Let us now turn to the infamous general Dong Zhuo. He was demoted by the Emperor for not being able to win a battle over the Yellow Turbans. Because he bribed the Ten Eunuches he avoided punishment. Later with more bribes he was given command of twenty thousand army in the west. Now he received the order to go to the Capital. He saw that his chance had come. He let his son-in-law Niu Fu stay in Shaanxi. He himself brought all of his army to Luoyang. His other son-in-law, Li Ru, said, "Although we have the order, there are many things that are not clear. Why don't we write a letter back and ask for permission to bring the troops in. If they give the permission then we will have the right excuse." Dong Zhuo wrote a letter, said,
He Jin received the letter and showed it to the ministers. Zheng Tai said, "Dong Zhuo is like a wolf. If you let him into the Capital, he will eat people." He Jin said, "You don't trust anyone. How can you accomplish anything without trusting anyone?" Lu Zhi said, "I know Dong Zhuo's character. He looks nice but his heart is black. We should stop him and not let him into the Capital. Otherwise there will be trouble." He Jin did not listen to them. Zheng Tai and Lu Zhi both resigned and left. More than half of the ministers resigned. He Jin sent men to greet Dong Zhuo.
- We learnt that the cause of all the disasters in the country is the abuses by the eunuches Zhang Rang etc. Although it is painful to have to remove these people, it is better than letting them rot and bring down the country. I humbly request the permission to bring my troops to Luoyang and to remove the bad eunuches. If the permission is granted it is the good fortune of our country.
Yuan Shao waited at the gate for a long time. He Jin still had not come out. Yuan Shao yelled, "General He, please board the carriage." Zhang Rang threw He's head over the wall, and shouted, "He Jin conspired to rebel. He has been executed. The accessaries of the crime are forgiven. You can leave now." Yuan Shao yelled, "The eunuches murdered a minister. Come with me to put down the rebellion." Wu Kuang, a subordinate of He Jin, started a fire from the gate of the Palace. Yuan Shu led the soldiers charging into the Palace. They killed every eunuch in sight. Yuan Shao and Cao Cao killed the guards at the gate, and also charged into the Palace. Four of the Ten Eunuches, Zhao Zhong, Cheng Kuang, Xia Hui, and Guo Sheng were chased to the front of the Cuihua Tower and were chopped into pieces. The whole Palace was on fire now. Zhang Rang, Duan Gui and Cao Jie took Empress He and the Emperor and the King of Chenliu hostages. They fled north to the North Palace. Lu Zhi was still in the Capital after he resigned. When he saw the Palace on fire, he dressed up in his armor and held his spear, stood under the North Palace. Just then Duan Gui with the Empress came this way. Lu Zhi shouted, "Duan Gui, don't you dare to hurt the Empress." Duan Gui stopped and turned back. Empress He jumped out of the window and was saved by Lu Zhi. Wu Kuang went into the inner Palace, and saw He Miao walking out with a sword in his hand. Wu Kuang said, "He Miao is an accessary of the murder of his brother, don't let him go." The soldiers replied, "Murdering his brother deserves to die." And they killed him. Yuan Shao ordered the soldiers to kill all the families of the eunuches, and not to let anyone escape. Many people were killed by mistake. Cao Cao sent people to put out the fire in the Palace, in the meantime he also sent troops to pursue Zhang Rang and look for the young Emperor.
Zhang Rang and Duan Gui took the Emperor and the King of Chenliu, and fled out of the Capital and arrived at Mount Beimang. An hour before midnight, a large army arrived, led by Min Gong. Zhang Rang had nowhere to flee, and drowned himself in the river. The Emperor and the King of Chenliu hid in the grass by the river, and were afraid to make any sound. The soldiers searched around for the Emperor and didn't find them. The Emperor and The King of Chenliu hid for four hours. They were cold and hungry. They held each other and wept. They were afraid of being discovered. King of Chenliu said, "We can't stay here for long. Let's find a better place." They tied their clothes together, and climbed up the bank. It was dark, and they couldn't find where the road was. Just then a big crowd of fireflies came in front of the Emperor. King of Chenliu said, "God help us." They followed the fireflies and found the road. After walking for two hours, their feet hurt too much and they couldn't walk any more. They saw a big stack of hay by the hill, and laid down on the hay. A few yards away from them was a cottage. The owner of the cottage dreamed two suns sunk in his backyard. He got up and went out to check. He saw two children lying on the grass. He asked, "Whose children are you? Why are you here?" The Emperor was afraid, and couldn't reply. The King of Chenliu pointed to the Emperor and said, "This is the Emperor. We were kidnapped by the eunuches, and escaped here. I am his brother, the King of Chenliu." The man was surprised to hear this. He said, "My brother once served the late Emperor. My name is Cui Yi." He help the Emperor and his brother into the house and served them some food and drink.
Min Gong caught Duan Gui. He asked, "Where is the Emperor?" Duan Gui said, "We lost him on the road. I don't know where he is now." Min Gong killed Duan Gui, and hung his head on the neck of the horse. He sent soldiers to search for the Emperor. He took the horse and went to search on a different path by himself. When he passed by Cui Yi's house, Cui Yi saw the head hung on the horse, and asked. Min Gong told him what had happened. Cui Yi led Min Gong to the Emperor. The Emperor cried when he saw Cui Yi. Cui Yi said, "The country cannot be without the Emperor for a single day. Please Your Majesty return to the Capital." Cui Yi had only one horse. He gave it to the Emperor. Min Gong and the King of Chenliu shared the other horse. They went for a few miles, before they met the ministers and the generals who came out to look for them. As they were returning to the Capital, they first sent back the head of Duan Gui to be displayed in the city. This episode had been predicted by a children's folk song before, "The Emperor is not like an Emperor, The King is not like a King, and ten thousand horses march down to Mount Beimang."
Before they could reach the Capital, they saw a huge army coming up the road. The Emperor and the ministers were all scared. Yuan Shao rode up the road and shouted, "Who is leading this army?" A general came out from the crowd and yelled as loud as he could, "Where is the Emperor." The Emperor was trembling with fear and couldn't speak. The King of Chenliu went forward and said, "Who is this?" The man answered, "I'm the Governor of Xiliang, Dong Zhuo." King of Chenliu said, "Are you here to help the Emperor, or to kill the Emperor?" Dong Zhuo said, "I'm here to save the Emperor from danger." King of Chenliu said, "If you want to help the Emperor, the Emperor is here, why don't you get off the horse and kneel down?" Dong Zhuo hurriedly jumped off the horse and knelt at the side of the road. King of Chenliu talked with Dong Zhuo, and did not say anything wrong during the whole time. Dong Zhuo was amazed, and made up his mind that he was going to change the crown to the King. They returned to the Palace that day. After the clean up, the national Jade Seal was lost. Dong Zhuo's army camped just outside the city. Everyday Dong Zhuo led his armored troops into the city and ransacked the market. Dong Zhuo went in and out of the Palace as he wished, and no one dared to stop him. General Bao Xin went to see Yuan Shao, said that Dong Zhuo did not mean good, and wanted to get rid of him quickly. Yuan Shao said, "The new emperor is just in place. We should be careful." Bao Xin went to see Wang Yun, Wang Yun said, "Let's go slow." Bao Xin was impatient. He took his army and went to Mount Tai.
Dong Zhuo bought over the troops once under the He brothers. Dong Zhuo asked Li Ru, "How can I make King of Chenliu Emperor?" Li Ru said, "The new Emperor is in place just a few days. It's easier to change now than later. Tomorrow we'll call a meeting of the ministers and discuss this. Anyone who disagrees will be executed." Next day Dong Zhuo set up a big banquet and invited all the ministers. Everyone was afraid of Dong Zhuo so everyone came. Dong Zhuo waited until all of the ministers were there, and arrived with a sword on his belt. After a few rounds of wine, Dong Zhuo stopped the music and the wine, and said, "I have something to say. An Emperor is the master of the people. However the current emperor we have is too weak. He cannot rule the country effectively. The King of Chenliu is smart. I want him to be the emperor. What are your opinions?" No one replied. Suddenly, a man stood up and said, "Nonsense. The Emperor is the son of the late Emperor. He didn't do anything wrong. This talk of changing the emperor is complete nonsense. You want to usurp?" The man was the Governor of Jing, named Ding Yuan. Dong Zhuo was angry, and said, "Those who disagree with me, die!" He took his sword and wanted to kill Ding Yuan. Li Ru saw a man standing behind Ding Yuan, with a giant fork in his hand pointing to the sky, and staring at Dong Zhuo. Li Ru said, "Today is a banquet, we shouldn't talk about politics. Let's leave it for tomorrow." Others calmed down Ding Yuan and persuaded him to leave.
Dong Zhuo then asked the rest, "What about you?" Lu Zhi said, "What you said was not proper." And he went through a lecture why Dong Zhuo should not change the emperor. Dong Zhuo wanted to kill him. Others stopped Dong Zhuo and said, "Minister Lu has a good reputation in the country. If you kill him, the whole country will be against you." Wang Yun said, "We shouldn't discuss this after we had too much to drink. Let's discuss it some other day."
After the banquet, Dong Zhuo held his sword and stood at the door. There was a man on a horse, riding up and down the street. Dong Zhuo asked Li Ru, "Who is this guy?" Li Ru said, "This is the adopted son of Ding Yuan. His name is Luu Bu. We'd better avoid him for now." Next day, it was reported to Dong Zhuo that Ding Yuan was asking Dong Zhuo to come out and fight a battle. Dong Zhuo accepted the challenge and led his army out of the city. As the two army faced each other, Ding Yuan pointed to Dong Zhuo and said, "It was unfortunate for the country to have the chaos brought by the eunuches. You have not made a single contribution to the country. Who do you think you are to talk about changing the emperor?" Before Dong Zhuo could answer, Luu Bu rode on the horse charged toward Dong Zhuo's army like a wind. Dong Zhuo was flustered and fled. Ding Yuan ordered his army to charge. Dong Zhuo's army was defeated, and retreated thirty miles before they stopped. Dong Zhuo set up camps, and gathered his generals to discuss strategy. He said, "Luu Bu is very unusual. If I can get him to serve me I'll get the whole country." A general named Li Su said, "Don't worry. I came from the same village as Luu Bu. I know him well. He is kind of the person who forgets friend as soon as he sees money. You have a very good horse. If you can give me that horse and some gold, I can make sure that Luu Bu will kill Ding Yuan and come to serve you." Dong Zhuo gave him the horse, plus a thousand ounces of gold, a few dozen pearls, and a jade belt.
Li Su took the gifts and went directly to the camp of Luu Bu. Li Su told Luu Bu that he had a good horse to give him. Luu Bu went to see the horse, and loved it. He said to Li Su, "You give me this as a gift, what do you ask in return?" Li Su said, "We are friends. I don't want anything in return." Luu Bu dined with Li Su. After some wine, Li Su said, "We haven't seen each other for years. But I see your father often." Luu Bu said, "You are drunk. My father died years ago." Li Su laughed, "Haha, not that father. I'm talking about Governor Ding." Luu Bu was embarrassed, "I had nowhere to go. This father is only nominal." Li Su said, "You are capable of commanding the heaven and the oceans. Why are you living under another man?" Luu Bu said, "I don't have anyone better to serve." Li Su said, "You can choose whoever you want to serve. It's not too late." Luu Bu said, "Who do you think is the hero of today?" Li Su said, "In my opinion, no one is better than Dong Zhuo. Sooner or later he will accomplish something big." Luu Bu said, "I want to go to him, but I can't find anyone to introduce me." Li Su took out the gold, the pearls and the jade belt, and asked Luu Bu to talk privately. He told Luu Bu, "These are the gifts from Dong Zhuo. The horse is also from him." Luu Bu said, "How can I repay him?" Li Su said, "It's easy. I don't know if you want to do it." Luu Bu thought for a moment, and said, "I will kill Ding Yuan. How is that?" Li Su said, "That's great. You need to do it as soon as possible." And he returned.
An hour before midnight, Luu Bu took a knife and went to the camp of Ding Yuan. Ding Yuan was reading under a candle. As he saw Luu Bu, he asked, "My son, what do you need?" Luu Be said, "Who is your son?" And chopped off Ding Yuan's head with one stroke. He yelled to the others, "Ding Yang is a bad man. I've killed him. Those who want to follow me stay, those who don't leave." More than half of the soldiers left. Next day, Luu Bu took the head of Ding Yuan and went to see Li Su. Li Su took him to see Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo set up a banquet to greet him. Dong Zhuo knelt before Luu Bu and said, "I'll need your help to accomplish my plans." Luu Bu let Dong Zhuo sit down and knelt, "I'd like you to adopt me as your son." Dong Zhuo accepted.
Next day, Dong Zhuo set up a banquet again, and invited all the ministers. Luu Bu led a thousand soldiers surrounded the banquet hall. After a few rounds of wine, Dong Zhuo held his sword and said, "I will change the emperor. Whoever disagrees die." No one dared to answer. Yuan Shao stood up and said, "Are you planning a rebellion?" Dong Zhuo said, "I have the whole country under my hand. Do you want to try whether my sword is sharp?" Yuan Shao pulled out his own sword and said, "Your sword may be sharp, but do you want to know whether mine is sharp?" Do you want to know whether Yuan Shao lived? Wait for the next chapter.