Hanzhong from Cao Cao. Huang Quan led Liu Bei's forces into Ba commandery and defeated Du Huo (杜濩), Pu Hu (朴胡), Yuan Yue (袁約) the Administrators of the three Ba commandaries whom Cao Cao had appointed along with others. Chen Shou in Huang Quan's biography states that from the defeat of Du Huo (杜濩) and Pu Hu (朴胡) in Ba commandery to Xiahou Yuan's fall and the occupation of Hanzhong; all were the result of Huang Quan's planning. In 219, Liu Bei emerged victorious in this campaign and declared himself "King of Hanzhong" (漢中王) along with Governor of Yi Province (益州牧). Huang Quan was appointed as an Assistant Officer in the Headquarters Office (治中從事). In 221, Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor and founded the state of Shu, after which he planned to launch a military campaign against his former ally, Sun Quan, who had seized Jing Province from him in late 219 and killed his general Guan Yu. After a serie of early victories, Liu Bei wanted to press the Wu's forces further. However Huang Quan protested against this strategy and told him: "Sun Quan's forces are powerful and having them in this position allow them to use the Yangtze's river to their advantage moreover It would encourage their fighting spirit since it would make their retreat more difficult while making their attacks easier therefore I volunteer to lead the attack and suggest that your Majesty should remain behind to command the reserve's forces." However, Liu Bei rejected Huang Quan's advice. He removed him from the main theater of operation and appointed Huang Quan as General Who Guards the North (鎮北將軍) and ordered him to defend the northern flank from possible attacks by the state of Wei (established by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi), while he personally led the main Shu army and travelled along the Yangtze to attack Sun Quan. Liu Bei suffered a devastating defeat in the ensuing Battle of Xiaoting (221–222) at the hands of Sun Quan's forces and was forced to retreat. Huang Quan and his men were separated from Liu Bei's remaining forces after the battle and could not return to Shu therefore they surrendered to Wei. After Huang Quan defected to Wei, a Shu officer urged Liu Bei to execute Huang Quan's family members – who were still in Shu when Huang defected to Wei – but Liu Bei refused and said: "I let