Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/153

 So he was raised to the rank of President of a Board of State. This delighted him greatly and he ascribed his promotion to the potency of his wise women’s prayers and incantations. He rewarded those people most liberally.

But his army was forgotten. Wherefore Yang Fêng was angry and he said to one Sung Kuo, “We have taken all the risks and exposed ourselves to stones and arrows in his service, yet instead of giving us any reward he ascribes all the credit to those witches of his.”

“Let us put him out of the way and rescue the Emperor,” said Sung.

“You explode a bomb within as signal and I will attack from outside.”

So the two agreed to act together that very night in the second watch. But they had been overheard and the eavesdropper told Li Ts‘ui. The traitorous Sung was seized and put to death. That night Yang waited outside for the signal and while waiting, out came Li himself and found him. Then a fight began, which lasted till the fourth watch. But Yang Fêng got away and fled to Hsian (Sian) in the west.

But from this time Li Ts‘ui’s army began to fall away and he felt more than ever the losses caused by Kuo’s frequent attacks. Then came news that Chang Chi, at the head of a large army, was coming down from the west to make peace between the two factions. Chang said he would attack the one who was recalcitrant. Li Ts‘ui tried to gain favour by hastening to send to tell Chang Chi he was ready to make peace. So did Kuo Ssŭ.

So the strife of the rival factions ended at last and Chang Chi memorialised asking the Emperor to go to Hungnung near Loyang. He was delighted saying he had longed to go back to the east. Chang Chi was rewarded with the title of General of Cavalry and was highly honoured. He saw to it that the Emperor and the Court had good supplies of necessaries. Kuo Ssŭ set free all his captive officers and Li Tsʻui prepared transport for the Court to move to the east. He told off companies of his veterans to escort the cavalcade.

The progress had been without incident as far as Hsinfung. Near Paling the west wind of autumn came on to blow with great violence, but soon above the howling of the gale was heard the trampling of a large body of horse. They stopped at a bridge and barred the way.

“Who comes?” cried a voice.

“The Imperial Chariot is passing and who dares stop it?” said Yang Chi, riding forward.

Two leaders advanced, “General Kuo has ordered us to guard the bridge and stop all spies. You say the Emperor is here; we must see him and then we will let you pass.” So the beaded curtain was raised and the Emperor said, “I the Emperor am