Xinye (新野) lay in Nanyang commandery, on the approaches between the central plains and Jing Province. After entering Liu Biao’s service, Liu Bei was stationed there with a small force.
In 201 Liu Bei defeated a vanguard of Cao Cao near Xinye but could not hold Nanyang against the greater Wei armies. His withdrawal from Xinye and Nanyang foreshadowed his later flight through the south and the famous stand at Changban.