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Huan　Ji　thanked　him　and　took　his　leave。
But　as　Huan　Ji　went　down　the　steps；　Kuai　Liang　suddenly　broke　in；　saying；　〃No；　no！　Let　me　speak　and　I　will　see　to　it　that　not　a　single　enemy　can　survive。　I　pray　you　first　put　this　man　to　death　and　then　to　employ　my　means。〃

Pursuing　his　enemy；　Sun　Jian　dies；
On　a　peaceful　mission；　Huan　Ji　is　threatened。

The　fate　of　the　ambassador　will　be　disclosed　in　a　later　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　8　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　8
　Chapter　8
Wang　Yun　Prepares　The　Chaining　Scheme；
Dong　Zhuo　Rages　At　Phoenix　Pavilion。
This　is　what　Kuai　Liang　said；　〃Sun　Jian　is　now　gone；　and　his　children　are　but　youths。　Seize　this　moment　of　weakness　to　break　into　Changsha；　and　it　is　yours　in　one　beat　of　the　drum。　If　you　return　the　corpse　and　make　peace；　you　give　them　time　to　grow　powerful；　and　evil　will　ensue　to　Jingzhou。〃
〃How　can　I　leave　Huang　Zu　in　their　hands？〃　said　Liu　Biao。
〃Why　not　sacrifice　this　blundering　warrior　for　a　region？〃
〃But　he　is　my　dear　friend　and　to　abandon　him　is　wrong。〃
So　Huan　Ji　was　allowed　to　return　to　his　own　side　with　the　understanding　that　Sun　Jian's　dead　body　should　be　given　in　exchange。　Sun　Ce　freed　his　prisoner；　brought　away　his　father's　coffin；　and　the　fighting　ceased。　Sun　Jian　was　interred　in　the　plains　of　Que。　When　the　ceremonies　were　over；　Sun　Ce　led　his　army　home　again。

＇e＇　The　Yangtze　or　Yangzi　river；　which　flows　from　west　to　east　to　the　Pacific　at　Shanghai。
In　Changsha；　the　southern　territory　of　the　Great　River*；　Sun　Ce　set　himself　to　the　task　of　ruling　well。　Being　humble　and　generous；　he　invited　to　his　side　humans　of　wisdom　and　valor　and　so　bore　himself　that　all　the　best　and　bravest　of　the　country　gathered　about　him。
Meanwhile；　Dong　Zhuo　at　Capital　Changan；　when　he　heard　of　the　death　of　the　turbulent　Sun　Jian；　said；　〃An　evil　that　pressed　hard　upon　my　heart　has　been　removed！〃
He　asked　what　children　Sun　Jian　had　left；　and　when　they　told　him　the　eldest　was　but　seventeen；　he　dismissed　all　anxiety　from　his　thoughts。
From　this　time　forward　his　arrogance　and　domineering　spirit　waxed　worse　and　worse。　He　styled　himself　〃Imperial　Rector；〃　a　name　full　of　honor；　and　in　all　his　behavior　aped　imperial　state。　He　created　his　younger　brother；　Dong　Min；　Lord　of　Huazhou　and　made　him　mander　of　the　Left　Army。　A　nephew；　Dong　Huang；　was　made　Court　Counselor　and　placed　in　mand　of　the　Palace　Guard；　and　everyone　of　his　clan；　young　or　old；　was　ennobled。　Eighty　miles　from　the　capital　Dong　Zhuo　laid　out　a　city　called　Meiwo；　an　exact　replica　of　Changan；　with　its　palaces；　granaries；　treasuries；　and　magazines；　and　employed　a　quarter　of　a　million　people　to　build　it。　Here　he　accumulated　supplies　sufficient　for　twenty　years。　He　selected　eight　hundred　of　the　most　beautiful　maidens　and　sent　them　to　dwell　in　his　new　city。　The　stores　of　wealth　in　every　form　were　incalculable。　All　his　family　and　retainers　found　quarters　in　this　new　city。
Dong　Zhuo　visited　his　city　at　intervals　of　a　month　or　so；　and　every　visit　was　like　an　imperial　progress；　with　booths　by　the　roadside　to　refresh　the　officials　and　courtiers　who　attended　him　to　the　northwest　Royal　Gate　and　saw　him　start。
On　one　occasion　Dong　Zhuo　spread　a　great　feast　for　all　those　assembled　to　witness　his　departure；　and　while　it　was　in　progress；　there　arrived　a　large　number　of　rebels　from　the　north　who　had　voluntarily　surrendered。　The　tyrant　had　them　brought　before　him　as　he　sat　at　table　and　meted　out　to　them　wanton　cruelties。　The　hands　of　this　one　were　lopped　off；　the　feet　of　that；　one　had　his　eyes　gouged　out；　another　lost　his　tongue。　Some　were　boiled　to　death。　Shrieks　of　agony　arose　to　the　very　heavens；　and　the　courtiers　were　faint　with　terror。　But　the　author　of　the　misery　ate　and　drank；　chatted　and　smiled　as　if　nothing　was　going　on。
Another　day　Dong　Zhuo　was　presiding　at　a　great　gathering　of　officers　who　were　seated　in　two　long　rows。　After　the　wine　had　gone　up　and　down　several　times；　Lu　Bu　entered　and　whispered　a　few　words　in　his　master's　ear。
Dong　Zhuo　smiled　and　said；　〃He　was　always　so。　Take　Minister　Zhang　Wan　outside。〃
The　others　all　turned　pale。　In　a　little　time　a　serving　man　brought　the　head　of　their　fellow　guest　on　a　red　dish　and　showed　it　to　their　host。　They　nearly　died　with　fright。
〃Do　not　fear；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　smiling。　〃Minister　Zhang　Wan　was　in　league　with　Yuan　Shu　to　assassinate　me。　A　letter　he　wrote　fell　by　mistake　into　the　hands　of　my　son；　so　I　have　had　him　put　to　death。　You　gentlemen；　who　have　no　reason；　need　have　no　fear。〃
The　officials　hastened　to　disperse。　One　of　them；　Minister　of　the　Interior　Wang　Yun；　who　had　witnessed　all　this；　returned　to　his　palace　very　pensive　and　much　distressed。　The　same　evening；　a　bright　moonlight　night；　he　took　his　staff　and　went　strolling　in　his　private　garden。　Standing　near　one　of　the　creeper　trellises；　he　gazed　up　at　the　sky　and　the　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。　Suddenly　he　heard　a　rustle　in　the　Peony　Pavilion　and　someone　sighing　deeply。　Stealthily　creeping　near；　he　saw　there　one　of　the　household　singing　girls　named　Diao　Chan。
This　maiden　had　been　brought　up　in　his　palace；　where　she　had　been　taught　to　sing　and　dance。　At　twenty…one；　she　was　then　just　bursting　into　womanhood；　a　pretty　and　clever　girl　whom　Wang　Yun　regarded　more　as　a　daughter　than　a　dependant。
After　listening　for　some　time；　Wang　Yun　suddenly　called　out；　〃What　mischief　are　you　up　to　there；　you　naughty　girl？〃
The　maiden　dropped　on　her　knees　in　terror；　saying；　〃Would　thy　unworthy　handmaid　dare　to　do　anything　wrong？〃
〃Then　what　are　you　sighing　about　out　here　in　the　darkness？〃
〃May　thy　handmaid　speak　from　the　bottom　of　her　heart？〃
〃Tell　me　the　whole　truth。　Do　not　conceal　anything。〃
And　the　girl　said；　〃Thy　handmaid　has　been　the　recipient　of　bountiful　kindness。　She　has　been　taught　to　sing　and　dance　and　been　treated　so　kindly　that　were　she　torn　in　pieces　for　her　lord's　sake；　it　would　not　repay　a　thousandth　part。　She　has　noticed　lately　that　her　lord's　brows　have　been　knit　in　distress　and　knows　it　is　on　account　of　the　state　troubles。　But　she　has　not　dared　to　ask。　This　evening　he　seemed　sadder　than　ever；　and　she　was　miserable　on　her　lord's　account。　But　she　did　not　know　she　would　be　seen。　Could　she　be　of　any　use　she　would　not　shrink　from　a　myriad　deaths。〃
A　sudden　idea　came　to　Wang　Yun；　and　he　stuck　the　ground　with　his　staff。　And　he　said；　〃Who　would　think　that　the　fate　of　Han　lay　on　your　palm？　e　with　me！〃
The　girl　followed　him　into　the　house。　Then　he　dismissed　all　the　waiting　attendants；　placed　Diao　Chan　on　a　chair　and　bowed　before　her。　She　was　frightened　and　threw　herself　on　the　ground；　asking　in　terror　what　it　all　meant。
Said　Wang　Yun；　〃You　can　sympathize　with　the　people　of　Han；〃　and　the　fount　of　his　tears　opened　afresh。
〃My　lord；　as　thy　handmaid　said　just　now；　use　her　in　any　way：　Thy　handmaid　will　never　shrink；〃　said　the　girl。
Wang　Yun　knelt；　saying；　〃The　people　are　on　the　brink　of　destruction；　the　prince　and　his　officers　are　in　jeopardy；　and　you；　you　are　the　only　savior。　That　wretch　Dong　Zhuo　wants　to　depose　the　Emperor；　and　not　a　person　among　us　can　find　means　to　stop　him。　Now　he　has　a　son；　a　bold　warrior　it　is　true；　but　both　father　and　son　have　a　weakness　for　beauty；　and　I　am　going　to　use　what　I　may　call　the　'chaining'　plan。　I　shall　first　propose　you　in　marriage　to　Lu　Bu　and　then；　after　you　are　betrothed；　I　shall　present　you　to　Dong　Zhuo；　and　you　will　take　every　opportunity　to　force　them　asunder　and　turn　sway　their　countenances　from　each　other；　cause　the　son　to　kill　his　adopted　father　and　so　put　an　end　to　the　great　evil。　Thus　you　may　restore　the　altars　of　the　land　that　it　may　live　again。　All　this　lies　within　your　power：　Will　you　do　it？〃
〃Thy　handmaid　has　promised　not　to　recoil　from　death　itself。　You　may　use　my　poor　self　in　any　way；　and　I　must　do　my　best。〃
〃But　if　this　gets　abroad　then　we　are　all　lost！〃
〃Fear　not；〃　said　she。　〃If　thy　handmaid　does　not　show　gratitude；　may　she　perish　beneath　a　myriad　swords！〃
〃Thank　you；　thank　you！〃　said　Wang　Yun。
Then　Wang　Yun　took　from　the　family　treasury　many　pearls　and　bade　a　cunning　jeweler　make　therewith　a　fine　golden　headdress；　which　was　sent　as　a　present　to　Lu　Bu。　He　was　delighted　and　came　to　thank　the　donor。　When　Lu　Bu　arrived；　he　was　met　at　the　gate　by　Wang　Yun　himself　and　within　found　a　table　full　of　dainties　for　his　delectation。　He　was　conducted　into　the　private　apartments　and　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor。
Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　am　but　a　simple　officer　in　the　palace　of　a　minister。　You　are　an　exalted　officer　of　state。　Why　am　I　treated　thus？〃
〃Because　in　the　whole　land　there　is　no　hero　your　equal。　Poor　Wang　Yun　bows　not　to　an　officer's　rank；　poor　Wang　Yun　bows　to　his　ability　〃
This　gratified　Lu　Bu　mightily；　and　his　host　continued　to　praise　and　flatter　and　ply　him　with　wine　and　to　talk　of　the　virtues　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　his　henchman。
Lu　Bu　laughed　and　drank　huge　goblets。
Presently　most　of　the　attendants　were　sent　away；　only　a　few　kept　to　press　the　guest　to　drink。
When　the　guest　was　very　mellow；　Wang　Yun　suddenly　said；　〃Let　her　e　in！〃
Soon　appeared　two　attendants；　dressed　in　white；　leading　between　them　the　exquisite　and　fascinating　Diao　Chan。
〃Who　is　this？〃　said　Lu　Bu　startled　into　sobriety。
〃This　is　my　little　girl；　Diao　Chan。　You　will　not　be　annoyed　at　my　familiarity；　will　you？　But　you　have　been　so　very　friendly；　I　thought　you　would　like　to　see　her。〃
Wang　Yun　bade　Diao　Chan　present　a　goblet　of　wine；　and　her　eyes　met　those　of　the　warrior。
Wang　Yun　feigning　intoxication　said；　〃My　little　child　begs　you；　General；　to　take　a　cup　or　two。　We　all　depend　upon　you；　all　our　house。〃
Lu　Bu　begged　Diao　Chan　to　sit　down。　She　pretended　to　wish　to　retire。　Her　master　pressed　her　to　remain；　saying　that　she　might　do　so　since　the　guest　was　a　dear　friend。　So　she　took　a　seat　modestly　near　her　master。
Lu　Bu　kept　his　gaze　fixed　upon　the　maid；　while　he　swallowed　cup　after　cup　of　wine。
〃I　should　like　to　present　her　to　you　as　a　handmaid：　Would　you　accept？〃　said　Wang　Yun。
The　guest　started　up。
〃If　that　is　so；　you　may　rely　upon　my　abject　gratitude；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃We　will　choose　a　propitious　day　ere　long　and　send　her　to　the　palace。〃
Lu　Bu　was　overjoyed。　He　could　not　keep　his　eyes　off　Diao　Chan；　and　loving　glances　flashed　from　her　liquid　eyes。
However　the　time　came　for　the　guest　to　leave；　and　Wang　Yun　said；　〃I　would　ask　you　to　remain　the　night；　but　the　Prime　Minister　might　suspect　something。〃
Lu　Bu　thanked　him　again　and　again　and　departed。
Some　few　days　later　when　Wang　Yun　was　at　court　and　Lu　Bu　was　absent；　Wang　Yun　bowed　low　before　Dong　Zhuo　and　said；　〃I　wish　that　you　would　deign　to　e　to　dine　at　my　lowly　cottage：　Could　your　noble　thought　bend　that　way？〃
〃Should　you　invite　me；　I　would　certainly　hasten；〃　was　the　reply。
Wang　Yun　thanked　him。　Then　Wang　Yun　went　home　and　prepared　in　the　reception　hall　a　feast　in　which　figured　every　delicacy　from　land　and　sea。　Beautiful　embroideries　surrounded　the　chief　seat　in　the　center；　and　elegant　curtains　were　hung　within　and　without。　At　noon　next　day；　when　the　Prime　Minister　arrived；　Wang　Yun　met　him　at　the　gate　in　full　court　costume。　Wang　Yun　stood　by　while　Dong　Zhuo　stepped　out　of　his　chariot；　and　Dong　Zhuo　and　a　host　of　one　hundred　armed　guards　crowded　into　the　hall。　Dong　Zhuo　took　his　seat　at　the　top；　his　suite　fell　into　two　lines　right　and　left；　while　Wang　Yun　stood　humbly　at　the　lower　end。　Dong　Zhuo　bade　his　people　conduct　Wang　Yun　to　a　place　beside　himself。

＇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＇　Duke　of　Zhou　was　brother