公元190年，后将军袁术、冀州牧韩馥、豫州刺史孔伷、兖州刺史刘岱、河内太守王匡、渤海太守袁绍、陈留太守张邈、东郡太守桥瑁、山阳太守袁遣、济北相鲍信同时起兵，组成联军，并公推袁绍为盟主。这支军队由于他们的驻地都在函谷关以东，因此被称为“关东义军”，也叫“关东联军”，简称“关东军”。而董卓的部队则叫做“西北军”。曹操被“关东盟军”的盟主袁绍任命为“奋武将军”。
In 190 AD, the later generals Yuan Shu, Ji Zhou Mu Han Fu, Yu Zhou Zhi Shi Kong Dai, Yan Zhou Zhi Shi Liu Dai, Hanoi Tai Shou Wang Kuang, Bohai Sea Tai Shou Yuan Shao, Chen Liu Tai Shou Zhang Miao, Dongjun Tai Shou Qiao Mao, Shan Yang Tai Shou Yuan Dispatch, and Ji Bei Xiang Bao Xin joined forces at the same time to form a coalition army, and elected Yuan Shao as the leader of the alliance. This army is known as the “Kanto Rebel Army”, also known as the “Kanto Allied Army”, or the “Kanto Army” for short, because their bases are all east of Hangu Pass. Dong Zhuo’s army is called the “Northwest Army”. Cao Cao was appointed “General Fenwu” by Yuan Shao, the leader of the “Guandong Allied Army”.
＊曹操欣然接受了“奋武将军”的称号，因为据易中天先生分析，曹操从公元174年出山，到公元189年起兵，他一直是向做能臣的。这次，曹操接受这个称号，本来是想为国家、为民族做点大事，可是就在他准备为实现自己的理想而赴汤蹈火的时候，却感到了报国无门。那么，曹操究竟看到了什么而使他如此失望呢？
Cao Cao readily accepted the title of “General Fenwu”, because according to Mr. Yi Zhongtian’s analysis, Cao Cao had been a capable minister from the time he emerged from the mountains in AD 174 to the time he started the army in AD 189. This time, when Cao Cao accepted this title, he originally wanted to do something important for the country and the nation, but just as he was preparing to go through fire and water to achieve his ideal, he felt that there was no way to serve the country. So, what did Cao Cao see that made him so disappointed?
首先是“关东军”的盟主首领袁绍徒有其表。袁绍这个人被推为盟主也是有道理的，第一，袁绍出身高贵，他的家族号称“四世三公”，什么叫“四世三公”呢？就是他这个家族有四代人连续地担任了“三公”的职务，我们知道在汉代“三公”这个职务的地位是很高的，仅次于皇帝的可谓“一人之下万人之上”。袁家一连四代人，就是袁绍以上太祖、高祖、祖、父这四辈都有出任这样官职的人，那在官场上是炙手可热的显赫家族啊。第二，袁绍自己一表人才，长得非常漂亮，聪明伶俐能说会道，也善于处理人际关系，和当时的名流、士大夫都有来往。更重要的是袁绍因为反对董卓，而声名大振。
First of all, Yuan Shao, the leader of the “Guandong Army”, had only his appearance. Yuan Shao was also promoted as the leader of the alliance for a reason. First, Yuan Shao was from a noble background, and his family was known as the “Fourth Generation and Third Duke”. What is the name of the “Fourth Generation and Third Duke”? It is his family that has held the position of “Three Officials” for four consecutive generations. We know that in the Han Dynasty, the position of “Three Officials” was very high, and second only to the emperor, it can be described as “one person below ten thousand people above ten thousand people.”. The Yuan family has four generations in a row, including four generations from Yuan Shao up to Tai Zu, Gao Zu, Zu, and Fu, who have held such positions. That is a hot and prominent family in the official arena. Secondly, Yuan Shao was a talented person of his own appearance. He was very beautiful, intelligent, articulate, and good at handling interpersonal relationships. He had contacts with celebrities and scholarly officials at that time. More importantly, Yuan Shao gained a reputation for opposing Dong Zhuo.
