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t　attend　the　funeral。
mander　Yuan　Shao　went　one　day　to　see　He　Jin；　saying；　〃The　two　eunuchs；　Zhang　Rang　and　Duan　Gui；　are　spreading　the　report　outside　that　you　has　caused　the　death　of　the　late　empress　and　is　aiming　at　the　throne。　This　is　an　excuse　for　you　to　destroy　them。　Do　not　spare　them　this　time；　or　you　will　pay　like　Dou　Wu　and　Chen　Fan；　who　in　the　previous　reign　missed　their　chance　because　the　secret　had　not　been　kept；　and　they　paid　by　their　own　deaths。　Now　you　and　your　brother　have　many　manders　and　officers　behind；　so　that　the　destruction　of　the　eunuchs　can　be　but　an　ease。　It　is　a　heaven…sent　opportunity。　Delay　no　further！〃
But　He　Jin　replied；　〃Let　me　think　it　over。〃
He　Jin's　servants　overheard　the　discussion　and　secretly　informed　the　intended　victims；　who　sent　further　gifts　to　the　younger　brother　He　Miao。
Corrupted　by　these；　He　Miao　went　in　to　speak　with　his　sister　Empress　He　and　said；　〃The　General　is　the　chief　support　of　the　new　Emperor；　yet　he　is　not　gracious　and　merciful　but　thinks　wholly　of　slaughter。　If　he　slays　the　eunuchs　without　cause；　it　may　bring　about　revolution。〃
Soon　after　He　Jin　entered　and　told　her　of　his　design　to　put　the　eunuchs　to　death。
She　argued　with　him；　〃Those　officials　look　after　palace　affairs　and　are　old　servants。　To　kill　the　old　servants　just　after　the　death　of　their　master　would　appear　disrespectful　to　the　dynasty's　ancestral　temple。〃
And　as　He　Jin　was　of　a　vacillating　mind；　he　murmured　assent　and　left　her。
〃What　about　it？〃　said　Yuan　Shao　on　meeting　him。
〃She　will　not　consent。　What　can　be　done？〃
〃Call　up　an　army　and　slay　them。　It　is　imperative。　Never　mind　her　consent！〃
〃That　is　an　excellent　plan；〃　said　He　Jin。　And　he　sent　orders　all　round　to　march　soldiers　to　the　capital。
But　Secretary　Chen　Lin　objected；　〃Nay！　Do　not　act　without　due　consideration。　The　proverb　says　'To　cover　the　eyes　and　snatch　at　swallows　is　to　fool　oneself。'　If　in　so　small　a　matter　you　cannot　attain　your　wish；　what　of　great　affairs？　Now　by　virtue　of　the　emperor　and　with　the　army　under　your　hand；　you　are　like　prancing　tiger　and　soaring　dragon：　You　may　do　as　you　please。　To　use　such　enormous　powers　against　the　eunuchs　would　bring　victory　as　easily　as　lighting　up　a　furnace　to　burn　a　hair。　Only　act　promptly：　Use　your　powers　and　smite　at　once；　and　all　the　empire　will　be　with　you。　But　to　summon　forces　to　the　capital；　to　gather　many　bold　warriors　into　one　spot；　each　with　different　schemes；　is　to　turn　our　weapons　against　our　own　person；　to　place　ourselves　in　the　power　of　another。　Nothing　but　failure　can　e　of　it；　and　havoc　will　ensue。〃
〃The　view　of　a　mere　book…worm；〃　said　He　Jin　with　a　smile。
Then　one　of　those　about　He　Jin　suddenly　clapped　his　hands；　laughing；　〃Solving　this　issue　is　as　easy　as　turning　over　one's　hand！　Why　so　much　talk？〃
The　speaker　was　Cao　Cao。

Wouldst　thou　withdraw　wicked　people　from　thy　prince's　side；
Then　seek　counsel　of　the　wise　people　of　the　state。

What　Cao　Cao　said　will　be　disclosed　in　later　chapters。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　3　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　3
　Chapter　3
In　Wenming　Garden；　Dong　Zhuo　Denounces　Ding　Yuan；
With　Red　Hare；　Li　Su　Bribes　Lu　Bu。
What　Cao　Cao　said　was　this：　〃The　eunuch　evil　is　of　very　old　standing；　but　the　real　cause　of　the　present　trouble　is　in　the　improper　influence　allowed　them　by　the　emperors　and　the　misplaced　favoritism　they　have　enjoyed。　But　a　gaoler　would　be　ample　force　to　employ　against　this　kind　of　evil；　and　getting　rid　of　the　main　culprits　is　quite　enough。　Why　increase　confusion　by　summoning　troops　from　the　regions？　Any　desire　to　slay　all　of　them　will　speedily　bee　known；　and　the　plan　will　fail。〃
〃Then；　Cao　Cao；　you　have　some　scheme　of　your　own　to　further；〃　said　He　Jin　with　a　sneer。
Cao　Cao　left　the　meeting；　proclaiming；　〃The　one　who　throws　the　world　into　chaos　is　He　Jin！〃
Then　He　Jin　sent　swift；　secret　letters　far　and　wide　to　several　bases。
It　must　be　recalled　that　Dong　Zhuo　had　failed　in　his　attempt　to　destroy　the　Yellow　Scarves　rebellion。　He　would　have　been　punished　if　he　had　not　bribed　the　Ten　Eunuchs　heavily　for　their　protection。　Later；　through　connections　in　the　capital；　he　obtained　rapid　promotions　from　General　to　General　of　the　Front　Army；　to　Lord　of　Aoxiang；　to　Imperial　Protector　in　the　western　region　of　Xizhou　and　mander　of　an　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops。　But　Dong　Zhuo　was　treacherous　and　disloyal　at　heart。　So　when　he　received　the　summons　to　the　capital；　he　rejoiced　greatly　and　lost　no　time　in　obeying　it。　He　left　a　son…in…law；　mander　Niu　Fu；　to　look　after　the　affairs　of　Xizhou　and　set　out　for　Luoyang。　Dong　Zhuo　took　with　him　a　huge　army　and　four　generals………Li　Jue；　Guo　Si；　Zhang　Ji；　and　Fan　Chou。
Dong　Zhuo's　adviser　and　son…in…law；　Li　Ru；　said；　〃Though　a　formal　summons　has　e；　there　are　many　obscurities　in　it。　It　would　be　well　to　send　up　a　memorial　stating　plainly　our　aims　and　intentions。　Then　we　can　proceed。〃
So　Dong　Zhuo　posed　something　like　this：
〃Thy　servant　knows　that　the　continual　rebellions　owe　their　origin　to　Zhang　Rang　and　the　Regular　Attendants　of　the　Inner　Bureau；　who　act　counter　to　all　recognized　precepts。　Now　to　stop　the　ebullition　of　a　pot　the　best　way　is　to　withdraw　the　fire；　to　cut　out　an　abscess；　though　painful；　is　better　than　to　nourish　the　evil。　I　have　dared　undertake　a　military　advance　on　the　capital；　with　thy　permission；　and　now　pray　that　Zhang　Rang　and　the　other　eunuchs　be　removed　for　the　happiness　of　the　dynasty　and　of　the　empire。〃
He　Jin　read　this　memorial　and　showed　it　to　his　partisans。
Then　said　Minister　Zheng　Tai；　〃A　fierce　wild　beast：　If　he　es；　his　prey　will　be　humans！〃
He　Jin　replied；　〃You　are　too　timorous：　You　are　unequal　to　great　schemes。〃
But　Lu　Zhi　also　said；　〃Long　have　I　known　this　man。　In　appearance　innocent；　he　is　a　very　wolf　at　heart。　Let　him　in；　and　calamity　enters　with　him。　Stop　him；　do　not　let　him　e；　and　thus　will　you　avoid　upheaval。〃
He　Jin　was　obstinate；　and　both　Zheng　Tai　and　Lu　Zhi　gave　up　their　posts　and　retired；　as　did　more　than　half　the　ministers　of　state；　while　He　Jin　sent　a　warm　wele　to　Dong　Zhuo；　who　soon　camped　at　Shengchi　Lake　and　stationed　there　without　further　action。
Zhang　Rang　and　the　eunuchs　knew　this　move　was　directed　against　them　and　said；　〃This　is　He　Jin's　plot。　If　we　do　not　strike　first；　our　whole　clans　shall　be　exterminated。〃
So　they　hid　a　band　of　fifty　armed　ruffians　at　the　Gate　of　Grand　Virtue　in　the　Palace　of　Happiness；　where　the　Empress　lived；　then　they　went　in　to　see　her。
They　said；　〃The　General；　feigning　to　act　under　mand；　has　called　up　armies　to　the　capital　to　destroy　us。　We　pray　you；　Your　Majesty；　pity　and　save　us！〃
〃Go　to　the　General　and　confess　your　faults；〃　said　the　Empress。
〃If　we　did；　then　should　we　be　cut　to　mincemeat！　Rather　summon　the　General　into　your　presence　and　mand　him　to　cease。　If　he　will　not；　then　we　pray　but　die　in　your　presence。〃
Empress　He　issued　the　requisite　mand。
He　Jin　was　just　going　to　her　when　Secretary　Chen　Lin　advised　him　not　to　enter；　saying；　〃The　eunuchs　are　certainly　behind　the　order　and　mean　your　harm。〃
But　He　Jin　could　only　see　the　mand　of　the　Empress　and　was　oblivious　to　all　else。　Said　he；　〃Clearly；　this　is　an　edict　from　the　Empress。　What　harm？〃
〃Our　plot　is　no　longer　a　secret；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃Still　you　may　go　if　you　are　ready　to　fight　your　way　in。〃
〃Get　the　eunuchs　out　first！〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Silly　children！〃　said　He　Jin。　〃What　can　they　do　against　the　man　who　holds　the　forces　of　the　empire　in　his　palm？〃
Yuan　Shao　said；　〃If　you　will　go；　then　we　will　e　as　a　guard；　just　as　a　precaution。〃
Whereupon　both　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao　chose　five　hundred　best　men　under　their　mand；　at　whose　head　they　placed　Yuan　Shu；　a　brother　of　Yuan　Shao。　Yuan　Shu；　clad　in　mail；　drew　up　his　troops　outside　the　Forbidden　City's　entrance；　while　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao；　holding　swords；　went　as　escort。
When　He　Jin　neared　the　Palace　of　Happiness；　the　officers　from　the　Inner　Bureau　said；　〃The　orders　are　to　admit　the　Regent　Marshal　and　none　other。〃
So　the　escort　was　detained　outside。　He　Jin　went　in　proudly。　At　the　Gate　of　Grand　Virtue；　he　was　met　by　Zhang　Rang　and　Duan　Gui；　and　their　followers　quickly　closed　in　around　him。　He　Jin　began　to　feel　alarmed。
Then　Zhang　Rang　in　a　harsh　voice　began　to　revile　him：　〃What　crime　had　Empress　Dong　mitted　that　she　should　have　been　put　to　death？　And　when　the　Mother　of　the　Country　was　buried；　who　feigned　sickness　and　did　not　attend？　We　raised　you　and　your　paltry；　huckstering　family　to　all　the　dignity　and　wealth　you　have；　and　this　is　your　gratitude！　You　would　slay　us。　You　call　us　sordid　and　dirty：　Who　is　the　cleaner？〃
He　Jin　was　panic　stricken　and　looked　about　for　a　way　to　escape；　but　all　gates　had　been　shut。　The　eunuchs　closed　him　in；　and　then　the　assassins　appeared　and　cut　He　Jin　into　halves。

Closing　the　days　of　the　Hans；　and　the　years　of　their　rule　were　near　spent；
Stupid　and　tactless　was　He　Jin；　yet　stood　he　highest　in　office；
Many　were　they　who　advised　him；　but　he　was　deaf　as　he　heard　not；
Wherefore　fell　he　a　victim　under　the　swords　of　the　eunuchs。

So　He　Jin　died。　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao　waited　long。　By　and　by；　impatient　at　the　delay；　they　called　through　the　gate；　〃Thy　carriage　awaits；　O　General！〃
For　reply　the　head　of　He　Jin　was　flung　over　the　wall。　A　decree　was　proclaimed：　〃He　Jin　has　contemplated　treachery　and　therefore　has　been　slain！　It　pardons　his　adherents。〃
Yuan　Shao　shouted；　〃The　eunuchs　have　slain　the　High　Minister。　Let　those　who　will　slay　this　wicked　party　e　and　help　me！〃
Then　one　of　He　Jin's　generals；　Wu　Kuang；　set　fire　to　the　gate。　Yuan　Shu　at　the　head　of　his　guards　burst　in　and　fell　to　slaying　the　eunuchs　without　regard　to　age　or　rank。　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao　broke　into　the　inner　part　of　the　Palace。　Four　of　the　eunuchs………Zhao　Zhong；　Cheng　Kuang；　Xia　Yun；　and　Guo　Sheng………fled　to　the　Blue　Flower　Lodge　where　they　were　hacked　to　pieces。　Fire　raged；　destroying　the　buildings。
Four　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants………Zhang　Rang；　Duan　Gui；　Cao　Jie；　and　Hou　Lan………led　by　Zhang　Rang　carried　off　the　Empress；　Emperor　Bian；　and　Prince　Xian　of　Chenliu　toward　the　North　Palace。
Lu　Zhi；　since　he　had　resigned　office；　was　at　home；　but　hearing　of　the　revolution　in　the　Palace　he　donned　his　armor；　took　his　spear；　and　prepared　to　fight。
He　saw　Eunuch　Duan　Gui　hurrying　the　Empress　along　and　called　out；　〃You　rebel；　how　dare　you　abduct　the　Empress？〃
The　eunuch　fled。　The　Empress　leaped　out　of　a　window　and　was　taken　to　a　place　of　safety。
General　Wu　Kuang　burst　into　one　of　the　inner　halls　where　he　found　He　Miao；　sword　in　hand。
〃You　also　were　in　the　plot　to　slay　your　own　brother；〃　cried　Wu　Kuang。　〃You　shall　die　with　the　others！〃
〃Let　us　kill　the　plotter　against　his　elder　brother！〃　cried　many。
He　Miao　looked　around：　His　enemies　hemmed　him　in　on　every　side。　He　was　hacked　to　pieces。
Yuan　Shu　bade　his　soldiers　scatter　and　seek　out　all　the　families　of　the　eunuchs；　sparing　none。　In　that　slaughter　many　beardless　men　were　killed　in　error。
Cao　Cao　set　himself　to　extinguish　the　fires。　He　then　begged　Empress　He　to　undertake　the　direction　of　affairs；　and　soldiers　were　sent　to　pursue　Zhang　Rang　and　rescue　the　young　Emperor　and　the　young　Prince　of　Chenliu。
Meanwhile；　Zhang　Rang　and　Duan　Gui　had　hustled　away　the　Emperor　and　the　Prince。　They　burst　through　the　smoke　and　fire　and　traveled　without　stopping　till　they　reached　the　Beimang　Hills。　It　was　then　the　third　watch。　They　heard　a　great　shouting　behind　them　and　saw　soldiers　in　pursuit。　Their　leader；　Min　Gong；　a　mander　in　Henan；　was　shouting；　〃Traitors；　stop；　stop！〃
Zhang　Rang；　seeing　that　he　was　lost；　jumped　into　the　river；　where　he　was　drowned。
The　two　boys　ignorant　of　the　meaning　of　all　this　confusion　and　terrified　out　of　their　senses；　dared　not　utter　a　cry。　They　crept　in　among　the　rank　grass　on　the　river　bank　and　hid。　The　soldiers　scattered　in　all　directions　but　failed　to　find　them。　So　they　remained　till　the　fourth　watch；　shivering　with　cold　from　the　drenching　dew　and　very　hungry。　They　lay　down　in　the　thick　grass　and　wept　in　each　other's　arms；　silently；　lest　anyone　should　discover　them。
〃This　is　no　a　place　to　stay　in；〃　said　Prince　Xian。　〃We　must　find　some　way　out。〃
So　the　two　children　knotted　their　clothes　together　and　managed　to　crawl　up　the　bank。　They　were　in　a　thicket　of　thorn　bushes；　and　it　was　quite　dark。　They　could　not　see　any　path。　They　were　in　despair　when