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第67部分（第1页）

So　Liao　Hua　took　his　leave　and　presently　disappeared　in　a　valley　among　the　hills。　Guan　Yu　told　his　sisters　the　story　of　his　interview　with　Cao　Cao　and　the　gift　of　a　robe；　and　then　he　urged　the　carriage　on　its　way。　Towards　dark　they　came　to　a　farm　where　they　would　rest。　The　farmer；　an　old　graybeard；　came　out　to　wele　the　party　and　asked　who　they　were。　Guan　Yu　described　himself　as　the　brother　of　Liu　Bei；　and　said　his　name。

〃Surely　you　are　no　other　than　the　slayer　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；〃　said　the　venerable　host。

〃That　is　so；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。

〃e　in；〃　said　the　old　man；　joyfully。

〃My　two　sisters…in…law　are　in　the　carriage；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Will　you　let　your　women　folks　go　out　to　receive　them？〃

As　Guan　Yu　remained　standing　there；　the　host　asked　him　to　be　seated；　but　he　would　not　sit　while　the　women　were　present　and　remained　standing　in　a　respectful　attitude　till　the　old　mans　wife　had　returned　and　ushered　the　ladies　into　the　inner　apartments。　Then　the　old　man　set　to　the　entertainment　of　his　guest　in　the　guest　hall。　Guan　Yu　asked　his　name。

He　replied；　〃I　am　called　Hu　Hua。　In　the　days　of　the　Emperor　Huan；　I　was　an　officer　of　the　court；　but　I　resigned　and　retired　into　private　life。　I　have　a　son；　Hu　Ban；　with　Governor　Wang　Zhi　of　Yingyang。　If　you　should　be　going　that　way；　General；　I　should　like　to　send　him　a　letter　by　you。〃

Guan　Yu　said　he　would　take　the　letter。　Next　day；　after　an　early　meal；　the　ladies　got　into　their　carriage；　the　host　handed　his　letter　to　Guan　Yu；　and　the　little　party　once　more　took　the　road。　They　went　toward　Luoyang。

Presently　they　approached　a　pass　known　as　the　Dongling　Pass；　guarded　by　mander　Kong　Xiu　and　five　hundred　soldiers。　When　the　soldiers　saw　a　carriage　being　pushed　toward　the　pass；　they　ran　to　tell　their　mander；　who　came　out　to　accost　the　travelers。

Guan　Yu　dismounted　and　returned　the　officers　salute；　and　Kong　Xiu　said；　〃Whither　are　you　going？〃

〃I　have　left　the　Prime　Minister　to　go　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River　to　find　my　brother。〃

〃But　Yuan　Shao　is　my　masters　rival。　You　have　authority　from　him　to　go　thither？〃

〃I　left　hurriedly　and　could　not　get　it。〃

〃If　you　have　no　authority；　you　must　wait　while　I　send　to　request　orders。〃

〃To　remain　while　you　send　and　receive　an　answer　will　delay　me　greatly；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃I　must　stand　by　my　instructions。　That　is　the　only　thing　to　do；〃　said　Kong　Xiu。

〃Then　you　refuse　to　let　me　pass？〃

〃If　you　want　to　go　through；　leave　the　family　as　a　gage。〃

At　this　Guan　Yu　got　very　angry　and　made　to　cut　at　the　mander　on　the　spot；　but　Kong　Xiu　withdrew　into　the　gate　and　beat　the　drums　for　an　attack。　Thereupon　the　soldiers　armed　themselves；　mounted；　and　came　down　to　oppose　the　passage；　crying；　〃Dare　you　go　through；　eh？〃

The　carriage　was　sent　off　to　a　safe　distance；　and　then　Guan　Yu　rode　at　full　speed　directly　at　the　mander　of　the　guard；　who　set　his　spear　and　came　to　meet　him。　The　two　steeds　met　and　the　men　engaged；　but　at　the　first　stroke　of　the　green…dragon　saber　the　mander　of　the　gate　fell　to　the　earth　dead。　His　troops　fled。

〃Soldiers；　do　not　flee！〃　cried　Guan　Yu。　〃I　killed　him　because　I　could　do　no　otherwise。　I　have　nothing　against　you；　but　I　would　ask　you　to　tell　the　Prime　Minister　how　this　thing　came　to　pass；　that　Kong　Xiu　wished　to　kill　me；　and　so　I　slew　him　in　self　defense。〃

The　soldiers　bowed　before　him；　and　Guan　Yu；　with　the　carriage；　passed　through　the　gates　and　continued　their　way　to　Luoyang。　But　one　of　the　guards　of　the　pass　went　quickly　in　advance　and　informed　the　Governor　of　Luoyang；　Han　Qu；　of　the　slaughter　of　Kong　Xiu。　Wherefore　Han　Qu　assembled　his　officers　to　take　counsel。

Meng　Tan；　one　of　his　generals；　said；　〃This　Guan　Yu　must　be　a　fugitive；　or　he　would　have　a　safe　conduct。　Our　only　course　is　to　stop　him；　or　we　shall　incur　blame。〃

〃The　man　is　fierce　and　brave。　Remember　the　fate　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou。　It　seems　vain　to　oppose　him　by　force；　and　so　we　must　think　out　some　trap　for　him；〃　said　Han　Qu。

〃I　have　a　ruse　ready；〃　said　Meng　Tan。　〃I　will　close　the　gate　with　thorny　blockades；　and　I　will　go　to　fight　with　him。　I　will　engage　and　then　flee；　and　you　can　shoot　him　from　an　ambush　along　the　road。　If　we　can　get　him　and　his　party　and　send　them　prisoners　to　the　capital；　we　ought　to　be　well　rewarded。〃

This　course　was　determined　upon；　and　soon　they　heard　that　Guan　Yu　was　approaching。　Han　Qu　strung　his　bow　and　filled　his　quiver　with　arrows　and　with　one　thousand　soldiers　took　up　position　along　the　pass。

Then　as　the　party　approached；　Han　Qu　said；　〃Who　is　the　traveler　who　es？〃

Guan　Yu　bowed　low　and　said；　〃He　is　a　certain　Guan　Yu；　Lord　of　Hanshou；　and　he　wishes　to　go　through　the　pass。〃

〃Have　you　a　letter　from　the　Prime　Minister？〃

〃In　the　hurry　of　departure　I　did　not　get　any。〃

〃My　special　orders　from　him　are　to　hold　this　pass　and　make　examination　of　all　spies　that　may　go　to　and　fro。　Any　person　without　an　authority　must　be　a　fugitive。〃