Zhang Liao, courtesy name Wenyuan, was from Mayi in Yanmen. During the Cao Wei era, he was one of the famed "Five Elite Generals." Cao Cao had praised him: "His martial prowess is immense, his strategies comprehensive; loyal and steadfast by nature, he upholds honor and righteousness." He was truly accomplished in both civil and martial matters, fit to command armies and lead men.
Following the course of his original life, he would have followed Lü Bu after Dong Zhuo's death, then later Cao Cao, fighting across the north and south for Cao Cao's unification of the north, risking his life and earning tremendous merit. But now, because of Yin Kuang and the others' arrival—especially because Lü Bu had died in Yin Kuang's chain of schemes—Zhang Liao's fate had veered off course. During the westward migration, he had saved Dong Zhuo when the latter's life was in danger, winning Dong Zhuo's trust in one stroke. He was promoted to the fifth-rank General Who Suppressed Rebellion, and his prestige within Dong Zhuo's army now nearly matched that of the deceased Lü Bu.
At this point, Zhang Liao could be said to have achieved both fame and success. Yet he felt neither pride nor joy in that success. Because the man who had granted him fame and rank was Dong Zhuo. On one hand, Zhang Liao was grateful for Dong Zhuo's recognition and patronage. By a general's code of conduct, he ought to serve Dong Zhuo with all his strength; no matter what, a man who betrayed his lord would be despised and scorned. But on the other hand, Dong Zhuo was no enlightened lord in his eyes. Or rather, Dong Zhuo was an outright butcher and executioner. Recently, Zhang Liao had also heard rumors that Dong Zhuo was preparing to ascend