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ur present Emperor is young； but he is intelligent； benevolent； and wise。 He has not mitted a single fault。 You； Sir； are an imperial protector of a frontier region and not a metropolitan official and have had no experience in state administration。 Neither have you the pure intentions of Yi Yin and Huo Guang which qualified their actions。 The Teacher said： 'Only with Yi Yin's purpose can one act like Yi Yin。 Otherwise； such a deed is treason。'〃
Dong Zhuo angrily drew his sword to slay the bold Lu Zhi； but two other officials remonstrated。
〃Minister Lu Zhi is the cynosure of the whole country； and his violent death would stir the hearts of all people！〃 said Court Counselors Cai Yong and Peng Bo。
Dong Zhuo then stayed his hand。
Then said Wang Yun； 〃A great question like the deposition and substitution of emperors is not one to be decided after a wine party。 Let it be put off till another time。〃
So the guests dispersed。 Dong Zhuo stood at the gate with drawn sword watching them depart。 Standing thus； Dong Zhuo noticed a spearman galloping to and fro on a fiery steed and asked Li Ru who that was。
〃That is Lu Bu； the adopted son of Ding Yuan。 You must keep out of his way； my lord。〃
Dong Zhuo went inside the gate so that he could not be seen。 But next day they reported to him that Ding Yuan had e out of the city with a small army and was challenging to a battle。 Dong Zhuo； with his army； went forth to accept the challenge。 And the two armies were drawn up in proper array。
Lu Bu was a conspicuous figure in the forefront。 His hair was arranged under a handsome headdress of gold； and he had donned a embroidered thousand…flower fighting robe； a pheasant…tailed helmet； and breast plate； and round his waist was a gleaming jade belt with a lion's head clasp。 With spear set he rode close behind his master Ding Yuan。
Ding Yuan； riding forth； pointing his finger at Dong Zhuo； began to revile him。
〃Unhappy indeed was this state when the eunuchs became so powerful that the people were as if trodden into the mire under their feet。 Now you； devoid of the least merit； dare to talk of deposing the rightful emperor and setting up another。 This is to desire rebellion and no less！〃
Dong Zhuo could not reply for Lu Bu； eager for the fight； rode straight at him。 Dong Zhuo fled and Ding Yuan's army came on。 The battle went in Ding Yuan's favor； and the beaten troops retired ten miles and made another camp。 Here Dong Zhuo called his officers to a council。
〃This Lu Bu is a marvel；〃 said Dong Zhuo。 〃If he were only on my side； I would defy the whole world！〃
At this a man advanced saying； 〃Be content； O my lord！ I am a fellow villager of his and know him well： He is valorous； but not crafty； he will let go principles； when he sees advantages。 With this little； blarneying tongue of mine； I can persuade him to put up his hands and e over to your side。〃
Dong Zhuo was delighted and gazed admiringly at the speaker。 It was Li Su； a general in the Imperial Tiger Army。
〃What arguments will you use with him？〃 asked Dong Zhuo。
〃You have a fine horse； Red Hare； one of the best ever bred。 I must have this steed； and gold and pearls to win his heart。 Then will I go and persuade him。 He will certainly abandon Ding Yuan's service for yours。〃
〃What think you？〃 said Dong Zhuo to his adviser Li Ru。
〃One cannot grudge a horse to win an empire；〃 was the reply。
So they gave Li Su what he demanded………a thousand ounces of gold； ten strings of beautiful pearls； a jeweled belt； and Red Hare………and these acpanied Li Su on his visit to his fellow villager。
Li Su reached the camp and said to the guard； 〃Please tell General Lu Bu that a very old friend has e to visit him。〃
He was admitted forthwith。
〃Worthy brother； have you been well since we last met？〃 greeted Li Su while bowing。
〃How long it is since we last saw each other！〃 replied Lu Bu； bowing in return。 〃And where are you now？〃
〃I am a general in the Imperial Tiger Army。 When I learned you were a strong supporter of the Throne； I could not say how I rejoiced。 I have e now to present to you a really fine horse； a five…hundred…mile…a…day horse； one that crosses rivers and goes up mountains as if they were the level plain。 Its name is Red Hare。 It will be a fitting aid to your valor。〃
Lu Bu bade his guards lead out the horse。 It was of a uniform color like glowing…sun red………not a hair of another color。 It measured ten spans from head to tail and from hoof to neck eight spans。 When it neighed； the sound filled the empyrean and shook the ocean。
Mark ye the steed swift and tireless； see the dust； spurned by his hoofs； rising in clouds；
Now it swims the river； anon climbs the hill； rending the purple mist asunder；
Scornful it breaks the rein； shakes from its head the jeweled bridle；
It is as a fiery dragon descending from the highest heaven。
Lu Bu was delighted with the horse and said； 〃What return can I hope to make for such a creature？〃
〃What return can I hope for？ I came to you out of a sense of what is right；〃 replied Li Su。
Wine was brought in and they drank。
〃We have seen very little of each other； but I am constantly meeting your honorable father；〃 said Li Su。
〃You are drunk；〃 said Lu Bu。 〃My father has been dead for years。〃
〃Not so； I spoke of Ding Yuan； the man of the day。〃
Lu Bu started。 〃Yes； I am with him； but only because I can do no better。〃
〃Sir； your talent is higher than the heavens； deeper than the seas。 Who in all the world does not bow before your name？ Fame and riches and honors are yours for the taking。 And you say you can do no better than remain a subordinate！〃
〃If I could only find a master to serve；〃 said Lu Bu。
〃The clever bird chooses the branch whereon to perch； the wise servant selects the master to serve。 Seize the chance when it es； for repentance ever es too late。〃
〃Now you are in the government。 Who think you is really the bravest of all？〃； asked Lu Bu。
〃I despise the whole lot except Dong Zhuo。 He is one who respects wisdom and reveres scholarship； he is discriminating in his rewards and punishments。 Surely he is destined to be a really great man。〃
Lu Bu said； 〃I wish that I could serve him； but there is no way； I fear。〃
Then Li Su produced his pearls and gold and the jeweled belt and laid them out before his host。
〃What is this？ What does it mean？〃 said Lu Bu。
〃Send away the attendants；〃 requested Li Su。 And he went on； 〃Dong Zhuo has long respected your bravery and sent these by my hand。 Red Hare was also from him。〃
〃But； if he loves me like this； what can I do in return？〃
Li Su said； 〃If a stupid fellow like me can be a general in the Imperial Tiger Army； it is impossible to say what honors await you。〃
〃I am sorry I can offer him no service worth mentioning。〃
Li Su said； 〃There is one service you can do； and an extremely easy one to perform； but you would not render that。〃
Lu Bu pondered long in silence； then he said； 〃I might slay Ding Yuan and bring over his soldiers to Dong Zhuo's side。 What think you of that？〃
〃If you would do that； there could be no greater service。 But such a thing must be done quickly。〃
And Lu Bu promised his friend that he would do the deed and e over on the morrow。
So Li Su took his leave。 That very night； at the second watch； Lu Bu entered； sword in hand； into his master's tent。 He found Ding Yuan reading by the light of a solitary candle。
Seeing who came in； Ding Yuan said； 〃My son； what is afoot？〃
〃I am a bold hero；〃 said Lu Bu。 〃Do not think I am willing to be a son of yours！〃
〃Why this change； Lu Bu？〃
As a reply Lu Bu made one cut； and Ding Yuan's head fell to the earth。
Then Lu Bu called the attendants and said； 〃He was an unjust man； and I have slain him。 Let those who back me stay。 The others may depart。〃
Most ran away。 Next day； with the head of the murdered man as his gift； Lu Bu betook himself to Li Su； who led him to Dong Zhuo。 Dong Zhuo received him with a warm wele and had wine set before him。
〃Your ing is wele as the gentle dew to the parched grass；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Lu Bu made Dong Zhuo seat himself and then made an obeisance； saying； 〃Pray let me bow to you as my adopted father！〃
Dong Zhuo gave his newly won ally gold armor and silken robes and spread the feast of wele。 They then separated。
Thence Dong Zhuo's power and influence increased rapidly。 He gave the lordship of Hu （an ancient state） and the rank mander of the Left Army to his brother Dong Min。 He appointed Lu Bu Lord of Luoyang； mander of Capital District； and Cavalry mander。 Dong Zhuo made himself Minister of Works； Grand mander； and mander of the Front Army。
The adviser Li Ru never ceased from urging him to carry out the design of deposing the young Emperor。
The now all…powerful Dong Zhuo prepared a banquet in the capital at which all the officers of state were guests。 He also bade Lu Bu post a pany of armed men right and left ready for action。 The feast began and several courses were served with nothing to distinguish that banquet from any other。
Then suddenly the host arose and drew his sword； saying； 〃He who is above us being weak and irresolute is unfit for the duties of his high place。 Wherefore I； as of old did Yi Yin and Huo Guang； will set aside this Emperor giving him the title of Prince of Hongnong； and I will place on the throne t