After Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Wang Yun and Lü Bu, his former generals—Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou—stationed in Shan County east of Chang’an, were on the verge of fleeing in disarray, fearing retribution. It was the strategist Jia Xu who urged them to unite and strike back, warning that surrender or flight would lead only to death.
The rise of the tyrants
Meanwhile, Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou fled to Shaanxi and sent envoys to Chang’an to petition for clemency. Wang Yun said, “Dong Zhuo’s tyranny was aided by these four men. Though the empire has been granted general amnesty, these four alone shall not be pardoned.” The envoys returned with this message. Li Jue declared, “Since we cannot obtain pardon, let us each flee for our lives.” His strategist Jia Xu countered, “If you abandon your troops and flee alone, a mere village headman could capture you. Instead, rally the Shaanxi people with your forces, march on Chang’an, and avenge Dong Zhuo. If successful, uphold the court to restore order; if not, retreat will still be time.”
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 9
Heeding his counsel, the warlords launched a counteroffensive. They defeated Li Su, then crushed Lü Bu’s forces, and—aided by traitors within the capital—captured Chang’an. Lü Bu fled, and Wang Yun was executed.
The Han imperial court once again fell into the hands of ruthless warlords.
A plot to usurp the throne
With power in their grasp, Li Jue and Guo Si soon plotted to kill Emperor Xian and seize the throne outright. However, their ambitions were checked by Zhang Ji and Fan Chou, who offered a more cunning strategy:
“We must not kill him yet. Doing so would provoke universal outrage. Instead, continue to honor him as emperor. Lure the regional lords into the passes, strip away their forces, and then eliminate the emperor. Only then can we claim the empire.”
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 10
This plan preserved the fragile façade of Han legitimacy while setting a trap for the eastern warlords.
Chaos in the East
While the west descended into tyranny, the eastern regions were engulfed in conflict. Rival warlords fought for dominance:
- Yuan Shu waged war against Liu Biao,
- Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan battled for control of Ji Province(Jizhou).
Amid this chaos, most leaders were consumed by personal ambition—only one man still honored the Han throne.
Tao Qian’s call for a second coalition
That man was Tao Qian, the Imperial Inspector of Xu Province(Xuzhou). Upon hearing of Dong Zhuo’s death and the fall of Chang’an to Li Jue and Guo Si, Tao Qian resolved to act.
Believing in the restoration of the Han, he summoned the regional lords to form a Second Coalition—a campaign to crush the rebels, rescue Emperor Xian, and restore imperial authority.
The following leaders answered his call:
- Zhou Gan, Yin De, Liu Kui, Ji Lian, Kong Rong, Yuan Zhong, Ying Shao, Xu Qiu, Fu Qian, Zheng Xuan, and
Zhu Jun. - Zhu Jun: As the renowned general who had earned great fame in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He was recommended as leader of the coalition
Recognizing Zhu Jun’s military prowess and loyal reputation, Tao Qian dispatched 3,000 elite troops to reinforce him at Zhongmu County.
Tao Qian declared:
“Zhu Jun has achieved many victories in battle—he can be entrusted with great causes.”
With Tao Qian’s support, the coalition unanimously elected Zhu Jun as its leader, placing their hopes in a man of proven valor and integrity.
The false Emperor’s Decree
Back in Chang’an, Grand Commandant Zhou Zhong and Minister Jia Xu devised a clever ploy to undermine the coalition.
They advised Li Jue and Guo Si to use Emperor Xian’s authority to lure Zhu Jun away:
“To win the people’s favor, we shall specially summon Zhu Jun to court and appoint him Grand Minister of the Household (Taifu), sharing in the governance of the empire.”
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 10
The decree, issued in the emperor’s name, appeared to be an honor—but it was a strategic trap designed to remove the coalition’s leader and fracture the alliance.
A fatal miscalculation
At this critical juncture, Zhu Jun made a grave error. Despite being the cornerstone of the coalition, he overestimated his influence in the corrupted court.
Believing he could enter the capital, stabilize the government, and gradually restore order from within, Zhu Jun accepted the imperial summons and departed for Chang’an.
His departure was catastrophic.
The collapse of the Second Coalition
Without Zhu Jun, the Second Coalition instantly lost its central figure and unifying force. The alliance, still in its infancy, collapsed before any military action could be taken.
Tao Qian’s noble effort to rescue the emperor and restore the Han ended in failure—not from defeat in battle, but from political manipulation and miscalculation.
The eastern lords, lacking strong leadership and unified purpose, drifted back to their private wars.
And in Chang’an, Li Jue and Guo Si tightened their grip on the puppet emperor, delaying the restoration of order for years.
Legacy of a missed opportunity
The story of the Second Coalition is one of loyalty, ambition, and tragic misjudgment.
- Tao Qian stood out as a rare figure of Han loyalty in an age of warlords.
- Zhu Jun was a capable and honorable general, but his naïve faith in imperial authority led to strategic disaster.
- The court under Li Jue and Guo Si proved that power, not legitimacy, ruled the day.
This failed coalition underscores a central theme of Romance of the Three Kingdoms:
Even the most righteous cause can falter when great men make small mistakes—and when tyrants wield the emperor’s name as a weapon.
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