Chapter 181

【Classic scene: Fengyi Pavilion.

Diao Chan made a secret appointment with Lu Bu, crying like rain:

"I had already promised the General, but I didn't want the Grand Preceptor to force his possession... Every time I think of the General, my liver and intestines break."】

【At this time, Dong Zhuo returned to the mansion, did not see Diao Chan, searched to the back garden, and saw Lu Bu and Diao Chan hugging.

In a rage, he snatched Lu Bu's Fangtian Painted Halberd and threw it—Lu Bu dodged with agility, but the relationship between master and apprentice was broken from then on】

【The Heavenly Screen added an interesting detail here:

Later archaeological discoveries found that the site of the Fengyi Pavilion in the Eastern Han Dynasty was extremely small and could not accommodate the "chase play" of three people.

Some scholars joked: "Mr. Luo Guanzhong obviously didn't investigate the scene."】

【But art needs exaggeration, and it was this scene that made Lu Bu make up his mind】

【April of the third year of Chuping, Wang Yun and Lu Bu conspired, falsely claiming an imperial decree to summon Dong Zhuo to the palace】

【Before leaving, Dong Zhuo's carriage axle broke, the horses neighed and would not move forward, all kinds of strange signs.

Diao Chan tidied his clothes: "The Grand Preceptor entering the palace today must be because His Majesty wants to abdicate the throne, this is a good omen."】

Dong Zhuo laughed: "Still the beauty knows me!"

【He didn't know, this was the last time he saw Diao Chan】

【In front of the palace gate, Lu Bu pierced Dong Zhuo's throat with a halberd. Grand Preceptor Dong, who was powerful for a time, died here】

【Differences between official history and romance】

The Heavenly Screen listed the comparison:

"Book of the Later Han: Biography of Dong Zhuo": "Lu Bu held a spear and stabbed Zhu, urging soldiers to behead him."

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms": "Lu Bu pierced Dong Zhuo's throat with a halberd, and Li Su had already cut off his head."

【"Official history is concise, romance is vivid. But no matter which one, Dong Zhuo's death is indeed related to Lu Bu, and among the reasons for Lu Bu's rebellion, 'affair with a maid' is an important factor."】

【Diao Chan's ending: A mystery through the ages】

【The Heavenly Screen displayed various legends—】

Version 1: Wandering with Lu Bu

【After Dong Zhuo died, Diao Chan became Lu Bu's concubine, following him to Xuzhou and Xiapi. After Lu Bu died at Baimen Tower, Diao Chan was captured by Cao Cao】

Scene: Cao Cao looked at Diao Chan kneeling on the steps, pondering for a long time,

"This woman used a chain scheme to kill Dong Zhuo, and has merit to the Han house. But keeping her might cause trouble..."

Xun Yu remonstrated: "My Lord, you have already accepted Zhang Xiu's aunt, if you accept this woman again, I fear there will be criticism."

Cao Cao finally waved his hand: "Give her a hundred taels of gold, and allow her to return to her hometown."

【But on the way back to her hometown, Diao Chan's whereabouts became unknown】

Version 2: Guan Yu beheads Diao Chan (Yuan drama "Guan Gong Beheads Diao Chan under the Moon")

【This version is the most dramatic:

Cao Cao sent Diao Chan to Guan Yu, wanting to disturb his will.

Guan Yu read the "Spring and Autumn Annals" at night, Diao Chan performed a dance, Guan Yu saw her beauty, fearing he would follow in the footsteps of Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo, and beheaded her with a sword】

【The Heavenly Screen teased: "Guan Er Ye became a 'beauty killer', this is obviously an extreme shaping of Guan Yu's 'not interested in women' image by later generations."】

Version 3: Retiring to the folk (the version most loved by the people)

【Before Xiapi City was broken, Lu Bu knew the situation was lost, and let Diao Chan and some family members secretly leave the city. Diao Chan changed her name and surname, married an ordinary farmer, and spent the rest of her life in the mountains and forests】

There is a poem: "Situ's wonderful plan entrusted to a red skirt, no need for weapons, no need for soldiers. Three battles at Hulao were in vain, but the song of victory was played at Fengyi Pavilion."

【Historical research】

【The Heavenly Screen switched to the scholar research scene:

Historian Chen Shou did not mention Diao Chan at all in "Records of the Three Kingdoms".

Pei Songzhi's annotation cites "Records of Heroes" mentioning Lu Bu's affair with Dong Zhuo's maid, but did not say this maid played a role in killing Dong.

Yuan Dynasty "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" first shaped the complete image of Diao Chan.

Luo Guanzhong's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" made her a household name.】

【What is certain is that there was indeed an incident in history where Lu Bu turned against Dong Zhuo because of a woman;

But the specific character Diao Chan and her chain scheme are literary creations of later generations.】

【The Heavenly Screen listed evaluations of Diao Chan from various dynasties—】

Tang Dynasty poet Li He: "When Lu Bu shot the halberd at the gate, Diao Chan had already entered Dong Zhuo's curtain."

Song Dynasty Su Shi satirized Dong Zhuo in the poem "Meiwu":

"After all, who can compare to a hero? The navel fat lights itself without a lamp."

The annotation says: "Dong Zhuo was fat, after he died, his navel was burned as a lamp. But his death was actually caused by a woman."

Ming Dynasty thinker Li Zhi wrote when commenting on "Romance of the Three Kingdoms":

"Although Diao Chan is a woman, her merit is to the country, not letting Yu Rang and Nie Zheng."

Qing Dynasty Mao Zonggang commented: "The eighteen feudal lords could not kill Dong Zhuo, but one Diao Chan was enough to kill him... The most poisonous woman's heart? It is the most intelligent woman's heart!"

【Reactions of emperors of various dynasties】

When Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, watched the Heavenly Screen, he said to Empress Zhangsun,

"If this woman is really as the legend says, she can be called both wise and brave. But women participating in politics is ultimately not the right path."

Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, said to Zhao Pu: "Although the beauty scheme is wonderful, it cannot be used often. Governing the country still requires uprightness."

Emperor Taizu of Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang, scoffed: "Women interfering in politics is a bad omen for the country. If it were in my dynasty, I would definitely ban such plays!"

【The Heavenly Screen finally summarized the Diao Chan chapter】

【The scene returned to that bright moon】

【Diao Chan may have never existed, but she has become a cultural symbol—a woman who could not help herself in the chaotic world, using beauty as a blade, maneuvering between powers.】

【Not recorded in official history, it instead gave scholars infinite room for imagination.

She is a pawn of politics, and also a chess player;

She is an appendage of men, and also a promoter of history.】

【In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Luo Guanzhong borrowed Diao Chan's mouth to say:

"I have received the grace and upbringing of the master, trained in singing and dancing, treated with courtesy, even if I am smashed to pieces, I cannot repay one ten-thousandth."

This is the most typical logic of repaying kindness for women of that era.

But a thousand years later, perhaps we should ask: "Why should the great responsibility of repaying the country be pressed on the weak shoulders of a woman?"

The appearance of closing the moon became a sharp sword stabbing at the powerful minister. This is Diao Chan's legend, and also the sorrow of that era.】

【At the end of the count, the Heavenly Screen placed the portraits of Yang Yuhuan and Diao Chan side by side】

【On the left is the plump beauty of the prosperous Tang, on the right is the thin posture of the late Han;

One lived in luxury but died on white silk, the other was of humble status but killed the national thief】

【The Heavenly Screen asked: "Both involved in the political vortex, why are the ending evaluations completely different?"】

【Analysis begins—

Era background:

Yang Yuhuan was at the turning point of the prosperous Tang Dynasty's decline, her existence was seen as a "disaster";

Diao Chan was in a chaotic world, her actions were seen as a "righteous act".

Initiative:

Yang Yuhuan was more of a passive recipient—selected as the Prince of Shou's consort, favored by Xuanzong, conferred as Noble Consort, and finally ordered to die.

Diao Chan in the legend is an active participant, even leading the chain scheme.

Historical role:

Yang Guifei's death marked the end of the prosperous Tang; Diao Chan's act eliminated Dong Zhuo, temporarily delaying the destruction of the Han house.

【But the Heavenly Screen changed the tone】

However, is this evaluation itself still from a male-dominated perspective?

Tying the rise and fall of a dynasty to a woman, is it praise or another kind of contempt?

【Playing evaluations from scholars of various dynasties—】

Du Fu wrote about Yang Guifei: "Where are the bright eyes and white teeth now? The bloody wandering soul cannot return." — Sympathizing with her personal fate.

Bai Juyi wrote about Yang Guifei: "The monarch covered his face and could not save her, looking back, blood and tears flowed together." — Criticizing Xuanzong's incompetence.

Luo Yin wrote about Diao Chan: "The husband's career could not be achieved, but a woman was taught to show heroism." — Lamenting the dereliction of duty by men.

【Final commentary】

Shaming flowers and closing the moon, was originally the ultimate praise for beauty. But in the long river of history, this beauty became a shackle.

Yang Yuhuan's beauty allowed her to climb to the pinnacle of power, and also made her a scapegoat for the collapse of the prosperous age;

Diao Chan's beauty allowed her to approach the core of power, complete an impossible task, but also made her disappear into the mist of history.

Beauties are like flowers, the flowering period is short.

Prosperous age or chaotic world, all become dust.

Only legends remain, left for later generations to comment on.