How Lü Bu and Diaochan Became Dong Zhuo's Undoing

In the previous episode, Sun Jian truly struck Dong Zhuo's forces, but the eastern coalition remained divided.

If the lords outside could not be relied on, someone inside Chang'an had to look for another opening. Wang Yun began watching the people closest to Dong Zhuo.

Was Diaochan History or Legend?

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Yun uses Diaochan to divide Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu. Lü Bu kills Dong Zhuo for her, and later readers call the scheme the "chain stratagem."

Diaochan became one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, remembered with the phrase "the moon hides in shame." Operas, storytelling, and fiction made her one of the most famous women in the Three Kingdoms imagination.

But the official histories do not record the name Diaochan.

They say only that Lü Bu had an affair with one of Dong Zhuo's serving women and became afraid. Her name, background, and fate are not clearly recorded. The novel turns this unnamed woman into Wang Yun's adopted daughter and creates the double promise to Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo.

The literary version is shaped by drama. The historical core is still important: Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo really had cracks between them, and Wang Yun really used those cracks.

Wang Yun Entered Dong Zhuo's Court

Wang Yun came from a respected Bing Province family and had a strong reputation from youth.

He had served as Inspector of Yu Province during the Yellow Turban crisis. While receiving surrendered rebels, he found letters from guests of the eunuch Zhang Rang and suspected secret communication. Zhang Rang, favored by Emperor Ling, pushed the blame away and later had Wang Yun imprisoned.

In prison, people urged Wang Yun to confess or drink poison. He refused. If he was guilty, he said, he should be punished by law as a minister of the emperor, not secretly kill himself.

This was not a soft scholar. Wang Yun had a hard edge.

After Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, deposed Emperor Shao, and enthroned Emperor Xian, Wang Yun became Minister over the Masses. He appeared to cooperate, handled court affairs, and earned Dong Zhuo's trust. Behind the surface, he kept looking for a way to restore imperial authority by removing Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo Kept Growing More Arrogant

After being beaten by Sun Jian, Dong Zhuo withdrew to Chang'an.

He did not become cautious. Officials had to bow before his carriage. His followers even wanted to honor him as Shangfu, a title echoing Jiang Ziya of Zhou memory. Cai Yong advised that this was too much before the east was pacified and the emperor returned to Luoyang. Dong Zhuo did not take that title, but he made himself Grand Preceptor.

He ordered officials to register people accused of being unfilial, disloyal, corrupt, or disrespectful to elder brothers. They were executed and their property confiscated. False accusations spread. People on the road dared only signal with their eyes, not speak.

His relatives filled powerful posts. Even a newborn child of a concubine received noble rank. His carriages and clothing moved closer to imperial standards.

At Mei, he built a fortified stronghold with enough grain for thirty years. If great affairs succeeded, he said, he would dominate the world. If not, he could grow old inside Meiwu.

Wang Yun understood: as long as Dong Zhuo lived, Emperor Xian would remain Dong Zhuo's emperor.

Wang Yun Needed an Insider

Wang Yun discussed killing Dong Zhuo with Shisun Rui, Yang Zan, and others.

He tried to create military leverage by recommending appointments, but Dong Zhuo had learned to distrust court recommendations after earlier famous men turned against him. The plan failed.

Then Dong Zhuo requested noble rank for Wang Yun. Wang Yun wanted to refuse, fearing the judgment of scholars, but Shisun Rui warned him not to expose himself before the great matter was done. Wang Yun accepted.

In 192 CE, after days of gloomy rain, Wang Yun and his allies used a ritual occasion to discuss the plot again. Dong Zhuo was brave, suspicious, and surrounded by claws. They needed someone at his side.

That person was Lü Bu.

Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo Had Split Beneath the Surface

Lü Bu was fierce, skilled with horse and bow, and originally served Ding Yuan.

Dong Zhuo bought him over, used him to kill Ding Yuan, and then treated him as an adopted son. Because Dong Zhuo feared assassination, he often had Lü Bu guard him closely.

But this father-son bond was unstable.

Once, over a small matter, Dong Zhuo threw a hand-axe at Lü Bu. Lü Bu dodged and apologized, and Dong Zhuo calmed down. Outwardly Lü Bu continued to serve him. Inwardly resentment had begun.

The affair with Dong Zhuo's serving woman made things worse. If Dong Zhuo discovered it, Lü Bu could die.

When Lü Bu later told Wang Yun about nearly being killed, Wang Yun revealed the plan and asked him to act.

Lü Bu hesitated, saying he and Dong Zhuo had a father-son bond. Wang Yun answered that Lü Bu was Lü, Dong Zhuo was Dong; they were not flesh and blood. When Dong Zhuo threw the weapon, where was fatherly feeling then?

Lü Bu agreed.

Dong Zhuo Died at the Palace Gate

When Emperor Xian recovered from illness, a grand court gathering was held at Weiyang Palace. Dong Zhuo had to attend.

Wang Yun had Shisun Rui prepare an imperial edict for Lü Bu. Lü Bu arranged for Li Su and brave men to disguise themselves as palace guards and wait at the northern side gate.

Dong Zhuo entered in court dress, surrounded by guards. Li Su struck him with a halberd. Dong Zhuo wore armor under his clothes, so the blow wounded his arm but did not kill him. He fell from the carriage and shouted for Lü Bu.

Lü Bu stepped forward and declared that he had an imperial edict to punish a rebel.

Dong Zhuo cursed him. Lü Bu rode in and killed him.

Then Lü Bu displayed the edict and announced that only Dong Zhuo was to be punished. The soldiers stopped resisting and cried long live.

Chang'an celebrated. Emperor Xian placed Wang Yun in charge of the Secretariat and rewarded Lü Bu as General of Vehement Might and Marquis of Wen.

Wang Yun had planned it. Lü Bu had struck. The man the eastern coalition could not bring down died in a palace coup.

But Dong Zhuo's army still existed. The next episode follows the Liangzhou troops outside Chang'an, and how the dynasty fell back into blood almost immediately.