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Then did He Jin the simple, the inept, who commanded 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 Empire; 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 common 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 some one came in with the tidings that a force of cavalry, their sabers glittering in the sun, was approaching to rescue them. Then they heard the gongs beat and the roll of the drums.

The Emperor sent to find out who it was. But it was Guo Si, and the sadness fell again. Presently arose a great din. For Li Jue had gone out to do battle with Guo Si, whom he abused by name.

“I treated you well and why did you try to kill me?” said Li Jue. “You are a rebel, why should I not slay you?” cried Guo Si.

“You call me rebel when I am guarding the Emperor?”

“You have abducted him; do you call that guarding?”

“Why so many words? Let us forgo a battle and settle the matter in single combat, the winner to take the Emperor and go.”

The two generals fought in front of their armies, but neither could prevail over the other.

Then they saw Yang Biao come riding up to them, crying, “Rest a while, O Commanders! For I have invited a party of officers to arrange a peace.”

Wherefore the two leaders retired to their camps. Soon Yang Biao, Zhu Jun, and sixty other officials came up and went to Guo Si's camp. They were all thrown into confinement.

“We came with good intentions,” they moaned, “and we are treated like this.”

“Li Jue has run off with the Emperor; I have to have the officers,” said Guo Si.

“What does it mean? One has the Emperor, the other his officers. What do you want?” said Yang Biao.

Guo Si lost patience and drew his sword, but Commander Yang Mi persuaded him not to slay the speaker. Then Guo Si released Yang Biao and Zhu Jun but kept the others in the camp.