第65部分(第3/7 页)

draw　the　enemy　to　destruction。

〃Only　Xun　You　understood　that；〃　said　Cao　Cao　in　conclusion。

Everyone　present　praised　his　ingenuity。　Even　while　the　banquet　was　proceeding；　there　arrived　news　of　a　rising　of　Yellow　Scarves　rebels　at　Runan　led　by　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du。　They　were　very　strong；　and　Cao　Hong　had　been　defeated　in　several　engagements。　Now　he　begged　for　help。

Guan　Yu　hearing　this　said；　〃I　should　like　to　have　the　opportunity　of　performing　some　service　by　destroying　these　rebels。〃

〃You　have　already　rendered　noble　services　for　which　you　have　not　been　properly　requited。　I　could　hardly　trouble　you　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃I　have　been　idle　too　long。　I　shall　get　ill；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

Cao　Cao　then　let　him　to　go　and　gave　him　fifty　thousand　troops　with　Yu　Jin　and　Yue　Jing　as　generals　under　him。　They　were　to　leave　soon。

Then　Xun　Yu　said　privily　to　his　master；　〃He　always　cherishes　the　idea　of　returning　to　Liu　Bei。　He　will　leave　you　if　he　hears　any　news。　Do　not　let　him　go　on　this　expedition。〃

〃If　he　does　well　this　time；　I　will　not　let　him　go　into　battle　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

In　due　time　the　force　led　by　Guan　Yu　drew　near　the　rebels　in　Runan　and　made　their　camp。　One　night；　just　outside　his　camp；　two　spies　were　caught　and　taken　in　to　Guan　Yu　who　in　one　of　them　recognized　Sun　Qian。　The　attendants　being　dismissed；　Guan　Yu　questioned　Sun　Qian。

〃After　we　lost　sight　of　each　other；　I　have　heard　not　a　word　of　you。　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃After　I　escaped；　I　drifted　hither　and　thither　till　I　had　the　good　fortune　to　reach　Runan；　and　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du；　the　Yellow　Scarves　leaders；　took　me　in。　But　why　are　you　with　Cao　Cao；　General？　And　where　are　your　sisters…in…law？　Are　they　well？〃

Guan　Yu　told　him