and land transportation on the Yangtze River with Sun Wu's borrowed troops, so as to clear the way for the Central Plains campaign. Although this great Northern Expedition plan ultimately failed to come true, Zhuge Liang's listing of Anhui City as an important town in the conquest route shows his military vision.
And in more well-known stories, Wancheng also appears from time to time. Such as Huang Gaili to protect Anhui City, Zang Ba to compete for Fenglong, and so on. Some historical materials even describe Anhui City as a "lonely city for thousands of miles", describing it as strong and abnormal. Although it is difficult to predict its accuracy, it also reflects from the side that many people of insight regarded Wancheng as the most important military town.
It is amazing that such an insignificant town can be regarded as the key by so many far-sighted politicians by virtue of its special geographical location. In contrast, there is nothing special about Wancheng itself, and its value is only given by the powerful. But it was precisely because of their ambition and stratagem that Wancheng was able to write an immortal stroke in that turbulent era.
The fate of Wancheng in the late Three Kingdoms
When it comes to the fate of Wancheng in the Three Kingdoms period, it is impossible not to mention those thrilling stories in the later period. After the ups and downs in the early stage, Wancheng has completely become an important town for soldiers in the later period of the Three Kingdoms. The two camps of Eastern Wu and Wei Shu have been fighting here for many years, and the continuous war has finally turned this small city into ruins.
The first to capture the city of Anhui was the Wei State, when the Cao Wei army attacked repeatedly in the Jian'an period, and finally conquered this difficult hard bone. Cao Cao personally supervised the army to quell the rebellion, and made a great plan to build up the fields in the local area. The first-line military transport road of the Changhe River in Anhui built by Wei was dug with Anhui City as the center. It can be seen from this that Cao Wei attaches great importance to this area.
However, just as the Wei army began to build the city and Tuntian, the Eastern Wu army attacked again. Sun Quan led the elite to the east of Lanyu and rushed to Anhui City to defeat the Wei army. The Wei army retreated to Shu County, looking at the loss of Anhui City from afar, and was sad. In this way, the expedition changed hands for many years, the people went to the city, and the villages near Anhui City were in ruins. Pity the local fishermen and people, they can only flee everywhere to avoid their sharp spirit.
Once upon a time, Wancheng was just an inconspicuous town. Now the small war is raging and bloody, and it has long been unrecognizable. The people are running around with their heads in their hands, and the miserable scene is irreversible. Once upon a time, it was just a calm and peaceful riverside town, but now it has turned into a sea of fire and a decisive battle ground for soldiers. It's so sad and lamentable.
Such a tragic situation continued, until the Wushu Alliance and Wancheng regained its turmoil. That year, Zhuge Liang waved his army to the Northern Expedition, and first set his sights on the area of Anhui City. He was well aware of the importance of Anhui City, and did not hesitate to extricate more than 60,000 households of the people in the Central Plains as the logistics hinterland of Tuntian. Sun Quan, the lord of Wu, also agreed to send troops to help, so that the Eastern Wu heavy army arrived.
In this way, Anhui City once again turned into a decisive battle field for the army, and the two sides fought bloody battles here for many years, and the war continued. Zhuge Liang's army came to the city of Anhui twice, but unfortunately because the food was exhausted, he could only look at the city and sigh. On one occasion, Zhuge Liang went deep into the mountains and wilderness of Gengxian County, the hinterland of Anhui City, and encountered a vicious battle with the Wei army, with horrific casualties on the battlefield, and thousands of miles of red land. It can be seen that the war on the front line of Anhui City is so tragic and ferocious.
Until Zhuge Liang died, Anhui City temporarily returned to peace. However, it was only a short period of peace, and soon Sun Wu launched a new offensive and fought with the Wei army near Anhui for many years. During this period, Lu Xun, Zhuge Ke, Fei Yi and other famous generals all appeared, and the balance of the fate of Anhui City also swayed back and forth. Later, Sun Wu's troops were gradually exhausted, coupled with the betrayal of Lu Xun and others, the first line of Anhui City was returned to Wei again. After the Cao Shuang Rebellion and the unification of the Western Jin Dynasty, although Anhui City still occupies an important position, it is no longer as powerful as it was in the past.
end
A small city, besieged by the great powers, staged a series of tragic battles. People are displaced, devastated and devastated by their homes. At that time, the peaceful climate, convenient transportation, and superior geography also became the premise for the decisive battle between the enemy and us. Therefore, in that turbulent era, although Wancheng was famous for a while, it paid a heavy price. Those fire and blood will forever be engraved in the fate of this small city.