按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Then； reversing his halberd and lowering its lofty point；
Hastily he fled； loosing himself from the battle；
With head low bent； he gave the rein to his courser；
Turned his face away and fled to Tiger Trap Pass。
The three brothers maintained the pursuit to the Pass。 Looking up they saw an immense umbrella of black gauze fluttering in the west wind。
〃Certainly there is Dong Zhuo；〃 cried Zhang Fei。 〃What is the use of pursuing Lu Bu？ Better far seize the chiefest rebel and so pluck up the evil by the roots！〃
And he whipped up his steed toward the Pass。
To quell rebellion seize the leader if you can；
If you need a wondrous service then first find a wondrous man。
The following chapters will unfold the result of the battle。
Main Next to Chapter 6 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Burning The Capital； Dong Zhuo mits An Atrocity；
Hiding The Imperial Hereditary Seal； Sun Jian Breaks Faith。
Zhang Fei rode hard up to the Pass； but the defenders sent down stones and arrows like rain so that he could not enter； and he returned。 The eight lords all joined in felicitations to the three brothers for their services； and the story of victory was sent to Yuan Shao； who ordered Sun Jian to make an immediate advance。
Thereupon Sun Jian with two trusty generals； Cheng Pu and Huang Gai； went over to the camp of Yuan Shu。
Tracing figures on the ground with his staff； Sun Jian said； 〃Dong Zhuo and I had no personal quarrel。 Yet now I have thrown myself into the battle regardless of consequences； exposed my person to the risk of wounds and fought bloody battles to their bitter end。 And why？ That I might be the means of ridding my country of a rebel and………for the private advantage of your family。 Yet you； heeding the slanderous tongue of certain counselor； formerly withheld the supplies absolutely necessary to me； and so I suffered defeat。 How can you explain； General？〃
Yuan Shu； confused and frightened； had no word to reply。 He ordered the death of the slanderer to placate Sun Jian。
Then suddenly they told Sun Jian； 〃Some officer has e riding down from the Pass to see you； General。 He is in the camp。〃
Sun Jian therefore took his leave and returned to his own camp； where he found the visitor was Li Jue； one of the much trusted manders of Dong Zhuo。
〃Wherefore e you？〃 said Sun Jian。
Li Jue replied； 〃You are the one person for whom my master has respect and admiration； and he sends me to arrange a matrimonial alliance between the two families。 He wishes that his daughter may bee the wife of your son。〃
〃What！ Dong Zhuo； that rebel and renegade； that subverter of the Throne！ I wish I could destroy his nine generations as a thank…offering to the empire！ Think you I would be willing to have an alliance with such a family？ I will not slay you as I ought； but go； and go quickly！ Yield the Pass and I may spare your lives。 If you delay； I will grind your bones to powder and make mincemeat of your flesh！〃
Li Jue threw his arms over his head and ran out。 He returned to his master and told him what a rude reception he had met with。 Dong Zhuo asked his adviser Li Ru how to reply to this。
Li Ru said； 〃Lu Bu's late defeat had somewhat blunted the edge of our army's desire for battle。 It would be well to return to the capital and remove the Emperor to Changan； as the street children had been lately singing：
〃A Han on the west； a Han on the east。
The deer （emperor） in Changan shall worry least。〃
Li Ru continued； 〃If you think out this couplet； it applies to the present juncture。 Half the first line refers to the founder of the dynasty； Liu Bang the Supreme Ancestor； who became ruler in the western city of Changan； which was the capital during twelve reigns。 The other half corresponds to Liu Xiu the Latter Han Founder who ruled from Luoyang； the eastern capital during twelve latter reigns。 The revolution of the heavens brings us back to this starting moment。 Thus if you remove to Changan； there will be no need for anxiety。〃
Dong Zhuo was exceedingly pleased and said； 〃Had you not spoken thus； I should not have understood！〃
Then taking Lu Bu with him； Dong Zhuo started at once for Capital Luoyang。
Here he called all the officials to a great council in the Palace and addressed them； 〃After two centuries of rule here； the royal fortune has been exhausted； and I perceive that the aura of rule has migrated to Changan； whither I now desire to move the court。 All you had better pack up for the journey。〃
＇e＇ The Land Within the Passes； or Guanzhong； was the area surrounding Changan。
＇e＇ In the ending years of Wang Mang's usurpation； rebels ran the country。 The Red Eyebrows rebels were one of the most active of the robber bands。 They finally captured Changan； and Wang Mang was killed in the fighting。 。。。。。
Yang Biao； Minister of the Interior； said； 〃I pray you reflect。 The Land Within the Passes* is all destruction。 There is no reason to renounce the ancestral temples and abandon the imperial tombs here。 I fear the people will be alarmed。 It is easy to alarm them but difficult to pacify them。〃
〃Do you oppose the state plans？〃 said Dong Zhuo angrily。
Another official； Grand mander Huang Wan； supported his colleague； 〃In the era of Remencement （AD 23…25）； Fan Chong of the Red Eyebrows rebels burned Changan to the ground and reduced the place to broken tiles*。 The inhabitants scattered all but a few。 It is wrong to abandon these palaces here for a wasteland。〃
Dong Zhuo replied； 〃The East of the Pass is full of sedition； and all the empire is in rebellion。 The city of Changan is protected by the Yaohan Mountains and the Hangu Pass。 Moreover； it is near Longyou； whence can be easily brought timber； stone； brick； and building materials。 In a month or so palaces can be erected。 So an end to your wild words！〃
Yet Minister of Works Xun Shuang raised another protest against disturbing the people； but Dong Zhuo overbore him also。
〃How can I stop to consider a few mon people when my scheme affects the empire？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
That day the three objectors………Yang Biao； Huang Wan； and Xun Shuang………were removed from their offices and reduced to the rank of moners。
As Dong Zhuo went out to get into his coach； he met two other officers who made obeisance。 They were the Chair of the Secretariat； Zhou Bi； and the mander of the City Gates； Wu Qiong。 Dong Zhuo stopped and asked them what they wanted。
Said Zhou Bi； 〃We venture to try to dissuade you from moving the capital to Changan。〃
Dong Zhuo replied； 〃You two persuaded me to give Yuan Shao office。 Now he has already turned traitor； and you are of the same party！〃
And without more ado he bade his guards take both outside the city and put them to death。 The mand to remove to the new capital immediately was issued。
Speaking to Dong Zhuo； Li Ru pointed out； 〃We are short of money and food； and the rich people of Luoyang could be easily plundered。 This is a good occasion to link them to the rebels and to confiscate their properties。〃
Dong Zhuo sent five thousand troops out to plunder and slay。 They captured many thousand wealthy householders and； having stuck flags on their heads saying they were Traitors and Rebels ； drove them out of the city and put them to death。 Their properties were all seized。
The task of driving forth the inhabitants； some millions； was given to two of Dong Zhuo's manders； Li Jue and Guo Si。 The people were sent off in bands； each band between two parties of soldiers； who drove them torward Changan。 Enormous numbers fell by the road side and died in the ditches； and the escort plundered the fugitives and defiled the women。 A wail of sorrow arose to the very sky。
Dong Zhuo's final orders as he left Capital Luoyang were to burn the whole city： Houses； palaces； temples； and everything were devoured by the flames。 The capital became but a patch of scorched earth。
Dong Zhuo sent Lu Bu to desecrate the tombs of the emperors and their consorts for the jewels therein； and the mon soldiers took the occasion to dig up the graves of officials and plunder the cemeteries of the wealthy。 The spoil of the city； gold and silver； pearls and silks； and beautiful ornaments； filled several thousand carts。 With these and the persons of the Emperor and his household； Dong Zhuo moved off to the new capital in the first year of Inauguration of Tranquillity （AD 190）。
Luoyang being thus abandoned； the general of Dong Zhuo at River Si Pass； Zhao Cen； evacuated that post of vantage； which Sun Jian at once occupied。 Liu Bei and his brothers took Tiger Trap Pass and the confederate lords advanced。
Sun Jian hastened to the late capital which was still in flames。 When he arrived； dense smoke hung all over it and spread for miles around。 No living thing； not a fowl； or a dog； or a human being； remained。 Sun Jian told off his soldiers to extinguish the fires and set out camping places for the confederate lords。
Cao Cao went to see Yuan Shao and said； 〃Dong Zhuo has gone west。 We ought to follow and attack his rear without loss of time。 Why do you remain inactive？〃
〃All our colleagues are worn out； and there is nothing to be gained by attack；〃 said Yuan Shao。
Cao Cao said； 〃This moment was most propitious in the utter confusion that reigned………palaces burned； the Empero