Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/157

 to swallow what they sent. Li Yüeh and Han Hsien joined in recommending to the throne the names of convicts, common 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.

Now Han Jung went to see the two rebels who listened to him and 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 surrounding districts and the Court began to enjoy a little repose.

Tung Ch‘êng and Yang Fêng sent workmen to restore the palaces in Loyang with the intention of moving the Court thither. Li Yüeh was opposed to this and when argued with, that Loyang was really the capital as opposed to the paltry town of Ani, and removal would be but reasonable, he 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 Yüeh secretly sent to arrange with Li Ts‘ui and Kuo Ssŭ to capture him. However, this plot leaked out and the escort so arranged as to prevent such a thing and they pressed on to Chikuan as rapidly as possible. Li heard this and without waiting for his colleagues to join him set out to act alone.

About the fourth watch, just as the cavalcade was passing Chikuan, a voice was heard shouting, “Stop those carriages! Li and Kuo are here.”

This frightened the Emperor greatly and his terror increased when he saw the whole mountain side suddenly light up.

How the Son of Heaven escaped this peril will be told in the next chapter.