次日设朝，董太后降旨，封皇子协为陈留王，董重为骠骑将军，张让等共预朝政。

何太后见董太后专权，于宫中设一宴，请董太后赴席。酒至半酣，何太后起身捧杯再拜曰：‘我等皆妇人也，参预朝政，非其所宜。朝廷大事，任大臣元老自行商议，此国家之幸也。愿垂听焉。’董后大怒曰：‘汝鸩死王美人，设心嫉妒。今倚汝子为君，与汝兄何进之势，辄敢乱言！吾敕骠骑断汝兄首，如反掌耳！’何后亦怒曰：‘吾以好言相劝，何反怒耶？’董后曰：‘汝家屠沽小辈，有何见识！’两宫互相争竞，张让等各劝归宫。何后连夜召何进入宫，告以前事。何进出，召三公共议。来早设朝，使廷臣奏董太后原系藩妃，不宜久居宫中，合仍迁于河间安置，限日下即出国门。一面遣人起送董后；一面点禁军围骠骑将军董重府宅，追索印绶。董重知事急，自刎于后堂……六月，何进暗使人鸩杀董后于河间驿庭，举柩回京，葬于文陵。进托病不出。”（第二回）“张让等知外兵到，共议曰：‘此何进之谋也；我等不先下手，皆灭族矣。’乃先伏刀斧手五十人于长乐宫嘉德门内，入告何太后曰：‘今大将军矫诏召外兵至京师，欲灭臣等，望娘娘宣大将军入宫谕止之。如其不从，臣等只就娘娘前请死。’太后乃降诏宣进。进得诏便行……于是袁绍、曹操各选精兵五百，命袁绍之弟袁术领之。绍与操带剑护送何进至长乐宫前。黄门传懿旨云：‘太后特宣大将军，余人不许辄入。’将袁绍、曹操等都阻住宫门外。何进昂然直入。至嘉德殿门，张让、段罥迎出，左右围住，进大惊。让厉声责进曰：‘董后何罪，妄以鸩死？国母丧葬，托疾不出！汝本屠沽小辈，我等荐之天子，以致荣贵；不思报效，欲相谋害！——汝言我等甚浊，其清者是谁？’进慌急，欲寻出路，宫门尽闭，伏甲齐出，将何进砍为两段。让等既杀何进，袁绍久不见进出，乃于宫门外大叫曰：‘请将军上车！’让等将何进首级从墙上掷出，宣谕曰：‘何进谋反，已伏诛矣！其余胁从，尽皆赦宥。’袁绍厉声大叫：‘阉官谋杀大臣！诛恶党者前来助战！’何进部将吴匡，便于青琐门外放起火来。袁术引兵突入宫廷，但见阉官，不论大小，尽皆杀之。袁绍、曹操斩关入内。赵忠、程旷、夏恽、郭胜四个被赶至翠花楼前，剁为肉泥。宫中火焰冲天。张让、段罥、曹节、侯览将太后及太子并陈留王劫去内省，从后道走北宫……绍复令军士分头来杀十常侍家属，不分大小，尽皆诛绝，多有无须者误被杀死。曹操一面救灭宫中之火，请何太后权摄大事，遣兵追袭张让等，寻觅少帝……袁绍骤马出问：‘何人？’绣旗影里，一将飞出，厉声问：‘天子何在？’帝战栗不能言。

陈留王勒马向前，叱曰：‘来者何人？’卓曰：‘西凉刺史董卓也。’陈留王曰：‘汝来保驾耶？汝来劫驾耶？’卓应曰：‘特来保驾。’陈留王曰：‘既来保驾，天子在此，何不下马？’卓大惊，慌忙下马，拜于道左。陈留王以言抚慰董卓，自初至终，并无失语。卓暗奇之，已怀废立之意……李儒劝卓早定废立之计。卓乃于省中设宴，会集公卿，令吕布将甲士千余，侍卫左右。是日，太傅袁隗与百官皆到。酒行数巡，卓按剑曰：‘今上暗弱，不可以奉宗庙；吾将依伊尹、霍光故事，废帝为弘农王，立陈留王为帝。有不从者斩！’群臣惶怖莫敢对……卢植曰：‘今上虽幼，聪明仁智，并无分毫过失……何可强主废立之事？’中军校尉袁绍挺身出曰：‘今上即位未几，并无失德；汝欲废嫡立庶，非反而何？’卓怒曰：

‘天下事在我！我今为之，谁敢不从！汝视我之剑不利否？’袁绍亦拔剑曰：‘汝剑利，吾剑未尝不利！’两个在筵上对敌。董卓欲杀袁绍，李儒止之曰：‘事未可定，不可妄杀。’

袁绍手提宝剑，辞别百官而出，悬节东门，奔冀州去了。可怜少帝四月登基，至九月即被废。少帝与何太后、唐妃困于永安宫中，衣服饮食，渐渐少缺；少帝泪不曾干。一日，偶见双燕飞于庭中，遂吟诗一首。诗曰：

嫩草绿凝烟，袅袅双飞燕。洛水一条青，陌上人称羡。

远望碧云深，是吾旧宫殿。何人仗忠义，泄我心中怨！

董卓时常使人探听。是日获得此诗，来呈董卓。卓曰：‘怨望作诗，杀之有名矣。’遂令李儒带武士十人，入宫弑帝……李儒双手扯住太后，直撺下楼；叱武士绞死唐妃；以鸩酒灌杀少帝，还报董卓。卓命葬于城外。”（第三、四回）汉少帝的人生是多么悲惨啊！他被毒死时才十四岁！

empressdongheldcourhefollowingdayandissuedadecreenamingxieasprinceofchenliuandimperialuncledongchongasgeneralofheflyingcavalryzhangrangandheeunuchswereagainpermiedoparicipaeincouraffairsempresshe，seeingherrivalgaherpower，arrangedabanqueinhepaceforherwhenhecompanywaswellwarmedwihwine，empresshelifedhercupandkneeledrespecfullyassheaddressedempressdong：‘wewowomenshouldnoconcernourselveswihcouraffairsyouandishouldsecludeourselvesinhepaceandleavecourbusinessohegreaminisersandeldersaesmenherulinghousewillbenefiihopeyouwillgivehisyourconsideraion’ohischallengeempressdongroseangrily‘yourjealousydroveyouopoisonbeauywang，’sheaccused‘nowyouhaveheemeriyosayanydamnedhingyoupleasebecauseyoursonrulesandyourbroherisinpower

buwihoulifingafingericanhavehegeneralofheflyingcavalrycuoffhejin’shead’‘ispokeingoodfaih，’respondedempressheholy‘whagivesyouherighoshouame？’‘aloyouknow’，reoredempressdong，‘youoffspringofbuchersandwinemerchans！’hewoqueensquarreledbackandforhunilzhangrangpersuadedhemoreurnoheirchambershanighempresshesummonedherbroheranddescribedohimhesceneahebanqueregenhejinhenmewihhehreeelderlords(grandcommandan，miniserofheinerior，miniserofworks)andhefollowingmorning，inaccordancewihheirdecision，acourierpeiionedheemperornooallowempressdongoremaininhepace，onhegroundshashewasoriginallyaprovincialprincess，buoreurnherohejian，heroriginalfief，wihoudeyhehefacionassignedescorsforherivalempressanddeailedhepaceguardosurroundhehomeofflyingcavalrygeneraldongchonganddemandhisinsigniachongknewhewasrappedandcuhishroainarearchamberinhesixhmonhhejinhadempressdongpoisonedahegovernmenreysaioninhejianhercoffinwasbroughohecapialandburiedinheombsawen

onhepreexofillness，regenhejinwasabsenfromheceremonies(chaper2)“zhangrangandheeunuchslearnedofhearrivalofousideforcesandsaid，‘aploofhejin’sifwedon’headioff，ourcnswillbeexerminaed’pningfifyaxemeninsidehegaeofpraiseworhyvirueahepaceofsinghappiness，zhangrangweninandoldheempress，‘heregenmeansodesroyusandhasforgedadecreesummoningousideroopsohecapialweappealoyourmajesyosummonhimohepaceandsophimifherefuses，wepreferodieayourfee’empressheorderedhejinoappearyuanshaoandcaocaoeachselecedfivehundredofheirfinesandpuhemunderhecommandofyuanshao’sbrohershuyuanshaoandcaocaosrappedonheirswordsandaccomplishedhejinohegaeofhepaceofsinghappinessbuhei

erbureauconveyedheempress’swish：‘heempresshassummonedonlyheregennooneelsemayener’yuanshaoandcaocaosoodbarredbeyondheouergaeashejinmarchedgrandlyon，sraighinohepaceheirhenchmeninpce，zhangrangandduanguiaccosedhejinfrombohsidesahegaeofpraiseworhyvirueinasernonezhangrangreadoualisofchargesoheasoundedregen：‘forwhacrimedidyoupoisonempressdong？howcouldyoumissheservicesforhenaion’smoheronhepreexofillness？youcamefromafamilyofbuchers；yourrecommendaionohehronecamefromus；andhroughusyouroseopowerandglorybunowyouconspireagainsus，forgeingheduiesandhehanksyouowewhoissopure，ellme，ifweareascorrupasyousay？’hejinsearchedfranicallyforawayoescape，bueverygaewasshuheassassinsclosedinandcuhejininwoahewaishavingwaiedforalongime，yuanshaoshouedahegae，‘regen，yourcarriageisready！’inresponsezhangranghrewhevicim’sheaddownfromhewall‘hejinwasexecuedforploingooverhrowhedynasy，’hecried‘hosewhojoinedhimunderduressarepardoned，oneandall！’‘hegeldingshavemurderedagreaminiser’shaoyelledfiercely‘hosewhowoulddesroyhisevilfacionlendusyouraid！’oneofhejin’scommanders，wukuang，seafireousidehemaingae，andyuanshubursinohepacegroundseveryeunuchheycaugh，heykilledyuanshaoandcaocaobrokeinohei

ersancum，drovehefoureunuchs，zhaozhong，chengkuang，xiayun，andguosheng，ohehouseofemeraldflowers，andhackedhemopiecesfromhepacebuildingsfmessprangskywardfourofheeneunuchs—zhangrang，duangui，caojie，andhoun—forcedqueenmoherhe，hecrownprince(liubian，ie，emperorshao)，andheprinceofchenliu(liuxie)ouofhemaincompoundandalongarearpahowardhenorhpacecompoundyuanshaoorderedhismenospreadouandkillheenaendansandheirfamilies，regardlessofagemanywhohadnobeardwerekilledbymisakecaocaomanagedoquellhefiresandappealedohequeenmoheroassumeemporaryauhoriyahesameimehesensoldiersaferzhangrangandhisgangofindemperorshao(princebian)yuanshaoracedforwardanddemanded，‘whoareyou？’fromheshadowsofspangledpe

onsageneralcameforhandcriedinasernvoice，‘whereisheemperor？’heemperorwasoofrighenedospeak，buheprinceofchenliuguidedhishorseforwardandsaidearfully，‘whocomeshere？’‘dongzhuo，imperialinspecorofxiliang，’washereply‘areyouhereoproecheemperororoseizehim？’askedheprince‘onlyoproechim，’saidzhuo‘hengeoffyourhorse，’saidheprince‘heemperorishere！’heasonishedzhuodismounedbeforeheemperorandprosraedhimselfahelefsideofheroadheprincegraciouslyreassureddongzhuo，expressinghimselffromfirsoswindiscreionanddigniydongzhuowasdeeplyimpressedbudidnoshowi：heideaofdeposingemperorshaoandpcingprincexieonhehronehadalreadyformedinhismindliruurgeddongzhuooarrangeasquicklyaspossibleforhedeposingofemperorshaoandheenhroningofheprinceofchenliudongzhuoconvenedabanqueinheimperialquarersforhelordsandnoblemenandorderedlubuosandbywihohousandsoldiershadayimperialguardianyuanweiandheenireofficialcorpswereinaendanceaferseveralroundsofwine，dongzhuo，handonsword，spoke：‘hepresensovereignisinepandfeeble，unfioserveheancesralempleimeanofollowhehallowedprecedensofyiyinandhuoguangandpceheprinceofchenliuuponhehroneofhanhepresenemperorwillbecomeheprinceofhongnonghosewhoresiswillbekilled’heofficialswereooasonishedorespond‘inhepresensiuaion，’secrearyluzhiresponded，‘alhoughheemperorhasnoreachedmauriy，hehasdemonsraedhisrecepiveinelligenceandhumanewisdomhereisnoblemishinhimhowcanyouarrogaeoyourselfheauhoriyoalerhesuccession？’yuanshao，commandanofhecenralarmy，roseohisfeeanddecred，‘hepresensovereignhasheldhehronebubrieflyherearenodefecsinhischaracernopsesinhisconducremovingheempress’ssonandenhroningaconcubine’s—whadoyoucallhaifnoreason？’‘hismaerofsaeismiodecide，’dongzhuosaidangrily‘whodaresdefyme？doyouhinkhisswordnosharpenough？’yuanshao，oo，baredhissword‘hisonemayproveassharp，’hereoredhewowarriorsconfronedeachoherbeforeheguess

dongzhuosaredforyuanshao，bulirucheckedhim：‘hingsarenoyeunderconrolyoumusnokillrashly’husyuanshaolef，swordsillinhand，aferbiddingheassembledofficialsfarewellhehunghiscredenialsonheeasgaeandfledoheprovinceofjiasforheemperorshao，enhronedinhefourhmouhanddeposedinheninhmeanwhileheformeremperorshao，hismoher，andhisconsor—allimprisonedinhepaceofeernalpeace—werealloedbumeagersharesoffoodandclohingemperorshao’searswereneverdryonedayhehappenedonoiceapairofswallowsflyinginhecouryardandinonedheselines：

freshvernalgrassesinhemorninghaze；homingswallowsceheskyinpairs；heriverluo，asrechofdarkergreen—peoplecryinwonderahescene

buoubeyondhedephsofbluecloudssandpacesandcourshaoncewereours

whowillsandforloyaly，akehonor’spar，andeaseheheavywrongsuponmyhear？

aspy，whokephedeposedemperorunderconsansurveilnce，reporedodongzhuohewordsheheardsung“well，ifgrievanceishisheme，wehaveourexcuse，”saiddongzhuoandcommandedliruoakeenarmedmenandmurderheemperorliruidhandsonhequeenmoherandhrusherouofawindowhenhebarkedheorderosrangleheconsorandforcehewinedownemperorshao’shroahisworkfinished，lirureporedodongzhuo，whoorderedhehreeburiedousideheciywall”(chaper3&；chaper4)howmiserablehehanemperorshao’slifeis！heispoisonedodeahaheageoffoureen

刘协——汉献帝：表字伯和，灵帝第二个儿子，即刘辩之弟。中平六年（公元189年）九月，董卓废少帝为弘农王而立陈留王为献帝，时年九岁，比他被废之兄小五岁，改元初平。

董卓为相国，赞拜不名，入朝不趋，剑履上殿，威福莫比。董卓命李儒鸩杀少帝后，每夜入宫，奸淫宫女，夜宿龙床，秽乱宫禁，残害生灵；从洛阳迁都长安，焚烧宫室，劫迁天子；贼臣乱国，万民涂炭；今卓上欺天子，下虐百姓，罪恶贯盈，人神共愤。正当董贼欲篡位之际，“王司徒巧使连环之计”（第八回），“除暴凶吕布助司徒”（第九回）。但在董卓被杀后，其部将李罥、郭汜发难，纵兵大掠，杀害大臣，紧围内廷，欲杀献帝。“帝王楼上宣谕曰：‘王允既诛，军马何故不退？’李罥、郭汜曰：‘臣等有功王室，未蒙赐爵，故不敢退军。’帝曰：‘卿欲封何爵？’李、郭、张、樊四人各自写职衔献上，勒要如此官品。帝只得从之：封李罥为车骑将军、池阳侯，领司隶校尉，假节钺；郭汜为后将军、美阳侯，假节钺：同秉朝政……李罥、郭汜既掌大权，残虐百姓；密遣心腹侍帝左右，观其动静。献帝此时举动荆棘。朝廷官员，并由二贼升降。”（第十回）

liuxie—hanemperorxian：heishesecondsonofemperorling，ieliubian’syoungerbroher，syledboheinheninhmonhofhesixhyearofhezhongpingreign(ad189)，dongzhuodeposedemperorshaoasheprinceofhongnongwhileheenhronedheprinceofchenliuasemperorxian，whowasnineyearsold，fiveyearsyoungerhanhisdeposedbroheranewreignperiod，begi

ingpeace(chuping)，wasprocimeddongzhuobecameprimeminiserbuhedidnousehisownnamewhensaluinghesovereignnorcomporhimselfreverenlybyscurryinginhispresence，nordidheremovehisboosandswordbeforehehroneasrequiredhepresigeandwealhheamassedraisedhimaboveallaferdongzhuocommandedliruomurderemperorshao，hebeganoindulgehimselffreely，debauchingheimperialconcubinesandsleepinginheemperor’sbedhedishonoredhepace’sforbiddenquarers，andgrievouslyinjuredhecommonfolkhemovedhecapialfromluoyangochang’anaferhehaddesroyedheimperialdwellingsandabducedheemperorraiorshavewreckedhedynasyandcashepeopleinomiserydongzhuohaswrongedheemperorandcausedhepeopleosufferhisfoulcrimeshaverousedheindignaionofmenandgodsalikejuswhenheraiordongzhuoispreparingoseizehehrone，“wangyunshrewdlysesadoublesnare”(chaper8)and“lubukillsheyranforwangyun”(chaper9)

buaferdongzhuoiskilled，hisgeneralslijueandguosisageacoupagainsheemperorheyhavekilledquieafewminisersanddrawnaighringaroundhecour，hopingoakehesovereign’slife“heemperor，meanwhile，speakingfromhepaceower，issuedasaemenohosebelow：‘wangyunhasbeenexecuedonwhagroundshaveyounowihdrawnyourforces？’lijueandguosiresponded，‘ourserviceoheroyalhousehasnoyebeenrequiedbyilesfromyourmajesyhisiswhawearewaiingfor’heemperorsaid，‘whichilesdoyouwan？’eachofhefourgeneralswroeonapieceofpaperheofficesandfiefsherequiredandsubmiedioheemperor，havingnochoice，hemadehefollowingawards：

lijue，appoinedgeneralofchariosandcavalryandenfeoffedaslordofchiyang，alsonamedcommandanofhecapialdisricsandgranedinsigniaandbaledaxeconfirmingmiliaryauhoriyguosi，appoinedgeneralofherearandlordofmeiyangandgranedinsigniaandbaleaxe；bohgeneralsoconrolcouradminisraion

nowhaheydominaedhegovernmen，lijueandguosierrorizedhecapialheirhenchmeninfilraedhepacesaffandkepheemperorunderclosewach，avirualprisonerofficialswerepromoedanddemoedashewovilinssawfi”(chaper10)

“

李罥、郭汜自战败西凉兵，诸侯莫敢谁何。贾诩屡劝抚安百姓，结纳贤豪。自是朝廷微有生意。不想青州黄巾又起，聚众数十万，头目不等，劫掠良民。太仆朱俊保举一人，可破群贼。”李罥同意了朱俊的保举，草诏曹操破贼。“操领了圣旨……击贼于寿阳……追赶贼兵，直到济北，降者数万。操即用贼为前驱，兵马到处，无不降顺。不过百余日，招安到降兵三十余万，男女百余万口……操自此威名日重。捷书报到长安，朝廷加曹操为镇东大将军。”（第十回）“其时李罥自为大司马，郭汜自为大将军，横行无忌，朝廷无人敢言。

太尉杨彪、大司农朱俊暗奏献帝曰：‘今曹操拥兵二十余万，谋臣武将数十员，若得此人扶持社稷，剿除奸党，天下甚幸！’献帝泣曰：‘朕被二贼欺凌久矣！若得诛之，诚为大幸！’彪奏曰：‘臣有一计：先令二贼自相残害，然后诏曹操引兵杀之，扫清贼党，以安朝廷。’献帝曰：‘计将安出？’彪曰：‘闻郭汜之妻最妒，可令人于汜妻处用反间计，则二贼自相害矣。’帝乃书密诏付杨彪。”果然，李、郭中计，每日厮杀。“罥乃移帝后车驾于罥坞，使侄李暹监之，断绝内使，饮食不继，侍臣皆有饥色。帝令人问罥取米五斛，牛骨五具，以赐左右。罥怒曰：‘朝夕上饭，何又他求？’乃以腐肉朽粮与之，皆臭不可食。帝骂曰：‘逆贼直如此相欺！’侍中杨琦急奏曰：‘罥性残暴。事势至此，陛下且忍之，不可撄其锋也。’帝乃低头无语，泪盈袍袖。”（第十三回）“李罥郭汜大交兵杨奉董承双救驾。”“帝入洛阳，见宫室烧尽，街市荒芜，满目皆是蒿草，宫院中只有颓墙坏壁，命杨奉且盖小宫居住。百官朝贺，皆立于荆棘之中。诏改兴平为建安元年。是岁又大荒。洛阳居民，仅有数百家，无可为食，尽出城去剥树皮、掘草根食之。尚书郎以下，皆自出城樵采，多有死于颓墙坏壁之间者。”太尉杨彪奏帝曰：‘前蒙降诏，未曾发遣。今曹操在山东，兵强将盛，可宣入朝，以辅王室。’帝曰：‘朕前既降诏，卿何必再奏，今即差人前去便了。’彪领旨，即差使命赴山东，宣召曹操。”（第十四回）“曹孟德移驾幸许都。”“于是迎銮驾到许都，盖造宫室殿宇，立宗庙社稷、省台司院衙门，修城郭府库；封董承等十三人为列侯。赏功罚罪，并听曹操处置。操自封为大将军、武平侯……其余将士，各各封官。

自此大权皆归于曹操：朝廷大务，先禀曹操，然后方奏天子。”

“aferlijueandguosihaddefeaedhexiliangarmy，nooherleadersdaredchallengehem

ajiaxu’sinsisence，heyookmeasuresobenefihepopuionandaracworhyandousandingmenasaresul，hecourbeganoreasserisauhoriyunexpecedly，heyellowscarvesinqingzhousagedanoheruprisinghundredsofhousandsofrebelsundernumerouschiefainsravagedheregion

herecenlyappoinedcoursewardzhujunrecommendedolijuesomeonewhohewassurecouldpudownhescarves”lijueaccepedzhujun’ssuggesionandpe

edanedicauhorizingcaocaoforhapurpose“caocaoaccepedhecommissionandjoinedforceswihbaoxinheyaackedheyellowscarvesashouyangbaoxinforcedhiswayinoasrongpoinandwaskilledcaopursuedherebelsojibei，whereensofhousandssurrenderedohimcaopcedheseformerrebelsinhisvanguardwhereverhewen，herebelsransferredheirallegianceohiminonehundreddayscaocaohadinducedhesurrenderofoverhreehundredhousandroopsandonemillionnoncombaanshepickedhefinesofheyellowscarvesroopsandorganizedheminoheqingzhouarmyheremainderhesenbackoheirfarmsinconsequence，caocao’spresigeroseseadily，andhecourrecognizedhisriumphsbynaminghimgeneralgarrisoningheeas”(chaper10)“ahisimehecourwasinhehandsoflijue，whohadmadehimselfregengeneral，andguosi，heselfsyledregenhesewogeneralsroderoughshodovereveryonewhoacourcouldproes？grandcommandanyangbiaoandreasurerzhujunsecrelypeiionedemperorxian：‘caocaonowhascommandofwohundredhousandroopsandscoresofableadvisersandgeneralsifhewouldupholdhedynasyandcleanouhisfacionofraiors，hewholerealmwouldbenefi’weeping，heemperorsaid，‘howlonghoseworaiorshavemisreaedme！whaablessingiwouldbeifheycouldbedoneawaywih！’yangbiaohenaddressedhesovereign：‘yourhumbleservanhasapnournheworaiorsagainseachoherandhensummoncaocaoopurgeheirfacionandsecurehecour’‘whakindofpn？’heemperorasked‘yourservanhasheard，’biaoconinued，‘haguosihasajealouswifewecanuseherosowdissensionbeweenlijueandherhusband’heemperorsecrelyauhorizedyangbiaoopuhispninoacion”consequenly，liandguowereakeninbyamanoeuvre，fighingagainseachoherdayaferday“liujuemovedheroyalpairohepaceamei，pcingheminhecusodyofhisnephewlixianlixiandismissedheimperialsaffandreducedheprovisionsforheaendans，whowenwanfromhungerheemperorsensomeoobegfivebushelsofgrainandsomeoxbonesforhisservans，bulijuesaidangrily，‘wesendupfoodmorningandnighwhaelsedoeshewan？’finallyhedeliveredsomespoiledmeaandmoldygrainheemperorsaid，reproachfully，‘howheseraiorsbullyus！’‘yourmajesy，’privycounseloryangqiurged，‘lijueisacruelandviolenmanryobearhingsasheyareandnocrosshim’heemperorloweredhisheadandkepsilenearssoakedhissleeves(chaper13)“lijueandguosicrossswordsyangfenganddongchengrescueheemperor”“heemperoreneredluoyangandsawheruinofhisformercapial—hepacebuildingsburnedou，hesreesandmarkesdesoeeveryhingwasovergrownwihweedshewallsofhepaceswerecrumblingemperorxianorderedyangfengobuildasmalldwellingoserveasaprovisionalpaceinhemeanimecourwasheldinheopenwoodsheemperormandaedhahereignyearbechangedfromsabiliyresored(xingping)oreesablishedpeace(jianan)，yearbuiwasanoheryearoffamihefewhundredfamiliesremaininginluoyangsurvivedonreebarkandgrassroosforagedroosousideheciyevenmembersofhesecreariahadogaherheirownfuelhereoo，andmanysimplyperishedbesidefallingwallsorwihincrumblinghouses”“grandcommandanyangbiaoappealsoheemperor‘hedecreewihwhichyouhonoredmehasyeobedispachedapresencaocaohashemospowerfularmyinhenorheasheshouldbesummonedosupporheroyalhouse’‘ihavesoordered，’saidheemperor‘asecondpeiionisnonecessarysendsomeoneandbedonewihi’inaccordancewihheimperialwill，anenvoywassen”“caocaomovesheemperoroxuchang”“caohenescoredheimperialprocessionoxuchangroyaldwellingsandempleswereereced；heancesralsancumandsoilshrineesablished；hecour，adminisraivedeparmens，andgarrisonsseup；andheciywallsandsorehousesbuildongchengandhireenoherswereawardedlordshipsofhefirsrankcaocaoassumedcompleeauhoriyoverallbenefisandpenaliesandhadhimselfappoinedregenmarshalandhonouredaslordofwupingheohercapainsandofficersweregivenminorposiionspowerwasconcenraedincaocao’shandsosuchadegreehaallimporanissuesacourwerefirsproposedbypeiionohimandhenpresenedohesonofheaven”

“献帝回宫，泣谓伏皇后曰：‘朕自即位以来，奸雄并起：先受董卓之殃，后遭罥、汜之乱。常人未受之苦，吾与汝当之。后得曹操，以为社稷之臣；不意专国弄权，擅作威福。朕每见之，背若芒刺。今日在围场上，身迎呼贺，无礼已极！早晚必有异谋，吾夫妇不知死所也！’伏皇后曰：‘满朝公卿，俱食汉禄，竟无一人能救国难乎？’言未毕，忽一人自外而入曰：‘帝、后休忧。吾举一人，可除国害。’帝视之，乃伏皇后之父伏完也。帝掩泪问曰：‘皇丈知操贼之专横乎？’完曰：‘许田射鹿之事，谁不见之？但满朝之中，非操宗族，则其门下。若非国戚，谁肯尽忠讨贼？老臣无权，难行此事。车骑将军国舅董承可托也。’帝乃自作一密诏，咬破指尖，以血写之：‘……近日操贼弄权，欺压君父；结连党伍，败坏朝纲；敕赏封罚，不由朕主。朕夙夜忧思，恐天下将危。卿乃国之大臣，朕之至戚，当念高帝创业之艰难，纠合忠义两全之烈士，殄灭奸党，复安社稷，祖宗幸甚！……’”（第二十回）“曹操见了衣带诏，只将董承等五人，并其全家老小，押送各门处斩。死者共七百余人。曹操怒气未消，遂带剑入宫，来弑董贵妃。帝告曰：“董妃有五月身孕，望丞相见怜。”操曰：“若非天败，吾已被害。岂得复留此女，为吾后患！”帝泣谓妃曰：“卿于九泉之下，勿怨朕躬！”言讫，泪如雨下。伏后亦大哭。操怒曰：“犹作儿女态耶！”叱武士牵出，勒死于宫门之外。（第二十四回）

“insidehepaceheemperorspokeearfullyoempressfu，‘sinceifirsassumedhehrone，reacherouspreendershavemulipliedfirswesufferedhedisaserofdongzhuo，followedimmediaelybyhesediionofgeneralslijueandguosiwehavefacedgriefunknownomoshencamecaocao，whomwehoughaloyalservanofhedynasy，neverdreaminghewouldusurphegovernmenandabusehisauhoriybyarbiraryexerciseoffearandfavouriwinceoseehimodayinhehuningfieldheimpudenlyacknowledgedhecheersmeanforhissovereignbeforelongherewillbeausurpaion，andyouandishallnodienauraldeahs’empressfureplied，‘inhiscourfulloflordsandpeers—noaoneofwhombueasandlivesahepleasureofhehan—isherenooassishedynasyindisress？’asheempresswasspeaking，herfaher，fuwan，enered‘yourmajesy，’hesaid，‘donodespairihavehemanwhocanremovehescourgeofheroyalhouse’heemperorwipedhisearsashereplied，‘henyouoocanseehowimperiouscaocaois？’‘whocouldhavemissedheincidenahedeerhun？’fuwanresponded‘buhewholecourconsissofeiherhiscnsmenorhisfollowersexcepforheimperialinws，whowilldemonsraeloyalybybringingheraiorojusice？idon’havehepowerodoi，buwhycan’weurnodongcheng，broherofheimperialconcubine，generalofcavalryandcharios？’emperorxianpreparedowriehemandaehebihisfinger，ranscribedhiswordsinblood‘ofehereasonouscaocao，abusinghisauhoriy，insulinganddegradinghissovereign，hasco

ivedwihhiscohorsohederimenofourdynasy’sruleinsrucions，rewards，ndgrans，andpunishmensnowfallousideheimperialjurisdiciondayandnighwebroodonhis，dreadingheperiloherealmgeneral，youareaprominenpublicservanandournearesreivehinkofheobsaclesandhardshipshesupremeancesorfacedwhenhefoundedhisdynasy：forgeaunionofsouhearedmen，salwarsofunimpairedinegriyandunimpeachableloyaly；exerminaehisperfidiousfacionandresorehesecuriyofourholyshrinesforourancesors’sake’(chaper20)”havingdiscoveredhesecredecree，caocaoconenedhimselfwihheexecuionofdongcheng，hisfivefellowconspiraors，andheirenirehouseholds，adulsandchildrenalikeallold，oversevenhundreddiedinexecuionsconducedaeverygaeofhecapial

caocao’sragewasnoalyedheemperor’sbelovedhighconsor，dongcheng’syoungersiser，nowfivemonhswihchild，washisnexargearmedwihasword，caocaowenohepace“sheisinherfifhmonh，”heemperorpleaded“wehopeheprimeminiserwillshowcompassion”“hadheavennospoiledhingsforyou，”caoreplied，“iwouldhavebeenmurderedwhyshouldispareafuurenemesis？”heemperorwep，sayingohisconsor，“inheherworldbelowheninesprings，beloved，holdnogrievanceagainsus”hisearspouredforhheempressfusobbedheavily“sillhesecarryingson！”caocriedahiscurcommandhesoldiersboreheconsoroffandsrangledherousidehepacegae(chaper24)