第一小说网

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第68部分（第3页）

Guan　Yu　took　Sun　Qian　to　make　his　bow　to　the　ladies；　who　asked　after　his　adventures；　and　Sun　Qian　said；　〃Uncle　Liu　Bei　were　nearly　executed　due　to　Yuan　Shaos　sudden　bursts　of　anger　after　the　deaths　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou。　Now；　however；　he　is　out　of　his　way　and　safe　at　Runan；　and　you　will　meet　him　soon。〃

The　ladies　covered　their　faces　and　wept　at　the　recital　of　his　dangers。　Then　the　party　no　longer　traveled　north　but　took　the　road　toward　Runan。　Not　long　after　a　great　cloud　of　dust　was　noticed　behind　them；　and　that　presently　made　out　a　hundred　of　horsemen。　These　were　led　by　Xiahou　Dun；　who　shouted　out　to　Guan　Yu　to　stop。

One　by　one　the　pass　manders　stopped　his

progress　and　were　slain；

The　river　crossed；　another　army　es　and　he

must　fight　again。

How　finally　Guan　Yu　escaped　death　will　appear　in　the　succeeding　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　28　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　28

Chapter　28

Putting　Cai　Yang　To　Death；　The　Brothers　Doubts　Disappear；

Meeting　At　Gucheng；　Lord　and　Liege　Fortify　Each　Other。

Sun　Qian　had　joined　Guan　Yu　in　escorting　the　two　ladies；　and　they　were　on　the　road　to　Runan　when　Xiahou　Dun　suddenly　determined　to　pursue。　So　with　a　couple　of　hundred　horse；　Xiahou　Dun　set　out。　When　Xiahou　Dun　was　seen　approaching；　Guan　Yu　bade　Sun　Qian　go　ahead　with　the　carriage　while　he　remained　to　deal　with　the　pursuers。

When　they　were　near　enough；　Guan　Yu　said；　〃In　ing　after　me　thus　you　do　not　reinforce　the　magnanimity　of　your　master！〃

Replied　Xiahou　Dun；　〃The　Prime　Minister　has　sent　no　definite　instructions。　You　have　caused　the　death　of　several　people；　among　them　one　of　my　manders；　and　so　I　have　e　to　capture　you！　You　have　behaved　most　grossly。　The　Prime　Minister　will　decide。〃

Thereupon　Xiahou　Dun　dashed　forward　with　his　spear　ready　to　thrust。

But　at　that　moment　a　rider　came　up　behind　him　at　full　gallop；　crying；　〃You　must　not　fight　with　Guan　Yu！〃

Guan　Yu　stayed　his　steed　at　once　and　waited。

The　messenger　came　up；　drew　from　his　bosom　an　official　letter；　and　said　to　Xiahou　Dun；　〃The　Prime　Minister　loves　General　Guan　Yu　for　his　loyalty　and　honor；　and　fearing　lest　Guan　Yu　might　be　stopped　at　the　various　passes；　he　sent　me　with　this　letter　to　show　when　necessary　at　any　point　on　the　road。〃

〃But　this　Guan　Yu　has　slain　several　manders　of　the　passes。　Does　the　Prime　Minister　know　that？〃　said　Xiahou　Dun。

The　messenger　said　these　things　were　unknown。

〃Then；〃　said　Xiahou　Dun；　〃I　will　arrest　him　and　take　him　to　the　Prime　Minister；　who　may　set　him　free　or　not　as　he　wills。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　fear　anything　you　can　do？〃　said　Guan　Yu　getting　wrathful。

And　he　rode　forward。　Xiahou　Dun；　nothing　loth；　set　his　spear　and　prepared　for　battle。　They　met　and　had　reached　the　tenth　encounter　when　a　second　horseman　came　up　at　full　speed；　crying；　〃Generals；　wait　a　little！〃

Xiahou　Dun　stayed　his　hand　and　asked　the　messenger；　saying；　〃Am　I　to　arrest　him？〃

〃No；〃　replied　the　messenger。　〃Fearing　lest　he　should　have　difficulties　at　the　passes；　the　Prime　Minister　has　sent　me　with　a　dispatch　to　say　he　is　to　be　released。〃

〃Did　the　Prime　Minister　know　that　he　had　slain　several　manders　on　the　way？〃

〃He　did　not　know！〃

〃Since　he　was　ignorant　of　that；　I　may　not　let　this　Guan　Yu　go；〃　and　Xiahou　Dun　gave　the　signal　to　his　men　to　close　in　round　Guan　Yu。

But　Guan　Yu　flourished　his　sword　and　made　to　attack　them　and　a　fight　was　again　imminent；　when　a　third　rider　appeared；　who　cried；　〃Guan　Yu；　give　way　and　do　not　fight！〃

The　speaker　was　Zhang　Liao。　Both　batants　made　no　further　move　but　awaited　his　arrival。

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