第一小说网

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第121部分（第2页）

Grateful　was　Guan　Yu；　and　mindful　of　former　kindness；

Wherefore　slipped　he　the　bolt　and　freed　the　imprisoned　dragon。

Having　escaped　this　danger；　Cao　Cao　hastened　to　get　out　of　the　valley。　As　the　throat　opened　out；　he　glanced　behind　him　and　saw　only　forty…seven　horsemen。　As　evening　fell；　they　reached　Jiangling；　and　they　came　upon　an　army　that　they　took　to　be　more　enemies。

Cao　Cao　thought　the　end　had　surely　e；　but　to　his　delight　they　were　his　own　soldiers　and　he　regained　all　his　confidence。

Cao　Ren；　who　was　the　leader；　said；　〃I　heard　of　your　misfortunes；　my　lord；　but　I　was　afraid　to　venture　far　from　my　charge；　else　I　would　have　met　you　before。〃

〃I　thought　I　would　never　see　you　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

The　fugitives　found　repose　in　the　city；　where　Zhang　Liao　soon　joined　them。　He　also　praised　the　magnanimity　of　Guan　Yu。

When　Cao　Cao　mustered　the　miserable　remnant　of　his　officers；　he　found　nearly　all　were　wounded　and　he　bade　them　rest。　Cao　Ren　poured　the　wine　of　consolation　whereby　his　master　might　forget　his　sorrows。

As　Cao　Cao　drank　among　his　familiars；　he　became　exceedingly　sad。

Wherefore　they　said；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　when　you　were　in　the　cave　of　the　tiger　and　trying　to　escape；　you　showed　no　sign　of　sorrow。　Now　that　you　are　safe　in　a　city；　where　you　have　food　and　the　horses　have　forage；　where　all　you　have　to　do　is　to　prepare　for　revenge；　suddenly　you　lose　heart　and　grieve。　Why　thus？〃

Replied　Cao　Cao；　〃I　am　thinking　of　my　friend　Guo　Jia：　Had　he　been　alive；　he　would　not　have　let　me　suffer　this　loss。〃

He　beat　his　breast　and　wept；　saying；　〃Alas　for　Guo　Jia！　I　grieve　for　Guo　Jia！　I　sorrow　for　Guo　Jia！〃

The　reproach　shamed　the　advisers；　who　were　silent。

Next　day　Cao　Cao　called　Cao　Ren　and　said；　〃I　am　going　to　the　capital　to　prepare　another　army　for　revenge。　You　are　to　guard　this　region　and；　in　case　of　necessity；　I　leave　with　you　a　sealed　plan。　You　are　only　to　open　the　cover　when　hard…pressed；　and　then　you　are　to　act　as　directed。　The　South　Land　will　not　dare　to　look　this　way。〃

〃Who　is　to　guard　Hefei　and　Xiangyang？〃

〃Jingzhou　is　particularly　your　care；　and　Xiahou　Dun　is　to　hold　Xiangyang。　As　Hefei　is　most　important；　I　am　sending　Zhang　Liao　thither　with　good　aids　of　Li　Dian　and　Yue　Jing。　If　you　get　into　difficulties；　send　at　once　to　tell　me。〃

Having　made　these　dispositions；　Cao　Cao　set　off　at　once　with　a　few　followers。　He　took　with　him　the　officers　who　had　e　over　to　his　side　when　Jingzhou　fell　into　his　hands。

Cao　Ren　placed　Cao　Hong　in　charge　of　Yiling　and　Jiangling。

After　having　allowed　the　escape　of　Cao　Cao；　Guan　Yu　found　his　way　back　to　headquarters。　By　this　time　the　other　detachments　had　returned　bringing　spoil　of　horses　and　weapons　and　supplies　of　all　kinds。　Only　Guan　Yu　came　back　empty…handed。　When　he　arrived；　Zhuge　Liang　was　with　his　brother　congratulating　him　on　his　success。　When　Guan　Yu　was　announced；　Zhuge　Liang　got　up　and　went　to　wele　him；　bearing　a　cup　of　wine。

〃Joy！　O　General；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃You　have　done　a　deed　that　overtops　the　world。　You　have　removed　the　empires　worst　foe　and　ought　to　have　been　met　at　a　distance　and　felicitated。〃

Guan　Yu　muttered　inaudibly；　and　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃I　hope　it　is　not　because　we　have　omitted　to　wele　you　on　the　road　that　you　seem　sad。〃

Turning　to　those　about　him；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Why　did　you　not　tell　us　Guan　Yu　was　ing？〃

〃I　am　here　to　ask　for　death；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃Surely　Cao　Cao　came　through　the　valley？〃

〃Yes；　he　came　that　way；　and　I　could　not　help　it。　I　let　him　go。〃

〃Then　whom　have　you　captured？〃

〃No　one。〃

〃Then　you　remembered　the　old　kindness　of　Cao　Cao　and　so　allowed　him　to　escape。　But　your　acceptance　of　the　task　with　its　conditions　is　here。　You　will　have　to　suffer　the　penalty。〃

Zhuge　Liang　called　in　the　lictors　and　told　them　to　take　away　Guan　Yu　and　put　him　to　death。

Guan　Yu　risked　life　when　he　spared

Cao　Cao　in　direst　need；

And　age…long　admiration　gained

For　kindly　deed。

What　actually　befell　will　he　seen　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　51　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　51

Chapter　51

Cao　Ren　Fights　The　South　Lands　Troops；

Zhuge　Liang　A