Now, we must speak of Dong Zhuo, whose style name was Zhongying. A native of Lintao in Longxi, he held the office of Grand Administrator of Hedong and had always been an arrogant man. On that day, when he treated Xuande with contempt, Zhang Fei's temper flared, and he wanted to kill him. Xuande and Lord Guan quickly stopped him, saying, "He is an official appointed by the court. How can we slay him without authorization?" Zhang Fei replied, "If we don't kill this wretch, we'll have to serve under his command, which is utterly unbearable! If you two wish to stay here, I will go elsewhere on my own!" Xuande said, "We three are bound by an oath of life and death. How can we be separated? It would be better if we all go elsewhere together." Zhang Fei answered, "If that is the case, it will somewhat ease my anger."
Thus, that very night, the three brothers led their troops to join Zhu Jun. Zhu Jun treated them generously, and combining their forces, they advanced to attack Zhang Bao. At this time, Cao Cao was following Huangfu Song in a campaign against Zhang Liang, engaging in a great battle at Quyang. Here, Zhu Jun launched his offensive against Zhang Bao. Zhang Bao led a rebel force of eighty or ninety thousand men, encamped behind a mountain. Zhu Jun ordered Xuande to take the vanguard and confront the enemy. Zhang Bao sent his deputy general, Gao Sheng, out to challenge the foe. Xuande ordered Zhang Fei to engage him. Zhang Fei spurred his horse, leveled his spear, and charged at Gao Sheng. After only a few exchanges, he thrust his spear through Gao Sheng, sending him tumbling from his saddle. Xuande then waved his army forward in a direct assault. Zhang Bao, still mounted, let down his hair, brandished his sword, and began to perform his demonic arts. Suddenly, a great wind arose with thunder, and a mass of black vapor descended from the heavens. Within that black vapor, it seemed as if countless soldiers and horsemen were charging forth. Xuande hastily turned his army back, and a great confusion swept through his ranks. Defeated, he returned to consult with Zhu Jun. Zhu Jun said, "He uses sorcery. Tomorrow, we can slaughter pigs, sheep, and dogs to collect their blood. Have our soldiers hide on the hilltops; when the rebels pursue, we will pour the blood down from the high slopes. That will break his spell." Xuande followed the plan, deploying Lord Guan and Zhang Fei, each leading a thousand men, to ambush the enemy from the high ridges behind the mountain. They prepared basins of pig, sheep, and dog blood, along with other foul substances. The next day, Zhang Bao raised his banners, beat his drums, and led his forces out to challenge the foe. Xuande went out to meet him. As the battle was joined, Zhang Bao began his sorcery. A great wind and thunder arose, sand and stones flew through the air, and a black vapor filled the sky, with rolling masses of troops descending from above. Xuande wheeled his horse and fled, and Zhang Bao drove his army in pursuit. As they passed the mountain's crest, Lord Guan and Zhang Fei's ambush force set off their signal flares and drenched the enemy with the foul blood and filth. In an instant, the paper men and straw horses in the air came tumbling down to the ground; the wind and thunder ceased, and the sand and stones fell still.
Seeing his spell broken, Zhang Bao hastily tried to retreat. But Lord Guan struck from the left and Zhang Fei from the right, both forces emerging at once, while behind them, Xuande and Zhu Jun charged together. The rebel army was utterly routed. Xuande, spotting the banner of the "Lord of the Earth General," galloped in pursuit, but Zhang Bao fled across the countryside. Xuande loosed an arrow, striking him in the left arm. Zhang Bao, with the arrow still embedded, escaped and fled into the city of Yangcheng, where he fortified his position and refused to come out again.
Zhu Jun laid siege to Yangcheng, pressing the attack, while sending scouts to gather news of Huangfu Song. The scouts returned and reported in full: "Huangfu Song has won a great victory. The court, angered by Dong Zhuo's repeated defeats, ordered Huangfu Song to replace him. By the time Huangfu Song arrived, Zhang Jiao had already died. Zhang Liang commanded his remaining forces and resisted our army, but Huangfu Song defeated him in seven consecutive battles and slew Zhang Liang at Quyang. He then opened Zhang Jiao's coffin, mutilated the corpse, and sent the head to the capital. All the remaining rebels surrendered. The court has promoted Huangfu Song to General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the title of Provincial Governor of Ji Province. Huangfu Song also submitted a memorial stating that Lu Zhi had rendered meritorious service and was innocent, so the court reinstated Lu Zhi to his former post. Cao Cao, too, was rewarded for his achievements and appointed Chancellor of Jinan; he will soon return from the campaign to assume his post." Upon hearing this, Zhu Jun pressed his forces to attack Yangcheng with all their might. The rebels' situation became desperate, and the rebel general Yan Zheng assassinated Zhang Bao, offering his head in surrender. Thus, Zhu Jun pacified several commanderies and submitted a memorial to announce his victory.
At that time, three remaining leaders of the Yellow Turban remnants—Zhao Hong, Han Zhong, and Sun Zhong—gathered tens of thousands of men, burning and plundering wherever they went, claiming they were avenging Zhang Jiao. The court ordered Zhu Jun to take his victorious army and subdue them. Zhu Jun accepted the imperial command and advanced with his forces. The rebels had seized Wancheng, and Zhu Jun led his army to attack it. Zhao Hong sent Han Zhong out to do battle. Zhu Jun ordered Xuande, Lord Guan, and Zhang Fei to assault the southwestern corner of the city. Han Zhong led all his elite troops to defend that corner. Zhu Jun himself then led two thousand ironclad cavalry to strike directly at the northeastern corner. Fearing the city would fall, the rebels abandoned the southwest and rushed back. Xuande fell upon them from the rear, and the rebel army was heavily defeated, fleeing back into Wancheng. Zhu Jun divided his forces and surrounded the city on all sides.
With the city running out of food, Han Zhong sent an envoy to offer their surrender. Zhu Jun refused. Xuande said, "In the past, the Founder of the Han Dynasty won the realm because he was able to accept those who surrendered and submit. Why do you reject Han Zhong?" Zhu Jun replied, "That was then, and this is now. In the era of Qin and Xiang Yu, the realm was in chaos, and the people had no stable ruler. Thus, accepting surrenders and rewarding submission encouraged others to come over. But now, All under Heaven is unified, and only the Yellow Turbans have rebelled. If we allow them to surrender, there will be no way to encourage good conduct. It would allow rebels to plunder freely when they are strong and then surrender when they are weak. This only emboldens the bandits; it is not a good policy." Xuande said, "Refusing to accept the rebels' surrender is correct. But now we have them surrounded like an iron bucket. If they beg for surrender and are refused, they will surely fight to the death. Ten thousand men united in purpose are still a formidable foe, let alone the tens of thousands of desperate men inside the city! It would be better to withdraw the siege from the southeast and attack only the northwest. The rebels will then abandon the city and flee, with no heart for battle, and we can capture them easily." Zhu Jun agreed and immediately withdrew his forces from the southeast, concentrating all his attacks on the northwest. As expected, Han Zhong led his army out of the city in flight. Zhu Jun, Xuande, Lord Guan, and Zhang Fei led their three armies in a fierce pursuit, shooting Han Zhong dead with arrows. The remaining rebels scattered in all directions. Just as the pursuit was underway, Zhao Hong and Sun Zhong arrived with their rebel forces and engaged Zhu Jun in battle. Seeing Zhao Hong's superior strength, Zhu Jun temporarily withdrew his army. Zhao Hong seized the opportunity to recapture Wancheng. Zhu Jun set up camp ten li away.
Just as he was preparing to attack again, a contingent of troops appeared from the east. The leader was a man with a broad forehead and a wide face, with a body like a tiger and a waist like a bear. He was a native of Fuchun in Wu Commandery, by the name of Sun Jian, styled Wentai. He was a descendant of Sun Wu, the great military strategist. When he was seventeen, he was with his father in Qiantang when they saw more than ten pirates robbing merchants on the shore and dividing the spoils. Sun Jian said to his father, "These pirates can be captured." He then gripped his sword, rushed ashore, and shouted loudly, waving his arms as if giving orders to many men. The pirates, thinking government troops had arrived, abandoned their loot and fled. Sun Jian caught up to one and killed him. From this, his fame spread through the commandery and county, and he was recommended for the post of Commandant. Later, the sorcerer-rebel Xu Chang rebelled in Kuaiji, proclaiming himself the "Emperor of Luminous Yang" and gathering a force of tens of thousands. Sun Jian, along with the commandery's Major, recruited over a thousand brave men, and together with the provincial forces, they defeated the rebels, killing Xu Chang and his son, Xu Shao. The Provincial Inspector, Zang Min, submitted a memorial reporting Sun Jian's merits, and Sun Jian was appointed as the Assistant of Yandu, and later as Assistant of Xuyi and Assistant of Xiapi. Now, seeing the Yellow Turban rebellion spreading, he gathered the young men of his hometown, along with traveling merchants and over fifteen hundred elite troops from the Huai and Si river regions, and came to lend his support.
Zhu Jun was overjoyed and ordered Sun Jian to attack the south gate, Xuande the north gate, and Zhu Jun himself the west gate, leaving the east gate open for the rebels to flee. Sun Jian was the first to scale the city wall, killing over twenty rebels, and the rebel forces collapsed in panic. Zhao Hong, charging on horseback with his spear, came straight for Sun Jian. Sun Jian leaped from the wall, seized Zhao Hong's spear, and thrust it into him, sending him tumbling from his horse. He then mounted Zhao Hong's horse and galloped back and forth, slaying rebels. Sun Zhong led a group of rebels bursting out of the north gate, where he ran straight into Xuande. With no heart for battle, Sun Zhong only wanted to flee. Xuande drew his bow and loosed an arrow, striking Sun Zhong square in the chest and knocking him from his horse. Zhu Jun's main army then fell upon the rebels, killing tens of thousands and taking countless prisoners. The entire Nanyang region, over a dozen commanderies, was pacified.
Zhu Jun returned in triumph to the capital. An imperial edict was issued, appointing him General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Henan. Zhu Jun submitted a memorial recommending Sun Jian, Liu Bei, and others for their merits. Sun Jian, having connections, was appointed as a Commandant in another commandery and left to assume his post. But Xuande, waiting for a long time, received no appointment. The three brothers grew deeply disheartened. As they wandered the streets in their gloom, they encountered the carriage of the court gentleman, Zhang Jun. Xuande, upon seeing him, went forward and recounted his own achievements. Zhang Jun was greatly shocked and immediately went to court to see the Emperor. He said, "The Yellow Turban rebellion arose from the Ten Regular Attendants selling official posts and titles, appointing only their relatives and persecuting their enemies. This has thrown the realm into chaos. Now, you should execute the Ten Regular Attendants, hang their heads at the southern outskirts of the capital, and send envoys to proclaim throughout the realm that those with merit will be richly rewarded. Then, the realm will naturally be at peace." The Ten Regular Attendants reported to the Emperor, "Zhang Jun is deceiving his sovereign." The Emperor ordered his guards to drive Zhang Jun out. The Ten Regular Attendants conferred among themselves: "This must be because someone who rendered meritorious service in suppressing the Yellow Turbans has not received an appointment, so he speaks these bitter words. For now, we will have the Ministry of Appointments register him with a minor title. We can deal with him later." Consequently, Xuande was appointed as the Magistrate of Anxi County, in Zhongshan, Ding Province, and ordered to assume his post on a fixed date.
Xuande dismissed his troops to return to their villages, keeping only about twenty personal attendants. He set out for Anxi County with Lord Guan and Zhang Fei. For a month after taking up his post, he governed the county without taking a single grain from the people, and the populace was won over by his virtue. After arriving, he ate and slept with Lord Guan and Zhang Fei, sharing the same table and the same bed. When Xuande was in a crowd, Lord Guan and Zhang Fei would stand in attendance, never tiring of it even after a whole day.
Less than four months into his tenure, an imperial decree arrived from the court ordering that all military officers who had been appointed as county magistrates based on their military merits should be weeded out. Xuande suspected he was among those to be dismissed. Just then, an Imperial Inspector arrived in the county on an inspection tour. Xuande went outside the city walls to welcome him and offered his respects. The Inspector, remaining seated on his horse, merely flicked his whip in acknowledgment. Both Lord Guan and Zhang Fei were enraged. When they reached the official guesthouse, the Inspector sat facing south in a place of honor, while Xuande stood in attendance at the foot of the steps. After a long silence, the Inspector asked, "What is the origin of Magistrate Liu?" Xuande replied, "I am a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan. I fought against the Yellow Turbans in Zhuo Commandery, engaging in over thirty battles, large and small, and achieved some small merit, for which I was given this post." The Inspector roared, "You falsely claim to be an imperial relative and fabricate your achievements! The court has just issued a decree to weed out such corrupt and worthless officials!" Xuande, muttering apologies, withdrew. Returning to the county office, he discussed the matter with his staff. One clerk said, "The Inspector is throwing his weight around; he only wants a bribe." Xuande replied, "I have taken nothing from the people, not even a single grain. Where would I get the money to give him?" The next day, the Inspector summoned the county clerk and forced him to falsely accuse the Magistrate of oppressing the people. Xuande went several times to plead his case, but the gatekeepers blocked him, refusing to let him enter.
Now, Zhang Fei, having drunk several cups of wine in frustration, rode his horse past the guesthouse. He saw fifty or sixty elderly men weeping bitterly at the gate. Zhang Fei asked them why. The old men replied, "The Inspector is forcing the county clerk to falsely accuse Lord Liu! We came to plead for him, but they wouldn't let us in, and the gatekeepers drove us away with blows!" Zhang Fei flew into a rage. His round eyes bulged, he ground his teeth to powder, and leaping from his horse, he charged straight into the guesthouse. The gatekeepers could not stop him. He burst into the rear hall and saw the Inspector sitting in state, with the county clerk bound and lying on the floor. Zhang Fei bellowed, "You scourge of the people! Do you recognize me?" Before the Inspector could even speak, Zhang Fei grabbed him by the hair, dragged him out of the guesthouse, and all the way to the hitching post in front of the county office. There, he tied him up, broke off a willow branch, and began to thrash the Inspector's legs with all his might, snapping off a dozen willow branches in the process. Xuande, who was brooding in his office, heard the commotion outside. He asked his attendants what was happening. They replied, "General Zhang has tied a man up in front of the county office and is beating him severely." Xuande hurried out to see, and found that the bound man was the Inspector. Startled, Xuande asked what had happened. Zhang Fei said, "A scourge like this—if we don't beat him to death, what are we waiting for?" The Inspector cried out, "Lord Xuande, save my life!" Xuande, ever a benevolent man, hastily ordered Zhang Fei to stop. Just then, Lord Guan stepped forward and said, "Elder Brother, you have rendered great service and received only a county magistracy. Now, you are insulted by this Inspector. I think the bramble bush is no place for the phoenix. It would be better to kill this Inspector, abandon your post, return home, and plan for a greater future." Xuande then took his official seal and cord, hung them around the Inspector's neck, and reprimanded him: "For oppressing the people, you deserve death. But for now, I will spare your life. I return my seal and resign my post. I am leaving." The Inspector reported the incident to the Grand Administrator of Ding Province, who in turn reported it to the provincial government. A warrant was issued for their arrest. Xuande, Lord Guan, and Zhang Fei fled to Dai Province and sought refuge with Liu Hui. Liu Hui, seeing that Xuande was a member of the Han imperial clan, gave them shelter and kept them hidden.
Meanwhile, the Ten Regular Attendants, now wielding immense power, conferred among themselves: any who did not submit to them would be put to death. Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang sent men to demand gold and silk from the generals who had suppressed the Yellow Turbans. Those who refused were reported to the court and dismissed from their posts. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun both refused to pay, and Zhao Zhong and his faction had them both dismissed. The Emperor then enfeoffed Zhao Zhong as General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Zhang Rang and twelve others were all enfeoffed as marquises. The court's governance grew ever more corrupt, and the people groaned in resentment. In Changsha, the rebel Qu Xing rose in revolt. In Yuyang, Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun rebelled: Zhang Ju proclaimed himself Emperor, and Zhang Chun declared himself Grand General. Memorials begging for aid flew to the capital like snowflakes, but the Ten Regular Attendants hid them all and never reported them to the throne.
One day, the Emperor was feasting in the rear garden with the Ten Regular Attendants when the Remonstrance Grand Master, Liu Tao, came directly before the Emperor and wept bitterly. The Emperor asked him why. Liu Tao said, "The realm is in imminent danger, yet Your Majesty feasts with eunuchs!" The Emperor replied, "The nation is at peace. What danger is there?" Liu Tao said, "Rebels are rising on all sides, invading and plundering our provinces and commanderies. This calamity is all because the Ten Regular Attendants sell offices, oppress the people, and deceive Your Majesty. The upright men of the court have been driven away, and disaster is at hand!" The Ten Regular Attendants all removed their caps, knelt before the Emperor, and said, "The high ministers cannot tolerate us. We cannot survive! We beg only for our lives, to return to our fields, and to donate all our family wealth to support the army." They wept bitterly as they spoke. The Emperor angrily said to Liu Tao, "Do you not have eunuchs in your own household? Why must you deny them to me?" He then ordered the guards to drag Liu Tao out and behead him. Liu Tao cried out, "I do not begrudge my own death! But pity the Han dynasty's four hundred years of rule—now it will be destroyed in a single day!"
As the guards were dragging Liu Tao away and preparing to execute him, a high minister shouted, "Stop! Let me remonstrate first." Everyone turned to look. It was Chen Dan, the Minister of Education. He went straight into the palace to remonstrate with the Emperor. "What crime has Remonstrance Grand Master Liu committed to deserve death?" The Emperor replied, "He slandered my close attendants and insulted my person." Chen Dan said, "The people of the realm wish to eat the flesh of the Ten Regular Attendants, yet Your Majesty honors them like parents. They have no merit whatsoever, yet they have all been enfeoffed as marquises. Moreover, Feng Xu and others have colluded with the Yellow Turbans, plotting internal rebellion. If Your Majesty does not reflect on this, the state will crumble before your eyes!" The Emperor said, "Feng Xu's rebellion is still unproven. Among the Ten Regular Attendants, are there not one or two loyal ministers?" Chen Dan remonstrated by banging his head against the steps. The Emperor, in a rage, ordered him dragged away and thrown into prison along with Liu Tao. That very night, the Ten Regular Attendants had both men murdered in their cells. They then issued a false imperial decree appointing Sun Jian as Grand Administrator of Changsha to suppress Qu Xing. In less than fifty days, Sun Jian reported a victory, pacifying Jiangxia. An imperial decree was issued, enfeoffing Sun Jian as the Marquis of Wucheng.
The court appointed Liu Yu as Provincial Governor of You Province, ordering him to lead an army to Yuyang to suppress Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun. Liu Hui of Dai Province sent a letter of recommendation for Xuande to meet Liu Yu. Liu Yu was overjoyed and appointed Xuande as a Commandant. Xuande led his troops straight to the rebel stronghold, fought several days of intense battles, and blunted the enemy's momentum. Zhang Chun was a cruel and violent man, and his troops grew disaffected. A captain under his command assassinated Zhang Chun, presented his head as a token of surrender, and led the entire army to submit. Seeing that the situation was lost, Zhang Ju hanged himself. Yuyang was completely pacified. Liu Yu submitted a memorial praising Liu Bei's great merits, and the court pardoned him for the crime of flogging the Inspector. He was appointed as Assistant of Xiami and later promoted to Magistrate of Gaotang. Gongsun Zan also submitted a memorial recounting Xuande's previous merits and recommending him as a Major of a Separate Command, with the post of Prefect of Pingyuan County. In Pingyuan, Xuande had ample grain, funds, and troops, and he restored his former vigor. Liu Yu, for his merits in suppressing the rebellion, was appointed Grand Commandant.
In the fourth month of the sixth year of the Zhongping reign, Emperor Ling fell gravely ill. He summoned Grand General He Jin to the palace to discuss matters of succession. He Jin had risen from a family of butchers. Because his younger sister had entered the palace as an Imperial Consort and given birth to the Emperor's son, Liu Bian, she was later established as Empress. He Jin thus gained power and a position of great trust. The Emperor also favored Consort Wang, who gave birth to another son, Liu Xie. Empress He, consumed by jealousy, poisoned Consort Wang to death. Prince Xie was raised in the palace of Empress Dowager Dong. Empress Dowager Dong was the mother of Emperor Ling and the wife of Liu Chang, the Marquis of Jieduting. Initially, because Emperor Huan had no sons, he had received the son of the Marquis of Jieduting as his heir, who became Emperor Ling. Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Ling brought his mother into the palace and honored her as Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Dong had often urged the Emperor to establish Prince Xie as the Heir Apparent. The Emperor also favored Xie and wished to do so. Now, as his illness grew critical, the eunuch Jian Shuo reported to the Emperor, "If you wish to establish Prince Xie, you must first eliminate He Jin to prevent future trouble." The Emperor agreed and summoned He Jin to the palace. As He Jin approached the palace gate, the Commandant, Pan Yin, said to him, "You must not enter. Jian Shuo plans to murder you." He Jin was greatly alarmed and rushed back to his private residence. He summoned all the high ministers, intending to exterminate all the eunuchs. One man in the assembly stepped forward and said, "The power of the eunuchs has grown since the reigns of Emperors Chong and Zhi. Their influence has spread throughout the court. How can we kill them all? If our plan is not kept secret, we will bring destruction upon our entire clans. Please consider this carefully." He Jin looked at the speaker—it was Cao Cao, the Colonel of the Guard. He Jin scolded him, "What do you, a mere junior, know of the great affairs of the court?"
While He Jin was still deliberating, Pan Yin arrived and reported, "The Emperor has passed away. Jian Shuo and the Ten Regular Attendants have met in secret. They have concealed the death and have issued a false decree summoning you, the Imperial Uncle, to the palace, intending to eliminate you and then proclaim Prince Xie as Emperor." Before he had finished speaking, an imperial messenger arrived, summoning He Jin to the palace immediately to settle the succession. Cao Cao said, "The plan for today is to first establish the rightful ruler, and then deal with the traitors." He Jin asked, "Who will join me in establishing the rightful ruler and punishing the traitors?" One man stepped forward and said, "I will take five thousand elite troops, smash through the palace gates, install the new Emperor, and exterminate all the eunuchs, cleansing the court and pacifying the realm!" He Jin looked at the man—it was the son of Yuan Feng, the Minister of Education, and the nephew of Yuan Wei. His name was Yuan Shao, styled Benchu, and he currently held the office of Colonel of the Capital Police. He Jin was overjoyed and immediately mustered five thousand Imperial Guards. Yuan Shao donned his full armor. He Jin, followed by over thirty high ministers including He Yong, Xun You, and Zheng Tai, entered the palace in succession. Before the bier of Emperor Ling, they supported the Heir Apparent, Liu Bian, to the imperial throne as Emperor.
After the hundred officials had completed their obeisances, Yuan Shao entered the palace to arrest Jian Shuo. In a panic, Jian Shuo fled into the imperial garden, where he was killed by the eunuch Guo Sheng in the shadows of the flowering trees. The Imperial Guard troops under Jian Shuo's command all surrendered. Yuan Shao said to He Jin, "The eunuchs form a faction. Now is the time to take advantage of the situation and exterminate them all." Zhang Rang and the others, realizing the danger, hurriedly went to Empress He and said, "The one who originally plotted against the Grand General was Jian Shuo alone. We had nothing to do with it. Now the Grand General, listening to Yuan Shao's words, wants to kill us all. We beg Your Highness for mercy!" Empress He said, "Do not worry. I will protect you." She issued an edict summoning He Jin to the palace. The Empress said to him in private, "You and I came from humble beginnings. Without Zhang Rang and the others, how could we have enjoyed such wealth and honor? Now that Jian Shuo, who was not benevolent, has been executed, why do you listen to others and want to kill all the eunuchs?" He Jin, having heard this, went out and said to the officials, "Jian Shuo plotted against me. His family can be exterminated. But there is no need to harm the others." Yuan Shao said, "If you do not pull out the roots, this will surely be the cause of your destruction." He Jin replied, "My mind is made up. Say no more." The officials all withdrew.
The next day, the Empress ordered He Jin to participate in the administration of the Imperial Secretariat, while the others were all given official posts. Empress Dowager Dong summoned Zhang Rang and the others to the palace and said, "He Jin's sister was originally elevated by me. Now her son is Emperor, and all the officials, both inside and outside the court, are his confidants. His power is too great. What shall I do?" Zhang Rang replied, "Your Highness should take charge of the court, rule from behind the screen, and enfeoff Prince Xie as a king. Appoint the Imperial Uncle, Dong Zhong, to high office with control of the military, and give us important posts. Then the great affair can be accomplished." Empress Dowager Dong was overjoyed. The next day at court, she issued an edict, enfeoffing Prince Xie as the Prince of Chenliu, appointing Dong Zhong as General of Chariots and Cavalry, and ordering Zhang Rang and the others to participate in the administration of the court.
Empress He, seeing Empress Dowager Dong's usurpation of power, prepared a banquet in the palace and invited Empress Dowager Dong to attend. When the wine was half finished, Empress He rose, raised her cup, bowed, and said, "We are both women. It is not appropriate for us to meddle in court affairs. In the past, Empress Lü, because she held great power, saw her entire clan of a thousand people slaughtered. Now, we should remain deep within the palace. Let the high ministers and elders of the court deliberate on the great affairs of state. This is the good fortune of the nation. I beg you to heed this advice." Empress Dowager Dong flew into a rage and said, "You poisoned Consort Wang out of jealousy. Now, relying on your son being Emperor and your brother He Jin's power, you dare to speak such nonsense! I could order the General of Chariots and Cavalry to cut off your brother's head as easily as turning my hand!" Empress He also grew angry and said, "I was giving you good advice. Why do you become angry instead?" Empress Dowager Dong replied, "Your family are butchers and peddlers! What wisdom do you have?" The two empresses quarreled, and Zhang Rang and the others urged them both to return to their palaces.
That night, Empress He summoned He Jin to the palace and told him what had happened. He Jin left and summoned the Three Excellencies to discuss the matter. The next morning at court, he had a courtier memorialize that Empress Dowager Dong was originally a consort of a feudal lord and should not remain long in the capital. She should be sent back to her fief in Hejian, and ordered to leave the capital gates that very day. He Jin then sent men to escort Empress Dowager Dong away, while also ordering the Imperial Guard to surround the mansion of General of Chariots and Cavalry, Dong Zhong, and seize his seal and credentials. Dong Zhong, realizing the danger, committed suicide in his rear hall. His family wailed in mourning, and only then did the soldiers disperse. Zhang Rang and Duan Gui, seeing that Empress Dowager Dong's faction had been crushed, used gold, pearls, and precious objects to bribe He Jin's younger brother, He Miao, and his mother, the Lady Wuyang. They instructed them to go to Empress He every day and speak well of them. Thus, the Ten Regular Attendants once again gained the Empress's favor.
In the sixth month, He Jin secretly sent men to poison Empress Dowager Dong at the post station in Hejian. Her coffin was brought back to the capital for burial at Wenling. He Jin feigned illness and did not leave his house. Yuan Shao, the Colonel of the Capital Police, came to see He Jin and said, "Zhang Rang and Duan Gui are spreading rumors outside, saying that you poisoned Empress Dowager Dong and are plotting great things. If you do not kill these eunuchs now, they will surely bring great disaster later. In the past, Dou Wu wanted to kill the eunuchs, but his plan was not kept secret, and he suffered the consequences. Now, you and your brother have many capable officers and commanders. If you can make full use of them, the matter is in your hands. This is a time granted by Heaven, and you must not let it slip away." He Jin replied, "Let me consider it." His attendants secretly reported this to Zhang Rang, who in turn informed He Miao, giving him many bribes. He Miao went to Empress He and said, "The Grand General, assisting the new Emperor, does not practice benevolence but is devoted to killing. Now, without cause, he wants to kill the Ten Regular Attendants. This is the way to bring about chaos." The Empress accepted his words. Shortly after, He Jin came to see the Empress, intending to request the execution of the eunuchs. The Empress said, "The eunuchs have always administered the palace; it is the tradition of the Han house. The late Emperor has only recently departed. Do you want to kill his old servants? This is not how to honor the ancestral temple." He Jin was a man without firm resolve.
Hearing the Empress's words, he could only murmur his assent and withdraw. Yuan Shao met him at the gate and asked, "How goes the great affair?" He Jin replied, "The Empress will not consent. What can I do?" Yuan Shao said, "Summon the heroes from all corners of the realm to march on the capital and exterminate the eunuchs. The situation is urgent, and the Empress will have no choice but to agree." He Jin said, "An excellent plan!" He then issued a summons to all the regional commanders, ordering them to march on the capital. The Chief Clerk, Chen Lin, said, "This will not do! As the saying goes: covering your eyes to catch sparrows is self-deception. Even a small creature cannot be caught by such trickery, let alone in a great affair of state! Now, General, you hold the imperial authority and command the military. You can advance like a dragon or move like a tiger, deciding everything at your will. If you wish to execute the eunuchs, it would be like burning a hair in a great furnace. You should act with the speed of thunder, wield your power, and make a decisive move. Then Heaven and man will both support you. But instead, you summon outside commanders to invade the capital. Heroes will gather, each with his own heart. This is like holding a sword by the blade and handing the hilt to another. Your plan will surely fail and will instead bring chaos." He Jin laughed and said, "This is the view of a coward!" A man beside him clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "This matter is as easy as turning over your hand. Why all this debate?" Everyone looked—it was Cao Cao. Truly:
To rid the sovereign of the petty men who bring chaos, one must heed the counsel of the wise men of the court.
We do not know what Cao Cao said; let us listen to the explanation in the next chapter.