Appraisal states:

Gōngsūn Zàn defended citadel, sitting and waiting for extermination.

Dù was cruel and brutal and without moderation, Yuān carried on the enterprise to continue viciousness, only sufficient to overturn his clan.

Táo Qiān was muddled and chaotic and in anxiety died, Zhāng Yáng lost his head to his subordinates, both held and occupied provinces and prefectures, but even ordinary fellows they did not match, indeed not worth discussing.

Yān, Xiù, Lǔ gave up being bandits, were ranked as accomplished ministers, left danger and destruction, protected their ancestral sacrifices, and so compared to the others they were far better.

評曰：公孫瓚保京，坐待夷滅。度殘暴而不節，淵仍業以載凶，秪足覆其族也。陶謙昏亂而憂死，張楊授首於臣下，皆擁據州郡，曾匹夫之不若，固無可論者也。燕、繡、魯舍群盜，列功臣，去危亡，保宗祀，則於彼為愈焉。