第一小说网

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第23部分（第1页）

Thus　Lu　Bu　was　baited　till　his　bosom　was　near　bursting　with　rage。　The　same　tactics　continued　for　several　days。　He　could　neither　strike　his　enemies　nor　escape　them。　His　troops　had　no　rest。

In　the　midst　of　these　distracting　maneuver；　a　messenger　rode　up　in　hot　haste　to　report：　〃The　capital　is　in　imminent　danger　from　a　double　attack　of　Fan　Chou　and　Zhang　Ji。〃

Lu　Bu　at　once　ordered　a　march　to　save　the　capital；　which　became　a　rout　when　both　his　opponents　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　came　in　pursuit。　His　loss　was　heavy。

He　soon　reached　Changan　and　found　the　rebels　there　in　enormous　numbers　and　the　city　quite　surrounded。　Lu　Bus　attack　had　but　little　effect；　and　as　his　temper　became　more　savage　under　defeat；　many　of　his　soldiers　went　over　to　the　rebels。

He　fell　into　deep　melancholy。　Then　a　remnant　of　Dong　Zhuos　adherents　still　in　the　city；　led　by　Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang；　began　to　lend　aid　to　the　attackers；　and　by　and　by　they　secretly　opened　the　city　gate　and　the　besiegers　poured　in。　Lu　Bu　exerted　himself　to　the　utmost　but　could　not　stem　the　tide。　At　the　head　of　some　hundred　horse；　he　dashed　over　to　the　Black　Lock　Gate　and　called　out　to　Wang　Yun；　who　was　on　the　other　side。

〃The　case　is　desperate　now。　Ride　with　me　to　a　place　of　safety！〃

Wang　Yun　replied；　〃If　I　am　gifted　with　the　holy　spirit　of　the　state；　I　shall　succeed　in　restoring　the　tranquillity　which　I　desire。　But　if　I　have　it　not；　then　I　offer　my　body　a　sacrifice。　I　will　not　quail　before　dangers。　Send　my　thanks　to　the　noble　supporters　beyond　the　Pass　for　their　efforts；　and　bid　them　remember　their　country！〃

Lu　Bu　urged　Wang　Yun　again　and　again；　but　Wang　Yun　would　not　leave。　Soon　flames　started　up　all　over　the　city；　and　Lu　Bu　had　to　leave；　abandoning　his　family　to　their　fate。　He　fled　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　Majestys　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　Emperors　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　bandy　words？　I　am　ready　to　die。〃

And　Wang　Yun　was　slain　at　the　foot　of　the　tower。

Moved　by　the　peoples　sufferings；

Vexed　at　his　princes　grief；

Wang　Yun　passed　the　traitors　death；

That　they　might　find　relief。

Everyone　knows　him　a　hero；

Leal　to　the　state　always：

Living　he　guarded　the　princely　towers；

His　soul　keeps　guard　today。

Having　done　the　loyal　minister　to　death　at　the　Emperors　feet；　they　proceeded　to　exterminate　also　his　whole　family。　Everyone　mourned。

Then　said　the　ruffians　to　each　other；　〃Having　gone　so　far；　what　could　be　better　than　to　make　away　with　the　Emperor　and　plete　our　scheme？〃

The　traitor　condoned　his　crime；

Rebellion　ought　to　cease；

But　his　licentious　followers

Disturb　the　empires　peace。

The　fate　of　the　Emperor　will　be　disclosed　in　the　next　chapter。