Huan Ji thanked him and took his leave。
But as Huan Ji went down the steps； Kuai Liang suddenly broke in； saying； 〃No； no！ Let me speak and I will see to it that not a single enemy can survive。 I pray you first put this man to death and then to employ my means。〃
Pursuing his enemy； Sun Jian dies；
On a peaceful mission； Huan Ji is threatened。
The fate of the ambassador will be disclosed in a later chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 8 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Wang Yun Prepares The Chaining Scheme；
Dong Zhuo Rages At Phoenix Pavilion。
This is what Kuai Liang said； 〃Sun Jian is now gone； and his children are but youths。 Seize this moment of weakness to break into Changsha； and it is yours in one beat of the drum。 If you return the corpse and make peace； you give them time to grow powerful； and evil will ensue to Jingzhou。〃
〃How can I leave Huang Zu in their hands？〃 said Liu Biao。
〃Why not sacrifice this blundering warrior for a region？〃
〃But he is my dear friend and to abandon him is wrong。〃
So Huan Ji was allowed to return to his own side with the understanding that Sun Jian's dead body should be given in exchange。 Sun Ce freed his prisoner； brought away his father's coffin； and the fighting ceased。 Sun Jian was interred in the plains of Que。 When the ceremonies were over； Sun Ce led his army home again。
＇e＇ The Yangtze or Yangzi river； which flows from west to east to the Pacific at Shanghai。
In Changsha； the southern territory of the Great River*； Sun Ce set himself to the task of ruling well。 Being humble and generous； he invited to his side humans of wisdom and valor and so bore himself that all the best and bravest of the country gathered about him。
Meanwhile； Dong Zhuo at Capital Changan； when he heard of the death of the turbulent Sun Jian； said； 〃An evil that pressed hard upon my heart has been removed！〃
He asked what children Sun Jian had left； and when they told him the eldest was but seventeen； he dismissed all anxiety from his thoughts。
From this time forward his arrogance and domineering spirit waxed worse and worse。 He styled himself 〃Imperial Rector；〃 a name full of honor； and in all his behavior aped imperial state。 He created his younger brother； Dong Min； Lord of Huazhou and made him mander of the Left Army。 A nephew； Dong Huang； was made Court Counselor and placed in mand of the Palace Guard； and everyone of his clan； young or old； was ennobled。 Eighty miles from the capital Dong Zhuo laid out a city called Meiwo； an exact replica of Changan； with its palaces； granaries； treasuries； and magazines； and employed a quarter of a million people to build it。 Here he accumulated supplies sufficient for twenty years。 He selected eight hundred of the most beautiful maidens and sent them to dwell in his new city。 The stores of wealth in every form were incalculable。 All his family and retainers found quarters in this new city。
Dong Zhuo visited his city at intervals of a month or so； and every visit was like an imperial progress； with booths by the roadside to refresh the officials and courtiers who attended him to the northwest Royal Gate and saw him start。
On one occasion Dong Zhuo spread a great feast for all those assembled to witness his departure； and while it was in progress； there arrived a large number of rebels from the north who had voluntarily surrendered。 The tyrant had them brought before him as he sat at table and meted out to them wanton cruelties。 The hands of this one were lopped off； the feet of that； one had his eyes gouged out； another lost his tongue。 Some were boiled to death。 Shrieks of agony arose to the very heavens； and the courtiers were faint with terror。 But the author of the misery ate and drank； chatted and smiled as if nothing was going on。
Another day Dong Zhuo was presiding at a great gathering of officers who were seated in two long rows。 After the wine had gone up and down several times； Lu Bu entered and whispered a few words in his master's ear。
Dong Zhuo smiled and said； 〃He was always so。 Take Minister Zhang Wan outside。〃
The others all turned pale。 In a little time a serving man brought the head of their fellow guest on a red dish and showed it to their host。 They nearly died with fright。
〃Do not fear；〃 said Dong Zhuo smiling。 〃Minister Zhang Wan was in league with Yuan Shu to assassinate me。 A letter he wrote fell by mistake into the hands of my son； so I have had him put to death。 You gentlemen； who have no reason； need have no fear。〃
The officials hastened to disperse。 One of them； Minister of the Interior Wang Yun； who had witnessed all this； returned to his palace very pensive and much distressed。 The same evening； a bright moonlight night； he took his staff and went strolling in his private garden。 Standing near one of the creeper trellises； he gazed up at the sky and the tears rolled down his cheeks。 Suddenly he heard a rustle in the Peony Pavilion and someone sighing deeply。 Stealthily creeping near； he saw there one of the household singing girls named Diao Chan。
This maiden had been brought up in his palace； where she had been taught to sing and dance。 At twenty…one； she was then just bursting into womanhood； a pretty and clever girl whom Wang Yun regarded more as a daughter than a dependant。
After listening for some time； Wang Yun suddenly called out； 〃What mischief are you up to there； you naughty girl？〃
The maiden dropped on her knees in terror； saying； 〃Would thy unworthy handmaid dare to do anything wrong？〃
〃Then what are you sighing about out here in the darkness？〃
〃May thy handmaid speak from the bottom of her heart？〃
〃Tell me the whole truth。 Do not conceal anything。〃
And the girl said； 〃Thy handmaid has been the recipient of bountiful kindness。 She has been taught to sing and dance and been treated so kindly that were she torn in pieces for her lord's sake； it would not repay a thousandth part。 She has noticed lately that her lord's brows have been knit in distress and knows it is on account of the state troubles。 But she has not dared to ask。 This evening he seemed sadder than ever； and she was miserable on her lord's account。 But she did not know she would be seen。 Could she be of any use she would not shrink from a myriad deaths。〃
A sudden idea came to Wang Yun； and he stuck the ground with his staff。 And he said； 〃Who would think that the fate of Han lay on your palm？ e with me！〃
The girl followed him into the house。 Then he dismissed all the waiting attendants； placed Diao Chan on a chair and bowed before her。 She was frightened and threw herself on the ground； asking in terror what it all meant。
Said Wang Yun； 〃You can sympathize with the people of Han；〃 and the fount of his tears opened afresh。
〃My lord； as thy handmaid said just now； use her in any way： Thy handmaid will never shrink；〃 said the girl。
Wang Yun knelt； saying； 〃The people are on the brink of destruction； the prince and his officers are in jeopardy； and you； you are the only savior。 That wretch Dong Zhuo wants to depose the Emperor； and not a person among us can find means to stop him。 Now he has a son； a bold warrior it is true； but both father and son have a weakness for beauty； and I am going to use what I may call the 'chaining' plan。 I shall first propose you in marriage to Lu Bu and then； after you are betrothed； I shall present you to Dong Zhuo； and you will take every opportunity to force them asunder and turn sway their countenances from each other； cause the son to kill his adopted father and so put an end to the great evil。 Thus you may restore the altars of the land that it may live again。 All this lies within your power： Will you do it？〃
〃Thy handmaid has promised not to recoil from death itself。 You may use my poor self in any way； and I must do my best。〃
〃But if this gets abroad then we are all lost！〃
〃Fear not；〃 said she。 〃If thy handmaid does not show gratitude； may she perish beneath a myriad swords！〃
〃Thank you； thank you！〃 said Wang Yun。
Then Wang Yun took from the family treasury many pearls and bade a cunning jeweler make therewith a fine golden headdress； which was sent as a present to Lu Bu。 He was delighted and came to thank the donor。 When Lu Bu arrived； he was met at the gate b