The Man Most Likely to Revive Han in the Late Han: Zhang Yang of Bingzhou

Who was the man most likely to restore the Han at the end of the Han dynasty?

Liu Xie: “My heart is with Zhang Zhishu. Zhishu was loyal and righteous all his life, his virtues as bright as the sun and moon. If we are to restore the Han, Zhishu should be our first choice!”

Liu Bei: “I wandered south, but I could never get enough provisions.”

Cao Cao: “I feel like I’ve spent my life in his shadow.”

Yuan Shao: “My family is prestigious. Fighting for power comes first.”

Sun Quan: “I hold Jiangdong, but I can never get past Hefei.”

Zhuge Liang: “I made six expeditions to Qishan, but the Qinling Mountains always blocked my way.”

Gongsun Zan: “I held Youzhou and loved to wage war, but I fought until I had no territory left.”

Liu Biao: “I held Jingzhou and lived in peace. How could I even dream of restoring the Han?”

Liu Zhang: “I held Yizhou just to protect myself. I had no ambition to restore the Han.”

Yuan Shu: “I was in such a hurry to proclaim myself emperor that I became a laughingstock across the land.”

Lu Bu: “I kept switching sides. How could I have had the foundations to restore the Han?”

Zhang Yang: “I alone hold Henei, near Luoyang, free of interference from the great clans. If not me, then who can restore the Han?”