between the two factions。 Zhang Ji vowed he would attack the one who was recalcitrant。 Li Jue tried to gain favor by hastening to send to tell Zhang Ji he was ready to make peace。 So did Guo Si。
So the strife of the rival factions ended at last； and Zhang Ji memorialized asking the Emperor to go to Hongnong near Luoyang。
The Emperor was delighted； saying； 〃I have longed to go back to the east。〃
Zhang Ji was rewarded with the title of mander of the Flying Cavalry and was highly honored。 Zhang Ji saw to it that the Emperor and the court had good supplies of necessaries。 Guo Si set free all his captive officers； and Li Jue prepared transport for the court to move to the east。 Li Jue told off panies of his Royal Guard to escort the cavalcade。
The progress had been without incident as far as Xinfeng。 Near Baling Bridge the west wind of autumn came on to blow with great violence； but soon above the howling of the gale was heard the trampling of a large body of force。 They stopped at a bridge and barred the way。
〃Who es？〃 cried a voice。
〃The Imperial Chariot is passing； and who dares stop it？〃 said Yang Qi； riding forward。
Two leaders of the barring party advanced to Yang Qi； saying； 〃General Guo Si has ordered us to guard the bridge and stop all spies。 You say the Emperor is here： We must see him； and then we will let you pass。〃
So the pearl curtain was raised and the Emperor said； 〃I； the Emperor； am here。 Why do you not retire to let me pass； gentlemen？〃
They all shouted； 〃Wan shui！ Long Life！ Long Life！〃 and fell away to allow the cortege through。
But when they reported what they had done； Guo Si was very angry； saying； 〃I meant to outwit Zhang Ji； seize the Emperor； and hold him in Meiwo。 Why have you let him get away？〃
He put the two officers to death； set out to pursue the cavalcade； and overtook it just at the county of Huaying。 The noise of a great shouting arose behind the travelers； and a loud voice manded； 〃Stop the train！〃
The Emperor burst into tears。
〃Out of the wolf's den into the tiger's mouth！〃 said he。
No one knew what to do； they were all too frightened。 But when the rebel army was just upon them； they heard the beating of drums and from behind some hills came into the open a cohort of one thousand soldiers preceded by a great flag bearing the name Han General Yang Feng 。
Having defeated by Li Jue； Yang Feng fled to the foothills of the Xian； and he came up to offer his services as soon as he heard the Emperor's journey。 Seeing it was necessary to fight now； he drew up his line of battle。
Guo Si's general； Cui Yong； rode out and began a volley of abuse。
Yang Feng turned and said； 〃Where is Xu Huang？〃
In response out came a valiant warrior gripping a heavy battle…ax。 He galloped up on his fleet bay； making directly for Cui Yong； whom he felled at the first blow。 At this the whole force dashed forward and routed Guo Si。 The defeated army went back some seven miles。
Yang Feng rode forward to see the Emperor who graciously said； 〃It is a great service you have rendered： You have saved my life。〃
Yang Feng bowed and thanked him； and the Emperor asked to see the actual slayer of the rebel leader。 So Xu Huang was led to the chariot where he bowed and was presented as Xu Huang of Hedong。
The Emperor recognized the achievement of the warrior。
Then the cavalcade went forward； Yang Feng acting as escort as far as the city of Huaying； the halting place for the night。 The mander of the place； Duan Wei； supplied them with clothing and food。 And the Emperor passed the night in Yang Feng's camp。
Next day Guo Si； having mustered his troops； appeared in front of the camp； and Xu Huang rode out to engage。 But Guo Si threw his army out so that they entirely surrounded the camp； and the Emperor was in the middle。 The position was very critical； when help appeared in the person of a galloping general from 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 Dong Cheng devoted themselves solely to the protection of the Emperor and Empress。 The officials； the attendants； the archives and records； and all the paraphernalia of the court were left to care for themselves。 The rebels ravaged Hongnong； but the two protectors got the Emperor safely away into Shanbei。
When the rebel generals showed signs of pursuit； Yang Feng and Dong Cheng had to play a double…edged sword。 They sent to offer to discuss terms of peace with Li Jue and Guo Si； at the same time they sent a secret edict to enlist the help from the leaders of the White Wave rebels………Han Xian； Li Yue； and Hu Cai。 The White Wave was a branch of the Yellow Scarves； and Li Yue was actually a brigand and had inspired rebels throughout the country。 But the need for help was so desperate。
These three； being promised pardon for their faults and crimes and a grant of official rank； naturally responded to the call； and thus the loyal side was strengthened so that Hongnong was recaptured。 But meanwhile Li Jue and Guo Si laid waste whatever place they reached； slaying the aged and weakly； forcing the strong to join their ranks。 When going into a fight they forced these people…soldiers to the front； and they called them the 〃Dare…to…Die〃 soldiers。
Li Jue and Guo Si's force was overwhelming。 When Li Yue； the White Wave leader； approached with his army； Guo Si bade his soldiers scatter clothing and valuables along the road。 The late robbers could not resist the temptation； so a scramble began。 Then Guo Si's soldiers fell upon the disordered ranks and did much damage。 Yang Feng and Dong Cheng had to take the Emperor away to the north。
Li Jue and Guo Si pursued。
Li Yue said； 〃The danger is grave。 I pray Your Majesty mount a horse and go in advance。〃
The Emperor replied； 〃I cannot bear to abandon my officers。〃
They wept and struggled on as best they could。 The White Wave leader Hu Cai was killed in one attack。
The enemy came very near； and the Emperor left his carriage and went on foot。 Yang Feng and Dong Cheng escorted him to the bank of the Yellow River。 Li Yue sought a boat to ferry him to the other side。 The weather was very cold and the Emperor and Empress cuddled up close to each other shivering。 They reached the river but the banks were too high； and they could not get down into the boat。 So Yang Feng proposed to fasten together the horses' bridles and lower down the Emperor slung by the waist。 However； the Empress' brother； Fu De； found some rolls of white silk from dead soldiers； and they rolled up the two imperial personages in the silk； and thus they lowered them down near the boat。 Then Li Yue took up his positi