Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/62

 him on the steps and tried to stab him. But Cho was a very powerful man and held him off till Lü Pu came to his help. He struck down the assailant.

“Who told you to rebel?” said Tung.

Fou glared at him and cried, “You are not my prince, I am not your minister: where is the rebellion? Your crimes fill the heavens and every man would slay you. I am sorry I cannot tear you asunder with chariots to appease the wrath of the world.”

Tung Cho bade them take him out and hack him to pieces. He only ceased railing as he ceased to live.

Thereafter Tung Cho always went well guarded.

At Pohai Yüan Shao heard of Tung Cho’s misuse of power and sent a secret letter to Wang Yü.

“That rebel Cho outrages Heaven and has deposed his ruler. Men cannot bear to speak of him. Yet you suffer his aggressions as if you knew naught of them. How then are you a dutiful and loyal minister? I have assembled an army and desire to sweep clean the royal habitation, but I dare not lightly begin the task. If you are willing, then find an opportunity to plot against this man. If you would use force I am at your command.”

The letter arrived but Wang Yün could see no chance. One day while among the throng in attendance, mostly men of long service, he said to his colleagues, “This is my birthday, I pray you come to a little party in my humble cot this evening.”

“We certainly will,” they cried, “and wish you long life.”

That night the tables were spread in an inner room and his friends gathered there. When the wine had made a few rounds the host suddenly covered his face and began to weep.

The guests were aghast.

“Sir, on your birthday too, why do you weep?” said they.

“It is not my birthday,” replied he. “But I wished to call you together and I feared lest Tung Cho should suspect, so I made that the excuse. This man insults the Emperor and does as he wishes so that the imperial prerogatives are in imminent peril. I think of the days when our illustrious founder destroyed Ts‘in, annihilated Ch‘u and obtained the Empire. Who could have foreseen this day when that Tung Cho has subjugated all to his will? That is why I weep.”

Then they all wept with him.

Seated among the guests, however, was Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, who did not join in the weeping but clapped his hands and laughed aloud.