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。　Ride　after　him　and　beg　him　to　stop　till　I　can　e　up　and　bid　farewell　and　offer　him　a　sum　of　money　for　his　expenses　and　a　fighting　robe；　that　he　may　remember　me　kindly　in　after　days。〃
So　Zhang　Liao　rode　out　quite　alone。　Cao　Cao　followed　him　leisurely　with　an　escort　of　a　score　or　so。
Now　the　steed　that　Guan　Yu　rode　was　Red　Hare；　and　it　was　very　fast。　No　one　could　have　e　up　with　him　but　that　there　was　the　ladies'　carriage　to　escort；　and　so　Red　Hare　had　to　be　held　in　and　go　slow。　Suddenly　Guan　Yu　heard　a　shout　behind　him；　a　voice　crying；　〃Go　slowly；　Guan　Yu！〃
He　turned　and　made　out　the　person　to　be　Zhang　Liao。　Ordering　the　pushers　of　the　carriage　to　press　on　along　the　high　road；　he　reined　in　his　steed；　held　the　green…dragon　saber　ready　for　a　stroke；　and　waited　for　Zhang　Liao　to　e　up。
〃Of　course　you　have　e　to　take　me　back；　Zhang　Liao？〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃No；　the　Prime　Minister；　seeing　that　you　are　going　a　long　journey；　wishes　to　see　you　on　your　way　and　told　me　to　hasten　forward　and　beg　you　to　wait　till　he　can　e　up。　That　is　the　only　thing。〃
〃Seeing　that　he　is　ing　along　with　mailed　men；　I　shall　fight　to　the　very　last；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
And　he　took　up　his　position　on　a　bridge　where　he　waited　the　approach　of　the　party；　who　advanced　quickly。　Four　of　Cao　Cao's　generals；　Xu　Chu；　Xu　Huang；　Yu　Jin；　and　Li　Dian；　followed　close。　Seeing　Guan　Yu　was　ready　to　fight；　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　escort　to　open　out　in　two　lines；　and　then　it　was　seen　they　carried　no　arms。　This　relieved　his　mind；　for　it　proved　to　Guan　Yu　they　meant　no　attack。
〃Why　do　you　go　in　such　haste；　Guan　Yu？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
Guan　Yu　inclined　his　head　but　did　not　dismount；　saying；　〃I　informed　you　in　writing　that　since　my　lord　was　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　I　had　to　leave　at　once。　I　went　to　your　palace　again　and　again　but　was　refused　admittance。　So　I　wrote　a　letter　of　farewell；　sealed　up　the　treasure；　resigned　my　lordship　seal；　and　left　everything　for　you。　I　hope　you　recall　the　promise　you　once　made　me。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃My　desire　is　to　keep　my　troth　with　all　people。　I　cannot　go　back　on　my　word。　However；　you　may　find　the　journey　expensive；　and　therefore　I　have　here　prepared　a　sum　of　money　to　help　you。〃
Then　from　horseback　Cao　Cao　held　out　a　packet　of　gold。
Guan　Yu　said；　〃I　have　sufficient　left　from　your　former　bounty。　Keep　that　for　presents　to　your　soldiers。〃
〃Why　should　you　refuse　this？　It　is　but　an　insignificant　return　for　great　services。〃
〃My　services　have　been　all　trifling；　not　worth　mentioning。〃
〃Really；　Guan　Yu；　you　are　the　most　high…principled　of　humans。　I　am　very　sorry　my　luck　is　too　poor　to　retain　you　at　my　side。　Pray　accept　just　this　robe　to　show　you　I　am　not　quite　ungrateful；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
And　one　of　his　generals；　dismounting；　held　up　a　silken　coat　in　both　hands。　Guan　Yu　even　still　fearful　of　what　might　happen；　would　not　dismount；　but　he　reached　down　his　sword　and　took　the　robe　on　its　point。　Then　he　threw　it　over　his　shoulders　and　turned　to　thank　the　giver。
〃I　thank　you；　Sir　Prime　Minister；　for　the　robe　and　trust　we　shall　meet　again。〃
So　saying；　Guan　Yu　went　down　from　the　bridge　and　bore　away　to　the　north。
〃He　is　a　very　rude　man；〃　said　Xu　Chu；　who　was　of　the　escort。　〃Why　do　you　not　take　him　prisoner？〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃He　was　absolutely　alone　facing　scores　of　us。　He　was　justified　in　being　suspicious。　But　my　word　has　gone　forth；　and　he　is　not　to　be　pursued。〃
Cao　Cao　and　his　escort　returned；　the　Prime　Minister　very　sad　when　he　thought　of　the　man　who　had　gone。
Guan　Yu　went　down　from　the　bridge　and　started　in　the　wake　of　the　carriage　carrying　the　two　ladies；　which　should　have　gone　about　ten　miles　while　this　interview　had　been　going　on。　He　could　see　no　signs　of　it　and　rode　hither　and　thither　looking　on　all　sides。
Presently　he　heard　someone　shouting　from　a　hill；　calling　him　by　name　to　halt。　He　saw　a　youth　wearing　a　yellow　turban　and　dressed　in　a　silk　robe。　He　held　a　spear　in　his　hand　and　was　mounted　on　a　horse　from　the　neck　of　which　dangled　a　bloody　head。　Behind　him　were　a　hundred　or　so　men　on　foot；　and　they　advanced　quickly。
〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
The　young　man　dropped　his　spear；　dismounted；　and　made　a　low　bow。　Guan　Yu　feared　this　was　some　ruse；　so　he　only　checked　his　horse　and　gripped　his　sword　the　more　firmly；　saying；　〃Sir；　I　desire　you　to　tell　me　your　name！〃
〃My　name　is　Liao　Hua。　I　belong　to　a　Xiangyang　family。　Since　these　troubled　times　began　I　have　been　an　outlaw　among　the　rivers　and　lakes；　and　I　and　my　rades　have　lived　by　plunder。　We　are　about　five　hundred　in　all。　By　chance　my　friend　Du　Yuan　came　across　two　ladies　in　a　carriage　just　now；　and；　quite　wrongly；　he　took　them　prisoners　and　brought　them　to　the　hold　in　the　hills。　I　questioned　the　servants　and　so　found　out　who　they　were　and　who　was　escorting　them。　So　I　wished　them　to　be　set　free　to　pursue　their　journey。　Du　Yuan　opposed　this　and　spoke　so　ill…mannerly　that　I　killed　him。　And　here　is　his　head。　I　pray　you　pardon　me。〃
〃Where　are　the　two　ladies？〃
〃They　are　among　the　hills；〃　replied　Liao　Hua。
〃Bring　them　down　here；　at　once；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
In　a　short　time　a　party　of　the　brigands　pushed　the　carriage　down　the　hill；　and　the　ladies　sat　there　before　him。
Then　Guan　Yu　dismounted；　laid　aside　his　sword；　and　stood　respectfully　before　them　with　his　arms　crossed。
〃Sisters；　have　you　been　alarmed？〃　asked　he。
They　replied；　〃We　should　have　suffered　at　the　hands　of　Du　Yuan　had　it　not　been　for　Liao　Hua。〃
〃How　did　Liao　Hua　e　to　save　the　ladies？〃　asked　Guan　Yu　of　those　who　stood　by。
They　said；　〃Du　Yuan　carried　off　the　ladies　and　proposed　that　he　and　Liao　Hua　should　have　one　each　as　wife。　But　Liao　Hua　had　found　out　they　were　of　gentle　birth　and　worthy；　and　was　for　treating　them　with　respect。　When　Du　Yuan　disagreed；　Liao　Hua　slew　him。〃
Hearing　this　Guan　Yu　bowed　to　Liao　Hua　and　thanked　him。　Liao　Hua　then　wanted　to　join　himself　and　his　troop　to　Guan　Yu；　but　Guan　Yu；　seeing　he　was　a　Yellow　Scarf；　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　him。　So　Guan　Yu　simply　thanked　him　for　his　kindness　to　the　ladies。　Liao　Hua　offered　some　presents；　but　these　were　also　declined。
So　Liao　Hua　took　his　leave　and　presently　disappeared　in　a　valley　among　the　hills。　Guan　Yu　told　his　sisters　the　story　of　his　interview　with　Cao　Cao　and　the　gift　of　a　robe；　and　then　he　urged　the　carriage　on　its　way。　Towards　dark　they　came　to　a　farm　where　they　would　rest。　The　farmer；　an　old　graybeard；　came　out　to　wele　the　party　and　asked　who　they　were。　Guan　Yu　described　himself　as　the　brother　of　Liu　Bei；　and　said　his　name。
〃Surely　you　are　no　other　than　the　slayer　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；〃　said　the　venerable　host。
〃That　is　so；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
〃e　in；〃　said　the　old　man；　joyfully。
〃My　two　sisters…in…law　are　in　the　carriage；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Will　you　let　your　women　folks　go　out　to　receive　them？〃
As　Guan　Yu　remained　standing　there；　the　host　asked　him　to　be　seated；　but　he　would　not　sit　while　the　women　were　present　and　remained　standing　in　a　respectful　attitude　till　the　old　man's　wife　had　returned　and　ushered　the　ladies　into　the　inner　apartments。　Then　the　old　man　set　to　the　entertainment　of　his　guest　in　the　guest　hall。　Guan　Yu　asked　his　name。
He　replied；　〃I　am　called　Hu　Hua。　In　the　days　of　the　Emperor　Huan；　I　was　an　officer　of　the　court；　but　I　resigned　and　retired　into　private　life。　I　have　a　son；　Hu　Ban；　with　Governor　Wang　Zhi　of　Yingyang。　If　you　should　be　going　that　way；　General；　I　should　like　to　send　him　a　letter　by　you。〃
Guan　Yu　said　he　would　take　the　letter。　Next　day；　after　an　early　meal；　the　ladies　got　into　their　carriage；　the　host　handed　his　letter　to　Guan　Yu；　and　the　little　party　once　more　took　the　road。　They　went　toward　Luoyang。
Presently　they　approached　a　pass　known　as　the　Dongling　Pass；　guarded　by　mander　Kong　Xiu　and　five　hundred　soldiers。　When　the　soldiers　saw　a　carriage　being　pushed　toward　the　pass；　they　ran　to　tell　their　mander；　who　came　out　to　accost　the　travelers。
Guan　Yu　dismounted　and　returned　the　officer's　salute；　and　Kong　Xiu　said；　〃Whither　are　you　going？〃
〃I　have　left　the　Prime　Minister　to　go　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River　to　find　my　brother。〃
〃But　Yuan　Shao　is　my　master's　rival。　You　have　authority　from　him　to　go　thither？〃
〃I　left　hurriedly　and　could　not　get　it。〃
〃If　you　have　no　authority；　you　must　wait　while　I　send　to　request　orders。〃
〃To　remain　while　you　send　and　receive　an　answer　will　delay　me　greatly；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃I　must　stand　by　my　instructions。　That　is　the　only　thing　to　do；〃　said　Kong　Xiu。
〃Then　you　refuse　to　let　me　pass？〃
〃If　you　want　to　go　through；　leave　the　family　as　a　gage。〃
At　this　Guan　Yu　got　very　angry　and　made　to　cut　at　the　mander　on　the　spot；　but　Kong　Xiu　withdrew　into　the　gate　and　beat　the　drums　for　an　attack。　Thereupon　the　soldiers　armed　themselves；　mounted；　and　came　down　to　oppose　the　passage；　crying；　〃Dare　you　go　through；　eh？〃
The　carriage　was　sent　off　to　a　safe　distance；　and　then　Guan　Yu　rode　at　full　speed　directly　at　the　mander　of　the　guard；　who　set　his　spear　and　came　to　meet　him。　The　two　steeds　met　and　the　men　engaged；　but　at　the　first　stroke　of　the　green…dragon　saber　the　mander　of　the　gate　fell　to　the　earth　dead。　His　troops　fled。
〃Soldiers；　do　not　flee！〃　cried　Guan　Yu。　〃I　killed　him　because　I　could　do　no　otherwise。　I　have　nothing　against　you；　but　I　would　ask　you　to　tell　the　Prime　Minister　how　this　thing　came　to　pass；　that　Kong　Xiu　wished　to　kill　me；　and　so　I　slew　him　in　self　defense。〃
The　soldiers　bowed　before　him；　and　Guan　Yu；　with　the　carriage；　passed　through　the　gates　and　continued　their　way　to　Luoyang。　But　one　of　the　guards　of　the　pass　went　quickly　in　advance　and　informed　the　Governor　of　Luoyang；　Han　Qu；　of　the　slaughter　of　Kong　Xiu。　Wherefore　Han　Qu　assembled　his　officers　to　take　counsel。
Meng　Tan；　one　of　his　generals；　said；　〃This　Guan　Yu　must　be　a　fugitive；　or　he　would　have　a　safe　conduct。　Our　only　course　is　to　stop　him；　or　we　shall　incur　blame。〃
〃The　man　is　fierce　and　brave。　Remember　the　fate　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou。　It　seems　vain　to　oppose　him　by　force；　and　so　we　must　think　out　some　trap　for　him；〃　said　Han　Qu。
〃I　have　a　ruse　ready；〃　said　Meng　Tan。　〃I　will　close　the　gate　with　thorny　blockades；　and　I　will　go　to　fight　with　him。　I　will　engage　and　then　flee；　and　you　can　shoot　him　from　an　ambush　along　the　road。　If　we　can　get　him　and　his　party　and　send　them　prisoners　to　the　capital；　we　ought　to　be　well　rewarded。〃
This　course　was　determined　upon；　and　soon　they　heard　that　Guan　Yu　was　approaching。　Han　Qu　strung　his　bow　and　filled　his　quiver　with　arrows　and　with　one　thousand　soldiers　took　up　position　along　the　pass。
Then　as　the　party　approached；　Han　Qu　said；　〃Who　is　the　traveler　who　es？〃
Guan　Yu　bowed　low　and　said；　〃He　is　a　certain　Guan　Yu；　Lord　of　Hanshou；　and　he　wishes　to　go　through　the　pass。〃
〃Have　you　a　letter　from　the　Prime　Minister？〃
〃In　the　hurry　of　departure　I　did　not　get　any。〃
〃My　special　orders　from　him　are　to　hold　this　pass　and　make　examination　of　all　spies　that　may　go　to　and　fro。　Any　person　without　an　authority　must　be　a　fugitive。〃
Then　Guan　Yu　began　to　be　angry；　saying；　〃I　have　killed　Kong　Xiu　at　Dongling　Pass。　Do　you　also　seek　death？〃
〃Who　will　capture　him　for　me？〃　cried　Han　Qu；　and　Meng　Tan　offered　himself。　He　rode　out；　whirling　his　double　swords；　and　made　straight　for　Guan　Yu。
Guan　Yu　sent　back　the　carriage　out　of　danger　and　then　rode　toward　Meng　Tan。　They　engaged；　but　very　soon　Meng　Tan　turned　his　steed　and　fled。　Guan　Yu　pursued。　Meng　Tan；　intent　only　on　leading　his　enemy　toward　the　ambush；　took　no　account　of　the　speed　of　Red　Hare。　Very　soon　Meng　Tan　was　caught　up；　and　a　stroke　of　the　mighty　sword　cut　him　in　two　pieces。　Then　Guan　Yu　stopped　and　turned　back。　The　archers　in　the　gate　shot　their　hardest；　and　though　it　was　a　long　way　off；　one　of　them　lodged　an　arrow　in　his　left　arm。　He　pulled　it　out　with　his　teeth；　but　the　blood　streamed　down　as　he　rode　toward　Governor　Han　Qu。　The　men　scattered。　Guan　Yu　rode　straight　at　his　next　victim。　He　raised　his　sword　and　made　an　oblique　cut　which　sliced　off　the　head　and　shoulder　of　Han　Qu。
Then　Guan　Yu　drove　off　the　soldiers　and　returned　to　escort　the　carriage。　He　bound　up　his　wound；　and；　fearing　lest　anyone　might　take　advantage　of　his　weakness；　he　made　no　long　halts　on　the　road　but　hurried　toward　River　Si　Pass。
The　warden　of　this　pass　was　Bian　Xi　of　Bingzhou；　a　warrior　whose　weapon　was　a　et…hammer。　He　had　been　a　Yellow　Scarf　and　had　gone　over　to　Cao　Cao；　who　ha