第32部分(第1/7 页)

But　Huangfu　Li　would　not　be　satisfied　with　failure。　As　he　went　out　of　the　camp；　he　cried　loudly；　〃Li　Jue　will　not　obey　the　Emperor's　mand。　He　will　kill　his　prince　to　set　up　himself！〃

Counselor　Hu　Miao　tried　to　shut　Huangfu　Li's　mouth；　saying；　〃Do　not　utter　such　words。　You　will　only　bring　hurt　upon　yourself。〃

But　Huangfu　Li　shrieked　at　him　also；　saying；　〃You　also　are　an　officer　of　state；　and　yet　you　even　back　up　the　rebel。　When　the　prince　is　put　to　shame；　the　minister　dies。　That　is　our　code。　If　it　be　my　lot　to　suffer　death　at　the　hands　of　Li　Jue；　so　be　it！〃

And　Huangfu　Li　maintained　a　torrent　of　abuse。　The　Emperor　heard　of　the　incident；　called　in　Huangfu　Li　and　sent　him　away　to　his　own　country　Xiliang。

Now　more　than　half　Li　Jue's　troops　were　from　Xiliang；　and　he　had　also　the　assistance　of　the　Qiangs；　the　northern　tribespeople　beyond　the　border。　When　Huangfu　Li　spread　that　Li　Jue　was　a　rebel　and　so　were　those　who　helped　him；　and　that　there　would　be　a　day　of　heavy　reckoning；　those　stories　disturbed　the　soldiers。

Li　Jue　sent　one　of　his　officers；　General　Wang　Chan　of　the　Tiger　Army；　to　arrest　Huangfu　Li；　but　Wang　Chan　had　a　sense　of　right　and　esteemed　Huangfu　Li　as　an　honorable　man。　Instead　of　carrying　out　the　orders；　Wang　Chan　returned　to　say　Huangfu　Li　could　not　be　found。

Jia　Xu　tried　to　work　on　the　feelings　of　the　barbarian　tribes。　He　said　to　them；　〃The　Son　of　Heaven　knows　you　are　loyal　to　him　and　have　bravely　fought　and　suffered。　He　has　issued　a　secret　mand　for　you　to　go　home；　and　then　he　will　reward　you。〃

The　tribesmen　had　a　grievance　against　Li　Jue　for　not　paying　them；　so　they　listened　readily　to　the　insidious　persuasions　of　Jia　Xu　and　deserted。

Then　Jia　Xu　advised　the　Emperor；　〃Li　Jue　is　covetous　in　nature。　H