第66部分(第2/7 页)

uan　Shao　and　I；　remembering　our　pledge；　cannot　but　go　to　him。　Though　your　bounty　is　great；　I　forget　not　the　bond　of　the　past；　wherefore　I　write　this　letter　of　farewell　trusting　that　when　you　have　read　it；　you　will　be　content　for　me　to　postpone　to　another　season　the　proof　of　my　gratitude。〃

Guan　Yu　sealed　and　sent　it　to　the　palace。　Then　he　deposited　in　the　treasury　of　his　dwelling　all　the　gold　and　silver　he　had　received；　hung　his　seal　of　lordship　of　Hanshou　in　the　middle　of　the　reception　hall　and　left；　taking　his　sisters…in…law　with　him　in　a　carriage。　He　rode　Red　Hare　and　carried　the　green…dragon　saber　in　his　hand。　With　a　small　escort　of　guards；　those　formerly　under　his　mand；　he　left　the　city　by　the　north　gate。

The　wardens　would　have　stopped　him；　but　Guan　Yu　frightened　them　with　a　fierce　shout。　Having　got　out；　he　told　the　escort　to　go　in　front　with　the　carriage　while　he　would　remain　behind　to　guard　against　pursuit。　So　they　pushed　the　carriage　toward　the　high　road。

In　the　city；　Guan　Yu's　letter　reached　the　Prime　Minister　while　he　was　consulting　about　what　to　do。　He　read　it　and　exclaimed；　〃So　he　has　left！〃

Then　the　warden　of　the　gate　came　to　report　that　Guan　Yu　had　forced　his　way　out；　and　was　gone　with　a　carriage；　a　horse；　and　a　score　of　guards。　Next　came　the　servants　from　his　house　to　report　that　he　had　left；　taking　nothing　of　the　treasure；　nor　anyone　of　the　waiting　maids。　Everything　was　left　in　the　house。　Even　his　seal　was　there。　His　only　escort　were　the　few　soldiers　of　his　original　force。

Suddenly　from　the　assembly　of　officers　rose　a　voice；　saying；　〃With　three　thousand　of　mailed　horse；　I　will　bring　him　back　alive。〃

Their　eyes　turned　to　the　speaker；　who　was　General　Cai　Yang。

On　the　dragon's　cave　he　turns　his　back；

Bu