Then Empress Ho in her turn waxed wroth and said,“I tried to persuade you with fair words; why get so angry?”
“You low born daughter of a butcher, what do you know of offices?” cried her rival.
And the quarrel waxed hot.
The eunuchs persuaded the ladies to retire. But in the night Ho T’ai-hou summoned her brother into the palace and told him what had occurred. He went out and took counsel with the principal officers of state. Next morn a court was held and a memorial was presented saying that Tung T’ai-hou, being the consort of a “frontier” prince—only a collateral—could not properly occupy any part of the palace. She was to be removed into Hochien and was to depart immediately. And while they sent an escort to remove the lady a strong guard was placed about her brother’s dwelling. They took away his seal of office and he, knowing this was the end, committed suicide in his private apartments. His dependents, who wailed his death, were driven off by the guards.
Two of the eunuchs having lost their patroness, sent large gifts to Ho Chin’s younger brother Miao and his mother, and thus got them to put in a good word to the Empress Dowager Ho so as to gain her protection. And so they gained favour once more at court.
A few months later the secret emissaries of Ho Chin murdered Tung T’ai-bou in her residence in the country. Her remains were brought to the capital and buried. Ho Chin feigned illness and did not attend the funeral.
Yuan Shao went one day to see Ho Chin to tell him that two eunuchs, Chang Jang and Tuan Kuei, were spreading the report outside that Ho Chin had caused the death of the late empress dowager and was aiming at the throne. He urged Ho to make this an excuse to put them finally out of the way. Shao pointed out how Tou Wu had missed his chance because the secret had not been kept and urged upon him the ease with which they could be destroyed under the then favourable conditions. It was a heavensent opportunity.
But Ho Chin replied,“Let me think it over.”
His servants secretly told the intended victims, who sent further gifts to the younger brother. Corrupted by these he went in to speak with his sister 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 slay the eunuchs without cause, it may bring about revolution.”
Soon after her brother entered and told her of his design to put the eunuchs to death. She argued with him. She said that they looked after palace affairs and were old servants. To kill the old servants just after the death of their master would appear disrespectful to the Dynasty. And as Ho was of a vacillating mind he murmured assent and left her.
“What about it?” said 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 Ho.
And he sent orders all round to march soldiers to the capital.
But the Recorder, Ch’en Lin, said,“Nay, do not act blindly. The proverb says ‘To cover the eyes and snatch at swallows is to fool one’s self.” If in so small a matter you cannot attain your wish, what of great affairs? Now by virtue of the imperial prestige and with the army under your hand you may do as you please. To use such enormous powers against the eunuchs would resemble lighting up a furnace to burn a hair. But 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 men into one spot, each with his own schemes, is to turn one’s weapons against one’s own person, to place one’s self in the power of another. Nothing but failure can come of it, nothing but confusion.”
“The view of a mere bookworm,” said Ho with a smile.
Then one of those about him suddenly clapped his hands, crying
“It is as easy as turning over one’s hand! why so much talk?”
The speaker was Ts’ao Ts’ao.
Wouldst thou withdraw wicked men from thy prince’s side
Then seek counsel of the wise men of the State.
What Ts’ao Ts’ao said will be disclosed in later chapters.
CHAPTER III
TUNG CHO SILENCES TING YUAN: LI SU BRIBES LU PU
W hat Ts’ao Ts’ao 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 ruler, and the misplaced favouritism they have enjoyed. But a gaoler would be ample force to employ against the evil. Why increase confusion by summoning troops from the provinces? Any desire to slay them will speedily become known and the plan will fail.”
“Then Meng-te, you have some scheme of your own to further,” said Ho with a sneer.
“Ho Chin is the man to throw the empire into confusion,” retorted Ts’ao.
Then Ho Chin sent swift, secret letters far and wide.
It must be recalled here that the now powerful Tung Cho had failed in his attempt to destroy the Yellow Turban rebellion and would have been punished but for the protection of the Ten Eunuchs, whom he had bribed heavily. Later he obtained an important military command in the west. But he 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 Niu Fu to hold Shensi and set out for Loyang.
Li Ju, his adviser and son-in-law said,“Though a formal summons has come 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 he composed one something like this: “Thy servant knows that the continual rebellions owe their origin to the eunuchs who act counter to all recognised precept. 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 to undertake a military advance on the capital, and now pray that Chang Jang and the other eunuchs be removed for the happiness of the Dynasty and of the whole land.”
Ho Chin read this memorial and showed it to his partisans. Then said Cheng T’ai,“A fierce wild beast; if he come his prey will be men.”
Ho Chin replied,“You are too timorous; you are unequal to great schemes.”
But Lu Chih 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 come and thus will you avoid confusion.”
Ho Chin was obstinate and both these men gave up their posts and retired, as did more than half the ministers of State, while Ho Chin sent a warm welcome to Tung Cho, who soon camped at Ying Pool.
The eunuchs knew this move was directed against them and recognised that their only chance for safety was to strike the first blow. So they first hid a band of armed ruffians in the palace at the Gate of Abundant Virtue and then went in to see the Empress.
They said,“The General, feigning to act under command, has called up armies to the capital to destroy us. We pray you, Grandmother, to pity and save us.”
“Go to the General and confess your faults,” said she.
“If we did then should we be cut to mincemeat. Rather summon the General into your presence and command him to cease. If he will not, then we pray but to die in your presence.”
She issued the requisite command and Ho was just going to her when Chen Lin advised him not to enter, saying the eunuchs were certainly behind the order and meant him harm. But Ho could only see the command of the Empress and was blind to all else.
“The plot is no longer a secret”; and Yuan Shan,“still you may go if you are ready to fight your way in.”
“Get the eunuchs out first,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.
“Silly children!” said Ho.“What can they do against the man who holds the forces of the Empire in the palm of his hand?”
Shao said,“If you will go, then we will come as a guard, just as a precaution.”
Whereupon both he and Ts’ao chose a half company of the best men under their command, at whose head they placed a br
other of Yuan Shao, named Shu.
Yuan Shu, clad in mail, drew up his men outside the Chingso Gate while the other two went as escort. When Ho Chin neared the palace the eunuchs said,“The orders are to admit the General and none other.” So the escort was detained outside.
Ho Chin went in proudly. At the Gate of Abundant Virtue he was met by the two chief eunuchs and their followers quickly closed in around him. Ho began to feel alarmed. Then Chang Jang in a harsh voice began to revile him.
“What crime had Tung Tai-hou committed 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?”
Ho Chin was panic stricken and looked about for a way to escape, but the eunuchs closed him in and then the assassins appeared and did their bloody work.
Closing the days of the Hans, and the years of their rule were near spent,
Stupid and tactless was Ho Chin, 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 Ho Chin died. Yuan Shao waited long. By and by, impatient at the delay, he called through the Gate,“Thy carriage waits, O General.” For reply the head of the murdered officer was flung over the wall.
A decree was proclaimed that Ho Chin had contemplated treachery and therefore had been slain. It pardoned his adherents. Yuan Shao shouted,“The eunuchs have slain the minister. Let those who will slay this wicked party come and help me.”
Then one of Ho Chin’s officers set fire to the gate. Yuan Shu at the head of his men burst in and fell to slaying the eunuchs without regard to age or rank. Yuan Shao and Ts’ao Ts’ao broke into the inner part of the palace. Four of the eunuchs fled to the Blue Flower Lodge where they were hacked to pieces. Fire raged, destroying the buildings. Four of the eunuchs led by Chang Jang carried off the Empress, the heir apparent and the Prince of Ch’en-liu toward the north palace.
Lu Chih, since he had resigned office, was at home, but hearing of the revolution in the palace he donned his armour, took his spear and prepared to fight. He saw the eunuch Tuan Kuei hurrying the Empress along and called out “You rebels, how dare you abduct the Empress?” The eunuch fled. The Empress leaped out of a window and was taken to a place of safety.
Wu K’uang burst into one of the inner halls where he found Ho Miao, sword in hand.
“You also were in the plot to slay your brother,” cried he.“You shall die with the others.”
“Let us kill the plotter against his elder brother,” cried many.
Miao looked around; his enemies hemmed him in on every side. He was hacked to pieces.
Shao 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.
Ts’ao Ts’ao set himself to extinguish the fires. He then begged Ho T’ai-hou to undertake the direction of affairs and soldiers were sent to pursue Chang Jang and rescue the young Emperor.
The two chief eunuchs, Chang Jang and Tuan Kuei, had hustled away the Emperor and the Prince of Ch’en-liu. They burst through the smoke and fire and travelled without stopping till they reached the Peimang Hills. It was then the third watch. They heard a great shouting behind them and saw soldiers in pursuit. Their leader was shouting “Stop, stop!” Chang Jang, 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 any one should discover them.
“This is no a place to stay in,” said the Prince,“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, all at once, millions of fireflies sprang up all about them and circled in the air in front of the Emperor.
“God is helping us,” said the Prince.
They followed whither the fireflies led and gradually got into a road. They walked till their feet were too sore to go further, when, seeing a heap of straw near the road, they crept to it and lay down.
This heap of straw was close to a farm house. In the night, as the farmer was sleeping, he saw in a vision two bright red suns drop behind his dwelling. Alarmed by the portent he hastily dressed and went forth to look about him. Then he saw a bright light shooting up from a heap of straw. He hastened thither and then saw two youths lying behind it.
“To what household do you belong, young gentlemen?” asked he.
The Emperor was too frightened to reply, but his companion said,“He is the Emperor. There has been a revolution in the palace and we ran away. I am his brother Prince of Ch’en-liu.”
The farmer bowed again and again and said,“I am the brother of a former official and my name is Tsui I. My brother was disgusted with the behaviour of the eunuchs and so resigned and hid away here.”
The two lads were taken into the farm and their host on his knees served them with refreshment.
It has been said that Min Kung had gone in pursuit of the eunuch Tuan Kuei. By and by Kung overtook him and cried,“Where is the Emperor?”
“He disappeared. I do not know where he is.”
Kung slew him and hung the bleeding head on his horse’s neck. Then he sent his men searching in all directions and he rode off by himself on the same quest. Presently he came to the farm. Ts’ui I, seeing what hung on his horse’s neck, questioned him and, satisfied with his story, led him to the Emperor. The meeting was affecting; all were moved to tears.
“The State cannot be without its ruler,” said Min Kung.“I pray Your Majesty to return to the city.”
At the farm they had but one sorry nag and this they saddled for the Emperor. The young prince was taken on Min Kung’s charger. And thus they left the farm. Soon they fell in with other officials and the several guards and soldiers made up an imposing cavalcade. Tears were shed freely as the ministers met their Emperor.
A man was sent on in front to the capital there to expose the head of the eunuch Tuan Kuei.
As soon as they could they placed the Emperor on a better steed and the young prince had a horse to himself.
Thus the Emperor returned to Loyang and so it happened after all as the street boys’ ditty ran:—
Though the Emperor doesn’t rule, though the prince no office fills,
Yet a brilliant cavalcade comes along from Peimang Hills.
The cavalcade had not proceeded far when they saw coming towards them a large body of soldiers with fluttering banners hiding the sun and raising a huge cloud of dust. The officials turned pale and the Emperor was greatly alarmed. Yuan Shao rode out in advance and demanded who they were. From under the shade of an embroidered banner rode out an officer demanding if they had seen the Emperor. His Majesty was too panicstricken to respond but the Prince of Ch’en-liu rode to the front and cried,“Who are you?”
Tung Cho replied giving his name and rank.
“Have you come to protect the chariot or to steal it?” said the prince.
“I have come to protect,” said Tung Cho.
“If that is so the Emperor is here; why do you not dismount?”
Cho hastily dismounted and made obeisance on the left of the road. Then the prince spoke graciously to him.
From first to last the prince had carried himself most perfectly so that Cho in his heart admired his behaviour, and then arose the first desire to set as
ide the Emperor in favour of the prince.
They reached the palace the same day and there was an affecting interview with Ho T’ai-hou.
But when they had restored order in the palace the Hereditary Seal, the special seal of the Emperor, was missing.
Tung Cho camped without the walls but every day he was to be seen in the streets with an escort of mailed soldiers so that the common people were in a state of constant trepidation. He also went in and out of the palace careless of all the rules of propriety.
Pao Hsin spoke of his behaviour to Yuan Shao, saying,“This man harbours some evil design and should be removed.”
“Nothing can be done till the government is more settled,” said Shao.”
Then he saw Wang Yun and asked what he thought.
“Let us talk it over,” was the reply.
Pao Hsin said no more but he left the capital and retired to T’aishan. Tung Cho induced the soldiers of the two brothers Ho to join his command and privately spoke to his adviser about deposing the Emperor in favour of the Prince of Ch’en-liu.
“The government is really without a head; there can be no better time than this to carry out your plan. Delay will spoil all. Tomorrow assemble the officials in the Wenming Garden and address them on the subject. Put all opponents to death and your prestige is settled.”
So spoke his adviser and the words pleased Tung Cho mightily.
So the next day he spread a feast and invited many guests. As all the officers went in terror of him no one dared be absent. He himself rode up to the garden last of all and took his place with his sword girded on. When the wine had gone round several times Tung Cho stopped the service and the music and began to speak.
I have something to say; listen quietly all of you.”
All turned towards him.
“The Emperor is lord of all and if he lacks dignity and behaves in an unseemly manner he is no fitting inheritor of the ancestral prerogatives. He who is now on the throne is a weakling, inferior to the Prince of Ch’en-liu in intelligence and love of learning. The Prince is in every way fitted for the throne. I desire to depose the Emperor and set up the Prince in his place. What think you?”
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics) Page 5
