第31部分(第6/7 页)

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；