the person who collided with the irate Dong Zhuo was his most trustyadviser Li Ru. Li Ru had not fallen in spite of the shock and at once scrambled to help Dong Zhuo to regain his feet and led him inside to the library, where they sat down.

　　"What were you coming about？" said Dong Zhuo.

　　"Happening to be passing your gates, I heard that you had gone into your private garden to look for your adopted son. then came Lu Bu running and crying out that you wanted to kill him, and I was coming in as fast as I could to intercede for him when I accidentally collided with you. I am very sorry. I deserve death."

　　"the wretch！ How could I bear to see him toying with my fair one？ I will be the death of his yet."

　　"Your Graciousness is making a mistake. It is the 'plucked tassel' story over again. But if you remember the banquet of old time where all guests were to tear the tassels of their hats. In that banquet, King Zhuang of Chu made no fuss about the liberties taken with his queen, although the hat-tassel in her hand betrayed the culprit Jiang Xiong. His restraint stood him good stead, for the same Jiang Xiong saved his life when he was hemmed in by the soldiers of Qin. After all Diao Chan is only a handmaid, but Lu Bu is your trustiest friend and most dreaded commander. If you took this chance of making the girl over to him, your kindness would win his undying gratitude. I beg you, Sir, to think over it well."

　　Dong Zhuo hesitated a long time. He sat murmuring to himself. Presently he said, "What you say is right. I must think over it."

　　Li Ru felt satisfied. He took leave of his master and went away. Dong Zhuo went to his private rooms and called Diao Chan.

　　"What were you doing there with Lu Bu？" said he.

　　She began to weep, saying, "Thy handmaid was in the garden among the flowers, when he rushed in on me. I was frightened and ran away. He asked why I ran away from a son of the family and pursued me right to the pavilion, where you saw us. He had that halberd in his hand all the time. I felt he was a vicious man and would force me to his will, so I tried to throw myself into the lily pond, but he caught me in his arms and held me so that I was helpless. Luckily just at that moment you came and saved my life."

　　"Suppose I send you to him," said Dong Zhuo.

　　Stunned, she pleaded with tears, "What have thy handmaid done？ My honor of serving only Your Highness could not bear being given to a mere underling！ Never！ I would rather die."

　　And with this she snatched down a daggerhanging on the wall to kill herself.

　　Dong Zhuo plucked it from her hand and, throwing his arms about her, and cried, "I was only joking！"

　　She lay back on his breast hiding her face and sobbing bitterly.

　　"This is the doing of that Li Ru," said she. "He is much too thick with Lu Bu. He suggested that, I know. Little he cares for the Imperial Rector's reputation or my life. Oh！ I could eat him alive."

　　"Do you think I could bear to lose you？" said Dong Zhuo.

　　"Though you love me yet I must not stay here. That Lu Bu will try to ruin me if I do. I fear him."

　　"We will go to Meiwo tomorrow, you and I, and we will be happy together and have no cares."

　　She dried her tears and thanked him. Next day Li Ru came again to persuade Dong Zhuo to send the damsel to Lu Bu.

　　"This is a propitious day," said Li Ru.

　　"He and I standing in the relation of father and son. I cannot very well do that," said Dong Zhuo. "But I will say no more about his fault. You may tell him so and soothe him as well as you can."

　　"You are not being beguiled by the woman, are you？" said Li Ru.

　　Dong Zhuo colored, saying, "Would you like to give your wife to some body else？ Do not talk about this any further. It would be better not to."

　　Li Ru left the chamber. When he got outside, he cast his eyes up to heaven, saying, "We are dead people, slain by the hand of this girl！"

　　When a scholar of history reached this episode he wrote a verse or two：

　　[hip, hip, hip] Just introduce a woman, Conspiracies succeed；Of soldiers, or their weapons, There really is no need. They fought their bloody battles, And doughty deeds were done；But in a garden summer house The victory was won. [yip, yip, yip]

　　the order was given to journey to Meiwo, and the whole body of officers assembled to add luster to the start. Diao Chan, from her carriage, saw Lu Bu among the crowd. She at once dropped her eyes and assumed an appearance of deepest melancholy. After the cavalcade started and when her carriage had almost disappeared in the distance, the disappointed lover reined in his steed on a mount whence he could watch the dust that rose around it. Unutterable sadness filled his heart.

　　Suddenly a voice said, "Why do you not accompany the Prime Minister, General, instead of standing here and sighing？"

　　It was Wang Yun.

　　"I have been confined to the house by illness these few days," continued he, "so I have not seen you. But I had to struggle out today to see the Prime Minister set off. This meeting is most fortunate. But why were you sighing？"

　　"Just on account of that daughter of yours," said Lu Bu.

　　Feigning GREat astonishment, Wang Yun said, "So long a time and yet not given to you！"

　　"the old ruffian has fallen in love with her himself."

　　"Surely this cannot be true."

　　Lu Bu related the whole story while Wang Yun listened, silent, but stamping on the ground as with irritation and perplexity.

　　After a long time Wang Yun said, "I did not think he was such a beast."

　　Taking Lu Bu by the hand, Wang Yun said, "Come to my house, and we will talk it over."

　　So they went away together to the house and retired to a secret room. After some refreshments, Lu Bu told the whole story of the episode in Phoenix Pavilion just as it happened.

　　Wang Yun said, "He seems to have corrupted my little girl and has stolen your wife. He will be an object of shame and ridicule to the whole world. And those who do not laugh at him will laugh at you and me. Alas！ I am old and powerless and can do nothing. More pitied than blamed！ But you, General, you are a warrior, the GREatest hero in the world. Yet you have been put to this shame and exposed to this contempt."

　　A wave of fierce wrath rolled up in Lu Bu. Banging the table he shouted and roared.

　　His host ostentatiously tried to calm him, saying, "I forgot myself. I should not have spoken like that. Do not be so angry, I pray！"

　　"I will kill the wretch, I swear it！ In no other way can I wash away my shame."

　　"No, no！ Do not say such a thing," said Wang Yun, putting his hand over the other's mouth. "You will bring trouble on poor me and my family."

　　"When one is born GREat, one cannot be patient for long under another person's domination," said Lu Bu.

　　"It needs someone GREater than the Prime Minister to limit the scope of such talents as yours."

　　Lu Bu said, "I would not mind killing the old wretch were it not for the relation in which we stand. I fear to provoke the hostile criticism of posterity."

　　Wang Yun shook his head, saying, "Your name is Lu Bu； his is Dong Zhuo. Where was the paternal feeling when he threw the halberd at you？"

　　"I had been misled if you had not said that," said Lu Bu hotly.

　　Wang Yun saw the effect of his words and continued, "It would be a loyal deed to restore the House of Han, and history would hand down your name to posterity perpetually fragrant. If you lend your aid to Dong Zhuo, you will be a traitor and your name will be tainted through all ages."

　　Lu Bu rose from his place and bowed to Wang Yun.

　　"I have decided," said he. "You need not fear, Sir."

　　"But yet you may fail and bring upon yourself misfortune," said Wang Yun.

　　Lu Bu drew his dagger, pricking his arm, and swearing by the blood that flowed.

　　Wang Yun fell on his knees and thanked him.

　　"then the Han sacrifices will not be cut off, and you will be their savior. But this must remain a secret, and I will tell you how the plot shall be worked out."

　　Lu Bu took leave with GREat emotion.

　　Wang Yun took into his confidence two colleagues, Minister Shisun Rui and Imperial Commander Huang Wan.

　　Shisun Rui said, "the moment is favorable. The Emperor has just recovered from his illness, and we can dispatch an able talker to Meiwo to persuade Dong Zhuo to come here to discuss affairs. Meanwhile we will obtain a secret decree as authority for Lu Bu to lay an ambush just inside the Palace gates to kill Dong Zhuo as he enters. This is the best plan to adopt."

　　"But who would dare to go？" said Huang Wan.

　　"Li Su, General of the Imperial Tiger Army, would go. He belongs to the same region as Lu Bu and is very angry with the Prime Minister for not advancing him. His going would assure us the plan would be completed."

　　"Good," said Wang Yun. "Let us see what Lu Bu thinks of it."

　　When Lu Bu was consulted, he told them that this Li Su's persuasion had led him to kill Ding Yuan, his former benefactor.

　　"If Li Su refuses this mission, I will kill him," said Lu Bu.

　　So they sent for Li Su.

　　When Li Su arrived, Lu Bu said, "Formerly you talked me into killing Ding Yuan and going over to Dong Zhuo. Now we find Dong Zhuo means evil for the Emperor and is an oppressor of the people. His iniquities are many, and he is hated by gods and humans. You go to Meiwo, say you have a command from the Emperor to summon the Prime Minister to the Palace. He will come, and he will be put to death. You will have the credit of being loyal and restoring the Hans. Will you undertake this？"

　　"I also wish to slay him," was the reply. "But I could not find anyone to assist me. How can I hesitate？ Your intervention is directly from Heaven."

　　And Li Su snapped an arrow in twain as register of his oath.

　　"If this succeeds, what glorious rank will be yours！" said Wang Yun.

　　Next day Li Su, with a small escort, set out for Meiwo and announced himself as bearer of a decree. He was conducted into Dong Zhuo's presence. After he had made his obeisance, Dong Zhuo asked what the decree was.

　　"His Majesty has recovered and wishes his ministers to meet him in the Palace to consider the question of his abdication in your favor. That is what this summons means."

　　"What does Wang Yun think of the scheme？"

　　"Wang Yun has already begun the construction of the Terrace of Abdication and only awaits my lord's arrival."

　　"Last night I dreamed a dragon coiled round my body," said Dong Zhuo GREatly pleased, "and now I get this happy tidings！ I must not neglect the opportunity."

　　So Dong Zhuo gave instructions to his four trusted generals for the safekeeping of his city. Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji were to guard Meiwo with three thousand troops of the Flying Bear Army. Then Dong Zhuo announced his intention of starting on the morrow.

　　"When I am Emperor, you shall be Commander of the Capital District," said he.

　　"Your minister thanks you," said Li Su.

　　Dong Zhuo went to bid farewell to his ninety-year-old mother.

　　"Whither are you going, my son？" asked she.

　　"I go to receive the abdication of Han； and soon you will be the Empress."

　　"I have been feeling nervous and creepy these few days. It is a bad sign."

　　"Anyone about to become the Mother of the State must have premonitions," said her son.

　　He left her with these words.

　　Just before starting, he said to Diao Chan, "When I am Emperor, you shall be Lady of the Palace."

　　She bowed low thanking him, but she knew and inwardly rejoiced.

　　Dong Zhuo went out, mounted his carriage, and began his journey to Capital Changan with an imposingescort. Less than ten miles the wheel of his carriage broke. He left it and mounted a horse. Another ten miles the horse snorted and neighed, threw up his head and snapped the reins.

　　Dong Zhuo turned to Li Su and asked what these things portended.

　　"It means that you are going to receive the abdication of the Hans, which is to renew all things： To mount the jeweled chariot and sit in the golden saddle."

　　And Dong Zhuo was pleased and convinced with this answer. During the second day's journey a violent gale sprang up, and the sky became covered with a thick mist.

　　"What does this mean？" said Dong Zhuo.

　　the wily Li Su had an interpretation for this also, saying, "You are ascending to the place of the dragon： There must be bright light and lurid vapor to dignify your majestic approach."

　　Dong Zhuo had no more doubts. He presently arrived and found many officials waiting without the city gate to receive him, all but Li Ru who was ill and unable to leave his chamber. He entered and proceeded to his own palace, where Lu Bu came to congratulate him.

　　"When I sit on the throne, you shall command the whole armies of the empire, horse and foot," said Dong Zhuo.

　　That night Dong Zhuo slept in the midst of his escort. In the suburbs that evening some children at play were singing a little ditty, and the words drifted into the bedchamber on the wind.

　　[hip, hip, hip]"the grass in the meadow looks fresh now and GREen, Yet wait but ten days, not a blade will be seen."[yip, yip, yip]

　　the song sounded ominous but Li Su was again prepared with a happy interpretation： "It only means that the Lius are about to disappear, and the Dongs to be exalted."

　　[e] the staff, the cloth, and the mouths formed the Chinese characters, implied the name of Lu Bu.

　　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.