21 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.
What happened
China (9)
Han Sui and Ma Teng fought Guo Si and Fan Chou at Changpingguan and were defeated; Liu Fan and Chong Shao died in battle. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷9 孝獻帝紀 興平1年)
The Three Capital Districts suffered a great drought; one hu of grain cost 500,000 coins, people devoured one another and white bones piled up. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷9 孝獻帝紀 興平1年)
The Governor of Yangzhou, Liu Yao, fought Sun Ce, a general of Yuan Shu, at Qu'e, was defeated, and Sun Ce occupied Jiangdong. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷9 孝獻帝紀 興平1年)
Cao Cao campaigned against Tao Qian again, seized five walls, plundered as far as Donghai, routed Liu Bei and Cao Bao east of Tan, and took Xiangbi, killing many. (Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) 魏書 武帝紀 (卷01) 興平1년)
Zhang Miao and Chen Gong welcomed Lü Bu and rebelled; Cao Cao held off Lü Bu at Puyang for over a hundred days, and they withdrew from each other after a locust disaster. (Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) 魏書 武帝紀 (卷01) 興平1년)
Cao Cao attacked Tao Qian and turned Langya and Donghai into wasteland wherever he passed. Returning, at a point east of the wall he defeated Liu Bei. Zhang Miao rebelled and welcomed Lü Bu, so Cao Cao turned his army back. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑 卷061 (원문 단락 #4993, 194년))
Lü Bu's detached camp stood west of Puyang, and Cao Cao broke it with a night attack; but Lü Bu returned and fought personally for dozens of rounds. Dian Wei led volunteers in defense. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑 卷061 (원문 단락 #5010, 194년))
Tao Qian, Governor of Xuzhou, was dying and told Mi Zhu: 'Only Liu Bei can stabilize this province.' When Qian died, Mi Zhu led the people to welcome Liu Bei, but Liu Bei declined, saying Yuan Shu was in Shouchun; Chen Deng opposed him, citing Yuan Shu's arrogance. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑 卷061 (원문 단락 #5015, 194년))
West Asia (11)
Severus defeats Pescennius Niger, who revolted in Egypt, at Cyzicus and has him put to death. (Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus Aur. Vict. Caes. 20.8)
Severus's generals defeated and killed Niger's lieutenant Aemilianus near Cyzicus (Cassius Dio, Roman History 75(74).6.4)
A great battle in the narrow pass between Nicaea and Cius: Candidus first won, Niger appeared and reversed it, then Candidus turned his men again and gained the upper hand (Cassius Dio, Roman History 75(74).6.4)
A great battle at Issus near the Cilician Gates: Niger's army had the advantage, but a storm struck their faces and Valerianus attacked from behind, putting them to flight (Cassius Dio, Roman History 75(74).7.1)
This battle was the war's worst disaster; 20,000 of Niger's men fell (Cassius Dio, Roman History 75(74).8.1)
Antioch fell and Niger fled toward the Euphrates but was beheaded by pursuers; his head was sent to Byzantium and hung on a pole (Cassius Dio, Roman History 75(74).8.3)
Niger sends Moorish troops against Laodicea and Tyre, which had turned to Severus, massacring the inhabitants and burning the cities. (Herodian, History of the Empire 3.3)
As Severus's troops attack the wall at the Taurus pass, an overnight downpour swells a torrent that collapses the wall, opening the road, and they descend into Cilicia. (Herodian, History of the Empire 3.3)
Niger fights on the plain of Issus with a large army made up mostly of recruits, but is badly defeated and flees. (Herodian, History of the Empire 3.4)
Severus punished the cities and individuals who sided with Niger: senators were not killed but had property confiscated and were exiled to islands, and he collected four times what they had given Niger (Cassius Dio, Roman History 75(74).8.4)