Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/58



t is recorded that Tung Cho was on the point of slaying Yüan Shao, but his adviser checked him, saying, “You must not kill rashly while the business hangs in the balance.”

Yüan Shao, his sword still unsheathed, left the assembly. He hung up the symbols of his office at the east gate and went to Ichow.

Tung Cho said to the T‘ai-fu Yüan Wei, “Your nephew behaved improperly but I pardon him for your sake; what think you of my scheme?”

“What you think is right,” was the reply.

“If any one opposes the great scheme he will be dealt with by military law,” said Tung Cho.

The ministers, thoroughly cowed, promised obedience and the feast came to an end. Tung asked Chou Pi and Wu Chiung what they thought of the flight of Yüan Shao.

“He left in a state of great anger. In such a state of excitement much harm may ensue to the present state of affairs, especially as the Yüan family have been noted for their kindness to the people for four generations, and their protégés and dependents are everywhere. If they assemble bold spirits and call up their clients, all the valiant warriors will be in arms and Shantung will be lost. You had better pardon him and give him a post. He will be glad at being forgiven and will do no harm.”

Wu said, “Shao is fond of scheming, but he fails in decision and so is not to be feared. But it would be well to give him rank and thus win popular favour.”

Tung Cho followed this advice and thereupon sent a messenger to offer Yüan Shao the command of Pohai.

In the ninth month the Emperor was invited to proceed to the Hall of Abounding Virtue where was a great assembly of officials. There Tung Cho, sword in hand, faced the gathering and said, “The Emperor is a weakling unequal to the burden of ruling this land. Now listen ye to the document I have prepared.”