第14部分(第3/7 页)

　replied；　〃You　are　the　one　person　for　whom　my　master　has　respect　and　admiration；　and　he　sends　me　to　arrange　a　matrimonial　alliance　between　the　two　families。　He　wishes　that　his　daughter　may　bee　the　wife　of　your　son。〃

〃What！　Dong　Zhuo；　that　rebel　and　renegade；　that　subverter　of　the　Throne！　I　wish　I　could　destroy　his　nine　generations　as　a　thank…offering　to　the　empire！　Think　you　I　would　be　willing　to　have　an　alliance　with　such　a　family？　I　will　not　slay　you　as　I　ought；　but　go；　and　go　quickly！　Yield　the　Pass　and　I　may　spare　your　lives。　If　you　delay；　I　will　grind　your　bones　to　powder　and　make　mincemeat　of　your　flesh！〃

Li　Jue　threw　his　arms　over　his　head　and　ran　out。　He　returned　to　his　master　and　told　him　what　a　rude　reception　he　had　met　with。　Dong　Zhuo　asked　his　adviser　Li　Ru　how　to　reply　to　this。

Li　Ru　said；　〃Lu　Bu's　late　defeat　had　somewhat　blunted　the　edge　of　our　army's　desire　for　battle。　It　would　be　well　to　return　to　the　capital　and　remove　the　Emperor　to　Changan；　as　the　street　children　had　been　lately　singing：

〃A　Han　on　the　west；　a　Han　on　the　east。

The　deer　（emperor）　in　Changan　shall　worry　least。〃

Li　Ru　continued；　〃If　you　think　out　this　couplet；　it　applies　to　the　present　juncture。　Half　the　first　line　refers　to　the　founder　of　the　dynasty；　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor；　who　became　ruler　in　the　western　city　of　Changan；　which　was　the　capital　during　twelve　reigns。　The　other　half　corresponds　to　Liu　Xiu　the　Latter　Han　Founder　who　ruled　from　Luoyang；　the　eastern　capital　during　twelve　latter　reigns。　The　revolution　of　the　heavens　brings　us　back　to　this　starting　moment。　Thus　if　you　remove　to　Changan；　there　will　be　no　need　for　anxiety。〃

Dong　Zhuo　was　exceedingly　pleased　and　said；　〃Had　you　not　spoken　thus；　I　should　not　have　understood！〃