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Then　he　went　to　offer　the　head　of　Niu　Fu　to　Lu　Bu。　Lu　Bu　inquired　into　the　matter；　and　when　a　follower　told　him　the　truth；　he　put　the　double　traitor　Hu　Chier　to　death。
Then　Lu　Bu　advanced　against　the　rebels　and　fell　in　with　Li　Jue's　force。　Without　giving　them　time　to　form　in　battle；　Lu　Bu　attacked。　Horses　curvetting　and　spears　set；　the　army　dashed　in　irresistibly；　and　Li　Jue；　making　no　stand；　fell　back　a　long　way。　Li　Jue　took　up　a　position　under　a　hill　fifteen　miles　away　and　thence　sent　to　call　his　fellows　to　council。

＇e＇　Peng　Yue　（BC　？…196）　a　general　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　close　friends　in　their　native　Pei；　where　Liu　Bang　later　held　a　minor　office。　Ennobled　as　King　of　Liang。　。。。。。
Li　Jue　said；　〃Lu　Bu　though　brave　in　battle　is　no　strategist　and　so　not　really　formidable。　I　will　lead　my　troops　to　hold　the　mouth　of　the　gorge；　and　every　day　I　will　incite　him　to　attack；　and　when　he　es　toward　me；　General　Guo　Si　can　smite　his　rear；　after　the　manner　of　Peng　Yue*　when　he　fought　against　Chu。　While　thus　I　am　alternating　attack　and　retreat；　Generals　Fan　Chou　and　Zhang　Ji　will　march　off　in　different　directions　toward　Changan。　Such　an　attack　at　two　points　must　end　both　Wang　Yun　and　Lu　Bu。〃
They　set　themselves　to　carry　out　this　scheme。　As　soon　as　Lu　Bu　reached　the　hills；　a　force　of　Li　Jue　came　out　to　attack　him。　Lu　Bu　made　an　angry　dash　toward　the　enemy　who　retired　up　the　hills；　whence　they　shot　arrows　and　hurled　stones　like　rain。　Lu　Bu's　troops　halted。　At　this　moment　the　report　came　that　the　rear　was　being　attacked　and　there　appeared　Guo　Si。　At　once　Lu　Bu　wheeled　toward　the　new　enemy；　but　immediately　the　rolling　drums　gave　the　signal　to　retire；　and　Lu　Bu　could　not　e　to　blows　with　them。　As　he　called　in　his　army；　the　gongs　clanged　on　the　other　side　and　his　former　opponent　Li　Jue　came　to　attack　his　front。　But　before　Lu　Bu　could　join　battle；　his　rear　was　again　assaulted　by　Guo　Si；　who　in　his　turn　drew　off　immediately。
Thus　Lu　Bu　was　baited　till　his　bosom　was　near　bursting　with　rage。　The　same　tactics　continued　for　several　days。　He　could　neither　strike　his　enemies　nor　escape　them。　His　troops　had　no　rest。
In　the　midst　of　these　distracting　maneuver；　a　messenger　rode　up　in　hot　haste　to　report：　〃The　capital　is　in　imminent　danger　from　a　double　attack　of　Fan　Chou　and　Zhang　Ji。〃
Lu　Bu　at　once　ordered　a　march　to　save　the　capital；　which　became　a　rout　when　both　his　opponents　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　came　in　pursuit。　His　loss　was　heavy。
He　soon　reached　Changan　and　found　the　rebels　there　in　enormous　numbers　and　the　city　quite　surrounded。　Lu　Bu's　attack　had　but　little　effect；　and　as　his　temper　became　more　savage　under　defeat；　many　of　his　soldiers　went　over　to　the　rebels。
He　fell　into　deep　melancholy。　Then　a　remnant　of　Dong　Zhuo's　adherents　still　in　the　city；　led　by　Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang；　began　to　lend　aid　to　the　attackers；　and　by　and　by　they　secretly　opened　the　city　gate　and　the　besiegers　poured　in。　Lu　Bu　exerted　himself　to　the　utmost　but　could　not　stem　the　tide。　At　the　head　of　some　hundred　horse；　he　dashed　over　to　the　Black　Lock　Gate　and　called　out　to　Wang　Yun；　who　was　on　the　other　side。
〃The　case　is　desperate　now。　Ride　with　me　to　a　place　of　safety！〃
Wang　Yun　replied；　〃If　I　am　gifted　with　the　holy　spirit　of　the　state；　I　shall　succeed　in　restoring　the　tranquillity　which　I　desire。　But　if　I　have　it　not；　then　I　offer　my　body　a　sacrifice。　I　will　not　quail　before　dangers。　Send　my　thanks　to　the　noble　supporters　beyond　the　Pass　for　their　efforts；　and　bid　them　remember　their　country！〃
Lu　Bu　urged　Wang　Yun　again　and　again；　but　Wang　Yun　would　not　leave。　Soon　flames　started　up　all　over　the　city；　and　Lu　Bu　had　to　leave；　abandoning　his　family　to　their　fate。　He　fled　to　seek　refuge　with　Yuan　Shu。
Li　Jue；　Guo　Si；　and　his　fellow　leaders　gave　full　license　to　their　ruffians；　who　robbed　and　murdered　their　fill。　Many　high　officers　perished。　Ministers　Chong　Fu；　Lu　Kui；　and　Zhou　Huan；　Imperial　manders　Cui　Lie　and　Wang　Qin　all　died　in　the　fighting。
In　time　the　rebels　penetrated　to　the　inner　part　of　the　Palace；　and　the　courtiers　begged　the　Emperor　to　proceed　to　the　Gate　of　Pervading　Peace　to　try　to　quell　the　rioting。
At　sight　of　the　yellow　umbrella；　Li　Jue　and　Fan　Chou　checked　their　armies；　and　they　all　shouted；　〃Wan　shui！　Long　life！　O　Emperor！〃
The　Emperor　stood　by　the　tower　and　addressed　them；　〃Nobles；　what　means　it　that　you　enter　the　capital　in　this　unruly　manner　and　without　my　summons？〃
The　two　leaders　looked　up　and　said；　〃Dong　Zhuo；　Your　Majesty's　Prime　Minister；　has　been　slain　by　Wang　Yun；　and　we　are　here　to　avenge　him。　We　are　no　rebels；　Sire。　Let　us　only　have　Wang　Yun；　and　we　draw　off　our　troops。〃
Wang　Yun　was　actually　among　the　courtiers　and　at　the　Emperor's　side。
Hearing　this　demand；　Wang　Yun　said；　〃The　plan　was　made　for　the　benefit　of　the　Throne。　But　as　this　evil　has　grown　therefrom；　Your　Majesty　will　not　grudge　losing　me。　I　have　brought　about　evil；　and　I　will　go　down　to　these　rebels。〃
The　Emperor　was　torn　with　sorrow　and　wavered。　But　the　faithful　minister　leaped　from　the　wall；　crying；　〃Wang　Yun　is　here！〃
The　two　leaders　drew　their　swords；　crying；　〃For　what　crime　was　our　master　slain？〃
〃His　crimes　filled　the　heavens　and　covered　the　earth；　no　tongue　can　tell　them。　The　day　he　died　was　a　day　of　rejoicing　in　the　whole　city　as　you　well　know；〃　said　Wang　Yun。
〃And　if　he　was　guilty　of　some　crime；　what　had　we　done　not　to　be　forgiven？〃
〃Seditious　rebels；　why　bandy　words？　I　am　ready　to　die。〃
And　Wang　Yun　was　slain　at　the　foot　of　the　tower。

Moved　by　the　people's　sufferings；
Vexed　at　his　prince's　grief；
Wang　Yun　passed　the　traitor's　death；
That　they　might　find　relief。
Everyone　knows　him　a　hero；
Leal　to　the　state　always：
Living　he　guarded　the　princely　towers；
His　soul　keeps　guard　today。

Having　done　the　loyal　minister　to　death　at　the　Emperor's　feet；　they　proceeded　to　exterminate　also　his　whole　family。　Everyone　mourned。
Then　said　the　ruffians　to　each　other；　〃Having　gone　so　far；　what　could　be　better　than　to　make　away　with　the　Emperor　and　plete　our　scheme？〃

The　traitor　condoned　his　crime；
Rebellion　ought　to　cease；
But　his　licentious　followers
Disturb　the　empire's　peace。

The　fate　of　the　Emperor　will　be　disclosed　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　10　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　10
　Chapter　10
Gathering　Arms；　Ma　Teng　Moves　To　Rescue　The　Emperor；
manding　An　Army；　Cao　Cao　Marches　to　Avenges　His　Father。
In　the　last　chapter　the　two　arch　rebels；　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　proposed　to　murder　Emperor　Xian；　but　their　followers　Zhang　Ji　and　Fan　Chou　opposed　this。
〃No。　The　people　will　not　approve　of　his　death　now。　Restore　him　to　power；　and　get　the　leaguers　inside　Changan's　control。　Remove　his　supporters；　and　then　we　can　pass　his　death。　And　the　empire　shall　be　in　our　hands。〃
So　they　ceased　the　attack。　The　Emperor　again　spoke　from　the　tower；　saying；　〃Why　do　you　still　remain？　You　have　slain　Wang　Yun：　Now　withdraw　these　soldiers。〃
Then　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　replied；　〃Your　servants　desire　rank　rewards　for　their　good　service　to　your　dynasty。〃
〃And　what　ranks；　Sirs？〃
All　four　wrote　their　wishes　and　handed　them　up　to　the　Emperor　who　had　no　choice　but　to　accede　to　the　request；　and　they　were　created：
Li　Jue　was　appointed　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　Lord　of　Chiyang；　mander　of　Capital　District；　Court　Administrator；　and　granted　Military　Insignia。
Guo　Si　was　appointed　General　of　the　Rear　Army；　Lord　of　Meiyang；　Court　Administrator；　and　granted　Military　Insignia。
Fan　Chou　was　appointed　General　of　the　Right　Army　and　Lord　of　Wanian。
Zhang　Ji　was　appointed　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　and　Lord　of　Pingyan。
Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang；　for　opening　the　city　gates；　were　appointed　Imperial　manders。
After　receiving　ranks　of　nobility；　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　thanked　the　Emperor；　and　went　away　to　camp　at　Xunung；　the　suburb　of　Changan。　The　inferior　rebel　leaders　also　were　gratified　with　ranks。　And　once　more　the　capital　was　free　of　troops。
Dong　Zhuo's　followers；　having　so　far　succeeded；　did　not　forget　their　late　leader。　They　sought　his　corpse　for　burial；　but　only　a　few　fragments　were　discoverable。　Then　they　had　sculptors　engrave　a　statue　of　fragrant　wood　in　his　likeness；　laid　that　out　in　proper　form；　and　instituted　a　noble's　sacrifices　and　prayers。　The　remains　were　dressed　in　the　robes　of　a　prince；　laid　in　a　princely　coffin　for　burial。　They　selected　Meiwo　for　his　tomb　and　having　found　an　auspicious　day　conveyed　the　coffin　thither。
But　a　terrific　thunder　storm　came　on　at　the　time　of　inhumation；　and　the　ground　was　flooded。　The　coffin　was　rived　asunder；　and　the　poor　remains　knocked　out　by　thunders。　A　second　time　they　buried　the　coffin；　but　a　similar　thing　happened　in　the　night。　And　yet　a　third　time　in　another　place　but　the　earth　rejected　the　remains。　Meanwhile　the　thunder…fire　had　entirely　consumed　them。　So　it　may　be　said　justly　that　Heaven　was　exceedingly　angry　with　Dong　Zhuo。
So　now　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　wielded　the　real　power　of　the　scepter；　and　they　were　hard　upon　the　people。　They　also　removed　the　attendants　from　the　Palace　and　replaced　them　by　their　own　creatures；　who　maintained　a　most　perfect　watch　over　every　movement　of　the　Emperor　so　that　he　was　greatly　hampered　and　embarrassed。　All　appointments　and　demotions　were　made　by　the　two　rebels。　For　the　sake　of　popularity　they　especially　summoned　Zhu　Jun　to　court；　made　him　Minister　of　the　Inner　Bureau　and　associated　him　with　the　government。
One　day　came　a　report　that　the　Governor　of　Xiliang；　Ma　Teng；　and　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Bingzhou；　Han　Sui；　with　one　hundred　thousand　troops；　are　rapidly　approaching　the　capital　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　rebels　in　the　name　of　the　Emperor。
Now　these　leaders　from　the　west　had　laid　careful　plans。　Ma　Teng　and　Han　Sui　had　sent　trusty　friends　to　the　capital　to　find　out　who　would　support　them。　They　had　conspired　with　three　officials………Court　Counselors　Ma　Yu　and　Chong　Shao；　and　Imperial　mander　Liu　Fan………to　be　their　inside　allies　and　plot　against　the　rebels。　These　three　obtained　from　the　Throne　two　secret　edicts　conferring　the　ranks　of　mander　Who　Conquers　the　West　on　Ma　Teng　and　mander　Who　Guards　the　West　on　Han　Sui。　With　these　powers　the　two　manders　joined　forces　and　began　their　march。
The　four　leaders　of　the　party　in　power………Li　Jue；　Guo　Si；　Fan　Chou；　and　Zhang　Ji………held　a　consultation　with　their　generals　as　to　how　to　meet　the　attack。
Adviser　Jia　Xu　said；　〃Since　the　attackers　are　ing　from　a　distance；　our　plan　is　to　fortify　and　wait　till　shortage　of　food　shall　work　for　us。　In　a　hundred　days　their　supplies　will　be　consumed；　and　they　must　retire。　We　can　pursue　and　we　shall　capture　them。〃
Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang　rose　and　said；　〃This　plan　is　bad。　Give　us　ten　thousand　troops；　and　we　will　put　an　end　to　both　of　them　and　offer　their　heads　before　your　ensign。〃
〃To　fight　forthwith　means　defeat；〃　said　Jia　Xu。
Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang　cried　with　one　voice；　〃If　we　fail；　we　are　willing　to　lose　our　heads。　But　if　we　win；　then　your　head　is　forfeit。〃
Jia　Xu　then　suggested　to　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　saying；　〃Seventy　miles　west　of　the　capital　stand　the　Zhouzhi　Hills。　The　passes　are　narrow　and　difficult。　Send　Generals　Zhang　Ji　and　Fan　Chou　to　occupy　this　point　of　vantage　and　fortify　themselves　so　that　they　may　support　Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang。〃
Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　accepted　this　advice。　They　told　off　fifteen　thousand　horse　and　foot；　and　Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang　left　in　high　spirit。　They　made　a　camp　ninety　miles　from　Changan。
The　force　from　the　west　arrived。　Ma　Teng　and　Han　Sui　led　out　their　troops　to　the　attack。　They　found　their　opponents　Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang　in　battle　array。
Ma　Teng　and　Han　Sui　rode　to　the　front　side　by　side。　Pointing　to　the　rebel　leaders；　the　manders　abused　them；　crying；　〃Those　are　traitors！　Who　will　capture　them？〃
Hardly　were　the　words　spoken　when　there　came　out　a　youth　general　with　a　clear；　white　plexion　as　jade；　eyes　like　shooting　stars；　lithe　of　body　and　strong　of　limb。　He　was　armed　with　a　long　spear　and　bestrode　an　excellent　steed。　This　young　leader　was　Ma　Chao；　son　of　Ma　Teng；　then　seventeen　years　of　age。
Though　young　he　was　a　supreme　valiance。　Wang　Fang；　despising　him　on　account　of　his　youth；　galloped　forth　to　fight　him。　Before　they　had　exchanged　many　passes　Wang　Fang　was　disabled　and　fell　to　a　thrust　of　the　young　Ma　Chao's　spear。　The　victor　turned　to　retire　into　the　formati