set aside this Emperor giving him the title of Prince of Hongnong； and I will place on the throne the present Prince of Chenliu。 And those who do not support me will suffer death。〃
Fear seized them in its grip and they were silent； all but Yuan Shao who said； 〃The Emperor was innocent of any fault； and to set him aside in favor of a moner was rebellion and nothing else！〃
〃The empire is in my hands！〃 cried Dong Zhuo。 〃When I choose to do this thing； who will dare to say nay？ Think you my sword lacks an edge？〃
〃If your sword is sharp； mine is never blunt！〃 said Yuan Shao as his sword flashed out of the sheath。
The two men stood face to face amid the feasters。
When Ding Yuan by treacherous murder died；
The loss was great to Yuan Shao's side。
The fate of Yuan Shao will be disclosed in later chapters。
Main Next to Chapter 4 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The Deposition Of The Emperor： Prince Of Chenliu Bees Emperor；
Schemes Against Dong Zhuo： Cao Cao Presents A Sword。
Dong Zhuo was on the point of slaying Yuan Shao； but Li Ru checked him； saying； 〃You must not kill rashly while the business hangs in the balance。〃
Yuan Shao； his sword still unsheathed； left the assembly。 He hung up the seals of his office at the east gate and went to Jizhou Region。
Dong Zhuo said to Imperial Guardian Yuan Wei； 〃Your nephew behaved improperly； but I pardon him for your sake。 What think you of my scheme？〃
〃What you think is right；〃 was the reply。
〃If anyone opposes the great scheme； he will be dealt with by military law！〃 said Dong Zhuo。
The ministers； thoroughly dreaded； promised obedience； and the feast came to an end。
Dong Zhuo asked Counselor Zhou Bi and mander Wu Qiong what they thought of the flight of Yuan Shao。
Zhou Bi said； 〃He left in a state of great anger。 In such a state of excitement much harm may ensue to the present state of affairs； especially as the Yuan family have been noted for their high offices for four generations； and their proteges and dependents are everywhere。 If they assemble bold people and call up their clients； all the valiant warriors will be in arms； and the east region of the Huashang Mountains will be lost。 You had better pardon Yuan Shao and give him a post。 He will be glad at being forgiven and will do no harm。〃
Wu Qiong said； 〃Yuan Shao is fond of scheming； but he fails in decision and so is not to be feared。 But it would be well to give him rank and thus win popular favor。〃
Dong Zhuo followed this advice； and within that day sent a messenger to offer Yuan Shao the governorship of Bohai。
On the first day of the ninth month； the Emperor was invited to proceed to the Hall of Virtue where was a great assembly of officials。
There Dong Zhuo； sword in hand； faced the gathering and said； 〃The Emperor is a weakling unequal to the burden of ruling this land。 Now listen ye to the document I have prepared！〃
And Li Ru read as follows：
〃The dutiful Emperor Ling too soon left his people。 The emperor is the cynosure of all the people of this land。 Upon the present Emperor Bian； Heaven has conferred but small gifts： In dignity and deportment he is deficient； and in mourning he is remiss。 Only the most plete virtue can grace imperial dignity。 Empress He has trained him improperly； and the whole state administration has fallen into confusion。 Empress Dong died suddenly and no one knew why。 The doctrine of the three bonds………Heaven； Earth； and Human………and the continuity of Heaven and Earth interdependence have both been injured。
〃But Liu Xian； Prince of Chenliu； is sage and virtuous beside being of handsome exterior。 He conforms to all the rules of propriety： His mourning is sincere； and his speech is always correct。 Eulogies of him fill the empire。 He is well fitted for the great duty of consolidating the rule of Han。
〃Now therefore the Emperor is deposed and created Prince of Hongnong； and Empress He retires from the administration。
〃I pray the Prince of Chenliu to accept the throne in conformity with the decrees of Heaven and Earth； the desires of people； and the fulfillment of the hopes of humankind。〃
This having been read； Dong Zhuo bade the officials lead the Emperor down from the throne； remove his seal； and cause him to kneel facing the north； styling himself faithful servant of the Throne and requesting mands。 Moreover Dong Zhuo bade Empress He strip off her royal dress of ceremony and await the imperial mand。 Both victims of this oppression wept bitterly； and every minister present was deeply affected。
One minister put his discontent into words； crying； 〃The false Dong Zhuo is the author of this insult； which I will risk my life to wipe away！〃
And with this he rushed at Dong Zhuo threatening with his ivory baton of office。
It was Chair of the Secretariat Ding Guan。 Dong Zhuo had Ding Guan removed and summarily put to death。 Before his death； Ding Guan ceased not to rail at the oppressor； nor was he frightened at death。
The rebel Dong Zhuo conceived the foul design
To thrust the King aside and wrong his line。
With folded arms the courtiers stood； save one
Ding Guan； who dared to cry that wrong was done。
Then the emperor designate； Prince of Chenliu； went to the upper part of the hall to receive congratulations。 After this the former Emperor………now Prince of Hongnong………； his mother； and the Imperial Consort； Lady Tang； were removed to the Palace of Forever Calm。 The entrance gates were locked against all ers。
It was pitiful！ There was the young emperor； after reigning less than half a year； deposed and another put in his place。 The new Emperor was Liu Xian； the second son of the late Emperor Ling。 He was nine years of age； five years younger than his deposed brother。 The new reign…style was changed to Inauguration of Tranquillity； the first year （AD 190）。
Being the Prime Minister； Dong Zhuo was most powerful and arrogant。 When he bowed before the Throne； he did not declare his name。 In going to court he did not hasten。 Booted and armed he entered the reception halls。 He amassed a wealth exceeding any other's。
His adviser； Li Ru； impressed upon Dong Zhuo constantly to employ people of reputation so that he should gain public esteem。 So when they told him Cai Yong was a man of talent； Dong Zhuo summoned him。 But Cai Yong would not go。 Dong Zhuo sent a message to him that if he did not e； he and his whole clan should be exterminated。 Then Cai Yong gave in and appeared。 Dong Zhuo was very gracious to him and promoted him thrice in a month。 Cai Yong became High Minister。 Such was the generosity of the tyrant。
Meanwhile the deposed ruler； his mother； and his consort were immured in the Palace of Forever Calm and found their daily supplies gradually diminishing。 The deposed Emperor wept incessantly。 One day a pair of wallows gliding to and fro moved him to verse：
〃Spring and the green of the tender grass；
Flushes with joy as the swallows pass；
The wayfarers pause by the rippling stream；
And their eyes will new born gladness gleam；
With lingering gaze the roofs I see
Of the Palace that one time sheltered me。
But those whom I sheltered in all righteousness；
Let's not stay in silence when the days pass useless？〃
The messenger； sent by Dong Zhuo from time to time to the palace for news of the prisoners； got hold of this poem and showed it to his master。
〃So he shows his resentment by writing poems； eh！ A fair excuse to put them all out of the way；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Li Ru was sent with ten men into the palace to consummate the deed。 The three were in one of the upper rooms when Li Ru arrived。 The Emperor shuddered when the maid announced the visitor's name。
Presently Li Ru entered and offered a cup of poisoned wine to the Emperor。 The Emperor asked what this meant。
〃Spring is the season of blending and harmonious interchange； and the Prime Minister sends a wine cup of longevity；〃 said Li Ru。
〃If it be the wine of longevity； you may share it too；〃 said Empress He。
Then Li Ru became brutally frank。
〃You will not drink？〃 asked he。
He called the men with daggers and cords and bade the Emperor look at them。
〃The cup； or these？〃 said he。
Then said Lady Tang； 〃Let the handmaid drink in place of her lord。 Spare the mother and her son； I pray！〃
〃And who may you be to die for a prince？〃 said Li Ru。
Then he presented the cup to the Empress once more and bade her drink。
She railed against her brother； the feckless He Jin； the author of all this trouble。 She would not drink。
Next Li Ru approached the Emperor。
〃Let me say farewell to my mother；〃 begged he； and he did so in these lines：
〃The heaven and earth are changed；
Alas！ the sun and the moon leave their courses；
I； once the center of all eyes； am driven to the farthest confines；
Oppressed by an arrogant minister my life nears its end；
Everything fails me and vain are my falling tears。〃
Lady Tang sang：
〃Heaven is to be rent asunder； Earth to fall away；
I； handmaid of an emperor； would grieve if I followed him not。
We have e to the parting of ways； the quick and the dead walk not together；
Alas！ I am left alone with the grief in my heart。〃
When they had sung these lines； they fell weeping into each others' arms。
〃The Prime Minister is awaiting my report；〃 said Li Ru； 〃and you delay too long。 Think you that there is any hope of succor？〃
The Empress broke into another fit of railing； 〃The rebel forces us to death； mother and son； and Heaven has abandoned us。 But you； the tool of his crime； will assuredly perish！〃
Thereupon Li Ru grew more angry； laid hands on the Empress and threw her out of the window。 Then he bade the soldiers strangle Lady Tang and forced the lad to swallow the wine of death。
Li Ru reported the achievement to his master who bade them bury the victims without the city。 After this Dong Zhuo's behavior was more atrocious than before。 He spent his nights in the Palace； defiled the imperial concubines there； and even slept on the Dragon Couch。
Once he led his soldiers out of the city to Yangcheng when the villagers； men and women； were assembled from all sides for the annual spring festival。 His troops surrounded the place and plundered it。 They took away booty by the cart loads； and women prisoners and more than one thousand severed heads。 The procession