Chapter Two: Zhang Yide, in a Rage, Flogs the Government Inspector; He Jin, the Imperial Brother‑in‑Law, Plots to Slay the Eunuchs.

　　Liu Bei, together with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, campaigned against the Yellow Turban rebels, skillfully breaking Zhang Bao's sorcery, yet because powerful eunuchs held sway at court, their merits went unrewarded. Behold the heroes making their first mark—the prologue of an age of chaos has thus begun.

　　Now, Dong Zhuo, whose courtesy name was Zhongying, was a native of Lintao in Longxi. He held the post of Governor of Hedong and had always been arrogant. On that day, when he had slighted Xuande, Zhang Fei flew into a rage and wanted to kill him. Xuande and Guan Yu hastily stopped him, saying, "He is an official appointed by the court—how can you take his life without authorization?" Zhang Fei said, "If we don't kill this wretch, we'll have to take orders under him—I simply cannot bear it! If you two brothers wish to stay here, go ahead—I will go elsewhere on my own!" Xuande said, "We three are bound by loyalty as if we shared one life—how can we be separated? Let us all go elsewhere instead." Zhang Fei said, "If that is so, it will somewhat ease my anger."

　　So the three led their troops by night and went to join Zhu Jun. Zhu Jun treated them with great warmth and courtesy, and combining their forces, they marched together to attack Zhang Bao. At that time, Cao Cao was following Huangfu Song in the campaign against Zhang Liang, and they fought a great battle at Quyang. Meanwhile, Zhu Jun pressed the attack against Zhang Bao. Zhang Bao led eighty or ninety thousand rebels and camped behind the mountains. Zhu Jun ordered Xuande to take the vanguard and engage the enemy. Zhang Bao sent his deputy general Gao Sheng out to offer battle, and Xuande sent Zhang Fei to strike him. Zhang Fei spurred his horse, leveled his spear, and engaged Gao Sheng. After only a few exchanges, he ran Gao Sheng through, who tumbled from his horse. Xuande then waved his forces forward in a direct charge.

　　Zhang Bao, from atop his horse, let down his hair, brandished his sword, and worked his sorcery. Suddenly, wind and thunder roared violently, and a mass of black vapor descended from the sky, within which seemed to be countless troops and horsemen charging down. Xuande hastily withdrew his men, and his army fell into great confusion. After retreating in defeat, he consulted with Zhu Jun. Zhu Jun said, "He is using sorcery. Tomorrow, we will slaughter pigs, sheep, and dogs, collect their blood, and have our soldiers lie in ambush on the hilltops. When the enemy pursues us, we will pour it down from the high slopes—and his spell will be broken." Xuande accepted the order and assigned Guan Yu and Zhang Fei each to lead a thousand men and lie in ambush on the high ridges behind the mountains, with pig's blood, sheep's blood, dog's blood, and other filth prepared.

　　The next day, Zhang Bao waved his banners and beat his drums, leading his troops out to offer battle, and Xuande rode out to meet him. At the height of the clash, Zhang Bao worked his sorcery again—wind and thunder roared, sand and stones flew, black vapors filled the sky, and rolling masses of horsemen and footmen seemed to descend from above. Xuande wheeled his horse and fled, and Zhang Bao drove his forces in pursuit. Just as they were about to pass over the hilltop, Guan and Zhang's ambush force set off the signal cannon and poured down the filth all at once. In an instant, the paper figures and straw horses in the air came fluttering down in droves; the wind and thunder ceased at once, and the sand and stones flew no more.

　　When Zhang Bao saw that his sorcery had been broken, he hastily tried to retreat his army. On the left was Guan Yu, on the right Zhang Fei—both forces charged out, while behind them Xuande and Zhu Jun pressed forward together. The rebel army was utterly routed. Xuande, spotting the banner of the "General of Earth," spurred his horse in pursuit, and Zhang Bao fled in panic across the countryside. Xuande loosed an arrow and struck him in the left arm. Zhang Bao, with the arrow still in him, managed to escape and fled into Yangcheng, where he held the city and would not come out again.

　　Zhu Jun surrounded Yangcheng and pressed the siege, while dispatching scouts to learn news of Huangfu Song. The scouts returned with a full report: "Huangfu Song has won a great victory. The court, seeing that Dong Zhuo had suffered repeated defeats, ordered Huangfu Song to take command in his place. By the time he arrived, Zhang Jue was already dead. Zhang Liang commanded the remnants and opposed our forces, but Huangfu Song defeated him in seven consecutive battles and slew Zhang Liang at Quyang. He then opened Zhang Jue's coffin, mutilated the corpse, and sent the head to the capital. The remaining rebels all surrendered. The court promoted Huangfu Song to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and appointed him Governor of Ji Province. Huangfu Song also submitted a memorial stating that Lu Zhi had rendered meritorious service and was innocent, so the court restored Lu Zhi to his original post. Cao Cao, for his own merits, was appointed Chancellor of Jinan and was about to lead his troops there to take office."

　　Upon hearing this, Zhu Jun urged his forces on and threw all his strength into the attack on Yangcheng. The rebels were in dire straits, and their general Yan Zheng assassinated Zhang Bao, then surrendered his head to Zhu Jun. Thus Zhu Jun pacified several commanderies and sent a memorial to the court announcing his victory.

　　At that time, there were three remaining bands of Yellow Turban remnants—Zhao Hong, Han Zhong, and Sun Zhong—who gathered tens of thousands of men, burning and plundering wherever they went, claiming to avenge Zhang Jue. The court ordered Zhu Jun to lead his victorious army against them. Zhu Jun accepted the imperial decree and advanced his forces. At that time, the rebels held Wancheng, and Zhu Jun marched to attack it. Zhao Hong sent Han Zhong out to give battle. Zhu Jun ordered Xuande, Guan, and Zhang to attack the southwest corner of the city. Han Zhong led all his elite troops to the southwest corner to resist them. Zhu Jun himself then led two thousand iron cavalry and struck directly at the northeast corner. Fearing the city would fall, the rebels hurriedly abandoned the southwest and turned back. Xuande fell upon them from behind, and the rebel army was badly defeated, fleeing back into Wancheng. Zhu Jun then divided his forces and surrounded the city on all four sides.

　　Inside the city, provisions ran out, and Han Zhong sent men out to surrender. Zhu Jun refused. Xuande said, "In former times, Emperor Gaozu won the realm precisely because he was able to welcome surrender and accept submission. Why do you reject Han Zhong?" Zhu Jun replied, "That was then; this is now. In the age of Qin and Xiang, the realm was in great turmoil, and the people had no fixed lord, so he rewarded surrenders and welcomed adherents to encourage others. But now the empire is unified under one rule—only the Yellow Turbans have rebelled. If we allow them to surrender, we will have no way to encourage good conduct. If rebels gain advantage and plunder at will, yet when they lose they surrender, this only emboldens bandits—it is no good policy." Xuande said, "Refusing surrender to the bandits is right. But now we have them surrounded like an iron bucket; if they cannot surrender, they will inevitably fight to the death. Ten thousand men of one heart are formidable enough—how much more so when there are tens of thousands of desperate men in the city? It would be better to withdraw the forces from the southeast and attack only the northwest. The rebels will surely abandon the city and flee, with no heart to fight, and we can capture them then." Zhu Jun agreed, and at once withdrew the troops from the southeast and northwest sides, and attacked the northwest together. As expected, Han Zhong led his troops out of the city and fled. Zhu Jun, together with Xuande, Guan, and Zhang, led the three armies in pursuit and slew Han Zhong with an arrow; the rest scattered in all directions. While they were pressing the pursuit, Zhao Hong and Sun Zhong arrived with their rebel troops and engaged Zhu Jun. Seeing that Zhao Hong's force was large, Zhu Jun withdrew his troops temporarily. Zhao Hong seized the opportunity and recaptured Wancheng. Zhu Jun made camp ten li away.

　　Just as they were about to attack, they suddenly saw a formidable force approaching from the due east. At its head rode a general with a broad forehead and a wide face, a tiger's frame and a bear's waist—a native of Fuchun in Wu Commandery, surnamed Sun, given name Jian, and courtesy name Wentai. He was a descendant of the great military strategist Sun Wu. At the age of seventeen, he had gone with his father to Qiantang, where they saw more than ten pirates robbing merchants of their goods and dividing the spoils on the shore. Sun Jian said to his father, "These bandits can be captured." He then brandished his blade, rushed ashore, and shouted loudly while gesturing east and west as if summoning men. The pirates, thinking that government troops had arrived, abandoned their loot and fled. Sun Jian gave chase and killed one of them. From then on, he became known throughout the commandery and prefecture, and was recommended for the post of Commandant. Later, when the rebel Xu Chang rose in rebellion in Kuaiji, proclaiming himself "Emperor Yangming" and gathering tens of thousands of followers, Sun Jian, together with the commandery's Military Commandant, recruited over a thousand brave men and, joining forces with the provincial troops, crushed the rebellion, beheading Xu Chang and his son Xu Shao. The Inspector Zang Min submitted a memorial to the court reporting his merits, and Sun Jian was appointed as the Magistrate of Yandu, and later served as Magistrate of Xuyi and Magistrate of Xiapi. Now, seeing the Yellow Turban uprising, he gathered the young men of his hometown, along with merchants and travelers, as well as over fifteen hundred elite troops from the Huai and Si River regions, and came to reinforce the army.

　　Zhu Jun was overjoyed and ordered Sun Jian to attack the south gate, Xuande to attack the north gate, and Zhu Jun himself to attack the west gate, leaving the east gate for the rebels to flee through. Sun Jian was the first to scale the city wall, slaying more than twenty rebels, and the rebel host broke and fled. Zhao Hong, riding at full gallop with his lance leveled, charged straight at Sun Jian. Sun Jian leaped from the wall, seized Zhao Hong's lance, and ran him through, sending him tumbling from his horse. He then mounted Zhao Hong's horse and rode back and forth, slaying rebels. Sun Zhong led his rebels out through the north gate, where he ran straight into Xuande. Having no heart to fight, he only sought to flee. Xuande drew his bow and loosed an arrow, which struck Sun Zhong squarely, toppling him from his horse. Zhu Jun's main force then fell upon them from behind, beheading tens of thousands, and those who surrendered were beyond count. All along the Nanyang route, more than a dozen commanderies were pacified.

　　Zhu Jun led his victorious army back to the capital. An imperial edict appointed him General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Henan. Zhu Jun submitted a memorial recommending Sun Jian, Liu Bei, and others for their merits. Sun Jian, having connections at court, was appointed as a Commandant in another commandery and left to take up his post. But Liu Bei alone waited day after day without receiving any appointment. The three were deeply dejected and went for a stroll through the streets, when they happened upon the carriage of the Gentleman Attendant Zhang Jun. When Liu Bei saw him, he recounted his own achievements. Zhang Jun was startled and immediately went to court to see the Emperor, saying: "The Yellow Turban rebellion arose in the first place because the Ten Regular Attendants sold offices and bartered titles—they employed none but their own kin and punished none but their personal enemies, which brought the realm to great disorder. Now the Ten Regular Attendants should be beheaded, their heads hung at the southern altar, and envoys sent to proclaim throughout the land that those with merit shall be richly rewarded—then the four seas will naturally be at peace." The Ten Regular Attendants then said to the Emperor, "Zhang Jun has insulted his sovereign." The Emperor ordered his guards to drive Zhang Jun out. The Ten Regular Attendants then discussed among themselves: "This must be someone who rendered merit in defeating the Yellow Turbans but received no appointment, and thus spoke such bitter words. For the time being, let the Personnel Office assign him some petty post, and we shall deal with it later." Accordingly, Liu Bei was appointed as Magistrate of Anxi County in Zhongshan Prefecture, Dingzhou, and was ordered to assume his post on a set date.

　　Liu Bei dismissed the bulk of his soldiers, sending them back to their villages, and kept only about twenty of his personal followers. He then set out with Guan and Zhang for Anxi County to take up his office. He administered the county for a month, never wronging the people in the slightest, and the populace was won over. After taking office, he shared meals at the same table with Guan and Zhang, and slept in the same bed. Whenever Liu Bei was among a crowd, Guan and Zhang would stand in attendance beside him, the whole day without weariness.

　　He had been in the county less than four months when an imperial decree arrived, ordering that all those who had been appointed to official posts on account of military merit were to be screened and eliminated. Liu Bei suspected he might be among those to be dismissed. Just then, the Government Inspector arrived in the county on his tour of inspection. Liu Bei went outside the city wall to welcome him and paid his respects to the Inspector. The Inspector remained seated on his horse and merely gestured with his whip in reply. Both Guan and Zhang were angered by this. When they reached the post station, the Inspector sat facing south on a high dais, while Liu Bei stood in attendance at the foot of the steps. After a long while, the Inspector asked, "What is your background, Magistrate Liu?" Liu Bei replied, "I am a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan. Since the campaign against the Yellow Turbans in Zhuo Commandery, I have fought in more than thirty engagements, large and small, and have rendered some small services, for which I was given this current post." The Inspector shouted angrily, "You falsely claim to be of the imperial clan and fabricate your achievements! The court has now issued a decree precisely to weed out such corrupt and incompetent officials!" Liu Bei, repeatedly murmuring in assent, withdrew. Returning to his office, he discussed the matter with the county clerk. The clerk said, "The Inspector is throwing his weight around—he wants nothing but a bribe." Liu Bei said, "I have never wronged the people in the slightest—where would I get the money to bribe him?" The next day, the Inspector summoned the county clerk and compelled him to make false accusations against Liu Bei, claiming he had oppressed the people. Liu Bei made several attempts to go to the Inspector himself to plead his case, but each time the gate guards blocked his way and refused to let him in.

　　Now, Zhang Fei had drunk several cups of wine in his gloom, and as he rode past the post station, he saw fifty or sixty old men all weeping bitterly at the gate. Zhang Fei asked them the reason, and the old men replied, "The Government Inspector is coercing the county clerk, intending to harm Magistrate Liu. We have all come to plead on his behalf, but we were not allowed in, and were driven back by the gate guards!" Zhang Fei flew into a rage. He widened his round, leopard‑like eyes, gritted his steel‑like teeth, dismounted in a rush, and strode straight into the station. The gate guards could not stop him. He went directly to the rear hall, where he saw the Inspector sitting in the main hall, with the county clerk bound and thrown to the ground. Zhang Fei roared, "You vermin who oppress the people! Do you know me?" Before the Inspector could speak, Zhang Fei seized him by the hair, dragged him out of the station, and tied him to a hitching post in front of the county office. He then broke off a willow branch and flogged the Inspector's legs with all his might, snapping more than a dozen branches one after another.

　　Liu Bei was still fretting when he heard the commotion outside. He asked his attendants, and they replied, "General Zhang has tied a man up in front of the office and is beating him soundly." Liu Bei hurried out to see, and found that the bound man was none other than the Government Inspector. Startled, he asked what had happened. Zhang Fei said, "This is the sort of vermin who oppresses the people—if we don't beat him to death, what else is there to do?" The Inspector pleaded, "Lord Xuande, save my life!" Liu Bei, being merciful at heart, quickly ordered Zhang Fei to stop. At that moment, Guan Yu stepped forward and said, "Elder brother, you have rendered many great services, yet you have only obtained the post of county magistrate. Now you are insulted by this Inspector. I think that thorny thickets are no place for phoenixes to roost. It would be better to kill the Inspector, abandon office, return to our hometown, and look for a greater plan elsewhere." Liu Bei then took his official seal and insignia, hung them around the Inspector's neck, and reproached him, saying, "For your oppression of the people, you deserve death; but for now, I will spare your life. I return my seal and insignia, and I leave from this day forward."

　　The Inspector then reported the matter to the Governor of Dingzhou, who submitted a report to the provincial government and sent men to arrest them. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei fled to Daizhou and took refuge with Liu Hui. Liu Hui, seeing that Liu Bei was of the imperial clan, sheltered them in his home and said no more of the matter.

　　Now, the Ten Regular Attendants, having grasped great power, conferred among themselves: all who did not obey them were put to death. Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang sent men to demand gold and silk from the generals who had defeated the Yellow Turbans, and those who refused were accused and removed from office. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun both refused, so Zhao Zhong and the others had them dismissed. The Emperor then appointed Zhao Zhong and others as Generals of Chariots and Cavalry, and granted thirteen men, including Zhang Rang, the rank of marquis. The court grew ever more corrupt, and the people groaned in resentment. At this, the rebel Qu Xing rose in Changsha, and Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun rebelled in Yuyang: Zhang Ju proclaimed himself Emperor, and Zhang Chun styled himself General‑in‑Chief. Memorials of emergency came in thick as snowflakes, but the Ten Regular Attendants concealed them all and did not report them to the throne.

　　One day, the Emperor was feasting in the rear garden with the Ten Regular Attendants, when the Remonstrance Counselor Liu Tao went straight before the Emperor and wept bitterly. The Emperor asked why. Liu Tao said, "The realm is in imminent danger, and yet Your Majesty still carouses with these eunuchs!" The Emperor said, "The state is at peace—what danger is there?" Liu Tao replied, "Rebels have risen everywhere, plundering the provinces and commanderies. This calamity all stems from the Ten Regular Attendants selling offices and harming the people, deceiving Your Majesty and betraying the throne. All the righteous men of the court have been driven away, and the disaster is imminent!" The Ten Regular Attendants all removed their caps, knelt before the Emperor, and said, "The ministers are not to be tolerated by the court. We cannot live! We beg only for our lives to retire to our fields, and we will give all our family property to support the army." Then they wept bitterly. The Emperor, enraged, said to Liu Tao, "You yourself have intimate attendants—why must you alone deny me mine?" He called his guards to drag Liu Tao out and behead him. Liu Tao cried out, "I do not begrudge my life—but pity the Han realm, which for over four hundred years is now brought to ruin!"

　　The guards were dragging Liu Tao out and were about to carry out the execution, when a high minister called out, "Hold your hands! Let me go and remonstrate with him." All looked, and it was Chen Dan, the Minister over the Masses. He went straight into the palace to remonstrate with the Emperor, saying: "What crime has Remonstrance Counselor Liu committed, that he should be put to death?" The Emperor replied, "He slandered my close attendants and insulted me, the sovereign." Chen Dan said: "All the people under heaven long to eat the flesh of the Ten Regular Attendants. Yet Your Majesty honors them as if they were your own father and mother. They have not rendered the slightest service, yet all have been enfeoffed as marquises. Moreover, Feng Xu and others colluded with the Yellow Turbans and plotted internal revolt—and yet Your Majesty does not reflect on this! The very foundations of the state will crumble before your eyes!" The Emperor said, "Feng Xu's rebellion is a matter of uncertain truth. Among the Ten Regular Attendants, surely there are one or two loyal ministers?" Chen Dan then struck his head against the steps in remonstrance. The Emperor, enraged, ordered him dragged out and thrown into prison along with Liu Tao. That very night, the Ten Regular Attendants had them murdered in prison. Then, purporting to issue an imperial edict, they appointed Sun Jian as Governor of Changsha to put down Qu Xing. In less than fifty days, word came of victory—Jiangxia was pacified—and the court, by edict, enfeoffed Sun Jian as Marquis of Wucheng.

　　Liu Yu was appointed Governor of You Province and led troops to attack Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun at Yuyang. Liu Hui of Daizhou sent a letter recommending Liu Bei to Liu Yu. Liu Yu was greatly pleased and appointed Liu Bei as Commandant. Liu Bei led his troops straight to the rebels' lair and fought several fierce battles over many days, blunting the enemy's edge. Zhang Chun was cruel and tyrannical, and his soldiers grew disaffected; a headman in his camp assassinated Zhang Chun, presented his head, and led the troops to surrender. Zhang Ju, seeing that all was lost, hanged himself. Yuyang was entirely pacified. Liu Yu submitted a memorial recommending Liu Bei for his great merits. The court then pardoned Liu Bei for the flogging of the Government Inspector, appointed him as Assistant Magistrate of Xiami, and later promoted him to Magistrate of Gaotang. Gongsun Zan also submitted a memorial setting forth Liu Bei's former achievements and recommended him as a Separate-Command Commandant, with the concurrent post of Magistrate of Pingyuan County. At Pingyuan, Liu Bei had ample provisions, funds, and troops, and restored his former vigor. Liu Yu, for his merits in quelling the rebels, was appointed Grand Commandant.

　　In the fourth month of the summer of the sixth year of the Zhongping reign era, the Emperor Ling fell gravely ill and summoned General‑in‑Chief He Jin to the palace to discuss matters of succession. He Jin came from a butcher's family; because his younger sister had entered the palace as an Imperial Consort and bore the Emperor a son named Bian, she was later established as Empress. Thus He Jin gained power and high office. The Emperor also favored Consort Wang, who bore him a son named Xie. Empress He, jealous of her, poisoned Consort Wang to death. The young prince Xie was then raised in the palace of Empress Dowager Dong. Empress Dowager Dong was the mother of Emperor Ling and the wife of Liu Chang, Marquis of Jiedu Pavilion. Originally, because Emperor Huan had no son, the son of the Marquis of Jiedu Pavilion was brought to the throne—and this was Emperor Ling. When Emperor Ling succeeded to the throne, he brought his foster mother into the palace and honored her as Empress Dowager.

　　Empress Dowager Dong had often urged the Emperor to establish Prince Xie as heir apparent. The Emperor himself also favored Xie and wished to make him so. Now that he was gravely ill, the Regular Attendant Jian Shuo memorialized, saying: "If you wish to establish Xie, you must first eliminate He Jin, to avoid future trouble." The Emperor agreed, and so summoned He Jin to the palace. As He Jin reached the palace gate, the Commandant Pan Yin said to him, "You must not enter. Jian Shuo is plotting to assassinate you." He Jin was greatly alarmed and hastily returned to his own residence, where he summoned the high ministers and proposed to put all the eunuchs to death. At this, one man in the assembly stepped forward and said, "The power of the eunuchs has grown since the reigns of Emperors Chong and Zhi; their influence in the court has spread far and wide—how can they all be eliminated at once? If the plan is leaked, disaster will befall our entire clans. I beg you to consider this carefully." He Jin looked and saw that it was Cao Cao, the Commandant of the Imperial Guard. He Jin rebuked him, saying, "What does a young upstart like you know of great affairs of state!"

　　While he was still hesitating, Pan Yin arrived and said, "The Emperor has already passed away. Jian Shuo and the Ten Regular Attendants have secretly agreed to keep the death secret, not issue the mourning announcement, and to forge an edict summoning the Imperial Brother‑in‑Law He Jin into the palace, intending to eliminate any future threat and to enthrone Prince Xie as emperor." Before he had finished speaking, an imperial messenger arrived, summoning He Jin to enter at once to settle the succession. Cao Cao said, "Our plan for today must first establish the rightful ruler, and only then move against the traitors." He Jin asked, "Who will help me establish the ruler and punish the traitors?" One man stepped forward and said, "I ask for five thousand elite troops to break through the gates, install the new sovereign, and sweep the eunuchs from the court, purging the government and bringing peace to the realm!" He Jin looked and saw that it was Yuan Shao, son of Yuan Feng the Minister over the Masses and nephew of Yuan Wei—his courtesy name Benchu, and he currently held the post of Colonel of the Capital Guards. He Jin was overjoyed and at once mustered five thousand troops of the Imperial Guard. Yuan Shao donned full armor. He Jin, leading more than thirty high ministers including He Yong, Xun You, and Zheng Tai, entered in succession and, before the coffin of Emperor Ling, supported the Crown Prince Bian to ascend the throne as Emperor.

　　After the officials had finished their obeisances, Yuan Shao entered the palace to apprehend Jian Shuo. Jian Shuo, in panic, fled into the imperial garden, where he was killed by the Regular Attendant Guo Sheng under the shade of the flowers. The imperial guards under Jian Shuo's command all surrendered. Yuan Shao said to He Jin, "The eunuchs are in league together. Today we should seize the opportunity and exterminate them all." Zhang Rang and the others, seeing the urgency of the situation, hastily went to Empress He and said, "The one who first plotted against the General‑in‑Chief was only Jian Shuo—the rest of us had nothing to do with it. Now the General‑in‑Chief, heeding Yuan Shao's words, wants to put us all to death. We beg Your Majesty to have pity on us!" Empress Dowager He said, "Do not worry; I will protect you." She then issued an edict summoning He Jin. In private, she said to him, "You and I came from humble origins. Were it not for Zhang Rang and the others, how could we have enjoyed such wealth and honor? Now that the unrighteous Jian Shuo has been executed, why would you listen to others and want to kill all the eunuchs?" After hearing this, He Jin went out and said to the officials, "Jian Shuo plotted against me—his entire family shall be wiped out. As for the rest, there is no need for reckless slaughter." Yuan Shao said, "If we do not root out the evil completely, it will surely be our undoing." He Jin replied, "My mind is made up—say no more." The officials all withdrew.

　　The next day, Empress Dowager He ordered He Jin to assume the duties of the Minister over the Masses, and the other officials were given their posts accordingly. Empress Dowager Dong summoned Zhang Rang and the others to her palace and said, "He Jin's younger sister—I was the one who originally promoted her. Now her son has ascended the throne, and all the court officials, both inside and outside, are his confidants. Their power is immense—what should I do?" Zhang Rang replied, "Your Majesty may hold court and rule behind a curtain. Enfeoff Prince Xie as a king, promote the Imperial Brother‑in‑Law Dong Zhong to a high office to control the military, and place great trust in us—then great things can be achieved." Empress Dowager Dong was delighted. The next day at court, she issued an edict conferring upon Prince Xie the title of Prince of Chenliu, appointing Dong Zhong as General of Agile Cavalry, and allowing Zhang Rang and the others to participate in court affairs.

　　Empress Dowager He, seeing that Empress Dowager Dong was monopolizing power, prepared a banquet in the palace and invited Empress Dowager Dong to attend. When the wine had gone halfway round, Empress Dowager He rose, raised her cup, bowed, and said, "We are both women; it is not proper for us to meddle in state affairs. In former times, Empress Lü, because she held great power, brought about the slaughter of her entire clan of a thousand members. We should now remain deep within the palace, and let the high ministers and elders deliberate on state matters—this would be a blessing for the realm. I beg Your Majesty to consider this." Empress Dowager Dong flew into a rage and said, "You poisoned Consort Wang out of jealousy. Now, relying on your son being the sovereign and your brother He Jin's power, you dare to speak so recklessly! If I order the General of Agile Cavalry to cut off your brother's head, it would be as easy as turning over my hand!" Empress Dowager He also grew angry, saying, "I was only offering good advice—why do you turn on me in anger?" Empress Dowager Dong retorted, "You are nothing but a butcher's brat—what do you know?" The two empresses fell to quarreling, and it was only after Zhang Rang and the others urged them that each returned to her own palace.

　　That night, Empress Dowager He summoned He Jin to the palace and told him what had happened. He Jin then summoned the Three Dukes to consult. The next morning at court, he had a minister memorialize that Empress Dowager Dong was originally a consort of a feudal prince and should not remain long in the palace; she should be sent back to Hejian, and was to leave the capital immediately. He then dispatched men to escort Empress Dowager Dong away, and at the same time ordered the Imperial Guard to surround the residence of General of Agile Cavalry Dong Zhong and demand his official seal and insignia. Dong Zhong, seeing the urgency, cut his own throat in the rear hall. His household raised a lament, and only then did the troops disperse. Zhang Rang and Duan Gui, seeing that Empress Dowager Dong's faction had been ruined, all used gold, pearls, and curios to win over He Jin's younger brother He Miao and his mother, the Lady of Wuyang, so that they might daily go to Empress Dowager He and speak in their favor. Thus the Ten Regular Attendants once again gained the Emperor's favor.

　　In the sixth month, He Jin secretly sent men to poison Empress Dowager Dong at the post station in Hejian. Her coffin was brought back to the capital and buried in Wenling. He Jin then pleaded illness and did not go to court. The Colonel of the Capital Guards, Yuan Shao, came to see He Jin and said, "Zhang Rang, Duan Gui, and the rest are spreading rumors outside, saying that you poisoned Empress Dowager Dong and are plotting a coup. If we do not kill the eunuchs now, great disaster will surely follow. In the past, Dou Wu tried to purge the eunuchs but was too indiscreet, and he suffered for it. Now, all your brothers and commanders are able men—if you make full use of them, the matter is in your hands. This is Heaven's opportunity—do not let it slip away." He Jin said, "Let me consider it." His attendants secretly reported this to Zhang Rang, who in turn told He Miao and sent many bribes. He Miao then went to Empress Dowager He and said, "The General‑in‑Chief, while supporting the new sovereign, fails to practice benevolence and is bent only on slaughter. Now, without cause, he wants to kill the Ten Regular Attendants—this is the path to chaos." The Empress Dowager heeded his words. Shortly after, He Jin came to tell her of his intention to kill the eunuchs. Empress Dowager He said, "The eunuchs have always supervised the inner palace—this is the tradition of the Han house. The late emperor has only just passed away; if you now kill his old servants, you are showing disrespect to the ancestral temple." He Jin, being a man of no resolution, on hearing the Empress Dowager's words, murmured assent and withdrew. Yuan Shao met him and asked, "What about the plan?" He Jin said, "The Empress Dowager will not agree—what can be done?" Yuan Shao replied, "You can summon the brave warriors of the four corners of the empire to lead their troops to the capital and exterminate the eunuchs. In the face of such urgency, the Empress Dowager will have no choice but to comply." He Jin said, "That is an excellent plan!" He then issued summons to all the provinces, calling them to the capital. The Chief Secretary Chen Lin said, "This cannot be! As the saying goes: 'To cover one's eyes while catching sparrows is to deceive oneself.' Even with small creatures one cannot succeed through self‑deception, let alone in matters of state! Now, General, you wield the Emperor's authority and control the military—your power is as high and mighty as you wish. If you want to kill the eunuchs, it is like blowing on a roaring furnace to dry a hair—how easy it would be! You should act swiftly and decisively, and heaven and men will alike follow you. Instead, you send out summons to the provinces, inviting armed forces to march upon the capital. When heroes gather, each will have his own designs—this is like handing your own weapon to others. You will surely fail, and chaos will ensue." He Jin laughed and said, "This is the view of a coward!" At that moment, one man beside him clapped and laughed heartily, saying, "This matter is as easy as turning over one's hand—why all this debate?" All looked—it was Cao Cao. And so it is said:

　　To rid the sovereign of the wicked at his side,

　　One must heed the wise counsel of the court's best minds.

　　If you wish to know what Cao Cao had to say, you must read on in the next chapter.