Page "Zhang Liao" Paragraph 3

In 189, Ding Yuan and his trusted aide, Lü Bu, led troops into Luoyang to assist General-in-Chief He Jin to eliminate the Ten Attendants, a group of influential eunuch officials in the imperial court.

However, He Jin was soon assassinated by the eunuchs and the capital fell into chaos.

Dong Zhuo, a warlord from Liang Province ( 凉州 ), in the ensuing tussle for power, intended to place in the throne a puppet emperor.

This move deteriorated the relationship between Ding and Dong and induced the latter to plot against the former.

After Lü Bu was persuaded to defect and kill Ding Yuan, Zhang Liao followed him to serve under Dong Zhuo, who had become the de facto head of government.

Soon, regional warlords formed a coalition against Dong Zhuo, who was therefore forced to move the capital west to Chang ' an.