Li Jue and Guo Si are never able to recapture Emperor Xian, but his court has been rendered poor and unable to fend for itself; once it returns to Luoyang, it lacks even the basic essentials of life.

Many imperial officials starve to death or are killed by robbers.

At this time, Yuan Shao's strategist Ju Shou suggests that he welcome Emperor Xian to his province so that he can effectively be in control of the central government, but the other strategists Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong oppose this move—under the faulty logic that if he did, he would have to yield to Emperor Xian on key decisions.

Yuan Shao heeds the advice of Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong and never again considers welcoming Emperor Xian.