The Three Kingdoms, Volume 1: The Sacred Oath: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation

by Luo Guanzhong

  He Jin mustered 5,000 palace guards for Yuan Shao to command, while he himself went into the palace, followed by some thirty other ministers. And before the very coffin of the late Emperor, they installed Prince Bian on the throne.

  After the ceremony was over and all the officials had paid their respects to the new ruler, Yuan Shao went in to arrest Jian Shuo. The terrified man escaped into the palace garden and hid among the flowers, where he was discovered and murdered by one of his colleagues. All his guards surrendered. Yuan Shao thought this was the most opportune moment to destroy The Ten and advised He Jin to take immediate actions against them. But they had already scented the danger and they went to Empress Dowager He for help.

  They said to her: “It was Jian Shuo who plotted against your brother, the General. None of us had anything to do with it. Now the General has taken Yuan Shao’s advice and wishes to kill every one of us. Please have pity on us.”

  “Do not worry,” she said, “I will protect you.”

  Then she sent for her brother and said to him in private, “You and I are of lowly origin. We owe our good fortunes to the eunuchs. Now that the treacherous Jian Shuo is dead, why do you listen to other people’s words and want to kill them all?”

  He Jin obeyed and came out to explain to his party, “Jian Shuo was the one who plotted against me and his family should be exterminated. But it’s not necessary to kill the rest of them.”

  “If you do not destroy them, root and branch,” said Yuan Shao, “they will surely harm you.”

  “I have decided,” said He Jin coldly. “Say no more.” Then all the other officials withdrew.

  The next day He Jin was promoted to an even higher rank and all those who helped him received new offices.

  Meanwhile Empress Dowager Dong became worried. Summoning the ten eunuchs to a council, she said: “I was the one who first brought her forward. Now that her son is on the throne and all the officials are on her side, her influence is enormous. What should I do?”

  “Your Highness, you can administer the state affairs by sitting behind the curtain in court. You should create Prince Xie head of a fief and give your brother, Dong Zhong, a high rank and place him at the command of the army and also put all of us in important positions. That will help you achieve everything.”

  The Empress Dowager was very glad to hear this. The next day in court she did just as she was advised, creating Prince Xie as Prince of Chenliu and her brother Dong Chong as a general of a very high rank, and allowing the ten eunuchs to participate in running state affairs.

  When Empress Dowager He saw this she gave a banquet to which she invited her rival. In the middle of the feast, she rose and offered her guest a cup of wine, saying, “Both of us are women. It is not suitable for us to meddle in state affairs. In the old days, Empress Dowager Lu’s* whole clan were put to death because she had tried to seize supreme power. Now we ought to content ourselves with living in the palace and leave the state affairs to the ministers. That would be best for the country and I hope you will act accordingly.”

  Empress Dowager Dong flared up. “You poisoned Lady Wang out of jealousy. Now you think you can say such nonsense to me because your son sits in the throne and your brother is powerful. In fact I can have your brother beheaded as easily as I turn my hand.”

  Now it was Empress Dowager He’s turn to become angry. “I tried to persuade you with well-intended words—why are you so unreasonable?”

  “You low-born daughter of a butcher, what do you know of state affairs?” retorted the other lady.

  And the quarrel went on and on until at last the eunuchs managed to persuade them to retire to their separate palaces. However, that very night Empress Dowager He summoned her brother into the palace and told him about what had happened. He Jin then sought counsel with the principal ministers.

  The next morning a petition was presented in court which said that the late Emperor’s mother, being originally the consort of a “frontier” prince, was not fit to live long in the palace, but should be resettled in Hejian without delay. As the late Emperor’s mother was being escorted out of the capital, her brother’s house was surrounded by imperial guards and his seal of office demanded. Knowing this was the end, he committed suicide in his private chamber. The soldiers only left when his family started wailing over his death.

  When they saw that Empress Dowager Dong’s line was destroyed, two of the ten eunuchs bribed He Jin’s brother, He Miao, and his mother with expensive gifts, asking them to speak on their behalf with the Empress Dowager He now and again. So once more The Ten won favor in court.

  Two months later He Jin sent his men to murder Empress Dowager Dong in her residence in Hejian. Her remains were brought back to the capital and buried in the imperial graveyard. He Jin feigned illness and did not attend the funeral.

  Yuan Shao went to see him and said: “The eunuchs are spreading the rumor that you caused the death of the late Empress Dowager, and that you are aiming for the throne. If you don’t take this opportunity to put them out of the way, they’ll become a real menace to you.” He also reminded him of how in the past Dou Wu had missed his chance and was later murdered by the eunuchs because the secret had not been kept. Then he said: “Now the officers under the command of you and your brother are all valiant fighters. If you can make them exert themselves, you are sure to succeed. This is a heaven-sent opportunity. Don’t miss it.”

  But He Jin only replied, “Let me think it over.”

  His servants secretly told this to the eunuchs, who went to see his brother and gave him more gifts. Corrupted by these offerings, He Miao went to the palace to speak to his sister. He said, “Our brother is responsible for assisting the new emperor in ruling the country, yet he does not exercise mercy and benevolence, but thinks only of slaughter. Now he intends to kill The Ten without cause. I think this will only lead to trouble.” His sister agreed.

  After a while, He Jin also went in to see his sister and tell her about his plan to put the eunuchs to death. She objected: “It’s the practice of the Hans for the eunuchs to look after palace affairs. The late Emperor had died only recently and yet you want to kill his old servants. This is not the way to show respect for the crown.” Being a man of indecision, He Jin murmured assent and withdrew.

  “What about it?” Yuan Shao came forward to ask.

  “Her Highness will not consent,” He replied. “What can we do then?”

  “Call in warriors from all sides and ask them to lead their forces to the capital to slay the eunuchs. This is imperative. She cannot but consent.”

  “Excellent!” said He Jin.

  And he was about to send out orders all around when Chen Lin, an important adviser objected: “No, this won’t do. As the saying goes, ‘Cover the eyes while trying to capture the swallows.’ It is only cheating oneself. A small thing like a swallow cannot be fooled, let alone the machinery of state. Backed by the imperial house and the army, you had enormous power—to put the eunuchs to death would be as easy as lighting up a furnace to burn a hair. But you should act promptly and decisively. Then all the people will be on your side. If you summon forces from outside to enter the capital and gather many ambitious men together, each with his own schemes, you will be putting your weapons in the hands of others and placing yourself in their power. Nothing but failure can come of it, nothing but confusion.”

  “The view of a coward!” said He Jin with a sneer.

  Then one of those beside him suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. “It is as easy as turning over one’s hand. Why so much talk?”

  The speaker was Cao Cao.

  To get rid of wicked men from your king’s side,

  Then seek counsel from the wise men of the state.

  What Cao Cao said to them will be told in the next chapter.

  Footnotes

  * Superstition has it that the blood of animals and filth can render black magic ineffective.

  * 776–476 B.C.

  † A river in Hangzho
u in East China.

  * Consort of Liu Bang, first emperor of West Han.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Dong Zhuo Silences Ding Yuan at Wenming Gardens

  Li Shu Bribes Lu Bu with Lavish Gifts

  Cao Cao said to He Jin: “The evil of the eunuchs has a long history. It arises because the ruler has given them improper power and favor. To deal with it, we need only execute the prime culprits. And a jailer would be enough to do the job. So why busy yourself summoning troops from the provinces? But if you want to kill them all, you would not be able to maintain the secret and the plan will fail.”

  “Are you also harboring some scheme of your own, Meng-de?” asked the angry He Jin.

  Cao Cao withdrew and said to himself, “He Jin will be the man to throw the empire into confusion.”

  Then He Jin immediately sent envoys bearing secret letters to various provinces.

  One of the men who received this secret message was our old acquaintance Dong Zhuo. He had at first failed in his attempt to destroy the Yellow Turbans and would have been punished if not for the protection of The Ten, whom he had bribed. Later he had also managed to associate with high-ranking officials in court and was promoted to become commander of some 200,000 men in the west. But he was treacherous and disloyal at heart. He rejoiced greatly when he received the summons to go to the capital and lost no time to obey it. Leaving behind his son-in-law Niu Fu to guard Shanxi, he set out for Luoyang with some of his trusted subordinates.

  Li Ru, another son-in-law and an advisor, said: “Although we are acting according to a formal edict, our actions are not without ambiguity. It would be well to send up a petition stating our aims plainly. Then we can proceed with our grand scheme.” Dong Zhuo agreed. So a memorial was composed which read something like this:

  I, your humble servant, hear that the continual rebellions owe their origin to the ten eunuchs, who disregard all recognized precepts. Now, to stop the boiling of a pot, the best way is to put out the fire; to cut out an abscess, though painful, is better than to keep it nourished. I will undertake a military advance on the capital to eliminate The Evil Ten for the benefit of the empire and the people.

  When He Jin received this, he showed it to the other court officials. One of the ministers admonished him: “Dong Zhuo is as vicious as a wolf. If you allow him into the capital, he’ll surely harm you.”

  “You are too suspicious; therefore, unequal to great schemes,” sneered He Jin.

  Lu Zhi also tried to warn him. “I know Dong Zhuo very well. He appears kind but actually he is cruel at heart. Let him in and disaster is bound to follow. It would be better to stop him to avoid trouble.”

  But He Jin would not listen and both of them gave up their posts and retired. So did more than half of the court officials. He Jin sent his men to welcome Dong Zhuo to Mianchi. However, Dong Zhuo took no action.

  By then the news had traveled fast. The eunuchs knew that He Jin was directing a move against them and recognized that if they did not strike first, their families would be wiped out. So they arranged to have fifty swordsmen hidden behind a palace gate and then went in to see the Empress Dowager.

  They said: “The Great General has issued an edict in the name of the Emperor to call up armies from all around to destroy us. Please save us.”

  “Go to the Great General’s house and confess your faults.” she said.

  “If we do, we would be cut to mincemeat. Please summon him in and tell him to cease. If he does not, we will die in your presence.”

  So she gave orders for He Jin to enter the palace. And he readily prepared to obey. But just as he was leaving, Chen Lin advised him not to, saying that the eunuchs were certainly behind the order and warned him of the danger of going.

  “It is the Empress Dowager who wants to see me, how can there be any danger?” retorted He Jin.

  “The plot is no longer a secret,” Yuan Shao said, “and you still want to go to the palace?”

  “First get the eunuchs out, then go in,” suggested Cao Cao.

  “How childish you are!” laughed He Jin. “I have all the power in the world, what can The Ten do to me?”

  “If you must go, we will get a band of guards to go with you, in case anything happens,” said Yuan Shao finally.

  So Yuan Shao and Cao Cao each choose five hundred veteran soldiers. Placed at their command was Yuan Shao’s brother, Yuan Shu, who, clad in full armor, drew up his men outside Qingsuo Gate, while the other two went as the general’s escort. When they came near the palace, a eunuch came to announce the Empress Dowager’s words: “The orders are to admit the Great General and none other.” So the escort was detained outside the palace.

  He Jin walked on proudly. When he got to Jiade Gate, he was met by the two chief eunuchs, Zhang Rang and Duan Gui—to his great alarm, they came to his sides, holding him trapped in between. Then Zhang Rang began rebuking him harshly.

  “What crime had Empress Dowager Dong committed that you should have her poisoned to death? And when she, mother of the empire, was buried, you even dared feign sickness and did not attend the funeral. You and your followers were but lowly butchers and hucksters. It is we who recommended you to the Emperor and raised you to the dignity and wealth you now have. And this is your gratitude! You only want to slaughter us. You called us sordid and dirty, who is the clean one?”

  He Jin was panic-stricken and looked about for a way to escape, but the gates were all closed. 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 He Jin, yet stood he highest in office;

  Many were those who advised him, but he was deaf as he heard not;

  Therefore he fell a victim under the sharp swords of the eunuchs.

  So He Jin was killed.

  Meanwhile, Yuan Shao had been waiting for him to come out for a long time. Impatient at the delay, he called out through the gate: “Your carriage is waiting, General!” In response, the head of the murdered man was flung over the wall. A decree was then proclaimed that He Jin had contemplated treachery and had therefore been slain, but all his followers would be given pardon. Yuan Shao shouted angrily, “The eunuchs have murdered the Great General. Let all those who want to slay this wicked party come and help me!”

  Then one of He Jin’s officers set fire to a palace gate. Yuan Shu and his men burst into the palace and began slaying eunuchs regardless of their age or rank. At the same time, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao also broke in. Four of the notorious Ten were driven to the Blue Flower Lodge, where they were cruelly killed. Everywhere in the palace, flames of fire went high into the sky. Another four eunuchs led by Zhang Rang carried off the Empress Dowager, the new Emperor, and the Prince of Chenliu toward the North Palace.

  Now Lu Zhi did not leave the capital after his resignation. Hearing of the trouble in the palace, he donned his armor, took his spear, and stood waiting by the side of a building, ready to fight. Then he saw in the distance the eunuch Duan Gui hurrying the Empress Dowager along. “You treacherous rebel, how dare you abduct the Empress!” he shouted. Duan Gui fled at once. The Empress leaped out of a window but was rescued in time by Lu Zhi and was taken to a place of safety.

  At this time, He Jin’s brother He Miao came out of the inner palace, sword in hand. “He was also in the plot to slay his brother,” cried an officer. “He shall die with the others!”

  “Let’s kill the plotter against his own brother,” cried the others in unison. He Miao tried to escape but was hemmed in on all sides. He was slain mercilessly.

  Yuan Shao then ordered his soldiers to go and seek out all the families of The Ten, sparing none. In that slaughter many beardless men were killed by mistake.

  In the meantime, Cao Cao was busy putting out the fire in the palace. Then he asked the Empress Dowager to assume responsibility for state affairs for the time being. A search party was also sent out at his order to chase Zhang Rang and others and to lo
ok for the young Emperor.

  The two chief eunuchs, Zhang Rang and Duan Gui, had hustled away the Emperor and the Prince of Chenliu. Breaking through the fire and smoke, they rushed all the way to Beimang Hills. At about the second geng,* or the second watch, they heard an uproar behind them and saw the soldiers chasing them. Riding in front was an officer from Henan called Ming Gong who shouted, “Stop, you wicked rebels!” Zhang Rang, seeing that the end had come, drowned himself in a river.

  The two boys, ignorant of the meaning of all this, dared not utter a cry, but crept in among the rank grass by the river bank. The soldiers scattered in all directions to look for them but failed to find them. Four hours later they were still hiding among the dew-wet grass, feeling very hungry. They wept in each other’s arms quietly lest anyone should hear them.

  “This is no place to stay long,” said the Prince, “We must find some way out.”

  So they knotted their clothes together and managed to crawl up the bank. They found themselves in a thicket of brambles and they could not see any path in the dark. Just as they were feeling desperate, hundreds of thousands of fireflies emerged out of nowhere and circled in the air in front of the Emperor, lighting up the path ahead.

  “God is helping us,” said the Prince.

  So they followed the fireflies and gradually found a road. They walked for about two hours and their feet became so sore that they could go no further. Seeing a heap of straw by a hill, they crept over to it and lay down to rest.

  Close to the heap of straw was a farmhouse, whose owner dreamed of two bright red suns dropping behind his dwelling in the night. Alarmed, he hastily threw a coat upon his shoulders and went out to investigate. Then he saw a bright red light shooting up from a heap of straw behind his house. He hastened forward and found two boys lying by its side.