d my victory。 The court sent down Eunuch Zhuo Feng to inquire into my failure； and that official demanded a bribe。 I told him how hard pressed we were and asked him where； in the circumstances； I could find a gift for him。 He went away in wrath and reported that I was hiding behind my ramparts and would not give battle and that I disheartened my army。 So I was superseded by Dong Zhuo； and I have to go to the capital to answer the charge。〃
This story put Zhang Fei into a rage。 He was for slaying the escort and setting free Lu Zhi。 But Liu Bei checked him。
〃The government will take the due course；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃You must not act hastily！〃
And the escort and the three brothers went two ways。
It was useless to continue on that road to Guangzong； so Guan Yu proposed to go back to Zhuo； and they retook the road。 Two days later they heard the thunder of battle behind some hills。 Hastening to the top； they beheld the government soldiers suffering great loss； and they saw the countryside was full of Yellow Scarves。 On the rebels' banners were the words Zhang Jue the Lord of Heaven written large。
〃We will attack this Zhang Jue！〃 said Liu Bei to his brothers； and they galloped out to join in the battle。
Zhang Jue had worsted Dong Zhuo and was following up his advantage。 He was in hot pursuit when the three brothers dashed into his army； threw his ranks into confusion； and drove him back fifteen miles。 Then the brothers returned with the rescued general to his camp。
〃What offices have you？〃 asked Dong Zhuo； when he had leisure to speak to the brothers。
〃None；〃 replied they。
And Dong Zhuo treated them with disrespect。 Liu Bei retired calmly； but Zhang Fei was furious。
〃We have just rescued this menial in a bloody fight；〃 cried Zhang Fei； 〃and now he is rude to us！ Nothing but his death can slake my anger。〃
Zhang Fei stamped toward Dong Zhuo's tent； holding firmly a sharp sword。
As it was in olden time so it is today；
The simple wight may merit well；
Officialdom holds sway；
Zhang Fei； the blunt and hasty；
Where can you find his peer？
But slaying the ungrateful would
Mean many deaths a year。
Dong Zhuo's fate will be unrolled in later chapters。
Main Next to Chapter 2 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Zhang Fei Whips The Government Officer；
He Jin Plots To Kill The Eunuchs。
Dong Zhuo was born in the far northwest at Lintao in the West Valley Land。 As the governor of Hedong； Dong Zhuo himself was arrogant and overbearing。 But the day he had treated Liu Bei with contumely had been his last； had not Liu Bei and Guan Yu restrained their wrathful brother Zhang Fei。
〃Remember he has the government mission；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃Who are we to judge and slay？〃
〃It is bitter to take orders from such a wretch。 I would rather slay him！ You may stay here if you wish to； but I will seek some other place；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃We three are one in life and in death； there is no parting for us。 We will all go hence。〃
So spoke Liu Bei； and his brother was satisfied。 Wherefore all three set out and lost no time in traveling until they came to Zhu Jun； who received them well and accepted their aid in attacking Zhang Ba。 At this time Cao Cao had joined himself to Huangfu Song； and they were trying to destroy Zhang Lian； and there was a great battle at Quyang。
Zhang Ba was manding some eighty thousand troops。 The rebel had led his army to a strong position in the rear of the hills。 An attack being decided upon； Liu Bei was the van leader。 On the rebel side a general of Zhang Ba； Gao Sheng； came out to offer battle。 Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei to smite Gao Sheng。 Out rode Zhang Fei at full speed； his spear ready set。 After a few bouts Zhang Fei wounded Gao Sheng； who was unhorsed。 At this Liu Bei signaled the main army to advance。
Then Zhang Ba； while still mounted； loosened his hair； grasped his sword； and uttered his incantations。 Thereupon began the wind to howl and the thunder to roll； while a dense black cloud from the heavens settled upon the field。 And therein seemed to be horsemen and footmen innumerable； who swept to attack the imperial troops。 Fear came upon them； and Liu Bei led off his troops； but they were in disorder and returned defeated。
Zhu Jun and Liu Bei considered the matter。
〃Zhang Ba uses magic；〃 said Zhu Jun。 〃Tomorrow； then； will I prepare counter magic in the shape of the blood of slaughtered swine and goats。 This blood shall be sprinkled upon their hosts from the precipices above by soldiers in ambush。 Thus shall we be able to break the power of their shamanic art。〃
So it was done。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took each a thousand troops and hid them on the high cliffs behind the hills； and they had a plentiful supply of the blood of swine and goats and all manners of filthy things。 And so next day； when the rebels with fluttering banners and rolling drums came out to challenge； Liu Bei rode forth to meet them。 At the same moment that the armies met； again Zhang Ba began his magic and again the elements began to struggle together。 Sand flew in clouds； pebbles were swept along the ground； black masses of vapor filled the sky； and rolling masses of foot and horse descended from on high。 Liu Bei turned； as before； to flee and the rebels rushed on。 But as they pressed through the hills； the trumpets blared； and the hidden soldiers exploded bombs； threw down filth and spattered blood。 The masses of soldiers and horses in the air fluttered to the earth as fragments of torn paper； the wind ceased to blow； the thunder subsided； the sand sank； and the pebbles lay still upon the ground。
Zhang Ba quickly saw his magic had been countered and turned to retire。 Then he was attacked on the flanks by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； and in rear by Liu Bei and Zhu Jun。 The rebels were routed。 Liu Bei； seeing from afar the banner of Zhang Ba The Lord of Earth ； galloped toward it but only succeeded in wounding Zhang Ba with an arrow in the left arm。 Wounded though he was； Zhang Ba got away into the city of Yangcheng； where he fortified himself and was besieged by Zhu Jun。
＇e＇ General of the Flying Chariots was the second highest military office； just below Regent Marshal。
＇e＇ Imperial Protector was the highest office in an administrative region or zhou 。 Ancient China was divided into nine regions。 Each region had a capital city； often of the same name。 The nine regions were Bingzhou； Jingzhou； Jizhou； Liangzhou； Qingzhou； Xuzhou； Yizhou； Youzhou； and Yuzhou。 Over the time more regions were created。 During the Three Kingdoms period； there were already more than nine regions。 A few of the new regions were Xizhou； Yangzhou； and Yongzhou。 （see map ）
Scouts； sent out to get news of Huangfu Song； reported： 〃mander Huangfu Song had been very successful； and Dong Zhuo had suffered many reverses。 Therefore the court put Huangfu Song in the latter's place。 Zhang Jue had died before Huangfu Song's arrival。 Zhang Lian had added his brother's army to his own； but no headway could be made against Huangfu Song； whose army gained seven successive victories。 And Zhang Lian was slain at Quyang。 Beside this； Zhang Jue's coffin was exhumed； the corpse beheaded； and the head； after exposure； was sent to Capital Luoyang。 The mon crowd had surrendered。 For these services Huangfu Song was promoted to General of the Flying Chariots* and the Imperial Protector of Jizhou*。
〃Huangfu Song did not forget his friends。 His first act after he had attained to power was to memorialize the Throne concerning the case of Lu Zhi； who was then restored to his former rank for his meritorious conducts。 Cao Cao also received advancement for his services and is preparing to go to Jinan to his new post。〃
Hearing these things Zhu Jun pressed harder yet upon Yangcheng； and the approaching break…up of the rebellion became evident。 Then one of Zhang Ba's officers； Yan Zheng； killed his leader and brought the head in token of submission。 Thus rebellion in that part of the country was stamped out； and Zhu Jun made his report to the government。
However； the embers of the Yellow Scarves still smoldered。 Three other rebels； Zhao Hong； Han Zhong； and Sun Zhong； gathered some thirty thousand rebels and began to murder and rob and burn； calling themselves the avengers of Master Zhang Jue。
The court manded the successful Zhu Jun to lead his veteran and successful troops to destroy the rebels。 He at once marched toward the city of Wancheng which the rebels were holding。 When Zhu Jun arrived； Han Zhong went to oppose him。 Zhu Jun sent Liu Bei and his brothers to attack the southwest corner of the city。 Han Zhong at once led the best of his troops to defend the city。 Meanwhile Zhu Jun himself led two thousand of armored horsemen to attack the opposite corner。 The rebels； thinking the city being lost； abandoned the southwest and turned back into the city to help the defenders。 Liu Bei pressed hotly in their rear； and they were utterly routed。 They took refuge in the city which was then invested。 When famine pressed upon the besieged； they sent a messenger to offer to surrender； but Zhu Jun refused the offer。
Said Liu Bei to Zhu Jun； 〃Seeing that the founder of the Han Dynasty； Liu Bang the Supreme Ancestor； could wele the submissive and receive the favorable； why rejec