Chapter 3: In Wenming Garden, Dong Zhuo Denounces Ding Yuan;With Red Hare, Li Su Bribes Lu Bu

Cao Cao remarked, “The eunuchs have long been a source of trouble, but the real issue lies in the emperors’ misguided favoritism. A simple gaoler could address this evil. We don’t need to summon troops and escalate the situation; eliminating the main culprits should suffice.”

He Jin sneered, “So, Cao Cao, you have your own agenda, do you?”

Cao Cao left the meeting, declaring, “He Jin is the one causing chaos in the world!”

He Jin, feeling threatened, sent secret letters to his allies.

Dong Zhuo had once failed to defeat the Yellow Scarves and avoided punishment by bribing the eunuchs. Eventually, he rose to power, becoming General, Imperial Protector, and Commander of an army of 200,000. Treacherous by nature, he eagerly obeyed a summons to the capital, leaving his son-in-law Niu Fu in charge of Xizhou.

His adviser Li Ru suggested, “Before advancing on the capital, we should send a memorial to state our intentions clearly.”

Dong Zhuo wrote: “The rebellions stem from the corrupt eunuchs. To stop the unrest, we must remove Zhang Rang and the others. I request permission to march on the capital for the good of the dynasty.”

He Jin read the memorial and showed it to his allies. Minister Zheng Tai warned, “If he comes, he will be a menace.”

He Jin dismissed him, “You’re too fearful. You’re unfit for great plans.”

But Lu Zhi cautioned, “Dong Zhuo may appear innocent, but he’s dangerous. If we let him in, disaster will follow.”

Ignoring their advice, He Jin welcomed Dong Zhuo, who set up camp near Shengchi Lake.

Zhang Rang and the eunuchs, fearing their downfall, decided to act first. They secretly stationed fifty armed men at the Palace of Happiness and approached the Empress, claiming He Jin sought to destroy them. They begged for her protection.

The Empress instructed, “Go to He Jin and confess.”

But they insisted, “We will be killed if we do. Instead, summon him and command him to halt. If he refuses, we will die here.”

He Jin, oblivious to the eunuchs’ plot, proceeded to the palace with a guard. However, the eunuchs blocked the entrance, and He Jin entered alone. Zhang Rang and his followers surrounded him, and He Jin, realizing the trap, was soon cut down by assassins.

“His incompetence led to his demise,” sang the people as He Jin’s head was thrown over the palace wall.

Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, waiting outside, were furious. Yuan Shao shouted, “The eunuchs have murdered He Jin! Anyone who wants to join me in bringing them down, follow!”

Wu Kuang, one of He Jin’s generals, set fire to the gates, and Yuan Shu led his men into the palace. The eunuchs were slaughtered, and the fire raged, destroying the buildings.

Zhang Rang, Duan Gui, and other eunuchs fled with the Emperor and Prince Xian, but were pursued by Min Gong, a general in Henan. Zhang Rang drowned in the river, and the children, terrified, hid in the grass.

“We must find a way out,” Prince Xian said.

They followed a trail of fireflies and eventually came upon a farm. The farmer, Sui Lie, took them in, recognizing the Emperor. Min Gong later arrived, having killed Duan Gui, and, upon learning the Emperor’s whereabouts, escorted them back.

A grand procession was formed to return the Emperor to the capital, where ministers, including Yuan Shao, greeted him with tears, relieved to have their ruler back.

A man was sent ahead to the capital to expose the eunuch Duan Gui.

As soon as possible, they mounted the Emperor on a better steed, and the young Prince had his own horse. Thus, the Emperor returned to Luoyang, as foretold by the children’s ditty:

Though the emperor doesn’t rule, and the prince holds no office,
A brilliant procession comes from Beimang Hills.

Soon, a large group of soldiers appeared, banners fluttering and raising a huge dust cloud. The officials turned pale, and the Emperor panicked. Yuan Shao rode forward.

“Who are you?” Yuan Shao demanded.

A leader under a decorated banner replied, “Do you have the Emperor?”

The Emperor, too panicked to speak, was answered by the Prince of Chenliu, “Who are you?”

“Dong Zhuo, Imperial Protector of Xizhou.”

“Have you come to protect the Emperor or steal him?” the Prince asked.

“I have come to protect,” said Dong Zhuo.

“If so, why not dismount?” said Prince Xian.

Dong Zhuo dismounted and bowed to the side. Prince Xian praised him, and Dong Zhuo began to admire the Prince, secretly considering replacing the Emperor with him.

They reached the Palace that day and had a meeting with Empress He. However, the Imperial Hereditary Seal was missing.

Dong Zhuo camped outside the walls, surrounded by armed soldiers, creating fear among the people. He disregarded Palace rules, and Commander Bao Xin warned Yuan Shao about Dong Zhuo’s intentions.

“Nothing can be done until the government is stable,” Yuan Shao replied.

Bao Xin then consulted Minister Wang Yun, who suggested discussing it later.

Dong Zhuo gained the support of He Jin’s soldiers and spoke privately with his adviser, Li Ru, about deposing the Emperor and replacing him with the Prince of Chenliu.

“The time is ripe,” Li Ru urged. “Act tomorrow; eliminate all opponents, and your power will be cemented.”

Dong Zhuo agreed. The next day, he invited many officials to a feast. No one dared refuse. Dong Zhuo arrived last, sword at his side, and, after drinking, declared:

“The Emperor, weak and unfit, must be replaced by the Prince of Chenliu, who is superior in every way. What do you think?”

The room was silent, until Ding Yuan, Imperial Protector of Bingzhou, stood and protested:

“Who are you to suggest this? The Emperor has done no wrong. This is rebellion!”

Dong Zhuo, enraged, drew his sword but was stopped by Li Ru, who suggested postponing the discussion. Ding Yuan left, and Dong Zhuo asked the others, “Is my proposal just?”

Lu Zhi, a respected official, spoke:

“The Emperor is wise and benevolent. You, Dong Zhuo, have no experience in state affairs. Your actions are not the same as those of Yi Yin or Huo Guang, who had pure intentions. Only with their purpose can such actions be justified; otherwise, it’s treason.”

Dong Zhuo drew his sword again, but other officials intervened, urging him to spare Lu Zhi. Wang Yun suggested postponing the decision until later.

The next day, Dong Zhuo noticed Lu Bu, Ding Yuan’s adopted son, riding by. Li Ru warned him to be cautious. Soon, Ding Yuan’s forces challenged Dong Zhuo to battle, and Lu Bu led the charge.

The battle favored Ding Yuan, and Dong Zhuo retreated. At a council, Dong Zhuo praised Lu Bu’s valor and considered recruiting him. A fellow villager, Li Su, volunteered to persuade Lu Bu to defect.

Li Su requested a fine horse, Red Hare, and gold to win Lu Bu’s favor. Dong Zhuo agreed, and Li Su set off. He found Lu Bu and, after presenting the gifts, convinced him to switch allegiance.

Lu Bu agreed, and the next day, he killed Ding Yuan and brought his forces to Dong Zhuo, who welcomed him with a feast and honored him as an adopted son.

Dong Zhuo’s power grew. He appointed his brother to a high position and made Lu Bu Lord of Luoyang. Li Ru continued urging him to depose the Emperor.

At another feast, Dong Zhuo announced his intentions:

“The Emperor is unfit, and I will replace him with the Prince of Chenliu. Anyone who opposes me will die.”

Yuan Shao objected, declaring this rebellion. Dong Zhuo countered, “The empire is in my hands. Who will oppose me?”

With swords drawn, the two men faced each other.

When Ding Yuan was slain,
It dealt a heavy blow to Yuan Shao’s side.