25.兩宮互相爭競，張讓等各勸歸宮。何后連夜召何進入宮，告以前事。何進出，召三公共議：來早設朝，使廷臣奏董太后原係藩妃，不宜久居宮中，合仍遷於河間安置，限日下即出國門。一面遣人起送董后；一面點禁軍圍驃騎將軍董重府宅，追索印綬。董重知事急，自刎於後堂。家人舉哀，軍士方散。張讓、段珪見董后一枝已廢，遂皆以金珠玩好結搆何進弟何曲并其母舞陽君，令早晚入何太后處，善言遮蔽：因此十常侍又得近幸。

And the quarrel waxed hot.

The eunuchs persuaded the ladies to retire. But in the night Empress He summoned her brother into the Palace and told him what had occurred. He went out and took counsel with the principal officers of state. Next morning a court was held and a memorial was presented, saying:

"Empress Dong, being the foster mother of Liu Xian, Prince of Chenliu, a regional prince---only a collateral---cannot properly occupy any part of the Palace. She is to be removed into her original fief of Hejian and is to depart immediately."

And while they sent an escort to remove Empress Dong, a strong guard was placed about the Imperial Uncle Dong Chong's dwelling. They took away his seal of office and he, knowing this was the end, killed himself in his private apartments. His dependents, who wailed his death, were driven off by the guards.

The eunuchs Zhang Rang and Duan Gui, having lost their patroness, sent large gifts to He Jin's younger brother, He Miao, and his mother, Lady Wuyang, and thus got them to put in a good word to Empress He so as to gain her protection. And so they gained favor once more at court.

26.六月，何進暗使人酖殺董后於河間驛庭，舉柩回京，葬於文陵。進託病不出，司隸校尉袁紹入見進曰：「張讓、段珪等流言於外，言公酖殺董后，欲謀大事。乘此時不誅閹宦，後必為大禍。昔竇武欲誅內豎，機謀不密，反受其殃。今公兄弟部曲將吏，皆英俊之士；若使盡力，事在掌握。此天贊之時，不可失也。」進曰：「且容商議。」左右密報張讓﹔讓等轉告何苗，又多送賄賂。苗入奏何后云：「大將軍輔佐新君，不行仁慈，專務殺伐。今無瑞又欲殺十常侍，此取亂之道也。」后納其言。

In the sixth month of that year, the secret emissaries of He Jin poisoned Empress Dong in her residence in the country. Her remains were brought to the capital and buried in Wen Tombs. He Jin feigned illness and did not attend the funeral.

Commander Yuan Shao went one day to see He Jin, saying, "The two eunuchs, Zhang Rang and Duan Gui, are spreading the report outside that you have caused the death of the late empress and is aiming at the throne. This is an excuse for you to destroy them. Do not spare them this time, or you will pay like Dou Wu and Chen Fan, who in the previous reign missed their chance because the secret had not been kept, and they paid by their own deaths. Now you and your brother have many commanders and officers behind, so that the destruction of the eunuchs can be but an ease. It is a heaven-sent opportunity. Delay no further!"

But He Jin replied, "Let me think it over."

He Jin's servants overheard the discussion and secretly informed the intended victims, who sent further gifts to the younger brother He Miao.

Corrupted by these, He Miao went in to speak with his sister Empress He and said, "The General is the chief support of the new Emperor, yet he is not gracious and merciful but thinks wholly of slaughter. If he slays the eunuchs without cause, it may bring about revolution."

27.少頃，何進入白后，欲誅中涓。何后曰：「中官統領禁省，漢家故事。先帝新棄天下，爾欲誅殺舊臣，非重宗廟也。」進本是沒決斷之人，聽太后言，唯唯而出。袁紹迎問曰：「大事若何？」進曰：「太后不允，如之奈何？」紹曰：「可召四方英雄人士，勒兵來京，盡誅閹豎。此時事急，不容太后不從。」進曰：「此計大妙！」便發檄至各鎮，召赴京師。

Soon after He Jin entered and told her of his design to put the eunuchs to death.

She argued with him, "Those officials look after palace affairs and are old servants. To kill the old servants just after the death of their master would appear disrespectful to the dynasty's ancestral temple."

And as He Jin was of a vacillating mind, he murmured assent and left her.

"What about it?" said Yuan Shao on meeting him.

"She will not consent. What can be done?"

"Call up an army and slay them. It is imperative. Never mind her consent!"

"That is an excellent plan," said He Jin. And he sent orders all round to march soldiers to the capital.

28.主簿陳琳曰：「不可！俗云：『掩目而捕燕雀』，是自欺也。微物尚不可欺以得志，況國家大事乎？今將軍仗皇威，掌兵要，龍驤虎步，高下在心：若欲誅宦官，如鼓洪爐燎毛髮耳。但當速發，行權立斷，則天人順之﹔卻反外檄大臣，臨犯京闕，英雄聚會，各懷一心：所謂倒持干戈，授人以柄，功必一成，反生亂矣。」何進笑曰：「此懦夫之見也！」傍邊一人鼓掌大笑曰：「此事易如反掌，何必多議！」視之，乃曹操也。

正是：

欲除君側宵人亂，

須聽朝中智士謀。

        [三國誌詩002-p01]

不知曹操說出甚話來，且聽下文分解。

But Secretary Chen Lin objected, "Nay! Do not act without due consideration. The proverb says 'To cover the eyes and snatch at swallows is to fool oneself.' If in so small a matter you cannot attain your wish, what of great affairs? Now by virtue of the emperor and with the army under your hand, you are like prancing tiger and soaring dragon: You may do as you please. To use such enormous powers against the eunuchs would bring victory as easily as lighting up a furnace to burn a hair. You only need to act promptly: Use your powers and smite at once, and all the empire will be with you. But to summon forces to the capital, to gather many bold warlords into one spot, each with different schemes, is to turn our weapons against our own person, to place ourselves in the power of another. Nothing but failure can come of it, and havoc will ensue."

"The view of a mere book-worm," said He Jin with a smile.

Then one of those about He Jin suddenly clapped his hands, laughing, "Solving this issue is as easy as turning over one's hand! Why so much talk?"

The speaker was Cao Cao.

Wouldst thou withdraw wicked people from thy prince's side, 

Then seek counsel of the wise people of the state.

What Cao Cao said will be disclosed in later chapters.