Assassination

Year 189, Luoyang, Suzaku Avenue, Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Yuan Xi recalled that many events had transpired in the year 188. The Han dynasty was on its last legs, powerless to reverse its fate. That very moment had long been awaited by the Yuan family.

Sometimes, Yuan Xi reflected bitterly that his own family was indeed despicable.

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The year 188 marked the zenith of Dong Zhuo’s power. He suppressed the Western Qiang rebellion, strode across Guanyou with the might of a tiger, his prestige formidable. Yet, due to his refusal to follow orders, he fell under the suspicion of Emperor Ling.

Hence, Huangfu Song was appointed commander. But the old general was aging, and the rise of Dong Zhuo and the powerful warlords of Guanzhong was unstoppable.

Meanwhile, Yuan Xi secretly traveled to Chenliu.

His goal was to find the fierce warrior Dian Wei, and he searched for a long time.

Yet, no trace was found. Fate is a strange thing: what belongs to you comes easily, what does not remains elusive despite all efforts. Such was the journey to Chenliu.

During Dong Zhuo’s early and middle period, he was ambitious. But in his later years, he degenerated. The saying “Those who travel a hundred miles find it hard to finish the last ten; easy to start, difficult to end” seemed apt.

Nonetheless, no matter how flawed, they were creators of history, unlike mere spectators or idle fantasists like myself.

That year, the Yellow Turbans appeared in Bingzhou as well. Guo Tai, from Xihe, and the White Wave Valley rebels attacked Taiyuan, but they encountered the valiant Lü Bu.

The outcome was predictable: Ding Yuan routed them completely.

In 188, the Yellow Turbans rose again, targeting Runan.

The Han court dispatched Colonel Bao Hong to suppress the most formidable faction, the Ge Bi Yellow Turbans.

The two sides clashed at Ge Bi, and Bao Hong’s forces were defeated.

General-in-Chief He Jin recommended Yuan Shao to lead the rebellion’s final suppression. Runan was the ancestral home of the Yuan family; its influence was vast, so this was somewhat a favor to the Yuan clan.

After arriving in Runan, Yuan Shao sowed discord, set ambushes, and wielded both kindness and severity.

After three battles and three victories, the Yellow Turbans retreated toward Huainan.

While Yuan Xi was in Chenliu, Xu Chu learned that remnants of the Yellow Turbans still lingered in Qiao County and asked for leave to return home to protect his hometown.

Yuan Xi saw him off at Shiliting, honoring the custom of respect.

In 188, a significant event occurred: Grand Minister of Ceremonies Liu Yan, citing the endless warfare and banditry, submitted a memorial to Emperor Ling proposing the upgrade of Inspectors to Governors to strengthen their authority.

Originally, Inspectors were supervisory officials, but since the Eastern Han, their roles had shifted towards local administration, commanding military and civil authority over their regions, resembling feudal lords in all but name, still nominally under the court.

Previously, local separatism had been covert and illegal.

But Liu Yan’s proposal tacitly acknowledged the reality: local powers must maintain their own armies. It was an inevitable, reluctant compromise.

When contradictions cannot be resolved, dilution is the solution.

Much like the military governors of the Tang dynasty.

Returning to Yuan Xi, upon his return to the palace, he unexpectedly received news.

Emperor Ling was ill, and there were murmurs about establishing Prince Xie as heir apparent. Whether true or not was uncertain, but the Yuan family dared not take the risk.

Because of Yuan Xi, the family’s plans accelerated.

In 188, after balancing various interests, the Han court established a Command Headquarters in the Western Garden, organizing a new army.

The Command Headquarters appointed eight Colonels: Chief Colonel Eunuch Jian Shuo; Middle Colonel Yuan Shao; Lower Colonel Bao Hong; Dian Army Colonel Cao Cao; Left Assistant Colonel Zhao Rong; Right Assistant Colonel Feng Fang; Left Colonel Xia Mou; Right Colonel Chunyu Qiong.

This set of appointments was essentially Emperor Ling’s attempt to reclaim military power.

Even General-in-Chief He Jin had to obey Jian Shuo.

Jian Shuo became the supreme commander of the nation’s forces.

However, the other colonels were discontent. The alliance between the Yuan family and General He Jin led to the failure of Emperor Ling’s plan.

As a result, the arranged marriage between Yuan Xi and Princess Wannian was abruptly called off by the emperor.

This was also related to a prior assassination attempt.

Yuan Xi felt both disappointed and secretly relieved. Being a royal son-in-law was risky, but Princess Wannian, Liu Yan, seemed displeased.

In 188, Liu Yan, appointed Governor of Yizhou and stationed in Chengdu, acted strangely.

He oddly encountered the Yellow Turban rebellion, oddly suppressed it, and then strangely sent Zhang Lu to occupy Hanzhong.

Zhang Lu then strangely broke with Liu Yan, executed the Han emissaries, and cut off the vital communication between the Han court and Yizhou.

Yuan Wei, head of the Yuan family, sensed something amiss.

Greatly shaken, he began secret preparations.

In the regions of Hebei, Puyang, and Runan, the Yuan family’s devoted warriors, messengers, and loyal officials came and went incessantly; everything was brewing.

During this time, Yuan Xi’s visits between the palace and the Yuan household increased, even reporting three times a day, an eerie frequency.

In 188, Inspector Wang Fen of Jizhou and Peiguo native Zhou Jing, observing ominous celestial phenomena unfavorable to eunuchs, prepared to eliminate the eunuchs entirely.

They planned to depose Emperor Ling and enthrone a member of the Han imperial clan, the Marquis of Hefei.

Wang Fen and his allies gathered heroes and made ready.

Soon, Emperor Ling wished to tour north to his ancestral home in Hejian. Wang Fen planned to take advantage of this opportunity to rebel, falsely claiming to be from the Black Mountain Army, attacking counties and seeking to raise troops.

The Grand Historian advised that the celestial signs were inauspicious for a northern expedition.

Emperor Ling halted the journey and ordered Wang Fen to disband his forces, then summoned him to court.

Wang Fen, fearing exposure, committed suicide.

Rumors said Xu You had once visited Wang Fen’s residence in Jizhou.

Moreover, there were envoys traveling north from Cao Cao’s mansion, and later Cao Cao received a promotion.

There were hints of Yuan family involvement in this affair, though historical records remain vague.

It seemed something was deliberately concealed, perhaps out of respect for the powerful.

188 was an evening of heavy snow, beautiful but oppressive.

Yuan Xi felt a weight in the sky, unsure if it was due to his heavy studies or the escalating tensions between the Yuan family and Emperor Ling.

In any case, a sense of foreboding filled his heart.

Bearing these heavy thoughts, Yuan Xi walked desolately toward the Yuan estate.

Suddenly, about ten figures dressed in black appeared around him.

Yuan Xi tensed, knowing this day would not end well.

Yuan Xi: “What is your purpose?”

Assassin A: “We have orders to take your life.”

Yuan Xi: “Where is Zhongkang?”

Xu Chu: “Xu Chu is here.”

Assassin B: “Leave no survivors.”

The night grew deep, the snow fell beautifully. Yuan Xi was wounded by an arrow in his shoulder, Xu Chu severely injured. All assassins were slain.

Fortunately, Yuan family loyalists arrived just in time.

This was Yuan Xi’s first assassination attempt.

Afterward, a rift slowly grew between Yuan Xi and Princess Wannian Liu Yan. Though unrelated personally, political stances divided them.

That year, Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song also became bitter enemies.

During Emperor Ling’s illness, Dong Zhuo was appointed Governor of Bingzhou and ordered to relinquish military command to Huangfu Song.

Dong Zhuo refused to obey the imperial edict.

Huangfu Song’s nephew, Huangfu Li, advised seizing the opportunity to kill Dong Zhuo.

But Huangfu Song refused, saying, “Dong Zhuo disobeys the emperor’s command and harbors treachery; though guilty, the emperor will judge him. If I raise troops against him, I bear the responsibility of execution. It is better to report to the court and let the emperor and ministers decide.”

Thus, Huangfu Song submitted a memorial, further enraging Dong Zhuo.

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Diao Chan, also known as Diao Xiuer.

Her husband, Yuan Xi, was bought by Wang Yun in childhood.

When Yuan Xi sought her hand, Wang Yun refused and later sent her to the palace.

During the Ten Eunuchs’ Rebellion, she escaped back to Wang Yun’s mansion.

When Dong Zhuo entered the capital and disrupted the court, Wang Yun devised a stratagem, using Diao Chan as bait.

He set a chain of traps. Subsequently, Yuan Xi led men west to Chang’an to assassinate Dong Zhuo, rescuing Diao Chan in the process.

When Lü Bu learned of this, he pursued Yuan Xi with troops.

After a bloody battle along the main street, Yuan Xi and his group escaped Chang’an with Diao Chan and the talented Cai Yan.

Returning to Hebei, Diao Chan adopted the name Diao Xiuer and later bore Yuan Xi a daughter named Yuan Ying, the Eldest Princess.

Diao Chan lived quietly, refraining from the Yuan family’s internal conflicts, thus meeting a peaceful end.

Because of Diao Chan, Lü Bu regarded Yuan Xi as a mortal enemy and repeatedly hunted him, nearly succeeding.

Such is the fate of love and heroism—passion often succumbs to tragedy.