The man who had collided with Dong Zhuo was none other than Li Ru. Li Ru helped Dong Zhuo to his feet and guided him to a seat in the study. “Why have you come here?” Dong Zhuo demanded. “I arrived at your gate, my lord, and learned you had stormed into the rear gardens in a rage, seeking Lü Bu,” Li Ru explained. “I hurried after you and met Lü Bu fleeing, crying, ‘The Grand Preceptor will kill me!’ I rushed into the garden to mediate, but in my haste, I accidentally struck you, my benefactor. A thousand deaths would not atone for my offense!” Dong Zhuo snarled, “That treacherous scoundrel! He dared to toy with my beloved concubine. I swear I will kill him!” “My lord, you are mistaken,” Li Ru replied. “In days of old, King Zhuang of Chu, at the Feast of the Severed Tassels, refused to punish Jiang Xiong for dallying with his favorite consort. Later, when besieged by Qin forces, that same man fought to the death to save him. Diaochan is but a woman, while Lü Bu is your most vital general. If you, my lord, seize this opportunity to gift her to him, he will be bound by immense gratitude and will repay you with his very life. I beg you to consider this carefully.” Dong Zhuo was silent for a long time before saying, “Your words have merit. I shall think on it.” Li Ru bowed and withdrew.
Dong Zhuo entered his private chambers and summoned Diaochan. “Why were you meeting secretly with Lü Bu?” he demanded. Weeping, she replied, “I was admiring the flowers in the rear garden when Lü Bu suddenly appeared. Startled, I tried to flee, but he said, ‘I am the Grand Preceptor’s son—why should you avoid me?’ He chased me with his halberd to the Phoenix Pavilion. Seeing his wicked intent and fearing he would force himself upon me, I tried to throw myself into the lotus pond to drown, but the wretch caught me in his arms. In that moment between life and death, you arrived, my lord, and saved me.” Dong Zhuo asked, “What if I were to give you to Lü Bu as a gift?” Diaochan was stunned. “I have already served a noble lord,” she cried. “To be given away like chattel to a common house slave—I would rather die than suffer such disgrace!” She snatched a sword from the wall and tried to cut her own throat. Dong Zhuo lunged, seized the blade, and embraced her. “I was only jesting!” he said. Diaochan collapsed into his arms, covering her face and sobbing. “This must be Li Ru’s scheme! He is close with Lü Bu and devised this plot, caring nothing for your honor or my life. I would devour his flesh alive!” Dong Zhuo said, “How could I bear to give you up?” “Though I am grateful for your love, my lord,” she replied, “I fear this place is no longer safe. Lü Bu will surely harm me.” “Tomorrow,” Dong Zhuo declared, “we will return to Meiwu together, where we shall share joy and have no cause for worry.” Only then did Diaochan stop weeping and bow in gratitude.
The next day, Li Ru came to see Dong Zhuo. “Today is an auspicious day,” he said. “You should send Diaochan to Lü Bu.” Dong Zhuo replied, “Lü Bu and I have the bond of father and son. It would be improper to give her to him. I will simply overlook his crime. Convey my will to him and soothe him with kind words.” “My lord,” Li Ru insisted, “you must not be deluded by a woman.” Dong Zhuo’s face darkened. “Would you give your own wife to Lü Bu? Speak no more of Diaochan, or you will be executed!” Li Ru withdrew and, gazing up at the heavens, sighed, “We will all die at the hands of a woman!”
A poet of the time lamented this moment: The Minister’s cunning plan relied upon a lady’s silken sleeve, requiring neither sword nor spear. The three battles at Tiger Trap Pass had been waged in vain, for the true victory was sung at the Phoenix Pavilion.
That same day, Dong Zhuo ordered his return to Meiwu, and all the officials came to see him off. From her carriage, Diaochan spotted Lü Bu among the crowd, his eyes fixed on her. She covered her face, pretending to weep bitterly. As the carriage departed, Lü Bu reined in his horse on a dusty ridge, watching the vanishing cloud of dust, sighing in anguish and fury. Suddenly, a voice behind him asked, “Why did you not follow the Grand Preceptor, General? Why do you stand here, sighing and gazing after him?” Lü Bu turned and saw Wang Yun, the Minister of Education.
After they exchanged greetings, Wang Yun said, “I have been confined to my home with a slight illness these past days and have not had the chance to see you, General. Today, though still unwell, I forced myself to see the Grand Preceptor off, and I am delighted to have met you. May I ask why you are sighing so deeply?” Lü Bu replied, “It is because of your daughter.” Feigning surprise, Wang Yun said, “Has she not yet been given to you?” “The old scoundrel has kept her for himself for a long time now!” Lü Bu spat. Wang Yun feigned shock. “I cannot believe such a thing!” Lü Bu then recounted everything that had happened. Wang Yun stamped his feet and looked up to the heavens, speechless for a long while. At last, he said, “I never imagined the Grand Preceptor would stoop to such beastly conduct!” Taking Lü Bu’s hand, he said, “Come to my humble home, and we will discuss this.” Lü Bu followed him. Wang Yun led him into a private chamber, where he ordered wine. Lü Bu then recounted in full detail his encounter at the Phoenix Pavilion. “The Grand Preceptor has defiled my daughter and stolen your wife,” Wang Yun said. “He is a laughingstock before all the realm. But it is not him they mock—it is you and I! I am old and worthless, but you, General, are a hero without peer, and yet you suffer this disgrace!” Lü Bu’s rage erupted; he slammed the table and bellowed. Wang Yun quickly said, “I have spoken rashly. Calm yourself, General.” “I swear I will kill that old villain and wash away this shame!” Lü Bu cried. Wang Yun covered Lü Bu’s mouth.
“Do not speak so loudly, General, lest you implicate me.” “A man born between heaven and earth,” Lü Bu declared, “cannot live forever under another’s heel!” “With your talents, General, you should not be constrained by Dong Zhuo,” Wang Yun said. “I want to kill him,” Lü Bu admitted, “but he is as a father to me. I fear the judgment of posterity.” Wang Yun smiled. “Your surname is Lü, General; his is Dong. When he hurled his halberd at you, where was the bond of father and son then?” Lü Bu was roused. “Had you not spoken, Minister, I would have doomed myself!” Seeing his resolve, Wang Yun pressed on: “If you support the Han dynasty, you will be a loyal minister, your name inscribed in history for a thousand years. But if you aid Dong Zhuo, you will be a rebel, your name a stench through the ages.” Lü Bu rose from his seat and knelt. “My mind is made up, Minister. Have no doubt.” “I only fear that if we fail, disaster will befall us,” Wang Yun said. Lü Bu drew a dagger, cut his arm, and let the blood drip as an oath. Wang Yun knelt and bowed. “The sacrifice to the Han will not end, all thanks to you, General. Tell no one. When the time comes, I will have a plan and will inform you.” Lü Bu vowed to do so and departed.
Wang Yun then summoned Sun Rui, a Palace Attendant, and Huang Wan, the Colonel Director of Retainers, to discuss the matter. Sun Rui said, “The Emperor has just recovered from an illness. We can send a persuasive envoy to Meiwu to invite Dong Zhuo to court for a council. Meanwhile, we will give Lü Bu a secret imperial decree and have him hide armed men within the palace gates. When Dong Zhuo enters, we will kill him. This is the best plan.” “Who would dare go?” Huang Wan asked. “Li Su, the Cavalry Commandant from Lü Bu’s home commandery,” Sun Rui replied. “He bears a grudge because Dong Zhuo never promoted him. If we send him, Dong Zhuo will suspect nothing.” Wang Yun approved. They summoned Lü Bu to discuss it. “It was Li Su who urged me to kill Ding Yuan,” Lü Bu said. “If he refuses to go now, I will kill him first.” They secretly summoned Li Su. Lü Bu said to him, “You once advised me to kill Ding Yuan and join Dong Zhuo. Now, Dong Zhuo has offended Heaven above and tormented the people below. His crimes are legion, and both gods and men despise him. Take an imperial decree to Meiwu, summon him to court, and we will ambush and kill him. We will restore the Han and be loyal ministers together. What say you?” “I have long wished to eliminate this villain,” Li Su replied, “but I lacked a like-minded ally. Now that you, General, have taken this stand, it is Heaven’s gift. How could I harbor any other thought?” He broke an arrow as an oath. Wang Yun said, “If you accomplish this, you will surely gain high office.”
The next day, Li Su led a dozen riders to Meiwu. When the guards announced that an imperial decree had arrived, Dong Zhuo ordered him to be brought in. Li Su entered and bowed. “What does the Son of Heaven decree?” Dong Zhuo asked. “His Majesty has just recovered from his illness,” Li Su replied. “He wishes to assemble the civil and military officials at the Weiyang Palace to discuss abdicating the throne to you, Grand Preceptor. Hence this decree.” “What is Wang Yun’s opinion?” Dong Zhuo asked. “The Minister of Education has already ordered the construction of an abdication platform,” Li Su said. “He awaits only your arrival.” Delighted, Dong Zhuo exclaimed, “Last night, I dreamed a dragon coiled around my body, and today I receive this joyous news. The moment must not be lost!” He ordered his trusted generals—Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou—to guard Meiwu with three thousand Flying Bear soldiers, while he prepared his retinue to return to the capital that very day. Turning to Li Su, he said, “When I become Emperor, you will be made Commandant of the Capital.” Li Su bowed and thanked him, addressing him as “Your Majesty.” Dong Zhuo went to bid farewell to his mother, who was over ninety years old. “Where are you going, my son?” she asked. “I am going to receive the abdication of Han,” he replied. “Soon, you will be the Empress Dowager!” “My flesh has trembled and my heart has pounded of late,” she said. “I fear this is an ill omen.” “You are about to become the mother of the nation,” Dong Zhuo said. “Surely such portents are to be expected!” He took his leave. Before departing, he said to Diaochan, “When I am Emperor, I will make you an Imperial Consort.” Diaochan, who knew full well what was happening, feigned joy and bowed in gratitude.
Dong Zhuo left Meiwu in his carriage, surrounded by a vast procession, and headed for Chang’an. He had not traveled twenty li when the wheel of his carriage suddenly broke. He dismounted and mounted a horse. He had gone another ten li when the horse began to rear and whinny wildly, snapping its bridle. “The carriage wheel breaks, the horse’s bridle snaps,” Dong Zhuo said to Li Su. “What do these omens mean?” “They mean that you, Grand Preceptor, are about to succeed the Han,” Li Su replied. “You are discarding the old for the new and will soon ride in a jade carriage with a golden saddle.” Dong Zhuo was pleased and believed him. The next day, as they traveled, a sudden windstorm arose, and a thick fog obscured the sky. “What does this portend?” Dong Zhuo asked. “When you ascend the dragon throne, my lord,” Li Su said, “there will surely be a crimson glow and purple mist to magnify Heaven’s majesty.” Dong Zhuo was again delighted and suspected nothing. When they reached the city gates, all the officials came out to greet him. Only Li Ru, who was ill at home, did not appear. Dong Zhuo entered his residence, and Lü Bu came to pay his respects. “When I ascend the throne,” Dong Zhuo said, “you will command all the armies of the realm.” Lü Bu bowed in thanks and then took up quarters in the camp. That night, a group of children sang a song outside the city walls, and the wind carried their voices into the camp. The song went: “A thousand li of grass, how green it grows! Ten days of divination, and life no longer flows!” The melody was mournful. Dong Zhuo asked Li Su, “What does this children’s rhyme mean?” “It only means that the Liu clan will fall and the Dong clan will rise,” Li Su replied.
Early the next morning, as Dong Zhuo’s procession entered the court, they encountered a Taoist priest in a blue robe and white headcloth, carrying a long pole from which hung a length of cloth. On each end of the cloth was written the character for “mouth.” “What does this priest mean?” Dong Zhuo asked. “He is a madman,” Li Su said, and ordered the soldiers to drive him away. Dong Zhuo entered the court, and all the officials, dressed in their court robes, greeted him along the way. Li Su, holding a sword, helped guide the carriage. At the North Gate, the soldiers were all stopped outside, and only the carriage and a score of attendants were allowed to enter. Dong Zhuo saw Wang Yun and others standing at the palace gates, each holding a sword. Startled, he asked Li Su, “What is the meaning of this?” Li Su did not answer but pushed the carriage forward. Wang Yun shouted, “The rebel is here! Where are the warriors?” From both sides, over a hundred men sprang forth, thrusting with halberds and spears. Dong Zhuo was wearing armor beneath his robes, but the blades still wounded his arm, and he fell from the carriage. “Where is my son, Fengxian?” he cried. Lü Bu stepped out from behind the carriage and thundered, “Here is an imperial decree to execute the traitor!” With a single thrust of his halberd, he pierced Dong Zhuo’s throat, and Li Su swiftly cut off his head. Lü Bu held the halberd in his left hand, drew the imperial decree from his bosom with his right, and shouted, “By imperial decree, we have executed the traitor Dong Zhuo. No one else will be punished!” All the officials and soldiers shouted, “Long live the Emperor!” A later poet lamented Dong Zhuo: When his ambition was fulfilled, he would have been emperor; had it failed, he would have been a wealthy lord. But Heaven’s will is impartial, and no sooner was Meiwu built than he was destroyed.
Lü Bu then cried out, “The one who aided Dong Zhuo in his tyranny was Li Ru! Who will seize him?” Li Su volunteered. Suddenly, a shout arose outside the court, and a messenger reported that Li Ru’s own household slaves had bound him and brought him in. Wang Yun ordered him taken to the marketplace and executed. Dong Zhuo’s corpse was displayed in the streets. Because his body was so fat, the soldiers guarding it placed a wick in his navel and used his own fat as oil to make a lamp, which burned and dripped onto the ground. The common people, as they passed, either struck his head with stones or trampled his corpse underfoot. Wang Yun then ordered Lü Bu, together with Huangfu Song and Li Su, to lead fifty thousand soldiers to Meiwu to confiscate Dong Zhuo’s property and arrest his family.
When Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou heard that Dong Zhuo was dead and that Lü Bu was approaching, they led their Flying Bear soldiers and fled through the night to Liang Province. When Lü Bu arrived at Meiwu, he first took Diaochan. Huangfu Song ordered the release of all the innocent daughters of good families who had been imprisoned there. All of Dong Zhuo’s relatives, young and old, were executed without mercy. Dong Zhuo’s mother was also killed. His younger brother, Dong Min, and his nephew, Dong Huang, were beheaded and their heads displayed. The inventory of Meiwu’s treasures revealed hundreds of thousands in gold, millions in silver, and countless bolts of silk, jewels, utensils, and grain. When Wang Yun received the report, he generously rewarded the soldiers and held a grand feast at the main hall, where he gathered all the officials to drink and celebrate.
In the midst of the festivities, a messenger reported, “Dong Zhuo’s corpse is still lying in the street, and a man has thrown himself upon it, weeping bitterly.” Wang Yun was furious. “Dong Zhuo has been punished, and every citizen rejoices. Who is this man who dares to weep for him?” He ordered his guards, “Arrest him immediately!” Soon, the man was brought before them. The officials were all astonished, for it was none other than Cai Yong, the Palace Attendant. Wang Yun rebuked him: “Dong Zhuo was a traitor, and his execution is a great joy for the realm. You are a minister of Han. Why do you not celebrate the nation’s fortune but instead weep for a rebel?” Cai Yong bowed in submission. “Though I am unworthy, I know the great principles of righteousness,” he said. “I would never betray the state for Dong Zhuo. But I was moved by the memory of his past kindness to me, and I wept without thinking. I know my crime is great. I beg for your forgiveness. If you would only brand my face and cut off my feet, and allow me to finish the history of Han, I would gladly atone for my fault.” The officials, who valued Cai Yong’s talent, all pleaded for him. The Grand Tutor, Ma Ridi, whispered to Wang Yun, “Cai Yong is a genius of rare brilliance. To let him complete the history of Han would be a great achievement. Moreover, his filial piety is well known. If you kill him, you will lose the people’s support.” Wang Yun replied, “In the time of Emperor Wu of Han, Sima Qian was not executed, and he was allowed to write history. But his work became a book of slander that has been passed down to this day. Now, when the state is in decline and the court is in chaos, we cannot allow a treacherous minister to hold a pen near the young Emperor and write slanders against us.” Ma Ridi had nothing more to say and withdrew. Privately, he said to the other officials, “Wang Yun will have no descendants! Good men are the pillars of the state; historical records are its foundation. To destroy both pillars and foundation—how can this last?” Wang Yun ignored Ma Ridi’s advice and ordered Cai Yong to be strangled in prison. When the scholars of the day heard of this, they all wept. Later generations judged that Cai Yong was wrong to weep for Dong Zhuo, but Wang Yun’s execution of him was also too harsh. A poet lamented: Dong Zhuo wielded power with tyranny, and the Palace Attendant lost his life. Had Zhuge Liang, then sleeping in his Nanyang hut, been asked, would he have lightly served a rebel minister?
Meanwhile, Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou had fled to the region west of the capital. They sent a messenger to Chang’an to beg for amnesty. Wang Yun said, “Dong Zhuo’s arrogance was due to the support of these four men. Even if we grant a general amnesty to the realm, we will not pardon them.” The messenger returned and reported this to Li Jue. “If we cannot get amnesty,” Li Jue said, “we must each flee for our lives.” But the strategist Jia Xu said, “If you abandon your troops and flee alone, even a village constable could capture you. It would be better to rally the people of this region and your own soldiers, march on Chang’an, and avenge Dong Zhuo. If we succeed, we can control the court and rule the realm. If we fail, there will still be time to flee.” The four generals agreed. They spread a rumor among the people of Liang Province: “Wang Yun is going to exterminate everyone in this region!” The people were terrified. Then they declared, “It is useless to die for nothing. Will you follow us in rebellion?” The people all agreed to join them. Thus, they gathered a force of over a hundred thousand men, divided into four columns, and marched on Chang’an. On the way, they met Niu Fu, Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law and a General of the Household, who was leading five thousand soldiers to avenge his father-in-law. Li Jue merged Niu Fu’s force with his own and made him the vanguard. The four columns advanced one after another.
When Wang Yun heard that the western forces were approaching, he consulted with Lü Bu. “Do not worry, Minister,” Lü Bu said. “These rats are nothing to fear.” He led Li Su and an army out to meet the enemy. Li Su charged forward and engaged Niu Fu in battle, but after a fierce fight, Niu Fu was defeated and fled. That night, however, at the second watch, Niu Fu, catching Li Su off guard, attacked his camp. Li Su’s troops were thrown into chaos and fled for over thirty li, losing more than half their number. When Li Su reported to Lü Bu, Lü Bu was enraged. “You have blunted our edge!” he roared, and he had Li Su beheaded, hanging his head at the camp gate. The next day, Lü Bu advanced and faced Niu Fu. Niu Fu was no match for Lü Bu and was again routed. That night, Niu Fu summoned his trusted man, Hu Chi’er, and said, “Lü Bu is too fierce. I cannot defeat him. Let us hide our gold and jewels, abandon the army, and flee with a few trusted followers, without telling Li Jue and the others.” Hu Chi’er agreed. That night, they gathered their treasure and slipped away with three or four attendants. When they came to a river, Hu Chi’er, coveting the gold, killed Niu Fu and took his head to present to Lü Bu. When Lü Bu questioned the attendants, they confessed that Hu Chi’er had murdered Niu Fu for his gold. Enraged, Lü Bu executed Hu Chi’er on the spot. He then advanced with his army and met Li Jue’s forces. Without waiting for Li Jue to form his lines, Lü Bu charged forward with his halberd, his troops following in a furious assault. Li Jue’s army could not withstand the attack and retreated over fifty li, where they made camp at the foot of a mountain. Li Jue summoned Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou to a council. “Lü Bu is brave but has no strategy,” Li Jue said. “He is not a real threat. I will hold the mouth of the valley and provoke him to battle every day. General Guo, you will take your troops and attack his rear, like Peng Yue harassing the Chu forces: advance when the gongs sound, retreat when the drums beat. Generals Zhang and Fan, you will take separate forces and strike directly at Chang’an. With his front and rear under attack and his capital threatened, he will surely be defeated.” They all adopted his plan.
Lü Bu led his army to the foot of the mountain, and Li Jue challenged him to battle. Furious, Lü Bu charged, but Li Jue retreated up the mountain. From the heights, arrows and stones rained down, and Lü Bu’s troops could not advance. Suddenly, a messenger reported that Guo Si was attacking his rear. Lü Bu turned to meet this new threat, but the moment he did, a great drum roll sounded, and Guo Si’s troops withdrew. As Lü Bu prepared to regroup, the sound of gongs rang out, and Li Jue’s army attacked again. Before Lü Bu could engage them, Guo Si’s forces struck his rear once more. But when Lü Bu turned to face them, the drums rolled again, and they retreated. This pattern continued for several days, filling Lü Bu with helpless rage. He could neither force a decisive battle nor withdraw. As he fumed, a rider arrived with urgent news: Zhang Ji and Fan Chou had attacked Chang’an, and the capital was in dire peril. Lü Bu hurriedly led his army back, but Li Jue and Guo Si pursued him. With no heart for battle, Lü Bu fled, losing many men. By the time he reached the walls of Chang’an, the rebel forces had gathered like clouds and surrounded the city. Lü Bu’s attacks were unsuccessful, and his soldiers, fearing his harsh temper, began to desert to the enemy. Lü Bu was deeply troubled.
After several days, Dong Zhuo’s former followers, Li Meng and Wang Fang, who were still in the city, opened the gates as traitors, and the four rebel columns poured in. Lü Bu fought left and right, but could not hold them back. Leading a few hundred riders, he galloped to the Green Lock Gate and called out to Wang Yun, “The situation is desperate! Mount your horse, Minister, and come with me through the pass. We can devise another plan.” Wang Yun replied, “If the gods of the state grant me the power to restore peace, that is my wish. But if it cannot be done, I will give my life for it. I will not flee from danger. Tell the lords east of the pass to do their utmost for the nation!” Lü Bu pleaded with him again and again, but Wang Yun refused to go. Soon, flames rose from every gate, and Lü Bu, abandoning his own family, led a hundred riders and fled through the pass, seeking refuge with Yuan Shu.
Li Jue and Guo Si let their soldiers loose to plunder. The Grand Master of Ceremonies, Zhong Fu; the Grand Servant, Lu Kui; the Grand Herald, Zhou Huan; the Colonel of the City Gates, Cui Lie; and the Colonel of the Elite Cavalry, Wang Qi, all died in the defense of the capital. The rebel forces surrounded the inner palace, and the attendants begged the Emperor to ascend the Xuanping Gate to calm the chaos. When Li Jue and the others saw the imperial yellow canopy, they ordered their soldiers to halt and shouted, “Long live the Emperor!” Emperor Xian leaned over the railing and asked, “Why have you entered Chang’an without awaiting my summons? What is your purpose?” Li Jue and Guo Si looked up and replied, “Grand Preceptor Dong was a pillar of the state, and he was murdered without cause by Wang Yun. We have come only to avenge him, not to rebel. If you will only surrender Wang Yun to us, we will withdraw our troops.” Wang Yun, who was standing beside the Emperor, heard this and said, “I acted for the sake of the state. Matters have come to this point. Your Majesty must not hesitate for my sake and endanger the nation. I will go down and face these two rebels.” The Emperor hesitated, unwilling to let him go. Wang Yun leaped from the Xuanping Gate tower and cried out, “Wang Yun is here!” Li Jue and Guo Si drew their swords and shouted, “What crime did Grand Preceptor Dong commit that he should be killed?” “Dong Zhuo’s crimes fill the heavens and cover the earth,” Wang Yun declared. “They are beyond counting. When he was executed, the people of Chang’an all celebrated. Have you not heard?” “If the Grand Preceptor had crimes, what crimes have we committed that you refused to pardon us?” Li Jue and Guo Si demanded. “Rebels, why do you waste words?” Wang Yun roared. “I, Wang Yun, will die today, and that is all!” The two rebels struck him down with their swords at the foot of the tower. A court historian composed a eulogy: Wang Yun laid his schemes, and the traitor Dong Zhuo met his end. His heart was filled with the nation’s sorrow, his brow furrowed with the court’s worries. His spirit soared to the heavens, his loyalty pierced the stars. Even now, his soul lingers around the Phoenix Tower.
After killing Wang Yun, the rebels sent men to slaughter all of his family, young and old. The people wept. Li Jue and Guo Si then said to each other, “Now that we are here, why not kill the Son of Heaven and seize power for ourselves?” They drew their swords and charged into the palace. Just as the chief villain had been punished and the disaster seemed to end, a new wave of chaos, brought by his followers, was about to begin. What would become of Emperor Xian? Let us listen to the next chapter to find out.