〃I have never wronged the people to the value of a single coin： Then where is a bribe to e from？〃
Next day the inspector had the minor officials before him and forced them to bear witness that their master had oppressed the people。 Liu Bei time after time went to rebut this charge； but the doorkeepers drove him away and he could not enter。
Now Zhang Fei had been all day drowning his sorrow in wine and had drunk far too much。 Calling for his horse he rode out past the lodging of the inspector； and at the gate saw a small crowd of white…haired people weeping bitterly。 He asked why。
They said； 〃The inspector has pelled the underlings to bear false witness against our magistrate； with the desire to injure the virtuous Liu Bei。 We came to beg mercy for him but are not permitted to enter。 Moreover； we have been beaten by the doorkeepers。〃
This provoked the irascible and half intoxicated Zhang Fei to fury。 His eyes opened wide until they became circles； he ground his teeth； in a moment he was off his steed； had forced his way past the scared doorkeepers into the building； and was in the rear apartments。 There he saw Imperial Inspector Du Biao sitting on high with the official underlings in bonds at his feet。
〃Oppressor of the people； robber！〃 cried Zhang Fei。 〃Do you know me？〃
But before the inspector could reply； Zhang Fei had had him by the hair and had dragged him down。 Another moment he was outside and firmly lashed to the hitching post in front of the building。 Then breaking off a switch from a willow tree； Zhang Fei gave his victim a severe thrashing； only staying his hand when the tenth switch was too short to strike with。
Liu Bei was sitting alone； muning with his sorrow； when he heard a shouting before his door。 He asked what the matter was。
They told him； 〃General Zhang Fei had bound somebody to a post and was thrashing him！〃
Hastily going outside； Liu Bei saw who the unhappy victim was and asked Zhang Fei the reason。
〃If we do not beat this sort of wretch to death； what may we expect？〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃Noble Sir； save me！〃 cried the inspector。
Now Liu Bei had always been kindly and gracious； wherefore he bade his brother release the officer and go his way。
Then Guan Yu came up； saying； 〃Brother； after your magnificent services you only got this petty post； and even here you have been insulted by this fellow。 A thorn bush is no place for a phoenix。 Let us slay this fellow； leave here； and go home till we can evolve a bigger scheme。〃
Liu Bei contented himself with hanging the official seal about the inspector's neck； saying； 〃If I hear that you injure the people； I will assuredly kill you。 I now spare your life； and I return to you the seal。 We are going。〃
The inspector went to the governor of Dingzhou and plained； and orders were issued for the arrest of the brothers； but they got away to Daizhou and sought refuge with Liu Hu； who sheltered them because of Liu Bei's noble birth。
＇e＇ Two of the Ten Regular Attendants
By this time the Ten Regular Attendants had everything in their hands； and they put to death all who did not stand in with them。 From every officer who had helped to put down the rebels they demanded presents； and if these were not forthing； he was removed from office。 Imperial manders Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun both fell victims to these intrigues and were deprived from offices； while on the other hand the eunuchs received the highest honors and rewards。 Thirteen eunuchs were ennobled； including Zhao Zhong* who was added to the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry； Zhang Rang* possessed most of the prize farms around the capital。 The government grew worse and worse； and everyone was irritated。
Rebellions broke out in Changsha led by Ou Xing； and in Yuyang led by Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun。 Memorials were sent up in number as snow flakes in winter； but the Ten suppressed them all。 One day the Emperor was at a feast in one of the gardens with the Ten； when Court Counselor Liu Tao suddenly appeared showing very great distress。 The Emperor asked what the matter was。
〃Sire； how can you be feasting with these when the empire is at the last gasp？〃 said Liu Tao。
〃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