49 Liu Tao and Chen Dan murdered in prison

49 Liu Tao and Chen Dan murdered in prison 
Following the emperor's order, the warrior pushed Liu Tao out, preparing to execute him. A minister stopped them and said, "Do not act yet, let me plead with the emperor." Everyone looked and saw that it was the Minister Chen Dan. He went straight into the palace to plead with the emperor, "What crime did Liu Tao commit to deserve such punishment?" The emperor said, "He slandered the close ministers and disrespected me." Dan said, "The people of the world hate the Ten Eunuchs to the core, wishing to devour their flesh, yet Your Majesty treats them as parents. Why do these eunuchs, who have achieved nothing, receive noble titles? Moreover, Feng Yu and others colluded with the Yellow Turbans, aiming to cause internal chaos. If Your Majesty does not reflect on this, the state will surely collapse!" The emperor said, "Feng Yu's rebellion is not clear. Are there no loyal ministers among the Ten Eunuchs?" Chen Dan banged his head against the steps while remonstrating. The emperor, enraged, ordered them to be taken out and both Chen Dan and Liu Tao were thrown into prison. That night, the Ten Eunuchs plotted to kill them in prison. They used a fake imperial decree to appoint Sun Jian as the Governor of Changsha to suppress the Quxing rebellion. Within fifty days, Sun Jian reported victory, pacifying Jiangxia, and was granted the title of Marquis of Wucheng.
武士拥陶出，方欲行刑，一大臣喝住曰：“勿得下手，待我谏去。”众视之，乃司徒陈耽，径入宫中来谏帝曰：“刘谏议得何罪而受诛？”帝曰：“毁谤近臣，冒渎朕躬。”耽曰：“天下人民，欲食十常侍之肉，陛下敬之如父母，身无寸功，皆封列侯；况封谞等结连黄巾，欲为内乱：陛下今不自省，社稷立见崩摧矣！”帝曰：“封谞作乱，其事不明。十常侍中，岂无一二忠臣？”陈耽以头撞阶而谏。帝怒，命牵出，与刘陶皆下狱。是夜，十常侍即于狱中谋杀之；假帝诏以孙坚为长沙太守，讨区星，不五十日，报捷，江夏平，诏封坚为乌程侯。