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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 not obey the Emperor's mand。 He will kill his prince to set up himself！〃
Counselor Hu Miao tried to shut Huangfu Li's mouth； saying； 〃Do not utter such words。 You will only bring hurt upon yourself。〃
But Huangfu Li shrieked at him also； saying； 〃You also are an officer of state； and yet you even back up the rebel。 When the prince is put to shame； the minister dies。 That is our code。 If it be my lot to suffer death at the hands of Li Jue； so be it！〃
And Huangfu Li maintained a torrent of abuse。 The Emperor heard of the incident； called in Huangfu Li and sent him away to his own country Xiliang。
Now more than half Li Jue's troops were from Xiliang； and he had also the assistance of the Qiangs； the northern tribespeople beyond the border。 When Huangfu Li spread that Li Jue was a rebel and so were those who helped him； and that there would be a day of heavy reckoning； those stories disturbed the soldiers。
Li Jue sent one of his officers； General Wang Chan of t