第67部分(第1/7 页)

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　gift　of　a　robe；　and　then　he　urged　the　carriage　on　its　way。　Towards　dark　they　came　to　a　farm　where　they　would　rest。　The　farmer；　an　old　graybeard；　came　out　to　wele　the　party　and　asked　who　they　were。　Guan　Yu　described　himself　as　the　brother　of　Liu　Bei；　and　said　his　name。

〃Surely　you　are　no　other　than　the　slayer　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；〃　said　the　venerable　host。

〃That　is　so；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。

〃e　in；〃　said　the　old　man；　joyfully。

〃My　two　sisters…in…law　are　in　the　carriage；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Will　you　let　your　women　folks　go　out　to　receive　them？〃

As　Guan　Yu　remained　standing　there；　the　host　asked　him　to　be　seated；　but　he　would　not　sit　while　the　women　were　present　and　remained　standing　in　a　respectful　attitude　till　the　old　man's　wife　had　returned　and　ushered　the　ladies　into　the　inner　apartments。　Then　the　old　man　set　to　the　entertainment　of　his　guest　in　the　guest　hall。　Guan　Yu　asked　his　name。

He　replied；　〃I　am　called　Hu　Hua。　In　the　days　of　the　Emperor　Huan；　I　was　an　officer　of　the　court；　but　I　resigned　and　retired　into　private　life。　I　have　a　son；　Hu　Ban；　with　Governor　Wang　Zhi　of　Yingyang。　If　you　should　be　going　that　way；　General；　I　should　like　to　send　him　a　letter　by　you。〃

Guan　Yu　said　he　would　take　the　letter。　Next　day；　after　an　early　meal；　the　ladies　got　into　their　carriage；　the　host　handed　his　letter　to　Guan　Yu；　and　the　little　party　once　more　took　the　road。　They　went　toward　Luoyang。

Presently　they　approached　a　pass　known　as　the　Dongling　Pass；　guarded　by　mander　Kong　Xiu　and　five　hundred　soldiers。　When　the　soldiers　saw　a　carriage　being　pushed　toward　the　pass；　they　ra