Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/41

 got away to Taichou and sought refuge with Liu Hui, who sheltered them because of Liu Pei’s noble birth.

But nothing will be here related of this. By this time the Ten Eunuchs 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 forthcoming he was removed from office. Huangfu and Chu both fell victims to these intrigues, while on the other hand the eunuchs received the highest honours. Thirteen of them were ennobled. The government grew worse and worse and every one was irritated.

Rebellion broke out in Changsha led by one Ou Hsing, and in other places. Memorials were sent up in number as snow flakes in winter, but the eunuchs suppressed them all. One day the Emperor was at a feast in one of the gardens with the eunuchs when a certain high minister Liu T‘ao suddenly appeared showing very great distress. The Emperor asked what was the matter.

“Sire, how can you be feasting with these when the Empire is at the last gasp?” said Liu T‘ao.

“All is well,” said the Emperor,. [sic] “Where is anything wrong?”

Said T‘ao, “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 the prince and deceive their superiors. All virtuous men have left the services and misfortune is before our very eyes.”

At this the eunuchs pulled off their hats and threw themselves at their master’s feet.

“His Excellency disapproves of us,” they said, “and we are in danger. We pray that our lives be spared and we may go to our homes. Lo! we yield our property to help defray military expenses.”

And they wept bitterly. The Emperor turned angrily to the minister, saying, “You also have servants; why can you not bear with mine?”

And thereupon he called to the guards to eject T‘ao and put him to death. Liu T‘ao cried aloud, “My death matters nothing. The pity is that the Hans, after four centuries of reign, are falling fast.”

The guards hustled him away and were just about to carry out their orders when another minister stopped them, saying, “Strike not! Wait till I have spoken with His Majesty.”

It was the Ssŭ-tu, Chên Tan. He went in to the Emperor, to whom he said, “For what fault is Liu the Censor 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.