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When　they　had　time　to　see　their　helper；　they　found　him　to　be　Dong　Cheng；　the　uncle　of　the　Emperor　or　the　〃State　Uncle〃。　The　Emperor　wept　as　he　related　his　sorrows　and　dangers。
Said　Dong　Cheng；　〃Be　of　good　courage；　Sire。　General　Yang　Feng　and　I　have　pledged　ourselves　to　kill　both　the　rebels　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　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　Hongnong。
Guo　Si　led　his　defeated　army　back。　Meeting　Li　Jue；　he　told　Li　Jue　of　the　rescue　of　the　Emperor　and　whither　they　was　going。
〃If　they　reach　the　Huashang　Mountains　and　get　settled　in　the　east；　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；〃　said　Guo　Si。
〃Zhang　Ji　is　holding　Changan；　and　we　must　be　careful。　There　is　nothing　to　prevent　a　joint　attack　on　Hongnong；　when　we　can　kill　the　Emperor　and　divide　the　empire　between　us；〃　said　Li　Jue。
Guo　Si　found　this　a　suitable　scheme；　so　their　armies　came　together　again　in　one　place　and　united　in　plundering　the　countryside。　As　they　proceeded　to　Hongnong；　they　left　destruction　behind　them。
Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　heard　of　the　rebels'　approach　when　they　were　yet　a　long　way　off；　so　Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　turned　back　and　decided　to　meet　them　at　Dongjian。
Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　had　previously　made　their　plan。　Since　the　loyal　troops　were　few　as　pared　with　their　own　horde；　they　would　overwhelm　the　loyal　troops　like　a　flood。　So　when　the　day　of　battle　came；　they　poured　out　covering　the　hills　and　filling　the　plains。　Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　devoted　themselves　solely　to　the　protection　of　the　Emperor　and　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　Hongnong；　but　the　two　protectors　got　the　Emperor　safely　away　into　Shanbei。
When　the　rebel　generals　showed　signs　of　pursuit；　Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　had　to　play　a　double…edged　sword。　They　sent　to　offer　to　discuss　terms　of　peace　with　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　at　the　same　time　they　sent　a　secret　edict　to　enlist　the　help　from　the　leaders　of　the　White　Wave　rebels………Han　Xian；　Li　Yue；　and　Hu　Cai。　The　White　Wave　was　a　branch　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　and　Li　Yue　was　actually　a　brigand　and　had　inspired　rebels　throughout　the　country。　But　the　need　for　help　was　so　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　Hongnong　was　recaptured。　But　meanwhile　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　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。
Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si's　force　was　overwhelming。　When　Li　Yue；　the　White　Wave　leader；　approached　with　his　army；　Guo　Si　bade　his　soldiers　scatter　clothing　and　valuables　along　the　road。　The　late　robbers　could　not　resist　the　temptation；　so　a　scramble　began。　Then　Guo　Si's　soldiers　fell　upon　the　disordered　ranks　and　did　much　damage。　Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　had　to　take　the　Emperor　away　to　the　north。
Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　pursued。
Li　Yue　said；　〃The　danger　is　grave。　I　pray　Your　Majesty　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。　The　White　Wave　leader　Hu　Cai　was　killed　in　one　attack。
The　enemy　came　very　near；　and　the　Emperor　left　his　carriage　and　went　on　foot。　Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　escorted　him　to　the　bank　of　the　Yellow　River。　Li　Yue　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　Feng　proposed　to　fasten　together　the　horses'　bridles　and　lower　down　the　Emperor　slung　by　the　waist。　However；　the　Empress'　brother；　Fu　De；　found　some　rolls　of　white　silk　from　dead　soldiers；　and　they　rolled　up　the　two　imperial　personages　in　the　silk；　and　thus　they　lowered　them　down　near　the　boat。　Then　Li　Yue　took　up　his　position　in　the　prow　leaning　on　his　sword。　Fu　De　carried　the　Empress　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　Yue　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；　only　a　dozen　of　the　Emperor's　suite　were　left。　Yang　Feng　found　a　bullock　cart　and　transported　the　Emperor　and　Empress　to　Dayang。　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。　Li　Yue　was　made　General　Who　Conquers　the　North；　and　Han　Xian　was　appointed　General　Who　Conquers　the　East。
The　flight　continued。　Soon　two　officers　of　rank　came　up　with　the　cortege；　and　they　bowed　before　His　Majesty　with　many　tears。　They　were　Imperial　Guardian　Yang　Biao　and　Minister　Han　Rong。　The　Emperor　and　Empress　lifted　up　their　voices　and　wept　with　them。
Said　Han　Rong　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　Han　Rong　had　gone；　the　Emperor　rested　for　a　time　in　Yang　Feng's　camp。　But　Yang　Biao　requested　the　Emperor　to　head　for　Anyi　and　make　the　capital　there。　When　the　train　reached　the　town；　they　found　it　containing　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。
Now　Li　Yue　and　his　fellow　ruffians　showed　their　true　colors。　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　Yue　and　Han　Xian　joined　in　remending　to　the　Throne　the　names　of　convicts；　mon　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。　Court　affairs　had　never　degraded　to　such　a　low　point。
Now　Han　Rong　went　to　see　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si。　After　listening　to　his　vigorous　persuasions；　the　two　rebel　generals　agreed　to　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　governor　of　Henei；　Zhang　Yang；　and　the　governor　of　Hedong；　Wang　Yi；　and　the　court　began　to　enjoy　a　little　repose。
Dong　Cheng　and　Yang　Feng　sent　laborers　to　restore　the　palaces　in　Luoyang　with　the　intention　of　moving　the　court　thither。　Li　Yue　was　opposed　to　this。
Dong　Cheng　argued；　〃Luoyang　is　the　original　capital　as　opposed　to　the　paltry　town　of　Anyi。　Removal　would　be　but　reasonable。〃
Li　Yue　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　Yue　secretly　sent　to　arrange　with　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　to　capture　the　Emperor。　However；　this　plot　leaked　out　and　the　escort　so　arranged　as　to　prevent　such　a　thing；　and　they　pressed　on　to　the　pass　at　Zhiguan　Hills　as　rapidly　as　possible。　Li　Yue　heard　this；　and　without　waiting　for　his　rebel　colleagues　to　join　him　set　out　to　act　alone。
About　the　fourth　watch；　just　as　the　cavalcade　was　passing　Zhiguan　Hills；　a　voice　was　heard　shouting；　〃Stop　those　carriages！　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　are　here！〃
This　frightened　the　Emperor　greatly；　and　his　terror　increased　when　he　saw　the　whole　mountain　side　suddenly　light　up。　Indeed：

The　rebel　party；　erstwhile　split　in　twain；
To　work　their　wicked　will　now　join　three　again。

How　the　Son　of　Heaven　escaped　this　peril　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　14　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　14
　Chapter　14
Cao　Cao　Moves　The　Court　To　Xuchang；
Lu　Bu　Night…Raids　Xuzhou。
The　last　chapter　closed　with　the　arrival　of　Li　Yue　who　shouted　out　falsely　that　the　army　was　that　of　the　two　arch　rebels　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　e　to　capture　the　imperial　cavalcade。　But　Yang　Feng　recognized　the　voice　of　Li　Yue　and　bade　Xu　Huang　go　out　to　fight　him。　Xu　Huang　went　and　in　the　first　bout　the　traitor　fell。　The　White　Wave　rebels　scattered；　and　the　travelers　got　safely　through　Zhiguan　Hills。　Here　the　Governor　of　Henei；　Zhang　Yang；　supplied　them　plentifully　with　food　and　other　necessaries　and　escorted　the　Emperor　to　Zhidao。　For　his　timely　help；　the　Emperor　conferred　upon　Zhang　Yang　the　rank　of　a　Grand　mander。　Yang　Feng　moved　his　army　to　the　northeast　of　Luoyang　and　camped　at　Yewang。
Capital　Luoyang　was　presently　entered。　Within　the　walls　all　was　destruction。　The　palaces　and　halls　had　been　burned；　the　streets　were　overgrown　with　grass　and　brambles　and　obstructed　by　heaps　of　ruins。　The　palaces　and　courts　were　represented　by　broken　roofs　and　toppling　walls。　A　small　〃palace〃　however　was　soon　built；　and　therein　the　officers　of　court　presented　their　congratulations；　standing　in　the　open　air　among　thorn　hushes　and　brambles。　The　reign　style　was　changed　from　Prosperous　Stability　to　Rebuilt　Tranquillity；　the　first　year　（AD　196）。
The　year　was　grievous　with　famine。　The　Luoyang　people；　even　reduced　in　numbers　as　they　were　to　a　few　hundreds；　had　not　enough　to　eat　and　they　prowled　about　stripping　the　bark　off　trees　and　grubbing　up　the　roots　of　plants　to　satisfy　their　starving　hunger。　Officers　of　the　government　of　all　but　the　highest　ranks　went　out　into　the　country　to　gather　fuel。　Many　people　were　crushed　by　the　falling　walls　of　burned　houses。　At　no　time　during　the　decadence　of　Han　did　misery　press　harder　than　at　this　period。
A　poem　written　in　pity　for　the　sufferings　of　that　time　says：

Mortally　wounded；　the　white　serpent　poured　forth　its　life　blood　at　Mangdang　Hills；
Blood…red　pennons　of　war　waved　then　in　every　quarter；
Chieftain　with　chieftain　strove　and　raided　each　other's　borders；
Midst　the　turmoil　and　strife　the　Kingship　even　was　threatened。
Wickedness　stalks　in　a　country　when　the　King　is　a　weakling；
Brigandage　always　is　rife；　when　a　dynasty's　failing；
Had　one　a　heart　of　iron；　wholly　devoid　of　feeling；
Yet　would　one　surely　grieve　at　the　sight　of　such　desolation。

Imperial　Guardian　Yang　Biao　memorialized　the　Throne；　saying；　〃The　decree　issued　to　me　some　time　ago　has　never　been　acted　upon。　Now　Cao　Cao　is　very　strong　in　the　east　of　Huashang　Mountains；　and　it　would　be　well　to　associate　him　in　the　government　that　he　might　support　the　ruling　house。〃
The　Emperor　replied；　〃There　was　no　need　to　refer　to　the　matter　again。　Send　a　messenger　when　you　will。〃
So　the　decree　went　forth　and　a　messenger　bore　it　into　the　East　of　Huashang。　Now　when　Cao　Cao　had　heard　that　the　court　had　returned　to　Capital　Luoyang；　he　called　together　his　advisers　to　consult。

＇e＇　Duke　Wen　of　Jin　（reigned　636…628　BC）　was　ruler　of　the　western　state　of　Jin　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　He　and　his　successors　made　Jin　a　dominant　state　for　nearly　200　years。　。。。。。
＇e＇　The　Qin　Dynasty　ended　in　BC　206。　From　BC　206　to　BC　202；　there　was　actually　no　emperor　in　China；　and　the　principal　event　in　this　period　of　anarchy　was　what　we　call　the　Strife　between　Chu　and　Han。　It　was　a　continuous　conflict　between　Xiang　Yu　and　Liu　Bang；　the　former　a　native　of　Wu；　and　the　latter　of　Pei。　Both　of　them　had　been　lieutenants　under　King　Huai　of　Chu。　This　King；　aka　Emperor　Yi；　was　a　descendant　of　the　old　ruling　house　of　the　state　of　Chu；　and　during　the　troubles　attending　the　breakup　of　the　Qin　empire；　he　setup　a　kingdom　on　the