话说天下大势，分久必合，合久必分：周末七国分争，并入于秦；及秦灭之后，楚、汉分争，又并入于汉；汉朝自高祖斩白蛇而起义，一统天下，后来光武中兴，传至献帝，遂分为三国。
Domains under heaven, after a long period of division, tends to unite; after a long period of union, tends to divide.
This has been so since antiquity.
When the rule of the Zhou Dynasty weakened, seven contending kingdoms sprang up, warring one with another until the kingdom of Qin prevailed and possessed the empire.But when Qin＇s destiny had been fulfilled, arose two opposing kingdoms, Chu and Han, to fight for the mastery.
And Han was the victor.The rise of the fortunes of Han began when Liu Bang the Supreme Ancestor slew a white serpent to raise the banners of uprising, which only ended when the whole empire belonged to Han (BC 202).
This magnificent heritage was handed down in successive Han emperors for two hundred years, till the rebellion of Wang Mang caused a disruption.But soon Liu Xiu the Latter Han Founder restored the empire, and Han emperors continued their rule for another two hundred years till the days of Emperor Xian, which were doomed to see the beginning of the empire＇s division into three parts, known to history as The Three Kingdoms.
推其致乱之由，殆始于桓、灵二帝。
But the descent into misrule hastened in the reigns of the two predecessors of Emperor Xian---Emperors Huan and Ling---who sat in the Dragon Throne about the middle of the second century.
桓帝禁锢善类，崇信宦官。
Emperor Huan paid no heed to the good people of his court, but gave his confidence to the Palace eunuchs.
及桓帝崩，灵帝即位，大将军窦武、太傅陈蕃，共相辅佐。
He lived and died, leaving the scepter to Emperor Ling, whose advisers were Regent Marshal Dou Wu and Imperial Guardian Chen Fan.
时有宦官曹节等弄权，窦武、陈蕃谋诛之，作事不密，反为所害。
Dou Wu and Chen Fan, disgusted with the abuses of the eunuchs in the affairs of the state, plotted the destruction for the power-abusing eunuchs.
But Chief Eunuch Cao Jie was not to be disposed of easily.
The plot leaked out, and the honest Dou Wu and Chen Fan were put to death,
中涓自此愈横。
leaving the eunuchs stronger than before.
建宁二年四月望日，帝御温德殿。
It fell upon the day of full moon of the fourth month, the second year, in the era of Established Calm (AD 168), that Emperor Ling went in state to the Hall of Virtue.
方升座，殿角狂风骤起，只见一条大青蛇，从梁上飞将下来，蟠于椅上。
As he drew near the throne, a rushing whirlwind arose in the corner of the hall and, lo! from the roof beams floated down a monstrous black serpent that coiled itself up on the very seat of majesty.
帝惊倒，左右急救入宫，百官俱奔避。
The Emperor fell in a swoon.
Those nearest him hastily raised and bore him to his palace, while the courtiers scattered and fled.
须臾，蛇不见了，忽然大雷大雨，加以冰雹，落到半夜方止，坏却房屋无数。
The serpent disappeared.
But there followed a terrific tempest, thunder, hail, and torrents of rain, lasting till midnight and working havoc on all sides.
建宁四年二月，洛阳地震；又海水泛溢，沿海居民，尽被大浪卷入海中。
Two years later the earth quaked in Capital Luoyang, while along the coast a huge tidal wave rushed in which, in its recoil, swept away all the dwellers by the sea.
光和元年，雌鸡化雄。
Another evil omen was recorded ten years later, when the reign title was changed to Radiant Harmony (AD 178): Certain hens suddenly crowed.
六月朔，黑气十余丈飞入温德殿中。
At the new moon of the sixth month, a long wreath of murky cloud wound its way into the Hall of Virtue,
秋七月，有虹见于玉堂，五原山岸尽皆崩裂。
while in the following month a rainbow was seen in the Dragon Chamber.Away from the capital, a part of the Yuan Mountains collapsed, leaving a mighty rift in the flank.
帝下诏问群臣以灾异之由。
Emperor Ling, greatly moved by these signs of the displeasure of Heaven, issued an edict asking his ministers for an explanation of the calamities and marvels.
议郎蔡邕上疏，以为蜺堕鸡化，乃妇寺干政之所致，言颇切直。
Court Counselor Cai Yong replied bluntly: “Falling rainbows and changes of fowls＇ sexes are brought about by the interference of empresses and eunuchs in state affairs."
帝览奏叹息，因起更衣。
The Emperor read this memorial with deep sighs, -
曹节在后窃视，悉宣告左右，遂以他事陷邕于罪，放归田里。
and Chief Eunuch Cao Jie, from his place behind the throne, anxiously noted these signs of grief.An opportunity offering, Cao Jie informed his fellows, and a charge was trumped up against Cai Yong, who was driven from the court and forced to retire to his country house.
后张让、赵忠、封谞、段珪、曹节、侯览、蹇硕、程旷、夏恽、郭胜十人朋比为奸，号为“十常侍”。
+With this victory the eunuchs grew bolder.
Ten of them, rivals in wickedness and associates in evil deeds, formed a powerful party known as the Ten Regular Attendants---Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Cheng Kuang, Duan Gui, Feng Xu, Guo Sheng, Hou Lan, Jian Shuo, Cao Jie, and Xia Yun.
帝尊信张让，呼为“阿父”， 朝政日非，以致天下人心思乱，盗贼蜂起。
One of them, Zhang Rang, won such influence that he became the Emperor＇s most honored and trusted adviser.
The Emperor even called him "Foster Father".So the corrupt state administration went quickly from bad to worse, till the country was ripe for rebellion and buzzed with brigandage.
时钜鹿郡有兄弟三人：一名张角，一名张宝，一名张梁。
At this time in the county of Julu was a certain Zhang family, of whom three brothers bore the name of Zhang Jue, Zhang Ba, and Zhang Lian, respectively.
那张角本是个不第秀才，因入山采药，遇一老人，碧眼童颜，手执藜杖，唤角至一洞中，以天书三卷授之，曰：“此名《太平要术》。
The eldest Zhang Jue was an unclassed graduate, who devoted himself to medicine.
One day, while culling simples in the woods, Zhang Jue met a venerable old gentleman with very bright, emerald eyes and fresh complexion, who walked with an oak-wood staff.
The old man beckoned Zhang Jue into a cave and there gave him three volumes of The Book of Heaven. "This book," said the old gentleman, "is the Essential Arts of Peace.
汝得之，当代天宣化，普救世人。
With the aid of these volumes, you can convert the world and rescue humankind.
角拜问姓名，老人曰：“吾乃南华老仙也。”
With a humble obeisance, Zhang Jue took the book and asked the name of his benefactor. "I am Saint Hermit of the Southern Land,"