迪文小说

第70部分（第1页）

rden　Pledge　quite　forgotten？〃

〃What　impudence　is　this　that　you　e　to　see　me　since　your　disgraceful　behavior？〃　shouted　Zhang　Fei。

〃What　disgraceful　behavior　has　been　mine？〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃You　have　betrayed　your　brother；　you　have　surrendered　to　Cao　Cao；　and　you　have　received　title　and　office　at　his　hands。　And　now　you　are　e　to　exploit　me。　One　of　us　shall　die！〃

Guan　Yu　said；　〃Really　you　do　not　understand；　and　it　is　hard　for　me　to　explain。　But　ask　the　two　ladies　here；　worthy　brother；　and　they　will　tell　you。〃

At　this　the　ladies　lifted　the　curtain　of　the　carriage　and　called　out：　〃Brother；　why　is　this？〃

Zhang　Fei　said；　〃Wait　a　while；　sisters；　and　see　me　slay　this　traitor。　After　that　I　will　conduct　you　into　the　city。〃

Said　Lady　Gan；　〃Since　he　knew　not　where　you　were；　our　brother　took　shelter　with　Cao　Cao。　And　since　he　knew　that　his　elder　brother　was　at　Runan；　he　has　braved　every　danger　to　escort　us　thus　far　on　the　road。　Pray　take　a　correct　view　of　his　conduct。〃

Lady　Mi　also　chimed　in；　〃When　your　brother　went　to　Xuchang；　no　other　course　was　open　to　him。〃

〃Sisters；　do　not　let　him　deceive　you　to　the　truth。　Real　loyalty　prefers　death　to　dishonor。　No　good　person　can　serve　two　masters。〃

Guan　Yu　said；　〃Brother；　cease　to　wrench　me　I　pray　you。〃

Sun　Qian　said；　〃Guan　Yu　came　expressly　to　seek　you。〃

〃How　much　more　nonsense　will　you　talk？〃　roared　Zhang　Fei。　〃How　can　he　be　true…hearted？　He　came　to　capture　me；　I　say。〃

〃Had　I　e　to　capture　you；　I　should　have　e　with　troops　and　horses；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃And　are　there　not　troops　and　horses？〃　said　Zhang　Fei　pointing　to　a　point　behind　Guan　Yu。

Guan　Yu　turned；　and　there　he　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　rising　as　though　a　squadron　of　horse　was　ing。　And　soon　they　were　near　enough；　and　from　their　trumpets　and　banners　they　showed　themselves　to　be　of　Cao　Caos　army。

〃Now　will　you　try　to　cajole　me　further？〃　cried　Zhang　Fei　in　a　rage。

He　set　his　serpent　halberd　and　was　just　ing　on　when　Guan　Yu　said；　〃Brother；　wait　a　while。　See　me　slay　the　leader　of　these　that　I　may　prove　myself　no　traitor。〃

〃Well；　if　you　are　really　true；　prove　it　by　slaying　that　leader；　whoever　he　may　be；　before　I　have　finished　three　rolls　of　the　drum。〃

Zhang　Feis　condition　was　accepted。　Soon　the　attacking　force　was　near　enough　to　make　out　the　leader　to　be　Cai　Yang。

Sword　in　hand　Cai　Yang　rode　at　full　speed；　crying；　〃So　I　have　found　you；　slayer　of　my　nephew！　I　have　a　mand　to　capture　you　and　will　execute　it。〃

Guan　Yu　made　no　reply。　Raising　his　sword　ready　to　strike；　he　moved　out　and　the　drums　began　to　beat。　Before　a　roll　could　be　pleted　the　fight　was　over；　and　Cai　Yangs　head　had　rolled　on　the　ground。　His　force　scattered　and　fled。　Guan　Yu；　however；　captured　the　young　ensign　bearer　and　questioned　him。

The　youth　said；　〃The　fact　is　the　Prime　Minister　had　not　given　an　order。　Incensed　at　the　loss　of　his　nephew；　Cai　Yang　wished　to　cross　the　river　to　pursue　and　attack　you；　General；　although　the　Prime　Minister　refused　permission。　To　satisfy　him；　the　Prime　Minister　had　sent　Cai　Yang　to　attack　Runan；　and　the　meeting　at　this　place　is　entirely　an　accident。〃

Guan　Yu　bade　him　repeat　this　story　to　his　brother。　Zhang　Fei　also　questioned　him　concerning　all　that　had　happened　in　the　capital；　and　the　recital　of　the　whole　story　satisfied　Zhang　Fei　of　the　fidelity　of　Guan　Yu。

Just　then　messengers　came　from　the　city　to　Zhang　Fei　to　say：　〃Some　scores　of　horsemen　has　arrived　at　the　south　gate。　They　seem　in　a　great　hurry　but　no　one　know　them。〃

Zhang　Fei；　with　still　a　lingering　doubt　in　his　mind；　went　to　look　at　the　newers　and　there　saw　some　forty　mounted　archers　with　light　bows　and　short　arrows。　Hastily　dismounting　to　see　them　better；　he　found　they　were　Mi　Zhu　and　Mi　Fang。

Quickly　slipping　out　of　the　saddle；　they　came　up　and　Mi　Zhu　said；　〃After　the　dispersal　at　Xuzhou　when　we　lost　sight　of　you；　we　returned　to　our　village　whence　we　sent　all　around　for　news　of　you。　We　heard　that　Guan　Yu　had　surrendered　to　Cao　Cao　and　our　lord　was　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River　with　Yuan　Shao。　The　one　of　whom　we　could　hear　nothing　was　yourself。　But　yesterday；　while　on　our　way；　we　fell　in　with　some　travelers　who　told　us　a　certain　General　Zhang　Fei；　of　such　and　such　an　appearance；　had　suddenly　occupied　Gucheng；　and　we　felt　it　must　be　you。　So　we　came　to　inquire；　and　we　happily　fell　in　with　you　here。〃

Zhang　Fei　replied；　〃Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　are　here；　and　my　two　sisters　are　with　them。　They　had　heard　where　my　elder　brother　was。〃

This　news　added　to　the　joy　of　the　two　newers　who　went　to　see　Guan　Yu　and　the　women；　and　then　they　all　entered　the　city。　When　the　ladies　had　settled　down　a　little；　they　related　the　whole　story　of　the　adventures　on　the　road　at　which　Zhang　Fei　was　overe　with　remorse　and　bowed　before　his　brother　bitterly　weeping。　Mi　Zhu　and　Mi　Fang　were　greatly　affected。　Then　Zhang　Fei　related　what　had　happened　to　him。

A　day　was　spent　in　banquets；　and　next　day　Zhang　Fei　wished　his　newly　found　brother　to　go　with　him　to　Runan　to　see　their　elder　brother　Liu　Bei。

But　Guan　Yu　said；　〃No；　you　take　care　of　the　ladies　here　while　Sun　Qian　and　I　go　to　get　news。〃

So　Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　with　a　small　escort　set　out。　When　they　reached　Runan；　they　were　received　by　Liu　Pi。

〃Liu　Bei　is　no　longer　in　the　city。　After　waiting　some　days；　he　has　e　to　the　conclusion　that　the　soldiers　are　too　few；　and　has　gone　back　to　Yuan　Shao　to　consult　with　him；〃　said　Liu　Pi。

Guan　Yu　was　greatly　disappointed；　and　Sun　Qian　did　his　best　to　console　him；　saying；　〃Do　not　be　sorrowful。　It　only　means　the　trouble　of　another　journey　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River　to　tell　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　and　then　we　can　all　meet　at　Gucheng。〃

So　spoke　Sun　Qian；　and　Guan　Yu　accepted　it。　They　took　leave　of　Liu　Pi　and　returned　to　Gucheng　where　they　related　what　had　happened。

Zhang　Fei　wanted　to　go　with　them　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　but　Guan　Yu　opposed　this；　saying；　〃Seeing　you　have　this　city；　it　makes　a　rallying　point　for　us　and　a　resting　place。　We　must　not　abandon　it　lightly。　Sun　Qian　and　I　will　go；　and　while　sway　we　look　to　you　to　keep　the　city　safe。〃

〃How　can　you　go　after　killing　the　two　generals；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou？〃

〃That　will　not　stop　me。　And　after　I　am　there；　I　can　act　according　to　circumstances。〃

Then　Guan　Yu　summoned　Zhou　Cang　and　asked　him；　saying；　〃How　many　followers　are　there　with　Pei　Yuanshao　at　Sleeping　Bull　Mountain？〃