As Dong Zhuo went out to get into his coach； he met two other officers who made obeisance。 They were the Chair of the Secretariat； Zhou Bi； and the mander of the City Gates； Wu Qiong。 Dong Zhuo stopped and asked them what they wanted。
Said Zhou Bi； 〃We venture to try to dissuade you from moving the capital to Changan。〃
Dong Zhuo replied； 〃You two persuaded me to give Yuan Shao office。 Now he has already turned traitor； and you are of the same party！〃
And without more ado he bade his guards take both outside the city and put them to death。 The mand to remove to the new capital immediately was issued。
Speaking to Dong Zhuo； Li Ru pointed out； 〃We are short of money and food； and the rich people of Luoyang could be easily plundered。 This is a good occasion to link them to the rebels and to confiscate their properties。〃
Dong Zhuo sent five thousand troops out to plunder and slay。 They captured many thousand wealthy householders and； having stuck flags on their heads saying they were Traitors and Rebels ； drove them out of the city and put them to death。 Their properties were all seized。
The task of driving forth the inhabitants； some millions； was given to two of Dong Zhuo's manders； Li Jue and Guo Si。 The people were sent off in bands； each band between two parties of soldiers； who drove them torward Changan。 Enormous numbers fell by the road side and died in the ditches； and the escort plundered the fugitives and defiled the women。 A wail of sorrow arose to the very sky。
Dong Zhuo's final orders as he left Capital Luoyang were to burn the whole city： Houses； palaces； temples； and everything were devoured by the flames。 The capital became but a patch of scorched earth。
Dong Zhuo sent Lu Bu to desecrate the tombs of the emperors and their consorts for the jewels therein； and the mon soldiers took the occasion to dig up the graves of officials and plunder the cemeteries of the wealthy。 The spoil of the city； gold and silver； pearls and silks； and beautiful ornaments； filled several thousand carts。 With these and the persons of the Emperor and his household； Dong Zhuo moved off to the new capital in the first year of Inauguration of Tranquillity （AD 190）。
Luoyang being thus abandoned； the general of Dong Zhuo at River Si Pass； Zhao Cen； evacuated that post of vantage； which Sun Jian at once occupied。 Liu Bei and his brothers took Tiger Trap Pass and the confederate lords advanced。
Sun Jian hastened to the late capital which was still in flames。 When he arrived； dense smoke hung all over it and spread for miles around。 No living thing； not a fowl； or a dog； or a human being； remained。 Sun Jian told off his soldiers to extinguish the fires and set out camping places for the confederate lords。
Cao Cao went to see Yuan Shao and said； 〃Dong Zhuo has gone west。 We ought to follow and attack his rear without loss of time。 Why do you remain inactive？〃
〃All our colleagues are worn out； and there is nothing to be gained by attack；〃 said Yuan Shao。
Cao Cao said； 〃This moment was most propitious in the utter confusion that reigned………palaces burned； the Emperor abducted； the whole world upset； and no one knowing whither to turn。 The villain will soon be ended； and a single blow could exterminate Dong Zhuo。 Why not pursue？〃
But all the confederate lords seemed of one mind； and that mind was to postpone action。 So they did nothing。
〃Those unworthy people cannot discuss worthy thing！〃 cried Cao Cao。
Then； he and his six generals………Xiahou Dun； Xiahou Yuan； Cao Ren； Cao Hong； Li Dian； and Yue Jing………and ten thousand troops started in pursuit。
The road to the new capital led through Yingyang。 When Dong Zhuo reached it； Governor Xu Rong went to wele the cavalcade。
Li Ru said； 〃As there is some danger of pursuit； it would be well to order the Governor of this place to lay an ambush outside the city。 He is to let the pursuers pass and be ready to cut off their retreat； when our army beats them off。 That will teach any others not to follow。〃
Then Dong Zhuo ordered Lu Bu to mand the rear guard。 Very soon they saw Cao Cao ing up； and Lu Bu laughed at his colleague's foresight。 He set out his troops in fighting order。
Cao Cao rode forward； crying； 〃Rebels； abductors； drovers of the people； where are you going？〃
Lu Bu replied； 〃Treacherous simpleton； what mad words are these？〃
Then from Cao Cao army rode forth Xiahou Dun with his spear set； and Lu Bu and Xiahou Dun engaged。 The bat had hardly begun when Li Ru with a cohort came in from the left。 Cao Cao bade Xiahou Yuan meet this onslaught。 However； on the other side appeared Guo Si and his pany。 Cao Cao sent Cao Ren against Guo Si。 The onrush on three sides was too much to withstand； and Lu Bu's army was overwhelming； so Xiahou Dun had to retire to the main line。 Thereupon Lu Bu's armored troops attacked and pleted the defeat。 The beaten army of Cao Cao turned toward Yingyang。
They got as far as the foot of a hill in the evening about the second watch； and the moon made it as light as day。 Here they halted to reform。 Just as they were burying the boilers to prepare a meal； there arose a great noise of shouting on all sides and out came the troops of Governor Xu Rong from the ambush fresh to attack。
Cao Cao； thrown into a flurry； mounted and fled。 He ran right in the way of the waiting Xu Rong。 Then he dashed off in another direction； but Xu Rong shot an arrow after him which struck him in the shoulder。 The arrow still in the wound； Cao Cao fled for his life。 As he went over the hill； two soldiers lying in wait among the grass suddenly dashed out and wounded his horse； which fell and rolled over。 And as he slipped from the saddle； he was seized and made prisoner。
Just then a horseman came； riding at full speed and whirling his sword up； cut down both the captors； and rescued Cao Cao。 It was Cao Hong。
Cao Cao said； 〃I am doomed； good brother。 Go and save yourself！〃
〃My lord； mount my horse quickly！ I will go afoot；〃 said Cao Hong。
〃If those wretches e up； what then？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃The world can do without Cao Hong； but not without you； my lord！〃
〃If I live； I shall owe you my life；〃 said Cao Cao。
So he mounted。 Cao Hong tore off his own breastplate； gripped his sword； and went on foot after the horse。 Thus they proceeded till the fourth watch when they saw before them a broad stream； and behind they still heard the shouts of pursuers drawing nearer and nearer。
〃This is my fate；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃I am really doomed！〃
Cao Hong helped Cao Cao down from his horse。 Then taking off his fighting robe and helmet； Cao Hong took the wounded man on his back and waded into the stream。 When they reached the further side； the pursuers had already gained the bank whence they shot arrows。
Cao Cao all wet pushed on。 Dawn was near。 They went on another ten miles and then sat down to rest under a precipice。 Suddenly loud shouting was heard and a party of horse appeared。 It was Governor Xu Rong who had forded the river higher up。 Just at this moment Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan； with several dozens men； came along。
〃Hurt not my lord！〃 cried Xiahou Dun to Xu Rong； who at once rushed at him。
But the bat was short。 Xu Rong speedily fell under a spear thrust of Xiahou Dun； and his troops were driven off。 Before long Cao Cao's other generals arrived。 Sadness and joy mingled in the greetings。 They gathered together the few hundreds of soldiers left and then returned to Luoyang。
When the confederate lords entered Luoyang； Sun Jian； after extinguishing the fires； camped within the walls； his own tent being set up near the Dynastic Temple。 His people cleared away the debris and closed the rifted tombs。 The gates were barred。 On the site of the Dynastic Temple he put up a mat shed containing three apartments； and here he begged the lords to meet and replace the sacred tablets； with solemn sacrifices and prayers。
This ceremony over； the others left and Sun Jian returned to his camp。 That night the stars and moon vied with each other in brightness。 As Sun Jian sat in the open air looking up at the heavens； he noticed a mist spreading over the stars of the Constellation Draco。
〃The Emperor's star is dulled；〃 said Sun Jian with a sigh。 〃No wonder a rebellious minister disturbs the state； the people sit in dust and ashes； and the capital is a waste。〃
And his tears began to fall。
Then a soldier pointing to the south said； 〃There is a beam of colored light rising from a well！〃
Sun Jian bade his people light torches and descend into the well。 Soon they brought up the corpse of a woman； not in the least decayed although it had been there many days。 She was dressed in Palace clothing and from her neck hung an embroidered bag。 Opening this a red box was found； with a golden lock； and when the box was opened； they saw a jade seal； square in shape； four inches each way。 On it were delicately engraved five dragons intertwined。 One corner had been broken off and repaired with gold。 There were eight characters in the seal style of engraving which interpreted read：
I have received the mand from Heaven： May my time be always long and prosperous。
Sun Jian showed this to his adviser； General Cheng Pu； who at once recognized it as the Imperial Hereditary Seal of the Emperor。
＇e＇ Bian He of the state of Chu （circa BC 800） found a jadestone in Jing Mountains and presented it to two Chu kings； but he was sentenced to amputation of both feet because the stone was thought as fake。 When a new king took the throne； Bian He tried once more； and this time the stone was recognized as the purest kind of jade。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Li Si （BC 280…208） was the statesman who was responsible for most of the radical political and cutural innovations made in Qin after BC 221。 。。。。。
Cheng Pu said； 〃This seal has a history。 In olden days Bian He* saw a phoenix sitting on a certain stone at the foot of the Jing Mountains。 He offered the stone at court。 The King of Chu split open the stone and found a piece of jade。 In the twenty…sixth year of Qin Dynasty （BC 221）； a jade cutter made a seal from it； and Li Si*； the First Emperor's Prime Minister； engraved the characters。 Two years later； while the First Emperor was sailing in Dongting Lake； a terrific storm arrived。 The Emperor threw the seal to the water as a propitiatory offering； and the storm immediately cease