In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, maternal relatives and eunuchs alternated in holding power. He Jin, the Grand General and brother of Empress He, monopolized military and political authority, wielding immense influence. The eunuch group, the Ten Regular Attendants, plotted to assassinate He Jin to seize power. He Jin ignored advice, acted arbitrarily, and was ultimately killed by the Ten Regular Attendants. Today, we analyze this court intrigue and the lessons it offers.
Why did the Ten Regular Attendants want to kill He Jin?
If He Jin were insignificant or posed no major threat, the Ten Regular Attendants would not have schemed to kill him.
Who was He Jin? He was the brother of Empress He. It was because of her brother’s position as Grand General that Empress He dared to oppose her mother-in-law. These were all stakeholders, as the emperor was nearing the end of his life, leaving the question of who would succeed the throne. Empress Dowager Dong favored a prince named Liu Xie, while Empress He preferred her own son, Liu Bian. Thus, one supported Liu Xie, the other Liu Bian, leading to internal strife.
Whom did the Ten Regular Attendants support? Since the emperor and Empress Dowager Dong favored Liu Xie, they naturally wanted to enthrone him. The Ten Regular Attendants, recognizing their intention, sided with Liu Xie. Consequently, they needed to eliminate the core competitor, Liu Bian, as an obstacle.
When a person gains power and influence, they must be cautious, as they become a target for elimination.
He Jin’s Ineptitude: Power Without Substance
He Jin was inept—he had authority but lacked substance. Upon attaining high status and power, he became even more arrogant and failed to recognize the increasing danger.
Cao Cao advised He Jin to keep the plan highly confidential and act with extreme caution, warning that otherwise, it would backfire. But He Jin ignored the advice entirely. Even if he did not accept others’ opinions, he should have at least superficially respected them. Instead, he insulted Cao Cao and humiliated him.
Later, when the emperor died, Cao Cao suggested that He Jin first enthrone Liu Bian and then kill Jian Shuo and the Ten Regular Attendants. This time, He Jin agreed with Cao Cao, though he never verbally acknowledged it. In action, however, he followed Cao Cao’s advice. This demonstrated his arrogance, lack of humility, and ingratitude.
Why did He Jin support Liu Bian? The reason was simple: Liu Bian was his sister’s son. If his nephew became emperor, his sister would immediately become empress dowager, and he would be promoted to the emperor’s uncle. His future seemed bright and joyful, as if nothing could stop him and his sister from acting arbitrarily. It was this mindset that led to his arrogance.
When a person is in adversity, they remain cautious. When in favorable circumstances, they become impulsive. Once impulsive, it is almost impossible for them to act prudently.
As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “Eight or nine out of ten things in life do not go as planned.” Humans have their plans, but heaven has its own. This was something He Jin failed to consider.
The Ten Regular Attendants’ scheme and He Jin’s fatal errors
The Ten Regular Attendants wanted to enthrone Liu Xie and thus plotted to assassinate He Jin. Upon learning of the eunuchs’ intention to harm him, He Jin decided to eliminate them.
Seeing the situation turning against them, the Ten Regular Attendants shifted the blame for plotting against He Jin onto the eunuch Jian Shuo to save themselves. Jian Shuo was the most trusted by Empress Dowager Dong among the Ten Regular Attendants. Being trusted has its pros and cons: the advantage is the ability to command obedience and manipulate others; the disadvantage is bearing greater responsibility when scapegoating is needed. Thus, he was betrayed.
When people need a scapegoat, they inevitably choose someone who is usually the most powerful, most trusted, and acceptable to the opposing side. So Jian Shuo became the victim. In ordinary times, he was the leader; when trouble arose, he became the sacrificial lamb.
The alliance among the Ten Regular Attendants was entirely different from that of Liu, Guan, and Zhang. Liu, Guan, and Zhang were united by shared ideals and common goals, bound by righteousness. The Ten Regular Attendants, however, were a coalition of interests, without long-term ideals or goals, seeking only survival and benefit, devoid of principles.
After Liu Bian ascended the throne, the Ten Regular Attendants switched sides to Empress He, who accepted them and advocated only killing the eunuch Jian Shuo and Empress Dowager Dong. Empress He, now empress dowager since her son became emperor, no longer needed to worry about the Ten Regular Attendants supporting Liu Xie. Simultaneously, she needed their help to gain influence within the palace.
After Liu Bian’s enthronement, Empress He, though forgiving the Ten Regular Attendants who switched sides, secretly poisoned Empress Dowager Dong, who had supported Liu Xie’s claim to the throne, to consolidate her son’s rule.
The Ten Regular Attendants heavily bribed Empress He, He Miao (He Jin’s brother), and Lady Wuyang (He Jin’s mother), causing He Jin to temporarily suspend his plan to kill them.
He Jin did not earn his position through capability but entirely relied on his sister. Thus, he was indecisive and overly simplistic in his approach.
The Final Betrayal and He Jin’s Downfall
At this point, He Jin’s influence was immense, while the eunuchs, under the shadow of this power, trembling with fear. Their priority was to find a mutually dependent force—one they could rely on and that needed their help.
Under these circumstances, they concluded that eliminating He Jin was necessary. Otherwise, with He Jin and Empress He’s combined forces, the eunuchs would lose all power. Purely for self-interest, after repeated discussions, they decided to kill He Jin.
Yuan Shao, detecting the Ten Regular Attendants’ unusual movements, advised He Jin to send troops to eliminate the eunuch faction. However, out of respect for Empress He, He Jin did not accept the suggestion.
Why did Yuan Shao care? Precisely because he had no personal stake, he remained objective. People handle matters unrelated to their interests rationally and objectively. He Jin, due to his close involvement, was subjective and indecisive. Thus, he dismissed Yuan Shao’s words, focusing instead on his sister’s stance and underestimating the eunuchs. In this situation, even repeated advice from Yuan Shao was useless.
This highlights that, ultimately, people rely on themselves. Others can assist, but the final decision and responsibility lie with oneself. Regardless of position or circumstance, one must remember to take full and final responsibility. Those around only offer support.
He Jin’s final mistakes and the aftermath
Failing to persuade He Jin, Yuan Shao proposed summoning external troops to the capital to eliminate the eunuch faction. He Jin agreed. However, Chen Lin opposed, fearing that external troops would escalate the situation and cause greater calamity. He Jin not only refused to reflect but also insulted Chen Lin.
Cao Cao suggested that He Jin send trusted subordinates to punish the ringleaders and spare the remaining eunuchs, quickly resolving the threat at minimal cost. He Jin ignored this and even mocked Cao Cao for having ulterior motives, as Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, was the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng.
Cao Cao meant well and harbored no ill intentions, but He Jin refused to listen to differing opinions. Even if he disagreed, why mock others?
Cao Cao’s family history with eunuchs, while not a big issue today, was sensitive during the eunuch purge. He Jin might have thought this, but he should never have voiced it, as it severely hurt others’ dignity. Those who excessively harm others ultimately harm themselves. Every harsh word eventually returns like a boomerang, destined to injure the speaker.
I believe he would not normally act this way, as he was close to Cao Cao. Perhaps he thought that he was now the emperor’s uncle with supreme power, he had become more arrogant. However, countless facts remind us that those who are arrogant and conceited ultimately face misfortune.
He Jin insisted on summoning the notorious Dong Zhuo to the capital to eliminate the eunuchs. His subordinates, seeing their advice ignored, resigned and left. If Dong Zhuo had suddenly emerged unknown, few would have immediately opposed, as they would wait to assess him. But Dong Zhuo was infamous and well-known—everyone knew he wore a smile but was vicious inside. Inviting him was worse than dealing with the Ten Regular Attendants, especially given his unusual relationship with them. Anyone but Dong Zhuo would have been preferable. Yet the ignorant He Jin summoned him.
Those who resigned early understood the stakes clearly. They were foresighted and knew to prepare for rainy days. As a result, they avoided future repercussions, while those who hesitated or remained deluded suffered greatly.
The Assassination and Its Lessons
Since the Ten Regular Attendants knew of He Jin’s plan to eliminate them, they would not rest easy. They decided to strike first, devising a scheme to lure He Jin into the palace by having Empress He summon him.
Why did Empress He summon He Jin? Was she not concerned for her brother’s safety? Clearly, she was deceived by the eunuchs. The emperor was young, and Empress He needed her brother’s assistance in governing. She simply lacked vigilance and never imagined the eunuchs would assassinate He Jin.
Empress He advised the eunuchs to personally seek He Jin’s forgiveness, but they refused. They begged her to plead on their behalf, so she summoned He Jin to the palace.
Could she be blamed? She merely failed to notice why they insisted on having He Jin enter instead of going to him. As someone long confined to a small circle, she knew little of the outside world. She thought entering the palace was harmless—it was her territory, so why worry?
Why did He Jin dare to come? I believe he lacked sufficient vigilance. As a political novice, he could not have high alertness. Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Chen Lin, all from official families and experienced in court politics, warned He Jin against going, but he refused to listen. This was He Jin’s mistake, even more egregious than Empress He’s.
The most outrageous part was when the guards stopped Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and others at the palace gate, allowing only He Jin to enter. He Jin showed no concern for his safety and strode in arrogantly.
Given the critical situation, he should have been vigilant, but He Jin had no concern. He never believed the eunuchs would dare kill him under such circumstances. Could such a person be fit to assist the young emperor in governance? He lacked suspicion, was arrogant, and had no vigilance—how could he achieve great?
Without the capability, one should not occupy a high position. If in a high position without matching strength, one should be more cautious and careful, not bold and reckless.
The Lesson of He Jin’s Assassination
He Jin’s assassination by the eunuchs offers one lesson: nothing is impossible. This alone proves the point.
Leave a Reply