Romance of the Three Kingdoms often diverges from the history. For instance, in the episode where Guan Yu kills Hua Xiong while warming wine, historical records state that Guan Yu followed Liu Bei, who was then under Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan was busy fighting the Wuhuan in the north and did not participate in…
Today, let’s explore the truth behind the 18 warlords or vassals who, according to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, united to overthrow the tyrant Dong Zhuo.
In the narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the chaotic times of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, “holding the Emperor to command the warlords” is often regarded as the core key to Cao Cao’s dominance over northern China.