第23部分(第2/7 页)

to　seek　refuge　with　Yuan　Shu。

Li　Jue；　Guo　Si；　and　his　fellow　leaders　gave　full　license　to　their　ruffians；　who　robbed　and　murdered　their　fill。　Many　high　officers　perished。　Ministers　Chong　Fu；　Lu　Kui；　and　Zhou　Huan；　Imperial　manders　Cui　Lie　and　Wang　Qin　all　died　in　the　fighting。

In　time　the　rebels　penetrated　to　the　inner　part　of　the　Palace；　and　the　courtiers　begged　the　Emperor　to　proceed　to　the　Gate　of　Pervading　Peace　to　try　to　quell　the　rioting。

At　sight　of　the　yellow　umbrella；　Li　Jue　and　Fan　Chou　checked　their　armies；　and　they　all　shouted；　〃Wan　shui！　Long　life！　O　Emperor！〃

The　Emperor　stood　by　the　tower　and　addressed　them；　〃Nobles；　what　means　it　that　you　enter　the　capital　in　this　unruly　manner　and　without　my　summons？〃

The　two　leaders　looked　up　and　said；　〃Dong　Zhuo；　Your　Majesty's　Prime　Minister；　has　been　slain　by　Wang　Yun；　and　we　are　here　to　avenge　him。　We　are　no　rebels；　Sire。　Let　us　only　have　Wang　Yun；　and　we　draw　off　our　troops。〃

Wang　Yun　was　actually　among　the　courtiers　and　at　the　Emperor's　side。

Hearing　this　demand；　Wang　Yun　said；　〃The　plan　was　made　for　the　benefit　of　the　Throne。　But　as　this　evil　has　grown　therefrom；　Your　Majesty　will　not　grudge　losing　me。　I　have　brought　about　evil；　and　I　will　go　down　to　these　rebels。〃

The　Emperor　was　torn　with　sorrow　and　wavered。　But　the　faithful　minister　leaped　from　the　wall；　crying；　〃Wang　Yun　is　here！〃

The　two　leaders　drew　their　swords；　crying；　〃For　what　crime　was　our　master　slain？〃

〃His　crimes　filled　the　heavens　and　covered　the　earth；　no　tongue　can　tell　them。　The　day　he　died　was　a　day　of　rejoicing　in　the　whole　city　as　you　well　know；〃　said　Wang　Yun。

〃And　if　he　was　guilty　of　some　crime；　what　had　we　done　not　to　be　forgiven？〃

〃Seditious　rebels；　why　b