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第21部分（第3页）

〃When　I　am　Emperor；　you　shall　be　mander　of　the　Capital　District；〃　said　he。

〃Your　minister　thanks　you；〃　said　Li　Su。

Dong　Zhuo　went　to　bid　farewell　to　his　ninety…year…old　mother。

〃Whither　are　you　going；　my　son？〃　asked　she。

〃I　go　to　receive　the　abdication　of　Han；　and　soon　you　will　be　the　Empress。〃

〃I　have　been　feeling　nervous　and　creepy　these　few　days。　It　is　a　bad　sign。〃

〃Anyone　about　to　bee　the　Mother　of　the　State　must　have　premonitions；〃　said　her　son。

He　left　her　with　these　words。

Just　before　starting；　he　said　to　Diao　Chan；　〃When　I　am　Emperor；　you　shall　be　Lady　of　the　Palace。〃

She　bowed　low　thanking　him；　but　she　knew　and　inwardly　rejoiced。

Dong　Zhuo　went　out；　mounted　his　carriage；　and　began　his　journey　to　Capital　Changan　with　an　imposing　escort。　Less　than　ten　miles　the　wheel　of　his　carriage　broke。　He　left　it　and　mounted　a　horse。　Another　ten　miles　the　horse　snorted　and　neighed；　threw　up　his　head　and　snapped　the　reins。

Dong　Zhuo　turned　to　Li　Su　and　asked　what　these　things　portended。

〃It　means　that　you　are　going　to　receive　the　abdication　of　the　Hans；　which　is　to　renew　all　things：　To　mount　the　jeweled　chariot　and　sit　in　the　golden　saddle。〃

And　Dong　Zhuo　was　pleased　and　convinced　with　this　answer。　During　the　second　days　journey　a　violent　gale　sprang　up；　and　the　sky　became　covered　with　a　thick　mist。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

The　wily　Li　Su　had　an　interpretation　for　this　also；　saying；　〃You　are　ascending　to　the　place　of　the　dragon：　There　must　be　bright　light　and　lurid　vapor　to　dignify　your　majestic　approach。〃

Dong　Zhuo　had　no　more　doubts。　He　presently　arrived　and　found　many　officials　waiting　without　the　city　gate　to　receive　him；　all　but　Li　Ru　who　was　ill　and　unable　to　leave　his　chamber。　He　entered　and　proceeded　to　his　own　palace；　where　Lu　Bu　came　to　congratulate　him。

〃When　I　sit　on　the　throne；　you　shall　mand　the　whole　armies　of　the　empire；　horse　and　foot；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

That　night　Dong　Zhuo　slept　in　the　midst　of　his　escort。　In　the　suburbs　that　evening　some　children　at　play　were　singing　a　little　ditty；　and　the　words　drifted　into　the　bedchamber　on　the　wind。

〃The　grass　in　the　meadow　looks　fresh　now　and　green；

Yet　wait　but　ten　days；　not　a　blade　will　be　seen。〃

The　song　sounded　ominous　but　Li　Su　was　again　prepared　with　a　happy　interpretation：　〃It　only　means　that　the　Lius　are　about　to　disappear；　and　the　Dongs　to　be　exalted。〃

＇e＇　The　staff；　the　cloth；　and　the　mouths　formed　the　Chinese　characters；　implied　the　name　of　Lu　Bu。

Next　morning　at　the　first　streak　of　dawn；　Dong　Zhuo　prepared　for　his　appearance　at　court。　On　the　way　he　saw　a　Taoist；　dressed　in　a　black　robe　and　wearing　a　white　turban；　who　carried　in　his　hand　a　tall　staff　with　a　long　strip　of　white　cloth　attached。　At　each　end　of　the　cloth　was　drawn　a　mouth*。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

〃He　is　a　madman；〃　said　Li　Su；　and　he　told　the　guards　to　drive　the　fellow　away。

Dong　Zhuo　went　in　and　found　all　the　officials　in　court　dress　lining　the　road。　Li　Su　walked　beside　his　carriage；　a　sword　in　his　hand。　When　Li　Su　reached　the　north　gate　of　the　Forbidden　City；　he　found　the　soldiers　of　Dong　Zhuo　drawn　up　outside　and　only　the　pushers　of　the　Palace　carriage；　a　twenty　or　so；　were　allowed　to　proceed　further。

When　Dong　Zhuo　arrived　near　the　Reception　Hall；　he　saw　that　Wang　Yun　and　all　the　other　officials　standing　at　the　door　were　armed。

〃Why　are　they　all　armed？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　to　Li　Su。

Li　Su　was　silent　as　he　helped　push　the　carriage　forward　swiftly　to　the　entrance。

Suddenly　Wang　Yun　shouted；　〃The　rebel　is　here！　Where　are　the　executioners？〃

At　this　call　sprang　from　bo