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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　recalcitrant。　Li　Jue　tried　to　gain　favor　by　hastening　to　send　to　tell　Zhang　Ji　he　was　ready　to　make　peace。　So　did　Guo　Si。
So　the　strife　of　the　rival　factions　ended　at　last；　and　Zhang　Ji　memorialized　asking　the　Emperor　to　go　to　Hongnong　near　Luoyang。
The　Emperor　was　delighted；　saying；　〃I　have　longed　to　go　back　to　the　east。〃
Zhang　Ji　was　rewarded　with　the　title　of　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　and　was　highly　honored。　Zhang　Ji　saw　to　it　that　the　Emperor　and　the　court　had　good　supplies　of　necessaries。　Guo　Si　set　free　all　his　captive　officers；　and　Li　Jue　prepared　transport　for　the　court　to　move　to　the　east。　Li　Jue　told　off　panies　of　his　Royal　Guard　to　escort　the　cavalcade。
The　progress　had　been　without　incident　as　far　as　Xinfeng。　Near　Baling　Bridge　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　force。　They　stopped　at　a　bridge　and　barred　the　way。
〃Who　es？〃　cried　a　voice。
〃The　Imperial　Chariot　is　passing；　and　who　dares　stop　it？〃　said　Yang　Qi；　riding　forward。
Two　leaders　of　the　barring　party　advanced　to　Yang　Qi；　saying；　〃General　Guo　Si　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　pearl　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；　〃Wan　shui！　Long　Life！　Long　Life！〃　and　fell　away　to　allow　the　cortege　through。
But　when　they　reported　what　they　had　done；　Guo　Si　was　very　angry；　saying；　〃I　meant　to　outwit　Zhang　Ji；　seize　the　Emperor；　and　hold　him　in　Meiwo。　Why　have　you　let　him　get　away？〃
He　put　the　two　officers　to　death；　set　out　to　pursue　the　cavalcade；　and　overtook　it　just　at　the　county　of　Huaying。　The　noise　of　a　great　shouting　arose　behind　the　travelers；　and　a　loud　voice　manded；　〃Stop　the　train！〃
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　one　thousand　soldiers　preceded　by　a　great　flag　bearing　the　name　Han　General　Yang　Feng　。
Having　defeated　by　Li　Jue；　Yang　Feng　fled　to　the　foothills　of　the　Xian；　and　he　came　up　to　offer　his　services　as　soon　as　he　heard　the　Emperor's　journey。　Seeing　it　was　necessary　to　fight　now；　he　drew　up　his　line　of　battle。
Guo　Si's　general；　Cui　Yong；　rode　out　and　began　a　volley　of　abuse。
Yang　Feng　turned　and　said；　〃Where　is　Xu　Huang？〃
In　response　out　came　a　valiant　warrior　gripping　a　heavy　battle…ax。　He　galloped　up　on　his　fleet　bay；　making　directly　for　Cui　Yong；　whom　he　felled　at　the　first　blow。　At　this　the　whole　force　dashed　forward　and　routed　Guo　Si。　The　defeated　army　went　back　some　seven　miles。
Yang　Feng　rode　forward　to　see　the　Emperor　who　graciously　said；　〃It　is　a　great　service　you　have　rendered：　You　have　saved　my　life。〃
Yang　Feng　bowed　and　thanked　him；　and　the　Emperor　asked　to　see　the　actual　slayer　of　the　rebel　leader。　So　Xu　Huang　was　led　to　the　chariot　where　he　bowed　and　was　presented　as　Xu　Huang　of　Hedong。
The　Emperor　recognized　the　achievement　of　the　warrior。
Then　the　cavalcade　went　forward；　Yang　Feng　acting　as　escort　as　far　as　the　city　of　Huaying；　the　halting　place　for　the　night。　The　mander　of　the　place；　Duan　Wei；　supplied　them　with　clothing　and　food。　And　the　Emperor　passed　the　night　in　Yang　Feng's　camp。
Next　day　Guo　Si；　having　mustered　his　troops；　appeared　in　front　of　the　camp；　and　Xu　Huang　rode　out　to　engage。　But　Guo　Si　threw　his　army　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　general　from　the　southeast；　and　the　rebels　fell　away　at　his　assault。　Then　Xu　Huang　smote　them　and　so　scored　a　victory。
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。