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In the third month of the first year of the Chuping era, on the day Wuwu, during a grand court assembly, Dong Zhuo suddenly proclaimed the crimes of colluding with external enemies, wantonly minting debased coinage, corrupting the altars of the state, and deceiving the sovereign while betraying the throne. He ordered the execution of Grand Tutor Yuan Wei and Minister of the Imperial Stud Yuan Ji, along with all members of their households above the height of a foot measure—over fifty people in total. They were buried separately outside Qingcheng Gate and within Dongdu Gate in Chang'an. Later, Dong Zhuo grew worried that someone might steal the corpses, so he had them transferred yet again to Mei County.
The most immediate reason for killing Yuan Wei was, of course, the accumulation of various old grudges. Yet the spark that ignited the fuse was a completely unrelated report. The Grand Astrologer, responsible for observing celestial phenomena and foretelling the future, reported to Dong Zhuo that soon a weighty minister of the court, at least of the rank of the Three Ducal Ministers or above, would meet an untimely and violent death.
Dong Zhuo thought to himself: this unlucky minister could not possibly be me! And so, without going through anyone, he pronounced judgment directly at the court assembly and had it carried out immediately. Thus, the Grand Astrologer's prophecy concerning the future was fulfilled, the celestial sign was confirmed, and Dong Zhuo felt that his own life was thereby secured.
Yet Dong Zhuo's brazen, unbridled execution of figures above the rank of the Three Ducal Ministers—moreover, the very patrons who had once promoted him—such an open violation of the fundamental laws of the Han dynasty enraged many people. At this time, within the city of Chang'an, five individuals came together. He Yong, serving as a Court Gentleman for Consultation. Zheng Tai, also a Court Gentleman for Consultation. Xun You, serving as a Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate. Zhong Ji, serving as a Palace Attendant. Wu Fu, serving as Colonel of the Elite Cavalry.
Xun You, possessing the sharpest mind, took the lead in the analysis: Dong Zhuo, though appearing to wield boundless power in Chang'an, was, in fact, merely a façade. His principal die-hard followers and their personal troops—men like Niu Fu, deployed between Chang'an and Luoyang, and Li Jue and Guo Si, both stationed far from Chang'an. Thus, Xun You's final conclusion was this: if they could but assassinate Dong Zhuo, then dispatch troops to hold the passes such as Hangu Pass, blocking Niu Fu and the others from returning to Chang'an, while simultaneously using the imperial court's authority to summon the gentry forces from east of the mountains to the capital, the grand enterprise could be accomplished! The other four all felt that Xun You's reasoning was sound.
But who would go and carry out the assassination? All eyes converged on Wu Fu. Who else, after all, was a proper, bona fide military officer? The post of Colonel of the Elite Cavalry had previously been held by Gai Xun, but Dong Zhuo, disliking Gai Xun commanding troops, had dismissed him and then granted the position to Wu Fu. In a certain sense, Wu Fu could even be counted among those personally elevated by Dong Zhuo, and it was entirely reasonable for him to receive Dong Zhuo's favorable treatment. Thus, he also had the opportunity to be alone with Dong Zhuo.
But the assassination failed. On the day of the attempt, Wu Fu concealed a short blade within his robes and went to pay a formal visit to Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo, harboring no suspicion, received him. After the meeting concluded, Dong Zhuo even personally saw Wu Fu out. As they walked along the corridor, Wu Fu suddenly struck, drawing his hidden blade and stabbing at Dong Zhuo! Yet, despite his obesity, Dong Zhuo's evasion was completely unimpaired. Wu Fu's strike—the blow he had staked everything upon—sliced through empty air. Dong Zhuo flew into a towering rage. After killing Wu Fu on the spot, he immediately launched a massive manhunt.
He Yong and Xun You were consequently thrown into prison. Zhong Ji, seeing the situation turn dire, fled. Zheng Tai, following Hua Xin, also escaped from Chang'an. He Yong assumed the primary culpability, confessing that he was the mastermind, and then took his own life in prison. Xun You, however, acted differently. He continuously cried out his innocence, for he knew that Wu Fu was dead, Zheng Tai and Zhong Ji had fled, and He Yong had already taken the blame upon himself. Under these circumstances, there was fundamentally no one who could prove his connection to the assassination plot. Thus, although Dong Zhuo knew that Xun You had dealings with Wu Fu, he could not completely confirm Xun You's involvement. And so the matter was shelved—yet Xun You remained confined within the prison.
After encountering this sudden assassination attempt, Dong Zhuo completely and utterly lost trust in these gentry from east of the mountains. At the same time, Dong Zhuo himself discovered that he seemed to be experiencing severe problems with his memory. Sometimes, things he remembered would vanish in a turn of the head. This inexplicable physiological affliction ignited within him, at times, a nameless, blazing fury. To ensure his own safety, Dong Zhuo would invariably wear heavy armor when attending court, whether arriving or departing. He also recalled Lü Bu and, wherever he went, had him serve as his personal guard at his side.
As for Lü Bu, he was in a state of mingled agony and delight—delighted because he could once more see that small, delicate figure he had been yearning for all along; agonized because that very figure had already been taken into the rear courtyard by Dong Zhuo. Lü Bu, however, was not a man particularly adept at concealing his emotions. Thus, his somewhat peculiar behavior fell under the scrutiny of those with observant eyes.
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Almost at the very same time, Liu Bei, far away in Pingyuan, also encountered an assassin. Originally, brimming with heroic fervor, Liu Bei had led Guan Yu and Zhang Fei with their troops to Suanzao, only to be utterly ignored by everyone. Before the final curtain even fell on Suanzao, Gaotang, where Liu Bei had been posted, was attacked and overrun by the Yellow Turbans—precisely because he had transferred his soldiers away. To lose one's territory was a crime punishable by beheading. Having once been a fugitive, how could Liu Bei possibly tamely surrender himself to be bound?
Thus, he took his remaining soldiers and fled north to seek refuge with his former fellow student, Gongsun Zan, and was appointed as a Major of a Separate Division. Yet Qing Province was one of the regions where the Yellow Turban uprising had erupted most violently. Although the three Zhang brothers had already been defeated, vast numbers of remnant Yellow Turbans still plagued and plundered the county towns, which provided Liu Bei the foundation to accumulate military merit.
At this time, Tian Kai, formerly a subordinate of Gongsun Zan and currently the Inspector of Qing Province, acted in mutual support with Liu Bei, forming a pincer coordination. Liu Bei, having accumulated merit through battle, served as Prefect of Pingyuan and later assumed the post of Chancellor of the State of Pingyuan. Having learned his lesson from the previous incident with the postal inspector, Liu Bei now became extremely focused on winning the hearts and minds of the people.
After assuming the post of Chancellor of Pingyuan, he lavishly entertained guests and heroes at banquets. To any roaming swordsmen in need, he was generous and charitable. Even ordinary commoners, those not of the scholar-gentry class, could sit on the same mat and eat from the same vessel as him. For a time, his renown surged and boiled.
Pingyuan County was also affected by the debased currency from the imperial court. The value of coinage had plummeted catastrophically; grain prices had skyrocketed. Meanwhile, the powerful rural magnates hoarded their grain, unwilling to sell, resulting in countless ordinary people starving to death.
Given these circumstances, Liu Bei issued an order that the prominent households of the county must contribute grain and provisions to relieve the common people. Yet this command enraged the powerful local bully, Liu Ping. Liu Ping bribed a roaming swordsman to assassinate Liu Bei. This swordsman, however, recalled that he had previously accepted money from Liu Bei, and that what Liu Bei was doing now was a righteous deed. Instead of carrying out the assassination, he sought out Liu Bei and confessed the entire plot.
Liu Bei respectfully saw the assassin off. Returning to the main hall, he found Zhang Fei, incandescent with rage, practically hopping with fury, ready to lead troops to attack Liu Ping's fortified manor. "Third Brother, this matter," Liu Bei said, grasping Zhang Fei's arm, "let it rest here."
"Elder Brother!" Zhang Fei's eyes bulged. He could not comprehend it at all. Liu Bei shook his head and said nothing. Zhang Fei blinked his large, round eyes and looked toward Guan Yu. Guan Yu sighed. "Without proof or evidence, we would likely invite only slanderous criticism."
"How is there no proof or evidence? Isn't that man the proof?" Zhang Fei spun around, about to leave again. "I'll go and bring him back!"
"Third Brother!" Liu Bei furrowed his brow and spoke slowly. "We have only just, with such difficulty, found a place to shelter ourselves. Do not be rash. Do you know how many eyes in Pingyuan are watching us at this very moment, merely waiting for the slightest misstep so they can rightfully and justifiably retreat behind their fortress walls? Then this matter of setting up granaries to stabilize grain prices will dissolve into empty bubbles! Do you think Liu Ping alone was the instigator behind this? He is nothing but a foolish pawn!"
"Elder Brother!" Zhang Fei would rather endure suffering and hardship himself than allow Liu Bei to suffer the slightest grievance. He stared at Liu Bei with round eyes, wanting to speak yet holding back. Liu Bei patted Zhang Fei on the shoulder, nodded, and repeated, "Let this matter rest here." Guan Yu, from the side, said, "From this day forward, I shall share the same sleeping quarters as Elder Brother." Zhang Fei blinked, and as if suddenly realizing, chimed in, "I, too, will stay with Elder Brother!" Liu Bei burst into laughter, his heart filled with gratitude for his two brothers' protective affection. "Very well! Then let us, brothers, sleep in the same bed!"
Though Liu Bei's face wore a smile, his heart could not help but heave a deep sigh. Was doing a small thing for the common people truly so difficult? Simply because he would not open his granaries, they had resorted to hiring assassins? These gentry clans and powerful magnates—who normally addressed him as brother, clinked cups and exchanged toasts at banquets, and held forth in lofty discourse within the halls—even if they did not regard him, a descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan, with any respect, should they not at least have some consideration, some pity for the common peasants of the same commandery and county? Was it all just for the sake of seizing a little more land during times of disaster? Ah... Was there still any hope of saving this realm under heaven?
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A/N: From ancient times to the present, assassination has forever been an inescapable predicament for those engaged in politics. Dong Zhuo's first assassination attempt led him to transfer Lü Bu to serve as his guard—yet never did he imagine... Liu Bei encountered an assassination attempt, and so for a long period, he and his brothers shared the same sleeping mat... Cao Cao, too, later faced assassination attempts, and so his suspicion grew exceedingly deep... Sun Ce—well, that ill-fated young man, best left unmentioned...