GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN LI TSʻUI AND KUO SSŬ:
THE EMPEROR RESCUED.
The last chapter told of the defeat of Lü Pu, and his gathering the
remnant of his army at Haipin. When all his lieutenants had joined him
he began to feel strong enough to try conclusions with Tsʻao Tsʻao once
again.
Said Chʻên Kung, who was opposed to this course, “He is too strong;
seek some place where you can rest a time before trying.”
“Suppose I went to Yüan Shao,” said Lü Pu.
“Send first to make enquiries.”
Lü Pu agreed. The news of the fighting between Tsʻao and Lü Pu had
reached Ichou and one of Yüan’s advisers, Shên Pʻei, warned him saying,
“If this savage Lü Pu gets possession of Yenchou he will certainly
attempt to add this district to it. For your own safety you should help
to crush him.”
Wherefore Yen Liang, with five legions, was sent. The spies heard this
and at once told Lü Pu, who was greatly disturbed and called in the
faithful Chʻên Kung.
“Go over to Liu Pei, who has lately succeeded to Hsüchou.”
Hence Lü Pu went thither. Some one urged Liu Pei to go out to meet such
a warrior and receive him with honour. Mi Chu was strongly against
receiving him at all saying he was a cruel, bloodthirsty beast.
But Pei replied, “How would misfortune have been averted from this
place if he had not attacked Yenchou? He cannot be our enemy now that
he comes seeking an asylum.”
“Brother, your heart is really too good. Although it may be as you say
yet it would be well to prepare,” said Chang Fei.
The new Prefect with a great following met Lü a long way outside the
city gates and the two chiefs rode in side by side. They proceeded to
the residence and there, after the elaborate ceremonies of reception
were over, they sat down to converse.
“After Wang Yün’s plot to slay Tung Cho and my misfortune in the Li-Kuo
sedition, I drifted about from one place to another and none of the
nobles seemed willing to receive me. When Tsʻao Tsʻao wickedly invaded
this district and you, Sir, came to its rescue, I aided you by
attacking Yenchou and thus diverting a portion of his force. I did not
think then that I should be the victim of a vile plot and lose my
leaders and my soldiers. But now if you will I offer myself to you that
we may together accomplish great designs.”
Liu Pei replied, “When the late Prefect died there was no one to
administer Hsüchou and so I assumed that task for a time. Now since you
are here, General, it is most suitable that I retire in your favour.”
Whereupon he handed the insignia and the seal to Lü Pu. Lü was on the
point of accepting them when he saw Kuan and Chang, who stood behind
the Prefect, glaring at him with angry eyes, so he put on a smile and
said, “Lü may be something of a fighting man but he could not rule a
place like this.”
Yüan-tê repeated his offer. Chʻên Kung said, “The strong guest does not
oppress his host. You need not fear, O Prince Elect.”
Then Yüan-tê desisted. Banquets were held and dwelling places prepared
for the guest and his retinue. As soon as convenient Lü Pu returned the
feast. Liu Pei went with his two brothers. Half through the banquet Lü
Pu requested his guest to retire to one of the inner private rooms,
whither the brothers followed him. There Lü Pu bade his wife and
daughters bow as to their benefactor. Here also Yüan-tê showed
excessive modesty and Pu said, “Good younger brother, you need not be
so very modest.”
Chang Fei heard what he said and his eyes glared. “What sort of a man
are you that dares call our brother, ‘younger brother’?” cried he. “He
is one of the ruling family (a golden branch, a jade leaf). Come out;
and I will fight you three hundred bouts for the insult.”
Yüan-tê hastily checked the impulsive one and Kuan Yü persuaded him to
go away. Then the host apologised saying, “My poor brother talks wildly
after he has been drinking. I hope you will not blame him.”
Lü Pu nodded, but said nothing. Soon after the guests departed. But as
the host escorted Liu Pei to his carriage he saw Chang Fei galloping up
armed as for a fray.
“Lü Pu, you and I will fight that duel of three hundred!” shouted he.
Liu Pei bade Kuan Yü check him. Next day Lü Pu came to take leave of
his host. “You, O Prince, kindly received me but I fear your brothers
and I cannot agree. So I will seek some other asylum.”
“General, if you go, my brother’s fault becomes grave. My rude brother
has offended and must eventually apologise. In the meantime what think
you of a temporary sojourn at the town where I was encamped for some
time, Hsiaopʻei? The place is small and mean, but it is near and I will
see to it that you are supplied with all you need.”
Lü Pu thanked him and accepted this offer. He led his men there and
took up residence. After he had gone Liu Pei buried his annoyance and
Chang Fei did not again refer to the matter.
That Tsʻao Tsʻao had subdued Shantung has been stated before. He
memorialised the throne and was rewarded with the title of General with
the epithet “Firm Virtue” and a marquisate. At this time the rebellious
Li Tsʻui had made himself Ta-ssŭ-ma, or Minister of War, and his
colleague styled himself Grand Commander. Their conduct was abominable
but no one dared to criticise them. The Tai-yü Yang Piao and the
Minister of Agriculture, Chu Chien, privately talked with the Emperor
Hsien and said, “Tsʻao Tsʻao has twenty legions of soldiers and many
capable advisers and leaders; it would be well for the Empire if he
would lend his support to the imperial family and help to rid the
government of this evil party.”
His Majesty wept, “I am weary of the insults and contempt of these
wretches and should be very glad to have them removed,” said he.
“I have thought of a plan to estrange Li and Kuo and so make them
destroy each other. Then Tsʻao could come and cleanse the Court,” said
Piao.
“How will you manage it?” asked the Emperor.
“Kuo’s wife is very jealous and we can take advantage of her weakness
to bring about a quarrel.”
So Yang Piao received instruction to act, with a secret edict to
support him.
Piao’s wife made an excuse to visit Madam Kuo at her palace and, in the
course of conversation, said “There is talk of secret liaison between
the General, your husband, and the wife of the Minister Li. It is a
great secret, but if the Minister knew it he might try to harm your
husband. I think you ought to have very little to do with that family.”
Madam Kuo was surprised but said, “I have wondered why he has been
sleeping away from home lately, but I did not think there was anything
shameful connected with it. I should never have known if you had not
spoken. I must put a stop to it.”
By and by, when Madam Yang took her leave, her hostess thanked her
warmly for the information she had given.
Some days passed and Kuo Ssŭ was going over to the dwelling of his
colleague to a dinner. His wife did not wish him to go and she said,
“This Tsʻui is very deep and one cannot fathom his designs. You two are
not of equal rank and if he made away with you, what would become of
your poor handmaid?”
Kuo Ssŭ paid no attention and his wife could not prevail on him to stay
at home. Late in the afternoon some presents arrived from the Li palace
and Kuo’s wife secretly put poison into the delicacies before she set
them before her lord. He was going to taste at once but she said, “It
is unwise to consume things that come from outside. Let us try on a dog
first.”
They did and the dog died. This incident made Kuo doubt the kindly
intentions of his colleague.
One day, at the close of business at Court, Li invited Kuo to his
palace. After Kuo arrived home in the evening, rather the worse for too
much wine, he was seized with a colic. His wife said she suspected
poison and hastily administered an emetic, which relieved the pain. Kuo
Ssŭ began to feel angry.
“We did everything together and helped each other always. Now he wants
to injure me. If I do not get in the first blow, I shall suffer some
injury.”
So Kuo began to prepare his guard for any sudden emergency. This was
told to Li and he in turn grew angry, saying, “So Kuo is doing so and
so.”
Then he got his guard under way and came to attack Kuo. Both houses had
several legions and the quarrel became so serious that they fought a
pitched battle under the city walls. When that was over both sides
turned to plunder the people.
Then a nephew of Li’s suddenly surrounded the palace, put the Emperor
and Empress Dowager Fu in two carriages and carried them off. The
palace attendants were made to follow on foot. As they went out of the
rear gate they met Kuo’s army who began to shoot at the cavalcade with
arrows. They killed many attendants before Li’s army came up and forced
them to retire.
It is unnecessary to say how the carriages were got out of the palace
but they eventually reached Li’s camp, while Kuo’s men plundered the
palace and carried off all the women left there to their camp. Then the
palace was set on fire.
As soon as Kuo Ssŭ heard of the whereabouts of the Emperor he came over
to attack the camp. The Emperor between these two opposing factions was
greatly alarmed.
Slowly the Hans had declined but renewed their vigour with
Kuang-Wu,
Twelve were the rulers before him, followed him also twelve others.
Foolish were two of the latest, dangers surrounded the altars,
These were degenerate days, with authority given to eunuchs.
Then did Ho Chin the simple, the inept, who commanded the army,
Warriors call to the capital, wishing to drive out the vermin;
Though they drove out the leopard, tigers and wolves quickly
entered,
All kinds of evil were wrought by a low class creature from
Hsichou.
Wang Yün, honest of heart, beguiled this wretch with a woman,
Much desired of his henchman, thus sowing seeds of dissension.
Strife resulted, and peace no longer dwelt in the Empire.
No one suspected that Li and Kuo would continue the evil,
Much to the sorrow of China; yet they strove for a trifle.
Famine stalked in the palace, grief for the clashing of weapons;
Why did the warriors strive? Why was the land thus partitioned?
We had turned aside from the way appointed of Heaven.
Kings must ponder these things; heavy the burden lies on them,
Chiefest in all the realm theirs is no common appointment,
Should the King falter or fail, calamities fall on the people,
The Empire is drenched with their blood, grisly ruin surrounds
them.
Steeped in sorrow and sad, read I the ancient records,
Long is the tale of years; the tale of sorrow is longer.
Wherefore he who would rule, chiefly must exercise forethought.
This and his keen-edged blade, these must suffice to maintain him.
Kuo Ssŭ’s army arrived and Li Tsʻui went out to give battle. Kuo’s men
had no success and retired. Then Li Tsʻui removed the imperial captives
to Meiwu with his nephew as gaoler. Supplies were reduced and famine
showed itself on the faces of the eunuchs. The Emperor sent to Li to
request five measures of rice and five sets of bullock bones for his
attendants. Li angrily replied, “The Court gets food morning and
evening; why do they ask for more?”
He sent putrid meat and rotten grain and the Emperor was very vexed at
the new insult.
Yang Piao counselled patience. “He is a base creature but, under the
present circumstances, Your Majesty must put up with it. You may not
provoke him.”
The Emperor bowed and was silent, but the tears fell on his garments.
Suddenly some one came in with the tidings that a force of cavalry,
their sabres glittering in the sun, was approaching to rescue them.
Then they heard the gongs beat and the roll of the drums.
The Emperor sent to find out who it was. But it was Kuo Ssŭ, and the
sadness fell again. Presently arose a great din. For Li had gone out to
do battle with Kuo, whom he abused by name.
“I treated you well and why did you try to kill me?” said Li.
“You are a rebel, why should I not slay you?” cried Kuo.
“You call me rebel when I am guarding the Emperor?”
“You have abducted him; do you call that guarding?”
“Why so many words? Let us forgo a battle and settle the matter in
single combat, the winner to take the Emperor and go.”
They two fought in front of their armies but neither could prevail over
the other. Then they saw Yang Piao come riding up to them, crying,
“Rest a while, O Commanders! for I have invited a party of officers to
arrange a peace.”
Wherefore the two leaders retired to their camps. Soon Yang Piao, Sun
Chʻien and three score other officials came up and went to Kuo’s camp.
They were all thrown into confinement.
“We came with good intentions,” they moaned, “and we are treated like
this.”
“Li Tsʻui has run off with the Emperor but I have got his officers,”
said Kuo.
“What does it mean? One has the Emperor, the other his officers. What
do you want?” said the peace-maker, Yang Piao.
Kuo lost patience and drew his sword, but a certain Yang Mi persuaded
him not to slay the speaker. Then he released Yang Piao and Sun Chʻien;
but kept the others in the camp, “Here are we two officers of the
throne and we cannot help our lord. We have been born in vain,” said
Yang Piao.
Throwing their arms about each other they wept and fell swooning to the
earth. Sun Chʻien went home, fell seriously ill and died.
Thereafter the two adversaries fought every day for nearly three months
each losing many men.
Now Li Tsʻui was irreligious and practised magic. He often called
witches to beat drums and summon spirits, even when in camp. Chia Hsü
used to remonstrate with him, but quite uselessly.
A certain Yang Chi said to the Emperor, “That Chia Hsü, although a
friend of Li’s, never seems to have lost the sense of loyalty to Your
Majesty.”
Soon after Chia Hsü himself arrived. The Emperor sent away his
attendants and said to him weeping the while, “Can you not pity the
Hans and help me?”
Chia prostrated himself, saying, “That is my dearest wish. But, Sire,
say no more, let they servant work out a plan.”
The Emperor dried his tears and soon Li Tsʻui came in. He wore a sword
by his side and strode straight up to the Emperor, whose face became
the colour of clay. Then he spoke.
“Kuo Ssŭ has failed in his duty and imprisoned the court officers. He
wished to slay Your Majesty and you would have been captured but for
me.”
The Emperor joined his hands together in salute and thanked him. He
went away. Before long Huangfu Li entered and the Emperor, knowing him
as a man of persuasive tongue and that he came from the same district
as Li, bade him go to both factions to try to arrange peace. He
accepted the mission and first went to Kuo, who said he was willing to
release the officers if Li Tsʻui would restore the Emperor to full
liberty. He then went to the other side.
To Li he said, “Since I am a Hsiliang man the Emperor and the officers
have selected me to make peace between you and your adversary. He has
consented to cease the quarrel; will you agree to peace?”
“I overthrew Lü Pu; I have upheld the government for four years and
have many great services to my credit as all the world knows. That
other fellow, that horse-thief, has dared to seize the officers of
state and to set himself up against me. I have sworn to slay him. Look
around you. Do you not think my army large enough to break him?”
“It does not follow,” said Huangfu Li. “In ancient days in Yuchʻing,
Hou I, proud of and confident in his archer’s skill, gave no thought to
gathering difficulties and so perished. Lately you yourself have seen
the powerful Tung Cho betrayed by Lü Pu, who had received many benefits
at his hands. In no time his head was hanging over the gate. So you see
mere force is not enough to ensure safety. Now you are a General, with
the axes and whips and all the symbols of rank and high office, your
descendants and all your clan occupy distinguished positions. You must
confess that the State has rewarded you liberally. True, Kuo has seized
the officers of State, but you have done the same to “The Most
Revered.” Who is worse than the other?”
Li angrily drew his sword and shouted, “Did the Son of Heaven send you
to mock and shame me?”
But Yang Fêng checked him. “Kuo Ssŭ is still alive,” said he, “and to
slay the imperial messenger would be giving him a popular excuse to
raise an army against you. And all the nobles would join him.”
Others also persuaded Li and gradually his wrath cooled down. The
messenger of peace was urged to go away. But he would not be satisfied
with failure. He remained there and cried loudly, “Li Tsʻui will not
obey the Emperor’s command. He will kill his Prince to set up himself.”
Hu Miao tried to shut his mouth saying, “Do not utter such words. You
will only bring hurt upon yourself.”
But Huangfu Li shrieked at him also. “You also are an officer of state
and yet you even back up the rebel. When the prince is put to shame the
minister dies. If it be my lot to suffer death at the hands of Li
Tsʻui, so be it!”
And he maintained a torrent of abuse. The Emperor heard of the
incident, called in Huangfu Li and sent him away to his own country.
Now more than half Li Tsʻui’s men were from Hsiliang and he had also
the assistance of the Chʻiang, or tribes beyond the border. The stories
spread by Huangfu Li, that Li Tsʻui was a rebel and so were those who
helped him, and that there would be a day of heavy reckoning, were
readily believed and the soldiers were much disturbed. Li Tsʻui sent
one of his officers to arrest Huangfu Li, but the officer had a sense
of right and instead of carrying out his orders returned to say he
could not be found.
Chia Hsü tried to work on the feelings of the barbarian tribes. He said
to them. “The Emperor knows you are loyal to him and have bravely
fought and suffered. He has issued a secret command for you to go home
and then he will reward you.”
The tribesmen had a grievance against Li Tsʻui for not paying them, so
they listened readily to the insidious persuasions of Chia Hsü and
deserted. Then Chia represented to the Emperor the covetous nature of
Li and asked that honours be heaped upon him now that he was deserted
and enfeebled. So he was raised to the rank of President of a Board of
State. This delighted him greatly and he ascribed his promotion to the
potency of his wise women’s prayers and incantations. He rewarded those
people most liberally.
But his army was forgotten. Wherefore Yang Fêng was angry and he said
to one Sung Kuo, “We have taken all the risks and exposed ourselves to
stones and arrows in his service, yet instead of giving us any reward
he ascribes all the credit to those witches of his.”
“Let us put him out of the way and rescue the Emperor,” said Sung.
“You explode a bomb within as signal and I will attack from outside.”
So the two agreed to act together that very night in the second watch.
But they had been overheard and the eavesdropper told Li Tsʻui. The
traitorous Sung was seized and put to death. That night Yang waited
outside for the signal and while waiting, out came Li himself and found
him. Then a fight began, which lasted till the fourth watch. But Yang
Fêng got away and fled to Hsian (Sian) in the west.
But from this time Li Tsʻui’s army began to fall away and he felt more
than ever the losses caused by Kuo’s frequent attacks. Then came news
that Chang Chi, at the head of a large army, was coming down from the
west to make peace between the two factions. Chang said he would attack
the one who was recalcitrant. Li Tsʻui tried to gain favour by
hastening to send to tell Chang Chi he was ready to make peace. So did
Kuo Ssŭ.
So the strife of the rival factions ended at last and Chang Chi
memorialised asking the Emperor to go to Hungnung near Loyang. He was
delighted saying he had longed to go back to the east. Chang Chi was
rewarded with the title of General of Cavalry and was highly honoured.
He saw to it that the Emperor and the Court had good supplies of
necessaries. Kuo Ssŭ set free all his captive officers and Li Tsʻui
prepared transport for the Court to move to the east. He told off
companies of his veterans to escort the cavalcade.
The progress had been without incident as far as Hsinfung. Near Paling
the west wind of autumn came on to blow with great violence, but soon
above the howling of the gale was heard the trampling of a large body
of horse. They stopped at a bridge and barred the way.
“Who comes?” cried a voice.
“The Imperial Chariot is passing and who dares stop it?” said Yang Chi,
riding forward.
Two leaders advanced, “General Kuo has ordered us to guard the bridge
and stop all spies. You say the Emperor is here; we must see him and
then we will let you pass.” So the beaded curtain was raised and the
Emperor said, “I the Emperor am here. Why do you not retire to let me
pass, Gentlemen?” They all shouted, “Long Life! Long Life!” and fell
away to allow the cortège through.
But when they reported what they had done Kuo was very angry. “I meant
to outwit Chang Chi, seize the Emperor and hold him in Meiwu. Why have
you let him get away?”
He put the two officers to death and set out to pursue the cavalcade,
and overtook it just at Huayin. The noise of a great shouting arose
behind the travellers and a loud voice commanded the chariot to stop.
The Emperor burst into tears.
“Out of the wolf’s den into the tiger’s mouth!” said he.
No one knew what to do, they were all too frightened. But when the
rebel army was just upon them they heard the beating of drums and from
behind some hills came into the open a cohort of soldiers preceded by a
great flag bearing the well known name of that trusted leader, Yang
Fêng.
Now after Yang Fêng’s defeat he had camped under Chungnanshan and had
come up to guard the Emperor as soon as he knew of his journey. Seeing
it was necessary to fight now, he drew up his line of battle and Tsʻui
Jung, one of Kuo’s leaders, rode out and began a volley of abuse. Yang
Fêng turned and said, “Where is Kung-ming?”
In response out came a valiant warrior gripping a heavy battle-axe. He
galloped up on his fleet bay, making directly for Tsʻui Jung, whom he
felled at the first blow. At this the whole force dashed forward and
routed Kuo. The defeated army went back some twenty li, while Yang Fêng
rode forward to see the Emperor who graciously said, “It is a great
service you have rendered; you have saved my life.”
Yang bowed and thanked him and the Emperor asked to see the actual
slayer of the rebel leader. So he was led to the chariot where he bowed
and was presented as “Hsü Huang, also known as Hsü Kung-ming, of
Yangchün.”
Then the cavalcade went forward, Yang Fêng acting as escort as far as
Huayin the halting place for the night. The General there supplied them
with clothing and food and the Emperor passed the night in Yang Fêng’s
camp.
Next day Kuo Ssŭ, having mustered his men, appeared in front of the
camp and Hsü Huang rode out to engage. But Kuo threw his men out so
that they entirely surrounded the camp and the Emperor was in the
middle. The position was very critical, when help appeared in the
person of a galloping horseman from the south-east and the rebels fell
away. Then Hsü Huang smote them and so scored a victory.
When they had time to see their helper they found him to be Tung
Chʻêng, the “State Uncle.” The Emperor wept as he related his sorrows
and dangers.
Said Tung, “Be of good courage, Sire. We pledge ourselves to kill both
the rebels and so purify the world.”
The Emperor bade them travel east as soon as possible and so they went
on night and day till they reached their destination.
Kuo led his defeated army back and meeting Li Tsʻui told him of the
rescue of the Emperor and whither he was going. “If they reach Shantung
and get settled there, they will send out proclamations to the whole
country, calling up the nobles to attack us and we and our families
will be in danger.”
“Chang Chi holds Chʻangan and we must be careful. There is nothing to
prevent a joint attack on Hungnung when we can kill the Emperor and
divide the country between us,” said Li.
Kuo found this a suitable scheme, so their armies came together in one
place and united in plundering the countryside. Wherever they went they
left destruction behind them. Yang and Tung heard of their approach
when they were yet a long way off so they turned back to meet them and
fought the rebels at Tungchien.
The two rebels had previously made their plan. Since the loyal troops
were few as compared with their own horde they would overwhelm them
like a flood. So when the day of battle came they poured out covering
the hills and filling the plains. The two leaders devoted themselves
solely to the protection of the Emperor and the Empress. The officials,
the attendants, the archives and records and all the paraphernalia of
the Court were left to care for themselves. The rebels ravaged
Hungnung, but the two faithful soldiers got the Emperor safely away
into the north of Shênsi.
When the rebels showed signs of pursuit Yang and Tung sent to offer to
discuss terms of peace, at the same time sending a secret edict to
Hotung calling upon the old “White Wave General” Han and Li Yüeh and Hu
Tsʻai for help. Li Yüeh was actually a brigand but the need for help
was desperate.
These three being promised pardon for their faults and crimes and a
grant of official rank, naturally responded to the call and thus the
loyal side was strengthened so that Hungnung was recaptured. But
meanwhile the rebels laid waste whatever place they reached, slaying
the aged and weakly, forcing the strong to join their ranks. When going
into a fight they forced these people-soldiers to the front and they
called them the “Dare-to-die” soldiers.
The rebel force was very strong. When Li Yüeh, the late brigand,
approached, Kuo Ssŭ bade his men scatter clothing and valuables along
the road. The late robbers could not resist the temptation so a
scramble began. The rebels fell upon the disordered ranks and did much
damage. Yang and Tung could not save them so they took the Emperor away
to the north.
But the rebels pursued. Li Yüeh said, “The danger is grave. I pray Your
Majesty to mount a horse and go in advance.”
The Emperor replied, “I cannot bear to abandon my officers.”
They wept and struggled on as best they could. Hu Tsʻai was killed in
one attack. The enemy came very near and the Emperor left his carriage
and went on foot to the river where they sought a boat to ferry him to
the other side. The weather was very cold and the Emperor and Empress
cuddled up close to each other shivering. They reached the river but
the banks were too high and they could not get down into the boat. So
Yang Fêng proposed to fasten together the horses’ bridles and lower
down the Emperor slung by the waist. However, some rolls of white silk
were found and they rolled up the two imperial personages in the silk
and thus they lowered them down near the boat. Then Li Yüeh took up his
position in the prow leaning on his sword. The brother of the Empress
carried her on his back into the boat.
The boat was too small to carry everybody and those unable to get on
board clung to the cable, but Li Yüeh cut them down and they fell into
the water. They ferried over the Emperor and then sent back the boat
for the others. There was a great scramble to get on board and they had
to chop off the fingers and hands of those who persisted in clinging to
the boat.
The lamentation rose to the heavens. When they mustered on the farther
bank many were missing, not a score of the Emperor’s suite were left. A
bullock cart was found in which the Emperor travelled to Tayang. They
had no food and at night sought shelter in a poor, tile-roofed house.
The cottagers gave them some boiled millet but it was too coarse to be
swallowed.
Next day the Emperor conferred titles on those who had protected him so
far and they pushed on. Soon two officers of rank came up with the
cortège and they bowed before His Majesty with many tears. They were
Yang Piao and Han Jung. The Emperor and Empress lifted up their voices
and wept with them.
Said Han Jung to his colleague, “The rebels have confidence in my
words. You stay as guard of the Emperor and I will take my life in my
hands and try to bring about peace.”
After he had gone the Emperor rested for a time in Yang’s camp and then
was requested to make Anihsien the capital. But the town contained not
a single lofty building and the court lived in grass huts devoid even
of doors. They surrounded these with a fence of thorns as a protection,
and within this the Emperor held counsel with his ministers. The
soldiers camped round the fence.
Li Yüeh and his fellow ruffians showed their true colours. They wielded
the powers of the Emperor as they wished and officials who offended
them were beaten or abused even in the presence of the Emperor. They
purposely provided thick wine and coarse food for the Emperor’s
consumption. He struggled to swallow what they sent. Li Yüeh and Han
Hsien joined in recommending to the throne the names of convicts,
common soldiers, sorcerers, leeches and such people who thus obtained
official ranks. There were more than two hundred of such people. As
seals could not be engraved pieces of metal were hammered into some
sort of a shape.
Now Han Jung went to see the two rebels who listened to him and set
free the officials and palace people.
A famine occurred that same year and people were reduced to eating
grass from the roadside. Starving they wandered hither and thither but
food and clothing were sent to the Emperor from the surrounding
districts and the Court began to enjoy a little repose.
Tung Chʻêng and Yang Fêng sent workmen to restore the palaces in Loyang
with the intention of moving the Court thither. Li Yüeh was opposed to
this and when argued with, that Loyang was really the capital as
opposed to the paltry town of Ani, and removal would be but reasonable,
he wound up by saying, “You may get the Court to remove but I shall
remain here.”
But when the consent of the Emperor had been given and a start made Li
Yüeh secretly sent to arrange with Li Tsʻui and Kuo Ssŭ to capture him.
However, this plot leaked out and the escort so arranged as to prevent
such a thing and they pressed on to Chikuan as rapidly as possible. Li
heard this and without waiting for his colleagues to join him set out
to act alone.
About the fourth watch, just as the cavalcade was passing Chikuan, a
voice was heard shouting, “Stop those carriages! Li and Kuo are here.”
This frightened the Emperor greatly and his terror increased when he
saw the whole mountain side suddenly light up.
The rebel party, erstwhile split in twain,
To work their wicked will now join again.
How the Son of Heaven escaped this peril will be told in the next
chapter.