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 formation； but Li Meng rode after Ma Chao to avenge his fallen colleague。
Ma Chao did not see Li Meng； but his father called out 〃You are followed！〃
Hardly had Ma Teng spoken when he saw that the pursuer was a prisoner seated on his son's steed。 Now Ma Chao had known he was followed； but pretended not to see； waiting till his enemy should have e close and lifted his spear to strike。 Then Ma Chao suddenly wheeled about。 The spear thrust met only empty air； and as the horses passed； Ma Chao's powerful arm shot out and pulled Li Meng from the saddle。 Thus Li Meng and Wang Fang's soldiers were left leaderless and fled in all directions。 The army of Ma Teng and Han Sui dashed in pursuit； and a plete victory was scored。 They pressed into one of the passes and made a camp。 Then they decapitated Li Meng and exposed his head。
When Li Jue and Guo Si heard that both the boastful generals had fallen under the hand of one young man； th