Lu Bu said； 〃Good younger brother； you need not be so very modest。〃
Zhang Fei heard what Lu Bu said； and his eyes glared； crying； 〃What sort of a man are you that dares call our brother 'younger brother'？ He is one of the ruling family………a jade leaf on a golden branch。 e out； and I will fight you three hundred bouts for the insult。〃
Liu Bei hastily checked the impulsive one； and Guan Yu persuaded him to go away。 Then Liu Bei apologized； saying； 〃My poor brother talks wildly after he has been drinking。 I hope you will not blame him。〃
Lu Bu nodded； but said nothing。 Soon after the guests departed。 But as the host escorted Liu Bei to his carriage； he saw Zhang Fei galloping up armed as for a fray。
〃Lu Bu； you and I will fight that duel of three hundred bouts！〃 shouted Zhang Fei。
Liu Bei bade Guan Yu check him。 Next day Lu Bu came to take leave of his host。
〃You； O Lord； kindly received me； but I fear your brothers and I cannot agree。 So I will seek some other asylum。〃
〃General； if you go； the blame is mine。 My rude brother has offended and must eventually apologize。 In the meantime what think you of a temporary sojourn at the town where I was encamped for some time； Xiaopei？ The place is small and mean； but it is near； and I will see to it that you are supplied with all you need。〃
Lu Bu thanked him and accepted this offer。 He led his troops there and took up residence。 After he had gone； Liu Bei buried his annoyance； and Zhang Fei did not again refer to the matter。
That Cao Cao had subdued the east of the Huashang Mountains has been stated before。 He memorialized the Throne and was rewarded with the title of General Who Exhibits Firm Virtue and Lord of Feiting。 At this time the rebellious Li Jue was manding the court； and he had made himself Regent Marshal； and his colleague Guo Si styled himself Grand mander。 Their conduct was abominable but no one dared to criticize them。
Imperial Guardian Yang Biao and Minister Zhu Jun privately talked with Emperor Xian and said； 〃Cao Cao has two hundred thousand troops and many capable advisers and leaders。 It would be well for the empire if he would lend his support to the imperial family and help to rid the government of this evil party。〃
His Majesty wept； 〃I am weary of the insults and contempt of these wretches and should be very glad to have them removed。〃
〃I have thought of a plan to estrange Li Jue and Guo Si and so make them destroy each other。 Then Cao Cao could e and cleanse the court；〃 said Yang Biao。
〃How will you manage it？〃 asked the Emperor。
〃Guo Si's wife； Lady Qiong； is very jealous； and we can take advantage of her weakness to bring about a quarrel。〃
So Yang Biao received instruction to act； with a secret edict to support him。 Yang Biao's wife； Lady Kai； made an excuse to visit Lady Qiong at her palace and； in the course of conversation； said 〃There is talk of secret liaison between the General； your husband； and the wife of Minister Li Jue。 It is a great secret； but if Minister Li Jue knew it； he might try to harm your husband。 I think you ought to have very little to do with that family。〃
Lady Qiong was surprised but said； 〃I have wondered why he has been sleeping away from home lately； but I did not think there was anything shameful connected with it。 I should never have known if you had not spoken。 I must put a stop to it。〃
By and by； when Lady Kai took her leave； Lady Qiong thanked her warmly for the information she had given。
Some days passed； and Guo Si was going over to the dwelling of Li Jue to a dinner。
Lady Qiong did not wish him to go and she said； 〃This Li Jue is very deep； and one cannot fathom his designs。 You two are not of equal rank； and if he made away with you； what would bee of your poor handmaid？〃
Guo Si paid no attention； and his wife could not prevail on him to stay at home。 Late in the afternoon some presents arrived from Li Jue's palace； and Lady Qiong secretly put poison into the delicacies before she set them before her lord。
Guo Si was going to taste at once but she said； 〃It is unwise to consume things that e from outside。 Let us try on a dog first。〃
They did and the dog died。 This incident made Guo Si doubt the kindly intentions of his colleague。
One day； at the close of business at court； Li Jue invited Guo Si to his palace。 After Guo Si arrived home in the evening； rather the worse for too much wine； he was seized with a colic。 His wife said she suspected poison and hastily administered an emetic； which relieved the pain。
Guo Si began to feel angry； saying； 〃We did everything together and helped each other always。 Now he wants to injure me。 If I do not get in the first blow； I shall suffer some injury。〃
So Guo Si began to prepare his guards for any sudden emergency。
This was told to Li Jue； and he in turn grew angry； saying； 〃So Guo Si is doing so and so！〃
Then Li Jue got his guards under way and came to attack Guo Si。 Both houses had ten thousand； and the quarrel became so serious that they fought a pitched battle under the city walls。 When that was over both sides turned to plunder the people。
Then a nephew of Li Jue； Li Xian； suddenly surrounded the Palace； put the Emperor and Empress in two carriages； and assigned Jia Xu and Zuo Ling to carry them off。 The Palace attendants were made to follow on foot。 As they went out of the rear gate； they met Guo Si's army who began to shoot at the cavalcade with arrows。 They killed many attendants before Li Jue's army came up and forced them to retire。
The carriages were got out of the Palace and eventually reached Li Jue's camp； while Guo Si's soldiers plundered the Palace and carried off all the women left there to their camp。 Then the Palace was set on fire。
As soon as Guo Si heard of the whereabouts of the Emperor； he came over to attack the camp of Li Jue。 The Emperor between these two opposing factions was greatly alarmed。 Indeed：
Slowly the Hans had declined but renewed their vigor with Liu Xiu；
Twelve were the rulers before him； followed him also twelve others。
Foolish were two of the latest； dangers surrounded the altars；
These were degenerate days； with authority given to eunuchs。
Then did He Jin the simple； the inept； who manded the army；
Warriors call to the capital； wishing to drive out the vermin；
Though they drove out the leopards； tigers and wolves quickly entered。
All kinds of evil were wrought by a low class creature from Xizhou。
Wang Yun； honest of heart； beguiled this wretch with a woman；
Much desired of his henchman； thus sowing seeds of dissension。
Strife resulted； and peace no longer dwelt in the empire。
No one suspected that Li Jue and Guo Si would continue the evil；
Much to the sorrow of the Middle Kingdom； yet they stove for a trifle。
Famine stalked in the Palace； grief for the clashing of weapons；
Why did the warriors strive？ Why was the land thus partitioned？
They had turned aside from the way appointed of Heaven。
Kings must ponder these things； heavy the burden lies on them；
Chiefest in all the realm theirs is no mon appointment；
Should the King falter or fail； calamities fall on the multitude people；
The empire is drenched with their blood； grisly ruin surrounds them。
Steeped in sorrow and sad； read you the ancient records；
Long is the tale of years； the tale of sorrow is longer。
Wherefore one who would rule； chiefly must exercise forethought。
This and a keen…edged blade； these must suffice to maintain one。
Guo Si's army arrived； and Li Jue went out to give battle。 Guo Si's troops had no success and retired。 Then Li Jue removed the imperial captives to Meiwo with his nephew Li Xian as gaoler。 Supplies were reduced； and famine showed itself on the faces of the eunuchs。 The Emperor sent to Li Jue to request five carts of rice and five sets of bullock bones for his attendants。
Li Jue angrily replied； 〃The court gets food morning and evening。 Why do they ask for more？〃
He sent putrid meat and rotten grain； and the Emperor was very vexed at the new insult。
Imperial Counselor Yang Qi counseled patience； saying； 〃Li Jue is a base creature but； under the present circumstances； Your Majesty must put up with it。 You may not provoke him。〃
The Emperor bowed and was silent； but the tears fell on his garments。 Suddenly someone came