In the third chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Dong Zhuo’s entry into the capital sets the stage for a covert struggle of power and courage. As heroes and villains begin to reveal their true colors, one cannot help but wonder: who would emerge as the true hero in this turbulent era?
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, court corruption reached its peak, with eunuchs and external relatives vying for power. To eliminate the eunuchs, General-in-Chief He Jin stubbornly ignored Cao Cao’s wise counsel and insisted on summoning powerful warlords from all regions to the capital—a decision that ultimately invited the wolf into the fold.
The Descent into Bloodshed
Dong Zhuo, the Imperial Inspector of Xiliang, led his massive army into the capital with unbridled ambition. He Jin, arrogant and self-righteous, was deceived by the eunuchs, lured into the palace, and executed. Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and others then led troops into the palace, plunging Luoyang into a bloodbath. The Ten Regular Attendants kidnapped the young Emperor Liu Bian and the Prince of Chenliu, Liu Xie, fleeing to Mount Beimang. During the escape, Zhang Rang drowned himself in a river, Duan Gui was killed, and the young emperor and the prince, starving and freezing in the wilderness, were fortunately rescued by the village chief Cui Yi. When Dong Zhuo arrived, Liu Xie, the Prince of Chenliu, remained calm and composed, his dignified words planting in Dong Zhuo’s mind the idea of replacing the emperor.
The Shift of Power
After seizing control of the capital Luoyang, Dong Zhuo grew increasingly arrogant and tyrannical, intending to depose the young emperor and install Liu Xie in his place. Ding Yuan, the Imperial Inspector of Bingzhou, and his adopted son Lü Bu were the first to oppose this move. Lü Bu’s unparalleled martial prowess made Dong Zhuo deeply apprehensive. To win Lü Bu over, Dong Zhuo sent Li Su with the legendary steed Red Hare and precious jewels as bribes. Lü Bu, swayed by greed and forgetting loyalty, killed Ding Yuan and defected to Dong Zhuo.
Reflections on Human Nature in Turbulent Times
He Jin’s foolishness, Dong Zhuo’s ambition, Lü Bu’s fickleness, and Liu Xie’s composure—this chapter reveals the multifaceted nature of humanity in an era of chaos. He Jin’s incompetence led to the turmoil in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo’s cruelty plunged the common people into misery, and Lü Bu’s greed and shortsightedness left a lasting lament.
In such turbulent times, who was the true hero? And who were the hypocrites?The prologue has only just begun; the best part of the play is still to come. Let us wait and see.
Leave a Reply