High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Battle of Cangting was part of a mop-up operation undertaken by the warlord Cao Cao after his victory over his rival Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu in 200 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle was also mentioned in Luo Guanzhong`s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms as the final clash between the forces of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao before Yuan Shao died.