Records of the Three Kingdoms
Yuan Shao, courtesy name Benchu, was from Ruyang in Runan. His family had held the three excellencies for four generations, and clients and former officers were everywhere. He was one of the planners of He Jin’s strike against the eunuchs. After Dong Zhuo’s deposition of the emperor, Yuan Shao fled Luoyang and was made leader of the eastern alliance. The alliance soon broke.
He turned to fight Gongsun Zan for the north and in the end held Ji, Qing, You, and Bing, with Ye as his base. In 200 he marched south against Cao Cao. Tian Feng and Ju Shou argued for a slow war and were not followed. Xu You went over to Cao Cao, Wuchao was burned, and the main army collapsed. In 202 Yuan Shao sickened, vomited blood, and died. His sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang attacked each other. The north then fell to Cao Cao.
Chen Shou says he looked generous and was jealous inside, full of plans and unable to decide. Guo Jia compared him with Cao Cao in similar words.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The novel makes Guandu a series of duels. Yan Liang and Wen Chou die by Guan Yu’s hand, and the counselors argue in the tent. The frame of the defeat remains: he would not hear Tian Feng, he lost Xu You, and the grain was burned.
After his death Shen Pei and Guo Tu each back a son. The book closes the north with the brothers’ war.
Reference: Wikipedia · Yuan Shao