t attend the funeral。
mander Yuan Shao went one day to see He Jin； saying； 〃The two eunuchs； Zhang Rang and Duan Gui； are spreading the report outside that you has caused the death of the late empress and is aiming at the throne。 This is an excuse for you to destroy them。 Do not spare them this time； or you will pay like Dou Wu and Chen Fan； who in the previous reign missed their chance because the secret had not been kept； and they paid by their own deaths。 Now you and your brother have many manders and officers behind； so that the destruction of the eunuchs can be but an ease。 It is a heaven…sent opportunity。 Delay no further！〃
But He Jin replied； 〃Let me think it over。〃
He Jin's servants overheard the discussion and secretly informed the intended victims； who sent further gifts to the younger brother He Miao。
Corrupted by these； He Miao went in to speak with his sister Empress He and said； 〃The General is the chief support of the new Emperor； yet he is not gracious and merciful but thinks wholly of slaughter。 If he slays the eunuchs without cause； it may bring about revolution。〃
Soon after He Jin entered and told her of his design to put the eunuchs to death。
She argued with him； 〃Those officials look after palace affairs and are old servants。 To kill the old servants just after the death of their master would appear disrespectful to the dynasty's ancestral temple。〃
And as He Jin was of a vacillating mind； he murmured assent and left her。
〃What about it？〃 said Yuan Shao on meeting him。
〃She will not consent。 What can be done？〃
〃Call up an army and slay them。 It is imperative。 Never mind her consent！〃
〃That is an excellent plan；〃 said He Jin。 And he sent orders all round to march soldiers to the capital。
But Secretary Chen Lin objected； 〃Nay！ Do not act without due consideration。 The proverb says 'To cover the eyes and snatch at swallows is to fool oneself。' If in so small a matter you cannot attain your wish； what of great affairs？ Now by virtue of the emperor and with the army under your hand； you are like prancing tiger and soaring dragon： You may do as you please。 To use such enormous powers against the eunuchs would bring victory as easily as lighting up a furnace to burn a hair。 Only act promptly： Use your powers and smite at once； and all the empire will be with you。 But to summon forces to the capital； to gather many bold warriors into one spot； each with different schemes； is to turn our weapons against our own person； to place ourselves in the power of another。 Nothing but failure can e of it； and havoc will ensue。〃
〃The view of a mere book…worm；〃 said He Jin with a smile。
Then one of those about He Jin suddenly clapped his hands； laughing； 〃Solving this issue is as easy as turning over one's hand！ Why so much talk？〃
The speaker was Cao Cao。
Wouldst thou withdraw wicked people from thy prince's side；
Then seek counsel of the wise people of the state。
What Cao Cao said will be disclosed in later chapters。
Main Next to Chapter 3 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 3
Chapter 3
In Wenming Garden； Dong Zhuo Denounces Ding Yuan；
With Red Hare； Li Su Bribes Lu Bu。
What Cao Cao said was this： 〃The eunuch evil is of very old standing； but the real cause of the present trouble is in the improper influence allowed them by the emperors and the misplaced favoritism they have enjoyed。 But a gaoler would be ample force to employ against this kind of evil； and getting rid of the main culprits is quite enough。 Why increase confusion by summoning troops from the regions？ Any desire to slay all of them will speedily bee known； and the plan will fail。〃
〃Then； Cao Cao； you have some scheme of your own to further；〃 said He Jin with a sneer。
Cao Cao left the meeting； proclaiming； 〃The one who throws the world into chaos is He Jin！〃
Then He Jin sent swift； secret letters far and wide to several bases。
It must be recalled that Dong Zhuo had failed in his attempt to destroy the Yellow Scarves rebellion。 He would have been punished if he had not bribed the Ten Eunuchs heavily for their protection。 Later； through connections in the capital； he obtained rapid promotions from General to General of the Front Army； to Lord of Aoxiang； to Imperial Protector in the western region of Xizhou and mander of an army of two hundred thousand troops。 But Dong Zhuo was treacherous and disloyal at heart。 So when he received the summons to the capital； he rejoiced greatly and lost no time in obeying it。 He left a son…in…law； mander Niu Fu； to look after the affairs of Xizhou and set out for Luoyang。 Dong Zhuo took with him a huge army and four generals………Li Jue； Guo Si； Zhang Ji； and Fan Chou。
Dong Zhuo's adviser and son…in…law； Li Ru； said； 〃Though a formal summons has e； there are many obscurities in it。 It would be well to send up a memorial stating plainly our aims and intentions。 Then we can proceed。〃
So Dong Zhuo posed something like this：
〃Thy servant knows that the continual rebellions owe their origin to Zhang Rang and the Regular Attendants of the Inner Bureau； who act counter to all recognized precepts。 Now to stop the ebullition of a pot the best way is to withdraw the fire； to cut out an abscess； though painful； is better than to nourish the evil。 I have dared undertake a military advance on the capital； with thy permission； and now pray that Zhang Rang and the other eunuchs be removed for the happiness of the dynasty and of the empire。〃
He Jin read this memorial and showed it to his partisans。
Then said Minister Zheng Tai； 〃A fierce wild beast： If he es； his prey will be humans！〃
He Jin replied； 〃You are too timorous： You are unequal to great schemes。〃
But Lu Zhi also said； 〃Long have I known this man。 In appearance innocent； he is a very wolf at heart。 Let him in； and calamity enters with him。 Stop him； do not let him e； and thus will you avoid upheaval。〃
He Jin was obstinate； and both Zheng Tai and Lu Zhi gave up their posts and retired； as did more than half the ministers of state； while He Jin sent a warm wele to Dong Zhuo； who soon camped at Shengchi Lake and stationed there without further action。
Zhang Rang and the eunuchs knew this move was directed against them and said； 〃This is He Jin's plot。 If we do not strike first； our whole clans shall be exterminated。〃
So they hid a band of fifty armed ruffians at the Gate of Grand Virtue in the Palace of Happiness； where the Empress lived； then they went in to see her。
They said； 〃The General； feigning to act under mand； has called up armies to the capital to destroy us。 We pray you； Your Majesty； pity and save us！〃
〃Go to the General and confess your faults；〃 said the Empress。
〃If we did； then should we be cut to mincemeat！ Rather summon the General into your presence and mand him to cease。 If he will not； then we pray but die in your presence。〃
Empress He issued the requisite mand。
He Jin was just going to her when Secretary Chen Lin advised him not to enter； saying； 〃The eunuchs are certainly behind the order and mean your harm。〃
But He Jin could only see the mand of the Empress and was oblivious to all else。 Said he； 〃Clearly； this is an edict from the Empress。 What harm？〃
〃Our plot is no longer a secret；〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃Still you may go if you are ready to fight your way in。〃
〃Get the eunuchs out first！〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Silly children！〃 said He Jin。 〃What can they do against the man who holds the forces of the empire in his palm？〃
Yuan Shao said； 〃If you will go； then we will e as a guard； just as a precaution。〃
Whereupon both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao chose five hundred best men under their mand； at whose head they placed Yuan Shu； a brother of Yuan Shao。 Yuan Shu； clad in mail； drew up his troops outside the Forbidden City's entrance； while Yuan Shao and Cao Cao； holding swords； went as escort。
When He Jin neared the Palace of Happiness； the officers from the Inner Bureau said； 〃The orders are to admit the Regent Marshal and none other。〃
So the escort was detained outside。 He Jin went in proudly。 At the Gate of Grand Virtue； he was met by Zhang Rang and Duan Gui； and their followers quickly closed in around him。 He Jin began to feel alarmed。
Then Zhang Rang in a harsh voice began to revile him： 〃What crime had Empress Dong mitted that she should have been put to death？ And when the Mother of the Country was buried； who feigned sickness and did not attend？ We raised you and your paltry； huckstering family to all the dignity and wealth you have； and this is your gratitude！ You would slay us。 You call us sordid and dirty： Who is the cleaner？〃
He Jin was panic stricken and looked about for a way to escape； but all gates had been shut。 The eunuchs closed him in； and then the assassins appeared and cut He Jin into halves。
Closing the days of the Hans； and the years of their rule were near spent；
Stupid and tactless was He Jin； yet stood he highest in office；
Many were they who advised him； but he was deaf as he heard not；
Wherefore fell he a victim under the swords of the eunuchs。
So He Jin died。 Yuan Shao and Cao Cao waited long。 By and by； impatient at the delay； they called through the gate； 〃Thy carriage awaits； O General！〃
For reply the head of He Jin was flung over the wall。 A decree was proclaimed： 〃He Jin has contemplated treachery and therefore has been slain！ It pardons his adherents。〃
Yuan Shao shouted； 〃The eunuchs have slain the High Minister。 Let those who will slay this wicked party e and help me！〃
Then one of He Jin's generals； Wu Kuang； set fire to the gate。 Yuan Shu at the head of his guards burst in and fell to slaying the eunuchs without regard to age or rank。 Yuan Shao and Cao Cao broke into the inner part of the Palace。 Four of the eunuchs………Zhao Zhong； Cheng Kuang； Xia Yun； and Guo Sheng………fled to the Blue Flower Lodge where they were hacked to pieces。 Fire raged； destroying the buildings。
Four of the Ten Regular Attendants………Zhang Rang； Duan Gui； Cao Jie； and Hou Lan………led by Zhang Rang carried off the Empress； Emperor Bian； and Prince Xian of Chenliu toward the North Palace。
Lu Zhi； since he had resigned office； was at home； but hearing of the revolution in the Palace he donned his armor； took his spear； and prepared to fight。
He saw Eunuch Duan Gui hurrying the Empress along and called o