第69部分(第1/7 页)

Zhang　Liao　said；　〃I　bring　the　Prime　Minister's　order　that　since　he　has　heard　that　Guan　Yu　has　slain　certain　manders　on　the　way；　he　fears　that　some　will　hinder　his　passage。　Wherefore　he　has　sent　me　to　deliver　his　mand　at　each　gate　that　Guan　Yu　is　to　be　suffered　to　pass　freely。〃

Xiahou　Dun　said；　〃Qin　Qi　was　the　son　of　Cai　Yang's　sister；　and　he　was　confided　to　my　especial　care。　Now　this　Guan　Yu　has　killed　him；　and　how　can　I　refrain？〃

〃When　I　see　his　uncle　Cai　Yang；　I　will　explain。　But　now　the　main　point　is　that　you　have　the　Prime　Minister's　orders　to　let　Guan　Yu　pass　and　you　may　not　despise　his　wish。〃

So　the　only　thing　for　Xiahou　Dun　to　do　was　to　retire；　and　he　did。

〃Whither　are　you　going？〃　then　said　Zhang　Liao　to　Guan　Yu。

〃I　fear　my　brother　is　no　longer　with　Yuan　Shao；　and　now　I　am　going　to　find　him　wherever　he　is。〃

〃As　you　do　not　know　where　to　go；　why　not　return　to　the　Prime　Minister？〃

〃Where　is　the　sense　of　that？〃　said　Guan　Yu　with　a　smile。　〃But；　Zhang　Liao；　you　return；　and　try　to　arrange　pardon　for　my　faults。〃

With　this　Guan　Yu　saluted　Zhang　Liao　and　took　his　leave。　Zhang　Liao　retired　and　joined　Xiahou　Dun。

Guan　Yu　quickly　regained　the　carriage；　and　as　they　went　along　side　by　side　he　told　Sun　Qian　what　had　happened。　Several　days　later　a　heavy　rain　storm　came　on　which　soaked　everything。　Looking　about　for　protection　they　noticed　a　farm　under　the　shelter　of　a　precipice　and　took　their　way　thither。　An　old　man　came　out　to　them；　to　whom　they　told　their　story。

When　they　had　finished；　the　old　fellow　said；　〃My　name　is　Guo　Chang；　and　I　have　lived　here　many　years。　I　am　very　pleased　to　greet　the　man　whom　I　have　known　so　long　by　reputation。〃

Guo　Chang　quickly　killed　a　sheep　for　their　refreshment　and　bro