ok his spear； and prepared to fight。
He saw Eunuch Duan Gui hurrying the Empress along and called out； 〃You rebel； how dare you abduct the Empress？〃
The eunuch fled。 The Empress leaped out of a window and was taken to a place of safety。
General Wu Kuang burst into one of the inner halls where he found He Miao； sword in hand。
〃You also were in the plot to slay your own brother；〃 cried Wu Kuang。 〃You shall die with the others！〃
〃Let us kill the plotter against his elder brother！〃 cried many。
He Miao looked around： His enemies hemmed him in on every side。 He was hacked to pieces。
Yuan Shu bade his soldiers scatter and seek out all the families of the eunuchs； sparing none。 In that slaughter many beardless men were killed in error。
Cao Cao set himself to extinguish the fires。 He then begged Empress He to undertake the direction of affairs； and soldiers were sent to pursue Zhang Rang and rescue the young Emperor and the young Prince of Chenliu。
Meanwhile； Zhang Rang and Duan Gui had hustled away the Emperor and the Prince。 They burst through the smoke and fire and traveled without stopping till they reached the Beimang Hills。 It was then the third watch。 They heard a great shouting behind them and saw soldiers in pursuit。 Their leader； Min Gong； a mander in Henan； was shouting； 〃Traitors； stop； stop！〃
Zhang Rang； seeing that he was lost； jumped into the river； where he was drowned。
The two boys ignorant of the meaning of all this confusion and terrified out of their senses； dared not utter a cry。 They crept in among the rank grass on the river bank and hid。 The soldiers scattered in all directions but failed to find them。 So they remained till the fourth watch； shivering with cold from the drenching dew and very hungry。 They lay down in the thick grass and wept in each other's arms； silently； lest anyone should discover them。
〃This is no a place to stay in；〃 said Prince Xian。 〃We must find some way out。〃
So the two children knotted their clothes together and managed to crawl up the bank。 They were in a thicket of thorn bushes； and it was quite dark。 They could not see any path。 They were in despair when； all at once； millions of fireflies sprang up all about them and circled in the air in front of the Emperor。
〃God is helping us；〃 said Prince Xian。
They followed whither the fireflies led and gradually got into a road。 They walked till their feet were too sore to go further； when； seeing a heap of straw near the road； they crept to it and lay down。
This heap of straw was close to a farm house。 In the night； as the farmer was sleeping； he saw in a vision two bright red suns drop behind his dwelling。 Alarmed by the portent； he hastily dressed and went forth to look about him。 Then he saw a bright light shooting up from a heap of straw。 He hastened thither and then saw two youths lying behind it。
〃To what household do you belong； young gentlemen？〃 asked the farmer。
The Emperor was too frightened to reply； but his panion said； 〃He is the Emperor。 There was a revolution in the Forbidden City； and we ran away。 I am his brother； Prince of Chenliu。〃
The farmer bowed again and again and said； 〃My name is Sui Lie。 My brother Sui Yi is the former Minister of the Interior。 My brother was disgusted with the behavior of the eunuchs and so resigned and hid away here。〃
The two lads were taken into the farm； and their host on his knees served them with refreshment。
It has been said that Min Gong had gone in pursuit of Eunuch Duan Gui。 By and by Min Gong overtook Duan Gui and cried； 〃Where is the Emperor？〃
〃He disappeared！ I do not know where he is！〃
Min Gong slew Duan Gui and hung the bleeding head on his horse's neck。 Then he sent his troops searching in all directions； and he rode off by himself on the same quest。 Presently he came to the farm。 Sui Lie； seeing what hung on his horse's neck； questioned him and； satisfied with his story； led him to the Emperor。 The meeting was affecting。 All were moved to tears。
〃The state cannot be without its ruler；〃 said Min Gong。 〃I pray Your Majesty return to the city。〃
At the farm they had but one sorry nag and this they saddled for the Emperor。 The young Prince was taken on Min Gong's charger。 And thus they left the farm。 Not beyond one mile from the farm； they fell in with other officials and several hundred guards and soldiers made up an imposing cavalcade。 In the cavalcade were Wang Yun； Minister of the Interior； Yang Biao； Grand mander； Chunyu Qiong； mander of the Left Army； Zhao Meng； mander of the Right Army； Bao Xin； mander of the Rear Army； and Yuan Shao； mander of the Center Army。 Tears were shed freely as the ministers met their Emperor。
A man was sent on in front to the capital there to expose the head of Eunuch Duan Gui。
As soon as they could； they placed the Emperor on a better steed and the young Prince had a horse to himself。 Thus the Emperor returned to Luoyang； and so it happened after all as the street children's ditty ran：
Though the emperor doesn't rule； though the prince no office fills；
Yet a brilliant cavalcade es along from Beimang Hills。
The cavalcade had not proceeded far when they saw ing towards them a large body of soldiers with fluttering banners hiding the sun and raising a huge cloud of dust。 The officials turned pale； and the Emperor was greatly alarmed。 Yuan Shao rode out in advance。
〃Who are you？〃 said Yuan Shao。
From under the shade of an embroidered banner rode out a leader； saying； 〃Do you have the Emperor？〃
The Emperor was too panic stricken to respond； but the Prince of Chenliu rode to the front and cried； 〃Who are you？〃
〃Dong Zhuo； Imperial Protector of Xizhou Region。〃
〃Have you e to protect the Chariot or to steal it？〃 said Prince Xian。
〃I have e to protect；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃If that is so； the Emperor is here： Why do you not dismount？〃
Dong Zhuo hastily dismounted and made obeisance on the left of the road。 Then Prince Xian spoke graciously to him。 From first to last the Prince had carried himself most perfectly so that Dong Zhuo in his heart admired his behavior； and then arose the first desire to set aside the Emperor in favor of the Prince of Chenliu。
They reached the Palace the same day； and there was an affecting interview with Empress He。
But when they had restored order in the Palace； the Imperial Hereditary Seal； the special seal of the Emperor； was missing。
Dong Zhuo camped without the walls； but every day he was to be seen in the streets with an escort of mailed soldiers so that the mon people were in a state of constant trepidation。 He also went in and out of the Palace careless of all the rules of propriety。
mander of the Rear Army Bao Xin spoke of Dong Zhuo's behavior to Yuan Shao； saying； 〃This man harbors some evil design and should be removed。〃
〃Nothing can he done till the government is more settled；〃 said Yuan Shao。
Then Bao Xin saw Minister of the Interior Wang Yun and asked what he thought。
〃Let us talk it over；〃 was the reply。
Bao Xin said no more but he left the capital and retired to the Taishan Mountains。
Dong Zhuo induced the soldiers of the two brothers He Jin and He Miao to join his mand； and privately spoke to his adviser Li Ru about deposing the Emperor in favor of the Prince of Chenliu。
〃The government is really without a head。 There can be no better time than this to carry out your plan。 Delay will spoil all。 Tomorrow assemble the officials in the Wenming Garden and address them on the subject。 Put all opponents to death； and your prestige is settled。〃
So spoke Li Ru； and the words pleased Dong Zhuo mightily。
So the next day Dong Zhuo spread a feast and invited many guests。 As all the officers went in terror of him； no one dared be absent。 Dong Zhuo himself rode up to the garden last of all and took his place with his sword girded on。 When the wine had gone round several times； Dong Zhuo stopped the service and the music and began to speak。
〃I have something to say。 Listen quietly all of you！〃
All turned towards him。
〃The emperor is lord of all。 If he lacks dignity and behaves in an unseemly manner； he is no fitting inheritor of the ancestral prerogatives。 He who is now on the throne is a weakling； inferior to the Prince of Chenliu in intelligence and love of learning。 The Prince is in every way fitted for the throne。 I desire to depose the Emperor and set up the Prince in his place。 What think you？〃
The assembly listened in perfect silence； none daring at first to utter a word of dissent。 But one dared； for suddenly a guest stood up in his place； smote the table and cried。
〃No！ No！ Who are you that you dare utter such bold words？ The Emperor is son of the late Emperor and has done no wrong。 Why then should he be deposed？ Are you a rebel？〃
The speaker was Ding Yuan； Imperial Protector of Bingzhou。
Dong Zhuo glared at Ding Yuan； roaring； 〃There is life for those who are with me； death for those against！〃
Dong Zhuo drew his sword and made for the objector。 But the watchful Li Ru had noticed standing behind Ding Yuan a particularly dangerous looking henchman of his； who was now handling his halberd threateningly； and whose eyes were blazing with anger。
So Li Ru hastily interposed； saying； 〃But this is the banquet chamber； and state affairs should be left outside。 The matters can be fully discussed tomorrow。〃
His fellow guests persuaded Ding Yuan to leave； and after his departure Dong Zhuo said； 〃Is what I said just and reasonable？〃
＇e＇ Yi Yin was was helper and prime minister of King Tang； the founder of Shang Dynasty。 After King Tang's death； Yi Yin served his sons and grandson。 Soon after Tai Jia； King Tang's grandson； ascended the throne； he mitted many faults； and Yi Yin； acting as regent； exiled Tai Jia to Tong Palace………the burial place of King Tang。 After three years Yi Yin returned him the throne。 Tai Jia eventually became an enlightened emperor。 Shang Dynasty lasted for 650 years （BC 1700…1050）。 It was this act of Yi Yin rather than his services in building up an empire that has made him immortal。 Whether he did right in temporarily dethroning the king was open to question； until a final verdict was rendered by Mencius who thought that his ends amply justified his means。 This historical event attests the extent of the power exercised by a prime minister in those days。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Hu