第23部分(第1/7 頁)

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　Bu's　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　Zhuo's　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