a person of unusual parts precedes an extraordinary situation； and of such a person the achievements will be extraordinary。 For indeed the ordinary person is quite unequal to an extraordinary situation。
＇e＇ Zhao Gao a court eunuch serving the First Emperor。 Zhao Gao killed the eldest son and supported the second son for the throne after the First Emperor's death （BC 209）。 In the final days of Qin Dynasty； Zhao Gao killed the Second Emperor and placed the First Emperor's grandson on the throne （BC 206）。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Zhou Bo was prime minister of Han Emperor Wen （BC 179…156）。 After Empress Lu died； Zhou Bo cooperated with Chen Ping and Liu Zhan to purge the Lu clan。 Ennobled as Lord of Jiang。 。。。。。
〃In former days； after having gained ascendancy over a weakling emperor of the powerful Qin Dynasty； Prime Minister Zhao Gao* wielded the whole authority of the Throne； overruling the government。 All dignity and fortune came through him； and his contemporaries were restrained so that none dared to speak openly。 Slowly but surely evolved the tragedy of the Wangyi Palace； when the Emperor was slain and the Imperial Tablets perished in the flames。 Zhao Gao； the author of these crimes； has ever since been held up to obloquy as the arch example of an evil doer。
〃In the later days of Empress Lu of the Hans； after the death of the Supreme Ancestor； the world saw Lu Chan and Lu Lu； brothers of the Empress and fellows in wickedness； monopolizing the powers of government。 Within the capital； they manded two armies； and without they ruled the feudal states of Liang and Zhao。 They arbitrarily controlled all state affairs and decided all questions in the council chamber and the court。 This dominance of the base and declension of the noble continued till the hearts of the people grew cold within them。
〃Thereupon Zhou Bo*； Lord of Jiang； and Liu Zhan； Lord of Zhuxu； asserted their dignity and let loose their wrath。 They destroyed the contumacious ministers and restored their ruler to his royal state。 Thus they enabled the kingly way to be reestablished and the glory to be manifested。 Here are two instances where ministers asserted their authority。
〃This Cao Cao； now Minister of Works； forsooth； had for ancestor a certain eunuch named Cao Teng； fitting panion of Xu Huan and Zuo Guan。 All three were prodigies of wickedness and insatiably avaricious and； let loose on the world； they hindered ethical progress and preyed upon the populace。 This Cao Teng begged for and adopted Cao Cao's father who； by wholesale bribery； wagons of gold and cartloads of jewels presented at the gates of the influential； contrived to sneak his way into considerable office where he could subvert authority。 Thus Cao Cao is the depraved bantling of a monstrous excrescence； devoid of all virtue in himself； ferocious and cunning； delighting in disorder and reveling in public calamity。
〃Now I； Yuan Shao； a man of war； have mustered my armies and displayed my might that I may sweep away and destroy the evil opponents of government。 I have already had to deal with Dong Zhuo； the ruffian who invaded the official circle and wrested the government。 At that time I grasped my sword and beat the drums to restore order in the east。 I assembled warriors； selected the best； and took them into my service。 In this matter I came into relations with this Cao Cao and conferred with him to further my scheme。 I gave him mand of a subordinate force and looked to him to render such petty service as he was equal to。 I suffered his stupidities and condoned his shortings； his rash attacks and facile retreats； his losses and shameful defeats； his repeated destruction of whole armies。 Again and again I sent him more troops and filled the gaps in his depleted ranks。 I even addressed a memorial to the Throne for him to be appointed Imperial Protector of Yanzhou。 I made him feel as he were a tiger。 I added to his honors and increased his authority； hoping that eventually he would justify himself by a victory against Dong Zhuo such as Qin used Meng Ming against Jin。
〃But Cao Cao availed himself of the opportunity to overstep all bounds； to give free rein to violence and evil。 He stripped the mon people； outraged the good； and injured the virtuous。 Bian Rang； Governor of Jiujiang； was a man of conspicuous talent and of world…wide reputation。 He was honest in speech and correct in demeanor。 He spoke without flattery。 Cao Cao put him to death and his head was exposed； and his family utterly destroyed。 From that day to this scholars have deeply mourned； and popular resentment has steadily grown。 One person raised his arm in anger； and the whole countryside followed him。 Whereupon Cao Cao was smitten at Xuzhou； and his territory was snatched by Lu Bu。 He fled eastward without shelter or refuge。
〃My policy is a strong trunk and weak branches； a manding central government and obedient feudal lords。 Also I am no partisan。 Therefore I again raised my banners； donned my armor； and moved forward to attack。 My drums rolled for an assault on Lu Bu； and his multitudes incontinently fled。 I saved Cao Cao from destruction and restored him to a position of authority。 Wherein I must confess to showing no kindness to the people of Yanzhou； although it was a great matter for Cao Cao。
〃Later it happened that the imperial cortege moved east； and a horde of rebels of Dong Zhuo's faction rose and attacked。 The course of government was hindered。 At that moment my territory was threatened from the north； and I could not leave it。 Wherefore I sent one of my officers； Xu Xun； to Cao Cao to see to the repair of the dynastic temples and the protection of the youthful sovereign。 Thereupon Cao Cao gave the rein to his inclinations。 He arbitrarily ordered the removal of the court to Xuchang。 He brought shame upon the Ruling House and subverted the laws。 He engrossed the chairmanship of the three highest offices and monopolized the control of the administration。 Offices and rewards were conferred according to his will； punishment was at his word。 He glorified whole families of those he loved； he exterminated whole clans of those he hated。 Open critics were executed； secret opponents were assassinated。 Officials locked their lips； wayfarers only exchanged glances。 Chairs of boards recorded levies； and every government official held a sinecure。
〃The late Yang Biao； a man who had filled two of the highest offices of state as Chairs of two boards； because of some petty grudge was； though guiltless； charged with a crime。 He was beaten and suffered every form of cruelty。 This arbitrary and impulsive act was a flagrant disregard of constitutional rules。
〃Another victim was the Counselor Zhao Yan。 He was faithful in remonstrance； honest in speech； endowed with the highest principles of rectitude。 He was listened to at court。 His words carried enough weight with the Emperor to cause him to modify his intention and confer reward for outspokenness。 Desirous of diverting all power into his own hands and stifle all criticism； Cao Cao presumed to arrest and put to death this censor； in defiance of all legal procedures。
〃Another evil deed was the destruction of the tomb of Prince Xiao of Liang； the brother of the late Emperor。 His tomb should certainly have been respected； even its mulberries and sweetgum trees； its cypresses and its pines。 Cao Cao led soldiers to the cemetery and stood by while it was desecrated； the coffin destroyed and the poor corpse exposed。 They stole the gold and jewels of the dead。 This deed brought tears to the eyes of the Emperor and rent the hearts of all people。 Cao Cao also appointed new offices………mander Who Opens Grave Mounds and General Who Seeks for Gold………whose tracks were marked by desecrated graves and exhumed bodies。 Indeed； while assuming the position of the highest officer of state； he indulged the inclination of a bandit； polluting the empire； oppressing the people； a bane to gods and humans。
〃He added to this by setting up minute and vexatious prohibitions so that there were nets and snares spread in every pathway； traps and pitfalls laid in every road。 A hand raised was caught in a net； a foot advanced was taken in an entanglement。 Wherefore the people of his regions； Yanzhou and Yuzhou； waxed desperate and the