In the aftermath of the Battle of Chengcang, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, issued an edict appointing Dong Zhuo as the Minister of the Imperial Granary (Shaofu). However, Dong Zhuo refused this position, citing the need to retain his soldiers as a reason, and instead petitioned the court to allow him to continue serving as a General. According to the historical records, this event occurred in the fifth year of the Zhongping era (188 AD).
The position of Shaofu was one of the nine ministers, holding an official rank equivalent to 2,000 stones, overseeing the imperial wardrobe, valuable goods, and delicacies. Despite the emperor's insistence, Dong Zhuo maintained his position as a military commander. Subsequently, Liu Hong appointed him as the governor of Bingzhou, making him the fourth provincial governor at the time, following Liu Yu of Youzhou, Huang Wan of Yuzhou, and Liu Yan of Yizhou.
Dong Zhuo had previously served as the Inspector of Bingzhou, making this appointment particularly appealing to him. Although he accepted the post, he refused to transfer his military authority entirely to Huangfu Song, another general assigned to assist him. In his correspondence with the court, Dong Zhuo claimed that his bond with certain officers and soldiers was deep, and they wished to accompany him to Bingzhou for the new assignment.
In the sixth year of Zhongping (189 AD), he was again appointed as the governor of Bingzhou, with orders to assign his troops to Huangfu Song. Dong Zhuo protested, asserting that after a decade of service, his soldiers had developed strong ties with him and were eager to serve the state. This defiance only heightened tensions between Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song, with Huangfu Song's subordinate, Huangfu Li, urging his superior to eliminate Dong Zhuo. However, Huangfu Song hesitated, choosing instead to report Dong Zhuo's insubordination to the court, leading to further imperial reprimands against Dong.
Ultimately, Dong Zhuo took 5,000 soldiers and left Huangfu Song's command to march towards Bingzhou but stalled in Hedong County. His earlier campaigns, including the successful Battle of Chengcang, suggested that he had left around 15,000 troops under Huangfu Song's command. With the emperor's orders compelling him to report, Dong Zhuo decided to advance his troops across the river.
Dong Zhuo's refusal to comply with imperial orders indicated his growing ambition and desire for power, particularly as political instability loomed with the emperor's declining health. Observing the situation, Dong Zhuo hoped for a power shift in Luoyang that would allow him to capitalize on the chaos and secure a favorable position.
His political motivations were also influenced by the history of his former superior, Zhang Huan, who had similarly advanced during a political upheaval. In 168 AD, Zhang Huan, upon returning to the capital, had benefitted from the turmoil following Emperor Ling's ascension. Recognizing the potential for similar opportunities, Dong Zhuo aimed to leverage any political shifts to ascend to power.
However, by April of the following year, Emperor Ling passed away, and Liu Bian ascended the throne. Meanwhile, General He Jin and the Grand Tutor Yuan Wei consolidated their control over the court. As political maneuvering escalated, the scholar faction led by Yuan Shao began to organize a response against the eunuchs.
