第32部分(第5/7 页)

om　the　southeast；　and　the　rebels　fell　away　at　his　assault。　Then　Xu　Huang　smote　them　and　so　scored　a　victory。

When　they　had　time　to　see　their　helper；　they　found　him　to　be　Dong　Cheng；　the　uncle　of　the　Emperor　or　the　〃State　Uncle〃。　The　Emperor　wept　as　he　related　his　sorrows　and　dangers。

Said　Dong　Cheng；　〃Be　of　good　courage；　Sire。　General　Yang　Feng　and　I　have　pledged　ourselves　to　kill　both　the　rebels　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　and　so　purify　the　world。〃

The　Emperor　bade　them　travel　east　as　soon　as　possible；　and　so　they　went　on　night　and　day　till　they　reached　their　destination　Hongnong。

Guo　Si　led　his　defeated　army　back。　Meeting　Li　Jue；　he　told　Li　Jue　of　the　rescue　of　the　Emperor　and　whither　they　was　going。

〃If　they　reach　the　Huashang　Mountains　and　get　settled　in　the　east；　they　will　send　out　proclamations　to　the　whole　country；　calling　up　the　nobles　to　attack　us；　and　we　and　our　families　will　be　in　danger；〃　said　Guo　Si。

〃Zhang　Ji　is　holding　Changan；　and　we　must　be　careful。　There　is　nothing　to　prevent　a　joint　attack　on　Hongnong；　when　we　can　kill　the　Emperor　and　divide　the　empire　between　us；〃　said　Li　Jue。

Guo　Si　found　this　a　suitable　scheme；　so　their　armies　came　together　again　in　one　place　and　united　in　plundering　the　countryside。　As　they　proceeded　to　Hongnong；　they　left　destruction　behind　them。

Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　heard　of　the　rebels'　approach　when　they　were　yet　a　long　way　off；　so　Yang　Feng　and　Dong　Cheng　turned　back　and　decided　to　meet　them　at　Dongjian。

Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　had　previously　made　their　plan。　Since　the　loyal　troops　were　few　as　pared　with　their　own　horde；　they　would　overwhelm　the　loyal　troops　like　a　flood。　So　when　the　day　of　battle　came；　they　poured　out　covering　the　hills　and　filling　the　plains。　Yang　Feng　and　D