第32部分(第3/7 页)

Ji　was　rewarded　with　the　title　of　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　and　was　highly　honored。　Zhang　Ji　saw　to　it　that　the　Emperor　and　the　court　had　good　supplies　of　necessaries。　Guo　Si　set　free　all　his　captive　officers；　and　Li　Jue　prepared　transport　for　the　court　to　move　to　the　east。　Li　Jue　told　off　panies　of　his　Royal　Guard　to　escort　the　cavalcade。

The　progress　had　been　without　incident　as　far　as　Xinfeng。　Near　Baling　Bridge　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　force。　They　stopped　at　a　bridge　and　barred　the　way。

〃Who　es？〃　cried　a　voice。

〃The　Imperial　Chariot　is　passing；　and　who　dares　stop　it？〃　said　Yang　Qi；　riding　forward。

Two　leaders　of　the　barring　party　advanced　to　Yang　Qi；　saying；　〃General　Guo　Si　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　pearl　curtain　was　raised　and　the　Emperor　said；　〃I；　the　Emperor；　am　here。　Why　do　you　not　retire　to　let　me　pass；　gentlemen？〃

They　all　shouted；　〃Wan　shui！　Long　Life！　Long　Life！〃　and　fell　away　to　allow　the　cortege　through。

But　when　they　reported　what　they　had　done；　Guo　Si　was　very　angry；　saying；　〃I　meant　to　outwit　Zhang　Ji；　seize　the　Emperor；　and　hold　him　in　Meiwo。　Why　have　you　let　him　get　away？〃

He　put　the　two　officers　to　death；　set　out　to　pursue　the　cavalcade；　and　overtook　it　just　at　the　county　of　Huaying。　The　noise　of　a　great　shouting　arose　behind　the　travelers；　and　a　loud　voice　manded；　〃Stop　the　train！〃

The　Emperor　burst　into　tears。

〃Out　of　the　wolf's　den　into　the　tiger's　mouth！〃　said　he。

No　one　knew　what　to　do；　they　were　all　too　frightened。　But　when　the　rebel　army