第68部分(第1/7 页)

ere　sent　to　their　lodgings。　Guan　Yu　was　fatigued　from　the　trials　of　the　journey；　and　as　soon　as　the　evening　meal　was　over；　he　bade　the　ladies　retire　to　rest　while　he　sat　down　in　the　main　room；　quite　alone；　for　he　bade　all　to　get　repose　while　they　could。　His　horse　was　given　a　good　feed　for　once。　He　sat　with　his　armor　loosened　in　order　to　be　more　at　ease。

Now　Governor　Wang　Zhi　had　a　general　named　Hu　Ban　to　whom　he　had　entrusted　the　arrangements　for　the　destruction　of　his　guest。

Said　Wang　Zhi；　〃This　Guan　Yu　is　a　traitor　to　the　Prime　Minister　and　a　fugitive。　On　the　road　he　has　murdered　several　manders　of　Passes　and　is　guilty　of　serious　crimes。　But　he　is　too　strong　and　valiant　for　any　ordinary　soldier　to　overe。　So　this　evening　you　will　lead　a　whole　pany　of　a　thousand　troops　to　surround　his　lodging；　each　one　armed　with　a　torch；　and　we　will　burn　him。　They　will　start　the　fire　about　midnight。　Everyone　of　the　party　will　perish。　I　will　e　with　a　force　to　stand　by　and　assist　if　necessary。〃

These　orders　received；　Hu　Ban　passed　them　on　to　the　soldiers；　who　began　secretly　to　prepare　dry　wood　and　other　bustibles　which　they　piled　up　at　the　gate　of　the　rest　house。　Hu　Ban　thought　within　himself　that　he　would　like　to　know　what　manner　of　man　was　this　Guan　Yu；　whose　fame　had　spread　so　far；　so　he　determined　to　get　a　peep　at　the　guest。　He　went　to　the　rest　house　and　inquired　where　Guan　Yu　was。

〃The　General　is　the　man　in　the　main　hall　reading；〃　was　the　reply。

Hu　Ban　noiselessly　made　his　way　to　the　outside　of　the　room　and　peeped　in。　He　saw　the　famous　warrior　stroking　his　beard　with　his　left　hand　while　he　read　by　the　light　of　a　lamp　placed　on　a　low　table。　An　involuntary　exclamation　of　wonder　escaped　at　the　majesty　of　the　figure。

〃Really　a　god！〃　Hu　Ban　s