安重 / Anzhong (late Han)

Overview

安重 / Anzhong (late Han) is a narrow late-Han battlefield-place page for the terrain where 张绣 and 刘表 block 曹操’s retreat after the Wancheng branch, before Cao Cao turns the pursuit into an ambush.

Current Profile

The current evidence makes Anzhong a route-pressure node rather than a broad regional center. In Hanji 1023, Cao Cao is withdrawing from the 穰城 front after learning of 田丰’s rejected 许都 attack advice. Zhang Xiu pursues, Liu Biao sends support, and the allied force uses difficult terrain at Anzhong to block the return route. Cao Cao then opens a risky narrow path at night, feigns escape, draws the blockers into pursuit, and defeats them through a front-and-rear ambush.

Key Characteristics

• Terrain chokepoint used to threaten Cao Cao’s withdrawal from the Rangcheng front toward Xudu.
• Joint Zhang Xiu-Liu Biao pressure point where regional support turns pursuit into a route blockade.
• Ambush setting where Cao Cao converts blocked retreat into false escape, death-ground resolve, and infantry-cavalry counterattack.
• Single-source place node whose significance comes from tactical sequence rather than administrative detail.

Evidence

• Route crisis: Hanji 1023 places Anzhong after Cao Cao’s withdrawal from the Rangcheng front and before his return toward Xudu.
• Zhang-Liu blockade: Hanji 1023 says Zhang Xiu pursues while Liu Biao sends supporting forces, and that they use dangerous terrain at Anzhong to cut Cao Cao’s retreat.
• Counter-ambush: Hanji 1023 records Cao Cao’s night path-opening, false escape signal, and front-and-rear ambush against the pursuing force.

Qualifications

This page should stay narrow until additional sources expand the geography. The source does not supply a full administrative profile for Anzhong, and the page does not infer exact modern location, commandery status, or route details beyond the episode’s tactical account.

What Changed

• Created Anzhong as the battlefield node for Hanji 1023’s Zhang Xiu-Liu Biao blockade and Cao Cao counter-ambush.

Relationships

• 曹操 - commander whose retreat is blocked and who turns the terrain crisis into an ambush.
• 张绣 - pursuer whose first chase fails at Anzhong before a later smaller pursuit succeeds.
• 刘表 - regional ruler whose supporting forces help create the Anzhong blockade.
• 穰城 - prior front from which Cao Cao withdraws before the Anzhong route crisis.
• 归师勿遏式追击风险 - concept illustrated by the risk of blocking and pursuing a returning force.
• 诱敌离位 - concept illustrated by Cao Cao’s false escape drawing enemies out of their blocking position.