Chapter 003 동탁의 음모 17

17.時李儒見丁原背後一人，生得器字軒昂，威風凜凜，手執方天畫戟，怒目而視。李儒急進曰：「今日飲宴之處，不可談國政；來日向都堂公論未遲。」眾人皆勸丁原上馬而去。卓問百官曰：「吾所言，合公道否？」盧植曰：「明公差矣：昔太甲不明，伊尹放之於桐宮。昌邑王登位方二十七日，造惡三千餘條，故霍光告太廟而廢之。今上雖幼，聰明仁智，並無分毫過失。公乃外郡刺史，素未參與國政，又無伊、霍之大才，何可強主廢立之事？聖人云『有伊尹之志則可，無伊尹之志則篡也。』」卓大怒，拔劍向前欲殺植。議郎彭伯諫曰：「盧尚書海內人望，今先害之，恐天下震怖。」卓乃止。司徒王允曰：「廢立之事，不可酒後相商，另日再議。」於是百官皆散。卓按劍立於園門，忽見一人躍馬持戟，於園門外往來馳驟。卓問李儒：「此何人也？」儒曰：「此丁原義兄：姓呂，名布，字奉先者也。主公且須避之。」卓乃入園潛避。

But the watchful Li Ru had noticed standing behind Ding Yuan a particularly dangerous looking henchman of his, who was now handling his halberd threateningly, and whose eyes were blazing with anger.

So Li Ru hastily interposed, saying, "But this is the banquet chamber, and state affairs should be left outside. The matters can be fully discussed tomorrow."

His fellow guests persuaded Ding Yuan to leave, and after his departure Dong Zhuo said, "Is what I said just and reasonable?"

"You are mistaken, Illustrious Sir," said Lu Zhi. "Of old Emperor Tai Jia of the Shang Dynasty was unenlightened. Wherefore the sage Minister Yi Yin immured him in the Tong Palace till he reformed. Later the Prince of Changyi ascended the throne, and in twenty-seven days he committed more than three thousand categorical faults. Wherefore Regent Marshal Huo Guang declared in the ancestral temple that the Prince of Changyi was deposed. Our present Emperor is young, but he is intelligent, benevolent, and wise. He has not committed a single fault. You, Sir, are an imperial protector of a frontier region and not a metropolitan official and have had no experience in state administration. Neither have you the pure intentions of Yi Yin and Huo Guang which qualified their actions. The Teacher said: 'Only with Yi Yin's purpose can one act like Yi Yin. Otherwise, such a deed is treason.'"

Dong Zhuo angrily drew his sword to slay the bold Lu Zhi, but two other officials remonstrated.

"Minister Lu Zhi is the cynosure of the whole country, and his violent death would stir the hearts of all people!" said Court Counselors Cai Yong and Peng Bo.

Dong Zhuo then stayed his hand.

Then said Wang Yun, "A great question like the deposition and substitution of emperors is not one to be decided after a wine party. Let it be put off till another time."

So the guests dispersed. Dong Zhuo stood at the gate with drawn sword watching them depart. Standing thus, Dong Zhuo noticed a spearman galloping to and fro on a fiery steed and asked Li Ru who that was.

"That is Lu Bu, the adopted son of Ding Yuan. You must keep out of his way, my lord."

Dong Zhuo went inside the gate so that he could not be seen.