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〃All is well；〃 said the Emperor。 〃Where is anything wrong？〃
Said Liu Tao； 〃Robbers swarm on all sides and plunder the cities。 And all is the fault of the Ten Eunuchs who sell offices and injure the people； oppress loyal officials and deceive their superiors。 All virtuous ones have left the services and returned to their places； and are building and guarding their positions。 More regional offices have been sought than imperial appointments。 Central authority is being undermined by local interests。 Misfortune is before our very eyes！〃
At this the eunuchs pulled off their hats and threw themselves at their master's feet。
〃If Minister Liu Tao disapproves of us；〃 they said； 〃we are in danger。 We pray that our lives be spared and we may go to our farms。 We yield our property to help defray military expenses。〃
And they wept bitterly。
The Emperor turned angrily to Liu Tao； saying； 〃You also have servants： Why can't you bear with mine？〃
And thereupon the Emperor called to the guards to eject Liu Tao and put him to death。
Liu Tao cried aloud； 〃My death matters nothing。 The pity is that Han Dynasty； after four centuries of reign； is falling fast！〃
The guards hustled him away and were just about to carry out the Emperor's order when a minister stopped them； shouting； 〃Strike not！ Wait till I have spoken with His Majesty。〃
It was the Minister of the Interior； Chen Dan。 He went in to the Emperor； to whom he said； 〃For what fault is Counselor Liu Tao to be put to death？〃
〃He has vilified my servants and has insulted me；〃 said the Emperor。
〃All the empire would eat the flesh of the eunuchs if they could； and yet； Sire； you respect them as if they were your parents。 They have no merit； but they are created nobles。 Moreover； Feng Xu was in league with the Yellow Scarves。 Unless Your Majesty looks to it； the state will crumble！〃
〃There was no proof against Feng Xu；〃 replied the Emperor。 〃About the Ten Eunuchs； are there none faithful among them？〃
Chen Dan beat his forehead on the steps of the throne and did not desist from remonstrance。 Then the Emperor grew angry and manded his removal and imprisonment with Liu Tao。 That night Liu Tao and Chen Dan were murdered。
Then the eunuchs sent a forged edict to Sun Jian making him Governor of Changsha； with orders to suppress the rebellion of Ou Xing。 In less than two months Sun Jian reported the county all tranquil。 For this he was created Lord of Wucheng。
Further； Liu Yu was made Imperial Protector of Youzhou to move against Yuyang and suppress Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun。 Liu Hu of Daizhou remended Liu Bei to Liu Yu。 Liu Yu weled Liu Bei and gave him rank of mander and sent him against the rebels。 He fought with and worsted them and entirely broke their spirit。 Zhang Chun was cruel； and his leaders turned against him。 One of his officers then slew him and brought in his head； after which the others submitted。 The other leader Zhang Ju saw that all was lost and killed himself。
Yuyang being now tranquil； Liu Bei's services were reported to the Throne； and he received full pardon for the insult to the imperial inspector。 He was made Deputy Magistrate of Xiami； then manding Officer of Gaotang。 Then Gongsun Zan praised Liu Bei's former services； and he was promoted to Magistrate of Pingyuan。 This place was very prosperous； and Liu Bei recovered something of his old manner before the days of adversity。 Liu Yu also received preferment and was promoted to Grand mander。
＇e＇ Regent Marshal was the highest military office； while Imperial Guardian highest civilian office。
In the summer of the six year of Central Stability （AD 189）； Emperor Ling became seriously ill and summoned He Jin into the Palace to arrange for the future。 He Jin had sprung from a humble family of butchers； but his sister had bee a concubine of rank and borne a son to the Emperor； named Liu Bian。 After this she became Empress He； and He Jin became the powerful Regent Marshal*。
The Emperor had also greatly loved a beautiful girl； Lady Wang； who had borne him a son named Liu Xian。 Empress He had poisoned Lady Wang from jealousy； and the baby had been given into the care of Empress Dong； who was the mother of Emperor Ling。 Lady Dong was the wife of Liu Chang； Lord of Jiedu。 As time went on and the Emperor Huan had no son of his own； he adopted the son of Liu Chang； who succeeded as the Emperor Ling。 After his accession； Emperor Ling had taken his own mother into the Palace to live and had conferred upon her the title of Empress Dowager。
Empress Dong had always tried to persuade her son to name Liu Xian as the Heir Apparent； and in fact the Emperor greatly loved the boy and was disposed to do as his mother desired。 When his end was near； one of the eunuchs； Jian Shuo； said； 〃If Liu Xian is to succeed； He Jin must be killed to prevent countermoves。〃
The Emperor saw this too。 He placed Jian Shuo in mand of the eight armies of the West Garden in order to check Liu Bian's supporters。 And he summoned He Jin to e to him。
But at the very gate of the Forbidden City； He Jin was warned of his danger by mander Pan Yin who said； 〃This must be a trap of Jian Shuo to destroy you！〃
He Jin rushed back to his quarters and called many of the ministers to his side； and they met to consider how to put the eunuchs to death。
At this assembly a man spoke against the plot； 〃The influence of the eunuchs dates back a century and a half； during the reigns of Emperors Chong and Zhi。 It has spread like a noxious weed in all directions。 How can we hope to destroy it？ Above all keep this plot secret； or our whole clans will be exterminated。〃
He Jin eyed down and saw General of Military Standards Cao Cao。
He Jin was very angry at this speech and cried； 〃What do inferiors like you know of the ways of government？〃
And in the midst of the confusion Pan Yin came to say： 〃The Emperor is no more。 The eunuchs have decided to keep the death a secret and forge a mand to the Regent Marshal to e into the Palace to settle the succession。 Meanwhile to prevent trouble they have inscribed the name of Prince Xian on the roll。〃
And as Pan Yin finished speaking； the edict arrived summoning He Jin。
〃The matter for the moment is to set up the rightful heir；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃We can deal with the traitors later。〃
〃Who dare to join me in supporting the rightful heir………Prince Bian？〃 asked He Jin； the Regent Marshal。
At once one stood forward； crying； 〃Give me five thousand veterans； and we will break into the Palace； set up the true heir； slay the eunuchs； and sweep clean the government！ Then peace will e to the empire。〃
The energetic speaker was Yuan Shao； son of the former Minister of the Interior Yuan Feng and nephew of Imperial Guardian Yuan Wei。 Yuan Shao then held the rank of Imperial mander。
He Jin mustered five thousand royal guards。 Yuan Shao put on plete armor and took mand。 He Jin； supported by He Yong； Xun You； Zheng Tai； and more than thirty other ministers and high…rank officials； went into the Palace。 In the hall where lay the coffin of the late Emperor； they placed Liu Bian on the throne。 After the ceremony was over and all had bowed before the new Emperor； Yuan Shao went in to arrest Eunuch Jian Shuo。 Jian Shuo in terror fled into the Palace garden and hid among the shrubs； where he was discovered and murdered by Guo Sheng； one of the Ten Eunuchs。 The guards under Jian Shuo's mand all surrendered。
Yuan Shao said； 〃Their gangs have broken。 The most opportune moment is now to slay all the eunuchs！〃
But Zhang Rang and the eunuchs of the Ten scented the danger and rushed to see Empress He。
They said； 〃The originator of the plan to injure your brother was Jian Shuo： Only he was concerned and no other。 Now the Regent Marshal； on Yuan Shao's advice； wishes to slay everyone of us。 We implore your pity； O Your Majesty！〃
〃Fear not！〃 said Empress He； whose son had just bee Emperor； 〃I will protect you。〃
She sent for her brother； and said； 〃You and I are of lowly origin； and we owe our good fortune to the eunuchs。 The misguided Jian Shuo is now dead； and need you really put all the others to death as Yuan Shao advises？〃
And He Jin obeyed her wish。 He explained to his party； saying； 〃The real offender； Jian Shuo； has met his fate； and his clan will be punished。 But we n