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

by Luo Guanzhong

  “Whose children are you?” he asked.

  The Emperor was too frightened to reply but the Prince, pointing to his brother, said, “This is the Emperor. There has been a rebellion against the ten eunuchs at the palace and we have fled here. I am his brother, Prince of Chenliu.”

  The owner of the house was greatly surprised. He immediately knelt down and said, “My name is Cui Yi. My brother was a minister under the late Emperor. I was disgusted with the behavior of the eunuchs, so I retired here.”

  Then he helped them into the house and on his knees served them with food and drinks.

  Meanwhile, Ming Gong had overtaken and caught Duan Gui.

  “Where is the Emperor?” he bellowed.

  “He got lost on the way. I do not know where he is,” answered Duan Gui.

  Ming Gong slew him and hung the bleeding head on his horse’s neck. Then he sent his men searching in all directions for the Emperor while he rode off by himself on the same quest. Presently he came to the farm. Cui Yi, seeing what hung on his horse’s neck, questioned him and, satisfied with his story, led him to the Emperor. The meeting was emotional—all were moved to tears.

  “The state cannot be without its ruler, not even for one day,” said Ming Gong. “Pray return to the capital, Your Majesty.”

  At the farm they had but one sorry nag and this they saddled for the Emperor, while the Prince was taken on Ming Gong’s charger. Thus they left the farm. Soon, however, they fell in with a big search party of officials and hundreds of soldiers. Among them was Yuan Shao. Tears were shed freely as the ministers met their Emperor. One of them was sent at once to the capital to expose the head of Duan Gui. Placing the Emperor and the Prince on better horses and guarding them carefully, they then began their journey back to Luoyang.

  The Emperor and his men had not proceeded far when they saw coming toward them a large body of soldiers, their banners covering up the sun, their dust rising up to the sky. All the officials turned pale and the Emperor was greatly alarmed. Yuan Shao rode out and asked who they were. From under the shade of an embroidered banner rode out an officer, shouting in a harsh voice: “Where is the Emperor?” His Majesty trembled in fright, unable to respond, but the Prince of Chenliu rode forth to the front and demanded angrily, “Who are you?”

  The man replied, “My name is Dong Zhuo. I am governor of Xiliang.”

  “Have you come to protect the Emperor or to harm him?” asked the Prince.

  “I have come specially to protect,” answered Dong Zhuo.

  “If so, the Emperor is here. Why do you not dismount?” said the Prince.

  Dong Zhuo hastily got down from his horse and knelt on the left side of the road. Then the Prince spoke graciously to placate him, carrying himself very well in his speech. Dong Zhuo was very much impressed and in his heart rose the desire to set aside the Emperor in favor of the Prince. They returned to the palace that same day and there was an emotional meeting with the Empress Dowager. Then they checked the things in the palace to see if everything was all right. To their great dismay, they found the imperial jade seal, the hereditary seal for the Emperor, was missing.

  Dong Zhuo camped outside the capital, but every day he was seen playing the tyrant in the streets with an escort of armored soldiers so that the common people were in a constant state of trepidation. He also went in and out of the palace regardless of any rules of propriety. His unscrupulous behavior angered an officer called Bao Xin, who went first to see Yuan Shao and then Wang Yun, warning them of Dong Zhuo’s ambition and urging them to take measures to get rid of him. But both of them were undecided, so Bao Xin left the capital with his army to go to Taishan.

  By this time Dong Zhuo had gained control of all the soldiers of the former He brothers. He spoke to Li Ru in private about his intention to depose the present Emperor in favor of the Prince of Chenliu.

  Li Ru said, “The empire is really without a ruler. There can be no better time than this to carry out your plan. Any delay will spoil it. Tomorrow, assemble the officials at Wenming Gardens and address them on the subject. Put all opponents to death and your absolute power is established.”

  Dong Zhuo was very pleased to hear these words. So the next day he invited all the high-ranking officials and generals to a huge banquet. As all of them were terrified of him, no one dared stay behind. He himself rode up at leisure, the last to arrive, and took his seat without taking off his sword. When the wine had gone round several times, he stopped the service and the music. Then he began to speak.

  “I have something to say—listen quietly, all of you.”

  All turned toward him.

  He said, “The Emperor is lord of all and if he lacks dignity in manner, he is not fit to inherit the throne. The present Emperor is a weakling, inferior to the Prince of Chenliu in intelligence and love of learning. The Prince is in every way fitted for the throne. So I want to depose the Emperor and set up the Prince of Chenliu in his place. What do you say?”

  The assembly was stupefied. None of them dared utter a word of dissent at first. Then suddenly one guest rose from his seat and, pushing his table to the side, he came forth and cried out: “No! No! Who do you think you are that you dare utter such nonsense? The Emperor is the son of the lawful consort and has done no wrong. How can you talk about deposing him? Do you want to usurp the throne?”

  The speaker was Ding Yuan, governor of Jingzhou.

  Dong Zhuo glared at him. “There is life for those who are with me and death for those against,” he roared.

  He drew his sword and made for the dissenter. But the watchful Li Ru had noticed standing behind Ding Yuan a particularly powerful and dangerous-looking young man, who was then glowering at Dong Zhou, his long and heavy halberd in his hand. So he hastily interposed, saying, “But this is the banquet hall and state affairs should be left outside. These matters can be fully discussed in the meeting hall at a later date.”

  The other guests persuaded Ding Yuan to leave, and after his departure, Dong Zhuo asked: “Is what I said just and reasonable?”

  “No, sir,” said Lu Zhi. “In ancient times, Emperor Tai Jia* of the Shang Dynasty broke the law and his chief minister Yi Yin imprisoned him in Tong Palace till he reformed. There was also the case of Prince Chang† in our dynasty. He had not been on the throne for a month when he had committed 3,000 or more wrongs. Therefore Huo Guang, the regent, declared his faults in the ancestral temple and deposed him. Our present Emperor is young but he is intelligent and kind. He has not committed a single fault. You, sir, are a mere governor of a frontier region and have had no experience in state administration. Neither have you the great ability of Yi and Huo. How can you pretend to be an authority on matters like enthronement and dethronement? As sages say, ‘With Yi Yin’s good intentions, such an act is justified; otherwise it is usurpation.’”

  Dong Zhuo was furious. He drew his sword to slay the bold speaker but two other officials remonstrated with him. “Minister Lu is a cynosure of the whole country. If you kill him now, you will offend all the people.”

  Dong Zhuo stayed his hand.

  Then another minister, Wang Yun, said: “An important question like this is not to be decided after a drinking party. Let it be put off till another time.” So all the officials dispersed.

  As Dong Zhuo stood by the garden gate with his hand on his sword watching them depart, he noticed a warrior galloping around on a fiery steed just outside the garden. He asked Li Ru if he knew the young man.

  “That is Lu Bu, also called Feng-xian. He is the adopted son of Ding Yuan. You must keep out of his way, my lord,” said Li Lu.

  So Dong Zhuo went inside to avoid being seen by Lu Bu. But next day report came to him that Ding Yuan had come out of the city with his army and was challenging him to a battle. The angry Dong Zhuo went forth to accept the challenge, accompanied by Li Ru, and the two armies were drawn up in proper array.

  Lu Bu was a conspicuous figure in the forefront. His hair was arranged under a handsome headdres
s of gold and he had donned his armor and breastplate. Over his shoulders was draped a beautifully embroidered fighting robe and around his waist was a fine belt with a lion’s head clasp. With his halberd set to strike at any moment he rode forth beside his adopted father.

  Ding Yuan, pointing his finger at Dong Zhuo, began to revile the latter.

  “Unfortunate enough was our empire when it was dominated by the eunuchs and the people were driven into extreme poverty. Now you, entitled to no merit at all, dare to talk about deposing the rightful Emperor and setting up another. This is to desire rebellion and no less.”

  Dong Zhuo had not yet been able to reply when Lu Bu rode straight at him. He fled in haste and Ding Yuan’s army came on. He suffered a great loss and had to retreat about thirty li to set up another camp. Here he called in his subordinates for counsel.

  “This Lu Bu is a marvel,” he said. “If only he could be on my side I would defy the world.”

  At this one of his officers came forward and said, “Don’t worry, my lord. Lu Bu and I come from the same village and I know him well. He’s valiant but not resourceful and he puts profits before morals. I promise to persuade him to come over willingly.”

  Dong Zhuo was delighted and gazed admiringly at the speaker who was Li Su, an officer in his army. “What arguments will you use with him?”

  “You have a fine horse, the Red Hare, one of the best ever bred. I must have this steed, and gold and pearls to win his heart. Then I will go and persuade him. He will certainly abandon Ding Yuan’s service for yours.”

  Dong Zhuo sought advice from Li Ru. “What do you think of this?”

  “One cannot begrudge a horse to win an empire,” was the reply.

  So Dong Zhuo gave the corrupter of morals what he demanded—the Red Hare, a thousand taels of gold, ten strings of beautiful pearls, and a jeweled belt, and these accompanied Li Su on his visit to his fellow villager. He reached the camp and said to the guards, “Please tell General Lu that a very old friend has come to visit him.”

  He was admitted into the camp.

  “My worthy brother, have you been well since we last met?”

  “How long it is since we last saw each other!” replied Lu Bu, bowing in return. “And where are you now?”

  “I am an officer in the Tiger Company. When I learned you were a strong supporter of the throne I could not say how I rejoiced. I have come now to present to you a really fine horse, a thousand li a day horse. It can cross rivers and climb hills as if it were on level ground. It is called the Red Hare. Surely it will be a fitting aid to your valor.”

  Lu Bu told his men to lead the horse out for him to see. Truly enough, it was a fine steed, all its hair being of a uniform color of glowing charcoal, not a single one of another color. It measured ten feet from head to tail and eight feet from hoof to neck. When it neighed, it had the appearance of riding up into the air or down into the sea. Later, a poet wrote the following in praise of the steed:

  The fine steed gallops a thousand li a day, kicking off dust as it goes;

  It crosses rivers and climbs hills, dispersing the purple mist;

  Now he breaks the rein and shakes the jade bridle;

  Like a fiery dragon, he descends from the highest heaven.

  Lu Bu was delighted with the horse and said, “Thank you for giving me such a fine horse. But what can I hope to offer in return?”

  “I came here out of a sense of loyalty to my friend, not for repayment.”

  Then wine was brought in and they drank. After they had been drinking for some time, Li Su said, “I have seen very little of you but I am constantly meeting your honorable father.”

  “You are drunk,” said Lu Bu. “My father has been dead for years. How can you meet him?”

  Li Su laughed. “Oh, no. I mean Minister Ding Yuan, the man of the day.”

  Lu Bu started. “Yes, I am with him but only because I can do no better,” he explained.

  “My worthy brother, you have talents to rule the air and control the seas. Who in the world does not admire you? Ranks and riches are yours for the taking. And you say you can do no better than remain a subordinate!”

  “If only I could find the right master to serve!” sighed Lu Bu.

  Li Su smiled and said, “The clever bird chooses the best branch on which to perch and the wise official selects the worthy master to serve. If you don’t seize the chance when it comes, you will only repent when it’s too late.”

  “Now you are in the government. Who do you think is the most worthy of all?” Lu Bu asked.

  “None of the officials can be compared with Dong Zhuo. He is the one who respects the wise and reveres the scholarly; he is discriminating in his rewards and punishments. I am sure he is destined for a great cause.”

  “I wish I could serve him but there is no way, I fear,” replied Lu Bu.

  Then Li Su produced the gold, the pearls, and the jade belt, laying them out before his host.

  “What does this mean?” asked Lu Bu in surprise.

  “Send away the attendants,” said Li Su. After they were gone, he continued, “These gifts are from Dong Zhuo, who has long admired you for your valor. The Red Hare is also from him.”

  “He is so kind to me. What can I do in return?”

  “If an untalented person like me can be an officer in his army, think what great honor awaits you if you serve under him.”

  “But I am afraid I can offer him no service worth mentioning to grant an audience with him.”

  “There is an easy service for you to perform—only you will not do it.”

  For a long time Lu Bu sat thinking in silence. In the end he said, “I would slay Ding Yuan and bring over his soldiers to your side. What do you say to that?”

  “If you would do that, there could be no greater service. But make haste. There should be no delay.”

  Lu Bu promised his friend that he would submit to Dong Zhuo the next day. Then Li Su left to report his success.

  That very night, Lu Bu entered his adopted father’s tent. The unsuspecting man was reading by the candlelight. Seeing who came in he asked, “My son, why do you come here?”

  “I am a man of dignity,” said Lu Bu, “do you think I am willing to be a son of yours?”

  “Why this sudden change of heart, Feng-xian?”

  The young man stepped forward and, with one single swing of his sword, cut off his protector’s head. Then he shouted, “Ding Yuan was an unjust man and I have slain him. Let those who are with me stay; the others may leave!” A majority of the soldiers ran away.

  The next day, holding the head of the murdered man, Lu Bu went to see his friend Li Su, who introduced him to his master. Dong Zhuo was very pleased to see him and treated him with wine. He even bowed to the younger man, saying, “I welcome your coming to me, General, just like parched grass welcomes dew.”

  Lu Bu made him take his seat and then knelt before him. “If you do not dislike me, sir, please let me bow to you as my adopted father,” he said.

  Dong Zhuo rewarded him with gold armor and silken robes. Then they all had a hearty drink before they separated.

  From then on Dong Zhuo’s power and influence increased rapidly. He made himself the supreme commander of the army and gave high military ranks to his brother and Lu Bu, both of whom were also created members of the nobility. To strengthen his place in the empire, Li Ru advised him to carry out the plan to depose the young Emperor.

  So Dong Zhuo prepared a banquet in the palace at which all the important officials were expected to be present. He also ordered Lu Bu to post a thousand and more guards around the place as a military back-up. On the day of the banquet, the Emperor’s tutor Yuan Wei and all the officials came. After several rounds of wine, Dong Zhuo rose from his seat, his hand on his sword, saying: “The Emperor being weak and irresolute is unfit for the duties of high office. I will do as Yi Yin and Huo Guang did in the past and reduce the present Emperor to the status of Prince of Hongnong, and I will place on the thro
ne the present Prince of Chenliu. Those who dare to object will have to die!”

  All the officials were silenced by an intense fear, except Yuan Shao, who stepped forward and said: “The Emperor has not been on the throne for long. He is innocent of any fault, yet you want to set him aside for another. What is it if this is not treason?”

  “The empire is in my hands,” cried the infuriated Dong Zhuo, “and I choose to do this today. Who dares to say no? Do you think my sword lacks an edge?”

  “If your sword is sharp, mine is never blunt,” retorted Yuan Shao as his sword flashed out of its sheath.

  The two men stood glowering at each other in the banquet hall.

  Daring to speak up against the tyrant, Ding Yuan was murdered;

  Confronting the usurper, Yuan Shao puts his life in danger.

  Whether Yuan Shao would be killed or not will be told in the next chapter.

  Footnotes

  * Unit of measuring time in ancient China. A night was divided into five gengs, each covering for about two hours. The third geng, or the third watch, was roughly midnight.

  * 1750 B.C.

  † 74 B.C.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Prince of Chenliu Sits in the Throne to Replace the Deposed Emperor

  Cao Cao Presents Dong Zhuo a Sword in an Attempt to Kill Him

  Dong Zhuo was on the point of slaying Yuan Shao, but his advisor Li Ru checked him, saying, “You must not kill rashly while the business hangs in the balance.” Then Yuan Shao, sword in hand, left the assembly. He hung up the symbol of his office at the east gate and went to Jizhou.

  Dong Zhuo said to Yuan Wei, “Your nephew was impudent but I pardoned him for your sake. What do you think of my proposal?”

  “What you said is right,” was the reply.

  “If anyone opposes the great scheme he will be dealt with by military law,” said Dong Zhuo.

  After the banquet Dong Zhuo asked two of his subordinates what they thought of Yuan Shao’s departure. One of them said, “He left in a state of great anger. If you press him too hard, he will surely rebel. The Yuan family have been noted for their kindness to the people for four generations, and their protégés and dependents are everywhere. If he assembles bold spirits and disciples, all the valiant warriors will rise in arms and the vast area east of Huashan Mountains will be lost. It would be better if you pardon him and make him head of a prefecture. He will be glad to be forgiven and will do no harm.”