to crawl up the bank. They found themselves in a thicket of brambles and they could not see any path in the dark. Just as they were feeling desperate, hundreds of thousands of fireflies emerged out of nowhere and circled in the air in front of the Emperor, lighting up the path ahead.
“God is helping us,” said the Prince.
So they followed the fireflies and gradually found a road. They walked for about two hours and their feet became so sore that they could go no further. Seeing a heap of straw by a hill, they crept over to it and lay down to rest.
Close to the heap of straw was a farmhouse, whose owner dreamed of two bright red suns dropping behind his dwelling in the night. Alarmed, he hastily threw a coat upon his shoulders and went out to investigate. Then he saw a bright red light shooting up from a heap of straw behind his house. He hastened forward and found two boys lying by its side.
“Whose children are you?” he asked.
The Emperor was too frightened to reply but the Prince, pointing to his brother, said, “This is the Emperor. There has been a rebellion against the ten eunuchs at the palace and we have fled here. I am his brother, Prince of Chenliu.”
The owner of the house was greatly surprised. He immediately knelt down and said, “My name is Cui Yi. My brother was a minister under the late Emperor. I was disgusted with the behavior of the eunuchs, so I retired here.”
Then he helped them into the house and on his knees served them with food and drinks.
Meanwhile, Ming Gong had overtaken and caught Duan Gui.
“Where is the Emperor?” he bellowed.
“He got lost on the way. I do not know where he is,” answered Duan Gui.
Ming Gong slew him and hung the bleeding head on his horse’s neck. Then he sent his men searching in all directions for the Emperor while he rode off by himself on the same quest. Presently he came to the farm. Cui Yi, seeing what hung on his horse’s neck, questioned him and, satisfied with his story, led him to the Emperor. The meeting was emotional—all were moved to tears.
“The state cannot be without its ruler, not even for one day,” said Ming Gong. “Pray return to the capital, Your Majesty.”
At the farm they had but one sorry nag and this they saddled for the Emperor, while the Prince was taken on Ming Gong’s charger. Thus they left the farm. Soon, however, they fell in with a big search party of officials and hundreds of soldiers. Among them was Yuan Shao. Tears were shed freely as the ministers met their Emperor. One of them was sent at once to the capital to expose the head of Duan Gui. Placing the Emperor and the Prince on better horses and guarding them carefully, they then began their journey back to Luoyang.
The Emperor and his men had not proceeded far when they saw coming toward them a large body of soldiers, their banners covering up the sun, their dust rising up to the sky. All the officials turned pale and the Emperor was greatly alarmed. Yuan Shao rode out and asked who they were. From under the shade of an embroidered banner rode out an officer, shouting in a harsh voice: “Where is the Emperor?” His Majesty trembled in fright, unable to respond, but the Prince of Chenliu rode forth to the front and demanded angrily, “Who are you?”
The man replied, “My name is Dong Zhuo. I am governor of Xiliang.”
“Have you come to protect the Emperor or to harm him?” asked the Prince.
“I have come specially to protect,” answered Dong Zhuo.
“If so, the Emperor is here. Why do you not dismount?” said the Prince.
Dong Zhuo hastily got down from his horse and knelt on the left side of the road. Then the Prince spoke graciously to placate him, carrying himself very well in his speech. Dong Zhuo was very much impressed and in his heart rose the desire to set aside the Emperor in favor of the Prince. They returned to the palace that same day and there was an emotional meeting with the Empress Dowager. Then they checked the things in
“God is helping us,” said the Prince.
So they followed the fireflies and gradually found a road. They walked for about two hours and their feet became so sore that they could go no further. Seeing a heap of straw by a hill, they crept over to it and lay down to rest.
Close to the heap of straw was a farmhouse, whose owner dreamed of two bright red suns dropping behind his dwelling in the night. Alarmed, he hastily threw a coat upon his shoulders and went out to investigate. Then he saw a bright red light shooting up from a heap of straw behind his house. He hastened forward and found two boys lying by its side.
“Whose children are you?” he asked.
The Emperor was too frightened to reply but the Prince, pointing to his brother, said, “This is the Emperor. There has been a rebellion against the ten eunuchs at the palace and we have fled here. I am his brother, Prince of Chenliu.”
The owner of the house was greatly surprised. He immediately knelt down and said, “My name is Cui Yi. My brother was a minister under the late Emperor. I was disgusted with the behavior of the eunuchs, so I retired here.”
Then he helped them into the house and on his knees served them with food and drinks.
Meanwhile, Ming Gong had overtaken and caught Duan Gui.
“Where is the Emperor?” he bellowed.
“He got lost on the way. I do not know where he is,” answered Duan Gui.
Ming Gong slew him and hung the bleeding head on his horse’s neck. Then he sent his men searching in all directions for the Emperor while he rode off by himself on the same quest. Presently he came to the farm. Cui Yi, seeing what hung on his horse’s neck, questioned him and, satisfied with his story, led him to the Emperor. The meeting was emotional—all were moved to tears.
“The state cannot be without its ruler, not even for one day,” said Ming Gong. “Pray return to the capital, Your Majesty.”
At the farm they had but one sorry nag and this they saddled for the Emperor, while the Prince was taken on Ming Gong’s charger. Thus they left the farm. Soon, however, they fell in with a big search party of officials and hundreds of soldiers. Among them was Yuan Shao. Tears were shed freely as the ministers met their Emperor. One of them was sent at once to the capital to expose the head of Duan Gui. Placing the Emperor and the Prince on better horses and guarding them carefully, they then began their journey back to Luoyang.
The Emperor and his men had not proceeded far when they saw coming toward them a large body of soldiers, their banners covering up the sun, their dust rising up to the sky. All the officials turned pale and the Emperor was greatly alarmed. Yuan Shao rode out and asked who they were. From under the shade of an embroidered banner rode out an officer, shouting in a harsh voice: “Where is the Emperor?” His Majesty trembled in fright, unable to respond, but the Prince of Chenliu rode forth to the front and demanded angrily, “Who are you?”
The man replied, “My name is Dong Zhuo. I am governor of Xiliang.”
“Have you come to protect the Emperor or to harm him?” asked the Prince.
“I have come specially to protect,” answered Dong Zhuo.
“If so, the Emperor is here. Why do you not dismount?” said the Prince.
Dong Zhuo hastily got down from his horse and knelt on the left side of the road. Then the Prince spoke graciously to placate him, carrying himself very well in his speech. Dong Zhuo was very much impressed and in his heart rose the desire to set aside the Emperor in favor of the Prince. They returned to the palace that same day and there was an emotional meeting with the Empress Dowager. Then they checked the things in
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