A confrontation quickly brews.

In the summer of 189, He Jin, plotting with Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, as well as a number of other young officials, plans to act against Jian.

Jian tries to persuade his fellow powerful eunuchs, including Zhao Zhong and Song Dian, to go along with his plan to arrest and kill He Jin.

However, Zhao and Song were persuaded by another eunuch, Guo Sheng—a friend of the Hes—to turn down Jian's suggestions.

He Jin then arrests Jian and executes him, taking over the forces under his control.

The Hes now have a confrontation with yet another power center.

Emperor Ling's mother, Grand Empress Dowager Dong, and her nephew Dong Chong, are displeased at the Hes' power grab, and Grand Empress Dowager Dong often argues with Empress Dowager He, once threatening to have Dong Chong decapitate He Jin.

He Jin takes preemptive action and has Empress Dowager He issue an edict exiling her mother-in-law back to her husband's fief of Hejian (in modern Baoding, Hebei), and arresting Dong Chong.

Dong Chong commits suicide, and Grand Empress Dowager Dong dies soon thereafter—with most historical accounts concluding that she died from fear, but some suggested that she committed suicide.

This event causes the Hes to be very unpopular among the people.