Han Fu served as a Master of Writing, then as Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk until 189, when Dong Zhuo named him the governor of Ji Province.
During that year, Yuan Shao began plotting against Dong Zhuo, and Han Fu was unsure of whom to support.
Yuan Shao begins to look at the options to remove his dependency on the food shipment from Han Fu to maintain his troops.
Seeing the incoming invasion from Gongsun Zan, the frightened Han Fu surrenders his territory to Yuan Shao even though a number of officials beg him to reconsider.
The disappointed Han Fu leaves everything, including his family and goes to seek refuge with Zhang Miao in Chenliu Commandery.