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The Emperor bowed and was silent； but the tears fell on his garments。 Suddenly someone came in with the tidings that a force of cavalry； their sabers 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 Guo Si； and the sadness fell again。 Presently arose a great din。 For Li Jue had gone out to do battle with Guo Si； whom he abused by name。
〃I treated you well； and why did you try to kill me？〃 said Li Jue。
〃You are a rebel； why should I not slay you？〃 cried Guo Si。
〃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 bat； the winner to take the Emperor and go。〃
The two generals fought in front of their armies； but neither could prevail over the other。
Then they saw Yang Biao e riding up to them； crying； 〃Rest a while； O manders！ For I have invited a party of officers to arrange a peace。〃
Wherefore the two leaders retired to their camps。 Soon Yang Biao； Zhu Jun； and sixty other officials came up and went to Guo Si's camp。 They were all thrown into confinement。
〃We came with good intentions；〃 they moaned； 〃and we are treated like this。〃
〃Li Jue has run off with the Emperor； I have to have the officers；〃 said Guo Si。
〃What does it mean？ One has the Emperor； the other his officers。 What do you want？〃 said Yang Biao。
Guo Si lost patience and drew his sword； but mander Yang Mi persuaded him not to slay the speaker。 Then Guo Si released Yang Biao and Zhu Jun 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 Biao to Zhu Jun。
Throwing their arms about each other； they wept and fell swooning to the earth。 Zhu Jun went home； fell seriously ill and died。
Thereafter the two adversaries fought every day for nearly three months； each losing many soldiers。
Now Li Jue was irreligious and practiced magic。 He often called witches to beat drums and summon spirits； even when in camp。 Jia Xu used to remonstrate with him； but quite uselessly。
Yang Qi said to the Emperor； 〃That Jia Xu； although a friend of Li Jue； never seems to have lost the sense of loyalty to Your Majesty。〃
Soon after Jia Xu himself arrived。
The Emperor sent away his attendants and said to Jia Xu； weeping the while； 〃Can you not pity the Hans and help me？〃
Jia Xu prostrated himself； saying； 〃That is my dearest wish。 But； Sire； say no more： Let thy servant work out a plan。〃
The Emperor dried his tears； and soon Li Jue came in。 He wore a sword by his side and strode straight up to the Emperor； whose face became the color of clay。
Then Li Jue spoke； 〃Guo Si 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 Li Jue。 Li Jue went away。
Before long Huangfu Li entered。 The Emperor； knowing him as a man of persuasive tongue and that he came from the same county as Li Jue； bade him go to both factions to try to arrange peace。
Huangfu Li accepted the mission and first went to Guo Si； who said； 〃I would release the officers if Li Jue would restore the Emperor to full liberty。〃
Huangfu Li then went to the other side。 To Li Jue he said； 〃Since I am a Xiliang man； the Emperor and the officers have selected me to make peace between you and your adversary。 Guo Si has consented to cease the quarrel。 Will you agree to peace？〃
〃I overthrew Lu Bu； 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 Youqiong； Hou Yi； proud of and confident in his archer's skill； gave no thought to others and governed alone； and he so perished。 Lately you yourself have seen the powerful Dong Zhuo betrayed by Lu Bu； who had received many benefits at his hands。 In no time Dong Zhuo's 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； Guo Si has seized the officers of state； but you have done the same to the 'Most Revered。' Who is worse than the other？〃
Li Jue angrily drew his sword and shouted； 〃Did the Son of Heaven send you to mock and shame me？〃
But his mander； Yang Feng； checked him。
〃Guo Si is still alive；〃 said Yang Feng； 〃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。〃
Jia Xu also persuaded Li Jue； and gradually his wrath cooled down。 Huangfu Li was urged to go away。
But Huangfu Li would not be satisfied with failure。 As he went out of the camp； he cried loudly； 〃Li Jue will not obey the Emperor's mand。 He will kill his prince to set up himself！〃
Counselor Hu Miao tried to shut Huangfu Li's mouth； saying； 〃Do not utter such words。 You will only bring hurt upon yourself。〃
But Huangfu Li shrieked at him also； saying； 〃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。 That is our code。 If it be my lot to suffer death at the hands of Li Jue； so be it！〃
And Huangfu Li maintained a torrent of abuse。 The Emperor heard of the incident； called in Huangfu Li and sent him away to his own country Xiliang。
Now more than half Li Jue's troops were from Xiliang； and he had also the assistance of the Qiangs； the northern tribespeople beyond the border。 When Huangfu Li spread that Li Jue was a rebel and so were those who helped him； and that there would be a day of heavy reckoning； those stories disturbed the soldiers。
Li Jue sent one of his officers； General Wang Chan of the Tiger Army； to arrest Huangfu Li； but Wang Chan had a sense of right and esteemed Huangfu Li as an honorable man。 Instead of carrying out the orders； Wang Chan returned to say Huangfu Li could not be found。
Jia Xu tried to work on the feelings of the barbarian tribes。 He said to them； 〃The Son of Heaven knows you are loyal to him and have bravely fought and suffered。 He has issued a secret mand for you to go home； and then he will reward you。〃
The tribesmen had a grievance against Li Jue for not paying them； so they listened readily to the insidious persuasions of Jia Xu and deserted。
Then Jia Xu advised the Emperor； 〃Li Jue is covetous in nature。 He is deserted and enfeebled。 A high office should be granted to him to lead him astray。〃
So the Emperor officially appointed Li Jue Regent Marshal。 This delighted him greatly； and he ascribed his promotion to the potency of his wise witches' prayers and incantations。 He rewarded those people most liberally。
But his army was forgotten。 Wherefore his mander； Yang Feng； was angry。
Yang Feng said to General Song Guo； 〃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 Song Guo。
〃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 Jue。 Song Guo was seized and put to death。 That night Yang Feng waited outside for the signal and while waiting； out came Li Jue himself。 Then a melee began； which lasted till the fourth watch。 But Yang Feng got away and fled to Xian。
But from this time Li Jue's army began to fall away； and he felt more than ever the losses caused by Guo Si's frequent attacks。 Then came news that Zhang Ji； at the head of a large army； was ing down from Shanxi to make peace between the two factions。 Zhang Ji vowed he would attack the one who was recal