第62部分(第3/7 页)

t　into　the　road　to　his　own　city；　but　soon　Xiahou　Dun　came　up　again　and　attacked　fiercely　as　before。　Evening　came　and　still　Guan　Yu　was　hemmed　in；　so　he　went　up　on　a　low　hill　of　Tushan　Mountains　upon　which　he　encamped　for　a　rest。

Guan　Yu　was　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　enemies。　By　and　by；　looking　toward　his　city；　he　saw　the　glow　of　fire。　It　meant　that　the　traitors；　who　had　e　in　to　surrender；　had　opened　the　gate；　and　the　enemy　had　gone　in　force。　They　had　made　the　fires　in　order　to　perplex　and　distress　Guan　Yu；　and　indeed　the　sight　saddened　him。

In　the　night　he　made　efforts　to　escape　from　the　hill；　but　every　attempt　was　checked　by　flights　of　arrows。　At　daybreak　he　prepared　for　one　more　effort；　but　before　moving　he　saw　a　horseman　riding　up　at　full　speed　and　presently　discerned　Zhang　Liao。

When　within　speaking　distance；　Guan　Yu　said；　〃Are　you　e　to　fight　me；　Zhang　Liao？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Zhang　Liao。　〃I　am　e　to　see　you　because　of　our　old　friendship。〃

Wherefore　Zhang　Liao　threw　aside　his　sword；　dismounted；　and　came　forward　saluting。　And　the　two　sat　down。

〃Then　naturally　you　have　e　to　talk　me　over；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃Not　so！〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃Sometime　ago　you　saved　me。　Can　I　help　saving　you？〃

〃Then　you　desire　to　help　me。〃

〃Not　exactly　that；〃　replied　Zhang　Liao。

〃Then　what　are　you　doing　here　if　you　have　not　e　to　help　me？〃

〃Nothing　is　known　of　the　fate　of　your　elder　brother；　nor　whether　your　younger　brother　is　alive　or　dead。　Last　night　your　city　fell　into　the　hands　of　Cao　Cao；　but　neither　soldiers　nor　people　were　harmed；　and　a　special　guard　was　set　over　the　family　of　Liu　Bei　lest　they　should　be　alarmed。　I　came　to　tell　you　how　well　they　had　been　treated。〃

〃This　is　certainly　talking　me　over；〃　said　Guan　Yu。