Next morning at the first streak of dawn； Dong Zhuo prepared for his appearance at court。 On the way he saw a Taoist； dressed in a black robe and wearing a white turban； who carried in his hand a tall staff with a long strip of white cloth attached。 At each end of the cloth was drawn a mouth*。
〃What is the meaning of this？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃He is a madman；〃 said Li Su； and he told the guards to drive the fellow away。
Dong Zhuo went in and found all the officials in court dress lining the road。 Li Su walked beside his carriage； a sword in his hand。 When Li Su reached the north gate of the Forbidden City； he found the soldiers of Dong Zhuo drawn up outside and only the pushers of the Palace carriage； a twenty or so； were allowed to proceed further。
When Dong Zhuo arrived near the Reception Hall； he saw that Wang Yun and all the other officials standing at the door were armed。
〃Why are they all armed？〃 said Dong Zhuo to Li Su。
Li Su was silent as he helped push the carriage forward swiftly to the entrance。
Suddenly Wang Yun shouted； 〃The rebel is here！ Where are the executioners？〃
At this call sprang from both sides soldiers armed with halberds and spears who attacked Dong Zhuo。 He had not put on the breastplate he usually wore； and a spear pierced his breast。
He sank down in the carriage calling loudly for his son； 〃Where is Lu Bu？〃
〃Here； and with a decree to deal with a rebel！〃 said Lu Bu； as he appeared in front of his 〃father。〃
Thereupon he thrust his trident halberd through the victim's throat。 Then Li Su hacked off the head and held it up。
Lu Bu； his left hand holding his halberd； thrust his right hand into his bosom whence he drew the decree； crying； 〃The decree was to slay the rebel Dong Zhuo………no other！〃
The whole assembly shouted； 〃Wan shui！ Live forever！ O Emperor！〃
A sympathetic poet has written a few lines in pity：
Await the time； O noble； and be king；
Or failing； reap the solace riches bring；
Heaven never is partial； but severely just；
Meiwo stood strong； yet now it lies in dust。
The lust of blood awakened； Lu Bu urged the slaughter of Li Ru； who had been the confidant of the murdered Prime Minister； and Li Su volunteered to go in search of him。 But just then a shouting was heard at the gates； and it was told them that a household servant had brought Li Ru in bonds。 Wang Yun ordered his immediate execution in the market place。
Dong Zhuo's head was exposed in a crowded thoroughfare。 He was very fat； and the guards made torches by sticking splints into the body； spilling the corpse's grease over the ground。 The passers…by pelted the head and spurned the body with their feet。
Wang Yun ordered a force of fifty thousand under Lu Bu； Huangfu Song； and Li Su to destroy Meiwo。 Learning the news of their master； Li Jue； Guo Si； Fan Chou； and Zhang Ji fled west swiftly through the night with their Flying Bear Army to Liangzhou Region。
When arriving Meiwo； Lu Bu's first deed was to take Diao Chan into his charge。 Then they slew every member of the Dong family； sparing none； not even Dong Zhuo's aged mother。 The heads of Dong Zhuo's brother Dong Min and his nephew Dong Huang were publicly displayed in the market place。 In Meiwo were hidden many young ladies of good families。 These were set free。 All properties were confiscated。 The wealth was enormous………several hundred thousand ounces of gold； millions of silver coins； pearls； gems； silks； velvets； furs； grain stores。
When they returned to report success； Wang Yun rewarded and feasted the soldiers。 Banquets were held in the Ministry Hall to which all the officials were invited。 They drank and congratulated each other。 While the feasting was in progress it was announced that someone had e and was wailing over Dong Zhuo's corpse exposed in the market place。
〃Dong Zhuo has been put to death；〃 said Wang Yun； angrily。 〃Every body is glad to be rid of him； and yet one is found to lament over him。 Who is this？〃
＇e＇ Cai Yong had had an illustrious career as a court official。 When Dong Zhuo took over the court； Cai Yong resigned his post as a minister。 Later on； Dong Zhuo wanted to increase the influence of the government over the local lords； and so he invited Cai Yong back； threatening if Cai Yong had refused he would have put to death Cai Yong's whole family。 （chatper 4） Cai Yong's daughter Cai Yan was a well…known poetess。 。。。。。
So Wang Yun gave orders to arrest the mourner and bring him in。 Soon he was brought in； and when they saw him all were startled。 For he was no other than Imperial Historian Cai Yong*。
Wang Yun spoke to Cai Yong angrily； 〃Dong Zhuo has been put to death as a rebel； and all the land rejoices。 You； a Han minister； instead of rejoicing； weep for him。 Why？〃
Cai Yong confessed his fault； saying； 〃I am without talent； yet know what is right。 I am not the man who turns my back on the dynasty and toward Dong Zhuo。 Yet once I experienced his kindness； and I could not help mourning for him。 I know my fault is grave； but I pray you regard the reasons。 If you will leave my head and only cut off my feet； you may use me to continue the History of Han； whereby I may have the good fortune to be allowed to expiate my fault。〃
All were sorry for Cai Yong； for he was a man of great talents； and they begged that he might be spared。
The Imperial Guardian； Ma Midi； secretly interceded for him； saying； 〃Cai Yong is famous as a scholar； and he can write glorious history； and it is inadvisable to put to death a man renowned for rectitude without consideration。〃
But in vain； for the High Minister was now strong and obdurate。
＇e＇ Emperor Wu； aka Liu Che； （reigned BC 141…87） whose reign was longest among the Han emperors。 Emperor Wu was perhaps the most influential Han emperor who concerned not only about expanding territory but also about developing trade with other countries （the Silk Road； for example）。 Emperor paid special attention to longevity； and his court often had elaborate rituals。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Sima Qian （BC 145…85） astronomer； calendar expert； and the first great Chinese historian； noted for his authorship of the 〃Historical Records〃 or Shi Ji； which is considered to be the most important history of China down to the end of the 2nd century。 。。。。。
Wang Yun said； 〃Centuries ago； Emperor Wu* spared Sima Qian* and employed him on the annals； with the result that many slanderous stories have been handed down to us。 This is a trying period of great perplexity； and we dare not let a specious fellow like this wield his pen in criticism of those about the court of a youthful prince and abuse us as he will。〃
Remonstrance and appeal being vain； Ma Midi retired。 But he said to his colleagues； 〃Is Wang Yun then careless of the future？ Worthy people are the mainstay of the state； laws are the canons of action。 To destroy the mainstay and nullify the laws is to hasten destruction。〃
As was just said Wang Yun was obdurate。 Cai Yong whose offense was an expression of gratitude was thrown into prison and there strangled。 The people of that day wept for Cai Yong； for they refused to see any offense in what he had done； and death was a harsh punishment。
Dong Zhuo； the dictator；
Tyrannized the state；
Fell and his sole mourner
Shared his direful fate。
Zhuge Liang in seclusion
Was content to dream；
Felt his worth and never
Helped a traitor's scheme。
Those generals………Li Jue； Guo Si； Fan Chou； and Zhang Ji………whom Dong Zhuo had left to guard Meiwo fled when their master was slain and went into the county of Shanxi in Liangzhou Region。 Thence they sent in a memorial entreating amnesty。 But Wang Yun would not hear of it。
〃Four of them were the chief instruments of Dong Zhuo's aggressions。 Now though a general amnesty were proclaimed； these men should be excluded from its benefit；〃 said Wang Yun。
The messenger returned and told the four there was no hope of pardon and they could only flee。
Then their adviser； Jia Xu； said； 〃If we throw away our arms and flee singly； then we shall fall easy victims to any village beadle who may seize us。 Rather let us cajole the Shanxi people to throw in their lot with us and make a sudden onslaught on the capital and so avenge Dong Zhuo。 If we succeed； we control the court and the empire。 There will be enough time to run away if we fail。〃
The plan was adopted； and they spread abroad the story that Wang Yun intended to massacre the county。
Having thus thrown the people into a state of terror； they went a step farther and said； 〃There is no advantage in dying for nothing。 Revolt and join us！〃
So they cajoled the people into joining them and gathered a host equal to one hundred thousand。 This horde was divided into four parts； and they all set out to raid Capital Changan。 On the way they fell in with a son…in…law of their late chief； Imperial mander Niu Fu； who marched five thousand troop from Xiliang。 Niu Fu had set out to avenge his father…in…law； and he became the Van Leader of the horde。
As they advanced； the news came to Wang Yun； and he consulted Lu Bu。
〃They are a lot of rats；〃 said Lu Bu。 〃Never mind how many there are of them。 Be not in the least anxious。〃
So Lu Bu and Li Su went to oppose them。 The latter was in advance and met Niu Fu。 They fought； Niu Fu was outmatched and retired after suffering a slaughter。 But unexpectedly Niu Fu returned in a night attack； found Li Su quite unprepared and drove Li Su's force some ten miles； slaying many。
Li Su reported the defeat； and Lu Bu raged at him； saying； 〃You have sullied my reputation as a warrior and destroyed our fighting spirit！〃
And Lu Bu put Li Su to death； exposing his head at the camp gate。
Next day Lu Bu advanced his own force and engaged Niu Fu。 He overwhelmed Niu Fu and drove him off。 That night Niu Fu called in his most trusted man； Hu Chier； to advise him。
Hu Chier said； 〃Lu Bu is too doughty a fighter for us to hope to overe him。 Our case is hopeless。 Our best course is to desert these four generals； secrete their valuables； and leave the army with just a few of our followers。〃
The plan of Hu Chier was adopted； and the two traitors and some others that very night packed up and made their way out of camp。 They were only half a dozen。 They came to a river and； while crossing； Hu Chier； tempted by the lust of wealth； slew his panion。 Then he went to offer