第一小说网

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第66部分（第2页）

And　he　took　up　his　position　on　a　bridge　where　he　waited　the　approach　of　the　party；　who　advanced　quickly。　Four　of　Cao　Caos　generals；　Xu　Chu；　Xu　Huang；　Yu　Jin；　and　Li　Dian；　followed　close。　Seeing　Guan　Yu　was　ready　to　fight；　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　escort　to　open　out　in　two　lines；　and　then　it　was　seen　they　carried　no　arms。　This　relieved　his　mind；　for　it　proved　to　Guan　Yu　they　meant　no　attack。

〃Why　do　you　go　in　such　haste；　Guan　Yu？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

Guan　Yu　inclined　his　head　but　did　not　dismount；　saying；　〃I　informed　you　in　writing　that　since　my　lord　was　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　I　had　to　leave　at　once。　I　went　to　your　palace　again　and　again　but　was　refused　admittance。　So　I　wrote　a　letter　of　farewell；　sealed　up　the　treasure；　resigned　my　lordship　seal；　and　left　everything　for　you。　I　hope　you　recall　the　promise　you　once　made　me。〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃My　desire　is　to　keep　my　troth　with　all　people。　I　cannot　go　back　on　my　word。　However；　you　may　find　the　journey　expensive；　and　therefore　I　have　here　prepared　a　sum　of　money　to　help　you。〃

Then　from　horseback　Cao　Cao　held　out　a　packet　of　gold。

Guan　Yu　said；　〃I　have　sufficient　left　from　your　former　bounty。　Keep　that　for　presents　to　your　soldiers。〃

〃Why　should　you　refuse　this？　It　is　but　an　insignificant　return　for　great　services。〃

〃My　services　have　been　all　trifling；　not　worth　mentioning。〃

〃Really；　Guan　Yu；　you　are　the　most　high…principled　of　humans。　I　am　very　sorry　my　luck　is　too　poor　to　retain　you　at　my　side。　Pray　accept　just　this　robe　to　show　you　I　am　not　quite　ungrateful；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

And　one　of　his　generals；　dismounting；　held　up　a　silken　coat　in　both　hands。　Guan　Yu　even　still　fearful　of　what　might　happen；　would　not　dismount；　but　he　reached　down　his　sword　and　took　the　robe　on　its　point。　Then　he　threw　it　over　his　shoulders　and　turned　to　thank　the　giver。

〃I　thank　you；　Sir　Prime　Minister；　for　the　robe　and　trust　we　shall　meet　again。〃

So　saying；　Guan　Yu　went　down　from　the　bridge　and　bore　away　to　the　north。

〃He　is　a　very　rude　man；〃　said　Xu　Chu；　who　was　of　the　escort。　〃Why　do　you　not　take　him　prisoner？〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃He　was　absolutely　alone　facing　scores　of　us。　He　was　justified　in　being　suspicious。　But　my　word　has　gone　forth；　and　he　is　not　to　be　pursued。〃

Cao　Cao　and　his　escort　returned；　the　Prime　Minister　very　sad　when　he　thought　of　the　man　who　had　gone。

Guan　Yu　went　down　from　the　bridge　and　started　in　the　wake　of　the　carriage　carrying　the　two　ladies；　which　should　have　gone　about　ten　miles　while　this　interview　had　been　going　on。　He　could　see　no　signs　of　it　and　rode　hither　and　thither　looking　on　all　sides。

Presently　he　heard　someone　shouting　from　a　hill；　calling　him　by　name　to　halt。　He　saw　a　youth　wearing　a　yellow　turban　and　dressed　in　a　silk　robe。　He　held　a　spear　in　his　hand　and　was　mounted　on　a　horse　from　the　neck　of　which　dangled　a　bloody　head。　Behind　him　were　a　hundred　or　so　men　on　foot；　and　they　advanced　quickly。

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。

The　young　man　dropped　his　spear；　dismounted；　and　made　a　low　bow。　Guan　Yu　feared　this　was　some　ruse；　so　he　only　checked　his　horse　and　gripped　his　sword　the　more　firmly；　saying；　〃Sir；　I　desire　you　to　tell　me　your　name！〃

〃My　name　is　Liao　Hua。　I　belong　to　a　Xiangyang　family。　Since　these　troubled　times　began　I　have　been　an　outlaw　among　the　rivers　and　lakes；　and　I　and　my　rades　have　lived　by　plunder。　We　are　about　five　hundred　in　all。　By　chance　my　friend　Du　Yuan　came　across　two　ladies　in　a　carriage　just　now；　and；　quite　wrongly；　he　took　them　prisoners　and　brought　them　to　the　hold　in　the　hills。　I　questioned　the　servants　and　so　found　out　who　they　were　and　who　was　escorting　them。　So　I　wished　them　to　be　set　free　to　pursue　their　journey。　Du　Yuan　opposed　this　and　spoke　so　ill…mannerly　that　I　killed　him。　And　here　is　his　head。　I　pray　you　pardon　me。〃

〃Where　are　the　two　ladies？〃

〃They　are　among　the　hills；〃　replied　Liao　Hua。

〃Bring　them　down　here；　at　once；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

In　a　short　time　a　party　of　the　brigands　pushed　the　carriage　down　the　hill；　and　the　ladies　sat　there　before　him。

Then　Guan　Yu　dismounted；　laid　aside　his　sword；　and　stood　respectfully　before　them　with　his　arms　crossed。

〃Sisters；　have　you　been　alarmed？〃　asked　he。

They　replied；　〃We　should　have　suffered　at　the　hands　of　Du　Yuan　had　it　not　been　for　Liao　Hua。〃

〃How　did　Liao　Hua　e　to　save　the　ladies？〃　asked　Guan　Yu　of　those　who　stood　by。

They　said；　〃Du　Yuan　carried　off　the　ladies　and　proposed　that　he　and　Liao　Hua　should　have　one　each　as　wife。　But　Liao　Hua　had　found　out　they　were　of　gentle　birth　and　worthy；　and　was　for　treating　them　with　respect。　When　Du　Yuan　disagreed；　Liao　Hua　slew　him。〃

Hearing　this　Guan　Yu　bowed　to　Liao　Hua　and　thanked　him。　Liao　Hua　then　wanted　to　join　himself　and　his　troop　to　Guan　Yu；　but　Guan　Yu；　seeing　he　was　a　Yellow　Scarf；　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　him。　So　Guan　Yu　simply　thanked　him　for　his　kindness　to　the　ladies。　Liao　Hua　offered　some　presents；　but　these　were　also　declined。

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　gif