三国演义英文版-第33部分

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ersonages　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　ruins。　Xiang　Yu　eventually　became　the　leader　of　Chu　army；　and　he　allegedly　had　King　Huai　murdered。　Liu　Bang；　now　a　leader　of　Han　army；　mourned　King　Huai's　death　to　show　his　loyal　heart。
Xun　Yu　laid　the　matter　before　Cao　Cao　and　the　council　thus：　〃Eight　hundred　years　ago；　Duke　Wen　of　Jin　supported　Prince　Xiang　of　the　declining　Zhou　Dynasty；　and　all　the　feudal　lords　backed　Duke　Wen*。　The　Founder　of　the　Hans；　Liu　Bang；　won　the　popular　favor　by　wearing　mourning　for　Emperor　Yi　of　Chu*。　Now　Emperor　Xian　has　been　a　fugitive　on　the　dusty　roads。　To　take　the　lead　in　offering　an　army　to　restore　him　to　honor　is　to　have　an　unrivaled　opportunity　to　win　universal　regard。　But　you　must　act　quickly　or　someone　will　get　in　before　you。〃
Cao　Cao　understood　and　at　once　prepared　his　army　to　move。　Just　at　this　moment　an　imperial　messenger　was　announced　with　the　very　mand　Cao　Cao　wanted；　and　Cao　Cao　immediately　set　out。
At　Luoyang　everything　was　desolate。　The　walls　had　fallen；　and　there　were　no　means　of　rebuilding　them；　while　rumors　and　reports　of　the　ing　of　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　kept　up　a　state　of　constant　anxiety。
The　frightened　Emperor　spoke　with　Yang　Feng；　saying；　〃What　can　be　done？　There　is　no　answer　from　the　East　of　Huashang；　and　our　enemies　are　near。〃
Then　Yang　Feng　and　Han　Xian　said；　〃We；　your　ministers；　will　fight　to　the　death　for　you。〃
But　Dong　Cheng　said；　〃The　fortifications　are　weak　and　our　military　resources　small；　so　that　we　cannot　hope　for　victory；　and　what　does　defeat　mean？　I　see　nothing　better　to　propose　than　a　move　into　the　east　of　Huashang　Mountains。〃
The　Emperor　agreed　to　this；　and　the　journey　began　without　further　preparation。　There　being　few　horses；　the　officers　of　the　court　had　to　march　afoot。　Hardly　a　bowshot　outside　the　gate　they　saw　a　thick　cloud　of　dust　out　of　which　came　all　the　clash　and　clamor　of　an　advancing　army。　The　Emperor　and　his　Consort　were　dumb　with　fear。　Then　appeared　a　horseman；　he　was　the　messenger　returning　from　the　East　of　Huashang　Mountains。
He　rode　up　to　the　chariot；　made　an　obeisance；　and　said；　〃General　Cao　Cao；　as　manded；　is　ing　with　all　the　military　force　of　the　East　of　Huashang；　but　hearing　that　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　had　again　approached　the　capital；　he　has　sent　Xiahou　Dun　in　advance。　With　Xiahou　Dun　are　many　capable　leaders　and　fifty　thousand　of　proved　soldiers。　They　will　guard　Your　Majesty。〃
All　fear　was　swept　away。　Soon　after　Xiahou　Dun　and　his　staff　arrived。　Xiahou　Dun；　Xu　Chu；　and　Dian　Wei　were　presented　to　the　Emperor　who　graciously　addressed　them。　Then　one　came　to　say　a　large　army　was　approaching　from　the　east；　and　at　the　Emperor's　mand　Xiahou　Dun　went　to　ascertain　who　these　were。　He　soon　returned　saying　they　were　Cao　Cao's　infantry。
In　a　short　time　Cao　Hong；　Li　Dian；　and　Yue　Jing　came　to　the　imperial　chariot　and　their　names　having　been　duly　municated。
Cao　Hong　said；　〃When　my　brother；　Cao　Cao；　heard　of　the　approach　of　the　rebels；　he　feared　that　the　advance　guard　he　had　sent　might　be　too　weak；　so　he　sent　me　to　march　quickly　for　reinforcement。〃
〃General　Cao　Cao　is　indeed　a　trusty　servant！〃　said　the　Emperor。
Orders　were　given　to　advance；　Cao　Hong　leading　the　escort。　By　and　by　scouts