第70部分(第2/7 页)

they　were　near　enough；　and　from　their　trumpets　and　banners　they　showed　themselves　to　be　of　Cao　Cao's　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　Fei's　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　Yang's　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