Romance of the Three Kingdoms

By Luo Guanzhong
Translated with AI assistance.


Chapter 1: In Peach Garden, three brothers' oath is sworn; 'Gainst Yellow Turbans, merit first is borne.

Thus sings the lyric of the Yangtze's flow,
Whose waves have washed the heroes long ago.
Both right and wrong, success and loss are vain;
A turn of head, and naught shall here remain.
Yet ageless still the verdant mountains stand,
How oft the sunset's blaze has stained the land!
The hoary fishers, woodmen on the shore,
Watch springtime breezes, autumn moons pass o'er.
With cloudy wine, glad friends together meet;
All deeds of ages melt in laughter sweet.

Such is the tide of empires, since of old:
Long-split, they merge; long-merged, they break and fold.
At Zhou's last age, the Seven States made war,
Till victor Qin engulfed them, near and far.
When Qin had fall'n, came Chu and Han to fray,
Till Han alone bore off the laurel'd day.
For Han's great Founder slew the serpent white,
And raised the loyal arms in righteous fight.
Then Guangwu's arm restored the falling crown,
And bore it long, through ages of renown.
Till, passed to wretched Xian, the realm did break,
And split in three — three kingdoms in its wake.
Whence rose this woe? Behold its source malign —
'Twas Huan and Ling, the start of Han's decline.
For Huan the worthy bound in fetters fast,
And to the eunuch crew his trust he cast.
When Huan was dead, young Ling assumed the throne;
Dou Wu and Chen Fan made his cause their own.
But Cao Jie, eunuch, ruled with cunning hand;
Dou Wu and Chen Fan plotted to withstand —
Yet, in their plotting, careless of disguise,
Themselves they fell, beneath the eunuch's eyes.
From this dread hour the palace eunuchs grew,
And o'er the throne their fatal shadow threw.

In Jianning's second year, fourth moon's full light,
Young Ling ascended Wende's hall of might.
Just as he sat, a sudden tempest blew,
And from the beams a great green serpent flew,
And coiled itself upon the royal seat;
The startled king fell back, in pale retreat.
His servants bore him quickly to his rest;
The hundred lords fled all, in dread distressed.
The serpent vanished, gone as if a dream;
Then thunder rolled, and rain fell down in streams.
With hail till midnight's hour, the tempest played,
And countless dwellings in the dust were laid.
Two years from then, in Jianning's fourth, the ground
At Luoyang quaked with hollow rumbling sound.
The seas o'erflowed; the dwellers by the strand
Were swept by waves, far from the living land.
In Guanghe's first, the omens grew more strange:
A hen took on the cock — yin-yang's exchange.
In sixth moon's first, a vapor black and tall
Flew straight to Wende, and the royal hall.
In autumn's seventh moon, a rainbow shone
Within the Jade Hall, where its arch was thrown.
And on the cliffs of Wuyuan, lofty, grand,
The slopes were rent, and broke on every hand.
Such omens, ill, of every varied kind,
Were not in one, but many, intertwined.

The king, alarmed, an edict sent to court,
To ask his lords whence rose each strange report.
Cai Yong, the counselor, sent up a scroll
And named the cause, forthright in word and soul:
"'Tis women's hand and eunuchs' baleful sway
That call these dread portents in dark array."
The king perused the scroll, then gave a sigh;
Rose up, his robe to change, and pass'd thereby.
Cao Jie, who lurked behind, had marked it all,
And told his fellows in the eunuch hall.
On other charge they laid him in disgrace,
And drove him home, to country's barren place.
Anon ten eunuchs joined in vile design,
Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Feng Xu, of foul line;
Duan Gui, Cao Jie, Hou Lan, and Jian Shuo too,
Cheng Kuang, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng — a baleful crew.
"The Ten Attendants" — so the band was styled,
A wicked clique, who policies defiled.
The king, deluded, gave Zhang Rang his trust,
And called him "Father", sunk in folly's dust.
The court grew daily worse, in foul decay;
The realm entire long'd for rebellion's way.
And bandits bee-like rose, on every hand,
Till peace had vanished from the troubled land.

In Julu's bounds there dwelt the brothers three:
Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, Zhang Liang, one family.
This Jiao, a scholar who had failed his test,
Roamed up the hills, where mountain herbs grow best.
There met he, in a glade by leafy way,
A sage with eyes of green and face of May.
He held a staff of goosefoot in his hand,
And led the youth into a cavern grand,
Where three rare scrolls of Heaven's lore he gave,
And spoke these words, his counsel deep and grave:
"Behold these Taiping Arts of lore divine,
That charge thee with the work of Heaven's design.
'Tis thine to spread their light, the world to win;
But should ill aim arise, dread doom begin."
Jiao bowed, and asked his name. The sage replied:
"Old Immortal of Nanhua — none beside."
He spake; and chang'd to wind, away was flown;
The cave was empty — Jiao stood there alone.

Jiao took the book; both day and night he scann'd,
And could the wind and rain at will command.
'The Taiping Daoist' was the name he bore;
In Zhongping's first, the pestilence swept o'er,
He gave the sick his charm-blest waters free,
'Wise and Worthy Master' he claim'd to be.
Five hundred pupils thronged at his command,
And roamed the four wide quarters of the land.
All skilled in talisman and chanted spell,
They spread his name in every road and dell.
He formed thirty-six bands; each captain wore
The name of 'General' — chief in rebel war.
They cried, in falsehood: 'Lo! The Azure dies!
The Yellow Heaven shall in glory rise!'
'When jiazi comes, all bliss the world shall know!'
They bade each door 'jiazi' in white clay show.
In eight wide provinces — Qing, You, Xu, Ji,
Jing, Yang, Yan, Yu — to him each house bent knee.
Now Jiao sent Ma Yuanyi with sacks of gold,
To bribe Feng Xu, the eunuch base and bold.
Jiao spake: 'No prize so hard to gain as hearts;
'Twere shame to spurn this tide, ere chance departs.'
He bade the yellow flags arise on high,
And sent Tang Zhou with writ to Feng Xu hie.
But Tang Zhou false the secret straight betrayed,
And to the court the rebel plot displayed.
The king sent He Jin's troops with martial might;
Yuanyi was caught, beheaded in their sight.
Feng Xu and all his fellows captive made,
And to the dungeon-cells in chains were laid.

Jiao, hearing all his secret plot was bared,
By starlight took up arms, for war prepared.
As 'General of Heaven' Jiao took rise;
Bao 'of the Earth', Liang 'of Mankind' likewise.
He cried: 'The Han now fails; a sage is here!
Obey ye Heaven's will; Taiping draws near.'
From every land, in turbans yellow dressed,
Some half a million answered his behest.
So vast the rebel host, the king's troops broke,
And scattered, fearing every rebel stroke.
He Jin informed the king of urgent need,
Who quickly issued forth a royal deed,
He bade each region brace its walls and gate,
And win renown by quelling rebel state.
Three captains marched: Lu Zhi the bold and just,
Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun, in royal trust.
Each led picked troops, in three divided ways,
To smite the foe and earn the empire's praise.

Zhang Jiao's first host on You's far border lay,
Where Liu Yan ruled, his arm's far-reaching sway.
Of Jiangxia's Jingling sprang this lordly man,
A scion of the Lu King's princely clan.
He, hearing tidings that the foes drew near,
Called Zou Jing, captain — his advice to hear,
Said Jing: "Their host is great, our forces few;
Your Lord should haste to muster levies new."
The lord agreed; abroad his notice spread,
To call brave volunteers, by valor led,
The writ to Zhuo town came, and forth it brought
A hero of that town, in honor wrought.

This man set little prize on books and lore;
He spake but few, and showed no smile or sore.
His nature mild and gen'rous, broad and kind,
An even temper, a forbearing mind.
Yet vast ambition warmed his quiet breast;
He sought all heroes, kindred to the best.
Seven chi five he stood, of figure tall;
Two ears like pendants to the shoulders fall.
The hands beyond the knees in length descend;
The eyes themselves can to his own ears bend.
A face like jade beneath the crown's bright shine,
The lips like roses, dipped in crimson wine.
Of Liu Sheng's stock, the Prince of Zhongshan's race;
The fourth descent from Jing of Han his place.
Liu was his surname, Bei the given name.
Liu Sheng his son, Liu Zhen, in Wu's high reign,
Was crowned Pavilion-Lord of Zhuolu plain,
But fell by gold-tribute from lord's estate;
And thus in Zhuo this branch was left to fate.
His grandsire Xiong, his father Hong, were known;
For Hong, by filial fame, to rank had grown,
To office held, but soon to death was led;
Young Bei, an orphan, his good mother fed,
With utmost filial care, in tender heed,
He serv'd his mother well, in word and deed.
In life of poverty he plied his trade:
Sold straw sandals and mats his hands had made.
In Lousang lived he, in his county's bound:
South-east a great mulberry was renown'd,
Five zhang in height, its crown like cart spread wide,
A leafy canopy on every side.
A seer beheld and said: "This house shall raise
A man of noble rank, in coming days."

In boyhood, sporting with his village host,
Beneath this mulberry, he made this boast:
'When I am king,' he said, 'I'll ride one day,
With canopy like this in proud array.'
His uncle Yuanqi marvelled, much impressed,
And cried: 'This child shall rise above the rest.'
And, seeing Bei in poverty's deep need,
Sustained the youth with kind, paternal heed.
At fifteen years, his mother bade him roam,
To study with the sages, far from home.
He learned from Zheng Xuan, and Lu Zhi the wise;
With Gongsun Zan grew friends, with kindred ties.
When Liu Yan's writ went forth to call up men,
Was Bei full eight-and-twenty years by then.
That day he saw the writ, and sighed full long,
With heart that ached, no aid to lend the throng.
A voice behind cried out, in stern reply:
"A man, slow to serve — why heave this long sigh?"

Liu Bei then turned, beheld a stranger high,
Eight chi he stood, with martial gleam of eye.
A leopard's head, and round his eyeballs rolled,
With swallow-jaw and tiger-whiskers bold.
His voice broke forth as thunder's awful roar;
Like steed at gallop, fierce his stance he bore.
Liu Bei, in wonder at this form so strange,
Asked of his name. The man made full exchange:
"My surname Zhang, my given name is Fei,
Yide my style. In Zhuo my fathers stay.
Some farm I hold; I sell wine, butcher swine,
And love to seek out heroes, friends of mine.
Just now I marked you sighing at the call:
Wherefore your heart so deeply held in thrall?"
Liu Bei replied: "I am of Han's high race;
Liu Bei my name, sprang of imperial place.
Now hearing how the Yellow Turbans rise,
I burn to crush the rebels and chastise —
But ah! My strength suffices not the foe;
Therefore I sighed, with sorrow long and slow."
Said Fei: "I have some means — a goodly store;
We'll raise the village braves and march to war."
Liu Bei was glad; the two, with one accord,
Sought out a village inn, where wine they poured.

While yet they drank, a mighty fellow came,
With cart in hand, and stopped before the same.
He sat, and to the wine-boy loud he cried:
"Quick, pour me wine — to city I must ride!"
Nine chi he stood, with beard two chi in length,
A face like dark ripe jujube, full of strength.
Lips touched in rouge, with eyes of phoenix' fire,
With silkworm brows, a bearing stern of ire.
Liu Bei invites him: "Pray, with us partake.
What is thy name?" The man did answer make:
"Guan is my surname, Yu my given name;
First Shouchang my style, then Yunchang became.
In far Hedong, in Jieliang, I was born;
A man oppressed his neighbors with his scorn,
This wretch I slew; and ever since my flight,
Five years and more I've wandered, day and night.
And hearing here brave men were call'd to fight,
I came on purpose, to enlist outright."
Liu Bei then told his purpose; glad was he;
To Fei's own farmstead went the comrades three.

Said Fei: "Behind my farm a peach grove fair
With blossoms full; to-morrow we'll repair,
And there, before the gods, sworn brothers stand,
To join in heart and arm, in soul and hand."
With one accord, the two assented straight:
"It is well said — appoint the morrow's date."
Next day, in peach-bloom shade, with black bull whole,
White horse, and rites prepared, they bowed in soul,
And spake their oath: "We three of diff'rent name,
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei — now share one frame.
United, hearts and arms shall succour bear:
To save the troubled, lift the people's care.
Above, our country's grace we will repay;
Below, the common folk's distress allay.
We seek no birth on one same year and tide,
But pray to die together, side by side.
But if one prove him false to vow and kin,
May Heav'n and men together end his sin."
The oath thus done, they bowed: Liu Bei the chief,
Yu second, Fei the third, in age most brief.
They slew the kine, set wine, and gathered round
Three hundred village braves — at one accord bound.
They drank to drunkenness, the day prolonged;
Prepared their arms — but yet for steeds they longed.

Whilst yet they pondered, news to hand was brought:
"Two strangers driving steeds the farmstead sought."
"This is Heaven's gift!" Liu Bei cried with cheer;
The brothers three went out their guests to hear.
Two merchants of Zhongshan came in their train:
Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, of merchant strain.
Each year they took their horses north to trade;
But rebels rose, and southward flight they made.
Liu Bei received them, wine and feast was spread,
And told his goal — to crush the rebel's head.
The merchants, joyed at heart, bestowed in praise
Some fifty horses, fit for warlike days.
Five hundred liang of gold and silver fine,
A thousand jin of steel, for arms divine.
Liu Bei, with thanks, dismissed each merchant guest,
A twin-blade pair he bade his smiths invest.
Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade was made,
"Cold-Splendour Saw" — at eighty-two jin laid.
Fei forged a spear of pointed steel, well-honed;
One zhang and eight chi long — in hand enthroned.
All three with full-suit armor stood prepared;
Five hundred braves to Zou Jing's camp they fared.
Zou Jing then led them forth to Liu Yan's hand;
They bowed, and named themselves before his stand,
Liu Bei declared his line; Liu Yan was warmed,
And owned him nephew, kindred ties confirmed.

In few days came report: the foe drew near,
Cheng Yuanzhi's hordes — five myriads of fear.
Liu Yan bade Zou Jing march, with troops to dare,
Liu Bei and brothers led five hundred there.
Glad were they all to march with brave intent;
To Daxing's foot their warlike steps they bent.
There stood the foe — loose-haired, with turbans tied
Of yellow band, in countless ranks supplied.
The two great armies faced; Liu Bei rode out,
With Guan Yu left, with Zhang Fei right about,
He raised his whip, and shouted to the foe:
"Vile traitors — why not yield and bow ye low?"

Cheng Yuanzhi, sore enraged, sent forth his man:
Deng Mao, his deputy, the field he ran.
Zhang Fei rushed forth with snake-spear, swift and dread,
Pierced Deng Mao through the heart — he fell, struck dead.
The rebel chief, when Deng Mao fallen lay,
Spurred horse and saber, sought Zhang Fei to slay.
But Guan Yu, swinging his great blade, drew near;
And Cheng, beholding, started back in fear,
Too late to raise his arm — Yu's blade arose,
And cleft him sheer in two, with mighty blows.
A later bard, in honor of the twain,
Composed this song, their glory to maintain:
"Two heroes show their mettle on this morn,
One tries the spear, the other blade well-borne.
At their first stride, dread power they unfold;
In three-fold realms, their names shall be enrolled."

The rebels, when their captain fell, gave way,
Reversed their arms, and fled the fatal day.
Liu Bei pursued; the foes in numbers yield;
A glorious triumph filled the bloody field.
Liu Yan in person came their host to greet,
And to the soldiers gave reward complete.
Next day a dispatch came from Qingzhou's lord:
Gong Jing, beset by rebels, aid implored.
Liu Yan with Liu Bei talked the matter o'er;
Said Liu Bei: "Let me go to wage this war."
Liu Yan to Zou Jing gave five thousand strong,
With Bei and brothers in the warlike throng.
To Qingzhou marched they; soon the foe drew nigh,
Who, splitting forces, fell on them with cries.
Outmatched, Liu Bei gave back, the field unwon;
Thirty li back retired, his camp begun.
Liu Bei to Yu and Fei: "The foes are vast,
Our numbers small; on craft our hopes are cast."
He ordered Yu, with thousand men, to lie
On hill's left side; Fei right, with watchful eye:
At gong-clash give the signal; from each side
Together rush, and stem the rebel tide.

Next day Liu Bei and Zou Jing led the way,
With drum and clamor onward to the fray.
The rebels charged; Liu Bei drew back his force,
And lured the foe along the chosen course.
The rebels chased; they passed the ridge in zeal,
When sudden gongs sent forth a clarion peal.
From left and right the ambush forces broke,
While Liu Bei wheeled, and answered stroke for stroke.
Caught in three columns, rebel ranks were crushed,
And, breaking, headlong from the field they rushed.
They drove the wreck to Qingzhou's outer wall;
Gong Jing led forth his levies to the brawl.
The rebel host was broken, hewn and slain,
And Qingzhou freed; the city breathed again.
A later poet sang Liu Bei in lays,
Whose echo through the ages keeps his praise:
"He planned and reckoned with a power divine;
Where dragons fly, two tigers must resign.
His maiden field a mighty triumph showed;
Though poor, he'd share the realm by fate bestowed."

When Gong Jing's feast had cheered the host content,
Zou Jing his thoughts to homeward course had bent.
But Liu Bei said: "Lu Zhi at Guangzong's plain
Engages Zhang Jiao with both might and main.
He was my teacher in my early years;
I'd march, and aid him 'gainst those rebel spears."
Zou Jing turned back, and led his troops away;
Liu Bei to Guangzong led his small array.
To Lu Zhi's camp he came, and bowed his head;
His purpose to the chief he plainly said.
Lu Zhi rejoiced, and kept him close at hand,
Awaiting orders at the chief's command.

Zhang Jiao led fifteen myriads to the war;
Lu Zhi five myriads stood at Guangzong's door.
The two great armies locked in fierce array,
And neither yet could win the doubtful day.
Lu Zhi to Liu Bei spoke: "I hold the foe
Hard pressed at Guangzong; thou shalt straightway go
To Yingchuan, where Liang and Bao now contend
'Gainst Song and Jun: a thousand troops I'll lend,
That thou mayst learn the rebels' present plight,
And fix a day to overthrow their might."
Liu Bei obeyed, and led his troops away;
By night they marched to Yingchuan, no delay.
There Song and Jun the rebel host had spurned;
The foe, repulsed, to Changshe's quarter turned.
And there they pitched their camp where grass grew tall,
And reedy thickets fenced them like a wall.
Said Song and Jun: "On grass their camp is bound;
With fire we'll burn the rebels to the ground."
Each man a torch of straw bound fast and tight,
And, hid in ambush, waited for the night.
That night a sudden wind arose and grew;
Past second watch, in concert, fires they threw.
Song marched, and Jun, against the rebel lair;
The flames climbed up, and reached the heavens' stair.
The rebels, stricken, broke in wild dismay:
Bare horse, bare man, they scattered all away.
The slaughter raged till dawn at last appeared;
Liang, Bao, with broken bands, a passage cleared.

There rushed a horse-band, every flag flame-red,
Across their path, and stopped them where they fled.
Forth from the van there sprang a captain bold;
Seven chi tall, his beard hung manifold.
Narrow his eyes, his look severely keen;
As Horse Commandant on the field was seen.
In Qiao of Pei this captain first was born;
Cao Cao the name, Mengde the style he bore.
His sire, Cao Song, of Xiahou stock was bred;
Cao Teng adopting, gave the Cao instead.
Cao Song begat Cao Cao, his son and heir;
His child-name Aman; Jili otherwhere.
In youth he loved the chase, and dance, and song;
In schemes and stratagems his wit was strong.
His uncle, vexed at Cao's unbridled state,
Told Song, who chid the youth with anger straight.
Cao struck a plan: when next the uncle came,
He feigned a stroke and fell as stricken lame.
The uncle, terror-struck, to Song made plaint;
Song hurried up; but Cao showed no complaint.
Said Song: "Your uncle says a stroke you bore;
Are you now well, and suffering no more?"
"I never bore such illness," Cao replied;
"My uncle's love I lost; his words have lied."
Cao Song believed; when next the uncle came
With faults of Cao, Song heeded not the claim.
Thus Cao, unbridled, ranged in wanton play,
And no rebuke could bar him from his way.

In Cao's own day, Qiao Xuan, of seer's renown,
Thus spoke to Cao: "The realm shall soon be down.
None save a man of age-redeeming might
Can pacify — that man art thou aright."
He Yong of Nanyang, on the youth he gazed,
Pronounced: "The Han is fall'n: her glory razed.
He who shall give the troubled realm its rest
Is this same man — in him our hopes invest."
Of Runan came Xu Shao, of fame profound
For reading men — Cao sought his judgment sound.
Cao asked: "What sort of man am I, I pray?"
Shao spoke not, mute he stood, made no display.
He asked again; whereon Shao made reply:
"In peace, a minister of merit high;
In chaos, crafty hero, full of guile."
Cao heard the words, and broke into a smile.
At twenty, by his filial fame he came
A Gentleman, and earned the courtly name.
Then Northern Commandant of Luoyang's town,
He held the seat that court had handed down.
On taking office, more than ten he made:
Five-colored cudgels at the four gates laid.
Whoever broke the law, of high or low,
Was struck with rod, and felt the heavy blow.
Jian Shuo's own uncle, sword at night, was found
By Cao on patrol, who held law's strict ground:
The cudgel's stroke he took — high though his stand;
No rank could buy escape from law's stern hand.
From thence none durst, within the walls or out,
Transgress; Cao's name shook all the realm about.
Cao thence to Dunqiu's office took his stand,
A Magistrate, by edict of the land.
When Yellow Turbans rose, the court him call'd,
And as Commandant of the Horse install'd.
With horse and foot, five thousand strong he led,
And on toward Yingchuan he swiftly sped.
There, just as Liang and Bao in flight fell back,
Cao Cao met them, and stopped their breaking track,
And made a slaughter great — ten thousand fell;
And captured banners, drums, and steeds as well.
Yet Liang and Bao, by deeds of desp'rate fight,
Broke through Cao's ranks, and saved themselves in flight.
With Song and Zhu Jun met, Cao made no stay,
But led his troops to chase the brothers' way.

Meanwhile Liu Bei, with Guan and Zhang, drew nigh
To Yingchuan's plain, to where the smoke rose high.
They heard the cries of slaughter from afar,
And saw the firelight reach the highest star.
They urged their troops in haste, and onward sped;
But when they came, the rebels all had fled.
Liu Bei met Song and Zhu Jun, and made known
The plan and purpose that his chief had shown.
Said Song: "The brothers, of their force bereft,
To Guangzong fly, where Zhang Jiao yet is left.
Go thou at once, by starlight march away,
To aid Lu Zhi, ere comes another day."

Liu Bei obeyed the charge, and turned his train,
Marched back to Guangzong's road in haste again.
Half on the way, an escort-train they met,
And Lu Zhi, shackled, in the cart was set.
Liu Bei, struck through with shock, came down with speed,
And asked Lu Zhi the cause of this dread deed.
Said Lu Zhi: "I had pressed Zhang Jiao so close
That naught remained but breaking him with blows;
But by his sorcery he held the field,
And I could not at once compel to yield.
From court Zuo Feng was sent, of Yellow Gate,
To view our camp, and bribe demanded straight.
I answered: 'Grain itself is yet to find;
What spare have I to feed the envoy's mind?'
Zuo Feng with malice to the court appeal'd,
And falsely charged that I had spurn'd the field:
Behind tall walls, said he, I idle lay,
And slacken'd all my soldiers day by day.
The court in wrath then sent Dong Zhuo to take
My troops, and fetch me back for trial's sake."

Zhang Fei, on hearing, fired with rage, drew steel,
To slay the guards, and Lu Zhi's bonds unseal.
Liu Bei in haste held off: "The court will scan
With public eye — rash deed becomes no man."
The guards in throng escorted Lu Zhi past,
And bore him onward to his prison fast.
Then Guan Yu said: "Lu Zhi is captive ta'en;
Another leads — to march were march in vain.
Far better turn us back to Zhuo with speed,
Than wander on with none our cause to lead."
Liu Bei agreed, and turning to the north,
Led his small host, and back to Zhuo set forth.

Ere two days passed, behind a hill they heard
A sudden clamor's outcry, fierce and stirred.
Liu Bei led Guan and Zhang up to a height,
And there beheld the Han host put to flight.
Behind, the Yellow Turbans, like a tide,
Pour'd over hill and field, with banners wide.
And on the flags one mighty name was traced:
'The General of Heaven,' boldly placed.
Said Liu Bei: "'Tis Zhang Jiao! Strike him in haste!"

Forth flew the three, with troops behind them led;
Zhang Jiao, with Dong Zhuo routed, onward sped.
He met the three, who, sudden, charged amain;
His army, broken, scatter'd o'er the plain.
Full fifty li and more they fled in pain.
They sav'd Dong Zhuo, and back to camp they went,
And brought him safely to his command-tent.
Zhuo asked their rank. Liu Bei replied with grace:
"Mere commoners we are — no rank, no place."
Zhuo, hearing this, in scorn forbore his praise,
And show'd no courtesy, but turn'd his gaze.
Liu Bei withdrew; whereon Zhang Fei broke out
In passion's fire, and rais'd a mighty shout:
"We risked our lives in bloody fray to save
This wretch, who treats us thus, ungrateful knave!
Unless I slay him, ne'er my rage shall stay."
He grasp'd his blade — to the chief's tent his way.
The ways of men, by gain and power led,
Forget the hero in a common stead.
How shall we find a Zhang Fei, fierce to slay
All ingrate hearts upon the earth today?
And what of Dong Zhuo's life shall now befall?
The next account shall make it plain to all.


Chapter 2: Zhang Fei in fury whips the Postal Knave; Royal Uncle He plots the eunuchs' grave.

Dong Zhuo, of style Zhongjiong, was born and bred
In Lintao town, where Longxi's plains are spread.
He ruled Hedong by court's commanding hand;
By nature haughty, proud throughout the land.
That day Dong Zhuo Liu Bei had treated ill;
Zhang Fei in fury rose, prepared to kill.
Liu Bei and Guan Yu cried: "A court-set lord!
Thou shalt not slay him with thy private sword!"
Said Fei: "If I let live this man of pride,
And take his orders, I cannot abide!
If ye, my brothers, here will choose to stay,
Then I alone shall seek another way."
Liu Bei replied: "In oath we three are bound,
In life and death, our brotherhood is sound.
Why should we sunder? Far were better all
To other regions go, at duty's call."
Said Fei: "If thus we go, my wrath's allayed."
The three resolved, and forth their journey made.

By night the three to Zhu Jun's camp drew nigh,
With troops behind, beneath the open sky.
Jun warmly welcomed them, his troops to spread,
And against Zhang Bao his joined forces led.
Meanwhile Cao Cao with Huangfu Song was bound
'Gainst Zhang Liang's host on Quyang's bloody ground.
Here Zhu Jun pressed Zhang Bao with all his might;
Eight or nine myriads stood beyond the height.
Liu Bei, by Jun appointed for the van,
Drew up against the foe, his standard ran.
Bao sent Gao Sheng, his deputy, to dare;
Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei forth, the foe to bear.
Fei spurred his horse, his pointed spear he plied;
Few rounds, and Gao Sheng falling rolled, and died.
Liu Bei waved on his men, with shout and call;
And straight through Bao's array they swept o'er all.
But Bao, his hair loose-streaming, sword in fist,
On horseback wrought a dread sorcerous mist.
A storm of wind and thunder broke around;
A column dark from heaven swept the ground;
Within that vapor phantom horsemen ride,
Innumerable warriors, side by side.
Liu Bei in haste recall'd his troops in flight;
The army broke in chaos, lost the fight.
Return'd to camp; Jun's voice in counsel rose:
"To-morrow shall his magic meet its close.
Slay pig and sheep and dog, their blood to take;
And place it on the hilltop, ambush make.
When rebels chase us, pour the blood like rain;
His sorcerous arts shall break, and prove in vain."

Liu Bei the counsel heard, and forthwith sent
Each, Guan and Zhang, with thousand men, intent;
On hilltop hid, behind the mountain laid,
With pig and sheep and dog's blood, all arrayed.
Next day Zhang Bao with banners high uprear'd
Led forth his host; Liu Bei in arms appear'd.
As battle joined, Bao worked his sorcery:
Wind roared, and thunder; sand and stone flew free;
Black vapor wrapped the sky in dreadful gloom,
And horsemen poured from heaven, hosts of doom.
Liu Bei wheel'd horse and turn'd at once in flight;
Zhang Bao pursu'd, with troops in pressing might.
Just as they crossed the hill, with sudden roar
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei their signal-cannon bore;
And pour'd the blood and filth, profusely shed,
Upon the rebel host that hither sped.
Then paper men and grass-horse downward fell;
The wind, the thunder, ceased their fearful spell.
The flying sand and stones no longer rose;
And all the sorcery sank to peaceful close.
Bao saw his arts undone, in haste to flee;
Guan Yu sprang left, and Fei from right struck free.
Liu Bei and Zhu Jun from the rear apace,
And cut the rebel host with bloody chase.
Liu Bei beheld the 'Lord of Earth' on high;
Spurred horse, and chased Zhang Bao with eager cry.
Bao fled the field across the trackless plain;
Liu Bei drew bow — the arrow flew amain,
And smote his left arm; pierced, yet still he went,
To Yangcheng's gates his wounded pace was bent.
Bao reached Yangcheng, and held the city tight,
Refusing battle though the foe drew nigh.
Zhu Jun encircled all in firm attack,
And sent to learn where Huangfu Song might track.

The scouts return'd, and full report they made:
"Huangfu Song hath the rebel foe dismay'd;
Dong Zhuo, oft beaten, court hath turn'd away,
And Song was call'd to bear the chief's array.
When Song arriv'd, Zhang Jiao no more drew breath;
But Liang led on his troops to face their death.
Yet seven times Song's arms triumphant led;
And Liang at Quyang lost his very head.
Jiao's coffin op'd, his corpse despoiled they tore;
The head, off-stricken, to the court they bore.
The remnant rebels yielded, every band,
And bow'd themselves to peace at his command.
The court Song rais'd: Cav'lry-General named,
Of Jizhou Governor, by edict claimed.
Then Song's memorial spake of Lu Zhi's worth;
The court restored him to his former berth.
Cao Cao for merit, court reward bestow'd:
Made Chancellor of Jinan — straightway he rode."
This news to Zhu Jun came; with eager band,
He pressed Yangcheng with all his armed hand.
The rebel state was now in dire distress;
Yan Zheng, a general of the rebel press,
Stabb'd Zhang Bao through, and bore his head away,
Surrender'd, asking grace from Zhu Jun's sway.
Zhu Jun thus pacified the rebel band,
And sent the throne his news from war-torn land.

Three Turban remnants still prolonged the fight:
Zhao Hong, Han Zhong, Sun Zhong, strong in might,
Plunder'd the country, claiming Jiao's lost cause;
The court bade Jun set forth with little pause.
He march'd to Wancheng, where the rebel foe
Had gather'd strong; Hong sent Han Zhong below.
Jun bade Liu Bei to take the southwest gate;
Himself two-thousand-strong, the northeast straight.
Han Zhong his elite to the southwest drew,
To stay Liu Bei — but Jun's charge brake right through.
The rebels, fearing all the city's loss,
Forsook the southwest, scrambling back across;
Liu Bei from rear struck hard, his men in train;
The broken foe to Wancheng fled again.
Jun encircled all; the city ceas'd from grain.
Han Zhong sent forth surrender — Jun refrain'd.
Liu Bei said: "Gaozu welcom'd those who came;
Why now refuse Han Zhong's submitting claim?"
Jun answer'd: "Times differ; mark the change:
In Qin and Xiang's day, war filled every stage;
The realm was lordless, folk knew no firm hand,
We welcom'd those who came, that all might stand
Beneath one peaceful banner. Now the seas
Are one, and Turbans only break the ease.
Should we accept their yielded plea this day,
We could not draw men's hearts to virtue's way.
Win and they plunder; fail, they yet submit —
This breeds the rebel's hand, no statesman's wit."
Liu Bei replied: "Thy judgment I commend;
But, fenc'd around, they'll fight until the end.
Ten thousand bound to die hold firm defense.
Withdraw the southeast — press the northwest hence;
The rebels, free to fly, will quit the field,
And, easy ta'en, to thee shall surely yield."

Jun heeded; from the east and south he drew
His forces back, and to the northwest flew.
Han Zhong, as foreseen, fled the city wide;
And out he led his troops, no place to hide.
Jun with the brothers three pursu'd in chase;
Han Zhong was shot — the rest fled all apace.

Mid pursuit, Zhao Hong, Sun Zhong came in train,
And met Zhu Jun upon the battle's plain.
Jun saw the foe outnumber'd him, withdrew;
And Hong, in vict'ry, Wancheng took anew.
Jun pitch'd ten li away, to gather might;
About to strike — when, from the eastward sight,
A horse-band came; the leader, fierce and bold,
Broad-brow'd, wide-fac'd, bear-loin'd, with tiger's mold.
From Fuchun, Wu, Sun Jian of Han was born;
Of Sun Wu's stem — Wentai the style he'd worn.
At seventeen, with father he had gone
To Qiantang's shore; where, looking thereupon,
A dozen pirates more were sharing spoil
From plunder'd merchants in their lawless toil.
Said Jian to father: "These may be ta'en in hand!"
And with his blade he jumped upon the strand.
He shouted high, gestur'd to east and west,
As though to call great hosts unto his quest;
The pirates, fearing officers had come,
Forsook the spoils and fled in panic dumb.
Jian gave them chase, one rogue before him fell;
His name through commanderies wide spread well.
Acclaim'd a Colonel by the country's voice,
He rose to rank, the realm's distinguish'd choice.
In Kuaiji, warlock Xu Chang rebellion play'd;
Self-styl'd 'Yangming Emp'ror' — myriads array'd.
Jian, with the Marshal of his region, rais'd
A thousand swords, with state and shire array'd.
With province' aid the rebels' line was broke;
Xu Chang and son both perish'd by the stroke.
Inspector Zang Min praised Jian's daring deed,
And memorialized him for further need;
Post of Yandu Assistant first he gain'd,
And Xuyi, Xiapi too his rise sustain'd.
Now hearing of the Yellow Turbans' rage,
Jian gather'd village youth and merchants sage,
Plus fifteen hundred Huai-Si troops in train,
And march'd to lend his arm to the campaign.

Zhu Jun, well-pleas'd, the gates assign'd around:
Jian to the south, Liu Bei the north was bound,
Himself to west; the east he left as way
For rebels' flight, that they might haste away.
Sun Jian first scaled the rampart at the call;
He slew full twenty; rebels fled the wall.
Zhao Hong, with lance, on horseback charg'd Sun Jian;
Jian leapt from wall, and snatch'd the lance amain.
He pierc'd Hong through, who toppled to the ground;
On Hong's own horse, slew rebels all around.
Sun Zhong his rebels at the north out broke;
There met Liu Bei, who barr'd them with a stroke.
The rebel chief, no heart for battle, sought
Through flight to save his life, by panic caught.
Liu Bei drew bow, with arrow swift and true;
Sun Zhong was struck, and from his horse he flew.
Zhu Jun pursu'd; the rebel ranks were slain;
Some myriads dead, surrenders past explain.
In Nanyang, commanderies ten he freed;
The rebel host destroy'd in mighty deed.
Jun, led to capital, the throne addressed,
Where with high titles was his merit blessed:
As Cav'lry-General, by court's command,
And Prefect of Henan, with honor'd hand.
Jun praised the merits of his loyal men:
Jian, with court connections, was advanc'd, and then
Made Marshal of another commandery's stand;
But Liu Bei waited long, no rank in hand.

The three, in sadness, idly walk'd the street;
There Zhang Jun's car came rolling by — they meet.
Liu Bei address'd him, told his service plain;
The deeds of war, but yet, no rank to gain.
Jun, much amaz'd, to court at once repair'd,
And to the throne his counsel forth declar'd:
"The Yellow Turbans rose against the throne;
Their cause: the Ten Attendants, who alone
Sold office to their kin, struck down their foe;
And brought the realm to chaos and to woe.
Behead the Ten — expose their heads, and lead
The realm by edict to redress the deed;
Reward the worthy, that the realm grow strong;
And four seas' peace shall rise, and last full long."
The Ten alarm'd, address'd the throne in dread:
"Zhang Jun deceives Your Majesty," they said.
The King, persuaded, bade his guards expel
Zhang Jun forthwith; and so his counsel fell.
The Ten conferr'd: "This wretch some hero be,
Who broke the Turbans, balk'd of proper fee.
Place but his name in office, low and small;
We'll deal with him hereafter, when chance befall."
They gave Liu Bei Anxi's Defender's seat,
And bade him march his minor charge to meet.
He sent his troops to homes; some score retain'd,
And with Guan, Zhang to Anxi's seat attain'd.
In office one month past, no slight he wrought
The people; all were mov'd by virtue's thought.
With Guan and Zhang one table still he kept,
And on one couch the three together slept.
When Liu Bei sat in hall with crowded throng,
Guan, Zhang stood by attendant all day long.

Scarce four months pass'd at Anxi, when there came
An edict from the throne, of dreaded name:
That those by martial merit rais'd in rank
Should now be cull'd, their offices made blank.
Liu Bei suspected he among them sank.
It chanc'd the Postal Inspector came in tour;
Liu Bei went forth, beyond the city's door.
He kept his saddle, with his whip on high,
And lightly pointed Bei a slight reply.
Guan, Zhang, beholding both, were fill'd with ire,
And both their hearts within them burn'd like fire.
The Inspector took the lodge's southern seat;
Liu Bei stood at the steps below his feet.
At length the Inspector ask'd him, with scorn:
"Defender Liu, of what descent art born?"
Liu Bei replied: "Of Zhongshan's princely line
I sprung, the Han imperial blood is mine;
In Zhuo I join'd the war 'gainst rebel roar,
And bore some merit through the bloody store.
Some thirty battles fought, both small and great;
By which I won this present low estate."
The Inspector roar'd: "Thou falsely state
Imperial blood — and false thy deeds relate!
The court hath issu'd edict at this hour,
To purge such grasping wretches of their pow'r!"
Liu Bei with humble bow, gave brief assent,
And from the chamber meekly so he went.
Return'd, with clerk he weigh'd the matter o'er.
"These airs," said clerk, "are bribes — and nothing more."
Liu Bei replied: "I have not wrong'd the folk;
What goods have I to satisfy his yoke?"
Next day, the chief seiz'd up the clerk in chains,
And forc'd him to declare Liu Bei's foul stains.
Liu Bei went oft to ask the clerk's release;
But door-attendants barr'd, and bade him cease.

Now Zhang Fei, drowning sorrows in his wine,
Rode past the post, and saw a mournful line:
Some fifty greybeards weeping at the gate.
He ask'd; they answer'd: "Cruel is our state!
The wretch is pressing hard the county clerk,
To do Lord Liu some harm by hidden work.
We came to plead — they barr'd us from the door,
And drove us off with blows, and bruis'd us sore!"
At this Zhang Fei, in fury, flash'd his eyes,
His teeth he gnash'd, his rage out-leap'd the skies;
He sprang from saddle, storming in amain;
No gateman might his rushing stride detain.
Straight to the hall, the Inspector he found,
With clerk in cords beneath, upon the ground.
"Thou bane of folk!" Fei cried, "know'st thou my name?"
By hair he seiz'd him, ere a word could frame.
And dragg'd him forth beyond the hostel-pale,
To bind him fast upon the hitching-rail.
Tore willow branches, lash'd with all his might,
His legs he beat, the lashes firm and tight;
And one by one, the willow rods were broke,
A dozen splinter'd 'neath each thund'rous stroke.

Liu Bei sat troubled when, before the gate,
A din arose; he ask'd the cause and state.
"Lord Zhang," they said, "hath seiz'd a wretch in chains,
And 'fore the court is dealing fiery pains."
Liu Bei flew forth, beheld the captive's face —
The Postal Inspector, bound in dire disgrace!
He gasp'd, and ask'd the reason; Fei replied,
"This bane of folk — let blows be not deny'd!"
"Lord Xuande!" the captive cried, "save my life!"
Liu Bei, whose heart abhorr'd all needless strife,
Bade Zhang Fei stay his hand. Guan Yu drew near,
And spake aside: "My brother, mark and hear:
Thy many deeds have brought thee but a post,
Where now this knave hath flouted thee the most.
The thorny brake's no roost for phoenix wing —
Far better slay this dog, resign the ring,
Then home return, and shape some broader aim."
Liu Bei drew forth the seal — laid down his claim.
And round the captive's neck the seal he tied,
Then to the wretch, in stern rebuke, he cried:
"For harms to folk, thy life were due to fall;
Yet now I spare it — let this end thy gall.
The seal I yield, the office I forsake,
And from this hour my own free way I take."
The wretch to Dingzhou's chief made known his case;
Who to the province writ, and sent the chase.
But to Daizhou the brothers' flight was bent,
Where Liu Hui took them in, his lodging lent.
He saw Liu Bei was Han's own kindred true,
And hid him fast — no more we shall pursue.

The Ten Attendants, vested deep in might,
Took counsel: who oppos'd them, slay outright.
Zhao Zhong, Zhang Rang, sent men for plunder's sake,
To wring from victors gold and silk to take.
And those who balk'd, by writ they cast aside,
From rank and honour straightway were deny'd.
Song and Zhu Jun, who scorn'd to yield up gold,
By writ from Zhao were stripp'd of office's hold.
Th' Emperor made Zhao Zhong cav'lry-chief,
And rais'd Zhang Rang with twelve to titled fief.
The court grew daily worse; the people groan'd,
And bitter sorrow through the realm was moan'd.
Then Qu Xing, robber-chief of Changsha land,
And Yuyang's twain, Zhang Ju, Zhang Chun, took stand;
Ju styl'd himself the Son of Heaven proud,
Chun rais'd Grand General's standard, fierce and loud.
The urgent scrolls fell thick, like flakes of snow;
But hid by Ten that throne might never know.

One day, the king, beside the Ten, sat down,
In rear-park feast — they laugh'd, the wine flow'd round.
When forth came Tao, the Counselor of state,
And wept before the king in piteous rate.
The throne enquir'd; Liu Tao began to plead:
"The realm now totters, perilous indeed —
Yet still doth Sire with eunuchs sit and dine!"
The throne return'd: "Where is this peril's sign?"
"On every side the bandit-bands arise,
Plund'ring the lands and towns with savage cries.
The fault is theirs — those Ten, who sell command,
Who rob the folk, and cheat the throne unmann'd;
The upright men of court have fled away;
Calamity is here this very day!"
The Ten Attendants doff'd their caps, on knee,
And wail'd: "If thus this lord our doom decree,
We cannot live! Yet take our home, our store,
Our jewels, all to swell the army's war;
Then to the fields, as common men, we'll fly,
We crave but life — no other suit apply."
So spake they all, with bitter weeping show,
And tears upon their cheeks were freely strown.
In wrath the throne reply'd: "Thou hast thine own —
Why hate Our train, of all men, thou alone?"
He bade his guards lay hands on Tao straightway,
And drag him forth, to slay without delay.
Liu Tao cried loud: "No grief I bear to die!
But weep for Han, that holds the realm so high,
Four hundred years — and now in one day's pall,
Has seen its noble house in ruin fall!"

The guards bore Tao away to take his head,
When forth a minister, with shout, thus said:
"Hold off your hands! Let me first remonstrate!"
All look'd: 'twas Chen Dan, Minister of state.
Within he came, and to the king he spake:
"What crime hath made Liu Tao his life forsake?"
The throne reply'd: "He slander'd Our own train,
And brav'd Our person with a tongue profane."
Dan said: "The people throughout Han's broad land
Would eat the flesh of those Ten Servants' band;
Yet you esteem them like a parent dear,
Though not one inch of merit doth appear;
Yet are they all enfeoff'd as marquis-lords,
And rais'd above the realm by guilty cords.
Nay more — Feng Xu with others, plotting bold,
Have join'd the Yellow Turbans, ills untold;
If Sire amend not, soon the kingdom dies,
And altars topple 'fore Your Highness' eyes!"
The throne return'd: "Feng Xu's revolt's not plain;
Are none among the Ten of loyal strain?"
Chen Dan with grief against the marble flew,
And smote his head — but pleas no answer drew.
The throne, in wrath, commanded: "Take him hence,
To prison send him, with Liu Tao's offence!"
That very night, the Ten Attendants sped
To plot their murder in the prison-bed;
And forg'd an edict in their lord's high name:
To Sun Jian Changsha's chiefdom they proclaim;
His charge, against Qu Xing, with force to wage,
To slay the rebel, calm the troubled stage.

In fifty days came tidings of success:
Jiangxia was tam'd, the rebels in distress.
Sun Jian to Wucheng's Marquis-rank was rais'd;
Liu Yu, Youzhou's seal, with honors prais'd,
With orders to Yuyang to lead the way,
'Gainst Zhang Ju, Zhang Chun and their rebel sway.
Liu Hui from Daizhou unto Liu Yu sent
A letter, Liu Bei's service to commend.
Liu Yu rejoic'd, and Liu Bei's worth approved;
As Commandant, with troops he onward moved.
Strait to the rebel-lair the troops he led;
For days they fought, till rebel sharpness fled.
Zhang Chun, whose savage rule his soldiers tore,
Was by a captain stabb’d, and lived no more;
His sever’d head the rebel captain gave,
And led the host to yield, their lives to save.
Zhang Ju, the cause now lost, by rope was found
To take his life: Yuyang in peace was bound.
Liu Yu to court reported Liu Bei's deed;
The court forgave the whipping by decree.
Assistant first at Xiami was his post;
Then Gaotang's Defender next he rose.
Gongsun Zan, too, with writ of friendly tone,
Recall'd Liu Bei's old service to the throne:
Detachment Marshal was his rank assigned;
And Pingyuan's Magistrate his charge combined.
Now Liu Bei held in Pingyuan ample store
Of gold and grain, and stood as once before.
Liu Yu, for quelling rebels, won the chair
Of Grand Commandant by imperial care.

In Zhongping's sixth year, in the fourth month's tide,
Emperor Ling lay sick — his end drew nigh.
He sent for He Jin, Grand General of state,
To counsel with him on the throne's estate.
He Jin had risen from a butcher's stall;
His sister, drawn into the palace-hall,
Was Honor'd Lady made; she bore Prince Bian,
And so was queen'd — He Jin's high pow'r began.
The Emperor favour'd Lady Wang beside;
She bore Prince Xie, the younger royal pride.
But Empress He, by jealous fury led,
With poison struck, and Lady Wang lay dead.
Prince Xie was rear'd in Dowager Dong's own halls;
She was Ling's mother, hous'd in courtly walls,
Wife of Liu Chang, Jiedu Pavilion's chief;
Since Emperor Huan had left no son behind,
Liu Chang's own son was to the throne assigned.
He brought his mother to the palace gate,
As Empress Dowager — most high in state.

Dowager Dong oft urged, with anxious care,
That Prince Xie be declared the lawful heir.
The Emperor too, who held Prince Xie most dear,
Inclined to set him next in order clear.
But, while the king lay sick, Jian Shuo arose:
"If Xie be heir, then He Jin too must close
His life — else after-trouble dare appear."
The king assented; summon'd He Jin near.
He Jin came to the gate; Pan Yin he met,
Who whisper'd low: "Go not — thy life beset!
Jian Shuo within hath set a murd'rous snare;
Turn back, my lord, from this most fatal lair."
He Jin sped home in haste; his men he sought,
Convening all the ministers of court;
Resolved at once to slay the eunuch train;
But one stood forth, and spoke in cautious strain:
"Their pow'r arose in Chong's and Zhi's old reign;
Through all the court its branches spread amain.
How can they all be slain by one decree?
If plot leak out, our clans in ruin sleep.
Pray ponder!" said the speaker; He Jin then
Beheld Cao Cao — Standard-Colonel, then.
He Jin in scorn rebuk'd: "Thou youngster bold,
What know'st thou of the matters elders hold?"

While yet He Jin in doubt was making stay,
Pan Yin came in, his news without delay:
"The king hath died this hour: Jian Shuo and Ten
Conspire to keep the death conceal'd from men;
A forg'd decree they frame, in royal name,
To call you, Lord, before their hidden game;
To cut off future trouble, they would bring
Prince Xie to mount the throne and reign as king."

Ere yet the words were done, a herald near
Brought royal summons; bade He Jin appear,
To settle there the after-throne's affair.
Cao Cao said: "First, the rightful heir declare;
Then, after, plot to crush the rebel band."
He Jin then said: "Who dares with sword in hand
To set the rightful heir, and crush the foe?"
A man stepp'd forth: "Five thousand troops bestow,
And I shall break the gates, install the king;
The eunuchs all I'll slay, and silence bring;
Sweep clean the court, and to the realm restore
Such peace as Han's wide realm hath known before."
He Jin then mark'd him: Yuan Feng's son was there,
Yuan Wei's nephew, bold with martial air;
Director of Retainers, Shao was known,
Who armed himself, his loyal purpose shown.
With He Yong, Xun You, Zheng Tai, in array,
And thirty more of court, they march'd straightway,
Before Ling's coffin, gathered in array,
They raised Prince Bian to imperial sway.

Their homage done, Yuan Shao, armed for fight,
Enter'd the palace, seeking Shuo outright.
Shuo fled in panic to the garden's bowers,
Where Guo Sheng struck him dead beneath the flowers.
The guards he led at once their arms laid by;
And Shao to He Jin spake with eager eye:
"The eunuch faction in this hour we may
Strike down — not one shall make escape this day."
Zhang Rang and rest, alarm'd, before the queen
Bow'd low, and cried: "Jian Shuo's was all the scheme;
We had no part — yet Shao would slay us all!
Have mercy, Lady, ere our houses fall!"
The queen reply'd: "Have fear of nought today:
I'll keep your lives, and turn the harm away."
She call'd He Jin in private to her side,
And spoke these words when none were there beside:
"Both thou and I from humble blood arose;
But for Zhang Rang, who would our rise suppose?
How else could wealth and honor crown our state?
Now Jian Shuo's crime hath met its proper fate.
Why trust men's words, and seek in angry mood
To spill the eunuchs' unoffending blood?"

He Jin, the queen's persuasion fully heard,
Came forth before the lords, and gave his word:
"Jian Shuo alone the plot 'gainst me design'd,
His clan be slain; the rest no harm shall find."
Yuan Shao reply'd: "Unless the roots be cleft,
This seed shall grow, and leave our bodies reft."
"My mind is set," He Jin in answer said;
"Speak thou no more — return now to thy stead."

Next morn, He Jin was rais'd to high command:
The Records of the court, his to demand.
The rest were granted offices that day,
Each took an office, each receiv'd his pay.
Now Dow'ger Dong, with secret call, had brought
Zhang Rang to council; gravely there besought:
"He Jin's own sister — once I rais'd her high;
Her son rules now — the realm beneath his eye;
All ministers, of inner court and out,
Are her own confidants — her power is stout.
What course remains?" Rang answer'd in reply:
"Your Majesty may sit where curtains lie
Let down, and listen to the state's affair;
Enfeoff Prince Xie, and keep him in thy care;
Let Dong Zhong, kinsman, hold the armies' guide;
Trust us, and great designs may then be tried."

Dong, hugely glad, the morrow held a court:
Prince Xie made Prince of Chenliu, by her sort;
And Dong Zhong rais'd to Agile General's stand;
Zhang Rang and his shar'd in the realm's command.
The Empress He, who saw Dong claim it all,
A banquet spread within the palace-hall;
She bade the Dowager attend her cheer,
And when the wine was half, the moment near,
She rose, twice bow'd, and held a cup in air,
And spake at length, with calm and humble care:
"We women, both — to meddle in affairs
Of state becomes us ill. Recall the fate
Of Empress Lü, who bore such heavy weight;
Beheld her thousand kin in slaughter pain'd.
By that strict warning, madam, be we stay'd;
Retire we deep within the palace shade,
And leave to elders of the court the deeds
Of state — and thus the realm in fortune speeds."
Then Dong, in fury, made her answer start:
"Thou poison'dst Lady Wang in jealous heart!
Now leaning on thy son and brother's might,
Thou darest speak thus rashly in our sight!
I'll bid the Agile General, at my call,
Strike off thy brother's head within the hall!"
The Empress He, in turn, took fire and said:
"I gave good counsel — wherefore wrath, instead?"
Dong then reply'd: "Thou butcher-merchant's clan —
What understanding hath the common man?"

The two factions strove in bitter coil;
Zhang Rang and his bade each withdraw from broil.
That night the Empress He call'd to her side
He Jin, and told what words had passed inside.
He Jin went forth, and call'd the Three to plan,
To frame the morrow's measure in their span.
At dawn the court address'd the throne with prayer:
"Dong, once a feudal-lord's wife, may not bear
Within the palace dwell — let her be sent
To Hejian, ere the day's brief course be spent."
On one side, men were sent to bear her hence;
On other, troops surround Dong Zhong's defense,
And there demanded his commission's seal.
Dong Zhong, who saw the danger at his heel,
Cut his own throat, and in the rear hall died.
His kin wail'd loud; the soldiers stood aside.
Zhang Rang, Duan Gui, who saw Dong's branch was done,
With gold and pearls and toys made bond, each one,
With He Miao, brother to the General near,
And Lady Wuyang, He Jin's mother dear:
They bid the pair, by day and night, attend
The Empress He, and for the Ten extend
Defense and praise — and through this quiet art,
The Ten Attendants gain'd the queen's fond heart.

In sixth month, He Jin's hand, by stealth, was sent
To poison Dong within the post-house tent;
Her coffin home was brought, with mourning train,
And buried at the Wenling's level plain.
He Jin, by pretext of an illness feign'd,
Withdrew, and from the public ways refrain'd.
Yuan Shao came in to He Jin, drawing near,
And spake to him with countenance severe:
"Zhang Rang and his abroad now whisper rife
That thou hast poison'd Dong, and seek'st more strife,
That at the throne thou'st set thy secret eye.
This is the moment: thou must not deny
Their slaughter; if thou let'st this hour go past,
Calamity shall fall on us at last.
Dou Wu of old such counsel held in mind:
To slay the inner servants — but, behind
His thought, the secret leak'd, and he was slain.
Thy brothers' captains all are heroes plain;
Set them to work — and triumph lies in hand;
This Heaven-favor'd hour, take thou thy stand!"
He Jin reply'd: "Let me consider on."
His men, in secret, told the Ten anon.
Zhang Rang told Miao, with bribes anew bestow'd;
Miao to the Empress went, where she abode,
And said: "The General, with no merc'ful hand,
Pursues but slaughter, by his stern command.
Without good cause he'd slay the Ten — and so
Bring chaos in. Beware this dreadful blow!"
The Empress heeded; thus she gave consent
To stay He Jin's design — the Ten content.

A little after, He Jin enter'd in
And told the queen his purpose; 'gainst the kin
Of eunuch-pow'r he'd draw his vengeful blade.
She answer'd him: "By Han's old custom laid,
The eunuchs lead the inner guard by right;
The late Emperor hath but passed from sight;
Wouldst thou now slay old servants of the line,
And fail in reverence to the ancestral shrine?"
He Jin, by nature undecided, slack,
Heard out the queen, and yielding, drew aback.
Yuan Shao came forth: "How stands the great affair?"
He Jin reply'd: "The queen will not declare
Her yielding — what must now be undertook?"
Said Shao: "Call up the heroes of the brook
And mountain — bring their armies hither all;
At one swift stroke, the eunuchs shall not call
For mercy. In this hour the queen must bend."
He Jin: "A wondrous plan; I shall attend!"
And forth he sent the summons broad and wide,
Calling each garrison unto his side.

Chen Lin, Chief Recorder, rose to make his stand:
"It cannot be! The proverbs of the land
Declare: 'To shut the eyes and catch the bird
Is self-deceit.' All men of sense have heard
That small things foil a self-deceiving heart:
How then the realm's great matters by such art?
Thy lordship, with imperial might endow'd,
And armies in thy grasp, the realm enthrall'd,
At thy command both high and low must bow:
To slay the eunuchs is a slight one now,
As easy as to fan a glowing fire
Whose flame consumes a hair: but firm thy ire,
With speed, decisive — then will heaven and man
Together bear thee forward in thy plan.
But shouldst thou call from far the captains' force,
With heroes flocking, each upon his course,
'Tis spear revers'd, the haft to others thrown;
Thy deed must fail; instead, dark chaos sown."
He Jin laugh'd loud: "A coward's word, no more!"
Beside him, one with claps the silence tore:
"This deed is light as turning of the hand,
Why all this counsel? Let the matter stand!"
They look'd: 'twas Cao Cao. Now indeed it ran:
Wouldst purge the throne of schemers? Heed the plan
That court's wise scholars frame, and act anon.
What Cao Cao spake, the next chapter makes known.


Chapter 3: Dong Zhuo, in Wenming's hall, Ding Yuan berates; Li Su, with gold and pearl, Lü Bu persuades.

Cao Cao to He Jin spake that very day:
"The eunuchs' woe is ancient — yet the way
That rulers vested them with pow'r and grace,
Hath brought our state, by stages, to disgrace.
To punish wrongs, cut off the chiefest head:
One jailer's hand shall lay the guilty dead.
What need to summon outer troops, in throng?
The plot, once spread, must surely come out wrong.
I look — and see the failure of thy plan."
He Jin, enrag'd: "Doth Mengde, like these, scan
With private mind?" Cao made reply, withdrew:
"'Tis Jin himself, who shall the realm undo."
He Jin, in secret, by the dead of night,
Sent seal'd decrees to garrisons in flight.


Of Dong Zhuo now: Front General held command,
Aoxiang's Marquis, chief of Xiliang's land;
'Gainst Yellow Turbans first no merit won,
The court would judge him; but his bribes had run
To those Ten Servants, and he 'scap'd that day.
Then, knit with courtly lords, he found a way
To high command — with troops of western land,
Two hundred thousand under his right hand;
And ever held a heart to treason prone.
Receiving now the edict, joy was sown;
He muster'd horse and foot in marching line.
Niu Fu, his son-in-law, by court's design,
Was bid to hold Shaanxi; while Dong led on
Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou — anon
Toward Luoyang his host in order flew,
Through plain and pass, the army's track they drew.
Li Ru, his son-in-law, spoke in this guise:
"Though by decree we march, much shadow lies;
Send first a memorial on the road,
That name and words may bear a proper load.
Then shall the great affair have lawful air."
Dong Zhuo heard, and took the counsel there,
And straight a memorial to the throne he sent.
Its substance: "I have heard the realm's woe-rent
Springs from Zhang Rang, the Yellow Gate's foul crew,
Whose slights upon Heaven's law are nothing new.
'Tis said: To still the boiling pot, the way
Is to remove the kindling — not to spray
Cool water; lance the boil doth pain, but worse
Is feeding poison's growth, the body's curse.
I dare with bells and drums to Luoyang go,
To purge Zhang Rang and the Yellow Gate foe;
How fortunate the state and realm shall grow!"


He Jin receiv'd the writ, and show'd it wide.
Zheng Tai, the Censor, rose, his words to chide:
"Dong Zhuo is wolf and jackal — should we call,
He'd eat the men of court within our hall."
He Jin reply'd in scorn: "Thy doubts are vain,
Such fearful heart no great affair shall gain."
Lu Zhi too counsell'd: "Long have I divin'd
Dong Zhuo's true face: smooth visage, cruel mind;
Once let him enter, mischief shall be born;
Far better stay him, ere our peace be torn."

He Jin would heed not; Zheng Tai turn'd away,
With Lu Zhi — both resign'd, in deep dismay.
Half of the court's great lords forsook their place;
He Jin sent men to greet, with friendly grace,
Dong Zhuo at Mianchi. There Dong held his band,
And march'd no further: still upon the land.
Zhang Rang and his, who heard that outer arms
Had come, took counsel: "This bears Jin's alarms;
Strike we not first, our clans shall fall undone."
Then fifty axemen in concealment, on
The Jiade Gate of Changle, were they hid.
To Empress He they came, and pleading slid:
"The Grand General, by edict feign'd, hath call'd
Outside-bound troops, to crush us thus enthrall'd.
Have pity, sovereign! Save thy servants now!"
The Empress said: "Then go to him, and bow."
Rang answer'd: "Were we sent unto his door,
Our flesh and bones to powder shall be tore.
Pray bid him to the palace; should he stay,
Before thy throne we'll die without delay."

The Empress sent her summons — Jin obey'd,
And rose to go. Chen Lin, alarm'd, then said:
"This edict from the queen the Ten have plann'd;
Go not, my lord — great peril is at hand."
He Jin reply'd: "The Empress calls me here,
What danger doth her summons bring me near?"
Yuan Shao now spake: "The plot is leak'd, the foe
Forewarn'd: shouldst thou unto the palace go?"
Cao Cao: "First call the Ten Attendants out;
Then thou mayst enter, freed of all their doubt."
He Jin laugh'd loud: "A childish view, enow!
I hold the empire's power — none my brow
Shall vex." Said Shao: "If go thou must, attend
We will, with arm'd escort, all harm to fend."

Yuan Shao and Cao Cao each chose five hundred bold;
Yuan Shu the younger brother was enroll'd
In leadership; full-arm'd, he led the band
Without the Qingsuo Gate in martial stand.
With swords, Shao and Cao escorted Jin
Up to the Changle Palace gate within.
A Yellow Gate then bade the call repeat:
"The Empress wills the General to her seat;
The rest abide without — none shall pass o'er."
So Shao, Cao, and others held the door.
He Jin, with bold demeanor, enter'd plain.
Before the Jiade Hall, two foes maintain'd
Their watch: Zhang Rang and Duan Gui — left and right
They circled him; He Jin, in sudden fright,
Stood pale. Rang loudly chid: "What crime had Dong,
That thou with poison slew? At her grand funeral, long
Thou stay'dst at home. A butcher's mean brood thou,
We rais'd thee up before the throne; allow'd
Thy rise to wealth and rank: thou hast not paid
With gratitude, but for our blood hast pray'd!
Thou call'st us foul — yet in thy pride explain
Who is the pure one." — Jin, in panic plain,
Sought exit; all the gates fast lock'd were found,
The hidden armed men sprang from out the ground,
And hacked He Jin in two beside the hall.
A later poet sighed; these lines let fall:
"The Han house tilts; the count of heaven done;
He Jin, no plan, the Three Excellencies' won;
Times oft he hark'd not honest minister's word,
Hard 'twas to 'scape the palace blade's keen sword."


When Rang had slain Jin, Shao kept watch below;
Long time he saw him not, and cried out so:
"Pray, General, mount thy car and come!"
The answer from the wall struck all men dumb:
Rang and his fellows cast He Jin's severed head,
And cried aloud the charge their malice spread:
"He Jin plotted treason; judgment struck him dead;
The rest were forced to follow where he led.
All such are pardoned; none the stroke shall bear."
Then Yuan Shao thundered forth with wrathful air,
Cried back: "The eunuchs have a minister slain!
Who would the evil party slay, advance amain!"
Wu Kuang, the General's man, before the gate
Of Qingsuo, lit the flames of furious hate.
Yuan Shu with troops the palace courts broke in,
And kill'd each eunuch — high or low, no kin
Was spar'd. With swords Shao, Cao smash'd the door.
Zhao Zhong, Cheng Kuang, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng — these four
Were driv'n to Cuihua's tow'r and there hew'd small,
To mincemeat hack'd. The flames of palace-hall
Did mount to heaven. Zhang Rang, with Duan Gui,
Cao Jie, and Hou Lan — four — in flight made way,
They snatch'd the Empress, Crown Prince, Chenliu too,
And by back-paths to the North Palace flew.


Now Lu Zhi, who had quit his office but
Had not yet gone, beheld the palace shut
With strife. He arm'd himself with mail and lance,
And stood beneath the hall, with watchful glance.
He saw, far off, Duan Gui in headlong flight,
The Empress He with him compell'd by might.
Lu Zhi cried out: "Duan Gui, thou rebel-knave!
How darest thou the Empress thus enslave?"
Duan turn'd and fled. The Empress, in her fear,
Sprang from a window — Lu Zhi caught her near.
Wu Kuang, in fury, broke into the court,
Saw He Miao with drawn sword, in mute resort.
Wu Kuang cried loud: "He Miao his brother sold —
Together strike him down, my comrades bold!"
All shouted: "Slay the brother-betrayer here!"
Miao would have fled, but ringed about by spear,
Was hack'd to pieces. Shao then bade his men
Divide their force, and slay the eunuch kin,
Regardless of degree, all to be slain;
And many beardless men were kill'd in vain.
Cao Cao the palace fires put out with care,
Then bade the Empress He the regent's chair
To fill, while troops were sent the foe to chase,
And seek the lost young Emp'ror's piteous case.

Now Rang and Gui, who seiz'd the King and heir
Of Chenliu, through smoke and flame did fare
Their flight, by night, to Beimang's lonely mount.
About third watch, behind, a great account
Of cries arose; men, horses, in pursuit
Came on. Before, Min Gong, with stern repute,
Of He'nan, cried in voice of bold command:
"Halt, rebel-thieves!" — Min Gong was right at hand.
Zhang Rang perceived the crisis drawing near,
And drowned himself within the waters clear.
The Emp'ror and the Prince knew not the case;
Dar'd not their voices raise; nor stir from grass.
Horsemen scour'd far, by ev'ry path and way,
Yet found not where the boy-King hidden lay.


Until the fourth watch, hidden lay the two,
Dew falling cold; they hungered through and through.
They lock'd their arms in tears, but, fearing ear,
They stifled sound in grass — a piteous fear.
The Chenliu Prince spake out: "We cannot stay
In this poor cover; let us seek a way."
The two their garments knotted; up the bank
They climb'd, where bramble in the darkness sank
The path beyond their sight. As wits' end fell,
A thousand glow-flies came in shining spell;
A swarm before the Emp'ror wheeled and played,
Their glow revealing where the path was laid.
The Prince cried: "Heaven aids us — be of cheer!"
Then by the firefly-light, with way grown clear,
They onward hied. They walk'd till fifth-watch hour;
Their feet now ach'd, no further could endure.
Beside a hill, a heap of grass they saw;
And by it, both lay down beneath its straw.
A manor stood near by; the manor-head
That night had dream'd of two red suns, that sped
Behind his house. He leapt awake, in fear,
Threw on his robe, came forth, and look'd anear.
He saw a crimson light from heaven shed,
Rise from the grass-heap of his manor-stead.
He hasten'd to inspect, with quick'ning pace;
There found two persons in the grass-heap's space.


The manor-lord enquir'd: "Whose sons are ye?"
The Emp'ror durst not answer, fearfully.
The Prince of Chenliu pointed: "This is he,
Our Emp'ror, who hath fled the Ten's decree
Of chaos. I his brother, Chenliu's royal head."
The host, much startled, twice bow'd low, and said:
"I, Cui Yi, brother of the Excellence
Cui Lie, who fled the court's foul pestilence,
The Ten sold office, scorning men of grace;
I hid myself within this lonely place."
He led them in, and bow'd in courteous wise,
And serv'd them wine and food before their eyes.


Min Gong came up on Gui, and seiz'd his rein:
"Where is the Emp'ror?" Gui: "Lost on the plain
We parted; he is gone." Gong slew Gui, hung
The head from horse-neck; sent his troops along
To scour the country; he himself rode on,
And chanced by Cui Yi's manor ere long.
Yi saw the head, and Gong the matter told;
He led him to the Emp'ror, where tears roll'd.
Said Gong: "No state may lack its king one day;
Pray, Sire, return to court without delay."
Cui Yi had but a lean horse: Emp'ror rode;
The Prince and Gong, on one horse, shar'd the road.
Three li scarce travel'd from Cui Yi's domain,
They met an escort, hundred horse in train,
Wang Yun, Yang Biao, with the Colonels four:
Chunyu, Zhao Meng, Bao Xin, Yuan Shao — they bore
Some hundred horse, escorting in their grief;
And met the carriage, weeping with relief.
Gui's head was sent before to Luoyang's gate;
Fresh steeds for Emp'ror, Prince, were chang'd in state.
And so escorted, they to capital came,
Where Luoyang children once had sung the same:
"Emp'ror not Emp'ror; prince not prince — by night,
A thousand cars, ten thousand horse take flight
To Beimang." This prophecy held right.


The carriage scarce some li had gone, when high
Came banners hiding sun, and dust the sky,
A force of men and horse came up the way;
The hundred lords grew pale, in quick dismay.
Yuan Shao spurr'd forth: "Who comes? Declare to all!"
Beneath the broider'd flag, a chief did call,
With stern voice loud: "Where is the Heaven-Son?"
The Emp'ror trembl'd — answer he had none.
The Prince of Chenliu rein'd his horse and bold
Cry'd out: "Who art thou? Speak, and let thy name unfold!"
"Dong Zhuo am I, Inspector of Liang's land."
The Prince: "Com'st thou to guard, or to demand
And seize?" Zhuo: "Sir, on purpose to defend
I came." The Prince: "Then dost not thou descend
Before the King? He sits within this place!"
Zhuo, fearful, slid from horse, with hurried face,
And at the roadside bow'd. With soothing tone
The Prince spake on; no slip his speech did own.
Zhuo marvell'd at the Prince's wit so deep;
And from that hour, in heart, he 'gan to keep
A thought to depose king, exalt the Prince
Upon the throne — such purpose stirred within.


That day, the Emp'ror to the palace came;
Empress and all wept loud, in tears the same.
They search'd the inner courts, and missing found
The Imperial Seal: no trace upon the ground.
Dong Zhuo encamp'd his troops without the wall;
Each day, his iron-clad horse he led withal
Within the streets, where market-throngs were prest;
Folk look'd upon his march with sore unrest.
Zhuo enter'd palace, came and went at will,
With not a scruple, free of fear or ill.
Then Bao Xin, Col'nel of the Rear, address'd
To Shao: "Dong Zhuo bears treason in his breast;
We must remove him quickly — ere his sway."
Said Shao: "The court is settled but to-day,
We may not move in haste." To Wang Yun then
Bao went; Yun said: "Let counsel come again."
Bao Xin, his troops drew off — to Mount Tai went,
And left the courtly stage, in discontent.

Dong Zhuo received He Jin's whole brothers' troops,
And gather'd all their bands into his groups.
To Li Ru, privately, he spake: "I'd will
Depose the king, set Chenliu's Prince to fill
The throne. What thinkest thou?" Li Ru: "The state
Hath now no master; if we waste, too late
Shall come the change. Tomorrow, gather all
The hundred lords in Wenming Garden hall;
Declare the change of throne; whoe'er deny,
Shall by the sword that very moment die.
And so thy reign and power shall hold sway:
The exercise begins this very day."

Then Zhuo, well-pleas'd, the morrow held a fete,
And bade the hundred lords; none dared be late.
For fear of Zhuo, the lords made hast'ning way;
When all had come, then Zhuo, in slow array,
Came to the garden's gate, dismounted there,
And sword in hand, took up the feaster's chair.
The wine some rounds had pass'd; he bade it cease,
And music too; the hall now hush'd to peace,
He sternly spake: "Hear, lords — one word I bear;
Let all attend in silence." Lent they ear.
"The Heaven-Son, who lord of all men reigns,
Must bear high majesty; without those strains,
He cannot duly serve th'ancestral shrine,
Nor altars of the state, of royal line.
Our King is faint; not Chenliu's match in wit,
Whose love of books makes him for ruling fit.
I'd take him down, the Prince to crown instead:
What say my lords?" None spake — they sat in dread.
Then one in anger push'd his board aside,
Stood forth before the feast, and loud he cri'd:
"It shall not be! Not so! Who art thou, then,
To dare such words before the hundred men?
The Heaven-Son, the late king's lawful son,
Hath fault'd nothing since his reign begun;
How dar'st thou wantonly his throne debate?
Wouldst thou usurp, and play the traitor's state?"
Zhuo look'd: 'twas Ding Yuan, of Jingzhou's land;
With wrath he bark'd this threat, with sword at hand:
"Who follows me shall live; who dares deny,
Beneath this very blade he straight shall die!"
He drew his blade — to lay Ding Yuan in dust,
With wrath so hot that none could stay his thrust.

Li Ru beheld a man at Ding Yuan's back,
Of stately mien, with martial force full-packed;
He bore a Square-of-Heav'n Halberd in might,
And glar'd with wrathful eyes in Zhuo's full sight.
Li Ru came forth in haste: "This day of cheer
Is no fit place for state-affairs to clear;
Tomorrow, in the council-hall, debate
May yet proceed — the moment is not late."
The lords urg'd Ding Yuan to depart with speed;
He mounted, rode away. Zhuo took the lead:
"What I have said, doth public truth allow?"
Lu Zhi reply'd: "Your Lordship errs e'en now.
Of old, Tai Jia, dim-mind'd, knew no light;
Yi Yin to Tong's Palace cast him from his right.
King Changyi reign'd but sev'n-and-twenty days,
With more than thrice a thousand sinful ways;
So Huo Guang at the temple told the deed,
And from the throne the king was forc'd to cede.
Our King, though young, is bright, benign, and wise;
No fault in him is found by mortal eyes.
Thou art but Inspector of an outer state,
Hast had no share in council's high debate,
Nor hast thou Yi Yin's nor Huo Guang's high gift —
How dar'st thou kingly station strive to shift?
The Sage hath said: 'With Yi Yin's mind in view,
'Tis right; without it, treason doth ensue.'"
Zhuo, mad with rage, his sword drew forth to slay;
Then Counsel'lor Peng Bo stood athwart his way:
"Master Lu, the realm's renown'd and lov'd by all;
To slay him first, the empire's heart will fall."
Zhuo stay'd his hand. The Minister, Wang Yun,
Then spake: "Such weighty change is not to run
Through wine; another day shall this debate
Be settled." So the hundred lords sought the gate.
Zhuo, sword in hand, beside the garden door
Stood, when a horseman, halberd-arm'd, before
The gateway wheel'd, and gallop'd to and fro.
Zhuo ask'd Li Ru: "What man rides yon? Pray show."
"'Tis Ding Yuan's foster son," Ru reply'd:
"Surnamed Lü, named Bu, Fengxian styled beside.
My Lord, for now avoid his fearsome might."
Then Zhuo retir'd, to shun the warrior's sight.


The morrow's news: "Ding Yuan, without the wall,
Now leads his men, and challenge sounds his call."
Zhuo, fierce with wrath, with Li Ru rode amain,
To meet him in the field. The level plain
Saw two array'd hosts. Then rode forth Lü Bu,
With golden hair-binding crown of stately hue,
A robe of hundred-flowers, warlike-bright,
Tang-lion mail, that gleam'd on him in light,
A jewel'd lion-belt about his waist;
With urging horse, his halberd shook in haste,
With Ding Jianyang rode Lü Bu by his side;
Then Ding at Zhuo with pointing finger cri'd:
"The state is luckless; eunuch hands have play'd
With pow'r, till myriad folk in ash are laid.
Thou hast no merit, chi nor cun to show:
Dar'st thou depose the king, the court o'erthrow?"

Zhuo's answer scarce had risen on his tongue,
When Lü Bu's flying horse upon him sprung;
Zhuo fled in fear; Jianyang his troops led on,
And press'd the tyrant. Zhuo's whole host was gone,
Defeated, thirty li he fell behind,
And pitch'd his camp, and call'd his lords to mind:
Said Zhuo: "I see Lü Bu's no common man:
Could I but win him, who'd resist my plan
Throughout the realm?" Then one before the tent
Stepp'd forth and spake: "Be cheer'd; thy fears relent:
The same home-village Lü Bu I have known;
His courage great, yet plans he hath not shown:
He sees a gain, and duty's bond resigns.
With tongue of three cun, deft in winning lines,
Lü Bu shall come, hands-cupp'd, to join thy band:
My Lord, may I assay, by thy command?"


Zhuo, greatly pleas'd, beheld the man, and knew
'Twas Li Su, the Tiger Guards' General true.
"How wilt thou speak with him?" Zhuo ask'd in turn.
Su: "Thou hast, my Lord, a horse of swift concern,
Red Hare by name, that runs a thousand li
Each day; with horse, with gold and pearls in fee,
His heart, through gain, shall yield without delay;
My speech beside, his change is on the way:
Lü Bu shall turn from Ding Yuan's banner sure,
And come, hands-cupp'd, to thy command secure."
Zhuo ask'd Li Ru: "Doth this thy counsel hold?"
Ru: "Wouldst thou win the realm, and yet withhold
A single horse?" Zhuo gladly gave the steed;
And added gifts to make the matter speed:
Bright gold, a thousand liang; bright pearls, by tens;
And one jade-belt, that summ'd the giver's ends.

Li Su, with gifts, to Lü Bu's camp drew near;
The roadside guards encircled, sword and spear.
Said Su: 'Pray swift to Gen'ral Lü declare
That an old friend awaits before him there.'
The men announc'd; Bu had the guest brought through.
Said Su: 'Dear brother, well I trust with you?'
Bu bow'd: 'Long parted, friend! What place hold'st thou?'
Said Su: 'Of the Tiger Guards, General now.
Glad am I, brother, that thou prop'st the throne,
And to thy name great loyalty is known.
A horse have I, a thousand li each day;
O'er stream and crag he treads as level way;
Red Hare his name; my gift, dear brother — take,
And swell thy tiger-might for glory's sake.'
Then Lü bade bring the steed before his eye:
Like coal-fire red, no hair of other dye;
A zhang from snout to tail his length doth claim,
Eight chi from hoof to neck — a fiery frame;
With neighing roar, he seem'd the clouds to ride,
Or plunge the deeps, in proud commanding stride.
A later poet sang Red Hare aright,
And in these lines set forth its wondrous might:
'A thousand li he runs, and dust departs;
O'er stream and hill, the purple mist outstarts.
The silken rein he snaps, the jade bit shakes;
Down from the Heaven's Nine, a fire-dragon breaks.'

Bu, seeing it, was glad, and thank'd his friend:
'Such steed bestow'd — how shall my thanks extend?'
Su: 'I for honor's sake am hither come;
What thought of recompense should make me dumb?'
Lü set out wine to feast his guest with cheer;
When wine had pass'd some rounds, Su spake to ear:
'My brother, scarce have we two met of late;
Thy honor'd father, though, would oft await
A chance to come.' Bu cried: 'Thou must be drunk!
My father long ago to death hath sunk —
How could'st thou meet?' Su laugh'd, and made reply:
'Not so — Inspector Ding I meant thereby.'
Bu blush'd: 'I serve at Ding's, of dire need;
No will of mine to that hath given heed.'
Said Su: 'My brother — thine the strength to be
A pillar of the sky, who reins the sea.
Beneath the heavens, who would not revere?
Fame, rank, and wealth, to thee, all hover near,
As one might pluck a thing from bag at hand.
Why pleadest duress, 'neath another's stand?'
Bu: 'I but mourn — no rightful lord I find.'
Said Su, with smile: 'A truth of older mind:
"A goodly bird picks out the tree to nest;
A worthy vassal picks the lord most blest."
If thou the chance dost spy, but tarry slow,
Repentance comes too late, when chance is low.'
Bu: 'Brother, thou at court hast wider sight,
Whom hold'st thou hero of this age's plight?'
Su: 'Through all the lords my searching eyes have stray'd,
None matcheth Dong Zhuo, in whose being weigh'd
The honor of the worthy, scholars' grace,
With clear rewards and punishments in place.
A pillar of the realm at last he'll stand,
And great achievements shall fulfil his hand.'
Bu: 'Him would I serve, but still no path is plain
By which I may to him admittance gain.'


Su set the gold and pearls and jade in row
Before Lü Bu. Lü started: 'Whence this show?'
Su bade the servants forth; then he reveal'd:
'Lord Dong, with admiration long conceal'd
For thy great name, hath bade me bring this freight.
The Red Hare too is Dong's bestowal great.'
Bu: 'Lord Dong such grace upon me hath display'd,
What service from my hand may be array'd?'
Su: 'I, of poor and slender gift, command
A General's rank in the Tiger Guards' band;
Shouldst thou approach him, honor past all phrase
Awaits thee, brother, in the coming days.'
Bu: 'Yet no drop of dew, no speck of dust
Of merit have I, to present in trust
At my first audience.' Su reply'd: 'The deed
Lies in the turning of a hand at need,
Only thou'rt loath to act.' Bu, deep in thought,
A long time pond'red, ere reply he wrought:
'I would slay Ding Yuan, and with all his men
Pass over to Dong Zhuo's banner — then,
Say, what dost thou advise?' Su cried: 'If true,
No greater merit canst thou bring to view!
But haste! The deed admits no slow delay,
In swift resolve thy fortune lies this day.'

Bu and Li Su agreed: by morrow's light,
Lü Bu would yield. Su parted, ere the night.
At second watch, Bu, with sword-blade bright,
Slipt to Ding Yuan's tent in stealth of night.
Yuan held a taper, reading there alone;
He saw Bu come, and said in father's tone:
'My son, what cause hath brought thee to my side?'
Bu cri'd: 'A man of stature — how abide
The name of "son" to thee?' Yuan: 'Fengxian, why
Hath turn'd thy heart?' Bu sprang, with sword on high,
And cleft Yuan's head with one keen stroke. He cry'd
With thund'rous voice: 'Ye men — to me, allied!
Ding Yuan was harsh; by me hath he been slain.
Who'd follow me, here in this camp remain;
Who will not, take their leave and freely go.'
The greater half dispers'd, in scatter'd row.

Next day, Bu bore the slain head of his lord
To Li Su's quarter; Su, by quick accord,
Brought Bu before Dong Zhuo. Zhuo, full of glee,
Set forth the wine, and bow'd: 'In gaining thee,
I'm as the parch'd young shoots, when rains descend
With sweetness.' Bu return'd the bow, to bend,
And said: 'My Lord, disdain me not, I pray,
I'd call thee foster father, from this day.'
Zhuo gave a gold-mail coat, and brocade bright
Of robe; they drank in deep and long delight,
Then parted. Zhuo's authority grew great
From that hour on. He took for self-estate
The General of the Front; his brother grew,
Dong Min — to General of the Left, anew;
And Marquis of Hu by title was confirm'd.
Lü Bu was Cavalry Commandant term'd,
House-General, and Marquis of Duting too,
Three offices in one bestowal due.
Li Ru then urg'd: 'My Lord, no more delay,
Set the throne's change, without a moment's stay.'
Zhuo therefore set, within the palace hall,
A banquet, and convok'd the lords of all.
Lü Bu, with thousand arm'd men, by command,
Stood guard around the feast, on either hand.

That day Yuan Wei, the Grand-Tutor renown'd,
With all the hundred lords, at feast was found.
As wine had circled, Zhuo unsheath'd his sword;
And spake, his stern address to every lord:
'The King is dim and weak, unfit to bear
The duties of the altars' sacred care.
I'll tread the path of Yi Yin, Huo Guang's name:
Depose the King, to Hongnong's princely fame;
Set Chenliu's Prince upon the throne of state;
Whoso defies — the sword be on his pate!'
The hundred lords sat frozen, dar'd not stir;
Yuan Shao, of Central host, sprang forth to spur
A protest: 'Newly mounted to his place,
Our King — no fault hath stain'd his royal grace.
Wouldst thou the lawful king depose, and crown
The lesser-born? What's this but treason known?'
Zhuo, in great wrath, exclaim'd: 'The empire's might
Lies in my hand! Who dares to thwart my right?
Behold this sword — is it not keen and sure?'
Yuan Shao drew forth his blade, with answer pure:
'Thy sword is keen — but mine no less the same!'
The banquet table was their field of flame.
Hereon a poet's pen this scene doth frame:
'Ding Yuan stood by right — his life was first to fall;
Yuan Shao now strives — his peril hears its call.'
Whether Yuan Shao live or lose his breath,
Next chapter shall resolve of life or death.


Chapter 4: The Prince of Chenliu crown'd as Han's lord; His strike undone, Cao Cao presents the sword.

Dong Zhuo would slay Yuan Shao; but Li Ru spake:
'The matter is not fix'd — no rash blow take.'
Yuan Shao, with sword in hand, took leave that day,
Hung up his seal at East Gate, fled away
To Jizhou. Then to Wei, the Tutor Grand,
Said Zhuo: 'Thy nephew rudely scorn'd our hand;
For thy sake I forgive. As for the throne,
What of our great design? Make thy view known.'
Wei: 'What the Grand Commandant sees is right.'
Zhuo: 'Who blocks the change shall meet the sword's bite.'
The lords with one accord, in fear, did vow:
'In all things, Lord, to thy command we bow.'
The banquet done, Zhuo ask'd Zhou Bi and Qiong:
'Where bends Yuan Shao? What course will he prolong?'
Said Bi: 'In wrath hath Shao depart'd hence:
If close pursu'd, he'll rise to thy expense.
For four whole reigns the Yuans have planted grace,
Their clients fill the realm in every place.
If heroes gather round his rising sign,
The east of mountains slips beyond thy line.
Far better pardon, with a comm'ndery's seat:
Glad to be spar'd, no further harm we'll meet.'
Wu Qiong said: 'Shao schemes, but need not wake thy fear;
Grant him a post, and draw the people near.'


Zhuo took advice, and on that very day
Made Shao Bohai's chief lord without delay.
The ninth moon's first — the Emperor was led
To Jiade Hall, where lords of all rank spread.
Zhuo drew his sword, and to the assembly cri'd:
'The Sovereign's dim — unfit our realm to guide.
A writ here speaks: let now its words appear.'
Then Li Ru read: 'The Filial Ling, austere,
His subjects and his folk too soon forsook;
To his successor turn'd the empire's look —
Yet light his nature, gravity undone;
In mourning slack, his idle hours have run.
Ill virtue plain — the seat of state's a shame;
The Empress Mother strays from mother's name;
Her rule lies wild; the Empress Yongle dy'd
Of sudden death; the realm in murmurs ply'd.
The Three great Bonds and Heaven-Earth's design,
Are these not lapsed, no longer well-aligned?
But Chenliu's prince, of holy virtue's height,
With grave deportment, mourning sad and right,
With speech of no crook'd word, and fair acclaim
Throughout the empire heard, beyond all blame:
Let him receive the throne, the line uphold
For ages ten-times-thousand to be told.
Therefore, deposed the Sovereign: Hongnong now
He shall be styl'd; the Empress lay her brow
Of rule aside. We pray Chenliu the throne
Embrace, by Heaven's will and people's own.'

Li Ru concluded; Zhuo with stern commands
Bade men to lead the Emp'ror down the stands.
They took his seal-and-ribbon from his hand,
And to the north he knelt, where subjects stand.
The Empress Mother too her robes laid down,
Awaiting orders' fall, deprived of crown.
The Emp'ror and his consort wept aloud;
And every minister with sorrow bow'd.
Beneath the steps, in fury, one out-cri'd:
'Traitor Dong, Heaven's law thou dost deride,
My neck's own blood shall splash thee, ere I bow!'
He rais'd his tablet, struck him on the brow.
Zhuo, wroth, bade warriors hale him forth to die.
'Twas Sec'try Ding, who held a fearless eye.
He curs'd unceasing till the fatal blow,
His countenance unchang'd, no fear did show.
A later poet sigh'd, his deed to frame,
And in these lines preserv'd his honor'd name:
'Dong, traitor, secret cherish'd plot of throne;
The Han ancestral hearths to ruin grown.
The whole court's ministers, in silence bound;
Lord Ding alone — true manhood here was found.'

Zhuo bade Chenliu the throne ascend on high;
The ministers paid homage with one cry.
The Empress He, the Hongnong Prince, and Tang
To Yong'an Palace went; the gates' bolt rang.
The lords were barr'd from entering at all;
Poor king! Whose throne so swiftly came to fall:
He mounted in the fourth moon, throne to wear;
By ninth he was depos'd, beyond repair.
The new-set prince, Xie, son of Ling the late,
Nine years of age — and Xian his name of state.
The era new — Chuping was now its claim;
Dong Zhuo, as Chancellor, no peer could name.
Announc'd uncall'd by name, his pace unrush'd,
With sword on hip and shoes the dais brush'd.
Li Ru urg'd Zhuo: 'Draw famous men, that they
The realm's good will to thee may bend and stay.'
Then nam'd Cai Yong, of talent bright and rare;
Zhuo summon'd; Yong refus'd to enter there.
Zhuo, wroth, sent word: 'If thou come not in haste,
Thy kindred clan shall to extinction wast'.'
Yong, fearful, came. Zhuo welcom'd him with grace;
Thrice rais'd his office in a month's brief space.
Made him Attendant, kept him near at hand,
And much esteem'd him 'midst his closest band.


Now in Yong'an the young King close restrain'd,
With Empress He and Lady Tang detain'd,
Their robes and food by stages thinner grew;
The young King's tears, like rain, would not subdue.
One day, by chance, two swallows cross'd his eye;
He chanted forth this verse, with mournful sigh:
'The tender grass, in green and misty fold,
Two swallows fluttering soft I do behold.
The Luo, blue thread, runs straight upon the plain;
Where men along the road in envy strain.
Far off I gaze where azure clouds lie deep,
There stand my ancient halls, beyond my keep.
Who'll stand for loyalty and righteous claim,
And vent the grievance harbour'd in my frame?'


Dong Zhuo had spies that listen'd, day and night;
That day they bore the poem to his sight.
Said Zhuo: 'A poem of grievance — pretext clear
To slay the King.' He bade Li Ru appear
With ten arm'd men in train; the palace's way
They enter'd, that the King might fall their prey.
Above, the Empress, Tang, and Sovereign — three,
Sat in the upper hall in privacy.
A maid announc'd Li Ru's approach; the King
Was startled, fear'd what such a call might bring.
Ru proffer'd up a cup of poison'd wine;
The King ask'd why. Said Ru: 'The day is fine
Of spring; the Chancellor of State doth send
This long-life cup, that Sovereign's days extend.'
The Empress: 'Long-life wine? Then drink thou first,
That we may witness 'tis no draught accurs'd.'
Ru, wroth, retorted: 'Wilt thou drink it not?'
And bade attendants forth — they swiftly brought
A short blade and a length of silk-band white:
'Refuse the cup — these two shall be thy plight!'
Then Lady Tang knelt low, in fervent plea:
'In Sovereign's stead, the cup pray pass to me!
Preserve the mother and the kingly son.'
Ru chid: 'Who art thou? Die for king? Have done!'
He turn'd, the wine to Empress He convey'd:
'Drink first!' — She loud He Jin's blind plan inveigh'd,
That brought the bandit-troop into the gate,
And wrought today this woeful turn of state.
Ru press'd; the King: 'A moment, ere I die,
Take leave of her, my mother.' With a sigh,
Deep grief broke forth in song; his parting strain
He sang — the Emperor's dirge, in tones of pain:
'Earth, heaven turn; the sun and moon awry,
Ten thousand chariots cast — to vassal lie
Confin'd. By giant's pow'r my days grow few;
The tide is gone — my tears in stream renew.'


Then Lady Tang gave forth her parting strain:
'Imperial Heaven falls; Earth crumbles plain.
Born Consort to the King — I lament in vain
That I may not attend him on his train.
Life-death lie sunder'd; from this hour we part;
Alas, alone and swift — grief in my heart!'


The song now done, in sorrowing embrace
They wept aloud. Li Ru's voice broke the place:
'The Chancellor of State waits for report!
Why linger ye? Whose rescue do ye court?'
The Empress curs'd: 'That traitor doth oppress
Both me and son — may Heaven not him bless!
Ye who his evil serve — your clan shall fall;
Root and branch, destruction shall reach you all!'
Ru, wroth, with both hands seiz'd the Empress, tore
Her from the upper chamber to the floor.
He bade his men strangle Lady Tang outright;
The poison'd wine snuff'd out the young King's light.
Then back to Zhuo, his report Ru did bear;
Zhuo bade them buried beyond the city's air.
From that hour Zhuo each night the palace gain'd;
The maids he forc'd, the Dragon-Bed profan'd.
Once forth he march'd his troops without the gate,
To Yangcheng's bounds in second moon's full state.
An Earth-rite feast had drawn both man and maid;
Zhuo bade his soldiers ring them, blade by blade,
And slaughter all. The women and the spoil
Were carted off, in plunder's heavy toil;
Beneath the carts a thousand heads were strung;
They march'd back column'd; loud the boast they sung:
'Great victory! The rebels we have slain!'
Beneath the city gates the heads burn'd plain;
The women and the goods he shar'd among
His troops, in bloody plunder loud and long.


Wu Fu, Yuechi Cavalry-Colonel hight,
Of style Deyu, beheld Dong Zhuo's might
Of cruelty, and was indignant sore.
Beneath his court-robe small armor he wore,
And in his sleeve a short knife hid for chance
To slay the tyrant. On a day, by hap,
When Zhuo to court had come, Fu met him by
The hall, drew forth his knife, and stabb'd full nigh.
But Zhuo had giant's strength: with both hands hold
He gripp'd Fu's wrists, and held him fast and bold.
Lü Bu burst in, and dash'd Wu Fu to ground.
Zhuo: 'Who taught thee to rebel? Speak, traitor bound!'
Fu, wide-eyed, shouted: 'Thou art not my lord;
Nor I thy man — what rebel-act or word?
Thy crimes fill heaven; every man doth long
To see thee dead — and none could call it wrong!
My grief: I could not, by the chariot's wheel,
Have rent thee, all the realm's relief to seal!'
Zhuo, wroth, bade lead him forth, in pieces small
To hew. Fu curs'd unceasing till his fall.
A later poet prais'd him in a lay:
'Wu Fu, of Han's last days, the loyal stay;
His soaring spirit pierc'd the heavens through,
None in the world hath match'd his ardour true.
Within the court the traitor-slayer's name
Endures; for ages, true man's lasting fame.'


From this hour Dong Zhuo went to and fro
With armèd men attending, friend or foe.
Now Yuan Shao at Bohai, who had heard
Of Zhuo's abuse of power, sent a word
By secret letter unto Wang Yun's hand;
Whose burden ran: 'The traitor mocks the land
Of Heaven, hath depos'd our lawful king,
No tongue can suffer such a deed to sing.
And you, my Lord, his arrogance endure,
As if not hearing — call you this the sure
True mark of loyal minister to state?
Shao now is gathering arms, by steady weight
Drilling his men, to cleanse the royal house;
But dares not move too lightly, lest he rouse
The watching hand. Hast thou the heart, then plot
Thou his undoing — seize the timely lot.
And shouldst thou send command, I'll come straightway
And bend my force to all that thou shalt say.'


Wang Yun, the letter read, no plan he found.
One day, where senior ministers stood round
The waiting hall, he spoke to those at hand:
'My humble birthday falls; pray come and stand
With me this eve, and share a modest cup.'
They said: 'We'll surely come, thy years to sup
And toast.' That night Wang Yun within the rear
Hall set the feast; the dukes and lords drew near.
The wine had pass'd a few brief rounds, when, lo!
Yun veil'd his face, and tears began to flow.
The startl'd guests inquir'd: 'Excellence, why
On this thy honor'd birth-feast dost thou cry?'
Yun said: 'No birthday this — I form'd a tale
To gather you, lest Zhuo's suspicion sail.
Dong Zhuo deceives the king, abuses pow'r;
The state's foundations totter every hour.
Recall how Gaozu, of imperial hand,
Slew Qin, destroy'd the Chu, and rul'd the land
Beneath one sway. Who could have ever thought
That down to us his lineage would be brought
To perish in Dong Zhuo's grasp at last?
This is my grief; for this my tears flow fast.'
At this, the courtiers wept with Yun, in pain.
But one mid-feast clapp'd hands and laugh'd amain:
'Ye dukes and lords of court, ye weep all day,
And weep all night — yet shall such weeping slay
Dong Zhuo, with all his harsh and brutal might?'
Yun saw 'twas Cao, Xiaoji-Colonel hight.
Yun, wroth: 'Thy fathers ate the Han court's pay;
Now wilt thou not repay it — laugh'st, this day?'
Cao said: 'I laugh at nothing else, but this,
That none of you can plot Dong Zhuo's dismiss.
Though small my talent, I would seize his head
And on the city's gate hang up the dead,
To give the realm redress.' Yun left his seat:
'Mengde, what plan hast thou? Speak, I entreat.'
Cao: 'Late I bow'd to serve, with this intent:
To watch the moment, and his fall foment.
He trusts me well; my stay is near his side.
I hear, Excellence, in thy chamber bide
A Seven-Star Sword: lend it me — I'll go
To Zhuo's own mansion, there to strike the blow.
Though I should die, no regret shall I know!'
Yun: 'If thy heart be such, the realm is bless'd!'
Himself he pour'd the wine, and Cao address'd
With cup in hand. Cao spilt the libation,
Swore solemn oath; Yun, in confirmation,
Took out the sword, and gave it him. The blade
Conceal'd, his cup well-drain'd, no longer stay'd,
Cao rose, took leave, and forth without delay.
The rest sat on awhile, then went their way.


Next morn, Cao Cao the precious sword had bound,
And to Dong Zhuo's high hall his way he found.
He ask'd: 'Where stays my Lord?' Reply: 'Within
The inner chamber.' Cao straight enter'd in.
Cao saw Dong Zhuo upon his couch awake,
Lü Bu beside, in service for his sake.
Zhuo: 'Mengde, late?' Cao: 'Slow my thinning horse.'
Zhuo turn'd to Bu: 'Of Xiliang's recent course
Of fine new horses, sent to me of late,
Fengxian, in person choose Mengde a mate.'
Bu took the charge, and from the chamber sped.
Cao silent thought: 'This traitor must lie dead!'
He reach'd to draw — but fear'd Zhuo's giant strength,
And dar'd not move; held back his hand at length.
Zhuo, fat and large, could not on couch long stay;
He turn'd, lay down, his face on inward way.
Cao thought: 'The traitor's hour is come at last!'
Swift drew the Sev'n-Star Sword and held it fast.
Just as the stab he poised — in mirror glass,
Zhuo saw behind him Cao with blade in pass.
Dong Zhuo turn'd back, his startl'd voice up-broke:
'Mengde, what dost thou now?' — abrupt he spoke.


Lü Bu had brought the steed without the door.
Cao, fright, with sword in hand he knelt to floor:
'A treasure-sword I have — pray be it sent
Unto my benefactor-lord's content.'
Zhuo took, and view'd: a chi or more in length,
With seven jewels set, of edge and strength,
Indeed a precious blade. He pass'd the blade aside
To Bu for keeping; Cao slipped sheath from side
And gave it too. Zhuo led Cao forth to view
The horse. Cao thank'd: 'A ride I'd try anew.'
Zhuo bade them yield him saddle, bit, and rein.
Cao led the steed outside, nor turn'd again;
Apply'd the whip; south-eastward swift went he.
Bu said to Zhuo: 'Just now methought to see
Cao planning stroke; thy voice the act undid,
He turn'd to sword-gift, what was plotting hid.'
Zhuo answer'd: 'I, too, doubted of his way.'
Within both hearts suspicion held its sway.


Just as they spoke, Li Ru came through the door,
And Zhuo rehearsed the thing that passed before.
Ru said: 'Cao Cao has neither wife nor son
In capital — alone he hath his run.
Send now a man to summon him: if he
Come without doubt, his sword was all his plea;
But if pretext he find, refuse to come,
Then surely 'twas a stab — and we may sum
Him up, and question.' Zhuo approved the plan,
And sent four jailers forth to fetch the man.
A long time pass'd; they came again, to say:
'Cao to his home came not; nay, on the way
He mounted horse and through the east gate flew.
The gate-guard ask'd; he answer'd: "Tasks anew
Of urgent state — the Lord hath set me ride,"
And gallop'd off — no more was Cao espy'd.'
Ru said: 'Cao's flight declares the hidden plot:
The sword was no gift; thy life he sought.'
Zhuo, wroth: 'I trusted him in heavy use,
Yet he would strike at me — what foul abuse!'
Ru: 'Other plotters must support him; when
Cao's caught, the rest shall stand reveal'd to ken.'
Zhuo bade dispatch the edicts, wide and fast,
With portraits drawn — Cao's face, his form, his cast;
Whoso should take and bring him, full reward,
A thousand jin of gold; he should be lord
As Marquis of Ten Thousand Households' style;
Whoso conceal'd him, like crime should defile.


Now of Cao Cao, who fled the city's bound,
To Qiao Commandery, his native ground.
At Zhongmou County, on the road he pass'd,
The pass-guards seiz'd him, bound, and held him fast;
Before the County Magistrate he came.
Cao said: 'I am a merchant — Huangfu my name,
Two-character'd.' The Magistrate, with care,
Long view'd him, ponder'd; then declar'd him bare:
'When once in Luoyang I had sought for place,
I knew thee, Cao Cao — wherefore wear false face?
Take him to gaol; the morn shall bring him forth,
Bound for the capital, to win the worth.'
The pass-guards, given gifts of food and wine,
Withdrew; Cao stay'd in prison's cold confine.

At midnight's hour the Magistrate his guard
Of trust then summon'd, brought Cao Cao unbarr'd
Forth secret to the rear court; question'd there:
'I hear thy Lord hath treated thee with care,
Why bring such ruin to thy life?' Cao spake:
'The sparrow knows not what high swans undertake.
Thou hast me caught — then take me on with speed
To claim reward!' The Magistrate gave heed,
Dispers'd attendants, said: 'Slight me not so,
I am no common officer; I, though,
Have not yet met my master.' Cao replied:
'My forebears age by age the Han salt plied;
If I think not to pay back what I owe,
How differ I from beasts? Dong Zhuo's o'erthrow:
I plotted, bowing low to serve his pride;
For country's good, the harm to set aside.
Now is the deed undone — 'tis Heaven's will.'
Magistrate ask'd: 'Where dost thou journey still?'
Cao: 'To my native village I shall fly,
Forge a decree, and call the lords on high
Throughout the realm, in arms with one assent,
Dong Zhuo to slay — this is my heart's intent.'


The Magistrate, on hearing this, with hand
Of his own loos'd Cao's bonds, and bade him stand
Bow'd twice, and said: 'Beneath the whole world's span,
Thou truly art a loyal, righteous man!'
Cao bow'd, and ask'd his name. The Lord replied:
'Chen is my surname; Gong my name supplied;
Gongtai my style. My mother, wife, and son
Within Dong comm'ndery dwell, every one.
Mov'd by thy loyal heart, I would forsake
This office, follow thee, and flight to make.'
Cao Cao was glad. That night Chen Gong made store
Of travel-coin; both donn'd new clothes they wore;
Each with a sword behind, on horse they laid
Their course was to Cao's home; the way they made.


Three days they journey'd; to Chenggao came they,
As evening drew on, with day's last ray.
Cao with his whip the deep wood pointed near:
'Lü Boshe dwells here, sworn-brother held dear
Unto my father. Let's seek news of home,
And lodge a night within his rustic dome.'
Gong: 'Best.' They to the manor came in span,
Dismounted, enter'd in to find the man.
Boshe: 'I heard the court hath edicts sent
For thy quick capture; and thy father went
Already to Chenliu, in flight from snare.
How com'st thou here?' Cao told the whole affair,
And said: 'But for Chen-County's lord, mine aid,
My bones were powder, all my body laid.'
Boshe to Gong then bow'd: 'If not for thee,
Cao's house would all have perish'd utterly.
Lord, sit at ease; tonight thy rest may be
Beneath this humble cot, in courtesy.'
He spake, then in he went; long while to wait,
Came forth, and unto Gong he said: 'My state
Hath no good wine; let me west-village ride
And fetch a jar to entertain inside.'
He spoke; in haste he mounted ass, away,
And to the western village rode that day.

Cao and Gong sat long; from behind the place
A whetstone's grating broke the tranquil grace.
Cao said: 'Lü Boshe is no kin too near;
His leaving thus is strange — we should give ear.'
Both crept behind the thatch'd hall, soft of breath;
They heard within a voice: 'Bind first, give death —
How say'st thou?' Cao: 'So 'tis! If we delay
And strike not first, we shall be ta'en their prey.'
Cao drew his sword, with Gong; in haste they ran
And slew all there — both woman, child, and man.
Eight in succession fell. They search'd around
Unto the kitchen, where a pig was bound,
Awaiting slaughter. Gong, observing, said:
'Mengde suspects too much; good folk lie dead!'
They hurried forth, took horse, and rode the road.
Not two li yet, when Boshe by them strode,
Two flasks of wine hung from his donkey's pack,
Fruits, herbs, in hand. He call'd to bring them back:
'Worthy nephew and Lord, why depart in haste?'
Cao: 'Charged with crime, we cannot longer stay.'
Boshe: 'My household I have order'd send
A pig to slaughter — pray, my guest, attend!
Why grudge to lodge a single night?' he ask'd:
'Pray turn thy steed at once.' His words there pass'd.

Cao heeded not, but whipp'd his steed and went.
Not many paces yet, with sudden bent,
Drew sword, turn'd back, and cried to Boshe near:
'Who comes there yonder?' Boshe turn'd to peer;
Cao swung his sword, and cut Boshe down dead;
From off his donkey to the ground he sped.
Gong, alarm'd: 'A while back was a mistake;
But this — what dost thou now? For what's at stake?'
Cao said: 'Should Boshe home return and see
So many slain, would he in peace let be?
If he should lead his folk to chase our flight,
They'll seize us surely ere the fall of night.'
Gong: 'Knowing, yet to kill — wrong most severe!'
Cao: 'Better I betray the world's whole sphere,
Than let all under Heaven betray me here.'
Chen Gong was silent, not a word made clear.


That night they rode some li; the moon shone bright;
They knock'd an inn-door, lodg'd there for the night.
The horses fed; Cao Cao to slumber went.
Chen Gong sat thinking: 'I had judg'd Cao bent
To virtue good; I left my office post
To follow him — but now I count the cost:
A cruel-hearted man he proves to be!
If kept this day, he'll bring calamity.'
He rais'd his blade, intent Cao Cao to slay;
Just so the verse this scene doth now display:
'A poison-cruel heart, no man of worth;
Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo — one road they tread on earth.'
And what of Cao Cao's life shall now befall,
The next chapter shall make it plain to all.


Chapter 5: At Cao's forg'd decree, lords arise to fight; Three heroes break the pass, 'gainst Lü Bu's might.

Now Chen Gong, just about Cao Cao to slay,
But stay'd his hand, and turn'd his mind away:
'For country's sake I follow'd to this place;
To slay him now would be unjust and base.
Better to leave!' He sheath'd his blade, and went,
Ere break of day, to Dong Comm'ndery bent.
Cao woke; Gong gone. He thought with sober mind:
'My words have made him doubt my heart be kind,
And so departs. I must in haste be gone;
Nor here may linger more — be off, anon!'
That night to Chenliu sped, his sire to greet,
Recounted all the past, the tale complete.
He'd spend his fam'ly wealth, recruit a band
Of righteous troops, to overthrow Zhuo's hand.
'The wealth is small,' the father said, 'I fear
The deed may fail. But Wei Hong lives here near,
A Xiaolian, generous and just in mind;
His house is rich — with him, success thou'lt find.'

Cao Cao spread wine, Wei Hong he bid attend,
And gave his suit, and pray'd his help to lend:
'The Han is masterless; Dong Zhuo alone
Wields all the pow'r, usurps the very throne,
Deceives the king, oppresses every soul;
All grind their teeth at his foul control.
I'd prop the state, but lack the strength to stand;
Thou righteous lord, I beg thy helping hand.'
Wei answer'd: 'Long this aim I've held in heart,
But found no hero to take equal part.
Since thou hath such will, my household store
Of wealth I'll lend, on thee my hopes I pour.'
Cao joyful, first dispatch'd through every land
Forg'd decrees in haste; then gather'd to his band
The righteous troops. He rais'd a banner plain,
Inscrib'd 'Loyal-Righteous'; came men thick as rain.


One day, from Wei in Yangping, Yue Jin came;
To join Cao Cao's ranks, he gave his name.
And from Shanyang's Julu, Li Dian came too,
His service unto Cao Cao's host he drew.
Cao kept them as officers near to hand.
Then Xiahou Dun, of Qiao in Pei, took stand,
Of Xiahou Ying descended. Young in age,
He trained with spear and staff beneath a sage;
When one defam'd that sage, in youthful rage,
He slew the man, and fled to lands afar.
Hearing that Cao had rais'd the righteous war,
Came he with clansman Xiahou Yuan at hand,
Each leading thousand stout, a well-arm'd band.
These two were Cao's own kin: for Cao Song's birth
Was Xiahou; by adoption made to Cao's hearth.

Few days had pass'd; two kinsmen of his line,
Cao Ren and Cao Hong came, with troops to join.
Each brought a thousand troops, well-used to rein,
And skilled in arms upon the battle plain.
Cao greatly pleas'd; he drill'd them in his town.
Wei Hong gave out his wealth — for shield and gown,
For banners, pennons. From the regions round,
Came in provisions, past all reck'ning's bound.


Yuan Shao receiv'd Cao's forg'd decree, and made
His civil and his martial men array'd:
Three myriad strong, from Bohai's gates he led
His host, with Cao in solemn league were spread.
Cao sent writs to every commandery around,
Whose proclamation thus was made to sound:
'By righteous cause, we now to all declare
Throughout the realm, that justice be laid bare:
Dong Zhuo hath flouted heav'n, deceiv'd the earth,
Brought down the state, and slain the throne by birth.
Defil'd the palace, harm'd the living soul;
Wolf-hearted, cruel, his crimes o'erfill the scroll.
Now, by the Son of Heaven's secret seal,
We've gather'd righteous troops, the realm to heal,
To cleanse the central lands, the wicked slay,
And free the state from this oppressive day.
Pray raise the righteous host; with us combine
To vent the public wrath, to prop the line
Of royal house; the people raise from woe.
The day this writ arrives — make haste, and go!'


Cao's writ went forth; the lords on every side
Rais'd troops in answer, with martial pride.
First, Yuan Shu, Rear General, Nanyang's lord;
Next, Han Fu, Jizhou's Inspector, took accord.
Kong Zhou, Inspector of Yuzhou, came;
And Liu Dai of Yanzhou join'd the same.
Wang Kuang of Henei was the fifth to swell;
Zhang Miao of Chenliu, sixth, came up as well.
Qiao Mao of Dong, seventh in rank, drew near;
Liu Yi of Shanyang, eighth, with troops in rear.
Bao Xin, Jibei Chancellor, came in row;
Kong Rong of Beihai bid his banners glow.
Zhang Chao of Guangling, Tao Qian of Xuzhou rode;
Ma Teng of Xiliang stirr'd from western abode.
Gongsun Zan of Beiping in his ranks came on;
Zhang Yang of Shangdang join'd him, weapons drawn.
Marquis Wucheng, Sun Jian, of Changsha came;
And, last, Yuan Shao of Bohai — Qixiang's name,
Seventeen in all. Their armies, varied size:
Some thirty thousand strong, some less arise.
Each lord, with officers and martial train,
Toward Luoyang marched across the plain.


Gongsun Zan of Beiping march'd, his banners 'long
With fifteen thousand picked men in his throng;
Through Dezhou pass'd, by Pingyuan's quiet way.
A yellow flag in mulberries that lay,
And riders forth to meet. Zan look'd, and knew —
'Twas Liu Bei: 'Worthy brother, why come you?'
Said Bei: 'Through thy old grace, this post is mine
Of Pingyuan's Magistrate; thy army's line
I heard pass by, and came to greet thee here;
Pray come into the city, rest thy gear.'
Zan ask'd: 'Who are these two who stand by thee?'
Said Bei: 'My sworn brothers, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei.'
Zan: 'Are these who broke the Yellow Turbans bold?'
'All by their strength.' Zan: 'What office hold
They now?' Said Bei: 'Guan Yu is mounted-bow,
Zhang Fei is foot-archer.' Zan sigh'd: 'Below
What heroes thus are buried! Now in pow'r,
Dong Zhuo brings chaos to the realm this hour.
The lords are gather'd all the foe to slay;
Abandon thou this lowly post today,
Join us in chastising of the bane,
With all thy strength, prop up the Han again.'
Said Bei: 'I'm willing.' Zhang Fei cried in pain:
'Had I but slain him then, this hour were vain.'
Guan Yu: 'Things stand thus now; prepare to ride,
Make ready forth, and let us journey wide.'


With Gongsun Zan came Liu Bei and his pair;
Cao Cao welcom'd them all, in solemn air.
The other lords by stages came, in train,
Each pitching camp, that link'd along the plain
Two hundred li of conjoin'd canvas-wave.
Cao slaughter'd beeves and horses, lavish gave
A great feast to all lords, that they discuss
The march. Wang Kuang: 'Just cause summons us;
We needs must set a chief whom all approve;
Let all submit, and forward then to move.'
Cao said: 'Benchu, of four-fold ducal line,
Of famous Han chancellor — fit to shine
As alliance-chief.' Shao thrice declin'd; the crowd
Cried, 'None but he!' with one consent aloud.
Shao then assent. Next day, three-tier'd they made
An altar; five-fold compass-banners stay'd;
White yak-tail standard, yellow axe of state,
The general's seal — bid Shao ascend the gate.
Shao straighten'd robes, gird sword, with steady tread
Ascended; burn'd incense, bow'd; thus he said:
'The Han is luckless; rule hath lost its line.
The traitor Dong Zhuo seiz'd the breach malign,
Wreaks harm upon the throne, oppresses men.
We, fearing fall of state, have rais'd amain
A righteous host. All in this oath one mind,
Steadfast in duty; no two thoughts to find.
Whoso betrays — let him lose life, and ne'er
Bear sons to follow him. — Heaven, Earth, and air,
All ancestral spirits, glorious and bright,
We pray you witness this our solemn rite!'


The reading done, they smear'd the blood, and wept,
Mov'd by Shao's solemn words, in tears unkept.
They left the altar, help'd Shao up to tent,
Where, rank'd by age, in two-fold rows they bent.
Cao pour'd the wine and said: 'A chief now found,
Let all heed his commands, the state to bound;
Let strong and weak alike obey one hand.'
'Though small my merit, since ye give command,
Reward and punishment alike shall stand;
Law of state, discipline of camp, abide!'
All cried: 'We hear thy will!' Shao thus replied:
'Yuan Shu, my brother, shall the grain command,
And serve all camps; let none go short of hand.
A vanguard one must be — to charge the way
'Gainst Sishui Pass; the rest shall stand at bay.'
Sun Jian of Changsha rose: 'Vanguard be I.'
Shao: 'Wentai is bold; this charge let him espy.'
Jian led his troops, charg'd to Sishui Pass;
The pass-guards sent express to Luoyang's mass,
To Dong Zhuo's mansion. Zhuo, since pow'r supreme,
Held banquet day by day, in lavish gleam.
Li Ru receiv'd the dispatch — in haste came;
Zhuo, startl'd, gather'd generals; counsel claim'd.
Marquis Wen Lü Bu arose: 'No fear,
Father — those lords beyond as straw appear;
Let me lead tiger-wolves; their heads I'll hew,
And hang them at the gates for all to view.'
Zhuo cried in joy: 'With Bu, my mind's at rest!'
But ere he ended, from behind, addrest:
'"Why use a beef-axe to cut up a hen?"
No Marquis Wen need go — I'll lead the men.
I'll lop the lords' heads, easy as a pluck
Of fruit from bag.' Zhuo saw — a man, in luck
Of stature: nine chi tall, of fierce-built frame,
Tiger-body, wolf-waist, leopard-head; the same
Was Guanxi-born — Hua Xiong his very name.
Zhuo, hearing him, gave joy with brightest flame:
Made Xiaoji Colonel; sent forth in haste
Five myriad troops with Li Su, Hu Zhen, plac'd,
And Zhao Cen, through the night, unto the pass.
Among the lords, Bao Xin's thought ran amass:
'Sun Jian as vanguard, first shall win repute.'
He sent his brother Bao Zhong in pursuit,
With three thousand troops, to the pass.
Hua Xiong, with five hundred iron horse, in mass,
Flew down: 'Rebel general, halt!' Bao Zhong tried
To flee; but Xiong's blade fell — and Zhong dy'd.
Many he captur'd. Bao Zhong's head he sent;
Zhuo nam'd Xiong Commander-in-Chief, content.


Sun Jian led forth four men to pass-front fierce:
Cheng Pu of Tuyin first came forth to pierce
With serpent-spear; then Huang Gai join'd the fray,
Of Lingling born, with iron whip in play.
Third was Han Dang of Lingzhi, with great blade;
Fourth Zu Mao of Wu, with twin-swords display'd.
Sun Jian wore silver scales, red turban tied,
On flower-maned steed, his Guding sword at side.
Up at the pass he curs'd: 'Ye base of plot,
Helpers of evil — why surrender not?'


Hu Zhen, Hua Xiong's lieutenant, led along
Five thousand from the pass to meet the throng.
Cheng Pu flew forth, his serpent-spear in hand;
Few rounds, Hu's throat was pierc'd; he fell to land.
Sun Jian charg'd up; on pass-front rain'd amain
The arrow-stones; he turn'd his troops again.
At Liang-east halt'd, Sun Jian sent abroad
Word of his victory to Yuan Shao's ward,
And press'd Yuan Shu for grain. To Shu one said:
'Sun Jian is Jiangdong's fierce tiger, much to dread;
Should Luoyang fall, and Dong Zhuo by him slain,
'Tis trading wolf for tiger — both our bane.
Withhold the grain — his force shall self-disband.'
Shu hearken'd, and the stores stayed in his hand.
Sun Jian's host grew lean; their lines began to fray;
A spy brought word up to the pass straightway.
Li Su advis'd: 'This night, by hidden way,
Down from the pass, I'll lead a force, and lay
A strike on rear-camp; thou the front pursue.
Sun, caught between, must fall to me and you.'


Hua Xiong approv'd; he bid his soldiers dine,
Then march at dusk: the night was clear and fine,
The moon shone white. They reach'd Sun's camp at last
By midnight; drums and shouts came rolling fast.
Sun Jian, in haste array'd, leapt to his horse,
Just met Hua Xiong. Their steeds clash'd in their course.
Few rounds had pass'd; behind came Li Su's band,
Who bade the soldiers set the fires at hand.
Sun's troops in panic fled; the captains fought
Each on his own. Zu Mao alone had sought
To stay by Sun, and broke the ring at last.
Hua Xiong pursu'd. Sun, with his bow held fast,
Sent twice his shafts — both dodg'd. The third he drew
With force too fierce; the magpie bow snapp'd through.
He cast it from him, spurr'd his horse, and fled.
Zu Mao call'd: 'My lord, thy turban red
Marks thee a target known; rebels are led
Thereby. Doff thou; let me wear in thy stead.'
Sun gave the turban, took Mao's helm anew;
On two roads parted; swift each rider flew.
Xiong's men, all eyes on red, pursu'd that one;
Sun by a small path slipp'd, escape was won.
Zu Mao, hard press'd by Xiong close at his back,
Hung up the turban — on a pillar black,
Half-burn'd, a peasant's courtyard post — then drew
Into the wood; in trees, he hid from view.

Hua Xiong's men below saw, in the moon,
The turban red; they circled round as soon
As they drew up, but durst not near. They shot
With arrows, knowing then 'twas but a plot;
And forward drew, and took the turban down.
Zu Mao sprang from wood, his twin-blades shown,
To cleave Hua Xiong; but Xiong, with one great cry,
Swung blade — Mao fell'd to ground, no more to fly.
They fought till dawn; Hua Xiong withdrew to the pass.
Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang found Sun Jian's mass,
Regather'd ranks, and camp'd the wearied host.
Sun, griev'd by Zu Mao's fall, by night-courier post
Sent word to Shao. Shao, startled, said:
'I had not thought Wentai by Xiong's blade dread
Should fall defeated!' Council straight he made;
All lords came in; but Gongsun Zan delay'd,
Came last. Shao bade him sit. Then Shao thus spoke:
'Days past, Bao Xin's own brother heedless broke
Of all our orders, of himself advanc'd,
Lost life, and lost much host. Now too is chanc'd
That Wentai by Xiong is fall'n. Our spirit keen
Is blunt'd. — What's our course?' Naught fell between
The lords' replies; silence held the scene.


Shao cast his eyes; behind Gongsun Zan's post
Stood three of unwont mien, a smiling host
Of cold demeanour. Shao ask'd: 'Behind
Thy seat, lord Gongsun, who are these I find?'
Zan call'd Liu Bei forth: 'A boyhood friend,
Once schoolmate sworn — Liu Bei, whose hands attend
Pingyuan's Magistracy.' Cao inquir'd:
'Is this Xuande, at whose strong hand expir'd
The Yellow Turbans' force?' Zan: ''Tis he.'
He bade Liu Bei bow forth; and told them free
Bei's merits and his lineage, full and clear.
Shao said: 'Of Han's imperial line — bring near
A seat for him.' Bei thank'd in modest air.
Shao: 'Not thy name and rank do I revere;
'Tis for thy royal blood thou'rt honour'd here.'
Bei sat the lowest seat. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei,
Behind, with arms cross'd, stood in proper stay.

A scout came in: 'Hua Xiong leads iron horse
Down from the pass; on long pole he doth course
Sun Jian's red turban high; before our wall
He curses loud, and challenges us all.'
Shao ask'd: 'Who dares?' From Yuan Shu's rear, in haste,
Stepp'd Yu She, valiant: 'Let me forth be plac'd!'
Shao, pleas'd, bade him out to fight, and ride.
Soon came report: 'Yu She, ere three rounds tried,
By Hua Xiong's blade was slain.' All stood dismay'd.
Then Han Fu, Inspector, said: 'I have a blade,
Pan Feng, my superior — he may take
Hua Xiong's head.' Shao bade Pan Feng quickly make
The trial. Pan Feng, with great axe in his hand,
Mounted, rode out. Soon, flying o'er the land,
A horseman came: 'Pan Feng too has been slain
By Hua Xiong.' All grew pale. Shao cried in pain:
'Alas — my generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou
Are yet not come. Were one of them but now
At hand, what fear had we of Hua Xiong?' Ere
Those words were ended, from the steps came there
A voice that loudly cried: 'Your humble man
Begs to go forth, to bring — as fast as can,
Hua Xiong's head, and lay it 'fore this tent!'
All look'd: nine chi he stood, magnificent;
A beard two chi; with phoenix eyes that ran
'Neath silkworm brows; his face like ripe-jujube tan,
His voice a great bell — there he stood at hand.
Shao ask'd the man; Zan answer'd on demand:
'This is Xuande's sworn brother — Guan Yu his name.'
Shao ask'd what office. Zan: 'A mounted bowman, claim
Of Xuande's troop.' Yuan Shu, upper-seat'd, did frown
And thunder'd: 'Dost thou hold our lords as down
With no great generals? A bowman dares
To speak so wildly! Drive him out from there!'
Cao hast'ly stay'd him: 'Gonglu, thy wrath restrain.
This man hath spoken bold — he must contain
Some valour, plan. Test him in single fight;
If he should fail, chastise him then aright.'
Shao: 'A bowman sent? Our lords shall all be shamed;
Hua Xiong will laugh to hear an archer named.'
Cao: 'His bearing shows no common might;
How shall Xiong know his rank within the fight?'
Guan Yu cried: 'If I fail to take his head,
Then let my own be struck from me instead.'

Cao bade pour out a cup of wine, well-warm'd,
And gave to Guan Yu ere he was forth-arm'd.
Said Guan Yu: 'Pour the wine; set it aside,
I shall return.' Out of the tent his stride;
He took his blade, and leapt upon his steed.
The lords without the pass heard drums proceed
With roaring sound; the cries rose loud and far,
As though the heavens crash'd, the mountains jarred.
All started, all alarm'd. Ere they could send
To ask, the harness-bells came near the tent;
A horse rode in. Guan Yu, in upraised hand,
Held Hua Xiong's head; cast it before the band,
The wine yet warm. A later poet sung
These lines in praise, that on his deed are hung:
'His might shakes heaven-earth — the foremost feat!
At camp-gate, painted drums in boom-boom beat.
Guan Yu halts the cup, his valour shown,
Ere wine grew cold, Hua Xiong's head lay prone.'


Cao Cao joyful. From behind Liu Bei sprang
Zhang Fei forth, with thunder-cry that rang:
'My brother slew Hua Xiong! Why press not through
The pass, take Dong Zhuo alive? What waiting do?'
Yuan Shu in great wrath cried: 'Our great lords yield
With modesty; yet one from country-field,
A small foot-soldier 'neath a magistrate,
Dares flaunt his might before our council's gate!
Drive all of them from out the tent away!'
Cao: 'Reward by merit — high or low, why weigh?'
Shu: 'If ye prize thus a magistrate's small man,
I take my leave.' Cao: 'Shall one word's mere span
Wreck our great cause?' He bade Gongsun Zan lead
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei back, with steady speed.
The lords dispers'd. Cao sent in stealth a hand
With beef and wine, to soothe that brother-band.
Now Hua Xiong's defeated soldiers came in dread
Up to the pass. Li Su wrote dispatch sped
Urgent to Dong Zhuo; Zhuo summon'd straight
Li Ru, Lü Bu, and others, to debate.
Ru spake: 'Now Hua Xiong, our chief, is slain;
The rebels' force is wide in their domain.
Yuan Shao heads their league; while within our court square,
Yuan Wei, his uncle, holds Grand Tutor's chair.
Should they within-without conspire, 'twere ill;
First strike the uncle. Then, my lord, fulfill,
Yourself the great host now in person command;
Divide the forces; crush the rebel band.'

Zhuo gave assent. He call'd up Li Jue, Guo Si,
And bade them lead five hundred troops to seize
Yuan Wei's Grand Tutor house. None there were spar'd,
All young and old were slain. Wei's head, declar'd
A warning, was display'd before the pass.
Zhuo rais'd two hundred thousand troops, en masse,
And split the host in two: one part assign'd
To Li Jue, Guo Si — fifty thousand bind
Up Sishui Pass, but not to fight. The rest,
Fifteen myriads — Zhuo himself address'd,
With Li Ru, Lü Bu, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji, and more,
Held Hulao Pass, full fifty li before
Luoyang. When troops arriv'd, Zhuo bid
Lü Bu with thirty thousand strong amid
The plain to camp. Zhuo on the pass-top stay'd,
Encamp'd above, his lordly station made.

An express scout brought word; with flying speed
He reach'd Yuan Shao's main camp. Shao call'd in heed
The lords for council. Cao said: 'Dong Zhuo lies
At Hulao Pass, our middle road denies.
Half-troops should ride to meet.' Shao parcell'd eight:
Wang Kuang, Qiao Mao, Bao Xin, Yuan Yi, straight,
Kong Rong, Zhang Yang, Tao Qian, Gongsun Zan — all
To Hulao Pass to fight beyond the wall.
Cao led his troops in to-and-fro support.
The eight lords each set forth in their own sort.
Wang Kuang, Grand Administrator of Henei,
Arriv'd the first. Lü Bu, in array
Of three thousand iron horse, came flying down.
Wang Kuang array'd his men; beneath the crown
Of gate-flag, on his horse, look'd out, and there
Lü Bu emerg'd: upon his head, the fair
Three-prong'd, purple-gold, hair-binding crown;
On body, hundred-flower brocade-red gown
Of West Sichuan; beast-mask'd, swallow-headed mail
Of linked-rings clad him; at his waist did trail
The lion-barbarian belt of tighten'd grace;
Bow-arrows on him; painted halberd's brace
In hand; beneath, the Red Hare neigh'd to wind.
Truly, 'mid men, Lü Bu — no peer to find;
'Mid horses, Red Hare — none of equal kind.


Wang Kuang turn'd: 'Who dares to fight?' From rear
A general sprang on horse, with lance held clear,
Fang Yue, of Henei fam'd. Two horses cross'd;
In less than five rounds, Lü Bu's halberd toss'd
Through Fang Yue's body; dead, he fell from horse.
Lü Bu, halberd thrust, charg'd in his course.
Wang Kuang's force was rout'd; men on every side
Fled scatter'd. Lü Bu east-and-west could ride
Like one within a land of vacant men.
Qiao Mao and Yuan Yi hurried to defend
With both their hosts; Lü Bu then drew back.
The three lords' hosts had losses on their track;
They fell back thirty li, encamp'd that day.
Soon five more hosts arriv'd; in due array,
They held close counsel: 'Lü Bu's heroism great,
No man can match him; none can stand his weight.'


A scout came in: 'Lü Bu doth challenge straight!'
The eight lords mounted swift, marshall'd their state;
Eight columns rang'd along the ridge they stood.
Lü Bu's array appear'd; embroider'd, woo'd
The wind their banners — first they came to charge.
Mu Shun, of Zhang Yang's Shangdang host so large,
Rode forth with level'd spear to fight Lü Bu;
But Bu's one halberd-stroke pierc'd Mu right through,
He fell from horse, slain. All grew pale, aghast.
Then Wu Anguo, of Kong Rong's troop, came fast
On horse with iron mace, Lü Bu to face.
Lü Bu wav'd halberd, slapp'd his steed apace.
Ten rounds and more, the halberd's mighty stroke
Sever'd Wu's wrist; the mace he dropp'd; he broke
To flee. Eight armies sallied as relief
And sav'd Wu Anguo; Lü Bu drew back in brief.
The lords return'd to camp, took counsel still.
Cao said: 'Lü Bu's prowess hath no equal will.
Let eighteen lords convene, devise good plan;
If Lü Bu caught, Dong Zhuo is easy man.'

While they yet plann'd, Lü Bu again the call
Of challenge gave; the eight lords sallied all.
Gongsun Zan wav'd lance, in person fought Lü Bu;
But few rounds pass'd, Zan was defeated through,
And fled. Lü Bu on Red Hare gave him chase,
That horse a thousand li a day in pace
Could fly like wind. As Zan was overta'en,
Bu rais'd his painted halberd, aim'd amain
At Zan's back-heart. From side, a general flew,
Round-eyes glaring, tiger-whiskers up-grew
And bristl'd stiff; a zhang-eight serpent-spear
He held; on flying horse, he cried out clear:
'Three-surnam'd slave, halt! Yan-man Zhang Fei's here!'

Lü Bu saw, left Zan, and turn'd to face
Zhang Fei. Fei rous'd his spirit, fought in pace
Of vigour. Fifty rounds and more they tried;
No winner from the contest could decide.
Guan Yu saw, and slapp'd his steed, drew nigh
With eighty-two jin Green Dragon, in his eye
The Crescent Moon-blade rais'd; came in to flank.
The three on horseback fought, T-shap'd in rank.
At thirty rounds — Lü Bu yet stood unbow'd.
Liu Bei then drew his pair of swords, and proud
Spurr'd Yellow-Mane; he charg'd from flank to side,
And aided in the fight, with sword-strokes wide.

The three encircl'd him, in war that seem'd
A turning-lantern. Eight-fold hosts but dream'd,
Stunn'd in their staring. Lü Bu, unable then
To parry-block, look'd toward Liu Bei's ken
Of face; a feigned thrust he made. Bei, swift,
Did dodge. Lü Bu flung wide a corner-rift,
Drew halberd low, and gallop'd back his horse.
The three pursu'd, with slapp'd steeds in their course;
The eight-fold armies, with shouts thunder-loud,
Rush'd forth to overwhelm. Lü Bu's host bow'd
And fled toward the pass; Liu Bei, Guan Yu,
Zhang Fei gave chase. An ancient verse there grew,
Sole on those three against Lü Bu compos'd:
'The Han's appointed fate reached Huan and Ling;
The red sun westward sank, a fading thing.
Vile Dong Zhuo the Junior Emperor cast away;
Prince Xie, the weak, in startled dreams did stay.
Cao Cao sent forth his writ to all the land;
The lords arose in wrath, with arms in hand.
They met to set Yuan Shao chief of the band,
And vow'd to prop the throne, restore Han's stand.
Marquis Wen Lü Bu, peerless in his time,
His hero-gifts the four seas hail'd in rhyme.
Silver scale-mail, with dragon-scales array'd;
Hair-binding gold crown, pheasant-tail display'd;
The studded jewell'd belt, with beast-mouth deep;
The patterned brocade robe, where phoenix leap;
His dragon-steed rose, stirring heaven's gale;
His painted halberd flash'd like autumn pale.
He sallied forth — who dar'd to meet his might?
The lords' galls split within, their hearts took fright.
Out leapt Zhang Fei, the Yan-man, bravely there,
With zhang-eight serpent-spear in hand to bear.
His tiger-whiskers stood, like gold-thread tossed;
His ring-eyes glaring round, like lightning cross'd.
The heated fight made neither side prevail;
Before the line, Guan Yu felt rage assail.
His Green Dragon blade gleam'd like frost and snow;
His parrot battle-robe like butterflies' show.
Wherever horse-hooves struck, the ghosts cri'd dread;
Before his rage, a stream of blood was shed.
Hero Liu Bei drew his pair of swords keen;
Rous'd heaven's awe, his fierce valour was seen.
The three encircled, round him wheel'd in style;
Cut, thrust, and parry ceas'd not all the while.
Their shouts shook heaven-earth; all things were turn'd,
War-mist filled the sky; the cold stars burn'd.
Lü Bu's strength was spent; he sought a road to fly;
Gaz'd at the mountain pass, slapp'd horse to hie.
He drag'd his Sky-Square halberd low;
His gold-thread pennants scatter'd, in flow.
He snapp'd the harness-rope, let Red Hare fly;
Leap'd up the saddle, soar'd to Hulao high.'
The three pursu'd him to the pass-foot near;
There saw, in west wind, fluttering bright and clear,
A canopy of green silk on the height.
Zhang Fei cri'd loud: 'This Dong Zhuo must be in sight!
Why chase Lü Bu — what virtue is to gain?
Rather first seize Dong Zhuo — the traitor slain
At root, the grass cut up at one stroke down!'
He slapp'd his horse, rode up to take Zhuo's crown.
Truly: 'To seize the rebels — their chief must fall;
Rare feats await the rarest man of all.'
How shall the contest end? We cannot tell,
Hear the next chapter, where 'tis told quite well.