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Schemes Against Dong Zhuo： Cao Cao Presents A Sword。
Dong Zhuo was on the point of slaying Yuan Shao； but Li Ru checked him； saying； 〃You must not kill rashly while the business hangs in the balance。〃
Yuan Shao； his sword still unsheathed； left the assembly。 He hung up the seals of his office at the east gate and went to Jizhou Region。
Dong Zhuo said to Imperial Guardian Yuan Wei； 〃Your nephew behaved improperly； but I pardon him for your sake。 What think you of my scheme？〃
〃What you think is right；〃 was the reply。
〃If anyone opposes the great scheme； he will be dealt with by military law！〃 said Dong Zhuo。
The ministers； thoroughly dreaded； promised obedience； and the feast came to an end。
Dong Zhuo asked Counselor Zhou Bi and mander Wu Qiong what they thought of the flight of Yuan Shao。
Zhou Bi said； 〃He left in a state of great anger。 In such a state of excitement much harm may ensue to the present state of affairs； especially as the Yuan family have been noted for their high offices for four generations； and their proteges and dependents are everywhere。 If they assemble bold people and call up their clients； all the valiant warriors will be in arms； and the east region of the Huashang Mountains will be lost。 You had better pardon Yuan Shao and give him a post。 He will be glad at being forgiven and will do no harm。〃
Wu Qiong said； 〃Yuan Shao is fond of scheming； but he fails in decision and so is not to be feared。 But it would be well to give him rank and thus win popular favor。〃
Dong Zhuo followed this advice； and within that day sent a messenger to offer Yuan Shao the governorship of Bohai。
On the first day of the ninth month； the Emperor was invited to proceed to the Hall of Virtue where was a great assembly of officials。
There Dong Zhuo； sword in hand； faced the gathering and said； 〃The Emperor is a weakling unequal to the burden of ruling this land。 Now listen ye to the document I have prepared！〃
And Li Ru read as follows：
〃The dutiful Emperor Ling too soon left his people。 The emperor is the cynosure of all the people of this land。 Upon the present Emperor Bian； Heaven has conferred but small gifts： In dignity and deportment he is deficient； and in mourning he is remiss。 Only the most plete virtue can grace imperial dignity。 Empress He has trained him improperly； and the whole state administration has fallen into confusion。 Empress Dong died suddenly and no one knew why。 The doctrine of the three bonds………Heaven； Earth； and Human………and the continuity of Heaven and Earth interdependence have both been injured。
〃But Liu Xian； Prince of Chenliu； is sage and virtuous beside being of handsome exterior。 He conforms to all the rules of propriety： His mourning is sincere； and his speech is always correct。 Eulogies of him fill the empire。 He is well fitted for the great duty of consolidating the rule of Han。
〃Now therefore the Emperor is deposed and created Prince of Hongnong； and Empress He retires from the administration。
〃I pray the Prince of Chenliu to accept the throne in conformity with the decrees of Heaven and Earth； the desires of people； and the fulfillment of the hopes of humankind。〃
This having been read； Dong Zhuo bade the officials lead the Emperor down from the throne； remove his seal； and cause him to kneel facing the north； styling himself faithful servant of the Throne and requesting mands。 Moreover Dong Zhuo bade Empress He strip off her royal dress of ceremony and await the imperial mand。 Both victims of this oppression wept bitterly； and every minister present was deeply affected。
One minister put his discontent into words； crying； 〃The false Dong Zhuo is the author of this insult； which I will risk my life to wipe away！〃
And with this he rushed at Dong Zhuo threatening with his ivory baton of office。
It was Chair of the Secretariat Ding Guan。 Dong Zhuo had Ding Guan removed and summarily put to death。 Before his death； Ding Guan ceased not to rail at the oppressor； nor was he frightened at death。
The rebel Dong Zhuo conceived the foul design
To thrust the King aside and wrong his line。
With folded arms the courtiers stood； save one
Ding Guan； who dared to cry that wrong was done。
Then the emperor designate； Prince of Chenliu； went to the upper part of the hall to receive congratulations。 After this the former Emperor………now Prince of Hongnong………； his mother； and the Imperial Consort； Lady Tang； were removed to the Palace of Forever Calm。 The entrance gates were locked against all ers。
It was pitiful！ There was the young emperor； after reigning less than half a year； deposed and another put in his place。 The new Emperor was Liu Xian； the second son of the late Emperor Ling。 He was nine years of age； five years younger than his deposed brother。 The new reign…style was changed to Inauguration of Tranquillity； the first year （AD 190）。
Being the Prime Minister； Dong Zhuo was most powerful and arrogant。 When he bowed before the Throne； he did not declare his name。 In going to court he did not hasten。 Booted and armed he entered the reception halls。 He amassed a wealth exceeding any other's。
His adviser； Li Ru； impressed upon Dong Zhuo constantly to employ people of reputation so that he should gain public esteem。 So when they told him Cai Yong was a man of talent； Dong Zhuo summoned him。 But Cai Yong would not go。 Dong Zhuo sent a message to him that if he did not e； he and his whole clan should be exterminated。 Then Cai Yong gave in and appeared。 Dong Zhuo was very gracious to him and promoted him thrice in a month。 Cai Yong became High Minister。 Such was the generosity of the tyrant。
Meanwhile the deposed ruler； his mother； and his consort were immured in the Palace of Forever Calm and found their daily supplies gradually diminishing。 The deposed Emperor wept incessantly。 One day a pair of wallows gliding to and fro moved him to verse：
〃Spring and the green of the tender grass；
Flushes with joy as the swallows pass；
The wayfarers pause by the rippling stream；
And their eyes will new born gladness gleam；
With lingering gaze the roofs I see
Of the Palace that one time sheltered me。
But those whom I sheltered in all righteousness；
Let's not stay in silence when the days pass useless？〃
The messenger； sent by Dong Zhuo from time to time to the palace for news of the prisoners； got hold of this poem and showed it to his master。
〃So he shows his resentment by writing poems； eh！ A fair excuse to put them all out of the way；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Li Ru was sent with ten men into the palace to consummate the deed。 The three were in one of the upper rooms when Li Ru arrived。 The Emperor shuddered when the maid announced the visitor's name。
Presently Li Ru entered and offered a cup of poisoned wine to the Emperor。 The Emperor asked what this meant。
〃Spring is the season of blending and harmonious interchange； and the Prime Minister sends a wine cup of longevity；〃 said Li Ru。
〃If it be the wine of longevity； you may share it too；〃 said Empress He。
Then Li Ru became brutally frank。
〃You will not drink？〃 asked he。
He called the men with daggers and cords and bade the Emperor look at them。
〃The cup； or these？〃 said he。
Then said Lady Tang； 〃Let the handmaid drink in place of her lord。 Spare the mother and her son； I pray！〃
〃And who may you be to die for a prince？〃 said Li Ru。
Then he presented the cup to the Empress once more and bade her drink。
She railed against her brother； the feckless He Jin； the author of all this trouble。 She would not drink。
Next Li Ru approached the Emperor。
〃Let me say farewell to my mother；〃 begged he； and he did so in these lines：
〃The heaven and earth are changed；
Alas！ the sun and the moon leave their courses；
I； once the center of all eyes； am driven to the farthest confines；
Oppressed by an arrogant minister my life nears its end；
Everything fails me and vain are my falling tears。〃
Lady Tang sang：
〃Heaven is to be rent asunder； Earth to fall away；
I； handmaid of an emperor； would grieve if I followed him not。
We have e to the parting of ways； the quick and the dead walk not together；
Alas！ I am left alone with the grief in my heart。〃
When they had sung these lines； they fell weeping into each others' arms。
〃The Prime Minister is awaiting my report；〃 said Li Ru； 〃and you delay too long。 Think you that there is any hope of succor？〃
The Empress broke into another fit of railing； 〃The rebel forces us to death； mother and son； and Heaven has abandoned us。 But you； the tool of his crime； will assuredly perish！〃
Thereupon Li Ru grew more angry； laid hands on the Empress and threw her out of the window。 Then he bade the soldiers strangle Lady Tang and forced the lad to swallow the wine of death。
Li Ru reported the achievement to his master who bade them bury the victims without the city。 After this Dong Zhuo's behavior was more atrocious than before。 He spent his nights in the Palace； defiled the imperial concubines there； and even slept on the Dragon Couch。
Once he led his soldiers out of the city to Yangcheng when the villagers； men and women； were assembled from all sides for the annual spring festival。 His troops surrounded the place and plundered it。 They took away booty by the cart loads； and women prisoners and more than one thousand severed heads。 The procession returned to Capital Luoyang and published a story that they had obtained a great victory over some rebels。 They burned the heads beneath the walls； and the women and jewelry were shared out among the soldiers。
A general named Wu Fu was disgusted at this ferocity and sought a chance to slay Dong Zhuo。 Wu Fu constantly wore a breastplate underneath his court dress and carried in conceal a sharp dagger。 One day when Dong Zhuo came to court； Wu Fu met him on the steps and tried to stab him。 But Dong Zhuo was a very powerful man and held Wu Fu off till Lu Bu came to his help。 Lu Bu struck down the assailant。
〃Who told you to rebel？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Wu Fu glared at him and cried； 〃You are not my prince； I am not your minister： Where is the rebellion？ Your crimes fill the heavens； and every person would slay you。 I am sorry I cannot tear you asunder with chariots to appease the wrath of the world！〃
Dong Zhuo bade the guards take him out and hack him to pieces。 Wu Fu only ceased railing as he ceased to live。
That loyal servant of the latter days of Han。
His valor was high as the heavens； in all ages unequaled；
In the court itself would he slay the rebel； great is his fame！
Throughout all time will people call him a hero。
Thereafter Dong Zhuo always went well guarded。
At Bohai； Yuan Shao heard of Dong Zhuo's misuse of power and sent a secret letter to Minister of the Interior Wang Yun：
〃That rebel Dong Zhuo outrages Heaven and has deposed his ruler。 mon people dare not speak of him： That is understandable。 Yet you suffer his aggressions as if you knew naught of them。 How then are you a dutiful and loyal minister？ I have assembled an army and desire to sweep clean the royal habitation； but I dare not lightly begin the task。 If you are willing； then find an opportunity to plot against this man。 If you would use force； I am at your mand。〃
The letter arrived but Wang Yun could see no chance to plot against Dong Zhuo。
One day while among the throng in attendance； mostly people of long service； Wang Yun said to his colleagues； 〃This is my birthday； I pray you e to a little party in my humble cot this evening。〃
〃We certainly will；〃 they cried； 〃and wish you long life。〃
That night the tables were spread in an inner room； and his friends gathered there。 When the wine had made a few rounds； the host suddenly covered his face and began to weep。
The guests were aghast。
〃Sir； on your birthday too； why do you weep？〃 said they。
〃It is not my birthday；〃 replied Wang Yun。 〃But I wished to call you together； and I feared lest Dong Zhuo should suspect； so I made that the excuse。 This man insults the Emperor and does as he wishes so that the imperial prerogatives are in imminent peril。 I think of the days when our illustrious founder destroyed the Qin； annihilated Chu； and obtained the empire。 Who could have foreseen this day when that Dong Zhuo has subjugated all to his will？ That is why I weep。〃
Then they all wept with him。
Seated among the guests； however； was Cao Cao； who did not join in the weeping but clapped his hands and laughed aloud。
〃If all the officers of the government weep till dawn； and from dawn weep till dark； will that slay Dong Zhuo？〃 said Cao Cao。
Wang Yun turned on him angrily。
〃Your forbears ate the bounty of the Hans。 Do you feel no gratitude？ You can laugh？〃
〃I laughed at the absurdity of an assembly like this being unable to pass the death of one man。 Foolish and incapable as I am； I will cut off his head and hang it at the gate as an offering to the people。〃
Wang Yun left his seat and went over to Cao Cao。
〃These later days；〃 Cao Cao continued； 〃I have bowed my head to Dong Zhuo with the sole desire of finding a chance to destroy him。 Now he begins to trust me； and so I can approach him sometimes。 You have a sword with seven precious jewels which I would borrow； and I will go into his palace and kill him。 I care not if I die for it。〃
〃What good fortune for the world that this is so！〃 said Wang Yun。
With this Wang Yun himself poured out a goblet for Cao Cao