The Yuan brothers and the surviving Wuhuan leaders, Supuyan, Louban, Wuyan and others, flee east with a few thousand horses to Liaodong (eastern Liaoning), where the warlord Gongsun Kang enjoys some degree of independence from the Han Dynasty imperial court due to Liaodong's distance from the capital and the chaotic state in China.

In the ninth lunar month, Cao Cao continues his march into Liucheng, and here he halts, making no intention to attack Liaodong despite the urgings of his subordinates.

He later explains that applying pressure to Liaodong may have bound Yuan Shang and Gongsun Kang against him, but if he left them to their own devices, they would quarrel among themselves.

A few days after Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi arrive in Liaodong, Gongsun Kang arranges to see them.

Yuan Shang plots to kill Gongsun Kang and take his territory for the Yuans, but Gongsun Kang strikes first, killing the brothers and sending their heads to Cao Cao.

The Wuhuan leaders who follow the Yuans are not spared either and all are decapitated.

Cao Cao returns after this victory to the North China Plain following a particularly difficult withdrawal from Liucheng, where the coldness of early winter, shortage of food, and drought all take their toil on Cao Cao's men.

He then rewards and compliments those councilors who had advised against the Wuhuan campaign earlier, acknowledging that the venture had been dangerous and risky and he had been blessed by fortune.

Indeed, Liu Bei had tried to persuade Liu Biao to attack while Cao Cao was away in the north, although, as Guo Jia had predicted, Liu Biao did not take the opportunity and later regretted this decision.