小说园

第68部分（第1页）

ere　sent　to　their　lodgings。　Guan　Yu　was　fatigued　from　the　trials　of　the　journey；　and　as　soon　as　the　evening　meal　was　over；　he　bade　the　ladies　retire　to　rest　while　he　sat　down　in　the　main　room；　quite　alone；　for　he　bade　all　to　get　repose　while　they　could。　His　horse　was　given　a　good　feed　for　once。　He　sat　with　his　armor　loosened　in　order　to　be　more　at　ease。

Now　Governor　Wang　Zhi　had　a　general　named　Hu　Ban　to　whom　he　had　entrusted　the　arrangements　for　the　destruction　of　his　guest。

Said　Wang　Zhi；　〃This　Guan　Yu　is　a　traitor　to　the　Prime　Minister　and　a　fugitive。　On　the　road　he　has　murdered　several　manders　of　Passes　and　is　guilty　of　serious　crimes。　But　he　is　too　strong　and　valiant　for　any　ordinary　soldier　to　overe。　So　this　evening　you　will　lead　a　whole　pany　of　a　thousand　troops　to　surround　his　lodging；　each　one　armed　with　a　torch；　and　we　will　burn　him。　They　will　start　the　fire　about　midnight。　Everyone　of　the　party　will　perish。　I　will　e　with　a　force　to　stand　by　and　assist　if　necessary。〃

These　orders　received；　Hu　Ban　passed　them　on　to　the　soldiers；　who　began　secretly　to　prepare　dry　wood　and　other　bustibles　which　they　piled　up　at　the　gate　of　the　rest　house。　Hu　Ban　thought　within　himself　that　he　would　like　to　know　what　manner　of　man　was　this　Guan　Yu；　whose　fame　had　spread　so　far；　so　he　determined　to　get　a　peep　at　the　guest。　He　went　to　the　rest　house　and　inquired　where　Guan　Yu　was。

〃The　General　is　the　man　in　the　main　hall　reading；〃　was　the　reply。

Hu　Ban　noiselessly　made　his　way　to　the　outside　of　the　room　and　peeped　in。　He　saw　the　famous　warrior　stroking　his　beard　with　his　left　hand　while　he　read　by　the　light　of　a　lamp　placed　on　a　low　table。　An　involuntary　exclamation　of　wonder　escaped　at　the　majesty　of　the　figure。

〃Really　a　god！〃　Hu　Ban　sighed。

〃Who　is　there？〃　suddenly　asked　the　reader　at　the　sound。

Hu　Ban　entered　and　said；　〃I　am　Hu　Ban；　a　general　of　the　Governor。〃

〃Surely　you　are　the　son　of　Hu　Hua；　who　lives　outside　Xuchang；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃I　am　he；〃　replied　Hu　Ban。

Then　Guan　Yu　called　up　his　followers　and　bade　them　look　among　the　baggage　for　the　letter；　which　they　brought。　Guan　Yu　handed　it　to　the　General。

Hu　Ban　read　it　and　then　breathed　long；　saying；　〃I　very　nearly　caused　the　death　of　a　good　man。〃

Then　he　betrayed　the　whole　plot；　saying；　〃This　Wang　Zhi　is　a　wicked　man；　who　wanted　to　kill　you。　At　this　moment　you　are　surrounded；　and　at　the　third　watch　they　will　set　fire　to　this　place。　Now　I　will　go　and　open　the　city　gates　while　you　hastily　prepare　for　flight。〃

Guan　Yu　was　greatly　surprised；　but　he　quickly　buckled　up　his　armor；　got　his　steed　ready；　roused　the　two　ladies；　and　put　them　into　their　carriage。　Then　they　left　the　rest　house；　and　as　they　passed　out；　they　saw　the　soldiers　all　about　them；　each　with　a　torch。　The　party　hastened　to　the　outskirts　of　the　city　and　found　the　gate　already　open；　and　they　lost　no　time　in　getting　clear　of　the　city。　Hu　Ban　returned　to　give　orders　to　fire　the　rest　house。

The　fugitives　pressed　on。　But　before　long　they　saw　lights　ing　up　behind　them；　and　Wang　Zhi　called　out　to　them　to　stop。

Guan　Yu　reined　in　his　horse　and　began　to　abuse　him；　crying；　〃Worthless　fellow！　What　had　you　against　me　that　you　wished　to　burn　me　to　death？〃

Wang　Zhi　whipped　up　his　steed　and　set　his　spear；　but　Guan　Yu　cut　him　through　with　the　short　sword　he　wore　at　his　side　and　scattered　his　followers。

Then　the　carriage　pushed　on。　Guan　Yus　heart　was　filled　with　gratitude　to　Hu　Ban。

When　the　party　drew　near　Huazhou；　someone　told　Liu　Yue；　who　rode　out　to　wele　him。　Liu　Yue　had　been　once　rescued　by　Guan　Yu；　who　slew　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　and　lifted　the　siege　of　the　city。

Guan　Yu　did　not　dismount　but　bowed　from　horseback；　saying；　〃Have　you　been　quite　well　since　we　parted？〃

〃Whither　are　you　going；　Sir？〃　replied　Liu　Yue。

〃I　have　left　the　Prime　Minister　and　am　on　my　way　to　find　my　brother。〃

〃Liu　Bei　is　with　Yuan　Shao；　who　is　at　enmity　with　the　Prime　Minister。　How　can　you　be　allowed　to　go　to　him？〃　asked　Liu　Yue。

〃That　matter　was　settled　long　ago。〃

〃The　Yellow　River　Ferry　is　an　important　point　and　is　guarded　by　a　mander　of　Xiahou　Dun。　He　will　not　let　you　cross。〃

〃But　suppose　then　you　provide　boats　for　me？〃

〃Though　there　are　boats；　I　dare　not　give　them　to　you。〃

〃Well；　formerly　I　slew　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　and　saved　you　a　grave　danger。　Now　you　refuse　me　a　ferry　boat！〃

〃I　am　afraid　Xiahou　Dun　will　know　of　it　and　make　it　a　fault　against　me。〃

Guan　Yu　perceived　that　no　help　was　to　be　expected　from　this　man；　so　he　pushed　on　and　presently　reached　the　ferry。　There　the　mander　of　the　Guard；　Qin　Qi；　came　out　to　question　him。

〃I　am　one　Guan　Yu；　Lord　of　Hanshou。〃