Liu Bei asked, “In the past, Emperor Gao-zu, founder of the Han Dynasty, welcomed and accepted those who surrendered, so he was able to rule the land. Why do you reject Han Zhong, sir?”
“The situations are different,” replied Zhu Jun. “In those days disorder was everywhere and the people had no fixed lord. Therefore, submission was welcomed and those who surrendered were rewarded so as to encourage people to come over. Now the empire is united and the Yellow Turbans are the only malcontents. To allow brigands to plunder and rob when successful and to let them surrender when unsuccessful is to encourage brigandage. This is not a good policy.”
“It is well not to let them surrender,” said Liu Bei. “But the city is enclosed on all sides like an iron barrel. As their submission is refused, they will be desperate in their fight. A myriad of such men cannot be withstood. But in the city they are several times that number, all doomed to die. It is better to withdraw from the east and the south and only attack the west and the north. They will surely give up the place and flee, without much desire to fight. We can capture them then.”
The general saw that the advice was good and followed it. He withdrew the troops from the east and the south and only attacked from the west and the north. As predicted by Liu Bei, the rebels gave up the city and ran out, led by their leader. The general and the three brothers fell upon them as they fled and Han Zhong was shot to death by an arrow. The rest of them scattered in all directions, still pursued by the imperial troops. But just then the other two rebel leaders came with large reinforcements and as they appeared very strong, Zhu Jun decided to retreat temporarily. And Wancheng was recaptured by the rebels.
Zhu Jun encamped ten li from the city and was preparing to attack again when there arrived a body of horsemen and footmen from the east. Riding in front was a young officer with a broad open face and a lithe yet powerfully-built body. His name was Sun Jian, also known as Sun Wentai. He was a native of Wu in Southeast China and a descendant of Sun Wu, a famous military strategist during the period of Spring and Autumn.* When he was only seventeen, he was once with his father on the Qiantang River† and saw a gang of pirates dividing their booty on the river bank after plundering some merchants.
“I can capture these pirates,” he said to his father. So, gripping his sword he jumped boldly ashore. There he cried out to this side and that as if calling his men to come quickly. This made the pirates believe that the soldiers were on them and he even succeeded in killing one of the pirates. In this way he became known throughout the region and was recommended to be an officer. Later, in collaboration with the local officials, he mobilized a thousand warriors and helped quell a rebellion headed by a man who called himself Emperor Yangming. Both the rebel leader and his son were killed by him. For this he was commended in a memorial to the throne and received a further promotion.
When he heard about the Yellow Turban rebellion, he gathered together over 1,500 men made up of local youths, merchants, and veteran soldiers to aid in the fighting. Now he had reached the battlefront.
Zhu Jun welcomed him very warmly and asked him to attack the south gate. Liu Bei and Zhu Jun himself were to attack the north and west gates respectively, leaving the east gate free to give the rebels a false impression of an escape route. Sun Jian was the first to mount the wall and killed more than twenty rebels single-handedly. The other rebels ran away but Zhao Hong, their leader, rushed over on horseback to fight with Sun Jian, his spear at the ready. Sun Jian leaped down the wall, snatched the spear, and with it pierced the rebel who fell down from his horse. Then mounting the horse, Sun Jian rode hither and thither, slaying as he went.
The other rebel leader, Sun Zhong, led his men to escape by the north gate, where they were met by Liu Bei. By then the rebels had lost their heart to fight and only wanted to get away. Liu Bei drew his bow, fitted an arrow to it, and shot Sun Zhong down from his horse. The main army led by Zhu Jun came up, and after tremendous slaughter, the others surrendered. Thus peace was restored to the region around Nanyang.
Zhu Jun led his army to the capital. He was promoted to the rank of General of Carriage and Cavalry and given the governorship of Henan. He did not forget those who had helped him, though. In a memorial to the Emperor he mentioned the merits of Sun Jian and Liu Bei. As he had influential friends, Sun Jian was appointed chief military officer in another region, and soon left for his post. But Liu Bei waited in vain for days on end and the three brothers became very sad.
One day while walking aimlessly in the street, they saw the carriage of a court official by the name of Zhang Jun. Liu Bei went up to him and told of his services to the country. Greatly surprised at this neglect of our heroes, Zhang Jun spoke to the Emperor about it at court.
“The Yellow Turbans rebelled because the ten eunuchs sold offices and bartered ranks,” he said. “There was employment only for their friends and punishment only for their foes. This led to rebellions across the land. Now it would be better to execute the eunuchs and expose their heads. Then inform the nation of the execution and assure the worthy that they will be well rewarded. Naturally tranquillity will ensue throughout the land.”
But the eunuchs accused the minister of insulting the Emperor. And he was thrust out by guards at the Emperor’s order.
However, the eunuchs took counsel together and they realized that the incident had been caused by complaints from those who had rendered services against the rebels but had received no reward. So they decided to have a list of unimportant people prepared for preferment and wait until later to seek vengeance upon them. Among them was Liu Bei, who then received the post of magistrate of a small place called Anxi and was ordered to get there within a certain date. Liu Bei disbanded his men and sent them back to their villages, retaining only a score or so as escort. Then he set out immediately with his two brothers and the escort for Anxi.
Liu Bei had been in the place for only one month and was able to reform the people there by his intelligent and incorruptible rule. The three brothers lived in perfect harmony, eating at the same table and sleeping on the same couch. But when Liu Bei was in the company of others, the two younger brothers would stand in attendance without betraying any sign of fatigue, even if it were for a whole day.
Four months later, however, there came an order from above that the number of military officers holding civil posts should be reduced, and Liu Bei began to fear that he would be among those thrown out. Just at that time an inspecting official arrived and Liu Bei went outside the city wall to welcome him. But to his courteous salute, the official made no return save a wave of his whip as he sat on his horse. The two younger brothers were furious, but worse was to follow.
When the inspector got to his lodging, he took his seat on the dais, leaving Liu Bei standing in attendance below.
It was only after a long time that he addressed Liu Bei.
“What was your origin, Magistrate Liu?” he asked.
“I am a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan. Since my first fight with the Yellow Turban rebels at my hometown I have been in some thirty big and small battles and have gained some trifling merit. My reward was this office,” replied Liu Bei.
“You lie about your descent and your statement about your services is false,” roared the inspector. “Now the Emperor has ordered the reduction of your sort of corrupt officials.”
Liu Bei dared not retort but withdrew. On returning to his office, he took counsel with his subordinates.
“This intimidating attitude only means he wants a bribe,” they said.
“I have never taken even the smallest thing from the people. Where am I to find a bribe for him?”
The next day the inspector had the minor officials before him and forced them to bear witness that their magistrate had oppressed the people. Liu Bei went time after time to rebut this charge but the doorkeepers drove him away and he could not enter.
Now Zhang Fei had been drowning his sorrow in wine. Calling for his horse he rode out past the lodging of the i
nspector, and at the gate saw a small crowd of white-haired men weeping bitterly.
“Why are you crying?” he asked them.
“The inspector is forcing the minor officials to bear false witness against Magistrate Liu. We came to beg him for mercy but he would not let us in. Instead, he sent the doorkeepers to drive us away and beat us,” they replied.
This provoked the irascible man to fury. His eyes opened so wide that they became circles; he ground his teeth; in a moment he was off his steed, had forced his way past the scared doorkeepers into the house, and was in the rear hall. There he saw the inspector sitting on high with the official underlings paying homage at his feet.
“You wicked oppressor of the people!” roared Zhang Fei. “Do you know me?” But before he could reply, Zhang Fei had seized him by the hair and dragged him out of the house to the hitching post in front of the town office. Lashing the inspector firmly to the post, he broke off a switch from a willow tree and started thrashing his legs very hard. Soon a dozen or so switches were broken in the beating but his anger was still not appeased.
At this time Liu Bei was sitting in his office, contemplating his own sorrow. The noise in front reached his ear and he asked his attendants what the matter was. They told him that General Zhang had bound somebody to a post in front of the office and was thrashing him hard. Liu Bei at once went outside and was surprised to see who the victim was. He asked Zhang Fei the reason.
“If we don’t beat this sort of corrupt official to death now, what may we expect?” demanded Zhang Fei.
“Noble sir, save me!” cried the inspector.
Now Liu Bei was by nature a kind and benevolent soul. So he told his brother to stop. Then Guan Yu came up and said, “You’ve rendered magnificent services to the country, brother, but all you got is this petty post of a magistrate. Today you’re even insulted by this fellow. A thorn bush is no place for a phoenix, I think. Let’s slay this fellow, give up the post, and go back home. We’ll wait until we can develop a bigger scheme.”
Guan Yu’s words helped Liu Bei make up his mind. Hanging his official seal about the neck of the inspector, he said sternly: “You oppress people so much that you deserve to be killed. I now spare your life for the time being. If you injure people again, I will surely take your life. Now I return you the seal. We are leaving for good.”
The inspector went to the prefect and complained, and orders were issued for the arrest of the three brothers, but they got away to Daizhou and sought refuge with Liu Hui who sheltered them after learning about Liu Bei’s noble birth.
Back in the capital, The Ten had by this time all the power they wanted. They took counsel together and decided to put to death all those that dared disobey them. From officers who had helped put down the Yellow Turban rebels they demanded presents, and if anyone refused to do so, he would be removed from office. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun both fell victims to these intrigues, while on the other hand the eunuchs received the highest honors. Some of them were given the rank of General of Carriage and thirteen others were ennobled. The state’s affairs went from bad to worse and cries of discontent rose all around. Consequently, rebellions broke out in Changsha led by a man called Ou Xing, and also in Yuyang led by two Zhangs, one of whom called himself “Emperor” and the other “Supreme General.” Messages asking for aid came like snowflakes but the eunuchs suppressed them all.
One day the Emperor was having a feast in the back garden with the ten eunuchs when Liu Tao, a senior official, suddenly appeared before him showing great distress. The Emperor asked him why he was crying.
“Your Majesty, how can you be still feasting with these people when the empire is at its last gasp?”
“All is well,” said the Emperor. “Where is the danger?”
Liu Tao replied: “Robbers swarm on all sides and plunder towns and cities. All this is the fault of the ten eunuchs. They sell offices and bully the people. And they deceive Your Majesty and hide the truth from you. Virtuous officials have all left their services and misfortune is before our very eyes.”
At this the eunuchs pulled off their hats and threw themselves at their master’s feet. “His Excellency disapproves of us,” they said, “and we will not be able to live. Pray spare our lives and let us go home. We will hand over our property to help bear military expenses.” And they burst into tears.
The Emperor turned angrily to Liu Tao and said, “You also have servants in your home; why is it that you cannot bear with mine?” He called the guards to take him out and put him to death. Liu Tao cried out, “My death does not matter, but alas, what a great pity it is that the Hans, after ruling for four centuries, are falling fast!”
The guards hustled him out and were about to carry out the Emperor’s order when another senior official came up and stopped them, “Halt! Wait till I have spoken with His Majesty.” They found that the speaker was Minister Chen Dan.
Chen Dan went straight into the palace to see the Emperor and asked, “For what fault is Minister Liu to be put to death?”
“He has vilified those close to me and insulted me,” said the Emperor.
“All the nation hates those ten eunuchs so much that they would eat their flesh, but you respect them as if they were your parents. They have rendered no services, yet they are made nobles. Moreover, Feng Xu and others collaborated with the Yellow Turban rebels and meant to create internal disorder. If Your Majesty does not look into the matter now, the empire will be ruined.”
“There was no proof against Feng Xu,” said the Emperor. “And there must be some faithful ones among The Ten.”
The minister beat his forehead on the steps of the throne while continuing in his remonstrance. Then the Emperor grew angry and ordered his removal and imprisonment with Liu Tao. That night the eunuchs had them both murdered in prison.
Later, they forged an edict in the name of the Emperor, appointing Sun Jian, Prefect of Changsha, with orders to suppress the rebellion there. In less than fifty days Sun Jian reported victory and the district of Jiangxia became peaceful again. For this he was made a noble. In the meantime, Liu Yao was made Prefect of Youzhou and ordered to suppress the two Zhangs in Yuyang.
The Prefect of Daizhou wrote a letter to Liu Yu to recommend Liu Bei, who was consequently given the command of an army to destroy the Zhangs in their very base. After several days of fighting Liu Bei succeeded in blunting the edge of the rebels’ spirit. One of the Zhangs was cruel and his men turned against him. He was slain by one of his own officers, who took both his army and his head to Liu Bei. Seeing that all was lost, the other Zhang hanged himself.
As Yuyang was restored to the control of the government, Liu Bei’s great services were reported to the throne. Soon he received a full pardon for whipping the inspector and he was restored as an official. Later, his former superior Gongsun Zan stated his previous good services and he was made an officer of a higher rank and sent to Pingyuan as magistrate. This place was quite prosperous and Liu Bei recovered something of his old manner before the days of adversity. Liu Yu, too, received a promotion for his part in suppressing the rebels.
Let us now return to the throne. In the fourth month of the sixth year of the reign Zhong Ping (A.D. 189), the Emperor became seriously ill and He Jin, the Empress’ brother, was summoned into the palace to arrange for the future. Now, He Jin came from a humble family of butchers, but was given a powerful position in court because his sister was at first a concubine of rank to the Emperor and, after she bore him a son, was made Empress. Later a beautiful girl named Wang became the Emperor’s favorite and she bore him another son, named Xie. Out of jealousy, the Empress poisoned the girl and the baby was left in the care of Empress Dowager Dong, who was the mother of the Emperor and wife of Liu Chang, Prince of Jiedu. In the past, because Emperor Huan had no son of his own he had adopted the son of the prince, who succeeded to the throne as Emperor Ling. After his accession, he had his own mother brought into the palace to live and conferred upon her the title of Empress Dowager.<
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The Empress Dowager had often tried to persuade her son to name Xie as heir apparent, and in fact the Emperor himself was in favor of the boy. When he fell seriously ill, one of the eunuchs called Jian Shuo said, “If Prince Xie is to succeed, He Jin must die.” The Emperor saw this was true, so he commanded He Jin to come to him. But at the gate of the palace, he was warned of the eunuchs’ plot to kill him, and he hurried back to his own house, where he called many of the court officials to his side to consider how to put all the eunuchs to death.
One of them stood out and said: “The influence of the eunuchs dates back half a century and has spread like a creeping weed in all directions. How can we hope to destroy it thoroughly? If there should be any leakage of the plot, your clan will be exterminated. Please consider this carefully.”
He Jin looked at the speaker and found that it was Cao Cao. He Jin was very angry and cried, “What do inferiors like you know of the ways of the state?”
In the midst of their indecision, the minister who had warned him at the palace gate came and said: “The Emperor is no more. Jian Shuo has reached an agreement with The Ten not to announce the death. They have forged an edict to command you to go into the palace so as to destroy you. Furthermore, they want to make Prince Xie the new Emperor to avoid future trouble.” He had hardly finished speaking when the edict arrived, urging He Jin to go to the palace to discuss the succession.
“The matter for the moment is to set up the rightful heir first,” said Cao Cao. “Then deal with the eunuchs.”
“Who dares to join me?” asked He Jin.
At once there stepped forward a man who said: “Give me 5,000 veteran soldiers and we will force our way into the palace, set up the new heir, slay all the eunuchs, and sweep clean the government so as to restore peace to the land.” The energetic speaker was Yuan Shao, son of a high-ranking minister and a senior officer in the imperial army.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 1: The Sacred Oath: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 4