Intro. During Yuan Shao's early life, he participated in saving some of the "partisans" from death or other terrible fates during the second of the Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions. One such "partisan" was He Yong, whom Yuan Shao befriended after he escaped to Runan and became close with. When the second of the Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions began, He Yong often secretly entered Luoyang, where he discussed plans with Yuan Shao on how to help the "partisans". For the "partisans" who were destitute, the plans were to provide material help. For the "partisans" who were imprisoned, the plans were to work within the bureaucracy so that the partisans may escape. \[4\] After he entered the civil service, Yuan Shao initially served as an aide to General-in-Chief He Jin, who deeply trusted him.
After the death of Emperor Ling in May 189, He Jin and Yuan Shao plotted to eliminate the eunuch faction,\[5\] but Empress Dowager He was against their idea. He Jin then summoned Dong Zhuo to lead troops into