[4] In 189,[5] after the warlord Dong Zhuo seized control of the Han central government and held the figurehead Emperor Xian hostage, Zhang Cheng wanted to gather like-minded people to rise up against Dong Zhuo's tyranny and overthrow him.
We'll need to draft civilians into military service, train them to be soldiers, gain support from the political elites, and so on.
Dong Zhuo won't last long because he lacks legitimacy and relies solely on military power.
Why don't we find someone to take shelter under, pledge allegiance to him, and wait for an opportunity to take action, and fulfil our ambitions.
He then resigned from government service, returned home, gathered his family members and moved to Yang Province.
[8] In the 190s,[9] the warlord Yuan Shu controlled the lands around the Huai River in Yang Province.
If a man can embody everyone's hopes for a benevolent and virtuous ruler, even if he has nothing to his name, it won't be hard for him to achieve what you described.
"[13] Zhang Cheng replied, "The Han Empire may have declined in virtue, but its legitimacy still stands.
However, Zhang Fan claimed that he was ill and remained behind in Pengcheng (彭城; around present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu).