小说园

第69部分（第1页）

Zhang　Liao　said；　〃I　bring　the　Prime　Ministers　order　that　since　he　has　heard　that　Guan　Yu　has　slain　certain　manders　on　the　way；　he　fears　that　some　will　hinder　his　passage。　Wherefore　he　has　sent　me　to　deliver　his　mand　at　each　gate　that　Guan　Yu　is　to　be　suffered　to　pass　freely。〃

Xiahou　Dun　said；　〃Qin　Qi　was　the　son　of　Cai　Yangs　sister；　and　he　was　confided　to　my　especial　care。　Now　this　Guan　Yu　has　killed　him；　and　how　can　I　refrain？〃

〃When　I　see　his　uncle　Cai　Yang；　I　will　explain。　But　now　the　main　point　is　that　you　have　the　Prime　Ministers　orders　to　let　Guan　Yu　pass　and　you　may　not　despise　his　wish。〃

So　the　only　thing　for　Xiahou　Dun　to　do　was　to　retire；　and　he　did。

〃Whither　are　you　going？〃　then　said　Zhang　Liao　to　Guan　Yu。

〃I　fear　my　brother　is　no　longer　with　Yuan　Shao；　and　now　I　am　going　to　find　him　wherever　he　is。〃

〃As　you　do　not　know　where　to　go；　why　not　return　to　the　Prime　Minister？〃

〃Where　is　the　sense　of　that？〃　said　Guan　Yu　with　a　smile。　〃But；　Zhang　Liao；　you　return；　and　try　to　arrange　pardon　for　my　faults。〃

With　this　Guan　Yu　saluted　Zhang　Liao　and　took　his　leave。　Zhang　Liao　retired　and　joined　Xiahou　Dun。

Guan　Yu　quickly　regained　the　carriage；　and　as　they　went　along　side　by　side　he　told　Sun　Qian　what　had　happened。　Several　days　later　a　heavy　rain　storm　came　on　which　soaked　everything。　Looking　about　for　protection　they　noticed　a　farm　under　the　shelter　of　a　precipice　and　took　their　way　thither。　An　old　man　came　out　to　them；　to　whom　they　told　their　story。

When　they　had　finished；　the　old　fellow　said；　〃My　name　is　Guo　Chang；　and　I　have　lived　here　many　years。　I　am　very　pleased　to　greet　the　man　whom　I　have　known　so　long　by　reputation。〃

Guo　Chang　quickly　killed　a　sheep　for　their　refreshment　and　brought　out　wine　for　the　two　men。　The　two　ladies　were　entertained　in　the　inner　apartments。　And　while　they　refreshed　themselves；　their　baggage　was　put　out　to　dry　and　their　steeds　were　fed。

As　the　day　closed　in；　they　saw　several　youths　e　along；　and　their　host　said；　〃My　son　is　e　to　pay　his　respects。〃

〃This　is　my　humble　son；〃　said　Guo　Chang；　presenting　a　lad　to　Guan　Yu。

〃What　has　he　been　doing？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。

〃He　has　just　e　in　from　hunting。〃

The　young　fellow　went　out。　The　old　man　continued；　〃All　my　family　have　been　farmers　or　scholars。　He　is　my　only　son；　and　instead　of　following　in　the　footsteps　of　his　ancestors　he　cares　for　nothing　but　gadding　about　and　hunting；　unhappily。〃

〃Why　unhappily？〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃In　these　days　of　disorder　a　good　soldier　can　make　a　name　for　himself。〃

〃If　he　would　only　learn　the　military　arts；　that　would　be　something　of　a　career。　But　he　is　nothing　but　a　vagabond　and　does　everything　he　should　not。　He　is　a　grief　to　me。〃

Guan　Yu　sighed　in　sympathy。　The　old　gentleman　stayed　till　a　late　hour；　and　when　he　took　his　leave；　his　two　guests　began　to　prepare　for　rest。

Suddenly　outside　there　arose　a　great　hubbub；　men　shouting　and　horses　neighing。　Guan　Yu　called　to　his　people；　but　as　no　one　answered；　he　and　Sun　Qian　drew　their　swords　and　went　into　the　stable　yard。　There　they　found　their　hosts　son　on　the　ground　shouting　to　his　followers　to　fight。

Guan　Yu　asked　what　it　was　all　about；　and　his　guards　told　him；　〃The　young　fellow　had　tried　to　steal　Red　Hare；　but　had　been　badly　kicked。　We　heard　shouting　and　went　to　see　what　it　meant　when　his　men　had　set　on　us。〃

Guan　Yu　was　very　wrathful。

〃You　mean　thieves！　Would　you　steal　my　horse？〃　cried　he。

But　before　he　could　do　anything；　his　host　came　running　out；　saying；　〃It　was　not　with　my　consent　that　my　son　did　this　evil　thing。　I　know　he　is　very　guilty　and　deserves　death。　But　his　mother　loves　him　tenderly；　and　I　pray　you　be　generous　and　pardon　him！〃

〃Really　he　is　unworthy　of　his　father；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃What　you　told　me　shows　he　is　a　degenerate。　For　your　sake　I　pardon　him。〃

Then　Guan　Yu　told　his　own　people　to　keep　a　better　lookout；　sent　the　people　about　their　business　and；　in　pany　with　Sun　Qian；　went　away　to　rest。

Next　morning　both　the　host　and　hostess　were　up　betimes　waiting　to　thank　Guan　Yu　for　forgiving　their　sons　mad　freak。

〃My　son　has　insulted　your　tiger　dignity；　I　know；　and　I　am　deeply　affected　by　your　kindness　in　not　punishing　him；〃　said　the　old　man。

〃Bring　him　here　and　I　will　talk　to　him；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃He　went　out　before　daylight　with　a　lot　of　his　fellow　rogues；　and　I　know　not　where　he　is。〃

So　Guan　Yu　bade　them　farewell；　got　the　ladies　into　their　carriage；　and　they　moved　out　of　the　farmyard。　Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　riding　abreast　as　escort。　They　took　the　road　toward　the　hills。

Before　they　had　gone　far；　they　saw　a　large　party　of　men；　led　by　a　couple　of　riders；　pouring　down　one　of　the　gullies。　One　of　the　riders　wore　a　yellow　turban　and　a　battle　robe。　The　other　was　Guo　Changs　son。

The　wearer　of　the　turban　called　out；　saying；　〃I　am　one　of　the　manders　of　Zhang　Jue　the　Lord　of　Heaven。　Whoever　you　may　be；　leave　that　horse　you　are　riding　for　me。　You　may　then　go　free！〃

Guan　Yu　greeted　the　speech　with　a　hearty　laugh。