第一小说网

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第31部分（第3页）

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　Sis　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　archers　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　Zhuos　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