ersonages　in　the　silk；　and　thus　they　lowered　them　down　near　the　boat。　Then　Li　Yue　took　up　his　position　in　the　prow　leaning　on　his　sword。　Fu　De　carried　the　Empress　on　his　back　into　the　boat。

The　boat　was　too　small　to　carry　everybody；　and　those　unable　to　get　on　board　clung　to　the　cable；　but　Li　Yue　cut　them　down；　and　they　fell　into　the　water。　They　ferried　over　the　Emperor　and　then　sent　back　the　boat　for　the　others。　There　was　a　great　scramble　to　get　on　board；　and　they　had　to　chop　off　the　fingers　and　hands　of　those　who　persisted　in　clinging　to　the　boat。　The　lamentation　rose　to　the　heavens。

When　they　mustered　on　the　farther　bank；　many　were　missing；　only　a　dozen　of　the　Emperor's　suite　were　left。　Yang　Feng　found　a　bullock　cart　and　transported　the　Emperor　and　Empress　to　Dayang。　They　had　no　food　and　at　night　sought　shelter　in　a　poor；　tile…roofed　house。　The　cottagers　gave　them　some　boiled　millet　but　it　was　too　coarse　to　be　swallowed。

Next　day　the　Emperor　conferred　titles　on　those　who　had　protected　him。　Li　Yue　was　made　General　Who　Conquers　the　North；　and　Han　Xian　was　appointed　General　Who　Conquers　the　East。

The　flight　continued。　Soon　two　officers　of　rank　came　up　with　the　cortege；　and　they　bowed　before　His　Majesty　with　many　tears。　They　were　Imperial　Guardian　Yang　Biao　and　Minister　Han　Rong。　The　Emperor　and　Empress　lifted　up　their　voices　and　wept　with　them。

Said　Han　Rong　to　his　colleague；　〃The　rebels　have　confidence　in　my　words。　You　stay　as　guard　of　the　Emperor；　and　I　will　take　my　life　in　my　hands　and　try　to　bring　about　peace。〃

After　Han　Rong　had　gone；　the　Emperor　rested　for　a　time　in　Yang　Feng's　camp。　But　Yang　Biao　requested　the　Emperor　to　head　for　Anyi　and　make　the　capital　there。　When　the　train　reached　the　town；　they　found　it　containing