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His　adviser；　Li　Ru；　impressed　upon　Dong　Zhuo　constantly　to　employ　people　of　reputation　so　that　he　should　gain　public　esteem。　So　when　they　told　him　Cai　Yong　was　a　man　of　talent；　Dong　Zhuo　summoned　him。　But　Cai　Yong　would　not　go。　Dong　Zhuo　sent　a　message　to　him　that　if　he　did　not　e；　he　and　his　whole　clan　should　be　exterminated。　Then　Cai　Yong　gave　in　and　appeared。　Dong　Zhuo　was　very　gracious　to　him　and　promoted　him　thrice　in　a　month。　Cai　Yong　became　High　Minister。　Such　was　the　generosity　of　the　tyrant。
Meanwhile　the　deposed　ruler；　his　mother；　and　his　consort　were　immured　in　the　Palace　of　Forever　Calm　and　found　their　daily　supplies　gradually　diminishing。　The　deposed　Emperor　wept　incessantly。　One　day　a　pair　of　wallows　gliding　to　and　fro　moved　him　to　verse：

〃Spring　and　the　green　of　the　tender　grass；
Flushes　with　joy　as　the　swallows　pass；
The　wayfarers　pause　by　the　rippling　stream；
And　their　eyes　will　new　born　gladness　gleam；
With　lingering　gaze　the　roofs　I　see
Of　the　Palace　that　one　time　sheltered　me。
But　those　whom　I　sheltered　in　all　righteousness；
Let's　not　stay　in　silence　when　the　days　pass　useless？〃

The　messenger；　sent　by　Dong　Zhuo　from　time　to　time　to　the　palace　for　news　of　the　prisoners；　got　hold　of　this　poem　and　showed　it　to　his　master。
〃So　he　shows　his　resentment　by　writing　poems；　eh！　A　fair　excuse　to　put　them　all　out　of　the　way；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
Li　Ru　was　sent　with　ten　men　into　the　palace　to　consummate　the　deed。　The　three　were　in　one　of　the　upper　rooms　when　Li　Ru　arrived。　The　Emperor　shuddered　when　the　maid　announced　the　visitor's　name。
Presently　Li　Ru　entered　and　offered　a　cup　of　poisoned　wine　to　the　Emperor。　The　Emperor　asked　what　this　meant。
〃Spring　is　the　season　of　blending　and　harmonious　interchange；　and　the　Prime　Minister　sends　a　wine　cup　of　longevity；〃　said　Li　Ru。
〃If　it　be　the　wine　of　longevity；　you　may　share　it　too；〃　said　Empress　He。
Then　Li　Ru　became　brutally　frank。
〃You　will　not　drink？〃　asked　he。
He　called　the　men　with　daggers　and　cords　and　bade　the　Emperor　look　at　them。
〃The　cup；　or　these？〃　said　he。
Then　said　Lady　Tang；　〃Let　the　handmaid　drink　in　place　of　her　lord。　Spare　the　mother　and　her　son；　I　pray！〃
〃And　who　may　you　be　to　die　for　a　prince？〃　said　Li　Ru。
Then　he　presented　the　cup　to　the　Empress　once　more　and　bade　her　drink。
She　railed　against　her　brother；　the　feckless　He　Jin；　the　author　of　all　this　trouble。　She　would　not　drink。
Next　Li　Ru　approached　the　Emperor。
〃Let　me　say　farewell　to　my　mother；〃　begged　he；　and　he　did　so　in　these　lines：

〃The　heaven　and　earth　are　changed；
Alas！　the　sun　and　the　moon　leave　their　courses；
I；　once　the　center　of　all　eyes；　am　driven　to　the　farthest　confines；
Oppressed　by　an　arrogant　minister　my　life　nears　its　end；
Everything　fails　me　and　vain　are　my　falling　tears。〃

Lady　Tang　sang：

〃Heaven　is　to　be　rent　asunder；　Earth　to　fall　away；
I；　handmaid　of　an　emperor；　would　grieve　if　I　followed　him　not。
We　have　e　to　the　parting　of　ways；　the　quick　and　the　dead　walk　not　together；
Alas！　I　am　left　alone　with　the　grief　in　my　heart。〃

When　they　had　sung　these　lines；　they　fell　weeping　into　each　others'　arms。
〃The　Prime　Minister　is　awaiting　my　report；〃　said　Li　Ru；　〃and　you　delay　too　long。　Think　you　that　there　is　any　hope　of　succor？〃
The　Empress　broke　into　another　fit　of　railing；　〃The　rebel　forces　us　to　death；　mother　and　son；　and　Heaven　has　abandoned　us。　But　you；　the　tool　of　his　crime；　will　assuredly　perish！〃
Thereupon　Li　Ru　grew　more　angry；　laid　hands　on　the　Empress　and　threw　her　out　of　the　window。　Then　he　bade　the　soldiers　strangle　Lady　Tang　and　forced　the　lad　to　swallow　the　wine　of　death。
Li　Ru　reported　the　achievement　to　his　master　who　bade　them　bury　the　victims　without　the　city。　After　this　Dong　Zhuo's　behavior　was　more　atrocious　than　before。　He　spent　his　nights　in　the　Palace；　defiled　the　imperial　concubines　there；　and　even　slept　on　the　Dragon　Couch。
Once　he　led　his　soldiers　out　of　the　city　to　Yangcheng　when　the　villagers；　men　and　women；　were　assembled　from　all　sides　for　the　annual　spring　festival。　His　troops　surrounded　the　place　and　plundered　it。　They　took　away　booty　by　the　cart　loads；　and　women　prisoners　and　more　than　one　thousand　severed　heads。　The　procession　returned　to　Capital　Luoyang　and　published　a　story　that　they　had　obtained　a　great　victory　over　some　rebels。　They　burned　the　heads　beneath　the　walls；　and　the　women　and　jewelry　were　shared　out　among　the　soldiers。
A　general　named　Wu　Fu　was　disgusted　at　this　ferocity　and　sought　a　chance　to　slay　Dong　Zhuo。　Wu　Fu　constantly　wore　a　breastplate　underneath　his　court　dress　and　carried　in　conceal　a　sharp　dagger。　One　day　when　Dong　Zhuo　came　to　court；　Wu　Fu　met　him　on　the　steps　and　tried　to　stab　him。　But　Dong　Zhuo　was　a　very　powerful　man　and　held　Wu　Fu　off　till　Lu　Bu　came　to　his　help。　Lu　Bu　struck　down　the　assailant。
〃Who　told　you　to　rebel？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
Wu　Fu　glared　at　him　and　cried；　〃You　are　not　my　prince；　I　am　not　your　minister：　Where　is　the　rebellion？　Your　crimes　fill　the　heavens；　and　every　person　would　slay　you。　I　am　sorry　I　cannot　tear　you　asunder　with　chariots　to　appease　the　wrath　of　the　world！〃
Dong　Zhuo　bade　the　guards　take　him　out　and　hack　him　to　pieces。　Wu　Fu　only　ceased　railing　as　he　ceased　to　live。

That　loyal　servant　of　the　latter　days　of　Han。
His　valor　was　high　as　the　heavens；　in　all　ages　unequaled；
In　the　court　itself　would　he　slay　the　rebel；　great　is　his　fame！
Throughout　all　time　will　people　call　him　a　hero。

Thereafter　Dong　Zhuo　always　went　well　guarded。
At　Bohai；　Yuan　Shao　heard　of　Dong　Zhuo's　misuse　of　power　and　sent　a　secret　letter　to　Minister　of　the　Interior　Wang　Yun：
〃That　rebel　Dong　Zhuo　outrages　Heaven　and　has　deposed　his　ruler。　mon　people　dare　not　speak　of　him：　That　is　understandable。　Yet　you　suffer　his　aggressions　as　if　you　knew　naught　of　them。　How　then　are　you　a　dutiful　and　loyal　minister？　I　have　assembled　an　army　and　desire　to　sweep　clean　the　royal　habitation；　but　I　dare　not　lightly　begin　the　task。　If　you　are　willing；　then　find　an　opportunity　to　plot　against　this　man。　If　you　would　use　force；　I　am　at　your　mand。〃
The　letter　arrived　but　Wang　Yun　could　see　no　chance　to　plot　against　Dong　Zhuo。
One　day　while　among　the　throng　in　attendance；　mostly　people　of　long　service；　Wang　Yun　said　to　his　colleagues；　〃This　is　my　birthday；　I　pray　you　e　to　a　little　party　in　my　humble　cot　this　evening。〃
〃We　certainly　will；〃　they　cried；　〃and　wish　you　long　life。〃
That　night　the　tables　were　spread　in　an　inner　room；　and　his　friends　gathered　there。　When　the　wine　had　made　a　few　rounds；　the　host　suddenly　covered　his　face　and　began　to　weep。
The　guests　were　aghast。
〃Sir；　on　your　birthday　too；　why　do　you　weep？〃　said　they。
〃It　is　not　my　birthday；〃　replied　Wang　Yun。　〃But　I　wished　to　call　you　together；　and　I　feared　lest　Dong　Zhuo　should　suspect；　so　I　made　that　the　excuse。　This　man　insults　the　Emperor　and　does　as　he　wishes　so　that　the　imperial　prerogatives　are　in　imminent　peril。　I　think　of　the　days　when　our　illustrious　founder　destroyed　the　Qin；　annihilated　Chu；　and　obtained　the　empire。　Who　could　have　foreseen　this　day　when　that　Dong　Zhuo　has　subjugated　all　to　his　will？　That　is　why　I　weep。〃
Then　they　all　wept　with　him。
Seated　among　the　guests；　however；　was　Cao　Cao；　who　did　not　join　in　the　weeping　but　clapped　his　hands　and　laughed　aloud。
〃If　all　the　officers　of　the　government　weep　till　dawn；　and　from　dawn　weep　till　dark；　will　that　slay　Dong　Zhuo？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Wang　Yun　turned　on　him　angrily。
〃Your　forbears　ate　the　bounty　of　the　Hans。　Do　you　feel　no　gratitude？　You　can　laugh？〃
〃I　laughed　at　the　absurdity　of　an　assembly　like　this　being　unable　to　pass　the　death　of　one　man。　Foolish　and　incapable　as　I　am；　I　will　cut　off　his　head　and　hang　it　at　the　gate　as　an　offering　to　the　people。〃
Wang　Yun　left　his　seat　and　went　over　to　Cao　Cao。
〃These　later　days；〃　Cao　Cao　continued；　〃I　have　bowed　my　head　to　Dong　Zhuo　with　the　sole　desire　of　finding　a　chance　to　destroy　him。　Now　he　begins　to　trust　me；　and　so　I　can　approach　him　sometimes。　You　have　a　sword　with　seven　precious　jewels　which　I　would　borrow；　and　I　will　go　into　his　palace　and　kill　him。　I　care　not　if　I　die　for　it。〃
〃What　good　fortune　for　the　world　that　this　is　so！〃　said　Wang　Yun。
With　this　Wang　Yun　himself　poured　out　a　goblet　for　Cao　Cao　who　drained　it　and　swore　an　oath。　After　this　the　treasured　sword　was　brought　out　and　given　to　Cao　Cao　who　hid　it　under　his　dress。　He　finished　his　wine；　took　leave　of　the　guests；　and　left　the　hall。　Before　long　the　others　dispersed。
The　next　day　Cao　Cao；　with　this　short　sword　girded　on；　came　to　the　palace　of　the　Prime　Minister。
〃Where　is　the　Prime　Minister？〃　asked　he。
〃In　the　small　guest　room；〃　replied　the　attendants。
So　Cao　Cao　went　in　and　found　his　host　seated　on　a　couch。　Lu　Bu　was　at　his　side。
〃Why　so　late；　Cao　Cao？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
〃My　horse　is　out　of　condition　and　slow；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。
Dong　Zhuo　turned　to　his　henchman　Lu　Bu。
〃Some　good　horses　have　e　in　from　the　west。　You　go　and　pick　out　a　good　one　as　a　present　for　him。〃
And　Lu　Bu　left。
〃This　traitor　is　doomed！〃　thought　Cao　Cao。　He　ought　to　have　struck　then；　but　Cao　Cao　knew　Dong　Zhuo　was　very　powerful；　and　he　was　afraid　to　act。　He　wanted　to　make　sure　of　his　blow。
Now　Dong　Zhuo's　corpulence　was　such　that　he　could　not　remain　long　sitting；　so　he　rolled　over　couch　and　lay　face　inwards。
〃Now　is　the　time；〃　thought　the　assassin；　and　he　gripped　the　good　sword　firmly。
But　just　as　Cao　Cao　was　going　to　strike；　Dong　Zhuo　happened　to　look　up　and　in　a　mirror　he　saw　the　reflection　of　Cao　Cao　behind　him　with　a　sword　in　the　hand。
〃What　are　you　doing；　Cao　Cao？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　turning　suddenly。　And　at　that　moment　Lu　Bu　came　along　leading　a　horse。
Cao　Cao　in　a　flurry　dropped　on　his　knees　and　said；　〃I　have　a　precious　sword　here　which　I　wish　to　present　to　Your　Benevolence。〃
Dong　Zhuo　took　it。　It　was　a　fine　blade；　over　a　foot　in　length；　inlaid　with　the　seven　precious　signs　and　very　keen………a　fine　sword　in　very　truth。　Dong　Zhuo　handed　the　weapon　to　Lu　Bu　while　Cao　Cao　took　off　the　sheath　which　he　also　gave　to　Lu　Bu。
Then　they　went　out　to　look　at　the　horse。　Cao　Cao　was　profuse　in　his　thanks　and　said　he　would　like　to　try　the　horse。　So　Dong　Zhuo　bade　the　guards　bring　saddle　and　bridle。　Cao　Cao　led　the　creature　outside；　leapt　into　the　saddle；　laid　on　his　whip　vigorously；　and　galloped　away　eastward。
Lu　Bu　said；　〃Just　as　I　was　ing　up；　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　that　fellow　was　going　to　stab　you；　only　a　sudden　panic　seized　him　and　he　presented　the　weapon　instead。〃
〃I　suspected　him　too！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
Just　then　Li　Ru　came　in　and　they　told　him。
〃Cao　Cao　has　no　family　here　in　the　capital　but　lodges　quite　alone　and　not　far　away；〃　said　Li　Ru。　〃Send　for　him。　If　he　es　forthwith；　the　sword　was　meant　as　a　gift。　But　if　he　makes　any　excuses；　he　had　bad　intentions。　And　you　can　arrest　him。〃
They　sent　four　prison　warders　to　call　Cao　Cao。
They　were　absent　a　long　time　and　then　came　back；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　had　not　returned　to　his　lodging　but　rode　in　hot　haste　out　of　the　eastern　gate。　To　the　gate　mander's　questions　he　replied　that　he　was　on　a　special　message　for　the　Prime　Minister。　He　went　off　at　full　speed。〃
〃His　conscience　pricked　him　and　so　he　fled。　There　is　no　doubt　that　he　meant　assassination！〃　said　Li　Ru。
〃And　I　trusted　him　so　well！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　in　a　rage。
〃There　must　be　a　conspiracy　afoot。　When　we　catch　him；　we　shall　know　all　about　it；〃　said　Li　Ru。
Letters　and　pictures　of　the　fugitive　Cao　Cao　were　sent　everywhere　with　orders　to　catch　him。　A　large　reward　in　money　was　offered　and　a　patent　of　nobility；　while　those　who　sheltered　him　would　be　held　to　share　his　guilt。
Cao　Cao　traveled　in　hot　haste　toward　Qiao；　his　home　county。　On　the　road　at　Zhongmou；　he　was　recognized　by　the　guards　at　the　gate　and　made　prisoner。　They　took　him　to　the　Magistrate。　Cao　Cao　declared　he　was　a　merchant；　named　Huang　Fu。　The　Magistrate　scanned　his　face　most　closely　and　remained　in　deep　thought。
Presently　the　Magistrate　said；　〃When　I　was　at　the　capital　seeking　a　post；　I　knew　you　as　Cao　Cao。　Why　do　you　try　to　conceal　your　identity？〃
The　Magistrate　ordered　Cao　Cao　to　the　prison　till　the　morrow　when　he　could　send　Cao　Cao　to　the　capital　and　claim　the　reward。　He　gave　the　soldiers　wine　and　food　as　a　reward。
About　midnight　the　Magistrate　sent　a　trusty　servant　to　bring　the　prisoner　into　his　private　rooms　for　interrogation。
〃They