〃Do you think I could bear to lose you？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃Though you love me yet I must not stay here。 That Lu Bu will try to ruin me if I do。 I fear him。〃
〃We will go to Meiwo tomorrow； you and I； and we will be happy together and have no cares。〃
She dried her tears and thanked him。 Next day Li Ru came again to persuade Dong Zhuo to send the damsel to Lu Bu。
〃This is a propitious day；〃 said Li Ru。
〃He and I standing in the relation of father and son。 I cannot very well do that；〃 said Dong Zhuo。 〃But I will say no more about his fault。 You may tell him so and soothe him as well as you can。〃
〃You are not being beguiled by the woman； are you？〃 said Li Ru。
Dong Zhuo colored； saying； 〃Would you like to give your wife to some body else？ Do not talk about this any further。 It would be better not to。〃
Li Ru left the chamber。 When he got outside； he cast his eyes up to heaven； saying； 〃We are dead people； slain by the hand of this girl！〃
When a scholar of history reached this episode he wrote a verse or two：
Just introduce a woman；
Conspiracies succeed；
Of soldiers； or their weapons；
There really is no need。
They fought their bloody battles；
And doughty deeds were done；
But in a garden summer house
The victory was won。
The order was given to journey to Meiwo； and the whole body of officers assembled to add luster to the start。 Diao Chan； from her carriage； saw Lu Bu among the crowd。 She at once dropped her eyes and assumed an appearance of deepest melancholy。 After the cavalcade started and when her carriage had almost disappeared in the distance； the disappointed lover reined in his steed on a mount whence he could watch the dust that rose around it。 Unutterable sadness filled his heart。
Suddenly a voice said； 〃Why do you not acpany the Prime Minister； General； instead of standing here and sighing？〃
It was Wang Yun。
〃I have been confined to the house by illness these few days；〃 continued he； 〃so I have not seen you。 But I had to struggle out today to see the Prime Minister set off。 This meeting is most fortunate。 But why were you sighing？〃
〃Just on account of that daughter of yours；〃 said Lu Bu。
Feigning great astonishment； Wang Yun said； 〃So long a time and yet not given to you！〃
〃The old ruffian has fallen in love with her himself。〃
〃Surely this cannot be true。〃
Lu Bu related the whole story while Wang Yun listened； silent； but stamping on the ground as with irritation and perplexity。
After a long time Wang Yun said； 〃I did not think he was such a beast。〃
Taking Lu Bu by the hand； Wang Yun said； 〃e to my house； and we will talk it over。〃
So they went away together to the house and retired to a secret room。 After some refreshments； Lu Bu told the whole story of the episode in Phoenix Pavilion just as it happened。
Wang Yun said； 〃He seems to have corrupted my little girl and has stolen your wife。 He will be an object of shame and ridicule to the whole world。 And those who do not laugh at him will laugh at you and me。 Alas！ I am old and powerless and can do nothing。 More pitied than blamed！ But you； General； you are a warrior； the greatest hero in the world。 Yet you have been put to this shame and exposed to this contempt。〃
A wave of fierce wrath rolled up in Lu Bu。 Banging the table he shouted and roared。
His host ostentatiously tried to calm him； saying； 〃I forgot myself。 I should not have spoken like that。 Do not be so angry； I pray！〃
〃I will kill the wretch； I swear it！ In no other way can I wash away my shame。〃
〃No； no！ Do not say such a thing；〃 said Wang Yun； putting his hand over the other's mouth。 〃You will bring trouble on poor me and my family。〃
〃When one is born great； one cannot be patient for long under another person's domination；〃 said Lu Bu。
〃It needs someone greater than the Prime Minister to limit the scope of such talents as yours。〃
Lu Bu said； 〃I would not mind killing the old wretch were it not for the relation in which we stand。 I fear to provoke the hostile criticism of posterity。〃
Wang Yun shook his head； saying； 〃Your name is Lu Bu； his is Dong Zhuo。 Where was the paternal feeling when he threw the halberd at you？〃
〃I had been misled if you had not said that；〃 said Lu Bu hotly。
Wang Yun saw the effect of his words and continued； 〃It would be a loyal deed to restore the House of Han； and history would hand down your name to posterity perpetually fragrant。 If you lend your aid to Dong Zhuo； you will be a traitor and your name will be tainted through all ages。〃
Lu Bu rose from his place and bowed to Wang Yun。
〃I have decided；〃 said he。 〃You need not fear； Sir。〃
〃But yet you may fail and bring upon yourself misfortune；〃 said Wang Yun。
Lu Bu drew his dagger； pricking his arm； and swearing by the blood that flowed。
Wang Yun fell on his knees and thanked him。
〃Then the Han sacrifices will not be cut off； and you will be their savior。 But this must remain a secret； and I will tell you how the plot shall be worked out。〃
Lu Bu took leave with great emotion。
Wang Yun took into his confidence two colleagues； Minister Shisun Rui and Imperial mander Huang Wan。
Shisun Rui said； 〃The moment is favorable。 The Emperor has just recovered from his illness； and we can dispatch an able talker to Meiwo to persuade Dong Zhuo to e here to discuss affairs。 Meanwhile we will obtain a secret decree as authority for Lu Bu to lay an ambush just inside the Palace gates to kill Dong Zhuo as he enters。 This is the best plan to adopt。〃
〃But who would dare to go？〃 said Huang Wan。
〃Li Su； General of the Imperial Tiger Army； would go。 He belongs to the same region as Lu Bu and is very angry with the Prime Minister for not advancing him。 His going would assure us the plan would be pleted。〃
〃Good；〃 said Wang Yun。 〃Let us see what Lu Bu thinks of it。〃
When Lu Bu was consulted； he told them that this Li Su's persuasion had led him to kill Ding Yuan； his former benefactor。
〃If Li Su refuses this mission； I will kill him；〃 said Lu Bu。
So they sent for Li Su。
When Li Su arrived； Lu Bu said； 〃Formerly you talked me into killing Ding Yuan and going over to Dong Zhuo。 Now we find Dong Zhuo means evil for the Emperor and is an oppressor of the people。 His iniquities are many； and he is hated by gods and humans。 You go to Meiwo； say you have a mand from the Emperor to summon the Prime Minister to the Palace。 He will e； and he will be put to death。 You will have the credit of being loyal and restoring the Hans。 Will you undertake this？〃
〃I also wish to slay him；〃 was the reply。 〃But I could not find anyone to assist me。 How can I hesitate？ Your intervention is directly from Heaven。〃
And Li Su snapped an arrow in twain as register of his oath。
〃If this succeeds； what glorious rank will be yours！〃 said Wang Yun。
Next day Li Su； with a small escort； set out for Meiwo and announced himself as bearer of a decree。 He was conducted into Dong Zhuo's presence。 After he had made his obeisance； Dong Zhuo asked what the decree was。
〃His Majesty has recovered and wishes his ministers to meet him in the Palace to consider the question of his abdication in your favor。 That is what this summons means。〃
〃What does Wang Yun think of the scheme？〃
〃Wang Yun has already begun the construction of the Terrace of Abdication and only awaits my lord's arrival。〃
〃Last night I dreamed a dragon coiled round my body；〃 said Dong Zhuo greatly pleased； 〃and now I get this happy tidings！ I must not neglect the opportunity。〃
So Dong Zhuo gave instructions to his four trusted generals for the safekeeping of his city。 Li Jue； Guo Si； Fan Chou； and Zhang Ji were to guard Meiwo with three thousand troops of the Flying Bear Army。 Then Dong Zhuo announced his intention of starting on the morrow。
〃When I am Emperor； you shall be mander of the Capital District；〃 said he。
〃Your minister thanks you；〃 said Li Su。
Dong Zhuo went to bid farewell to his ninety…year…old mother。
〃Whither are you going； my son？〃 asked she。
〃I go to receive the abdication of Han； and soon you will be the Empress。〃
〃I have been feeling nervous and creepy these few days。 It is a bad sign。〃
〃Anyone about to bee the Mother of the State must have premonitions；〃 said her son。
He left her with these words。
Just before starting； he said to Diao Chan； 〃When I am Emperor； you shall be Lady of the Palace。〃
She bowed low thanking him； but she knew and inwardly rejoiced。
Dong Zhuo went out； mounted his carriage； and began his journey to Capital Changan with an imposing escort。 Less than ten miles the wheel of his carriage broke。 He left it and mounted a horse。 Another ten miles the horse snorted and neighed； threw up his head and snapped the reins。
Dong Zhuo turned to Li Su and asked what these things portended。
〃It means that you are going to receive the abdication of the Hans； which is to renew all things： To mount the jeweled chariot and sit in the golden saddle。〃
And Dong Zhuo was pleased and convinced with this answer。 During the second day's journey a violent gale sprang up； and the sky became covered with a thick mist。
〃What does this mean？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
The wily Li Su had an interpretation for this also； saying； 〃You are ascending to the place of the dragon： There must be bright light and lurid vapor to dignify your majestic approach。〃
Dong Zhuo had no more doubts。 He presently arrived and found many officials waiting without the city gate to receive him； all but Li Ru who was ill and unable to leave his chamber。 He entered and proceeded to his own palace； where Lu Bu came to congratulate him。
〃When I sit on the throne； you shall mand the whole armies of the empire； horse and foot；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
That night Dong Zhuo slept in the midst of his escort。 In the suburbs that evening some children at play were singing a little ditty； and the words drifted into the bedchamber on the wind。
〃The grass in the meadow looks fresh now and green；
Yet wait but ten days； not a blade will be seen。〃
The song sounded ominous but Li Su was again prepared with a happy interpretation： 〃It only means that the Lius are about to disappear； and the Dongs to be exalted。〃
＇e＇ The staff； the cloth； and the mouths formed the Chinese characters； implied the name of Lu Bu。
Next morning at the first streak of dawn； Dong Zhuo prepared for his appearance at court。 On the way he sa