The Han dynasty was brought down by the Yellow Turban rebellion. Initially, Liu Bei and Cao Cao were insignificant players in the story. Liu Bei was trying to establish order in a chaotic world and befriended powerful warriors, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, with whom he took the Oath of the Peach Garden to become warriors for justice. Meanwhile, Cao Cao was torn about whether he should be a hero in a chaotic world or a villain in a peaceful one. At first, Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu held the reins of power, but they fell out over a woman, creating a power vacuum that allowed Cao Cao to seize his opportunity. Despite Lu Bu being the stronger fighter, Cao Cao had exceptional luck on the battlefield. Liu Bei strove to stay on the right path but had minimal influence in the vast warring states of China. The conflict raged across the nation, leading to inconclusive results, and paving the way for the subsequent two films in the series.