Story of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 8
Story of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 8
Minister Wang Set a Circular Trap
Lord Dong Made a Fool in Pavilion
Kuai Liang said, "Sun Jian is dead. His son is still young. This is
our best chance to take the whole south China. If we let them go now,
they will grow into a major threat to Jing Province." Liu Biao said,
"They are still holding Huang Zu. I want to get him back." Kuai
Liang said, "Sacrifice a stupid Huang Zu to get the whole south China,
it's worth it." Liu Biao said, "Huang Zu and I are close friends. It's
not a good friends' deed to sacrifice him." He sent Huan Jie back.
They exchanged the body of Sun Jian with Huang Zu.
Sun Ce returned to south China. He buried his father then stationed
the army at Jiangdu. He received earnestly people who went to him.
Gradually he gathered many capable people to work for him.
Dong Zhuo in Changan heard that Sun Jian was dead. He was pleased by
the news, and said, "That removed one of my biggest worries." And he
asked, "How old is his son?" It was answered, "Seventeen." Dong Zhuo
didn't think much of it. He was now running the Capital as if he owned
it. He promoted his brothers to army posts and in charge of the imperial
guards. All of his relatives, old or young, were named lords. He ordered
two hundred fifty thousand labors to build another palace a hundred
miles from Changan, and named it Meiwu. The size and the format is
identical to that of the Emperor. He stored twenty years of food in the
palace. Then he selected eight hundred boys and girls to live in the
palace. All of his family lived there. The palace was filled with
gold, jade, silk, and pearls. Dong Zhuo went between his palace and
Changan, every month or half a month. All of the ministers had to see
him off at the city gate. Sometimes he set up a banquet by the road
and drank with the ministers. One day, Dong Zhuo was leaving Changan,
and the ministers were seeing him off. Dong Zhuo invited them to a
banquet by the road. Just at that time a few hundred prisoners from
the northern frontier passed by. Dong Zhuo ordered them stop and stay.
He then had some of their hands or feet amputated, others had their
eyes poked out, or the tongues cut off, or put in a big pot and
boiled. The screams were heard everywhere. All the ministers were
scared and dropped their chopsticks. Dong Zhuo continued eating and
drinking as if nothing was happening. Another time, Dong Zhuo invited
the ministers to a banquet. In the middle of it, Luu Bu came to Dong
Zhuo and whispered something to him. Dong Zhuo smiled, "Good." And he
ordered Luu Bu to take Minister Zhang Wen from his seat. After awhile,
guards came in carrying a plate with Zhang Wen's head in it. Everyone
was scared to death. Dong Zhuo said, "Don't be afraid. Zhang Wen had
planned with Yuang Shu to assassinate me. But Yuan Shu sent a letter
that was delivered to my son Luu Bu by mistake. You don't need to be
scared."
Minister Wang Yun returned home after the banquet. He kept thinking
about what happened, and couldn't calm down. At night, he strolled
into the garden. He stood by the plants and wept. Then he heard a
long sigh from the pavilion. Wang Yun went to see who it was. It was
a maid named Diao Chan. She was bought when she was young, and was
taught singing and dancing. She was good at both. She was sixteen
years old now, and was very beautiful. Wang Yun treated her like his
own daughter. Wang Yun heard her sighing, and angrily asked, "Are you
having an affair with someone?" Diao Chan hurriedly knelt down and
said, "No. I wouldn't dare." Wang Yun asked, "Then why did you sigh?"
Diao Chan said, "Please allow me to speak frankly." Wang Yun said,
"Of course you can tell the truth." Diao Chan said, "I was brought up
by you. And was taught singing and dancing. You treat me well. I don't
know how I can repay you. I noticed recently that you looked very
worried. I guess you must be worrying about the country's affairs.
I did not dare to ask. Tonight you seemed to be very nervous. That's
why I sighed, because I couldn't think of a way to help. If there
is any thing that I can do, I'm willing to die for it." Wang Yun
knocked his cane on the floor, "Who could have thought that the Han
dynasty is saved by a maid. Please come with me." They went into
the house. Wang Yun ordered everyone out. Then he let Diao Chan sit
down, and knelt before her and started to kowtow. Diao Chan got up
and knelt down, and asked, "Why are you doing this?" Wang Yun said,
"Please mercy all of people of Han." And his tears came down. Diao
Chan said, "As I have said, I'll do anything, even to die." Wang Yun
knelt on the floor and said, "The people are suffering, the government
is in great danger. Only you can save them. Dong Zhuo will usurp,
and no one can stop him now. Dong Zhuo has an adopted son. His name
is Luu Bu. He is an extraordinary fighter. I observed that both of
them are womanizers. Now I can set up a double trap. I'll first
promise you to Luu Bu, then give you to Dong Zhuo. You will then
take opportunities to make them mistrust each other, and make Luu Bu
kill Dong Zhuo. To restore the Han dynasty, to save the people of
this country, will all depend on you now. Will you do it?" Diao Chan
said, "I will do it. Please start your plan now." Wang Yun said, "If
anyone knows this, we will all die." Diao Chan said, "I will keep it
secret." Wang Yun thanked her again.
Next day, Wang Yun took out a few large pearls he had saved, and had
them made into a golden crown. He secretly sent the crown to Luu Bu.
Luu Bu went to Wang Yun's home to thank him. Wang Yun prepared a good
dinner, and greeted Luu Bu at the door. After they sat down, Luu Bu
said, "I am only a general working for the Prime Minister. You are
a Minister in the government. Why are you so kind to me?" Wang Yun
said, "There is no other hero than you in the world today. I respect
you as a person, not your rank." As they ate and drank, Wang Yun did
not stop praising Luu Bu and Dong Zhuo. Halfway through dinner, Wang
Yun sent everyone else out, and asked Diao Chan to come out. Diao
Chan already carefully did makeup. Wang Yun said, "This is my daughter.
I'd like you to meet her." He asked Diao Chan to pour wine for Luu Bu.
Diao Chan looked at Luu Bu, and Luu Bu just stared at her. Wang Yun
pretended to be drunk. He said, "My child, give the general some
more wine. We all depend on him." Luu Bu asked Diao Chan to join
them and sit down. Diao Chan did not refuse (**Note: This was extremely
improper for an unmarried woman in ancient China). Wang Yun said,
"General is my close friend. Daughter you can sit with us." Diao
Chan then sat beside Wang Yun. Luu Bu couldn't move his eyes off her.
Wang Yun said, "I want to give my daughter to you as your concubine.
Would you like to take her?" Luu Bu stood up and said, "If you do, I
can never repay you." Wang Yun said, "We will choose a good date and
send her over." Luu Bu was in heaven. He kept looking at Diao Chan,
and Diao Chan always answered his stares. After the dinner, Wang Yun
said, "I would have liked to have you here over night. But I am
afraid that your father wouldn't like it." And he sent Luu Bu off.
A few days later, Wang Yun went to see Dong Zhuo. He took an opportunity
when Luu Bu was not with him, and asked, "I would like to have the
honor to have the Prime Minister in my home for dinner." Dong Zhuo
said, "I will certainly come." Next day in the afternoon, Dong Zhuo
came. A hundred armed guards first went in and stood at both sides of
the hall. Dong Zhuo then came and sat down at his seat. Wang Yun went
in front of Dong Zhuo and knelt down. Dong Zhuo ordered servants to
take Wang Yun to his seat. Wang Yun said, "Prime Minister, you are
better than any great statesmen in history." The dinner lasted till
dark. Wang Yun asked Dong Zhuo to come to the back room. Dong Zhuo
ordered the guards to leave. Wang Yun said, "I have learned to read
the stars since I was young. Last night I looked at the stars and
discovered that the time is up for Han dynasty. It is the time for
you to take the crown and proclaim yourself the Emperor." Dong Zhuo
said, "How can I dare to do that." Wang Yun said, "You deserve it."
Dong Zhuo laughed, "If I ever become the Emperor, you will be the
Prime Minister." Wang Yun said, "I have a maid that dances very well.
Would you like to see?" Dong Zhuo said, "Very well." Wang Yun pulled
down the screen, and asked the music to be started. Diao Chan came
out and danced behind the screen. After the dance, Dong Zhuo asked
her to come over. Diao Chan went to the front of the screen. Dong
Zhuo was moved by her beauty, and asked "What's her name?" Wang Yun
said, "Diao Chan." Dong Zhuo asked, "Can she sing?" Wang Yun asked
her to sing a song. Dong Zhuo praised her continuously. After the
song, Wang Yun asked Diao Chan to serve the wine. Dong Zhuo held the
wine glass and asked, "How old are you?" Diao Chan said, "Sixteen."
Dong Zhuo laughed, "You are like a goddess." Wang Yun stood up and
said, "I will give this girl to Prime Minister." Dong Zhuo said,
"That is very kind of you." Wang Yun said, "She is fortunate to be
able to serve the Prime Minister." Dong Zhuo thanked Wang Yun. Wang
Yun immediately prepared a carriage and sent Diao Chan to Dong Zhuo's
home. Dong Zhuo also left. Wang Yun sent him all the way to home,
then he went back.
On his way back, he saw two rows of lanterns coming up to him. It
was Luu Bu. He went up to Wang Yun, held his clothes, and asked,
"You promised your daughter to me. Why did you then give it to
the Prime Minister? Do you take me as a fool?" Wang Yun interrupted
him and said, "This is not the place to talk. Let's go to my home."
They went to Wang Yun's home. Wang Yun said, "Why did you reproach
me?" Luu Bu said, "I got the report that you sent Diao Chan to Prime
Minister's house. Why did you do that?" Wang Yun said, "I thought
you already knew. The other day, Prime Minister asked to come to
my home. I prepared a dinner for him. During the dinner, he asked
me, 'I heard that you have promised your daughter to my son. I want
to make sure so I come here to ask myself. Also I want to see her
first.' I couldn't refuse him. After Diao Chan met with her father
in law, he said, 'Today is a good date. I'll bring her home and
marry her to my son.' I couldn't stop the Prime Minister." Luu Bu
said, "Please forgive me. It was my mistake." Wang Yun said, "I will
send some of her stuff over to your place later." Luu Bu then left.
Next day, Luu Bu did not hear anything about Diao Chan. He went
to Dong Zhuo's house and asked the maids. They told him, "The Prime
Minister is sleeping with the new girl. He is not up yet." Luu Bu
was enraged. He sneaked into the back of Dong Zhuo's bedroom. Diao
Chan was already up. She was combing her hair by the window. She
saw a reflection from the pond outside the window. She recognized
it was Luu Bu. She showed an unhappy face, and wiped her eyes with
a handkerchief. Luu Bu looked for a long time, then left. He returned
shortly. Dong Zhuo was up by then, and sat in the hall. He saw Luu
Bu, and asked, "Anything to report?" Luu Bu said, "Nothing." And
stood beside Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo was eating. Luu Bu looked around,
and noticed a woman behind a curtain, showing only an eye. She was
looking at him. Luu Bu knew it was Diao Chan. He couldn't keep his
concentration. Dong Zhuo noticed Luu Bu's strange behavior, and got
suspicious. He said, "If there is nothing, you can go now." Luu Bu
reluctantly left.
Since Dong Zhuo took Diao Chan, he stayed with her all the time. He
did not attend to anything else for over a month. Dong Zhuo had a
minor illness. Diao Chan took very good care of him. This made Dong
Zhuo like her even more. Luu Bu went to Dong Zhuo's bedroom to see
Dong Zhuo. He was sleeping. Diao Chan stood at the back of the bed
and stared at Luu Bu. She pointed at her heart, then pointed at Dong
Zhuo, and tears went down her cheeks. Luu Bu's heart broke. Dong Zhuo
woke up. He saw Luu Bu was staring at the back of the bed. He turned
and saw Diao Chan standing there. Dong Zhuo was angry. He said, "How
dare you flirt with my woman." He ordered the guards to take Luu Bu
out, and ordered that Luu Bu would never be allowed into his bedroom
again. Luu Bu met Li Ru on his way out. He told all about it to Li Ru.
Li Ru hurriedly went to see Dong Zhuo. He said, "Prime Minister is
going to rule the whole country. Why did you mistreat Luu Bu for a
minor matter? If he is not loyal to you, it will be big trouble."
Dong Zhuo asked, "What do I do now?" Li Ru said, "You can ask him to
come back, and give him gold and silk, and sweeten it with nice talk.
That should take care of it." Next day, Dong Zhuo asked Luu Bu to come
to his bedroom, and said, "The other day when I was sick, I did not
know what I was doing. Please don't take it to seriously." He then
give Luu Bu ten pounds of gold and twenty yards of silk. Luu Bu
thanked him. Although he is still serving Dong Zhuo, all he was
thinking about was Diao Chan.
After Dong Zhuo got well, one day he went to see the Emperor. Luu
Bu held his spear and followed. When Dong Zhuo was talking to the
Emperor, Luu Bu took the opportunity and sneaked out. He went to the
house of Prime Minister. He went directly to the bedroom and found
Diao Chan there. Diao Chan said, "You can wait for me by the pavilion
in the rear garden." Luu Bu went to the pavilion and waited. After
awhile Diao Chan came. She cried to Luu Bu, "Although I am not Minister
Wang's real daughter, he treated me like his own. Ever since I saw you,
I wanted to marry you and serve you my whole life. Now I have been
raped by Dong Zhuo, I cannot live any more. The only reason that I
haven't died is I want to see you one more time, to say goodbye.
Now my wish is fulfilled, I have nothing to live for. My body is
dirty and cannot serve you. I will die in front of you to show my
innocence." She held the fence by the pond, and started to jump.
Luu Bu held her body, and cried, "I know your heart. You don't have
to show me." Diao Chan took Luu Bu's hand and said, "I cannot be
your wife this life. I hope I can serve you next life." Luu Bu said,
"I can not be a man if I cannot make you my wife this life." Diao Chan
said, "If you can save me, please do it soon. I cannot endure it any
longer." Luu Bu said, "I came here today when Dong Zhuo is occupied.
If I stay here long he will be suspicious. I need to leave now." And
he started to leave. Diao Chan dragged on Luu Bu's clothes and said,
"You are so afraid of that old man. I am hopeless now." Luu Bu stopped
and said, "Let me think of a good plan." Diao Chan said, "I thought
you were the only real hero in this world. Who would think that you
are afraid of another man!" Then she just cried. Luu Bu felt so ashamed.
He put aside his spear and hugged Diao Chan. He tried to calm her
with warm words. The two of them could not separate from each other.
Dong Zhuo was talking to the Emperor, when he noticed that Luu Bu wasn't
there. He immediately left and returned home. He saw Luu Bu's horse
was in the front. He asked, "Where is Luu Bu?" The guard said, "In the
back." Dong Zhuo ordered the guards out. Then he went to the back, but
could not find Luu Bu nor Diao Chan. He asked a maid, she said, "Diao
Chan is in the rear garden." Dong Zhuo went to the rear garden, and
found Luu Bu and Diao Chan tightly holding each other under the
pavilion. Luu Bu's spear is aside. Dong Zhuo yelled in anger. Luu Bu
was surprised and ran. Dong Zhuo took the spear and chased Luu Bu. Luu
Bu was fast. Dong Zhuo was too fat and couldn't catch Luu Bu. He threw
the spear at Luu Bu. Luu Bu knocked it down. By the time Dong Zhuo
picked up the spear again, Luu Bu was gone. Dong Zhuo ran out of the
garden, and ran into a man. Dong Zhuo was knocked into the ground. If
you want to know who this man was, read the
next chapter.