leaders。 It would be well for the empire if he would lend his support to the imperial family and help to rid the government of this evil party。〃
His Majesty wept； 〃I am weary of the insults and contempt of these wretches and should be very glad to have them removed。〃
〃I have thought of a plan to estrange Li Jue and Guo Si and so make them destroy each other。 Then Cao Cao could e and cleanse the court；〃 said Yang Biao。
〃How will you manage it？〃 asked the Emperor。
〃Guo Si's wife； Lady Qiong； is very jealous； and we can take advantage of her weakness to bring about a quarrel。〃
So Yang Biao received instruction to act； with a secret edict to support him。 Yang Biao's wife； Lady Kai； made an excuse to visit Lady Qiong at her palace and； in the course of conversation； said 〃There is talk of secret liaison between the General； your husband； and the wife of Minister Li Jue。 It is a great secret； but if Minister Li Jue knew it； he might try to harm your husband。 I think you ought to have very little to do with that family。〃
Lady Qiong was surprised but said； 〃I have wondered why he has been sleeping away from home lately； but I did not think there was anything shameful connected with it。 I should never have known if you had not spoken。 I must put a stop to it。〃
By and by； when Lady Kai took her leave； Lady Qiong thanked her warmly for the information she had given。
Some days passed； and Guo Si was going over to the dwelling of Li Jue to a dinner。
Lady Qiong did not wish him to go and she said； 〃This Li Jue is very deep； and one cannot fathom his designs。 You two are not of equal rank； and if he made away with you； what would bee of your poor handmaid？〃
Guo Si paid no attention； and his wife could not prevail on him to stay at home。 Late in the afternoon some presents arrived from Li Jue's palace； and Lady Qiong secretly put poison into the delicacies before she set them before her lord。
Guo Si was going to taste at once but she said； 〃It is unwise to consume things that e from outside。 Let us try on a dog first。〃
They did and the dog died。 This incident made Guo Si doubt the kindly intentions of his colleague。
One day； at the close of business at court； Li Jue invited Guo Si to his palace。 After Guo Si arrived home in the evening； rather the worse for too much wine； he was seized with a colic。 His wife said she suspected poison and hastily administered an emetic； which relieved the pain。
Guo Si began to feel angry； saying； 〃We did everything together and helped each other always。 Now he wants to injure me。 If I do not get in the first blow； I shall suffer some injury。〃
So Guo Si began to prepare his guards for any sudden emergency。
This was told to Li Jue； and he in turn grew angry； saying； 〃So Guo Si is doing so and so！〃
Then Li Jue got his guards under way and came to attack Guo Si。 Both houses had ten thousand； and the quarrel became so serious that they fought a pitched battle under the city walls。 When that was over both sides turned to plunder the people。
Then a nephew of Li Jue； Li Xian； suddenly surrounded the Palace； put the Emperor and Empress in two carriages； and assigned Jia Xu and Zuo Ling to carry them off。 The Palace attendants were made to follow on foot。 As they went out of the rear gate； they met Guo Si's army who began to shoot at the cavalcade with arrows。 They killed many attendants before Li Jue's army came up and forced them to retire。
The carriages were got out of the Palace and eventually reached Li Jue's camp； while Guo Si's soldiers plundered the Palace and carried off all the women left there to their camp。 Then the Palace was set on fire。
As soon as Guo Si heard of the whereabouts of the Emperor； he came over to attack the camp of Li Jue。 The Emperor between these two opposing factions was greatly alarmed。 Indeed：
Slowly the Hans had declined but renewed their vigor with Liu Xiu；
Twelve were the rulers before him； followed him also twelve others。
Foolish were two of the latest； dangers surrounded the altars；
These were degenerate days； with authority given to eunuchs。
Then did He Jin the simple； the inept； who manded the army；
Warriors call to the capital； wishing to drive out the vermin；
Though they drove out the leopards； tigers and wolves quickly entered。
All kinds of evil were wrought by a low class creature from Xizhou。
Wang Yun； honest of heart； beguiled this wretch with a woman；
Much desired of his henchman； thus sowing seeds of dissension。
Strife resulted； and peace no longer dwelt in the empire。
No one suspected that Li Jue and Guo Si would continue the evil；
Much to the sorrow of the Middle Kingdom； yet they stove for a trifle。
Famine stalked in the Palace； grief for the clashing of weapons；
Why did the warriors strive？ Why was the land thus partitioned？
They had turned aside from the way appointed of Heaven。
Kings must ponder these things； heavy the burden lies on them；
Chiefest in all the realm theirs is no mon appointment；
Should the King falter or fail； calamities fall on the multitude people；
The empire is drenched with their blood； grisly ruin surrounds them。
Steeped in sorrow and sad； read you the ancient records；
Long is the tale of years； the tale of sorrow is longer。
Wherefore one who would rule； chiefly must exercise forethought。
This and a keen…edged blade； these must suffice to maintain one。
Guo Si's army arrived； and Li Jue went out to give battle。 Guo Si's troops had no success and retired。 Then Li Jue removed the imperial captives to Meiwo with his nephew Li Xian as gaoler。 Supplies were reduced； and famine showed itself on the faces of the eunuchs。 The Emperor sent to Li Jue to request five carts of rice and five sets of bullock bones for his attendants。
Li Jue angrily replied； 〃The court gets food morning and evening。 Why do they ask for more？〃
He sent putrid meat and rotten grain； and the Emperor was very vexed at the new insult。
Imperial Counselor Yang Qi counseled patience； saying； 〃Li Jue is a base creature but； under the present circumstances； Your Majesty must put up with it。 You may not provoke him。〃
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