Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Then let us tell how Cao Cao crushed Lü Bu at Dingtao. Lü Bu gathered his battered remnants of an army by the seashore, and his generals all came to join him, wishing to give battle once more to Cao Cao. Chen Gong said, "The forces of Cao are too strong now to contend with. First seek a place to settle; then we can return to this later." Lü Bu said, "What if I go over to Yuan Shao?" Chen Gong said, "First send someone to Jizhou to gather intelligence; then we may go." Lü Bu agreed.

Now Yuan Shao was in Jizhou. When he learned that Cao Cao and Lü Bu were locked in struggle, his adviser Shen Pei came forward and said, "Lü Bu is a jackal and a tiger. If he gains Yanzhou, he will surely set his sights on Jizhou. Better to help Cao Cao attack him, and so rid ourselves of the threat." Yuan Shao thereupon sent Yan Liang with fifty thousand troops to aid Cao Cao. Spies learned this news and reported it with all speed to Lü Bu. Alarmed, Lü Bu consulted with Chen Gong. Gong said, "I hear that Liu Xuande has lately taken possession of Xuzhou; we may go over to him." Lü Bu followed this advice and set out for Xuzhou.

Someone reported this to Xuande. Xuande said, "Lü Bu is a valiant warrior of our time; I should go out to welcome him." Mi Zhu said, "Lü Bu is a wolf and a tiger; he cannot be taken in. If we take him in, he will do us harm." Xuande said, "Was it not Lü Bu who attacked Yanzhou and so delivered us from that trouble? Now he comes to me in dire need—how could he harbor ulterior motives?" Zhang Fei said, "Elder brother, your heart is too kind. Even so, we must be prepared."

Xuande led his retinue out thirty leagues from the city and met Lü Bu. They rode together into the city and proceeded to the prefect's hall, where the courtesies were exchanged and they took their seats. Lü Bu said, "After I and the Minister of Works Wang Yun laid their plan to slay Dong Zhuo, I was caught up in the Li Jue and Guo Si upheaval and drifted about east of the passes. Most of the lords could not abide me. Recently, because of the villain Cao's unrighteousness and his encroachment on Xuzhou—and thanks to Your Lordship's effort in relieving Tao Qian—I attacked Yanzhou to divide his forces. But I fell victim to his treacherous schemes and lost both men and officers. Now I come to Your Lordship, hoping we may together achieve great things. I would know your honored intentions." Xuande said, "The late Inspector Tao has but recently passed, and there is no one to govern Xuzhou. For that reason I was charged with the temporary administration. Now that you have come, it is right that I should yield the office to you." He then presented the seals and credentials to Lü Bu. Lü Bu was about to accept them when he noticed that behind Xuande, Lord Guan and Zhang Fei both wore expressions of anger. Lü Bu forced a laugh and said, "Surely Lü Bu is merely a brave fellow—how could he serve as a provincial governor?" Xuande pressed the offer again. Chen Gong said, "'A strong guest does not overpower his host.' I pray Your Lordship have no doubts." Only then did Xuande desist. A feast was prepared, and quarters were arranged for Lü Bu and his retinue.

The next day, Lü Bu returned the invitation and asked Xuande to be his guest. Xuande went with Lord Guan and Zhang Fei. When the wine had gone around and all were in good spirits, Lü Bu invited Xuande into the inner chamber. Lord Guan and Zhang Fei followed. Lü Bu had his wife and daughter come out to pay their respects to Xuande. Xuande repeatedly declined with modesty. Lü Bu said, "Worthy younger brother, there is no need to refuse." When Zhang Fei heard this, he glared fiercely and bellowed, "My elder brother is of royal stock—what manner of man are you, that you dare call him 'younger brother'! Come out! I shall fight you three hundred rounds!" Xuande quickly restrained him, and Lord Guan persuaded Zhang Fei to withdraw. Xuande said to Lü Bu, "My unworthy younger brother spoke in drunken rashness; I pray you, brother, will not take offense." Lü Bu said nothing. Presently the feast ended. As Lü Bu saw Xuande to the gate, Zhang Fei came galloping up with his spear leveled, shouting, "Lü Bu! I shall fight you three hundred rounds!" Xuande hastily ordered Lord Guan to restrain him.

The next day Lü Bu came to take his leave of Xuande. "I am grateful that Your Lordship has not cast me off," he said, "but I fear your younger brothers cannot tolerate me. I will seek refuge elsewhere." Xuande said, "If you depart, the fault is mine indeed. My unworthy brother was discourteous; another day I will make him apologize. Nearby there is Xiaopei, where I once stationed troops. If you do not disdain it as too humble, you might rest your horses there for the time being. As for provisions and military supplies, I shall see to them." Lü Bu thanked Xuande and led his army to Xiaopei to settle. For his part, Xuande went to reproach Zhang Fei, but that is not told here.

Let us now tell how, after Cao Cao had pacified the region east of the mountains, he memorialized the court and was appointed General Who Builds Virtue and Marquis of Feiting. At this time Li Jue styled himself Grand Marshal, and Guo Si styled himself Grand General. They acted without restraint, and no one in court dared to speak against them. Grand Commandant Yang Biao and Minister of Agriculture Zhu Jun secretly petitioned Emperor Xian: "Cao Cao now commands more than two hundred thousand troops, with dozens of counsellors and officers. If we could enlist this man to uphold the dynasty and purge the treacherous faction, it would be a great blessing for the realm." The Emperor wept, "I have long been oppressed by those two villains. If they could be destroyed, it would indeed be a great blessing." Yang Biao said, "I have a plan to set the two villains at each other's throats; then we may summon Cao Cao with his army to destroy them, sweep away the traitors, and bring peace to the court." The Emperor said, "How would this be done?" Yang Biao said, "I have heard that Guo Si's wife is exceedingly jealous. If we send someone to sow dissension with Guo Si's wife, the two villains will destroy each other."

The Emperor then wrote a secret edict and gave it to Yang Biao. Biao at once sent his wife, on a pretext, into Guo Si's residence. Seizing a moment alone, she said to Guo Si's wife, "I hear that General Guo has been intimate with the wife of Grand Marshal Li—and the affair is a close one. If the Grand Marshal learns of it, disaster will surely follow. You would do well to cut off all contact." Guo Si's wife was astonished. "It is strange that he has stayed out all night—and to think he would stoop to such shameless conduct! Had you not told me, Lady, I would never have known. I must be on my guard." Biao's wife took her leave, and Guo Si's wife thanked her repeatedly before parting.

Several days later, Guo Si was about to go to Li Jue's residence for a banquet. His wife said, "Jue is unpredictable, and two strong powers cannot stand side by side. If he should poison the wine, what then?" Guo Si would not listen. His wife pleaded with him repeatedly and at last prevailed upon him to stay. That evening, Li Jue sent a banquet. Guo Si's wife secretly poisoned the food before presenting it. Guo Si was about to eat when his wife said, "Food that comes from outside—how can you eat it without caution?" She first tested it on a dog, and the dog died on the spot. From that day forward, Guo Si harbored suspicions.

One day, after court was dismissed, Li Jue earnestly invited Guo Si to his home for a banquet. When the feast ended at night, Guo Si returned home in a drink, and happened to suffer from stomach pain. His wife said, "You must have been poisoned!" She quickly ordered him to be forced to drink excrement juice; after vomiting once, he finally recovered. Guo Si flew into a rage and said, "Li Jue and I are plotting great affairs together, yet now he wants to murder me for no reason. If I do not strike first, I will certainly fall victim to his poison." He then secretly assembled his troops, intending to attack Li Jue. Someone quickly reported this to Li Jue. Li Jue also flew into a rage and said, "How dare Guo Yaduo behave like this!" He then mobilized his own troops to kill Guo Si. A chaotic battle ensued outside the walls, and the soldiers took the opportunity to plunder the residents.

Li Jue's nephew, Li Xian, led troops to surround the palace compound. He used two carriages: one to carry the Emperor and the other to carry Empress Fu. He had Jia Xu and Zuo Ling supervise and escort the imperial carriage; the remaining palace attendants and eunuchs all had to travel on foot. They were escorted out through the Rear Gate, where they happened to encounter Guo Si's troops. A volley of arrows was fired indiscriminately, killing an untold number of palace attendants. Li Jue then came up and attacked; Guo Si's troops retreated. The imperial carriage ventured out of the city under great danger and, without any choice, was taken straight to Li Jue's camp. Guo Si led his troops into the palace, seizing all the palace ladies and maidens of the haren and taking them to his camp, then setting fire to the palace halls. The next day, Guo Si learned that Li Jue had abducted the Son of Heaven and led his army to fight before Li Jue's camp. The Emperor and Empress were both thrown into terror and alarm. A later poet lamented this with a poem:

The Guangwu Emperor revived the Han, its line of succession twelve emperors long.

But Huan and Ling were without the Way, the ancestral temple fell, and eunuch ministers seized power in the final age.

He Jin, without strategy, was made one of the Three Dukes, wishing to remove the temple rats but summoning instead treacherous heroes.

Though the badgers and otters were driven out, the wolves and tigers entered; in Xizhou arose rebellious scoundrels of lust and violence.

Wang Yun entrusted his loyal heart to a crimson beauty, causing Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu to fall into conflict.

When the chieftain was destroyed, the world found peace—who knew that Li and Guo still nursed resentment in their hearts?

The Central Plains were overgrown with thorns, what could be done? The six palaces starved and grieved at the wars of arms.

When the hearts of the people are estranged, the Mandate of Heaven departs; heroes carve up the realm, dividing mountains and rivers.

Let later kings take this as a warning and remain diligent in their duties, never treating the golden bowl of empire as a thing to be carelessly broken.

The common people are crushed to paste and their brains smeared on the ground; the remnant mountains and leftover waters are soaked with resentful blood.

I read the surviving histories and cannot contain my grief; past and present stretch endlessly, and I sigh over the millet ears of sorrow.

The ruler must heed the warning of the mulberry roots' frailty—who holds the Great Sword to preserve the whole fabric of governance?

Now then, Guo Si's troops arrived, and Li Jue came out of his camp to meet them in battle. Guo Si's army fared poorly and temporarily withdrew. Li Jue then moved the Emperor and Empress's carriage to Mei Fortress, placing his nephew Li Xian in charge of guarding them. He cut off the inner court attendants; food and drink were no longer supplied, and the attending officials all showed signs of hunger. The Emperor sent someone to ask Li Jue for five hu of rice and five sets of cattle bones to bestow upon his attendants. Li Jue angrily said, "I provide the Emperor's meals morning and evening—what more does he want?" He then gave them rotten meat and decayed grain, all so putrid they could not be eaten. The Emperor cursed, "Rebel scoundrel, how dare you treat us with such contempt!" Yang Biao, a Palace Attendant, quickly memorialized, "Li Jue is by nature cruel and violent; matters have reached this point. Your Majesty must endure it for now and not provoke his sharp edge." The Emperor then hung his head in silence, his sleeves soaked with tears.

Suddenly the attendants reported, "There is a body of troops approaching, their spears and blades reflecting the sun, their gongs and drums shaking the heavens, coming to rescue the Emperor's carriage." The Emperor made inquiries and learned it was Guo Si. The Emperor's heart turned to sorrow instead. Just then, a great clamor arose outside the fortress. It turned out that Li Jue had led his troops out to meet Guo Si. He pointed his whip at Guo Si and cursed, "I have treated you generously—how dare you try to murder me?" Guo Si replied, "You are a rebel scoundrel—why should I not kill you?" Li Jue said, "I am guarding the Emperor's carriage here—how am I a rebel?" Guo Si said, "This is abducting the Emperor—how is it guarding him?" Li Jue said, "No need for many words! Let neither of us use soldiers—let us fight hand-to-hand to decide the victor. The winner shall take the Emperor." The two then fought before the lines. After ten bouts, neither had prevailed. Then Yang Biao came galloping up and shouted, "Gentlemen, rest a moment! This old man has specially invited the officials to come and make peace between you." Li Jue and Guo Si then each returned to their own camps.

Yang Biao and Zhu Jun gathered over sixty court officials and first went to Guo Si's camp to urge peace. Guo Si actually imprisoned all the officials. The officials said, "We came with good intentions—why do you treat us this way?" Guo Si replied, "Li Jue abducts the Son of Heaven—and I cannot abduct the ministers?" Yang Biao said, "One abducts the Son of Heaven, the other abducts the ministers—what is the intention behind this?" Guo Si flew into a rage and drew his sword, intending to kill Yang Biao. The Gentleman-of-the-Palace Yang Mi strongly urged against it, so Guo Si released Yang Biao and Zhu Jun, detaining the rest in his camp. Yang Biao said to Zhu Jun, "As ministers of the state, unable to assist the ruler and save the lord—we have lived in vain between heaven and earth!" Having spoken, they embraced each other and wept, then fainted to the ground. Zhu Jun returned home, fell ill, and died. From this point on, Li Jue and Guo Si fought every day, for over fifty consecutive days, and the number of dead was beyond counting.

Now then, Li Jue was in the habit of favoring sorcerous and occult practices; he constantly had priestesses beat drums and summon spirits in the camp. Jia Xu repeatedly admonished him but he would not listen. The Palace Attendant Yang Qi secretly memorialized the Emperor, "I observe that although Jia Xu is Li Jue's trusted confidant, in truth he has never forgotten his sovereign. Your Majesty should plot with him." Even as they were speaking, Jia Xu arrived. The Emperor dismissed the attendants, wiped his tears, and said to Jia Xu, "Can you pity the Han dynasty and save my life?" Jia Xu prostrated himself on the ground and said, "That is indeed my wish. Your Majesty, say no more—I will devise a plan on my own." The Emperor wiped away his tears and thanked him.

Shortly afterward, Li Jue came for an audience, entering with his sword. The Emperor turned ashen. Li Jue said to the Emperor, "Guo Si is disobedient—he has imprisoned the ministers and intends to abduct Your Majesty. Were it not for me, Your carriage would have been seized." The Emperor bowed and thanked him, and Li Jue then left. At that time, Huangfu Li entered to see the Emperor. The Emperor knew that Huangfu Li was eloquent and also a fellow townsman of Li Jue, so he issued an edict sending him to mediate between the two sides. Huangfu Li received the edict and went to Guo Si's camp to persuade him. Guo Si said, "If Li Jue sends out the Son of Heaven, I will release the ministers."

Huangfu Li then went to see Li Jue and said, "The Son of Heaven, knowing that I am a man of Xiliang and a fellow townsman of yours, has specially sent me to persuade you and Guo Si to make peace. Guo Si has already accepted the imperial decree. What is your intention?"

Li Jue said, "I have the great merit of defeating Lü Bu and have assisted in governing the state for four years, with many achievements to my credit known throughout the land. Guo Yadu is nothing but a horse thief, yet he dared to seize the ministers by force and oppose me—I am resolved to destroy him! Just observe my strategy and my troops and soldiers—are they not sufficient to vanquish Guo Yadu?"

Huangfu Li replied, "Not so. In ancient times, Hou Yi of Youqiong relied on his skill in archery and gave no thought to calamity, which led to his destruction. More recently, the great power of Grand Preceptor Dong—you yourself witnessed it with your own eyes. Lü Bu received his favor yet turned against him, and in the space of a moment, Dong's head hung above the capital gate. Thus strength alone is not to be relied upon. You, General, hold the rank of supreme commander, bearing the great axe and the imperial staff of authority; your sons, grandsons, and kinsmen all occupy illustrious positions—the state's favor toward you cannot be called meager. Now Guo Yadu has seized the ministers, but you have seized the Most Exalted One—which is the lighter offense and which the heavier?"

Li Jue flew into a rage, drew his sword, and roared, "Has the Son of Heaven sent you to insult me? I shall cut off your head first!" Yang Feng, Commandant of Cavalry, remonstrated, saying, "Guo Si has not yet been eliminated, and if you kill the Emperor's envoy, then Guo Si will have a just cause to raise his troops, and all the lords will rally to his side." Jia Xu also urged him strongly, and Li Jue's anger abated somewhat. Jia Xu then escorted Huangfu Li out.

Huangfu Li cried out loudly, "Li Jue refuses the imperial decree—he wishes to murder the Emperor and set himself up as ruler!" Hu Miao, a Palace Attendant, hastily restrained him, saying, "Do not speak such words! I fear it will bring harm upon yourself." Huangfu Li rebuked him, saying, "Hu Jingcai! You too are a minister of the court—how can you side with rebels? 'When the ruler is dishonored, the minister dies.' If I am killed by Li Jue, it is my duty!" He cursed without cease. The Emperor, learning of this, hastily ordered Huangfu Li to return to Xiliang.

Now Li Jue's army was composed largely of men from Xiliang, and he relied heavily on Qiang auxiliaries. But Huangfu Li had spread word among the people of Xiliang, saying, "Li Jue plots rebellion—those who follow him are partisans of the rebels, and their future troubles will be no small matter." Many of the Xiliang people heeded his words, and the army's morale gradually crumbled. When Li Jue heard of what Huangfu Li had said, he was furious and sent Wang Chang, an Imperial Guard, to pursue him. Wang Chang knew that Huangfu Li was a man of loyalty and righteousness, and in the end he did not pursue him, but merely reported back, "Huangfu Li has disappeared—no one knows where he has gone." Jia Xu also secretly instructed the Qiang people, saying, "The Son of Heaven knows of your loyalty and righteousness and your long hardships in battle. He has issued a secret decree ordering you to return to your commanderies, and you will be richly rewarded later." The Qiang people had long resented Li Jue for not granting them titles and rewards, so they heeded Jia Xu's words and all led their troops away.

Jia Xu then secretly memorialized the Emperor, saying, "Li Jue is greedy but lacks strategy. Now his troops are scattered and their hearts fearful—he may be lured with high rank and title." The Emperor accordingly issued an edict appointing Li Jue as Grand Marshal. Li Jue was overjoyed and said, "This is the power of the sorceress who descended the gods in prayer!" He richly rewarded the sorceress but gave no rewards to his officers and soldiers. Yang Feng, Commandant of Cavalry, was furious and said to Song Guo, "We have risked our lives, facing arrows and stones, yet our merit is less than that of a sorceress?" Song Guo said, "Why not kill this villain and save the Son of Heaven?" Yang Feng said, "You set fire to the central camp as a signal, and I will lead troops outside to respond." The two agreed to act on that night at the second watch. But the plot was not kept secret—someone reported it to Li Jue. Li Jue was enraged and ordered Song Guo seized and killed at once. Yang Feng led his troops outside but saw no signal fire. Li Jue personally led his forces out and encountered Yang Feng; they fought confusedly in the camp until the fourth watch. Yang Feng, unable to prevail, led his army away to Xi'an. From this time, Li Jue's military power gradually declined. Moreover, Guo Si frequently attacked him, and many were killed. Then a messenger came and reported, "Zhang Ji has led a great army from Shaanxi and wishes to make peace between you two. He declares that if you do not comply, he will attack with his forces." Li Jue thought it best to do Zhang Ji a favor and first sent a man to Zhang Ji's camp to agree to peace. Guo Si also had no choice but to consent. Zhang Ji submitted a memorial requesting that the Emperor proceed to Hongnong. The Emperor was delighted and said, "I have long yearned for the eastern capital. Now to return there by this means is a stroke of supreme fortune!" He issued an edict appointing Zhang Ji as General of Flying Cavalry. Zhang Ji provided grain, wine, and meat to supply the officials. Guo Si released the ministers from his camp. Li Jue made preparations for the imperial carriage to travel east, dispatching several hundred of the old Imperial Guard with halberds to escort it.

The imperial carriage passed Xin Feng and arrived at Ba Ling. It was autumn, and a sudden wind arose. Suddenly a great shouting was heard, and several hundred soldiers came to the bridge and barred the way. They called out sternly, "Who goes there?" Yang Qi, a Palace Attendant, rode up to the bridge and said, "The sacred carriage passes here—who dares to bar its way?" Two generals stepped forward and said, "We act on General Guo's orders, guarding this bridge to prevent spies. Since you say it is the sacred carriage, we must see the Emperor in person before we can believe it." Yang Qi lifted the beaded curtain high. The Emperor said, "I am here. Why do you not withdraw?" All the generals cried "Ten thousand years!" and drew aside to both sides, and the carriage was able to pass.

The two generals reported back to Guo Si, saying, "The imperial carriage has already gone." Guo Si said, "I intended to trick Zhang Ji and then seize the carriage and enter Mei Wu again—how could you let it pass without authorization?" He had the two generals beheaded and set off with his troops in pursuit. The imperial carriage had just reached Hua Yin County when a deafening shout rose from behind: "The imperial carriage must not move!" The Emperor wept and said to his ministers, "We have just escaped the wolf's den only to encounter the tiger's jaws—what are we to do?" All turned pale. As the rebel forces drew near, there suddenly came the sound of drums, and from behind a mountain a general emerged, with a great banner before him bearing the four characters "Yang Feng of the Great Han," leading over a thousand troops to attack. Now Yang Feng, having been defeated by Li Jue, had led his army to encamp at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain; hearing that the Emperor had arrived, he had come specially to protect him.

The armies drew up their formations in battle array. Guo Si's general Cui Yong rode out, cursing Yang Feng as a rebel traitor. Yang Feng flew into a rage and, turning back toward his formation, called out: "Where is Gongming?" At once a general wielding a great battle axe galloped forth on his Hua Liu steed and charged straight at Cui Yong. The two horses met; in a single exchange Cui Yong was cut down from his saddle. Yang Feng seized the moment and pressed the attack. Guo Si's army was utterly routed, retreating more than twenty li. Yang Feng then drew off his forces and came to pay his respects to the Son of Heaven. The Emperor said in consolation, "You have saved Us from peril. No small service is this!" Yang Feng touched his head to the ground in gratitude.

The Emperor asked, "Who was it that just cut down the enemy general?" Yang Feng led the general forward to pay his respects beneath the imperial carriage. "This man is from Hedong, Yang Commandery," he said. "His surname is Xu, his given name Huang, and his style name Gongming." The Emperor spoke words of comfort to him. Yang Feng escorted the Emperor to Huayin, where he took up residence. General Duan Wei presented garments, food, and provisions. That night the Son of Heaven lodged in Yang Feng's encampment.

Guo Si, having suffered defeat, mustered his army again the following day and advanced to the camp. Xu Huang rode out in the vanguard. Guo Si's great host came surging in from all eight directions, surrounding the Son of Heaven and Yang Feng at the very center. At this moment of gravest peril, a great clamor rose from the southeast. A general led his troops galloping in to the attack. The rebel soldiers scattered in flight. Xu Huang pressed his advantage and dealt Guo Si's army a crushing defeat. The general came forward to pay his respects to the Son of Heaven. It was Dong Cheng, a kinsman by marriage of the imperial house. The Emperor wept as he recounted what had befallong. Dong Cheng said, "Let Your Majesty set aside all worry. This vassal and General Yang swear to slay both traitors and bring peace to the realm." The Emperor commanded that they make haste toward the eastern capital. The imperial carriage set out that very night, proceeding to Hongnong.

Now when Guo Si's defeated troops fell back, they encountered Li Jue. Guo Si told him: "Yang Feng and Dong Cheng have rescued the Emperor and gone to Hongnong. If they reach Shandong and establish a firm footing, they will certainly issue proclamations throughout the realm and order all the regional lords to march against us together. Not even our three clans will be spared." Li Jue replied: "At present Zhang Ji's forces hold Chang'an; we cannot act lightly. Let us seize the opportunity to join our armies and go to Hongnong, kill the Lord of Han, and divide the empire between us. What could be wrong with that?" Guo Si gladly agreed. The two joined their forces and, as they marched, plundered everything along the way, leaving nothing behind them. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng, learning that the rebel troops had come from afar, drew their forces back and engaged the rebels in a great battle at Dongjian.

Li Jue and Guo Si took counsel together. "They are few and we are many," they said. "We can only overwhelm them through sheer force of numbers." Li Jue took the left flank and Guo Si the right, their troops covering the hills and valleys as they came swarming in. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng fought desperately on both sides, barely managing to protect the Emperor and Empress's carriage as it broke free. The officials and palace attendants, the imperial seals, registers, archives, and all the paraphernalia of the throne were abandoned entirely. Guo Si led his troops into Hongnong to plunder. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng escorted the Emperor north of the Yellow River, while Li Jue and Guo Si divided their forces in pursuit. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng on the one hand sent envoys to Li Jue and Guo Si to sue for peace, and on the other hand secretly dispatched an imperial edict to Hedong, urgently summoning the former White Wave leaders Han Xian, Li Le, and Hu Cai to bring their armies to the rescue. Li Le was himself a bandit who had gathered followers in the mountains and forests, and he was summoned only as a last resort. When the three armies received the Emperor's pardon and the offer of official posts, how could they refuse to come? They mustered their troops and joined forces with Dong Cheng, then advanced together to retake Hongnong.

By this time, wherever Li Jue and Guo Si's armies went they plundered the common people, killing the old and weak and conscripting the strong. In battle they drove the militia before them, calling them the "Army of the Desperate." Their forces were vast and formidable. Li Le's army arrived and rendezvous was made at Weiyang. Guo Si ordered his soldiers to throw clothing and goods along the road. Li Le's troops saw garments strewn everywhere and scrambled to seize them, their formations completely breaking apart. Li Jue and Guo Si's two armies attacked from all sides in a confused melee, and Li Le's forces were utterly routed. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng could not hold them back. They escorted the Emperor northward, with the rebel armies in hot pursuit behind them. Li Le said, "The situation is desperate! Please, Your Majesty, mount a horse and go on ahead!" The Emperor replied, "I cannot abandon my officials and flee alone."

All the courtiers wept and followed in attendance. Hu Cai was killed by the disordered troops. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng, seeing the rebels pressing close, begged the Emperor to abandon the carriage and proceed on foot to the bank of the Yellow River. Li Le and the others found a small boat to serve as a ferry. It was the depth of winter. The Emperor and Empress were helped with great difficulty to the riverbank. The bank was high and they could not get down into the boat, while the pursuing soldiers were nearly upon them. Yang Feng said, "Unhitch the horses' reins and tie them together fasten them around the Emperor's waist, and lower him down into the boat." From among the crowd, the Empress's father, Fu De, who had managed to seize a dozen bolts of white silk from among the rebel troops, said, "I picked up this silk amid the chaos. It can be tied together to haul the carriage." The Commandant of the Escort, Shang Hong, wrapped the Emperor and Empress in the silk and ordered the men to lower them down first, and so they were brought safely into the boat. Li Le stood at the prow of the boat with sword in hand. The Empress's elder brother, Fu De, carried the Empress down into the boat. Those on the bank who could not get into the boat fought over the mooring ropes. Li Le hacked them all into the water. After the Emperor and Empress had crossed, the boat was sent back to ferry the others. Those who fought to get aboard had their fingers cut off. The sound of weeping shook the heavens.

Once they had crossed to the far bank, barely ten people remained at the Emperor's side. Yang Feng found an ox-cart and loaded the Emperor into it, conveying him to Dayang. They had no food. That evening they lodged in a tiled hut. A village elder brought millet rice, and the Emperor and Empress shared it together, but it was so coarse they could hardly swallow it. The following day the Emperor issued an edict appointing Li Le General Who Conquers the North and Han Xian General Who Conquers the East, and the imperial carriage set out once more. Two great ministers came in pursuit and wept as they prostrated themselves before the carriage: they were the Grand Commandant Yang Biao and the Minister of Transport Han Rong. The Emperor and Empress both wept. Han Rong said: "The two traitors Li Jue and Guo Si place some trust in this vassal's words. This vassal will risk his life to persuade the two traitors to cease hostilities. May Your Majesty take good care of the Dragon Body."

After Han Rong departed, Li Le invited the Emperor to lodge temporarily in Yang Feng's camp. Yang Biao requested that the Emperor make his capital in Anyi County. When the carriage reached Anyi, they found no proper buildings; the Emperor and Empress both dwelt in thatched huts. There were no doors to close; thorns were planted on all four sides as a barrier. The Emperor and his ministers held counsel beneath the thatched roof, while the generals stationed their troops beyond the hedge to maintain order. Li Le and the others seized power for themselves. If the slightest offense was given by any official, they would beat and curse them openly before the Emperor. They deliberately sent the Emperor sour wine and coarse food, which the Emperor was forced to accept with what grace he could. Li Le and Han Xian jointly petitioned on behalf of over two hundred tattooed convicts, private retainers, shamans, physicians, and common soldiers, all of whom were appointed as commandants, imperial inspectors, and the like. There was no time to cast official seals, so they were scratched out with an awl. It was altogether a travesty of proper governance.

Han融 had managed to persuade the two bandits Li Jue and Guo Si to release the officials and palace attendants. That year brought a terrible famine. The common people ate only wild herbs, and the starving dead lay scattered across the fields. Zhang Yang, governor of Henei, offered rice and meat; Wang Yi, governor of Hedong, offered silk and cloth. The Emperor was able at last to find some peace.

Dong Cheng and Yang Feng took counsel together. On the one hand they sent men to repair the palace at Luoyang, intending to escort the imperial carriage back to the eastern capital. Li Le disagreed. Dong Cheng said to him, "Luoyang is the place where the Son of Heaven originally established his capital. Anyi is a small territory—how can it accommodate the imperial carriage? To escort His Majesty back to Luoyang is the proper course."

Li Le replied, "You escort the carriage wherever you wish. I shall remain here."

Cheng and Feng therefore set out with the imperial carriage. Li Le secretly sent men to make contact with Li Jue and Guo Si, so that together they might seize the Emperor. Dong Cheng, Yang Feng, and Han Xian learned of the plot. That very night they deployed their soldiers and escorted the imperial carriage in haste toward Jiguan Pass. Li Le, upon hearing of this, did not wait for the troops of Jue and Si to arrive but led his own men in pursuit.

Sometime after the fourth watch, he caught up with them at the foot of Ji Mountain and shouted, "The imperial carriage must not proceed! Li Jue and Guo Si are here!" The Emperor was struck with terror. Flames blazed up all across the mountain. Truly it was as the verse says:

Before, the two bandits were divided;

Now the three bandits are united as one.

How the Son of Heaven of Han escaped this peril, listen to the next chapter.