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〃What　arguments　will　you　use　with　him？〃　asked　Dong　Zhuo。
〃You　have　a　fine　horse；　Red　Hare；　one　of　the　best　ever　bred。　I　must　have　this　steed；　and　gold　and　pearls　to　win　his　heart。　Then　will　I　go　and　persuade　him。　He　will　certainly　abandon　Ding　Yuan's　service　for　yours。〃
〃What　think　you？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　to　his　adviser　Li　Ru。
〃One　cannot　grudge　a　horse　to　win　an　empire；〃　was　the　reply。
So　they　gave　Li　Su　what　he　demanded………a　thousand　ounces　of　gold；　ten　strings　of　beautiful　pearls；　a　jeweled　belt；　and　Red　Hare………and　these　acpanied　Li　Su　on　his　visit　to　his　fellow　villager。
Li　Su　reached　the　camp　and　said　to　the　guard；　〃Please　tell　General　Lu　Bu　that　a　very　old　friend　has　e　to　visit　him。〃
He　was　admitted　forthwith。
〃Worthy　brother；　have　you　been　well　since　we　last　met？〃　greeted　Li　Su　while　bowing。
〃How　long　it　is　since　we　last　saw　each　other！〃　replied　Lu　Bu；　bowing　in　return。　〃And　where　are　you　now？〃
〃I　am　a　general　in　the　Imperial　Tiger　Army。　When　I　learned　you　were　a　strong　supporter　of　the　Throne；　I　could　not　say　how　I　rejoiced。　I　have　e　now　to　present　to　you　a　really　fine　horse；　a　five…hundred…mile…a…day　horse；　one　that　crosses　rivers　and　goes　up　mountains　as　if　they　were　the　level　plain。　Its　name　is　Red　Hare。　It　will　be　a　fitting　aid　to　your　valor。〃
Lu　Bu　bade　his　guards　lead　out　the　horse。　It　was　of　a　uniform　color　like　glowing…sun　red………not　a　hair　of　another　color。　It　measured　ten　spans　from　head　to　tail　and　from　hoof　to　neck　eight　spans。　When　it　neighed；　the　sound　filled　the　empyrean　and　shook　the　ocean。

Mark　ye　the　steed　swift　and　tireless；　see　the　dust；　spurned　by　his　hoofs；　rising　in　clouds；
Now　it　swims　the　river；　anon　climbs　the　hill；　rending　the　purple　mist　asunder；
Scornful　it　breaks　the　rein；　shakes　from　its　head　the　jeweled　bridle；
It　is　as　a　fiery　dragon　descending　from　the　highest　heaven。

Lu　Bu　was　delighted　with　the　horse　and　said；　〃What　return　can　I　hope　to　make　for　such　a　creature？〃
〃What　return　can　I　hope　for？　I　came　to　you　out　of　a　sense　of　what　is　right；〃　replied　Li　Su。
Wine　was　brought　in　and　they　drank。
〃We　have　seen　very　little　of　each　other；　but　I　am　constantly　meeting　your　honorable　father；〃　said　Li　Su。
〃You　are　drunk；〃　said　Lu　Bu。　〃My　father　has　been　dead　for　years。〃
〃Not　so；　I　spoke　of　Ding　Yuan；　the　man　of　the　day。〃
Lu　Bu　started。　〃Yes；　I　am　with　him；　but　only　because　I　can　do　no　better。〃
〃Sir；　your　talent　is　higher　than　the　heavens；　deeper　than　the　seas。　Who　in　all　the　world　does　not　bow　before　your　name？　Fame　and　riches　and　honors　are　yours　for　the　taking。　And　you　say　you　can　do　no　better　than　remain　a　subordinate！〃
〃If　I　could　only　find　a　master　to　serve；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃The　clever　bird　chooses　the　branch　whereon　to　perch；　the　wise　servant　selects　the　master　to　serve。　Seize　the　chance　when　it　es；　for　repentance　ever　es　too　late。〃
〃Now　you　are　in　the　government。　Who　think　you　is　really　the　bravest　of　all？〃；　asked　Lu　Bu。
〃I　despise　the　whole　lot　except　Dong　Zhuo。　He　is　one　who　respects　wisdom　and　reveres　scholarship；　he　is　discriminating　in　his　rewards　and　punishments。　Surely　he　is　destined　to　be　a　really　great　man。〃
Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　wish　that　I　could　serve　him；　but　there　is　no　way；　I　fear。〃
Then　Li　Su　produced　his　pearls　and　gold　and　the　jeweled　belt　and　laid　them　out　before　his　host。
〃What　is　this？　What　does　it　mean？〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃Send　away　the　attendants；〃　requested　Li　Su。　And　he　went　on；　〃Dong　Zhuo　has　long　respected　your　bravery　and　sent　these　by　my　hand。　Red　Hare　was　also　from　him。〃
〃But；　if　he　loves　me　like　this；　what　can　I　do　in　return？〃
Li　Su　said；　〃If　a　stupid　fellow　like　me　can　be　a　general　in　the　Imperial　Tiger　Army；　it　is　impossible　to　say　what　honors　await　you。〃
〃I　am　sorry　I　can　offer　him　no　service　worth　mentioning。〃
Li　Su　said；　〃There　is　one　service　you　can　do；　and　an　extremely　easy　one　to　perform；　but　you　would　not　render　that。〃
Lu　Bu　pondered　long　in　silence；　then　he　said；　〃I　might　slay　Ding　Yuan　and　bring　over　his　soldiers　to　Dong　Zhuo's　side。　What　think　you　of　that？〃
〃If　you　would　do　that；　there　could　be　no　greater　service。　But　such　a　thing　must　be　done　quickly。〃
And　Lu　Bu　promised　his　friend　that　he　would　do　the　deed　and　e　over　on　the　morrow。
So　Li　Su　took　his　leave。　That　very　night；　at　the　second　watch；　Lu　Bu　entered；　sword　in　hand；　into　his　master's　tent。　He　found　Ding　Yuan　reading　by　the　light　of　a　solitary　candle。
Seeing　who　came　in；　Ding　Yuan　said；　〃My　son；　what　is　afoot？〃
〃I　am　a　bold　hero；〃　said　Lu　Bu。　〃Do　not　think　I　am　willing　to　be　a　son　of　yours！〃
〃Why　this　change；　Lu　Bu？〃
As　a　reply　Lu　Bu　made　one　cut；　and　Ding　Yuan's　head　fell　to　the　earth。
Then　Lu　Bu　called　the　attendants　and　said；　〃He　was　an　unjust　man；　and　I　have　slain　him。　Let　those　who　back　me　stay。　The　others　may　depart。〃
Most　ran　away。　Next　day；　with　the　head　of　the　murdered　man　as　his　gift；　Lu　Bu　betook　himself　to　Li　Su；　who　led　him　to　Dong　Zhuo。　Dong　Zhuo　received　him　with　a　warm　wele　and　had　wine　set　before　him。
〃Your　ing　is　wele　as　the　gentle　dew　to　the　parched　grass；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
Lu　Bu　made　Dong　Zhuo　seat　himself　and　then　made　an　obeisance；　saying；　〃Pray　let　me　bow　to　you　as　my　adopted　father！〃
Dong　Zhuo　gave　his　newly　won　ally　gold　armor　and　silken　robes　and　spread　the　feast　of　wele。　They　then　separated。
Thence　Dong　Zhuo's　power　and　influence　increased　rapidly。　He　gave　the　lordship　of　Hu　（an　ancient　state）　and　the　rank　mander　of　the　Left　Army　to　his　brother　Dong　Min。　He　appointed　Lu　Bu　Lord　of　Luoyang；　mander　of　Capital　District；　and　Cavalry　mander。　Dong　Zhuo　made　himself　Minister　of　Works；　Grand　mander；　and　mander　of　the　Front　Army。
The　adviser　Li　Ru　never　ceased　from　urging　him　to　carry　out　the　design　of　deposing　the　young　Emperor。
The　now　all…powerful　Dong　Zhuo　prepared　a　banquet　in　the　capital　at　which　all　the　officers　of　state　were　guests。　He　also　bade　Lu　Bu　post　a　pany　of　armed　men　right　and　left　ready　for　action。　The　feast　began　and　several　courses　were　served　with　nothing　to　distinguish　that　banquet　from　any　other。
Then　suddenly　the　host　arose　and　drew　his　sword；　saying；　〃He　who　is　above　us　being　weak　and　irresolute　is　unfit　for　the　duties　of　his　high　place。　Wherefore　I；　as　of　old　did　Yi　Yin　and　Huo　Guang；　will　set　aside　this　Emperor　giving　him　the　title　of　Prince　of　Hongnong；　and　I　will　place　on　the　throne　the　present　Prince　of　Chenliu。　And　those　who　do　not　support　me　will　suffer　death。〃
Fear　seized　them　in　its　grip　and　they　were　silent；　all　but　Yuan　Shao　who　said；　〃The　Emperor　was　innocent　of　any　fault；　and　to　set　him　aside　in　favor　of　a　moner　was　rebellion　and　nothing　else！〃
〃The　empire　is　in　my　hands！〃　cried　Dong　Zhuo。　〃When　I　choose　to　do　this　thing；　who　will　dare　to　say　nay？　Think　you　my　sword　lacks　an　edge？〃
〃If　your　sword　is　sharp；　mine　is　never　blunt！〃　said　Yuan　Shao　as　his　sword　flashed　out　of　the　sheath。
The　two　men　stood　face　to　face　amid　the　feasters。

When　Ding　Yuan　by　treacherous　murder　died；
The　loss　was　great　to　Yuan　Shao's　side。

The　fate　of　Yuan　Shao　will　be　disclosed　in　later　chapters。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　4　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　4
　Chapter　4
The　Deposition　Of　The　Emperor：　Prince　Of　Chenliu　Bees　Emperor；
Schemes　Against　Dong　Zhuo：　Cao　Cao　Presents　A　Sword。
Dong　Zhuo　was　on　the　point　of　slaying　Yuan　Shao；　but　Li　Ru　checked　him；　saying；　〃You　must　not　kill　rashly　while　the　business　hangs　in　the　balance。〃
Yuan　Shao；　his　sword　still　unsheathed；　left　the　assembly。　He　hung　up　the　seals　of　his　office　at　the　east　gate　and　went　to　Jizhou　Region。
Dong　Zhuo　said　to　Imperial　Guardian　Yuan　Wei；　〃Your　nephew　behaved　improperly；　but　I　pardon　him　for　your　sake。　What　think　you　of　my　scheme？〃
〃What　you　think　is　right；〃　was　the　reply。
〃If　anyone　opposes　the　great　scheme；　he　will　be　dealt　with　by　military　law！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
The　ministers；　thoroughly　dreaded；　promised　obedience；　and　the　feast　came　to　an　end。
Dong　Zhuo　asked　Counselor　Zhou　Bi　and　mander　Wu　Qiong　what　they　thought　of　the　flight　of　Yuan　Shao。
Zhou　Bi　said；　〃He　left　in　a　state　of　great　anger。　In　such　a　state　of　excitement　much　harm　may　ensue　to　the　present　state　of　affairs；　especially　as　the　Yuan　family　have　been　noted　for　their　high　offices　for　four　generations；　and　their　proteges　and　dependents　are　everywhere。　If　they　assemble　bold　people　and　call　up　their　clients；　all　the　valiant　warriors　will　be　in　arms；　and　the　east　region　of　the　Huashang　Mountains　will　be　lost。　You　had　better　pardon　Yuan　Shao　and　give　him　a　post。　He　will　be　glad　at　being　forgiven　and　will　do　no　harm。〃
Wu　Qiong　said；　〃Yuan　Shao　is　fond　of　scheming；　but　he　fails　in　decision　and　so　is　not　to　be　feared。　But　it　would　be　well　to　give　him　rank　and　thus　win　popular　favor。〃
Dong　Zhuo　followed　this　advice；　and　within　that　day　sent　a　messenger　to　offer　Yuan　Shao　the　governorship　of　Bohai。
On　the　first　day　of　the　ninth　month；　the　Emperor　was　invited　to　proceed　to　the　Hall　of　Virtue　where　was　a　great　assembly　of　officials。
There　Dong　Zhuo；　sword　in　hand；　faced　the　gathering　and　said；　〃The　Emperor　is　a　weakling　unequal　to　the　burden　of　ruling　this　land。　Now　listen　ye　to　the　document　I　have　prepared！〃
And　Li　Ru　read　as　follows：
〃The　dutiful　Emperor　Ling　too　soon　left　his　people。　The　emperor　is　the　cynosure　of　all　the　people　of　this　land。　Upon　the　present　Emperor　Bian；　Heaven　has　conferred　but　small　gifts：　In　dignity　and　deportment　he　is　deficient；　and　in　mourning　he　is　remiss。　Only　the　most　plete　virtue　can　grace　imperial　dignity。　Empress　He　has　trained　him　improperly；　and　the　whole　state　administration　has　fallen　into　confusion。　Empress　Dong　died　suddenly　and　no　one　knew　why。　The　doctrine　of　the　three　bonds………Heaven；　Earth；　and　Human………and　the　continuity　of　Heaven　and　Earth　interdependence　have　both　been　injured。
〃But　Liu　Xian；　Prince　of　Chenliu；　is　sage　and　virtuous　beside　being　of　handsome　exterior。　He　conforms　to　all　the　rules　of　propriety：　His　mourning　is　sincere；　and　his　speech　is　always　correct。　Eulogies　of　him　fill　the　empire。　He　is　well　fitted　for　the　great　duty　of　consolidating　the　rule　of　Han。
〃Now　therefore　the　Emperor　is　deposed　and　created　Prince　of　Hongnong；　and　Empress　He　retires　from　the　administration。
〃I　pray　the　Prince　of　Chenliu　to　accept　the　throne　in　conformity　with　the　decrees　of　Heaven　and　Earth；　the　desires　of　people；　and　the　fulfillment　of　the　hopes　of　humankind。〃
This　having　been　read；　Dong　Zhuo　bade　the　officials　lead　the　Emperor　down　from　the　throne；　remove　his　seal；　and　cause　him　to　kneel　facing　the　north；　styling　himself　faithful　servant　of　the　Throne　and　requesting　mands。　Moreover　Dong　Zhuo　bade　Empress　He　strip　off　her　royal　dress　of　ceremony　and　await　the　imperial　mand。　Both　victims　of　this　oppression　wept　bitterly；　and　every　minister　present　was　deeply　affected。
One　minister　put　his　discontent　into　words；　crying；　〃The　false　Dong　Zhuo　is　the　author　of　this　insult；　which　I　will　risk　my　life　to　wipe　away！〃
And　with　this　he　rushed　at　Dong　Zhuo　threatening　with　his　ivory　baton　of　office。
It　was　Chair　of　the　Secretariat　Ding　Guan。　Dong　Zhuo　had　Ding　Guan　removed　and　summarily　put　to　death。　Before　his　death；　Ding　Guan　ceased　not　to　rail　at　the　oppressor；　nor　was　he　frightened　at　death。

The　rebel　Dong　Zhuo　conceived　the　foul　design
To　thrust　the　King　aside　and　wrong　his　line。
With　folded　arms　the　courtiers　stood；　save　one
Ding　Guan；　who　dared　to　cry　that　wrong　was　done。

Then　the　emperor　designate；　Prince　of　Chenliu；　went　to　the　upper　part　of　the　hall　to　receive　congratulations。　After　this　the　former　Emperor………now　Prince　of　Hongnong………；　his　mother；　and　the　Imperial　Consort；　Lady　Tang；　were　removed　to　the　Palace　of　Forever　Calm。　The　entrance　gates　were　locked　against　all　ers。
It　was　pitiful！　There　was　the　young　emperor；　after　reigning　less　than　half　a　year；　deposed　and　another　put　in　his　place。　The　new　Emperor　was　Liu　Xian；　the　second　son　of　the　late　Emperor　Ling。　He　was　nine　years　of　age；　five　years　younger　than　his　deposed　brother。　The　new　reign…style　was　changed　to　Inauguration　of　Tranquillity；　the　first　year　（AD　190）。
Being　the　Prime　Minister；　Dong　Zhuo　was　most　powerful　and　arrogant。　When　he　bowed　before　the　Throne；　he　did　not　declare　his　name。　In　going　to　court　he　did　not　hasten。　Booted　and　armed　he　entered　the　reception　halls。　He　amassed　a　wealth　exceeding　any　other's。
His　adviser；　Li　Ru；　impressed　upon　Dong　Zhuo　consta