Shi Huan was from
Pei Commandery and as a youth, he acted as a
xia (俠), gathering followers without official authority and often acting outside the law. Shi Huan gained a reputation for having a heroic spirit. When Cao Cao raised forces to face
Dong Zhuo in 190, Shi Huan led his retainers to join Cao Cao as Acting Internal Army Colonel and became a trusted aide, helping supervise the officers on campaign. In 198, the warlord
Zhang Yang was assassinated and in the turmoil, the former
Heishan bandit Sui Gu gained control in
Henei and sought an alliance with
Yuan Shao. Seeking to prevent the alliance and secure his left flank, Cao Cao sent an army led by Shi Huan,
Cao Ren and
Yu Jin across the He river to intercept Sui Gu's march north. The forces met in a battle at Quancheng with Sui Gu killed and his forces brought under control. During the
Battle of Guandu, Shi Huan was sent with
Xu Huang to raid Yuan Shao's supplies at Gushi, defeating the defenders and setting the supplies ablaze. Shi Huan was given a trusted police role within the army The plan went ahead and Cao Cao was victorious at the
Battle of White Wolf Mountain but after a difficult march back, Cao Cao rewarded those who had objected. Shi Huan died in 209 with his son Shi Jing inheriting his estate. == Romance of Three Kingdoms ==