〃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 mander 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 e 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 pleted。〃
〃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 mand from the Emperor to summon the Prime Minister to the Palace。 He will e； 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 mander 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 bee 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 imposing escort。 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 mand 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。
〃The grass in the meadow looks fresh now and green；
Yet wait but ten days； not a blade will be seen。〃
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。
Li Su was silent as he helped push the carriage forward swiftly to the entrance。
Suddenly Wang Yun shouted； 〃The rebel is here！ Where are the executioners？〃
At this call sprang from both sides soldiers armed with halberds and spears who attacked Dong Zhuo。 He had not put on the breastplate he usually wore； and a spear pierced his breast。
He sank down in the carriage calling loudly for his son； 〃Where is Lu Bu？〃
〃Here； and with a decree to deal with a rebel！〃 said Lu Bu； as he appeared in front of his 〃father。〃
Thereupon he thrust his trident halberd through the victim's throat。 Then Li Su hacked off the head and held it up。
Lu Bu； his left hand holding his halberd； thrust his right hand into his bosom whence he drew the decree； crying； 〃The decree was to slay the rebel Dong Zhuo………no other！〃
The whole assembly shouted； 〃Wan shui！ Live forever！ O Emperor！〃
A sympathetic poet has written a few lines in pity：
Await the time； O noble； and be king；
Or failing； reap the solace riches bring；
Heaven never is partial； but severely just；
Meiwo stood strong； yet now it lies in dust。
The lust of blood awakened； Lu Bu urged the slaughter of Li Ru； who had been the confidant of the murdered Prime Minister； and Li Su volunteered to go in searc