I would say that no side truly won, as they continued to bicker among themselves instead of cooperating.
Guan Yu had a history of provoking Sun Quan and stealing from his troops up until that point, so one could call each offense essentially an act of war. Shu Han and Wu's armies had skirmished on several occasions as well. What truly left the alliance in tatters was a series of disputes and broken promises. Cao Cao merely had to wait it out.
He attacked Sun Quan's stronghold in Ruxu and lost. When he returned a few years later, he wasn't able to take the city but he still became a thorn in Sun Quan's side. Cao Cao's forces had dug in too deep to be rooted out, and Sun Quan's army couldn't fall back without losing the city.
Sun Quan saw which way the wind was blowing and allied with Cao Cao at last. Though this was essentially surrender, Cao Cao let him keep all of his titles and allowed him to rule independently anyway. In return, Sun Quan recognized him as the legitimate heir to the Han Dynasty.
It all comes back to Jingzhou. You see, Sun Quan had asked for that land back and was refused. But now, years later, Guan Yu was attacking Cao Cao at Fancheng. Sun Quan saw an opportunity, so his forces moved in and attacked Guan Yu's.
What army can fight a battle on two fronts? That was when Guan Yu was captured and executed, and the alliance folded. In the aftermath of that, Sun Quan finally reclaimed Jingzhou.
If Liu Bei had acquiesced to Sun Quan's request, things may have gone differently. Or perhaps not. They were all skilled leaders in their own right, but they were also men who desired more. That desire can lead people to break their own promises.
[He leads Ash out of the rock exhibit. He wants to stay and look at all the pretty rocks but they do have shit to do.]
no subject
Guan Yu had a history of provoking Sun Quan and stealing from his troops up until that point, so one could call each offense essentially an act of war. Shu Han and Wu's armies had skirmished on several occasions as well. What truly left the alliance in tatters was a series of disputes and broken promises. Cao Cao merely had to wait it out.
He attacked Sun Quan's stronghold in Ruxu and lost. When he returned a few years later, he wasn't able to take the city but he still became a thorn in Sun Quan's side. Cao Cao's forces had dug in too deep to be rooted out, and Sun Quan's army couldn't fall back without losing the city.
Sun Quan saw which way the wind was blowing and allied with Cao Cao at last. Though this was essentially surrender, Cao Cao let him keep all of his titles and allowed him to rule independently anyway. In return, Sun Quan recognized him as the legitimate heir to the Han Dynasty.
It all comes back to Jingzhou. You see, Sun Quan had asked for that land back and was refused. But now, years later, Guan Yu was attacking Cao Cao at Fancheng. Sun Quan saw an opportunity, so his forces moved in and attacked Guan Yu's.
What army can fight a battle on two fronts? That was when Guan Yu was captured and executed, and the alliance folded. In the aftermath of that, Sun Quan finally reclaimed Jingzhou.
If Liu Bei had acquiesced to Sun Quan's request, things may have gone differently. Or perhaps not. They were all skilled leaders in their own right, but they were also men who desired more. That desire can lead people to break their own promises.
[He leads Ash out of the rock exhibit. He wants to stay and look at all the pretty rocks but they do have shit to do.]