Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/151

 Kuo lost patience and drew his sword, but a certain Yang Mi persuaded him not to slay the speaker. Then he released Yang Piao and Sun Ch‘ien; 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 Piao.

Throwing their arms about each other they wept and fell swooning to the earth. Sun Ch‘ien went home, fell seriously ill and died.

Thereafter the two adversaries fought every day for nearly three months each losing many men.

Now Li Ts‘ui was irreligious and practised magic. He often called witches to beat drums and summon spirits, even when in camp. Chia Hsü used to remonstrate with him, but quite uselessly.

A certain Yang Chi said to the Emperor, “That Chia Hsü, although a friend of Li’s, never seems to have lost the sense of loyalty to Your Majesty.”

Soon after Chia Hsü himself arrived. The Emperor sent away his attendants and said to him weeping the while, “Can you not pity the Hans and help me?”

Chia prostrated himself, saying, “That is my dearest wish. But, Sire, say no more, let theythy [sic] servant work out a plan.”

The Emperor dried his tears and soon Li Ts‘ui came in. He wore a sword by his side and strode straight up to the Emperor, whose face became the colour of clay. Then he spoke.

“Kuo Ssŭ 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 him. He went away. Before long Huangfu Li entered and the Emperor, knowing him as a man of persuasive tongue and that he came from the same district as Li, bade him go to both factions to try to arrange peace. He accepted the mission and first went to Kuo, who said he was willing to release the officers if Li Ts‘ui would restore the Emperor to full liberty. He then went to the other side.

To Li he said, “Since I am a Hsiliang man the Emperor and the officers have selected me to make peace between you and your adversary. He has consented to cease the quarrel; will you agree to peace?”

“I overthrew Lü Pu; 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 Yuch‘ing, Hou I, proud of and confident in his archer’s skill, gave no thought to gathering difficulties and so perished.