Below is a run-down of the situation and interesting characters at each of the three early starting dates, to give an idea of what playthroughs might be possible:

769 CE

The Tibetans are advancing northwards into the Gansu region, but Tang authority hasn’t entirely eroded yet.

• Zhang Qianyi: A powerful Chinese official under the Tibetans, he serves them loyally - for now. In the future, once the right opportunity arises, he or his descendants might seek to restore Chinese rule to Dunhuang.
  
• Cao Shiyuan: The ruler of Yumen, under Zhang Qianyi. The Cao, despite their ambitions, understand that if Dunhuang is to be a powerful, independent state, they must focus on the Tibetans first. Thus, they serve the Zhang family capably for now.
  
• Li Dabin: The ruler of Anxi, who hails from the most ancient house of Li that gave rise to Laozi, Li Guang, and the Tang Emperors. With his friend and fellow official and father-in-law, Yin Tingjie, will he be able to ensure that the Dunhuang region remains free from Tibetan rule?

Other Interesting Characters

• An Yinfang: The wife of Zhang Qianyi, she hails from the An family of Dunhuang, who were heavily Sinicized Sogdians that intermarried with local Chinese elites. Her distant relative is Li Baoyu, born An Chongzhang, a loyal and talented Tang Dynasty general who fought against the An Lushan rebellion and later changed his name out of shame of coincidentally sharing the same last name as An Lushan.
  
• Fan Guozhong: A Dunhuang native who would lead one of the first major insurrections against Tibetan rule and be killed sometime in the early 9th century. He starts as a capable general, the Mayor of Shouchang under Zhang Qianyi.
  
• Li Lingwu: The older brother of Li Dabin and a renowned monk in Dunhuang. He starts as the Bhikkhu of the temple holding of Mogao under the Western Protectorate.
  
• Suo Tao: The ruler of the city Dunhuang proper, and a man proud of his family’s scholarly roots, who looks upon the Tibetan incursions with great disapproval.
  
• Yin Tingjie: Li Dabin’s friend and father-in-law, the Mayor of Guazhou.

867 CE

It’s been almost three decades since Zhang Yichao led a successful rebellion against the Tibetans, but as he grows older, he is increasingly unable to maintain the tense peace between the various scheming clans of Dunhuang.

• Zhang Yichao: The man himself who liberated Dunhuang from Tibetan rule, Zhang Yichao is now old and the rising tensions and ambitions between the clans of Dunhuang. For now, there is peace, thanks to marriage alliances with all of the major clans, and Zhang Yichao’s capable leadership, but as soon as Zhang Yichao dies, all hell might break loose.
  
• Cao Wancheng: One of Zhang Yichao’s top officials, he is the most powerful vassal of the realm, ruling Jiuquan. The Cao are ambitious like their supposed ancestor Cao Cao. His son, Cao Yijin, is but a toddler, but there are astrologers who say great things lie ahead for this bright child.
  
• Li Mingzhen: An old ally of Zhang Yichao, he was one of his officers during the liberation of Dunhuang and rules Yangguan. However, he and his sons, who hail from an old family claiming distant relations to the Tang Emperors, feel they are the rightful leaders of Dunhuang.
  
• Suo Xun: His family are another old clan of Dunhuang, having been around since the Han Dynasty. They are proud scholars, and seek to make Dunhuang a bastion of civilization - Suo Xun, who rules Anxi, is ambitious, and may be the first to attempt overthrowing the Zhang once Zhang Yichao dies.
  
• Yin Wentong: One of Zhang Yichao’s more loyal officials, he was a major aide of Zhang Yichao during the campaign against the Tibetans. He rules Yumen, and is the weakest of the major vassals.

Other Interesting Minor Characters

• Kang Tongxin: A Dunhuang official who hails from a Sinicized family of Sogdians that has intermarried with the Chinese clans.
  
• Wuzhen: A celebrated monk in Dunhuang who led a major embassy to the Tang court in Dunhuang on behalf of the Zhang regime. He is the Bhikkhu of the temple holding of Mogao at the game start. An erudite and learned man, he can easily serve Zhang Yichao as a chancellor/diplomat or court chaplain.
  
• Zhai Farong: A powerful official in Dunhuang, and grandfather of the future celebrated scholar and calendarist Zhai Fengda, he is Baron of the castle of Fulu under Cao Wancheng.
  
• Zhang Qiu: A famous literati and author in Dunhuang, not related to the ruling family, who is the Mayor of Suzhou under Cao Wancheng at game start. A skilled writer and author, he has a number of connections and is friends with Zhang Huaishen, Zhang Yichao’s nephew.
  
• Zhu Zaiqing: An important leader in the Buddhist lay community, he is the Mayor of Yueyaquan, under Zhang Yichao at the game start.

936 CE

After Zhang Yichao’s death, there was some chaos and a revolving door of usurpers and intrigue, but after years of turmoil Guiyi Circuit is firmly under the rule of the Cao clan.

• Cao Yuande: Without a strong leader like Zhang Yichao or Cao Yijin, this son of Cao Yijin has big shoes to fill - the threat of Uighurs to both east and west, as well as the nomads to the north. With China still in chaos, it is his duty to uphold Chinese civilization in this frontier of the west.
  
• Zhai Fengda: Though the Zhai are an old clan in the Dunhuang region, they’ve only recently gained increased influence. Zhai Fengda, who rules Yangguan, has gained acclaim and renown as an intelligent official and scholar, and perhaps he can use this to further the clan’s agenda in Dunhuang, or to improve the region’s culture or infrastructure.
  
• Li Ling: This once great clan are shadow of their former selves. Despite usurping leadership of the Guiyi Circuit for a while, they were spared - which is fortunate. Guiyi is in an even weaker, though stabler position than under Zhang Yichao’s rule. Will Li Ling seek to accomplish what Li Mingzhen and his sons could not, or will he not risk Dunhuang’s stability and instead work to serve the Cao regime loyally?

Other Interesting Minor Characters

• Shanyou: A monk-official under the Cao regime, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Turfan in 935 CE. He starts as a Bhikkhu of the temple holding of Mogao at game start and would make a good Chancellor or Court Chaplain.
  
• Suo Ziqian: Despite being the first to usurp the heirs of Zhang Yichao, the Suo clan survived. Their current leader, Suo Ziqian, is the Baron of Yumenquan under Cao Yuande. He would later lead an important delegation to the Kingdom of Khotan in 956 CE, and would make a good Chancellor.
  
• Zhang Huaiqing: He is the leader of the remnants of the Zhang clan, son of the last Zhang ruler of Dunhuang, Zhang Chengfeng. Currently, he is an official, the mayor of Dunhuang under Cao Yuande. He has a weak claim on the Duchy of Guiyi, so might be a problem in the future, though he doesn’t seem particularly interested in seizing his rightful inheritance.
  
• Zhang Yingrun: Another surviving member of the Zhang family. He is a devout member of the local Buddhist community, famous for sponsoring a number of religious constructions and work on scripture.