Now Cao Cao, whose courtesy name was Mengde, had inflicted a major defeat on Lü Bu at Dingtao. Lü Bu gathered his shattered soldiers and horses on the seashore, and his officers all came to him to muster for another battle with Cao Cao. Chen Gong said, “Now Cao Cao’s forces are too strong; we should not contend with him yet. First, we should seek a place where we can secure ourselves, and only then return.”

Lü Bu said, “I want to go over to Yuan Shao. What do you think?” Chen Gong said, “First send someone to Jizhou to gather news, and then we can depart.” Lü Bu followed his advice.

At that time Yuan Shao was in Jizhou. When he heard that Cao Cao and Lü Bu were engaged, his adviser Shen Pei proposed, “Lü Bu is like a jackal and tiger; if he gains Yan Province, he will surely move against Jizhou. Better to aid Cao Cao and strike him first, then we can avoid trouble.” Yuan Shao therefore dispatched Yan Liang with fifty thousand men to assist Cao Cao. A spy discovered this and quickly reported to Lü Bu. Lü Bu was greatly alarmed and conferred with Chen Gong. Chen Gong said, “I hear that Liu Bei has newly taken command of Xu Province. You may go and submit there.” Lü Bu took the advice and, in fact, came to Xu Province.

Someone informed Liu Bei. He said, “Lü Bu is among the most heroic men of the age; we should ride out and greet him.” Mi Zhu objected: “Lü Bu is a beast of the tiger and wolf sort; we cannot keep him. If we accept him, he will hurt others.” Liu Bei replied, “Did he not previously raid Yan Province? Then how would this commandery have escaped ruin? Now he is desperate and has come to me; how could he harbor any other intention?” Zhang Fei added, “Brother, your heart is too tender. Even so, we must be prepared.”

Liu Bei led his men out thirty li from the city, met Lü Bu, and then went in with him by horse. They arrived at the prefectural hall, completed formal greetings, and sat down.

Lü Bu said, “Since I joined with Chancellor Wang in plotting Dong Zhuo’s death, I was then undone by the upheaval of Jue and Si, and I have since drifted in and out of the provinces of Guandong. Most lords could not tolerate me. Recently, Cao the usurper, through his cruelty, invaded Xuzhou, so the Xuanjun governor had to come to the rescue of Tao Qian. I then marched on Yan Province to split his forces, but unexpectedly I fell into a cruel stratagem and lost men and officers. Now I have come to you, my lord, to plan matters together. I do not yet know your heart’s intent.”

Liu Bei said, “Marquis Tao Qing [Tao Qian] died recently, and no one is in charge of Xu Province; I have therefore ordered Bao Quan to act in his place. Now that the commanding general has come here, it is proper that I defer.” He gave him his seal and tokens of command. Lü Bu seemed about to receive them, but saw that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood behind him with angry faces. Lü Bu therefore affected a laugh and said, “How can a lone brave like me serve as Governor of a Province?” Liu Bei insisted on yielding again. Chen Gong said, “The honored guest must not suppress the host. Please, my lord, make no suspicion.” Liu Bei then stopped.

They held a feast in Lü Bu’s honor and made arrangements to settle him into a residence.

The next day Lü Bu called Liu Bei to his side. Liu Bei went with Guan and Zhang. When wine had reached half intoxication, Lü Bu asked him into the back hall. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei entered with him. Lü Bu told his wife and children to come and bow to Liu Bei. Liu Bei refused repeatedly out of courtesy. Lü Bu said, “You need not insist on calling your brother-in-arms a humble subordinate.” Hearing this, Zhang Fei glowered and shouted, “My brother is gold-blooded and jade-bloomed; who are you to call him a humble subordinate? You come! I will fight you three rounds!” Liu Bei quickly ordered Guan Yu to restrain him. Liu Bei said to Lü Bu, “My younger brother was mad with wine; brother, do not reproach him.” Lü Bu remained silent. When the feast eventually broke up, Lü Bu saw Liu Bei out. Zhang Fei leaped from his horse and came charging forward with his spear, shouting, “Lü Bu! I will settle this against you in three rounds of combat!” Liu Bei again hurriedly ordered Guan Yu to calm him.

The next day Lü Bu came to take leave of Liu Bei. He said, “Thanks to your lordship for not abandoning me, but I fear my younger men may not accept each other. I shall seek another place to go.” Liu Bei said, “If you leave, your brother has committed a grave offense. The younger brother’s insolence should be answered another day in private conversation. This nearby Xiao Pei was once a place where I quartered troops. If your excellence does not mind that it is narrow, stay there for now. As for grain and military supply, I will see that all is arranged.” Lü Bu thanked Liu Bei and withdrew with his men to Xiao Pei. Liu Bei then withdrew, grumbling at Zhang Fei in silence.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao pacified Shandong and reported to the court. He was advanced to General of Jian-de and made Marquis of Feiting. At that time Li Jue had made himself Grand Commandant and Guo Si General-in-Chief. They ran rampant without restraint, and no one in court dared to speak. Grand Commandant Yang Biao and Minister of Agriculture Zhu Jun secretly reported to the Son of Heaven: “Now Cao Cao commands more than twenty thousand troops and has a host of dozens of advisers and generals. If this man could be supported to shore up the dynasty and eliminate the traitors, the realm would be safer.” The emperor wept and said, “I have been oppressed by the two violent chiefs for so long. If they can be executed, the joy would be immeasurable!” Yang Biao said, “I have one stratagem. First we let the two bandit chiefs destroy one another. Then we issue an edict for Cao Cao to bring troops, slay them, and clear the traitors for the court.” The emperor asked, “How will this be done?” Yang Biao said, “I have heard that Guo Si’s wife is extremely jealous. If one were to plant rumors at Guo Si’s wife’s ears, the two chiefs would come to mutual ruin.”

The emperor therefore wrote a secret edict and gave it to Yang Biao. Yang Biao immediately sent his wife on other pretexts to Guo Si’s household and told Guo Si’s wife at an opportune moment, “People are whispering that Guo Si has grown intimate with the wife of Sima Li, and that the relation is widely known. If her husband hears of it, he will surely kill you. Your wife should cut off such contact at once as best.” Guo Si’s wife was startled: “How is it that he has not returned home for many nights, yet does such a shameless thing? I would not know it unless you told me of it. I will be on guard.” Yang Biao’s wife returned and reported this; Guo Si’s wife thanked her repeatedly and left.

After several days, Guo Si again prepared to go to Li Jue’s home for a banquet. His wife said, “Jue’s temper is uncertain, and now these two lords cannot both remain in power together. If he slips poison into the wine after drinking, what can I do?” Guo Si would not yield to repeated counsel and insisted on going. By evening Li Jue sent the banquet to Guo Si’s house. Guo Si’s wife secretly placed poison in the wine and only then offered it. Guo Si was about to eat when his wife said, “This came from outside; why should you eat it at once?” She offered it first to a dog, which died standing. From then on Guo Si was suspicious.

One morning after court, Li Jue urgently invited Guo Si to his home to drink. By nightfall, after the feast had broken up, Guo Si returned drunk and suddenly suffered abdominal pain. His wife said, “It must have been the poison!” and ordered him to drink excrement-water. After one expulsion he calmed. Guo Si became furious and said, “I and Jue together planned great matters. Now no cause has been given to me except to attempt my murder. If I do not act first, I will surely meet with venomous hands.” He then quietly readied all his troops and prepared to attack Li Jue. His plan was reported early. Li Jue grew enraged as well: “How dare Guo Ya-di do this!” He immediately mustered his troops and came to kill Guo Si. Under the city gates there was wild fighting; they took opportunity to plunder the residents.

Li Jue’s nephew Li Xian surrounded Chen Gong’s residence with troops and used two wagons, one for the Son of Heaven and one for the Empress Fu, with Jia Xu and Zuo Ling in charge of escorting the carriage. The rest of the palace attendants and eunuchs, all on foot, followed behind. As they came out through the main gate, Guo Si’s troops arrived and a rain of arrows fell. Palace attendants were shot dead beyond counting. Li Jue then followed and slaughtered everyone behind, while Guo Si’s men retreated. The carriage rode through the city in extremity with no chance for refusal and was carried all the way to Li Jue’s camp. Guo Si entered the palace with his troops, robbed all palace women and singing-maids into camp, and set fire to the hall. The next day Guo Si learned Li Jue had seized the Son of Heaven. He marched out with his main forces to fight before the camp. The emperor and empress were stricken with fear. Later someone later wrote this verse in lament:

光武中興興漢世，上下相承十二帝。 桓靈無道宗社墮，閹臣擅權為叔季。 無謀何進作三公，欲除社鼠招奸雄。 豺獺雖驅虎狼入，西州逆賊生淫凶。 王允赤心託紅粉，致令董呂成矛盾。 渠魁殄滅天下寧，誰知李郭心懷憤。 神州荊棘爭奈何，六宮饑饉愁干戈。 人心既離天命去，英雄割據分山河。 後王規此存兢業，莫把金甌等閒缺。 生靈糜爛肝腦塗，剩水殘山多怨血。 我觀遺史不勝悲，今古茫茫歎黍離。 人君當守苞桑戒，太阿誰持全綱維？

At once Guo Si’s troops arrived. Li Jue rode out to engage. Guo Si’s force was at a disadvantage and withdrew for the time being. Li Jue then moved the emperor and empress and the carriage to Meiwu and put Li Xian in charge, cut off all inner attendants, and let food and supplies stop. The ministers all showed the look of hunger. An attendant asked the emperor to request five hu of rice and five carcasses of cattle to be given to aides. Li Jue was furious: “I have provided the daily meal; why does he ask again?” He then gave them decayed flesh and rotten grain, all foul and inedible. The emperor cursed, “Such rebel monsters are now deceitful in this way.” Sergeant-at-Arms Yang Biao immediately reported: “Grand Commandant Li Jue is cruel and violent. Under the circumstances, Your Majesty must bear it for now; do not oppose his momentum.” The emperor lowered his head in silence, tears filling the sleeves of his robe.

Suddenly an attendant reported, “A body of mounted troops is coming, spear and saber shining in the sun, bronze and drums filling the sky, and they have come to rescue the emperor.” The emperor inquired: it was Guo Si. His worry deepened. From outside the camp shouts rose. Li Jue had sent soldiers to meet Guo Si and pointed and lashed out, cursing, “I treated you generously; how can you scheme to harm me?” Guo Si said, “You are a rebel against the throne; why should I not kill you?” Li Jue replied, “I have the Son of Heaven under my protection here; how can they call me a rebel?” Guo Si said, “This is an abduction of the throne-carriage. How can you claim to protect it?” Li Jue said, “No need to speak more. Each of us is to decide no to the use of soldiers; we decide this by strength alone. If I win, I take the emperor.” The two then began close combat before the line. After ten exchanges, victory was still unclear. At once Yang Biao rode in at a gallop and shouted, “Both commanders, spare an interval. The old one has invited more than sixty court officers to come and talk peace with you.” Li Jue and Guo Si each returned to their camps.

Yang Biao and Zhu Jun met with more than sixty officials and first came to Guo Si’s camp to urge reconciliation. Guo Si nevertheless placed all those officials under guard. One of them said, “We have come in friendship. Why do you receive us so?” Guo Si said, “Li Jue abducted the Son of Heaven; he alone did not seize the ministers.” Yang Biao asked, “He seized the Son of Heaven, and he seized the ministers. What do you intend?” Guo Si was so angry that he drew his sword to kill Biao. Middle Gentleman Yang Mi begged him to stop, and Guo Si then released Yang Biao and Zhu Jun but kept the others confined in camp. Yang Biao told Zhu Jun, “As ministers of the realm, we cannot right the ruler and save the lord. We have come merely to waste away in this world.” After speaking, he and Zhu Jun embraced each other and wept, then lost consciousness. Zhu Jun returned home and became bedridden and died. After this, Li Jue and Guo Si fought each other daily; for more than fifty days, the number of dead could not be counted.

It was said that Li Jue most enjoyed left-way sorcery and often let shamanesses beat drums and summon spirits in the camp. Jia Xu repeatedly remonstrated but was ignored. Middle gentleman Yang Qi secretly reported to the emperor, “Though Jia Xu is near Li Jue’s heart, he has never forgotten the Son of Heaven. Your Majesty should consult him.” While he spoke, Jia Xu arrived. The emperor dismissed attendants and with tears said to Jia Xu, “Can you pity the Han court and save my life?” Jia Xu knelt and said, “This is my fixed wish. Your Majesty should not say more; I will devise a way.” The emperor dried his tears and nodded in thanks.

After a short while Li Jue came to court, entering with a drawn sword. The emperor’s face had turned clay-colored. Li Jue said to the emperor, “Guo Si is disloyal; he has imprisoned the ministers and intends to abduct Your Majesty. Without me, the carriage would have already been seized.” The emperor clasped his hands and thanked him. Li Jue then left. At that moment Huangfu Li came before the emperor. The emperor noticed Li's eloquence and that he was from the same commandery as Li Jue. He issued an order asking him to reconcile both sides. Li carried the command to Guo Si’s camp and relayed it. Guo Si asked, “If you are sent from Li Jue, then he intends to release the ministers?”

Li immediately appeared before Guo Si. He said, “The Son of Heaven commanded me, a native of Xiliang, and your fellow countryman, to urge both lords to reconcile. Guo Si has obeyed the command. What is your view?” Li Jue replied, “I had great merit in defeating Lü Bu and for four years of assisting the court I achieved many meritorious accomplishments; all under heaven knows this. Guo Si is no more than a horse-thief who dares to seize ministers and oppose me. I swear I will execute him. Will your forces and tactics be enough to beat Guo Si?” Li Pu said, “No. In former times, the impoverished Hou Yi boasted of his excellent archery and thought no misfortune could touch him, and so he perished. In these recent times, you yourself have seen Daoshi Dong too [Dong Zhuo] rise in force, Lü Bu received grace and then plotted treachery in an instant and came to hang over the gate of the realm. Therefore mere strength cannot be relied upon. As upper general, you wield the axe and banner; your kin and descendants are all in distinguished rank. The court’s grace toward your clan is not light. If Guo Si seizes the ministers while your lordship seizes the Son of Heaven, who can say who is lighter, who is heavier?”

Li Jue grew furious, drew his sword and shouted, “The Son of Heaven sent you to humiliate me? I will first behead your head!” Cavalry Captain Yang Feng advised, “Guo Si is not yet removed; if we kill the Son of Heaven’s envoy, Guo Si will have a pretext to raise troops, and all the lords will aid him.” Jia Xu also urged him strongly. Li Jue’s anger eased a little. Jia Xu then pushed Huangfu Li out. Li Pu shouted, “Li Jue does not obey the imperial order and wants to assassinate the Son of Heaven and set himself up!” Middle gentleman Hu Miao hastened to stop him: “Do not utter such words; it may harm your body.” Li Pu yelled, “Hu Jingcai! You too are a minister of the court; how can you attach yourself to bandits? Better to say, ‘A minister should die for his lord’s humiliation.’ If I am killed by Li Jue, that is my division of life!” He kept cursing without end. The emperor learned this and hurriedly ordered Huangfu Li to return to Xiliang.

Now Li Jue’s troops were mostly men from Xiliang, and his army relied heavily on Qiang troops. Yet when Li Pu spoke among those men and said, “Li Jue intends rebellion; anyone who follows him will become a bandit associate with deep future harm,” many Xiliang soldiers listened and the army’s spirit gradually broke. Li Jue heard of what Li Pu had said and became enraged. He sent Tiger-Guarded Wang Chang to pursue him. Wang Chang knew Li Pu was a loyal and righteous man, so he did not pursue him; he only returned and reported, “Li Pu’s destination is unknown.” Jia Xu then secretly told the Qiang men, “The Son of Heaven knows your loyalty and long hardship. He has issued a secret edict ordering you home; later he will reward you greatly.” The Qiang men had long resented Li Jue for withholding noble titles and gifts, so they took Jia Xu’s words, and all drew away with their forces.

Jia Xu then memorialized the emperor in secret: “Li Jue is greedy and without strategy; now his soldiers are scattered and afraid. It is possible to entice them with high rank as bait.” The emperor therefore issued an edict and made Li Jue Grand Commandant. Li Jue rejoiced, saying, “It is the favor of the witch whose spirit-offering and prayers prevailed!” He greatly rewarded the shamaness but gave no reward to army officers. Yang Feng, the Cavalry Commander, was enraged. He said to Song Guo, “We were born together and died together, braving arrows and stones, and our merit is less than that of a witch?” Song Guo replied, “Why not kill this brigand and save the Son of Heaven?” Yang Feng said, “You set fire in the center army as the signal; I shall draw troops outside.” The two agreed to act at the second watch of the night. But the matter leaked. Someone reported it to Li Jue. Li Jue was furious and ordered Song Guo seized and killed first. Yang Feng brought his troops outside but saw no signal fire. Li Jue led troops out himself and happened upon Yang Feng; a brawl broke out among the stockade through the fourth watch of the night. Unable to prevail, Yang Feng withdrew and rode toward Xian. From this Li Jue’s force progressively weakened. As if in addition, Guo Si kept attacking often, and many men were killed. Suddenly there was a report: “General Zhang Ji commands a large army coming from Shaanxi and seeks to reconcile both lords; if not, he will advance with troops.” Li Jue then made a courtesy gesture and first sent men to Zhang Ji’s army to ask for peace. Guo Si also had no choice but to assent. Zhang Ji submitted a memorial, requesting that the Son of Heaven ride the carriage east to Hongnong. The emperor rejoiced: “I have longed for the eastern capital. By this turn, to return there is a great blessing!” He issued an edict making Zhang Ji Commander of Agile Cavalry. Zhang Ji brought grain, wine, and meat and provisioned the hundred officials. Guo Si released the ministers from camp. Li Jue gathered the emperor’s carriage and moved eastward, sending a few hundred old guard cavalry, with spears raised, to escort.

The carriage passed Xinfeng and reached Bailing. It was autumn; the cold wind rose abruptly. Suddenly great shouts rose as hundreds of soldiers came to the bridge and blocked the carriage. They asked in ringing voices, “Who comes here?” Middle Gentleman Yang Qi rode up and cried on the bridge, “The sacred carriage has passed this way. Who dare block it?” Two officers replied, “We serve General Guo and hold this bridge to prevent hidden traitors. Since you claim to be the sacred carriage, we must see Your Majesty in person to verify.” Yang Qi raised the silk curtain high. The emperor ordered: “I am here in person. Why do you not withdraw?” The captains shouted “Long live the emperor!” and parted to both sides; the carriage passed through.

The two officers returned to Guo Si and said, “The carriage has already gone.” Guo Si said, “I meant to trick Zhang Ji and then abduct the carriage again to return to Meiwu. Why did you let it pass on your own?” He then beheaded the two officers and raised troops to give chase. When the carriage reached Huayin County, shouts from behind shook the sky. “Stop the carriage and stay put!” the emperor told ministers through tears, “I have just left a wolf’s den and again face a tiger’s mouth. What can I do?” All were pale. Bandit troops drew nearer. There was then one wave of drums. Around the hill behind came a commander with a great banner, upon which the characters “Yang Feng of Han” were written, bringing a thousand troops to charge. It was Yang Feng. Having been defeated by Li Jue and taking refuge beneath Mount Zhongnan, he had moved his troops there; when he learned the carriage had arrived, he came specifically to defend it.

They quickly arrayed for battle. Guo Si’s captain Cui Yong charged out. He shouted that Yang Feng was a rebel. Yang Feng grew furious and looked back through the ranks, saying, “Where is Gongming [Xu Huang]?” One officer with a great axe spurred his horse at breakneck speed and rode straight for Cui Yong. The two horses met; after one exchange Cui Yong was beheaded on his mount. Yang Feng took advantage and drove on, and Guo Si’s army suffered a great rout, retreating twenty-some li. Yang Feng then reformed and came to present himself to the Son of Heaven. The emperor encouraged him: “You saved my person; your merit is no small thing.” Yang Feng knelt and thanked him. The emperor asked, “Who is the commander that slew the bandit general?” Yang Feng introduced this commander before the carriage: “This man is Xu, a native of Hedong, Yang Commandery. His family name is Xu, his personal name was Huang, and his courtesy name is Gongming.” The emperor expressed gratitude. Yang Feng protected the carriage until it reached Huayin where it set camp. General Duan Wei came with clothing, drink, and food to present. That night the Son of Heaven lodged in Yang Feng’s camp.

Guo Si, defeated once, raised troops again the next day and attacked before the camp. Xu Huang was first to ride out. Guo Si’s main host surrounded them on eight sides, and the emperor and Yang Feng were trapped in the center of the field. At the moment of utmost crisis, a loud cry rose from the southeast. A commander spurred on with his mounted men and charged in. The bandit host broke and fled. Xu Huang seized the moment to attack and dealt Guo Si’s army a severe defeat. The man who came to the emperor was Dong Cheng, an imperial kinsman. The emperor, in tears, recounted what had happened. Dong Cheng said, “Let Your Majesty fear nothing. Your servant and General Yang have sworn to behead both brigands and bring peace under heaven.” The emperor ordered an early departure to the eastern capital. The carriage moved overnight and proceeded east to Hongnong.

Meanwhile, Guo Si, having suffered defeat, collided with Li Jue on the road and said, “Yang Feng and Dong Cheng have rescued the carriage and gone to Hongnong. Once they set root in Shandong, they will declare to all under heaven and induce the lords to attack us together; three clans cannot be preserved.” Li Jue said, “Zhang Ji’s army is now stationed in Chang’an and cannot yet be lightly moved. We shall wait for a moment and unite our troops, go to Hongnong and kill the Han ruler, then divide heaven and earth; is this not possible?” Guo Si assented. The two combined forces, looted along the way, and left each place empty as they passed. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng, knowing bandit troops were near, therefore halted and returned their troops. They engaged the brigands in great combat at Dongjians.

Li Jue and Guo Si deliberated together: “Our men are many and theirs are few; mixed battle is what wins this.” So Li Jue was on the left and Guo Si on the right, and their army pressed in over mountain and plain. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng fought deathly on both sides, barely shielding the emperor and empress’s carriage as it moved. Ministers, palace attendants, seals, registers, and all court implements were abandoned. Guo Si drew his men into Hongnong and looted. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng, defending the carriage, withdrew toward Shaanbei. Li Jue and Guo Si split detachments in pursuit. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng at once sent delegates to negotiate and, at the same time, sent secret edicts to Hedong to summon Han Xian, the former White Wave commander, Li Le, and Hu Cai from three commands to come to the rescue. Li Le’s army was also bandit origin from the mountains, now called in from necessity. When these three commands heard that the Son of Heaven had pardoned them and granted office, how could they refuse? They at once drew men from their camps and met with Dong Cheng, and together took Hongnong once more.

By then, Li Jue and Guo Si only plundered where they passed, killing the old and weak and pressing the strong into forced labor; when facing the enemy, they drove local militia before them under the name of a "death-strikers" corps, and the bandits’ force was vast. Li Le’s army arrived at Weiyang. Guo Si ordered his men to throw aside clothing and gear along the road. Li Le’s men saw the clothing strewn on the ground and rushed to grab it; formation shattered. Li Jue and Guo Si’s two armies then closed and in all-around fighting the Li Le army was badly defeated. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng could not hold the line to block, and had to protect the carriage northward while brigands chased from behind. Li Le said, “The matter is urgent. Ask the Son of Heaven to remount and go first!” The emperor replied, “I cannot leave the ministers behind.”

All shouted and wept as they followed. Hu Cai was killed by the confused crowd. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng saw the enemies pressing and asked the Son of Heaven to abandon the carriage, then go on foot to the Yellow Riverbank. Li Le found a small boat to serve as a ferry. The weather was bitterly cold. The emperor and empress, both struggling with effort, reached the bank. The far bank was high and they could not disembark, and the pursuing force was near. Yang Feng said, “We can unfasten the horse reins and knot them together, tying the emperor to his waist as he gets off the boat.” The crowd of attendants included the emperor’s brother-in-law Fu De, who carried ten bolts of white silk and said, “I found these cloths in the melee; we can tie a harness to pass the litter.” The field lieutenant Shang Hong wrapped the emperor and empress with silk and ordered the line first to lower the emperor and then others into the water; thus they got into the boat. Li Le stood at the bow with his sword. Behind him, Fu De bore the empress into the boat’s center. On the home bank, those unable to enter the boat pulled at the rope together; Li Le hewed many down in the water. After the emperor and empress were crossed, he sent the boat back for the rest. Those who still struggled over the crossing were cut, with fingers severed, and cries shook the sky.

Once across, only ten or so remained around the emperor. Yang Feng found a single ox-cart and carried the emperor to Dayang. They had eaten nothing; at night they slept in a tile-roofed shed. A rustic old man offered coarse millet gruel; he and the empress ate together, but it was too rough to swallow. The next day the Son of Heaven made Li Le General Conquering the North and Han Xian General Conquering the East, and moved forward. Two ministers arrived and knelt in tears before the carriage: Grand Commandant Yang Biao and Minister of Household Han Rong. The emperor and empress both wept. Han Rong said, “Li Jue and Guo Si, though rebels, have trusted my words. I will risk my life and go to bid them cease by force. Guard your dragon body well.” Han Rong left. Li Le invited the emperor to Yang Feng’s camp to rest briefly. Yang Biao asked the emperor to go to Anyi County. The carriage reached An yi. Lacking high halls, the emperor and empress both had to live in a grass hut; there were no gates or doors, and thorn branches were stuck through the four sides for barricade. The emperor and ministers discussed state matters beneath the hut while the generals held soldiers outside the fence to suppress threats. Li Le and his men held exclusive power; if the ministers made even slight offense, they even beat them before the emperor and deliberately brought muddied wine and coarse food for him, and the emperor barely accepted. Li Le and Han Xian then promoted two hundred and more men from bandits, escorts, and witch-doctors into posts such as Colonels and Censors. The seals were not even carved deeply; they were marked only by an awl, and none held proper form.

Han Rong again counselled Li Jue and Guo Si, and the two bandits from his words let ministers and palace attendants return. That year was full of famine; the people all ate wild greens and famine-bloated bodies lay everywhere. The commander of Henei, Zhang Yang, presented rice and meat; the commander of Hedong, Wang Yi, presented silk and silk bolts. The emperor was somewhat eased. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng deliberated. One sent men to repair the Luoyang palace and wished to bring the carriage back east. Li Le refused. Dong Cheng said, “Luoyang is the capital where the Son of Heaven built his court. Anyi is too small a place. How can it hold the carriage? It is proper to restore the carriage to Luoyang.” Li Le said, “If you take the carriage away, I stay here.”

Dong Cheng and Yang Feng then raised the carriage and set out. Li Le secretly sent men to connect with Li Jue and Guo Si to abduct the carriage again. Dong Cheng and Yang Feng and Han Xian learned of this plan and through the night positioned their soldiers to guard the carriage and send it onward to Jiguan at once. Li Le learned this and, before Li Jue’s and Guo Si’s forces could arrive, drew his own men and gave pursuit. At the fourth watch, on the left side, they reached below Mount Ji and shouted: “Do not move the carriage! Li Jue and Guo Si are here!” The emperor was frightened to heart and marrow. Flames rose all over the mountain.

前番兩賊分為二，今番三賊合為一。
How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.