第31部分(第4/7 页)

nd　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