Now Dong Zhuo wanted to kill Yuan Shao, but his adviser Li Ru stopped him, saying, "The situation is not yet settled. We cannot afford reckless executions." Yuan Shao, sword in hand, took his leave of the assembled officials, hung his official seal of authority at the eastern gate of the capital, and fled to Ji Province. Dong Zhuo then addressed Grand Tutor Yuan Wei: "Your nephew has no manners. For your sake, I will spare him for now. But what of the matter of deposing the Emperor?" Yuan Wei replied, "The Grand Commandant's view is correct." Dong Zhuo declared, "Anyone who dares oppose this great decision shall be dealt with by military law!" The assembled ministers trembled in fear, all saying they would obey his command. After the banquet, Dong Zhuo asked Attendant Zhou Bi and Colonel Wu Qiong, "What will come of Yuan Shao's departure?" Zhou Bi said, "Yuan Shao has left in a rage. If we pursue him too harshly, he will surely rebel. Moreover, the Yuan clan has spread its favor for four generations; their former students and old subordinates are scattered throughout the realm. If he gathers heroes and assembles followers, ambitious men will rally to his cause, and the lands east of the mountains will no longer be yours. It would be better to pardon him and appoint him as a commandery governor. Then Yuan Shao, delighted to be spared punishment, will cause no trouble." Wu Qiong added, "Yuan Shao loves to scheme but lacks resolve—he is no real concern. Still, it would be wise to grant him a commandery governorship to win the people's hearts." Dong Zhuo agreed and that very day sent an envoy to appoint Yuan Shao as Grand Administrator of Bohai Commandery.
On the first day of the ninth month, Dong Zhuo summoned the Emperor to ascend the Jiade Hall for a grand assembly of civil and military officials. Drawing his sword, Dong Zhuo addressed the crowd: "The Son of Heaven is weak and dim-witted, unfit to rule the realm. I have here an imperial edict that should be read aloud." He ordered Li Ru to read the decree: "Emperor Xiaoling abandoned his subjects early; the current Emperor succeeded him, and the realm looked to him with hope. Yet the Emperor's nature is frivolous, his bearing lacks dignity, and he was negligent in mourning. His lack of virtue is manifest, and he disgraces the imperial throne. The Empress Dowager's teachings lack maternal grace, and her governance is chaotic. The sudden death of Empress Dowager Yongle remains a mystery to all. The Three Bonds—the foundations of Heaven and Earth—have been broken. Prince Chenliu, named Xie, possesses great and abundant virtue, his conduct is solemn and proper. In mourning, he was sorrowful; his words were never improper. His good reputation is known throughout the realm. He should inherit the great enterprise and rule for ten thousand generations. Thus, we depose the current Emperor as Prince of Hongnong. The Empress Dowager shall return her powers. We respectfully ask that Prince Chenliu be enthroned as Emperor, in accordance with Heaven's will and the people's hopes, to comfort the hearts of all living beings." After Li Ru finished reading, Dong Zhuo ordered attendants to help the Emperor down from the throne, remove his imperial seal and sash, and make him kneel facing north, declaring himself a subject and accepting the decree. He then ordered the Empress Dowager to remove her robes and await further orders. Both the Emperor and Empress Dowager wailed in grief, and none among the ministers could hold back their sorrow.
From below the steps, one minister rose in fury, crying out, "Traitor Dong Zhuo! How dare you plot against Heaven! I will splash your face with my own blood!" He hurled his ivory court tablet directly at Dong Zhuo. Enraged, Dong Zhuo ordered the guards to seize him. It was Imperial Secretary Ding Guan. Dong Zhuo ordered him taken out and beheaded. Ding Guan cursed without ceasing, his expression unchanged even in death. A poet of that time lamented: "Dong Zhuo secretly harbored a plan to depose the emperor, reducing the Han ancestral temple to ruins. All the court ministers were but puppets in his hands—only Lord Ding proved himself a true man."
Dong Zhuo then invited Prince Chenliu to ascend the throne. After the ministers had paid their respects, Dong Zhuo ordered Empress Dowager He, the deposed Prince of Hongnong, and his consort Lady Tang to be confined in the Yong'an Palace. The palace gates were sealed, and no minister was allowed to enter without permission. How pitiful that the young Emperor had ascended the throne in the fourth month and was deposed by the ninth! The Prince Chenliu whom Dong Zhuo had enthroned—named Xie, styled Bohe, the second son of Emperor Ling—was Emperor Xian, then only nine years old. The reign title was changed to Chuping. Dong Zhuo was appointed Chancellor, with the privilege of being announced by name during court audiences, of walking into court without the usual hastened steps, and of wearing his sword and shoes in the imperial presence. His power and prestige were unmatched.
Li Ru advised Dong Zhuo to recruit renowned scholars to win public support, and recommended the talented Cai Yong. Dong Zhuo summoned Cai Yong, but Cai Yong refused to come. Enraged, Dong Zhuo sent a messenger to say, "If you do not come, your entire clan will be exterminated." Fearing for his family, Cai Yong reluctantly complied and arrived. Dong Zhuo was overjoyed to see him and promoted him three times in a single month, appointing him as an Attendant, treating him with great favor and intimacy.
Meanwhile, the deposed young Emperor, Empress Dowager He, and Lady Tang were trapped in the Yong'an Palace. Their clothes and food gradually diminished. The young Emperor's tears never dried. One day, he happened to see a pair of swallows flying in the courtyard and composed a poem: "Tender grass glows green like mist, a pair of swallows flit and twist. The Luo River flows a ribbon of blue, and on the paths, people praise the view. Gazing far, I see the deep blue clouds—that is my former palace. Who will wield loyal righteousness and vent the resentment in my heart?" Dong Zhuo had spies constantly monitoring them. When this poem was brought to him, he said, "He writes poems of resentment—now I have a reason to kill him." He ordered Li Ru to lead ten armored soldiers into the palace to murder the Emperor. The Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Lady Tang were on the upper floor when a palace maid reported Li Ru's arrival. The Emperor was terrified. Li Ru presented a goblet of poisoned wine to the Emperor. The Emperor asked why. Li Ru replied, "The spring sun is warm, and Chancellor Dong specially sends this cup of longevity wine." The Empress Dowager said, "If it is longevity wine, you should drink it first." Li Ru snapped, "You refuse to drink?" He ordered his men to bring a short sword and a white silk sash, saying, "If you won't drink the longevity wine, choose one of these two!" Lady Tang knelt and pleaded, "Let me drink the wine in the Emperor's place. I beg you, spare the mother and son." Li Ru scoffed, "Who are you to die in the Emperor's stead?" He then raised the goblet to Empress Dowager He.
"Will you drink first?" She cursed He Jin for his folly in inviting the rebels into the capital, which had led to this day's disaster. Li Ru pressed the Emperor. The Emperor said, "Let me bid farewell to my mother." He wept bitterly and sang: "Heaven and Earth are overturned, the sun and moon reversed. I have abandoned my ten-thousand-chariot throne to guard a frontier fief. Pressed by a subject, my life is short; the great tide has turned, and I weep in vain!" Lady Tang also sang: "The great Heaven crumbles, the Earth sinks. I am an imperial princess, yet my fate does not follow. Life and death part ways from this moment. How can my heart bear this lonely sorrow?" After their songs, they embraced and wept. Li Ru shouted, "The Chancellor waits for my report. You delay—who do you think will save you?" The Empress Dowager cursed, "Dong the traitor has driven my son and me to this! Heaven will not bless you! You who aid his evil will surely be exterminated!" Enraged, Li Ru seized the Empress Dowager with both hands and hurled her down the stairs. He ordered the soldiers to strangle Lady Tang and forced the poisoned wine down the young Emperor's throat.
When Li Ru reported back, Dong Zhuo ordered the bodies buried outside the city. From that night on, Dong Zhuo entered the palace freely, debauched the palace maids, and slept in the imperial bed. He once led his army out of the city to Yangcheng. It was the second month, and the villagers were holding a spring festival sacrifice, with men and women gathered together. Dong Zhuo ordered his soldiers to surround them all and slaughter everyone. They plundered the women and goods, loading them onto carts. They hung over a thousand heads from the carts and returned to the capital in a long procession, proclaiming a great victory over bandits. Outside the city gates, they burned the heads and distributed the women and goods among the troops. Colonel of Elite Cavalry Wu Fu, styled Deyu, witnessed Dong Zhuo's brutality and burned with righteous indignation. He often wore light armor under his court robes and concealed a short dagger, waiting for a chance to kill Dong Zhuo. One day, as Dong Zhuo entered the court, Wu Fu met him at the palace gate, drew his dagger, and stabbed at Dong Zhuo. But Dong Zhuo was strong; he grabbed Wu Fu with both hands. Lü Bu rushed in and threw Wu Fu to the ground. Dong Zhuo demanded, "Who told you to rebel?" Wu Fu glared and shouted, "You are not my lord; I am not your subject—what rebellion is this? Your crimes fill the heavens! Every man wishes to kill you! My only regret is that I cannot have you torn apart by chariots to atone for your sins before the world!" In a fury, Dong Zhuo ordered him taken out and sliced to death. Wu Fu cursed without ceasing until his last breath. A poet praised him: "Among the loyal ministers of the late Han was Wu Fu, whose soaring spirit was unmatched in the world. He tried to kill the traitor in the court, and his name lives on—for ten thousand generations, he is called a true man." After this, Dong Zhuo always went about with armored guards for protection.
At this time, Yuan Shao, stationed in Bohai, heard of Dong Zhuo's tyranny. He sent a secret letter to Wang Yun. The letter read: "Dong the traitor has defied Heaven and deposed the Emperor—words cannot express it. Yet you tolerate his tyranny as if you heard nothing. Is this the way of a loyal minister who serves his country? I have now gathered troops and trained soldiers, hoping to cleanse the imperial court, but I dare not act rashly. If you have the will, seize an opportunity to deal with him. If you need my service, I will obey your command." Wang Yun received the letter but could think of no plan. One day, in the waiting chamber of the palace, he saw many old ministers gathered. Wang Yun said, "Today is my humble birthday. This evening, I dare to invite you all to my home for a small feast." All the officials said they would come to offer birthday congratulations. That evening, Wang Yun set a feast in his rear hall, and all the high ministers arrived. After several rounds of wine, Wang Yun suddenly covered his face and wept. The startled officials asked, "Minister of Education, it is your birthday. Why do you grieve?" Wang Yun replied, "Today is not my birthday. I wished to speak with you all, but feared Dong Zhuo's suspicion, so I used this pretext. Dong Zhuo has deceived the Emperor and usurped power. The state may fall at any moment. I think of how our founder, Emperor Gaozu, destroyed Qin and annihilated Chu, unifying the realm. Who could have imagined that it would pass down to this day, only to be lost at the hands of Dong Zhuo? This is why I weep." At this, all the ministers wept as well.
But one man in their midst clapped his hands and laughed loudly. "All you ministers of the court," he said, "weeping from night till dawn, and from dawn till night—can you weep Dong Zhuo to death?" Wang Yun looked at the speaker. It was Colonel of Elite Cavalry Cao Cao. Wang Yun said angrily, "Your ancestors also received the Han's bounty. Now you think not of serving your country, but instead you laugh?" Cao Cao replied, "I laugh at nothing else, but at the fact that none of you has a single plan to kill Dong Zhuo. Though I am untalented, I am willing to cut off Dong Zhuo's head and hang it at the capital gate to atone to the world." Wang Yun rose from his mat and asked, "Mengde, what brilliant plan do you have?" Cao Cao said, "Recently, I have humbled myself to serve Dong Zhuo, precisely to wait for an opportunity to deal with him. Now Dong Zhuo trusts me somewhat, and I am able to approach him. I hear that you, Minister, possess a seven-treasure dagger. I wish to borrow it to enter the Chancellor's residence and assassinate him. Even if I die, I will have no regrets." Wang Yun said, "If Mengde truly has such resolve, it is a great blessing for the realm!" He personally poured wine for Cao Cao. Cao Cao swore an oath over the wine, and Wang Yun brought out the precious dagger and gave it to him. Cao Cao concealed the dagger, finished his wine, rose, and took his leave of the officials. The others stayed a while longer and then dispersed.
The next day, Cao Cao, wearing the precious dagger at his waist, arrived at the Chancellor's residence. "Where is the Chancellor?" he asked. A servant replied, "In the small pavilion." Cao Cao went straight in. He saw Dong Zhuo sitting on a couch, with Lü Bu standing in attendance at his side. Dong Zhuo said, "Mengde, why are you so late?" Cao Cao replied, "My horse is weak; the journey was slow." Dong Zhuo turned to Lü Bu and said, "I have some fine horses just brought from the Western Regions. Fengxian, go and pick one out and give it to Mengde." Lü Bu acknowledged the order and left. Cao Cao thought to himself, "This villain deserves death!" He was about to draw his dagger to stab him, but feared Dong Zhuo's great strength and did not act rashly. Dong Zhuo, being stout, could not sit for long. He lay down on the couch, turning his face inward. Cao Cao thought again, "This villain's time has come!" He quickly drew the precious dagger, ready to strike. But unexpectedly, Dong Zhuo looked up at the bronze mirror on the wall and saw Cao Cao drawing a dagger behind him. He turned sharply and demanded, "Mengde, what are you doing?" At that moment, Lü Bu had already led a horse to the pavilion's entrance. Flustered, Cao Cao fell to his knees, holding the dagger before him. "I have a precious dagger here," he said, "which I wish to present to you, my benefactor Chancellor." Dong Zhuo took it and examined it. The blade was over a foot long, inlaid with seven jewels, extremely sharp—truly a treasure. He handed it to Lü Bu to put away. Cao Cao then removed the scabbard and gave it to Lü Bu as well. Dong Zhuo led Cao Cao out of the pavilion to see the horse. Cao Cao thanked him and said, "I wish to borrow it for a ride." Dong Zhuo ordered a saddle and bridle to be prepared. Cao Cao led the horse out of the Chancellor's residence, whipped it, and galloped off to the southeast.
Lü Bu said to Dong Zhuo, "Just now, Cao Cao seemed to be about to assassinate you. When you called him out, he pretended to offer the dagger." Dong Zhuo replied, "I suspected the same." Just then, Li Ru arrived, and Dong Zhuo told him what had happened. Li Ru said, "Cao Cao has no wife or children in the capital; he lives alone in a rented lodging. Send someone to summon him now. If he comes without suspicion, then he truly meant to offer the dagger. If he makes excuses and does not come, then he was surely plotting assassination. We can arrest and interrogate him." Dong Zhuo agreed and sent four jailers to summon Cao Cao. After a long while, they returned and reported, "Cao Cao did not return to his lodging. He rode straight out of the eastern gate. When the gatekeeper questioned him, he said, 'The Chancellor has sent me on urgent business,' and galloped away." Li Ru said, "The villain Cao Cao has fled out of guilt. There is no doubt he meant to stab you." Dong Zhuo flew into a rage: "I treated him so well, and he tried to harm me!" Li Ru said, "He must have accomplices. Once we capture Cao Cao, we will know." Dong Zhuo then ordered a warrant to be sent throughout the realm, with portraits of Cao Cao posted everywhere, offering a reward of a thousand gold pieces and a marquisate of ten thousand households to anyone who captured him alive. Anyone who sheltered him would share his crime.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao fled from the capital, racing toward Qiao Commandery. On the way, he passed through Zhongmu County, where he was seized by the garrison soldiers and brought before the county magistrate. Cao Cao said, "I am a merchant, surnamed Huangfu." The magistrate studied Cao Cao closely and pondered for a long time. Then he said, "When I was seeking office in Luoyang, I recognized you. You are Cao Cao. Why try to hide it? Take him to the prison. Tomorrow, I will send him to the capital to claim the reward." He rewarded the soldiers with wine and food and sent them away. At midnight, the magistrate secretly had his trusted attendants bring Cao Cao to the rear courtyard for interrogation. "I have heard that the Chancellor treated you well," the magistrate said. "Why did you court disaster?" Cao Cao replied, "How can a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan? Since you have captured me, you should send me to claim your reward. Why ask so many questions?" The magistrate dismissed his attendants and said to Cao Cao, "Do not underestimate me. I am no ordinary clerk. I have simply not met the right master." Cao Cao said, "My ancestors have received the Han's salary for generations. If I did not think of serving my country, how would I be any different from a beast? I humbled myself to serve Dong Zhuo in order to seize an opportunity to kill him and rid the realm of a scourge. Now that the plan has failed, it is Heaven's will!" The magistrate asked, "Mengde, where do you intend to go?" Cao Cao replied, "I will return to my hometown, issue a forged imperial decree, and summon the feudal lords of the realm to raise an army and destroy Dong Zhuo. That is my wish." Upon hearing this, the magistrate personally untied Cao Cao's bonds, helped him to the seat of honor, and bowed twice. "You are truly a loyal and righteous man!" he said. Cao Cao returned the bow and asked the magistrate's name. The magistrate replied, "My surname is Chen, my given name Gong, my style Gongtai. My mother and wife are in Dong Commandery. Now, moved by your loyalty and righteousness, I am willing to abandon my post and flee with you." Cao Cao was overjoyed. That night, Chen Gong gathered traveling funds, changed clothes with Cao Cao, and each carrying a sword, they mounted their horses and rode toward Cao Cao's hometown.
After three days of travel, they arrived at Chenggao as dusk fell. Cao Cao pointed with his whip to a grove of trees and said to Chen Gong, "There lives a man named Lü Boshe, a sworn brother of my father. Let us go to his home to ask for news of my family and seek lodging for the night. What do you think?" Chen Gong replied, "Excellent." They dismounted at the farmhouse gate and entered to see Lü Boshe. Boshe said, "I have heard that the court has issued warrants for your arrest everywhere. Your father has already fled to Chenliu. How did you manage to get here?" Cao Cao told him of recent events and added, "If not for Magistrate Chen, I would be nothing but shattered bones and ground flesh." Lü Boshe bowed to Chen Gong and said, "If not for you, sir, my nephew's entire clan would have been wiped out. Please make yourself at ease. Tonight, you may stay in my humble cottage." With that, he rose and went inside. After a long while, he came out and said to Chen Gong, "I have no good wine in my humble home. Allow me to go to the western village to buy a jug to entertain you." He then hastily mounted his donkey and left.
Cao Cao and Chen Gong sat for a while, when suddenly they heard the sound of a whetstone from behind the farmhouse. Cao Cao said, "Lü Boshe is not my closest relative. His departure was suspicious. Let us listen." The two men crept stealthily to the back of the thatched hall and heard someone say, "Tie them up and kill them. How about that?" Cao Cao said, "That's it! If we do not strike first, we will surely be captured." He and Chen Gong drew their swords and rushed in. Without asking who was who, they killed everyone—men and women alike—eight people in total. When they searched the kitchen, they found a pig tied up, about to be slaughtered. Chen Gong said, "Mengde, you are too suspicious. You have killed innocent people!" They hurried out of the farmhouse, mounted their horses, and rode away. They had not gone two li when they saw Lü Boshe approaching on his donkey, two bottles of wine hanging from the saddle and fruit and vegetables in his hands. He called out, "Nephew, and you, sir, why are you leaving so soon?" Cao Cao replied, "I am a wanted man. I dare not stay long." Boshe said, "I have already instructed my family to slaughter a pig to entertain you. Why would you, nephew and sir, begrudge a single night? Please, turn back." Cao Cao paid him no heed and spurred his horse onward. But after a few steps, he suddenly drew his sword again and rode back. "Who is that coming?" he called to Boshe. When Boshe turned to look, Cao Cao swung his sword and cut him down from his donkey. Chen Gong was horrified. "Just now was a mistake," he cried. "What are you doing now?" Cao Cao said, "When Boshe returns home and sees so many people killed, will he let the matter rest? If he gathers men to pursue us, we will surely fall into disaster." Chen Gong said, "To kill him knowingly—this is the height of injustice!" Cao Cao replied, "I would rather betray the world than have the world betray me." Chen Gong fell silent.
That night, they traveled several li by moonlight and knocked on the door of an inn to take shelter. After feeding their horses, Cao Cao lay down to sleep first. Chen Gong thought to himself, "I thought Cao Cao was a good man, so I abandoned my post to follow him. But he is nothing but a wolf-hearted fiend! If I let him live, he will surely bring disaster." He was about to draw his sword and kill Cao Cao.
Truly, a man with a venomous heart is no virtuous soul—Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo were cut from the same cloth. But whether Cao Cao's life was spared, you must hear the next chapter to know.