三国演义英文版-第67部分

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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　man's　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　officer's　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　master's　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。〃
Then　Guan　Yu　began　to　be　angry；　saying；　〃I　have　killed　Kong　Xiu　at　Dongling　Pass。　Do　you　also　seek　death？〃
〃Who　will　capture　him　for　me？〃　cried　Han　Qu；　and　Meng　Tan　offered　himself。　He　rode　out；　whirling　his　double　swords；　and　made　straight　for　Guan　Yu。
Guan　Yu　sent　back　the　carriage　out　of　danger　and　then　rode　toward　Meng　Tan。　They　engaged；　but　very　soon　Meng　Tan　turned　his　steed　and　fled。　Guan　Yu　pursued。　Meng　Tan；　intent　only　on　leading　his　enemy　toward　the　ambush；　took　no　account　of　the　speed　of　Red　Hare。　Very　soon　Meng　Tan　was　caught　up；　and　a　stroke　of　the　mighty　sword　cut　him　in　two　pieces。　Then　Guan　Yu　stopped　and　turned　back。　The　archers　in　the　gate　shot　their　hardest；　and　though　it　was　a　long　way　off；　one　of　them　lodged　an　arrow　in　his　left　arm。　He　pulled　it　out　with　his　teeth；　but　the　blood　streamed　down　as　he　rode　toward　Governor　Han　Qu。　The　men　scattered。　Guan　Yu　rode　straight　at　his　next　victim。　He　raised　his　sword　and　made　an　oblique　cut　which　sliced　off　the　head　and　shoulder　of　Han　Qu。
Then　Guan　Yu　drove　off　the　soldiers　and　returned　to　escort　the　carriage。　He　bound　up　his　wound；　and；　fearing　lest　anyone　might　take　advantage　of　his　weakness；　he　made　no　long　halts　on　the　road　but　hurried　toward　River　Si　Pass。
The　warden　of　this　pass　was　Bian　Xi　of　Bingzhou；　a　warrior　whose　weapon　was　a　et…hammer。　He　had　been　a　Yellow　Scarf　and　had　gone　over　to　Cao　Cao；　who　had　given　him　this　post。　As　soon　as　he　heard　of　the　ing　of　the　redoubtable　Guan　Yu；　he　cudgeled　his　brains　for　a　ruse　to　use　against　him。　He　decided　upon　an　ambush。　In　the　State　Guardian　Temple　at　the　pass　he　placed　two　hundred　ax…men　and　swordsmen。　He　reckoned　on　enticing　Guan　Yu　to　the　temple　for　refreshment；　and　when　he　let　fall　a　cup　as　signal；　the　hidden　ruffians　would　rush　out。
All　being　thus　arranged　and　ready；　he　went　out　to　wele　Guan　Yu　in　friendly　guise；　and　Guan　Yu　dismounted　at　his　ing。　Bian　Xi　began　very　amiably。
〃Your　name；　General；　makes　the　very　earth　tremble；　and　everyone　looks　up　to　you。　This　return　to　the　Imperial　Uncle　proves　you　to　be　noble　and　true。〃
Guan　Yu　in　reply　told　him　the　story　of　the　men　he　had　slain　in　the　last　two　passes。
Bian　Xi　replied；　〃You　slew　them；　that　is　well。　When　I　see　the　Prime　Minister；　I　will　explain　to　him　the　inner　reasons　for　these　acts。〃
Guan　Yu　thought　he　had　found　a　friend　and　so　mounted　and　rode　through　the　pass。　When　he　came　to　the　temple；　a　number　of　priests　came　out　to　meet　him　with　clanging　bells。
This　temple；　named　State　Guardian　Temple；　had　a　courtyard　in　which　the　Emperor　Ming　had　burned　incense　in　the　past。　In　the　temple　were　thirty　priests；　and　among　these　there　happened　to　be　one　Pu　Jing　who　came　from　the　same　village　as　Guan　Yu。　His　religious　name　was　Transverse　Peace。　Hearing　who　the　visitor　was；　Transverse　Peace　came　forward　to　speak　with　him。
〃General；〃　said　Transverse　Peace；　〃it　is　many　a　long　year　since　you　left　Pudong。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃nearly　twenty　years。〃
〃Do　you　recognize　this　poor　priest？〃
〃I　left　the　village　many　years　ago；　I　do　not　recognize　you。〃
〃My　house　and　yours　were　only　separated　by　a　rivulet；〃　said　the　priest。
Now　Bian　Xi；　seeing　Transverse　Peace　holding　forth　about　village　matters；　thought　Transverse　Peace　would　blab　about　the　ambush；　so　Bian　Xi　bade　him　be　silent。
〃I　want　to　invite　the　General　to　a　feast。　You　priest　fellows　seem　to　have　a　lot　to　say；〃　said　Bian　Xi。
〃Not　too　much；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Naturally　when　fellow　villagers　meet；　they　talk　of　old　times。〃
Bian　Xi　invited　the　visitor　into　the　guest　room　to　take　tea；　but　Guan　Yu　said；　〃The　two　ladies　are　out　there　in　the　carriage。　They　ought　to　have　some　first。〃
So　the　priest　bade　them　take　some　tea　to　the　ladies；　and　then　he　led　Guan　Yu　within；　at　the　same　time　lifting　the　priest　knife　which　he　wore　at　his　side　and　looking　meaningfully　at　Guan　Yu。　The　latter　understood　and　told　his　people　to　bring　along　his　weapon　and　keep　close　at　his　side。
When　Bian　Xi　invited　Guan　Yu　to　go　into　the　Hall　of　the　Laws　for　some　refreshment；　Guan　Yu　turned　to　him；　saying；　〃Is　this　invitation　with　good　intention　or　evil？〃
Bian　Xi　was　so　taken　aback　that　he　could　make　no　reply；　and　then　Guan　Yu　saw　that　many　armed　men　were　concealed　behind　the　arras。
Then　Guan　Yu　shouted　loudly　at　Bian　Xi；　saying；　〃What　means　this？　I　thought　you　an　honorable　man。　How　dare　you？〃
The　traitor　saw　that　his　plot　had　failed　and　called　to　the　assassins　to　e　out　and　fall　to；　but　Guan　Yu　had　a　short　sword　in　his　hand　and　slashed　at　anyone　who　came　near。　So　they　scattered。　Their　mander　ran　down　the　hall　and　tried　to　escape　among　the　side　buildings；　but　Guan　Yu　threw　aside　the　short　sword；　took　up　the　green…dragon　saber　and　went　after　Bian　Xi。　The　latter　was　trying　to　get　into　position　to　throw　his　et…hammer；　but　Guan　Yu　cut　the　cord　and　the　weapon　was　useless。　Guan　Yu　followed　Bian　Xi　in　and　out　and　soon　caught　up　with　him。　Then　with　one　blow　Guan　Yu　cut　him　in　halves。
The　fight　over；　Guan　Yu　sought　the　two　ladies；　who　were　surrounded　by　soldiers。　These　fled　at　sight　of　the　terrible　warrior。　Seeking　out　the　priest；　his　fellow　countryman；　he　thanked　him　for　the　timely　warning　which　had　saved　him　from　death。
〃I　cannot　remain　here　after　this；〃　said　Transverse　Peace。　〃I　shall　pack　up　my　few　garments　and　my　alms　bowl　and　take　to　the　road；　vague　in　my　wanderings　as　the　clouds　in　the　sky。　But　we　shall　meet　again　and　till　then　take　care　of　yourself。〃
Then　Guan　Yu　took　leave　and　retook　the　road　to　Yingyang。　The　Governor　of　this　city　was　named　Wang　Zhi；　and　he　was　related　to　Han　Qu　by　their　children's　marriage。　Hearing　of　the　death　of　his　relative；　Wang　Zhi　set　about　a　scheme　to　kill　Guan　Yu　secretly。　He　sent　soldiers　to　guard　the　city　gates　and；　when　he　heard　that　Guan　Yu　approached；　he　went　himself　and　received　Guan　Yu　with　a　smiling　countenance　and　bade　Guan　Yu　wele。　Guan　Yu　told　him　the　object　of　his　journey。
〃You；　General；　have　been　able　to　get　some　exercise　on　the　road；　but　the　ladies　in　their　carriage　must　be　cramped　and　fatigued。　I　pray　you　e　into　the　city；　and　all　of　you　remain　the　night　in　the　official　travelers'　quarters。　Tomorrow　you　can　set　forth　again。〃
The　offer　was　tempting；　and　his　host　seemed　in　earnest；　so　the　two　ladies　went　into　the　city；　where　they　found　everything　very　fortably　prepared　for　them。　And；　though　Guan　Yu　declined　the　Governor's　invitations　to　a　banquet；　refreshments　for　the　travelers　were　sent　to　their　lodgings。　Guan　Yu　was　fa