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g　maids　told　him　she　was　in　the　garden　among　the　flowers。
So　Dong　Zhuo　went　into　the　garden；　and　there　he　saw　the　lovers　in　the　pavilion　in　most　tender　talk。　Lu　Bu's　trident　halberd　was　leaning　on　the　railing　beside　him。
A　howl　of　rage　escaped　Dong　Zhuo　and　startled　the　lovers。　Lu　Bu　turned；　saw　who　it　was；　and　ran　away。　Dong　Zhuo　caught　up　the　halberd　and　ran　in　pursuit。　But　Lu　Bu　was　fleet　of　foot　while　his　master　was　very　stout。　Seeing　no　hope　of　catching　the　runaway；　Dong　Zhuo　hurled　the　halberd。　Lu　Bu　fended　it　off　and　it　fell　to　the　ground。　Dong　Zhuo　picked　it　up　and　ran　on。　But　by　this　time　Lu　Bu　was　far　ahead。　Just　as　Dong　Zhuo　was　running　out　at　the　garden　gate；　he　dashed　full　tilt　against　another　man　running　in；　and　down　he　went。

Surged　up　his　wrath　within　him　as　the　billows　heavenward　leap。
Crashed　his　unwieldy　body　to　earth　in　a　shapeless　heap。

We　shall　presently　see　who　the　other　runner　was。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　9　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　9
　Chapter　9
Lu　Bu　Kills　Dong　Zhuo　For　Wang　Yun；
Li　Jue　Attacks　The　Capital　On　Jia　Xu's　Advice。
The　person　who　collided　with　the　irate　Dong　Zhuo　was　his　most　trusty　adviser　Li　Ru。　Li　Ru　had　not　fallen　in　spite　of　the　shock　and　at　once　scrambled　to　help　Dong　Zhuo　to　regain　his　feet　and　led　him　inside　to　the　library；　where　they　sat　down。
〃What　were　you　ing　about？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
〃Happening　to　be　passing　your　gates；　I　heard　that　you　had　gone　into　your　private　garden　to　look　for　your　adopted　son。　Then　came　Lu　Bu　running　and　crying　out　that　you　wanted　to　kill　him；　and　I　was　ing　in　as　fast　as　I　could　to　intercede　for　him　when　I　accidentally　collided　with　you。　I　am　very　sorry。　I　deserve　death。〃
〃The　wretch！　How　could　I　bear　to　see　him　toying　with　my　fair　one？　I　will　be　the　death　of　his　yet。〃
〃Your　Graciousness　is　making　a　mistake。　It　is　the　'plucked　tassel'　story　over　again。　But　if　you　remember　the　banquet　of　old　time　where　all　guests　were　to　tear　the　tassels　of　their　hats。　In　that　banquet；　King　Zhuang　of　Chu　made　no　fuss　about　the　liberties　taken　with　his　queen；　although　the　hat…tassel　in　her　hand　betrayed　the　culprit　Jiang　Xiong。　His　restraint　stood　him　good　stead；　for　the　same　Jiang　Xiong　saved　his　life　when　he　was　hemmed　in　by　the　soldiers　of　Qin。　After　all　Diao　Chan　is　only　a　handmaid；　but　Lu　Bu　is　your　trustiest　friend　and　most　dreaded　mander。　If　you　took　this　chance　of　making　the　girl　over　to　him；　your　kindness　would　win　his　undying　gratitude。　I　beg　you；　Sir；　to　think　over　it　well。〃
Dong　Zhuo　hesitated　a　long　time。　He　sat　murmuring　to　himself。　Presently　he　said；　〃What　you　say　is　right。　I　must　think　over　it。〃
Li　Ru　felt　satisfied。　He　took　leave　of　his　master　and　went　away。　Dong　Zhuo　went　to　his　private　rooms　and　called　Diao　Chan。
〃What　were　you　doing　there　with　Lu　Bu？〃　said　he。
She　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃Thy　handmaid　was　in　the　garden　among　the　flowers；　when　he　rushed　in　on　me。　I　was　frightened　and　ran　away。　He　asked　why　I　ran　away　from　a　son　of　the　family　and　pursued　me　right　to　the　pavilion；　where　you　saw　us。　He　had　that　halberd　in　his　hand　all　the　time。　I　felt　he　was　a　vicious　man　and　would　force　me　to　his　will；　so　I　tried　to　throw　myself　into　the　lily　pond；　but　he　caught　me　in　his　arms　and　held　me　so　that　I　was　helpless。　Luckily　just　at　that　moment　you　came　and　saved　my　life。〃
〃Suppose　I　send　you　to　him；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
Stunned；　she　pleaded　with　tears；　〃What　have　thy　handmaid　done？　My　honor　of　serving　only　Your　Highness　could　not　bear　being　given　to　a　mere　underling！　Never！　I　would　rather　die。〃
And　with　this　she　snatched　down　a　dagger　hanging　on　the　wall　to　kill　herself。
Dong　Zhuo　plucked　it　from　her　hand　and；　throwing　his　arms　about　her；　and　cried；　〃I　was　only　joking！〃
She　lay　back　on　his　breast　hiding　her　face　and　sobbing　bitterly。
〃This　is　the　doing　of　that　Li　Ru；〃　said　she。　〃He　is　much　too　thick　with　Lu　Bu。　He　suggested　that；　I　know。　Little　he　cares　for　the　Imperial　Rector's　reputation　or　my　life。　Oh！　I　could　eat　him　alive。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　could　bear　to　lose　you？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
〃Though　you　love　me　yet　I　must　not　stay　here。　That　Lu　Bu　will　try　to　ruin　me　if　I　do。　I　fear　him。〃
〃We　will　go　to　Meiwo　tomorrow；　you　and　I；　and　we　will　be　happy　together　and　have　no　cares。〃
She　dried　her　tears　and　thanked　him。　Next　day　Li　Ru　came　again　to　persuade　Dong　Zhuo　to　send　the　damsel　to　Lu　Bu。
〃This　is　a　propitious　day；〃　said　Li　Ru。
〃He　and　I　standing　in　the　relation　of　father　and　son。　I　cannot　very　well　do　that；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。　〃But　I　will　say　no　more　about　his　fault。　You　may　tell　him　so　and　soothe　him　as　well　as　you　can。〃
〃You　are　not　being　beguiled　by　the　woman；　are　you？〃　said　Li　Ru。
Dong　Zhuo　colored；　saying；　〃Would　you　like　to　give　your　wife　to　some　body　else？　Do　not　talk　about　this　any　further。　It　would　be　better　not　to。〃
Li　Ru　left　the　chamber。　When　he　got　outside；　he　cast　his　eyes　up　to　heaven；　saying；　〃We　are　dead　people；　slain　by　the　hand　of　this　girl！〃
When　a　scholar　of　history　reached　this　episode　he　wrote　a　verse　or　two：

Just　introduce　a　woman；
Conspiracies　succeed；
Of　soldiers；　or　their　weapons；
There　really　is　no　need。
They　fought　their　bloody　battles；
And　doughty　deeds　were　done；
But　in　a　garden　summer　house
The　victory　was　won。

The　order　was　given　to　journey　to　Meiwo；　and　the　whole　body　of　officers　assembled　to　add　luster　to　the　start。　Diao　Chan；　from　her　carriage；　saw　Lu　Bu　among　the　crowd。　She　at　once　dropped　her　eyes　and　assumed　an　appearance　of　deepest　melancholy。　After　the　cavalcade　started　and　when　her　carriage　had　almost　disappeared　in　the　distance；　the　disappointed　lover　reined　in　his　steed　on　a　mount　whence　he　could　watch　the　dust　that　rose　around　it。　Unutterable　sadness　filled　his　heart。
Suddenly　a　voice　said；　〃Why　do　you　not　acpany　the　Prime　Minister；　General；　instead　of　standing　here　and　sighing？〃
It　was　Wang　Yun。
〃I　have　been　confined　to　the　house　by　illness　these　few　days；〃　continued　he；　〃so　I　have　not　seen　you。　But　I　had　to　struggle　out　today　to　see　the　Prime　Minister　set　off。　This　meeting　is　most　fortunate。　But　why　were　you　sighing？〃
〃Just　on　account　of　that　daughter　of　yours；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
Feigning　great　astonishment；　Wang　Yun　said；　〃So　long　a　time　and　yet　not　given　to　you！〃
〃The　old　ruffian　has　fallen　in　love　with　her　himself。〃
〃Surely　this　cannot　be　true。〃
Lu　Bu　related　the　whole　story　while　Wang　Yun　listened；　silent；　but　stamping　on　the　ground　as　with　irritation　and　perplexity。
After　a　long　time　Wang　Yun　said；　〃I　did　not　think　he　was　such　a　beast。〃
Taking　Lu　Bu　by　the　hand；　Wang　Yun　said；　〃e　to　my　house；　and　we　will　talk　it　over。〃
So　they　went　away　together　to　the　house　and　retired　to　a　secret　room。　After　some　refreshments；　Lu　Bu　told　the　whole　story　of　the　episode　in　Phoenix　Pavilion　just　as　it　happened。
Wang　Yun　said；　〃He　seems　to　have　corrupted　my　little　girl　and　has　stolen　your　wife。　He　will　be　an　object　of　shame　and　ridicule　to　the　whole　world。　And　those　who　do　not　laugh　at　him　will　laugh　at　you　and　me。　Alas！　I　am　old　and　powerless　and　can　do　nothing。　More　pitied　than　blamed！　But　you；　General；　you　are　a　warrior；　the　greatest　hero　in　the　world。　Yet　you　have　been　put　to　this　shame　and　exposed　to　this　contempt。〃
A　wave　of　fierce　wrath　rolled　up　in　Lu　Bu。　Banging　the　table　he　shouted　and　roared。
His　host　ostentatiously　tried　to　calm　him；　saying；　〃I　forgot　myself。　I　should　not　have　spoken　like　that。　Do　not　be　so　angry；　I　pray！〃
〃I　will　kill　the　wretch；　I　swear　it！　In　no　other　way　can　I　wash　away　my　shame。〃
〃No；　no！　Do　not　say　such　a　thing；〃　said　Wang　Yun；　putting　his　hand　over　the　other's　mouth。　〃You　will　bring　trouble　on　poor　me　and　my　family。〃
〃When　one　is　born　great；　one　cannot　be　patient　for　long　under　another　person's　domination；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃It　needs　someone　greater　than　the　Prime　Minister　to　limit　the　scope　of　such　talents　as　yours。〃
Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　would　not　mind　killing　the　old　wretch　were　it　not　for　the　relation　in　which　we　stand。　I　fear　to　provoke　the　hostile　criticism　of　posterity。〃
Wang　Yun　shook　his　head；　saying；　〃Your　name　is　Lu　Bu；　his　is　Dong　Zhuo。　Where　was　the　paternal　feeling　when　he　threw　the　halberd　at　you？〃
〃I　had　been　misled　if　you　had　not　said　that；〃　said　Lu　Bu　hotly。
Wang　Yun　saw　the　effect　of　his　words　and　continued；　〃It　would　be　a　loyal　deed　to　restore　the　House　of　Han；　and　history　would　hand　down　your　name　to　posterity　perpetually　fragrant。　If　you　lend　your　aid　to　Dong　Zhuo；　you　will　be　a　traitor　and　your　name　will　be　tainted　through　all　ages。〃
Lu　Bu　rose　from　his　place　and　bowed　to　Wang　Yun。
〃I　have　decided；〃　said　he。　〃You　need　not　fear；　Sir。〃
〃But　yet　you　may　fail　and　bring　upon　yourself　misfortune；〃　said　Wang　Yun。
Lu　Bu　drew　his　dagger；　pricking　his　arm；　and　swearing　by　the　blood　that　flowed。
Wang　Yun　fell　on　his　knees　and　thanked　him。
〃Then　the　Han　sacrifices　will　not　be　cut　off；　and　you　will　be　their　savior。　But　this　must　remain　a　secret；　and　I　will　tell　you　how　the　plot　shall　be　worked　out。〃
Lu　Bu　took　leave　with　great　emotion。
Wang　Yun　took　into　his　confidence　two　colleagues；　Minister　Shisun　Rui　and　Imperial　mander　Huang　Wan。
Shisun　Rui　said；　〃The　moment　is　favorable。　The　Emperor　has　just　recovered　from　his　illness；　and　we　can　dispatch　an　able　talker　to　Meiwo　to　persuade　Dong　Zhuo　to　e　here　to　discuss　affairs。　Meanwhile　we　will　obtain　a　secret　decree　as　authority　for　Lu　Bu　to　lay　an　ambush　just　inside　the　Palace　gates　to　kill　Dong　Zhuo　as　he　enters。　This　is　the　best　plan　to　adopt。〃
〃But　who　would　dare　to　go？〃　said　Huang　Wan。
〃Li　Su；　General　of　the　Imperial　Tiger　Army；　would　go。　He　belongs　to　the　same　region　as　Lu　Bu　and　is　very　angry　with　the　Prime　Minister　for　not　advancing　him。　His　going　would　assure　us　the　plan　would　be　pleted。〃
〃Good；〃　said　Wang　Yun。　〃Let　us　see　what　Lu　Bu　thinks　of　it。〃
When　Lu　Bu　was　consulted；　he　told　them　that　this　Li　Su's　persuasion　had　led　him　to　kill　Ding　Yuan；　his　former　benefactor。
〃If　Li　Su　refuses　this　mission；　I　will　kill　him；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
So　they　sent　for　Li　Su。
When　Li　Su　arrived；　Lu　Bu　said；　〃Formerly　you　talked　me　into　killing　Ding　Yuan　and　going　over　to　Dong　Zhuo。　Now　we　find　Dong　Zhuo　means　evil　for　the　Emperor　and　is　an　oppressor　of　the　people。　His　iniquities　are　many；　and　he　is　hated　by　gods　and　humans。　You　go　to　Meiwo；　say　you　have　a　mand　from　the　Emperor　to　summon　the　Prime　Minister　to　the　Palace。　He　will　e；　and　he　will　be　put　to　death。　You　will　have　the　credit　of　being　loyal　and　restoring　the　Hans。　Will　you　undertake　this？〃
〃I　also　wish　to　slay　him；〃　was　the　reply。　〃But　I　could　not　find　anyone　to　assist　me。　How　can　I　hesitate？　Your　intervention　is　directly　from　Heaven。〃
And　Li　Su　snapped　an　arrow　in　twain　as　register　of　his　oath。
〃If　this　succeeds；　what　glorious　rank　will　be　yours！〃　said　Wang　Yun。
Next　day　Li　Su；　with　a　small　escort；　set　out　for　Meiwo　and　announced　himself　as　bearer　of　a　decree。　He　was　conducted　into　Dong　Zhuo's　presence。　After　he　had　made　his　obeisance；　Dong　Zhuo　asked　what　the　decree　was。
〃His　Majesty　has　recovered　and　wishes　his　ministers　to　meet　him　in　the　Palace　to　consider　the　question　of　his　abdication　in　your　favor。　That　is　what　this　summons　means。〃
〃What　does　Wang　Yun　think　of　the　scheme？〃
〃Wang　Yun　has　already　begun　the　construction　of　the　Terrace　of　Abdication　and　only　awaits　my　lord's　arrival。〃
〃Last　night　I　dreamed　a　dragon　coiled　round　my　body；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　greatly　pleased；　〃and　now　I　get　this　happy　tidings！　I　must　not　neglect　the　opportunity。〃
So　Dong　Zhuo　gave　instructions　to　his　four　trusted　generals　for　the　safekeeping　of　his　city。　Li　Jue；　Guo　Si；　Fan　Chou；　and　Zhang　Ji　were　to　guard　Meiwo　with　three　thousand　troops　of　the　Flying　Bear　Army。　Then　Dong　Zhuo　announced　his　intention　of　starting　on　the　morrow。
〃When　I　am　Emperor；　you　shall　be　mander　of　the　Capital　District；〃　said　he。
〃Your　minister　thanks　you；〃　said　Li　Su。
Dong　Zhuo　went　to　bid　farewell　to　his　ninety…year…old　mother。
〃Whither　are　you　going；　my　son？〃　asked　she。
〃I　go　to　receive　the　abdication　of　Han；　and　soon　you　will　be　the　Empress。〃
〃I　have　been　feeling　nervous　and　creepy　these　few　days。　It　is　a　bad　sign。〃
〃Anyone　about　to　bee　the　Mother　of　the　State　must　have　premonitions；〃　said　her　son。
He　left　her　with　these　words。
Just　before　starting；　he　said　to　Diao　Chan；　〃When　I　am　Emperor；　you　shall　be　Lady　of　the　Palace。〃
She　bowed　low　thanking　him；　but　s