且说董卓欲杀袁绍，李儒止之曰：“事未可定，不可妄杀。”
Dong Zhuo was on the point of slaying Yuan Shao, but Li Ru checked him, saying, "You must not kill rashly while the business hangs in the balance."
袁绍手提宝剑，辞别百官而出，悬节东门，奔冀州去了。
Yuan Shao, his sword still unsheathed, left the assembly.
He hung up the seals of his office at the east gate and went to Jizhou Region.
隗曰：“太尉所见是也。”
"What you think is right," was the reply.
卓曰：“敢有阻大议者，以军法从事！”
"If anyone opposes the great scheme, he will be dealt with by military law!" said Dong Zhuo.
群臣震恐，皆云：“一听尊命！”
The ministers, thoroughly dreaded, promised obedience,
宴罢，卓问侍中周毖、校尉伍琼曰：“袁绍此去若何？”
and the feast came to an end.Dong Zhuo asked Counselor Zhou Bi and Commander Wu Qiong what they thought of the flight of Yuan Shao.
周毖曰：“袁绍忿忿而去，若购之急，势必为变。
Zhou Bi said, "He left in a state of great anger.
In such a state of excitement much harm may ensue to the present state of affairs,
且袁氏树恩四世，门生故吏遍于天下。
especially as the Yuan family have been noted for their high offices for four generations, and their proteges and dependents are everywhere.
倘收豪杰以聚徒众，英雄因之而起，山东非公有也。
If they assemble bold people and call up their clients, all the valiant warriors will be in arms, and the east region of the Huashang Mountains will be lost.
卓从之，即日差人拜绍为渤海太守。
Dong Zhuo followed this advice, and within that day sent a messenger to offer Yuan Shao the governorship of Bohai.
九月朔，请帝升嘉德殿，大会文武。
On the first day of the ninth month, the Emperor was invited to proceed to the Hall of Virtue where was a great assembly of officials.
卓拔剑在手，对众曰：“天子暗弱，不足以君天下。
There Dong Zhuo, sword in hand, faced the gathering and said, "The Emperor is a weakling unequal to the burden of ruling this land.
今有策文一道，宜为宣读。”
Now listen ye to the document I have prepared!"
乃命李儒读策曰：“孝灵皇帝，早弃臣民；皇帝承嗣，海内侧望。
And Li Ru read as follows: "The dutiful Emperor Ling too soon left his people.
The emperor is the cynosure of all the people of this land.
而帝天资轻佻，威仪不恪，居丧慢惰。
Upon the present Emperor Bian, Heaven has conferred but small gifts: In dignity and deportment he is deficient, and in mourning he is remiss.
否德既彰，有忝大位。
Only the most complete virtue can grace imperial dignity.
皇太后教无母仪，统政荒乱。
Empress He has trained him improperly, and the whole state administration has fallen into confusion.
三纲之道，天地之纪，毋乃有阙？
The doctrine of the three bonds---Heaven, Earth, and Human---and the continuity of Heaven and Earth interdependence have both been injured.
陈留王协，圣德伟懋，规矩肃然。
"But Liu Xian, Prince of Chenliu, is sage and virtuous beside being of handsome exterior.
He conforms to all the rules of propriety:
休声美誉，天下所闻。
Eulogies of him fill the empire.
宜承洪业，为万世统。
He is well fitted for the great duty of consolidating the rule of Han.
兹废皇帝为弘农王，皇太后还政。
"Now therefore the Emperor is deposed and created Prince of Hongnong, and Empress He retires from the administration.
请奉陈留王为皇帝，应天顺人，以慰生灵之望。”
"I pray the Prince of Chenliu to accept the throne in conformity with the decrees of Heaven and Earth, the desires of people, and the fulfillment of the hopes of humankind."
李儒读策毕，卓叱左右扶帝下殿，解其玺绶，北面长跪，称臣听命。
This having been read, Dong Zhuo bade the officials lead the Emperor down from the throne, remove his seal, and cause him to kneel facing the north, styling himself faithful servant of the Throne and requesting commands.