Liu Xie

The future Emperor Xian; not yet enthroned in this chapter and appears only in the broader frame about the Han's coming division into three parts.

Liu Xie, second son of Emperor Ling by Consort Wang; favoured by Empress Dowager Dong and the eunuchs as an alternative to Bian. Survives the succession crisis as Prince of Chenliu.

The nine-year-old Prince of Chenliu: hides with his brother in the river grass, does the talking at Cui Yi's farm, and challenges Dong Zhuo at the roadside so fearlessly that Dong Zhuo conceives the desire to set his brother aside and enthrone him.

Proclaimed emperor in the Hall of Virtue at nine years old - five years younger than the brother he replaces - with the reign-style changed to Inauguration of Tranquillity. A child ruler while Dong Zhuo, now Prime Minister, comes booted and armed to court.

Emperor Xian; in nominal possession of the throne while the coalition fights to liberate him.

Carried west in Dong Zhuo's column with the whole court as Luoyang burns behind him; the Imperial Hereditary Seal, lost in the eunuch chaos, is missing from his regalia - waiting in a well for Sun Jian.

The powerless boy emperor; Dong Zhuo now styles HIMSELF 'Imperial Rector' - father to the Emperor - and apes imperial state while the real sovereign sits through his conversations.

Emperor Xian; passive instrument throughout. Watches Wang Yun jump to his death from the city wall and is taken into 'protection' by Li Jue and Guo Si by chapter's end.

Forced from the tower to grant Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji whatever ranks they write down for themselves; his palace attendants are replaced with the rebels' creatures who watch his every movement.

The chapter is his calvary: hostage at Meiwo on putrid meat and rotten grain, begging five carts of rice and being refused, talked past the Baling Bridge guards on his own majesty, lowered down the riverbank in silk, fed coarse millet in a peasant hut, and housed at Anyi behind a thorn fence while brigands stamp wooden seals for their cronies.

Returns to a Luoyang of brambles and broken walls, changes the reign style to Rebuilt Tranquillity, and summons Cao Cao - who beats off Li Jue and Guo Si, then walks the court to his own Xuchang. The Emperor 'dared not oppose'; from now on every memorial passes through Cao Cao first.

His name seals the chapter's politics: the decree carried by Wang Ze makes Lü Bu General Who Pacifies the East, and Cao Cao memorializes him to make Liu Bei Imperial Protector of Yuzhou.

Hosts the peace banquet for the heads of Li Jue and Guo Si, ennobles Duan Wei and Wu Xi, and personally arranges the chariot to escort Cao Cao out of the city for the Zhang Xiu expedition - deference flowing the wrong way.

Makes Sun Ce Lord of Wu and General Who Destroys Rebels at Cao Cao's memorial, and - to lull the north - grants Yuan Shao the protectorship of Jizhou, Qingzhou, Youzhou, and Bingzhou.

Recognizes Liu Bei as his uncle from the genealogies, hoping for a shield against Cao Cao. Humiliated at the Xutian hunt when Cao Cao shoots with the imperial bow, takes the crowd's 'wan shui' for himself, and keeps the bow - he bites his own finger to write the belt decree in blood, and hands it to Dong Cheng sewn inside the girdle: 'destroy this evil faction and restore the prerogatives of the Throne.'

Sheds tears at the parting audience as Liu Bei - the one conspirator with an army - marches out of Xuchang against Yuan Shu.

The prisoner behind the manifesto: Chen Lin's document charges that Cao Cao's seven hundred 'guards' around the Palace hold the Emperor captive, his tears shed over desecrated imperial tombs.

Sends his Court Physician to the 'ailing' State Uncle - unknowingly arming the plot - and ends the chapter with Cao Cao's advisers convened to discuss his dethronement.

Caught pretending Dong Cheng means Dong Zhuo, he watches his plot's ruin: he begs immurement for the pregnant Consort Dong until her confinement and is refused - 'do not hate me in the Nine Golden Springs' - while Cao Cao calls the imperial tears childish. His palace is then sealed behind three thousand of Cao Cao's own guards.

Confers on the surrendered Guan Yu the rank General Who Serves the Hans - the very loophole Guan Yu's first condition carved out - and, admiring the unbagged beard at court, names him 'The Man with the Beautiful Beard'.

Receives Sun Ce's victory memorial - and the petition Cao Cao later sends conferring on Sun Quan the title of General and Governor of Kuaiji.

Both armies claim him: Cao Cao professes to command 'by imperial authority' while Yuan Shao brands the claim rebellion in the shouted parley before the lines.

Invoked in Cao Cao's honeyed offer to Lady Xun: call your son and 'I could speak of him before the Emperor'.

Present in Liu Bei's self-announcements: 'Uncle of the Emperor' at the cottage door, 'a distant relative of the Emperor' in the letter - the legitimacy Liu Bei carries to the recluse.

Emperor Xian of the old poem - the removal of his capital to Xuchang marks the confusion within the four seas.

The Emperor whom Cao Cao 'overawes and in his name coerces the nobles' - the legitimacy question running under the whole debate.

The Emperor 'really a prisoner in Xuchang, guarded by the most cruel soldiers' - Zhou Yu's charge to the assembled officers.

The living legitimacy in Zhuge Liang's speech - Liu Bei is 'the Emperor's Uncle', with a share of the Liu estate by blood.

The throne both schemes route through: Gu Yong's memorial and Cheng Yu's counter-memorial each borrow the Emperor's name to move the pieces.

The Emperor whose name summons Ma Teng - 'Cao Cao has the command of the Emperor to call you; if you do not go, you will be punished.'