Chapter 4: The Arrival of Chaos Throughout the Land

  That night, at the second watch, Lü Bu took his sword and entered Ding Yuan's tent. At that time, Ding Yuan was reading a book by candlelight, and when he saw Lü Bu arrive in front of him, he hastily asked: "My son has come, what is the matter?" Lü Bu said: "I am a dignified husband, how can I be your son?" Ding Yuan panicked and said: "Why did Fengxian change his mind?" Lü Bu stepped forward, regardless of everything, and with one slash of his sword, he cut off Ding Yuan's head. He shouted to the left and right: "Ding Yuan is cruel, I have killed him! Those who are willing to follow me, stay here; those who do not want to follow me, leave!" Most of the soldiers dispersed.

  The next day, Lü Bu brought Ding Yuan's head to see Li Su. Li Su then led Lü Bu to meet Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo was overjoyed and treated him with wine. Dong Zhuo first bowed down and said: "Now I, Dong Zhuo, have obtained the general, like a withered sprout getting sweet rain." Lü Bu accepted Dong Zhuo's seat and bowed to him, saying: "If you don't abandon me, I ask to bow to you as my adoptive father." Dong Zhuo gave Lü Bu a golden armor and a brocade robe, and they drank together until the end. From then on, Dong Zhuo's power grew even greater, he took charge of the affairs of the former general, and appointed his brother Dong Min as left general and Marquis of Yangqu, and appointed Lü Bu as cavalry commander, central lang general, and Marquis of Duting. Li Ru advised Dong Zhuo to decide on the plan to abolish the emperor early. Dong Zhuo then set up a banquet in the province, gathered all the officials, and ordered Lü Bu to lead more than a thousand armored soldiers to guard the left and right. On that day, Taifu Yuan Shao and all the officials arrived. After several rounds of wine, Dong Zhuo drew his sword and said: "The current emperor is weak and incompetent, unable to worship the ancestors' temple; I will follow the example of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, abolish the emperor as King of Hongnong, and establish Chenliu King as emperor. Whoever does not obey will be beheaded!" The officials were frightened and did not dare to respond. At this time, it can be seen that Dong Zhuo had a king's ambition. However, there was also a bold middle school lieutenant named Yuan Shao who stepped forward and said: "The current emperor has just ascended the throne and has no fault; you want to abolish the legitimate emperor and establish an illegitimate one, isn't this treason?" Dong Zhuo became furious and said: "The affairs of the world are in my hands! I will do it now, who dares not to obey? Do you see that my sword is not sharp?" Yuan Shao also drew his sword and said: "Your sword is sharp, but mine has never been dull!" The two men faced each other on the banquet table. It can be seen that at this time, Yuan Shao was still a heroic figure who dared to defy the heavens, and he did not betray the great Han dynasty. Perhaps it was only after going through the troubled times that he gradually developed ambitions!

  Dong Zhuo was enraged and wanted to kill Yuan Shao, but Li Ru stopped him and advised: "The matter is not yet settled, do not kill recklessly." Yuan Shao held his precious sword, bid farewell to the officials, and left. He hung his seal at the East Gate and fled to Ji Province. Dong Zhuo said to Grand Tutor Yuan Wei: "Your nephew was impolite, but I will spare him for your sake. What do you think about the matter of abdication?" Yuan Wei replied: "What the General sees is correct." Dong Zhuo said: "Whoever dares to obstruct this great plan shall be dealt with according to military law!" The officials were terrified and all said they would obey his orders. After the banquet, Zhuo asked Attendant Minister Zhou Bi and Colonel Wu Qiong: "Where did Yuan Shao go?" Zhou Bi replied: "Yuan Shao left in a huff, if we pursue him urgently, he will surely cause trouble. Moreover, the Yuan family has accumulated favors for four generations, their retainers and former officials are all over the world; if they gather heroes to assemble troops, heroes will rise up because of this, and the eastern regions will not be yours. It is better to pardon him and appoint him as a governor of a commandery, then Yuan Shao will be happy to escape punishment and there will be no problem." Wu Qiong also said: "Yuan Shao is good at planning but lacks decisiveness, he is not worth worrying about; it is better to add one more commandery to win over the people's hearts." Dong Zhuo followed their advice and immediately sent someone to appoint Shao as the Governor of Bohai Commandery.

  On the first day of September, the Emperor ascended to the Jia De Hall and convened a grand assembly of civil and military officials. Dong Zhuo drew his sword and addressed the gathering: "The Son of Heaven is weak and incompetent, unfit to rule the empire. I have a strategy that should be proclaimed." He ordered Li Ru to read out the document, which stated: "Emperor Ling abandoned his ministers and people at an early age; Emperor Xian succeeded him, but the entire realm looked on in dismay. However, the Emperor's natural disposition is frivolous and lacking in dignity, and he has been remiss in observing mourning rites. His shortcomings are already apparent, and he is unworthy of the great position. Empress Dowager He has failed to provide maternal guidance, and her governance has been chaotic. The sudden death of Empress Dowager Dong has caused widespread confusion. Is this not a breach of the natural order? Prince Xie of Chenliu is a man of great virtue and talent, with a dignified and solemn demeanor; he has observed mourning rites with proper decorum, and his words are free from deceit. His reputation for benevolence and wisdom is renowned throughout the land, and it is fitting that he should succeed to the imperial throne and bring order to the realm. We hereby depose Emperor Xian as King of Hongnong, and request Empress Dowager He to relinquish power; we petition Prince Xie of Chenliu to ascend to the throne, in accordance with Heaven's will and the desires of humanity, to comfort the hopes of the people." When Li Ru finished reading the document, Dong Zhuo ordered his attendants to escort the Emperor down from the hall, remove his imperial seal and sash, and make him kneel facing north, acknowledging himself as a subject. He also summoned Empress Dowager He to come and await further instructions. The Emperor and Empress Dowager both wailed in grief, and all the officials present were overcome with sorrow.

  The Minister of Works, in a rage, shouted and cursed: "Treasonous minister Dong Zhuo, how dare you plot against Heaven! I will splatter your neck with blood!" He swung the ivory tablet in his hand and struck Dong Zhuo directly. Dong Zhuo's small and violent temper flared up in great anger, and he ordered the guards to take him down: it was none other than the Minister of Works, Ding Guan. Dong Zhuo ordered that he be taken out and beheaded. Ding Guan cursed without stopping until his death, but his expression did not change. In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", there is a poem that says: "Dong the traitor secretly plotted to overthrow the emperor, The imperial family's ancestral temple was reduced to rubble. All the court officials were in his pocket, Only Ding Guan was a true man."

  Dong Zhuo invited King Chenliu to ascend the throne. After all the officials finished paying their respects, Dong Zhuo ordered Empress He and Emperor Xian of Han's empress, Tang, to move to Yong'an Palace, where they were placed under house arrest, with the palace gates sealed off and strict orders given that no one was allowed to enter without permission. Poor Emperor Shao of Han had only been on the throne for five months since his ascension in April, before being deposed by Dong Zhuo in September.

  Dong Zhuo established Chenliu King Liu Xie, courtesy name Bohe, the middle son of Emperor Ling, also known as Emperor Xian; he was nine years old at the time. The era name was changed to Chuping. Dong Zhuo became Chancellor, and his power was unmatched: when he entered the court, he did not hurry, wore his sword while walking on the imperial platform, and no one dared to compete with him for dominance in the imperial court!

  Li Ru advised Dong Zhuo to promote and employ famous scholars in order to gain the people's support, and thus recommended Cai Yong's talent. Dong Zhuo ordered him to be summoned, but Cai Yong did not respond. Dong Zhuo was furious and sent someone to tell Cai Yong: "If you don't come, I will exterminate your family." Cai Yong was afraid and had no choice but to obey the order and come. When Dong Zhuo saw Cai Yong, he was overjoyed and promoted him three times in one month, appointing him as a palace attendant, treating him with great favor and intimacy. This Dong Zhuo's way of using people is indeed tyrannical, truly deserving of his reputation as the "Demon King"!

  The Emperor of Han was trapped in the Yong'an Palace with Empress He and Consort Tang, their clothes and food gradually becoming scarce; the emperor's tears never dried. One day, he saw a pair of swallows flying in the courtyard and recited a poem. The poem said: "Tender grass green smoke, fluttering double swallows. Luoshui one strip blue, outside the city people called Yan. Far look at the deep blue cloud, is my old palace. Who told my uncle, vent my heart resentment! Uncle came to this, all against the heartless people!" It can be seen that at that time, Emperor Han's heart was full of hope that someone could send a message to Liu Bei during this time, because Dong Zhuo was afraid that Liu Bei would know, so he blocked the news! Moreover, Dong Zhuo also often sent people to spy on Emperor Han. That night, Dong Zhuo obtained Emperor Han's poem and presented it to him. Dong Zhuo angrily said: "Resentful poetry, killing has a name! Hmph! Isn't it Liu Bei? I have enough evidence!" He ordered Li Ru to bring ten warriors into the palace to assassinate the emperor. Emperor Han was on the upper floor with Empress He and Consort Tang when the palace maid reported that Li Ru had arrived. Emperor Han was shocked. Li Ru presented poisoned wine to Emperor Han, who asked why. Li Ru said: "Spring day fusion, Dong Prime Minister specially offers longevity wine." Empress He said: "Since it's longevity wine, you can drink first." Li Ru angrily said: "You don't drink?!" and ordered the guards to hold short knives and white silk in front of him, saying: "Longevity wine not drunk, can take these two things!" Consort Tang knelt down and begged: "I'll drink the wine for the emperor, please spare our mother and child's lives." Li Ru angrily scolded: "Who are you, can you replace the king's death?" He raised his cup to Empress He and said: "You can drink first?" Empress He severely scolded He Jin for being incompetent, leading the rebels into the capital, causing today's disaster. Li Ru urged Emperor Han, who said: "Let me bid farewell to the empress." Then he wailed and sang a song, the lyrics of which were: "Heaven and earth are easy, sun and moon flip, abandon ten thousand carriages, retreat and guard the fiefdom. As a minister, my life is not long, great momentum goes, empty tears flow!" Consort Tang also sang a song in response: "The imperial heaven will collapse, the later earth will decline, as an emperor's daughter-in-law, my life is not following. Life and death are different roads, from now on it's over, how can I be so sad?" After finishing the song, they hugged each other and cried. Li Ru angrily scolded: "The prime minister is waiting for a report, you're delaying, who do you expect to save?!" Empress He severely scolded: "Dong thief killed my mother and child, heaven will not bless! You're helping the evil, you'll surely be destroyed!" Li Ru was furious, grabbed Empress He with both hands, and threw her down from the upper floor; ordered the warriors to strangle Consort Tang to death; and forced Emperor Han to drink poisoned wine.

  He also reported to Dong Zhuo, and Dong Zhuo ordered him to be buried outside the city. From then on, he entered the palace every night, and slept in the dragon bed. Once, he led his troops out of the city and arrived at Yangcheng, where it was the second month and the villagers were holding a festival. Men and women had all gathered together. Dong Zhuo ordered his soldiers to surround them and kill everyone, plundering their wives and property, loading them onto carts, hanging over a thousand heads under the carts, and returning to the capital, proclaiming that they had won a great victory over the bandits. At the city gate, he burned the human heads and distributed the women's property among his soldiers. The commander of the Yuji cavalry, Wu Fu, whose courtesy name was Deyou, saw Dong Zhuo's cruelty and was filled with anger and hatred. He often wore small armor under his official uniform and hid a short knife, waiting for an opportunity to kill Dong Zhuo. One day, when Dong Zhuo entered the court, Wu Fu welcomed him at the foot of the hall, drew his knife, and stabbed directly at Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo was very powerful and grabbed Wu Fu's hands with both of his own; Lü Bu then came in and knocked Wu Fu to the ground. Dong Zhuo asked: "Who told you to rebel?" Wu Fu glared at him and shouted loudly: "You are not my lord, I am not your subject, what rebellion is there? Your crimes fill the heavens, everyone wants to kill you! I regret that I cannot tear you apart with a chariot to apologize to the world! Ha ha! I have already written a secret letter to tell Han Xingwang Liu Bei, and soon he will definitely send you to hell!" Dong Zhuo was furious when he heard this, and ordered Wu Fu to be taken out and executed. Wu Fu cursed until his death. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms has a poem praising him: "At the end of the Han dynasty, the loyal minister Wu Fu said that his heroic spirit is unparalleled in the world. His name for killing bandits on the court is still remembered today, and he can be called a great hero for all eternity!" From then on, Dong Zhuo always wore armor when entering or leaving the palace, accompanied by soldiers guarding him.

  Here is the translation:

  When Yuan Shao was in Bohai, he heard that Dong Zhuo had seized power and sent someone to deliver a secret letter to Wang Yun. The content of the letter was: "Dong Zhuo is a national thief, now deceiving heaven and abolishing the emperor, people dare not speak out; while you indulge his arrogance, if you do not listen to this, are you not a loyal minister who reports to the country? Now Shao has gathered troops and trained soldiers, wanting to sweep away the imperial court, but dares not act lightly. If you have a mind, you should take advantage of the opportunity to plot against him. If there is an order, I will immediately obey it." In addition, I sent a secret letter to Han Xing Wang asking him to bring out the precious sword to kill the national thief and support the Han dynasty! Wang Yun received the letter and thought about it but had no plan. One day, in the imperial palace, he saw his old officials all present and said: "Today, I am humble and lowly, tonight I dare to invite you all to my humble abode for a small drink." All the officials said: "We must come to congratulate you on your birthday." That night, Wang Yun set up a banquet in the back hall, and all the officials arrived. After several rounds of wine, Wang Yun suddenly covered his face and cried loudly. The officials were shocked and asked: "Sir, why are you crying?" Wang Yun cried: "Today is not my birthday, I just wanted to chat with you all, but I'm afraid Dong Zhuo will suspect something, so I made up an excuse. Dong Zhuo deceives the emperor and seizes power, the country is in danger every day; thinking of the great emperor who destroyed Qin and Chu, who would have thought that it would be lost in the hands of Dong Zhuo? This is why I cry!" All the officials cried together. One person in the group clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "All the officials in the court, crying from night to morning, from morning to night, can you still cry Dong Zhuo to death?" Wang Yun looked at him and saw that it was Cao Cao, the cavalry captain. Wang Yun scolded angrily: "Your ancestors also ate the salary of the Han dynasty, now you don't think about repaying the country but instead laugh!" Cao Cao laughed: "I'm not laughing at other things, I'm laughing because none of you have a plan to kill Dong Zhuo." Although I am not talented, I am willing to cut off Dong Zhuo's head and hang it on the city gate to thank heaven and earth. Wang Yun got up from his seat and asked: "Meng De, what is your high-minded plan?" Cao Cao said: "Recently, those who have lowered themselves to serve Zhuo are actually waiting for an opportunity to plot against him. Now Zhuo somewhat trusts me, I can get close to him. I heard that you have a precious knife with seven treasures, I want to borrow it and enter the prime minister's mansion to assassinate him, even if I die, I won't regret it!" Wang Yun was shocked and said: "Meng De really has this heart, heaven is lucky indeed!" He personally poured wine and offered it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao drank the wine and made an oath, Wang Yun then took out the precious knife and gave it to him. Cao Cao hid the knife, finished drinking, and immediately got up to bid farewell to the officials and left. The officials sat for a while longer and then dispersed.

  The next day, Cao Cao wore his precious sword and came to the Prime Minister's residence. He asked the attendants, "Where is the Prime Minister?" The attendants replied, "He is in the small pavilion." Cao Cao went straight into the small pavilion.

  He saw Dong Zhuo sitting on a bed, with Lü Bu standing beside him. Dong Zhuo asked, "Why did Meng De come so late?" Cao Cao replied, "The old horse was weak and couldn't be ridden."

  Dong Zhuo turned to Lü Bu and said, "I have some fine horses from the Western Liang region. You can go choose one and give it to Meng De." Lü Bu led the order and went out.

  Cao Cao thought to himself, "This is a good opportunity to kill him!" He wanted to draw his sword and stab Dong Zhuo, but he was afraid of Dong Zhuo's great strength and didn't dare make a move. Dong Zhuo, who couldn't sit for long, lay down on the bed and turned his face inward.

  Cao Cao thought again, "This villain should be killed!" He quickly drew his precious sword and was about to stab when Dong Zhuo suddenly looked up at the mirror on the wall and saw Cao Cao drawing his sword behind him. Dong Zhuo quickly turned around and asked, "Meng De, what are you doing?"

  At that time, Lü Bu had already led the horse to the outside of the pavilion. Cao Cao was flustered and knelt down, holding the sword in his hand, saying, "Today I have a precious sword to present to the Prime Minister." Dong Zhuo took it from him and saw that the sword was over a foot long, with seven precious stones embedded on it, extremely sharp. It was indeed a precious sword.

  Dong Zhuo handed it over to Lü Bu to keep. He invited Cao Cao out of the pavilion to look at the horse. Cao Cao thanked him and said, "I would like to try riding one." Dong Zhuo agreed and gave him the reins.

  Cao Cao led the horse out of the Prime Minister's residence, whipped it, and galloped eastward.

  Lü Bu reacted and said to Dong Zhuo: "Just now, Cao seemed to have a suspicious appearance, but when he was stopped, he pushed the knife forward." Dong Zhuo also said: "I suspect him too." Just as they were talking, Li Ru arrived. Dong Zhuo told him about the matter. Ru said: "* has no wife and children in the capital, only living alone in his residence. Now, if we send someone to summon him, if he comes back without any doubts, then it is offering a knife; but if he makes excuses and does not come, then he must be trying to assassinate, and we can capture and interrogate him." Dong Zhuo agreed with his words and immediately sent four prison guards to summon Cao. After a long time, they returned and reported: "* did not return to his residence, riding a horse out of the east gate. The gate officer asked him, and Cao said 'The prime minister has urgent business for me', and galloped away." Li Ru scolded after hearing this: "Cao's treacherous heart is fleeing in panic, there is no doubt he was trying to assassinate!" Dong Zhuo became enraged: "I treated him so generously, yet he wanted to harm me!" Li Ru said: "This must have been a conspiracy, wait until we capture Cao and we will know." Dong Zhuo then ordered the circulation of documents with pictures and descriptions to arrest Cao: whoever captures and presents him would be rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold and enfeoffed as a marquis of ten thousand households; those who hide him would be punished equally.

  Cao Cao escaped from the city and fled to Chenliu. On his way, he passed through Zhongmu County, where he was captured by the soldiers guarding the pass and taken to see the county magistrate. Cao Cao said, "I am a merchant named Huangfu." The county magistrate looked at him carefully and hesitated for a long time before saying, "I knew you in Luoyang when I was seeking office, how can you deny it? Take him away and lock him up, tomorrow we will send him to the capital to ask for a reward." He gave the soldiers wine and food and left. At midnight, the county magistrate called his personal attendants to secretly take Cao Cao out of prison and interrogate him in the backyard. He asked, "I heard that the Prime Minister treated you well, why did you bring disaster upon yourself?" Cao Cao replied, "How can a swallow know the ambition of a swan? Since you have caught me, you should send me to the capital to ask for a reward, why ask so many questions!" The county magistrate dismissed his attendants and said to Cao Cao, "Don't underestimate me. I am not a common official, but I have not yet met my master." Cao Cao replied, "My ancestors have been officials of the Han dynasty for generations. If I do not think about repaying the country, how am I different from beasts? I humbled myself to serve Dong Zhuo, wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to plot against him and eliminate the harm to the country. Now that the plan has failed, it is the will of heaven!" The county magistrate asked, "Where do you plan to go now?" Cao Cao replied, "I will return to my hometown, issue a fake imperial edict, and summon the lords of the various regions to raise troops together to punish Dong Zhuo. This is my wish." When the county magistrate heard this, he personally untied Cao Cao's bonds, helped him up, and bowed twice, saying, "You are truly a loyal and righteous man in the world!" Cao Cao also bowed and asked the county magistrate his name. The county magistrate said, "My surname is Cheng, my name is Yu, and my style name is Zhongde. My elderly mother, wife, and children are all in Dongjun. I am moved by your loyalty and righteousness, and I am willing to abandon my official position and follow you in escape." Cao Cao was overjoyed at this. That night, Cheng Yu packed his bags and changed clothes with Cao Cao, each carrying a sword, and rode horses towards their hometown.

  After traveling for three days, they arrived at the Chenggao area as the sky was turning dark. Cao said to Cheng Yu while pointing with his whip towards a dense forest: "There is someone here named Lü Buqu, who is my father's sworn brother; let's go ask about news from home and spend the night there, what do you think?" Cheng Yu replied: "That would be best." The two of them dismounted their horses in front of the village and went to see Lü Buqu. Lü Buqu said: "I heard that the imperial court has issued a warrant for your arrest and is searching for you urgently; your father has already escaped to Chenliu. How did you manage to arrive here?" Cao told him about past events, saying: "If it weren't for County Magistrate Cheng, I would have been killed." Lü Buqu bowed to Cheng Yu, saying: "My young nephew owes his life to you; if it weren't for you, the Cao family would have been exterminated. Please sit back and relax, tonight we can accommodate you in a thatched cottage." After speaking, he got up and went inside. A long time later, he came out and said to Cheng Yu: "My humble home doesn't have good wine; I'll go to the west village to buy a jug to treat you with." Having spoken, he hastily mounted his donkey and left.

  Cao Cao and Cheng Yu sat for a long time, when they suddenly heard the sound of someone sharpening a knife behind the village. Cao Cao said, "Lü Boshe is not my close relative, this trip can be suspicious, let's sneak up and listen." The two quietly stepped into the thatched cottage, but only heard people talking, saying: "Tie him up and kill him, what do you think?" Cao Cao said, "It's true! If we don't take action first, we'll definitely be captured." He and Cheng Yu drew their swords and rushed in, killing everyone without distinction, a total of eight people. When they searched the kitchen, they found a pig tied up to be killed. Cheng Yu said, "Mengde is too suspicious, he mistakenly killed good people!" They quickly exited the village, mounted their horses, and left. Before they had gone two miles, they saw Lü Boshe carrying wine bottles and fruit on his donkey, calling out: "Noble nephew and messenger, why are you leaving so soon?" Cao Cao said, "A guilty person dare not stay long." Lü Boshe said, "I've already instructed my family to slaughter a pig to entertain you, noble nephew and messenger. Why do you despise our hospitality? Please turn back your horses!" Cao Cao ignored him and rode off. After a few steps, he suddenly drew his sword again and turned back, calling out to Lü Boshe: "Who is this person coming?" When Lü Boshe turned around, Cao Cao swung his sword and killed him under the donkey. Cheng Yu was shocked and said, "Just now we misheard, what are you doing now?" Cao Cao said, "If Lü Boshe returns home and sees that many people have been killed, will he not take action? If he leads a crowd to pursue us, we'll definitely be in trouble!" Cheng Yu said, "To know the truth and yet kill him is unjust!" Cao Cao said, "I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me." Cheng Yu remained silent.

  Two lifetimes of youth have passed, yet I still don't know what's in my lover's heart!

  I really miss you, but I've been persisting in gritting my teeth! This time it hurts too much!