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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 sighed。
〃Who is there？〃 suddenly asked the reader at the sound。
Hu Ban entered and said； 〃I am Hu Ban； a general of the Governor。〃
〃Surely you are the son of Hu Hua； who lives outside Xuchang；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃I am he；〃 replied Hu Ban。
Then Guan Yu called up his followers and bade them look among the baggage for the letter； which they brought。 Guan Yu handed it to the General。
Hu Ban read it and then breathed long； saying； 〃I very nearly caused the death of a good man。〃
Then he betrayed the whole plot； saying； 〃This Wang Zhi is a wicked man； who wanted to kill you。 At this moment you are surrounded； and at the third watch they will set fire to this place。 Now I will go and open the city gates while you hastily prepare for flight。〃
Guan Yu was greatly surprised； but he quickly buckled up his armor； got his steed ready； roused the two ladies； and put them into their carriage。 Then they left the rest house； and as they passed out； they saw the soldiers all about them； each with a torch。 The party hastened to the outskirts of the city and found the gate already open； and they lost no time in getting clear of the city。 Hu Ban returned to give orders to fire the rest house。
The fugitives pressed on。 But before long they saw lights ing up behind them； and Wang Zhi called out to them to stop。
Guan Yu reined in his horse and began to abuse him； crying； 〃Worthless fellow！ What had you against me that you wished to burn me to death？〃
Wang Zhi whipped up his steed and set his spear； but Guan Yu cut him through with the short sword he wore at his side and scattered his followers。
Then the carriage pushed on。 Guan Yu's heart was filled with gratitude to Hu Ban。
When the party drew near Huazhou； someone told Liu Yue； who rode out to wele him。 Liu Yue had been once rescued by Guan Yu； who slew Yan Liang and Wen Chou and lifted the siege of the city。
Guan Yu did not dismount but bowed from horseback； saying； 〃Have you been quite well since we parted？〃
〃Whither are you going； Sir？〃 replied Liu Yue。
〃I have left the Prime Minister and am on my way to find my brother。〃
〃Liu Bei is with Yuan Shao； who is at enmity with the Prime Minister。 How can you be allowed to go to him？〃 asked Liu Yue。
〃That matter was settled long ago。〃
〃The Yellow River Ferry is an important point and is guarded by a mander of Xiahou Dun。 He will not let you cross。〃
〃But suppose then you provide boats for me？〃
〃Though there are boats； I dare not give them to you。〃
〃Well； formerly I slew Yan Liang and Wen Chou and saved you a grave danger。 Now you refuse me a ferry boat！〃
〃I am afraid Xiahou Dun will know of it and make it a fault against me。〃
Guan Yu perceived that no help was to be expected from this man； so he pushed on and presently reached the ferry。 There the mander of the Guard； Qin Qi； came out to question him。
〃I am one Guan Yu； Lord of Hanshou。〃
〃Whither are you bound？〃
〃I go to the North of Yellow River to seek my brother； Liu Bei； and I respectfully ask you to grant me a passage over the river。〃
〃Where is the authority of the Prime Minister？〃
〃I am not on a mission from the Prime Minister； so why should I have such an authority？〃
〃I have orders from my chief to guard the ferry； and you will not cross。 Even if you grew wings； you should not fly over。〃
Guan Yu's choler arose。
〃Do you know that I have been the death of all those who have hitherto tried to stop me？〃 said he。
〃You have only slain a few officers of no rank or reputation； but you dare not kill me！〃
〃Where would you stand beside Yan Liang and Wen Chou？〃 asked Guan Yu。
Qin Qi grew angry； and he loosed his rein。 Sword in hand； he came at a gallop。 The two met； but in the first encounter Qin Qi's head was swept off by the terrible green…dragon saber。
〃He who opposed me is dead！ You others need not be afraid；〃 cried Guan Yu。 〃Be quick and prepare me a boat。〃
The boat was soon at the landing； and the two women stepped on board； followed by Guan Yu。 They crossed and were then in the country of Yuan Shao。 In the course of his journey to this point； Guan Yu had forced five passes and slain six generals。
His seal hung up； the treasury locked； his
courtly mansion left；
He journeyed toward his brother dear； too long
from his side left。
The horse he rode was famed for speed as for
endurance great；
His good sword made a way for him and
opened every gate。
His loyalty and truth forth stand； a pattern
unto all；
His valor would frighten rushing streams and
make high mountains fall。
Alone he traveled lustily； this was death to meet
his blade；
He has been themed by myriads； his glory never
will fade。
〃I did not willingly slay a single one of them；〃 mused Guan Yu as he rode along。 〃There was no help for it。 Nevertheless when Cao Cao hears of it； he will regard me as ungrateful for his bounty。〃
Before long he saw a rider on the road who soon hailed him and proved to be Sun Qian。
〃I have never heard a word from you since we lost sight of each other at Runan。 How have you fared？〃 said Guan Yu。
〃After your departure Liu Pi and Gong Du retook the city。 I was sent by them to Yuan Shao to try to make peace with him and succeeded； so that Yuan Shao invited Liu Bei to go to him and share in the deliberations for a concerted attack on Cao Cao。 But to my disgust the leaders of Yuan Shao's army showed great jealousy of each other so that Tian Feng got into gaol； Ju Shou was degraded； and others quarreled。 Then Yuan Shao vacillated and hesitated； so that your brother and I consulted how we might get away from them all。 Now the Uncle is at Runan with Liu Pi and； thinking you could not know that and might suffer some harm if you unwillingly went to Yuan Shao； I have e to warn you。 It is good fortune to find you like this。 Now we can hasten to Runan； and you will meet your brother。〃
Guan Yu took Sun Qian to make his bow to the ladies； who asked after his adventures； and Sun Qian said； 〃Uncle Liu Bei were nearly executed due to Yuan Shao's sudden bursts of anger after the deaths of Yan Liang and Wen Chou。 Now； however； he is out of his way and safe at Runan； and you will meet him soon。〃
The ladies covered their faces and wept at the recital of his dangers。 Then the party no longer traveled north but took the road toward Runan。 Not long after a great cloud of dust was noticed behind them； and that presently made out a hundred of horsemen。 These were led by Xiahou Dun； who shouted out to Guan Yu to stop。
One by one the pass manders stopped his
progress and were slain；
The river crossed； another army es and he
must fight again。
How finally Guan Yu escaped death will appear in the succeeding chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 28 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Putting Cai Yang To Death； The Brothers' Doubts Disappear；
Meeting At Gucheng； Lord and Liege Fortify Each Other。
Sun Qian had joined Guan Yu in escorting the two ladies； and they were on the road to Runan when Xiahou Dun suddenly determined to pursue。 So with a couple of hundred horse； Xiahou Dun set out。 When Xiahou Dun was seen approaching； Guan Yu bade Sun Qian go ahead with the carriage while he remained to deal with the pursuers。
When they were near enough； Guan Yu said； 〃In ing after me thus you do not reinforce the magnanimity of your master！〃
Replied Xiahou Dun； 〃The Prime Minister has sent no definite instructions。 You have caused the death of several people； among them one of my manders； and so I have e to capture you！ You have behaved most grossly。 The Prime Minister will decide。〃
Thereupon Xiahou Dun dashed forward with his spear ready to thrust。
But at that moment a rider came up behind him at full gallop； crying； 〃You must not fight with Guan Yu！〃
Guan Yu stayed his steed at once and waited。
The messenger came up； drew from his bosom an official letter； and said to Xiahou Dun； 〃The Prime Minister loves General Guan Yu for his loyalty and honor； and fearing lest Guan Yu might be stopped at the various passes； he sent me with this letter to show when necessary at any point on the road。〃
〃But this Guan Yu has slain several manders of the passes。 Does the Prime Minister know that？〃 said Xiahou Dun。
The messenger said these things were unknown。
〃Then；〃 said Xiahou Dun； 〃I will arrest him and take him to the Prime Minister； who may set him free or not as he wills。〃
〃Do you think I fear anything you can do？〃 said Guan Yu getting wrathful。
And he rode forward。 Xiahou Dun； nothing loth； set his spear and prepared for