Cao Cao’s Power Expands 201 A.D.
201 AD Cao Cao’s Power Expands Overview:
There is a lot of parity in the first two scenarios; no one has more than 3 or 4 cities at most. At this point in 201 AD, certain rulers are beginning to assert their power. Cao Cao has built up a massive army in the center and threatens to engulf Yuan Shao, who is aging but still has some power to the north. Yuan Shao’s decline begins quickly though as Feng Ji is not enough to hold Ye and gone are valuable generals like Zhang He (defected to Cao Cao) Yan Liang (dead) and Wen Chou (dead). Yuan Shao will likely pass away within a few years of this scenario. Meanwhile, Sun Quan has settled the Wu area and is formidable himself. Yet the Sun’s are prone to imploding in 33. Jian Ye with not enough food/economy to support the myriad officers and soldiers he is bound to build up. Cao Cao and Sun Quan will probably fight to a stalemate out in east Jing Zhou. Meanwhile, Liu Bei is given Xin Ye by Liu Biao, yet Cao Cao presses Liu Bei (Cao Cao will probably move into Wan). Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang haven’t changed, although Ma Teng has added a second city (Tian Shui). Cao Cao isn’t set up quite as favorably as he is in the next chapter, but nonetheless you can count on dealing with him if you’re anybody other than him.
Ruler Strategies:
Cao Cao – 19. Xu Chang
Liu Bei – 23. Xin Ye
Sun Quan – 33. Jian Ye
Liu Zhang – 41. Cheng Dou
New Ruler