In the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu (Liu Xiu) centralized power by appointing six secretaries to handle state affairs and installing eunuchs like the Chief Attendant, Junior Attendants, and Middle Attendants within the palace to relay imperial edicts and review documents from the secretaries. Though eunuchs were inner-court officials not meant to meddle in politics, their proximity to the emperor made them trusted confidants. During Emperor He's reign, the powerful consort clan general Dou Xian monopolized power, angering the emperor. Emperor He secretly plotted with the eunuch Zheng Zhong to kill Dou Xian, who was forced to commit suicide. Zheng Zhong was enfeoffed as a marquis for his service, marking the eunuchs' entry into court politics and sparking a fierce power struggle with the consort clans that lasted nearly a century.
He Jin, a butcher by trade, rose to power as Grand General after his half-sister became Empress to Emperor Ling of Han. When the emperor died, He Jin installed the young emperor and monopolized court affairs, sparking a fierce conflict with the eunuch faction. Determined to eliminate them but blocked by Empress Dowager He, he secretly plotted to summon Dong Zhuo, Governor of Bingzhou, and other regional generals to march on Luoyang and force the empress dowager's hand.
He Jin's chief secretary, Chen Lin, upon learning of his plan, advised him: "You hold the emperor's authority and command the army—you stand tall like a dragon-horse and stride boldly like a tiger, fully capable of handling everything. Why summon Dong Zhuo and his forces to the capital to eliminate the eunuchs? If troops from all sides converge on the capital, the strong will vie for dominance, leading to chaos and conflict across the land." He Jin ignored this counsel and secretly ordered Dong Zhuo and his men to march on the capital.
The conspirators were betrayed by an informant to the eunuchs, who struck first and had He Jin assassinated. Colonel Yuan Shao then raised an army and slaughtered over two thousand eunuchs. General Dong Zhuo marched into the capital, drove off Yuan Shao, murdered Empress Dowager He, deposed the young emperor, installed Emperor Xian, declared himself Grand Preceptor, and seized total control. Warlords across the land carved up territories and warred among themselves, pushing the Eastern Han Dynasty to the brink of total collapse.
Later, the idiom "Dragon Soaring, Tiger Striding" came to describe a majestic and imposing demeanor.
Source: *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, "Book of Wei: Biography of Chen Lin"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "龙骧虎步" came to describe a majestic and imposing demeanor.