When Dong Zhuo wanted to kill Yuan Shao, Li Ru restrained him and said, “The matter is not settled yet. Do not kill in haste.”

Yuan Shao left with his sword in hand, bidding farewell to the hundred officials and walking out. He hung his travel tally at the East Gate and rode for Jizhou. Dong Zhuo said to Grand Tutor Yuan Kui, “Your nephew has no propriety. Looking at your face, I will forgive him for now. What should be done about the issue of deposition and enthronement?” Yuan Kui replied, “What the Grand Commandant saw is the way it should be.”

Dong Zhuo said, “If anyone blocks this great decision, punish them by military law.”

The other ministers, trembling, all said, “We will obey your command.”

After the banquet, Dong Zhuo asked the Court Attendant Zhou Bi and Colonel Wu Qiong, “What will come of Yuan Shao’s departure?” Zhou Bi said, “Yuan Shao left in anger. If you press him too hard, he is certain to rebel. The Yuan family has dispensed favors for four generations; their former pupils and officials are everywhere under heaven. If he gathers bold men and raises a following, heroes will rise with him, and the lands east of the passes will no longer be yours. Better to pardon him and appoint him administrator of a commandery. He will rejoice at escaping punishment, and there will be no danger.”

Wu Qiong said, “Yuan Shao likes to scheme but cannot carry things through to judgment. No need to worry overmuch about him. Better still, appoint him one commandery governor and win the people’s heart.”

Dong Zhuo followed their suggestions and that very day sent an order appointing Yuan Shao as Governor of Bohai. On the first day of the ninth month he asked the emperor to go to Jia De Hall for a grand assembly of civil and military officers.

Dong Zhuo drew his sword and said to all, “The Son of Heaven is dim in nature and unfit to rule the world. I have now a memorial draft to be read.” He then ordered Li Ru to read it:

The late Emperor Ling of Han abandoned his people too early; after him, the world looked up to the successor of the throne. Yet the present Emperor was born light-minded and lacked dignity, and in his mourning period he was lazy and negligent. When his faults are so clearly manifest, he is unworthy of the great seat. The Empress Dowager has not governed by maternal guidance, and state administration has become disorderly. When Empress Dowager Yongle suddenly died, all men were confused.

Are not the Way of the Three Bonds and the order of Heaven and Earth now in question?

The Prince of Chenliu, Liu Xie, possesses lofty and abundant virtue and observes the rules of conduct with solemn care. In mourning he has shown grief; his words have never strayed from what is right. His excellent reputation is known throughout the realm. He should inherit the Great Enterprise and establish the succession for ten thousand generations.

Therefore the Emperor is hereby deposed and made King of Hongnong, and the Empress Dowager shall return authority to the throne. Let the Prince of Chenliu be received as emperor, in accord with Heaven and the people, to answer the hopes of all living souls.

When Li Ru finished reading, Dong Zhuo shouted for attendants to help the emperor down from the hall. He removed his seals and ribbons and, facing north, knelt long and said he was Your servant and would obey. Then he ordered the Empress Dowager to put away formal mourning attire and wait for an imperial command.

Emperor and Empress Dowager wailed together. No minister in the hall was without grief.

A major official from the steps below shouted in rage, “Treacherous minister Dong Zhuo, how dare you attempt a plot against Heaven? I will spray your face with my own blood from my throat!” He raised an ivory baton in hand and struck straight at Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo was furious. He shouted for soldiers, who hauled the man out. He was none other than Shangshu Minister Ding Guan. Dong ordered him seized and beheaded. Ding Guan kept cursing without ceasing and never changed expression until death.

Later people composed a poem of lament:

The traitor Dong long hid a design to depose and enthrone; The Han’s temples and ancestral halls were cast to rubble. All the ministers of the court looted the court for themselves, Yet in them all only Ding Gong kept the stature of a true man.

Dong Zhuo invited the Prince of Chenliu to ascend the throne.

After the ministers had offered their congratulations, Dong ordered Empress Dowager He, the King of Hongnong, and the emperor’s consort Lady Tang confined in Yongan Palace. He sealed the palace gates and forbade the ministers to enter without permission.

The pitiful young emperor had ascended the throne in the fourth month and was deposed by the ninth. The man Dong Zhuo enthroned was Liu Xie, the King of Chenliu, whose courtesy name was Bohe. He was Emperor Ling’s second son—the Emperor Xian of Han—and was nine years old at the time.

The era name was changed to Chuping. Dong Zhuo became Chancellor of State; in the audience hall he came without ritual deference, with sword and boots on, and none could match his power to grant favor or inflict punishment.

Li Ru advised Dong to recruit famous men in order to gather popular trust. He recommended Cai Yong for his talents. Dong summoned him, but Cai Yong did not come. Dong grew angry and told him, “If you do not come, I will exterminate your family.” Frightened, he had to obey the summons and arrive.

Dong met Cai Yong and rejoiced greatly. Within one month he promoted him three times and appointed him Court Attendant, treating him with unusual warmth.

In the meantime, the young emperor and Empress Dowager He and Empress Consort Tang were trapped in Yongan Palace, with food and clothing growing scarce. The young emperor had not once stopped weeping.

One day, he happened to see two swallows flying together in the courtyard and so composed a poem:

New green grass stiffened in the mist; twin swallows rose, light and high. The Luo River ran as a blue-green ribbon, and passersby on the road praised it with envy. Far away, under deep blue clouds, stood my old palace. Who was loyal and righteous and carried out his heart’s grievance so openly?

Dong Zhuo often had people listening. That day they obtained this poem and brought it to him.

Dong Zhuo said, “A poem of grievance is enough for murder. Kill him openly and make it famous.” He ordered Li Ru with ten armed men to enter the palace and kill the emperor.

The emperor, Empress Dowager, and consort were on an upper floor when a palace maid announced Li Ru’s arrival. The emperor was deeply frightened. Li Ru offered him poisoned wine. The emperor asked, “What is this for?” Li Ru said, “In this warm springtime, the Chancellor Dong offers celebratory longevity wine.”

The Empress Dowager said, “If it is truly celebratory, then you may drink first.”

Li Ru snapped, “Do you refuse to drink?” He held out a short knife and a white cord before him and said, “If you will not drink this longevity wine, you may receive these two things.”

Consort Tang knelt and said, “I will drink in the emperor’s place. Spare my son and me.”

Li Ru barked, “Who are you to die in the emperor’s place?” Then he held out the cup to Empress Dowager He and said, “You should drink first.”

The emperor then sang:

Heaven and earth are now changed, and the sun and moon are turned over. As a servant reduced to this, I know my life is not long. The great current passes by, and I can only weep with empty tears.

Consort Tang also sang:

The Son of Heaven will collapse and Earth Mother will fall; As an imperial consort, I regret I cannot follow. Life and death now take different paths from this parting; How can my grief be so quick to fade?

After the songs, the two embraced and wept together.

Li Ru barked, “The Chancellor ordered you to return and report right away. You delayed; who will save you now?”

The Empress Dowager shouted harshly that He Jin had lacked judgment and let a villain into the capital, bringing this day’s catastrophe. Li Ru’s anger rose. He and his men dragged her down from the stairs, then ordered soldiers to strangle Tang Consort and force poison wine down the throat of the young emperor before reporting back to Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo ordered the boy emperor buried outside the city wall.

From then on Dong entered the palace every night, violated palace attendants, and slept in the Dragon Bed.

At one point he led troops out of the city to a place near Yangcheng in the second month. Villagers were gathering for the spring festival. Men and women all assembled. Dong ordered the soldiers to surround them, slaughtered everyone, plundered women and goods, loaded them on carts, hung more than one thousand heads beneath the carts, then drove straight back to the capital and boasted they had crushed the rebels. At the city gate he burned heads of the dead and distributed women and goods among the troops.

Wu Fu, Colonel of the Horse-Archers, style name Deyu, saw Dong’s cruelty and was unable to bear it. He once wore thin armor beneath his court robes and concealed a short sword, waiting for a chance to kill Dong.

One day, when Dong entered court, Wu Fu came up to the chamber stairs and drew his sword to stab him. Dong had great strength; he gripped him with both hands. Lü Bu ran in and dragged Wu Fu down.

Dong said, “Who taught you to rebel?”

Wu Fu stared and shouted, “You are not my lord, and I am not your retainer. How can there be rebellion between us? Your crimes fill heaven, and everyone wishes to execute you! I’d rather be torn apart by a cart than fail to answer to the world for not punishing you.”

Dong, furious, ordered him seized and cut open and quartered. Wu Fu cursed without pause to the end of his life.

Later men made a poem praising him:

In late Han, the loyal and upright called Wu Fu the true man. No sky-reaching pride in this age was greater than his. His name remains for striking a villain in the court, And across ten thousand ages he is worthy of the name “great man.”

From then on Dong Zhuo left and entered in the company of armored men at all times.

Yuan Shao was then in Bohai. Hearing that Dong Zhuo was manipulating power, he sent a secret letter to Wang Yun.

The traitor Dong has defied Heaven and deposed the ruler; the people cannot bear to speak it. Yet you, in your own authority, allow him to run wild. If you do not hear and respond, are you truly a loyal minister serving the realm?

Yuan Shao now gathers men and drills troops. I wish to clear the royal house of this danger, but have not dared to move quickly. If you are willing, seize this chance and strike. If you can order soldiers, command me and I will obey.

When Wang Yun received the letter he pondered for a long while and could think of no answer.

One day he told the old ministers all assembled in the inner court pavilion, “I, this old servant, have descended in humiliation today. Tonight I ask all of you to come to my home for a small drink.” All the ministers said they would certainly come.

That evening Wang Yun held a banquet in the rear hall, and all court ministers arrived. After several rounds of drink, he suddenly covered his face and wept. The assembly cried out in surprise, “Your Excellency the Minister over the Masses, why this grief?”

Wang Yun said, “Today this old servant is not truly humiliated. I wanted to gather you only to have a quiet exchange. Dong Zhuo now upholds this usurpation; if he sees our hearts are set elsewhere he may suspect us. So I used this as a pretext for laughter before tears.”

He continued: “Dong Zhuo has betrayed the ruler and seized command; the state and ancestral hall are one step from ruin tomorrow. Think: from the High Emperor who beheaded Qin and crushed Chu, who once held all under heaven, to this day we have fallen into Dong’s hand. This is why I cry.”

Immediately the whole assembly wept.

Someone in the hall then slapped his hand on his thigh and laughed aloud: “The entire court is crying until dawn, dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn. How can crying kill Dong Zhuo?”

Wang Yun looked up and saw it was the Cavalry Captain Cao Cao. He was furious and said, “Your ancestors and yours have all eaten the Han court’s salaries. How can you, instead of thinking of service to the state, laugh at the others?”

Cao Cao said, “I did not laugh for another reason. I laughed because none here has one plan to kill Dong Zhuo. Though I am mediocre, I would gladly cut off Dong’s head now, hang it over the city gate, and offer that to the world.”

Wang Yun withdrew and asked, “What stratagem do you, Mengde, have?”

Cao Cao said, “Of late I have humbled myself serving Dong Zhuo only in order to seize the moment. He now trusts me well, so I can stand near him. I have heard that Your Excellency the Minister over the Masses possesses a treasured seven-star sword. Lend it to me. I will enter the Chancellor’s residence and stab him. Even if I die, I will have no regret.”

Wang Yun said, “If Mengde truly bears this intent, heaven is fortunate on behalf of the land.” He then personally poured him wine. Cao Cao sipped and took oath. Wang Yun then took out the treasured sword and gave it to him.

Cao Cao concealed the sword. After he finished drinking, he stood, took leave of the assembly, and left. The ministers sat once more, then all gradually dispersed.

Next morning, wearing the broadsword at his side, Cao Cao came to the Chancellor’s office and asked where the Chancellor was.

A servant answered, “He is in the small pavilion.” Cao Cao went straight in.

Dong Zhuo sat on a bed; Lü Bu stood beside him. Dong said, “Why are you late, Mengde?” Cao Cao replied, “My horse is lame, so my progress is slow.”

Dong turned to Lü Bu and said, “I have fine horses from Xiliang. Fengxian, you may choose one and give it to Mengde.”

Lü Bu obeyed and went to pick one. Cao Cao thought, “This villain deserves to die.” He prepared to draw his sword and stab him but, fearing Dong’s strength, did not dare to move lightly.

Dong was fat and could not remain seated long; he turned and lay down, facing inward. Cao Cao thought again, “This villain has just taken his rest.” He quickly drew out his broadsword. At the moment he was about to stab, Dong happened to glance into a mirror, saw Cao Cao behind him with the blade already drawn, and turned quickly.

“Mengde,” Dong asked, “what is this?”

Lü Bu had already led out the horse and was outside the pavilion. Cao Cao, alarmed, knelt and held out the sword.

“Thank you, my lord, a treasured broadsword, offered to the favored Chancellor.”

Dong took a good look and saw it was over a chi long, inlaid with seven jewels, extremely sharp. It was truly a treasured sword. He handed it to Lü Bu for safekeeping. Cao Cao put the scabbard back on and gave it to him.

Dong then led Cao Cao out of the pavilion to inspect horses. Cao Cao said with thanks, “May I test one of them?”

Dong told him to take a saddle and reins. Cao Cao led the horse out of the Chancellor’s office, whipped it, and rode toward the southeast.

Lü Bu said, “Cao Cao came in as if to strike you, but, being called out, he gave this as a presentation.”

Dong said, “I also had my suspicions.”

Just as they were speaking, Li Ru arrived. Dong related this to him. Li Ru said, “Cao Cao has no wife or children in the capital and lives alone in his rented house. If men are sent to summon him and he comes at once, that would support your claim that this is an offering. If he resists coming, then he certainly attempted to strike.”

Dong approved this plan and sent four jail guards to summon Cao Cao.

A long time passed. The men returned saying, “Cao Cao has not come back to his lodgings. He mounted a horse and fled out through East Gate. When the gate guard asked, he said: ‘The Chancellor has an urgent official matter for me,’ and he rode off.”

Li Ru said, “Cao’s bandit heart has already fled. This is certainly an attempted assassination.”

Dong Zhuo was enraged: “I trusted this man so heavily, and he now wants to kill me!”

Li Ru said, “There must be confederates. Once we seize Cao Cao, we can know the truth.”

Dong issued warrants across the city, posted sketches and descriptions, and ordered Cao Cao arrested. Whoever delivered him would be rewarded a thousand pieces of gold and made a marquis of ten thousand households; those hiding him shared the same guilt.

At that time Cao Cao had fled beyond the city and rode hard toward Qiao commandery. When passing through Zhongmou County, he was caught by gate soldiers and brought before the county magistrate.

Cao Cao said, “I am a travelling merchant. My surname is Huangfu.”

The magistrate stared hard at Cao Cao and was silent a while, then said, “I recognized you in Luoyang when I once sought office. You are Cao Cao. Why hide your name? Bring him to custody and tomorrow bring him toward the capital with your report for reward.” He gave the guard soldiers wine and food and left.

By midnight the magistrate had his attendants secretly summon Cao Cao for questioning in the back courtyard.

He said, “I hear the Chancellor did not treat you badly. Why did you bring this trouble on yourself?”

Cao Cao replied, “How can a sparrow know the ambition of a wild goose?”

He added, “Now that you have captured me, you will release me and bring a reward back to the capital. Move the attendants away.”

The magistrate dismissed those present and said, “Do not disdain me. I am not an ordinary petty official; only that I have not yet met the lord to whom I belong.”

Cao Cao said, “My ancestors and family have eaten the Han stipend for generations. If I did not think to repay the state, how am I any different from beasts? I only bent my body to serve Dong Zhuo in order to strike when a moment opened, so the realm might be cleared of him. Now that matter failed, it is the will of Heaven.”

The magistrate asked, “Where does Mengde now intend to go?”

Cao Cao said, “I go to my home county, issue a forged edict, and summon the lords of the world to rise together and execute Dong Zhuo. This is my wish.”

Hearing this, the magistrate immediately untied him and helped him to his seat. He bent twice in obeisance and said, “You are truly a loyal and righteous man of all under heaven.”

Cao Cao also bent and asked the magistrate’s name. He said, “My surname is Chen. My personal name is Gong, my courtesy name is Gongtai. My old mother and wife and children are in Dong Commandery. Moved by your righteousness, I am willing to abandon my office and flee with you.”

Cao Cao rejoiced.

That night Chen Gong packed provisions, changed clothes with Cao Cao, and the two mounted horses and rode toward their hometown. After three days they reached Cheng Gao.

At dusk, Cao Cao pointed his whip toward the deep wood and said to Chen Gong, “There is a man there, surname Lü, named Bo She. He was my father’s sworn-brother. Go ask about his family and whether we might stay one night.”

Chen Gong said, “That is best.” They dismounted before Bo She’s homestead and entered.

Bo She said, “I have heard court notices all over seeking you in earnest. Your father has fled to Chenliu. How did you come here?”

Cao Cao explained earlier events and said, “If not for the magistrate of Zhongmou, I would already have been pulverized to dust and bone.”

Bo She bowed to Chen Gong and said, “Had the young gentleman not been Your Excellency, the Cao household would already be exterminated. Young master, sit at ease; tonight you may lodge in my thatch.”

He rose immediately and went inside. After a while he returned and told Chen Gong, “This old man has no good wine. Let me go to Xiang village and buy a jar for your reception.” Saying this he hurriedly mounted a mule and left.

Cao Cao and Chen Gong sat awhile. Suddenly they heard in the rear of the compound the sound of sharpening blades. Cao Cao said, “Lü Bo She is no intimate. This is suspicious. We should try to overhear.”

They moved stealthily behind the thatch hall. They heard voices saying, “Shall we tie him and kill him?”

Cao Cao said, “That is so. If we do not strike first, we will surely be seized.” So he and Chen Gong drew their swords and entered directly, killing without distinction of man or woman. They killed eight people in a row.

Searching in the kitchen, they saw a tied pig being readied to be killed. Chen Gong said, “Mengde’s heart is hard. He has just killed good people by mistake.” He hurried out of the homestead and mounted.

They had gone less than two li when they saw Bo She returning on his mule, with two jars of wine hanging from his saddle-bow and fruits and greens in his hands.

He called out, “How could this worthy nephew and Your Excellency leave so quickly?”

Cao Cao said, “A man pursued by guilt cannot linger.”

Bo She replied, “I have already ordered my household to butcher one pig for your hospitality. Why would worthy nephew and Your Excellency hate a single night’s lodging? Turn back quickly.”

Cao Cao ignored him and spurred his horse on.

After only a few strides he pulled out his sword and turned back, crying, “Who is this newcomer?” As Bo She looked over his shoulder, Cao Cao slashed him from horseback.

Chen Gong exclaimed in alarm, “You misjudged him a moment ago. Why do this now?”

Cao Cao said, “Bo She has come to his own home and has seen many killed. Why would he remain calm? If he gathers many men and pursues, we will be ruined.”

Chen Gong said, “To know and then kill is too unjust.”

Cao Cao answered, “I’d rather bear blame before all under heaven than let all under heaven bear blame against me.” Chen Gong was silent.

That night, after riding several li, they reached an inn under moonlight and knocked open the door to stay the night. They fed their horses. Cao Cao lay down first and slept.

Chen Gong thought to himself, “I took Cao Cao for a good man and gave up office to follow him. He is actually pitiless indeed. If I keep him here, he will bring trouble later.” He reached for his sword, intending to kill Cao Cao.

The proper saying of the chapter is:

If a heart is cruel and vicious, it is no fit character for a worthy man. As for Cao and Zhuo, they were men of one ilk.

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.