It is nearing the end of the 2nd Century, and Han Dynasty China is beset by strife. Numerous warlords, tribal uprisings, bandit armies and peasant rebellions are devastating the already famine-ridden nation, and the young Emperor Xian can only watch from his court in Chang'an, where the power is held by warlord-regents Li Jue and Guo Si.
The men that should be fighting to restore the Han - the wealthy Yuan Shao, so-called "Hero of Chaos" Cao Cao and disinherited Han scion Liu Bei - are too busy with their own problems, and none are worse than the ambitious Yuan Shu - who covets his brother Shao's power and more besides - and LU Bu, foster son of vanquished tyrant Dong Zhuo and a force of chaos unlike any other.
The Han's fate is uncertain as power shifts from Chang'an to Xuchang and the factions dwindle; a famous battle at Guandu is all that then stands between ambitious men and the road to the legendary "Three Kingdoms" era.