Map showing the major warlords in China in the 190s, before the definitive end of the Han dynasty in 220.

Dong Zhuo faction: When Emperor Ling died in 189, Dong Zhuo was appointed protector over Emperor Shao, a position he abused to control the government and install Emperor Xian. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao launched the Campaign against Dong Zhuo (190–191), forcing Dong Zhuo's faction and the captive Emperor Xian to flee from Luoyang to Chang'an. Lü Bu staged a coup and killed Dong Zhuo in 192, but was expelled by Li Jue and Guo Si. These entered into war in 195, lost the emperor to Cao Cao in 196 and were eliminated in 198.
Cao Cao faction: Cao Cao began his gradual conquest of Yan Province in 191, completing it by 195 and expanding into the neighbouring provinces of Xu, Yu and Sili (completed by 199), capturing the emperor in 196 and defeating numerous minor warlords until he clashed with the powerful and wealthy but indecisive Yuan Shao. Cao Cao's victory over Yuan Shao at Guandu in 200 and successive victories made him the most powerful warlord in China, laying the foundation of the later Kingdom of Wei. By 214, he had also conquered the northwestern provinces.
Sun Ce faction: Sun Ce, son of Sun Jian, served under Yuan Shu until the latter declared himself emperor in 197, and was defeated by a coalition of warlords. Sun Ce seceded from Yuan Shu, established his own territory in Jiangdong, defeated Liu Yong in 198, and was succeeded by his brother Sun Quan in 200, laying the foundation of the later Kingdom of Wu. In 215, Sun Quan and Liu Bei divided the Jing Province between them, but in 219 Sun Quan conquered the whole province. In 226, Wu ally Shi Xie died and Wu general Lü Dai conquered and annexed Jiao Province from Shi Xie's sons.
Liu Bei faction: Liu Bei succeeded Tao Qian as the governor of Xu Province in 194. He was captured by Lü Bu in 195, but escaped to Cao Cao in 196; in 199 they jointly defeated and executed Lü Bu and captured Xu Province. Liu Bei then defected to Yuan Shao, but when the latter was defeated by Cao Cao in 200, he fled south and eventually allied himself with Sun Quan. In 212–214 he conquered Yi Province, laying the foundation of the later Kingdom of Shu. He tried to remain allies with Wu while attacking Wei, conquering Hanzhong in 217–219.

Yuan Shao faction: In 191, Yuan Shao tricked governor Han Fu into surrendering Ji Province to him. Yuan Shao's son Yuan Tan conquered Qing Province from Kong Rong in 196. Around 199, Yuan Shao's nephew Gao Gan became governor of Bing Province. Gongsun Zan was definitively defeated by Yuan Shao in 199, giving him control of most of You Province. Cao Cao heavily defeated Yuan Shao in the 200 Battle of Guandu, and successively eliminated the entire Yuan clan and conquered their four provinces by 207.