Yuan Shao's state

In 191 A.D., Han Fu, governor of Ji province, gave up the governorship to Yuan Shao in the face of an imminent attack by Gongsun Zan. Yuan Shao then began to build a warlord state from his base city at Ye. Yuan Shao had brave generals as Yan Liang, Wen Chou and Zhang He under his command.

After defeating Gongsun Zan of the north in The Battle of Yijing in 199 A.D., Yuan Shao became, arguably, the most powerful warlord of that time. His status was short-lived; in 200 A.D. he lost The Battle of Guandu against Cao Cao.