The biography of Cao Cao: change of fate the uprising of "loyal rebels" and disintegration of their camp (190-192 a.d.)

The article presents the third part of the comprehensive biography of Later Han warlord Cao Cao based on his biography in «Sanguo zhi» chronicle by Chen Shou and Pei Songzhi and history texts of «Hou Han shu» by Fan Ye and «Zizhi tongjian» by Sima Guang. Before Later Han crisis of 189 A.D., Cao Cao proved to be an ambitious young man with ample military talents. However, his methods of administrative control were quickly rejected by the regional magnates and local officials. In 188 A.D., Cao Cao was appointed an officer in the newly organized «Western garden» royal guards corps. He was in the capital city of Luoyang when Emperor Ling had passed and witnessed the staging of a coup against eunuchs by the Commander-in-Chief regent He Jin and his old friend Yuan Shao. As a result of Yuan Shao's activities, eunuchs murdered He Jin and thus initiated a large-scale revolt against them among the army. The frontier general Dong Zhuo, called in by He Jin and Yuan Shao, entered the capital. Shortly after, he managed to overcome most of the late regent's army, deposed Emperor Shao and enthroned his younger brother Liu Xie as Emperor Xian. Yuan Shao, Cao Cao and other commanders flew from the capital. In 190 A.D. they started the insurrection of «loyal rebels» against Dong Zhuo. Although large in number, «loyal rebels» were not able to find a weak point in Dong Zhuo's defense because their troops were not so well trained. In the end, the insurrection ceased and leaders of the loyal army started to fight among themselves for territories, titles and positions. Cao Cao was just a minor commander when the uprising began and he was among those few, who actually tried to wage a war against Dong Zhuo. Later he proved himself in battles against Heishan bandits and was promoted by Yuan Shao to Grand Administrator of Dong commandery. He kept those territories safe from bandits and even managed to defeat shanyu Yufuluo and destroy Heishan bandits' base. In 192 A.D., remnants of the Yellow Turbans army invaded Yan province. They managed to defeat provincial militia, led by Yan governor Liu Dai who died in that clash. In dire situation Yan officials invited Cao Cao to become the leader of provincial army. Cao managed to defeat Yellow Turbans and accepted their surrender. He applied to the officials in the capital for a promotion to become the Governor of Yan province. He did not gain that position and contented with the title of Inspector. Cao Cao climbed the career ladder from a minor warlord to an Inspector of one of the central provinces in just three years and still was overambitious.