却说李乐引军诈称李傕、郭汜,来遍车驾,天子大惊。
The last chapter closed with the arrival of Li Yue who shouted out falsely that the army was that of the two arch rebels Li Jue and Guo Si come to capture the imperial cavalcade. -
杨奉曰:“此李乐也。”
But Yang Feng recognized the voice of Li Yue
两马相交,只一合,被徐晃一斧砍于马下,杀散余党,保护车驾过箕关。
and in the first bout the traitor fell.
The White Wave rebels scattered, and the travelers got safely through Zhiguan Hills.
太守张杨具粟帛迎驾于轵道。
+Here the Governor of Henei, Zhang Yang, supplied them plentifully with food and other necessaries and escorted the Emperor to Zhidao.
帝封张杨为大司马。
+For his timely help, the Emperor conferred upon Zhang Yang the rank of a Grand Commander.
杨辞帝屯兵野王去了。
Yang Feng moved his army +to the northeast of Luoyang and camped at Yewang.
帝入洛阳,见宫室烧尽,街市荒芜,满目皆是蒿草,宫院中只有颓墙坏壁。
Capital Luoyang was presently entered. +Within the walls all was destruction.
The palaces and halls had been burned, the streets were overgrown with grass and brambles and obstructed by heaps of ruins.
The palaces and courts were represented by broken roofs and toppling walls.
百官朝贺,皆立于荆棘之中。
and therein the officers of court presented their congratulations, standing in the open air among thorn hushes and brambles.
诏改兴平为建安元年。
The reign style was changed from Prosperous Stability to Rebuilt Tranquillity, the first year (AD 196).
是岁又大荒。
The year was grievous with famine.
洛阳居民,仅有数百家,无可为食,尽出城去剥树皮、掘草根食之。
The Luoyang people, even reduced in numbers as they were to a few hundreds, had not enough to eat and they prowled about stripping the bark off trees and grubbing up the roots of plants to satisfy their starving hunger.
尚书郎以下,皆自出城樵采,多有死于颓墙坏壁之间者。
Officers of the government of all but the highest ranks went out into the country to gather fuel.
Many people were crushed by the falling walls of burned houses.
汉末气运之衰,无甚于此。
At no time during the decadence of Han did misery press harder than at this period.
后人有诗叹之曰:“血流芒砀白蛇亡,赤帜纵横游四方。
A poem written in pity for the sufferings of that time says: [hip, hip, hip] Mortally wounded, the white serpent poured forth its life blood at Mangdang Hills;Blood-red pennons of war waved then in every quarter,
秦鹿逐翻兴社稷,楚骓推倒立封疆。
Chieftain with chieftain strove and raided each other's borders,Midst the turmoil and strife the Kingship even was threatened.
天子懦弱奸邪起,气色凋零盗贼狂。
Wickedness stalks in a country when the King is a weakling,Brigandage always is rife, when a dynasty's failing,
看到两京遭难处,铁人无泪也凄惶!”
Had one a heart of iron, wholly devoid of feeling,Yet would one surely grieve at the sight of such desolation. [yip, yip, yip]
太尉杨彪奏帝曰:“前蒙降诏,未曾发遣。
Imperial Guardian Yang Biao memorialized the Throne, saying, "The decree issued to me some time ago has never been acted upon.
今曹操在山东,兵强将盛,可宣入朝,以辅王室。”
Now Cao Cao is very strong in the east of Huashang Mountains, and it would be well to associate him in the government that he might support the ruling house."
帝曰:“朕前既降诏。
The Emperor replied, -
卿何必再奏,今即差人前去便了。”
"There was no need to refer to the matter again.Send a messenger when you will."
彪领旨,即差使命赴山东,宣召曹操。
So the decree went forth and a messenger bore it into the East of Huashang. -
却说曹操在山东,闻知车驾已还洛阳,聚谋士商议。
Now when Cao Cao had heard that the court had returned to Capital Luoyang, he called together his advisers to consult.
荀彧进曰:“昔晋文公纳周襄王,而诸侯服从;汉高祖为义帝发丧,而天下归心。
Xun Yu laid the matter before Cao Cao and the council thus: "+Eight hundred years ago, Duke Wen of Jin supported Prince Xiang of the declining Zhou Dynasty, and all the feudal lords backed Duke Wen.The Founder of the Hans, Liu Bang, won the popular favor by wearing mourning for Emperor Yi of Chu.