The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 (60 page)

“I have bidden farewell to 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 Yan.

“That matter was settled long ago.”

“The Yellow River ferry is an important position and is guarded by an officer under Xiahou Dun. I don’t think he will let you cross.”

“Could you provide boats for me, then?”

“Though there are boats I dare not give them to you.”

“Well, formerly I slew Yan Liang and Wen Chou and saved you from a grave danger. Now you refuse me a ferry boat!”

“I am afraid Xiahou Dun will know of it and hold it against me.”

Guan Yu perceived that no help was to be expected from this useless man, so he pushed on and presently reached the ferry. There the commander of the force, Qin Qi, came out with his army to question who he was, and Guan Yu told him.

“Where are you bound?” asked Qin Qi.

“I am going to Hebei to seek my brother, Liu Bei, and I entreat you to grant me a passage over the river.”

“Where is the prime minister’s permission?”

“I am not serving under him so why should I have his permission?”

“I have orders from General Xiahou Dun to guard the ferry—even if you grew wings you could not fly over.”

Guan Yu’s anger rose. “Do you know that I have been the death of all those who have hitherto tried to hinder me?” he said.

“You have only been able to slay 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, sword in hand, he came toward Guan Yu at a gallop. The two met, but in the first encounter Qin Qi’s head was swept off by his opponent’s terrible weapon.

“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 ready and the two women stepped on board, followed by Guan Yu and the others. They crossed, and were then in the country of Yuan Shao. In the course of his journey up to this point Guan Yu had forced his way through five passes and slain six people.

He hung up his seal, locked the gifts, his courtly mansion left,
He journeyed to join his brother dear, too long from his side reft.
The horse he rode was famed for speed as for endurance great,
His mighty sword made a way for him and opened every gate.
His loyalty and truth stand a model for all,
His valor is known across rivers and hills.
Alone he faced his opponents, t’was death to meet his blade,
His glory has been praised by scholars and ne’er will fade.

“I have killed all these people on my way against my will,” mused Guan Yu as he rode along.

“When Cao Cao hears of it he will surely regard me as an ungrateful person.”

Before long he saw a rider coming from the north, who called him by name and asked him to halt. He recognized him to be Sun Qian, whom he had not seen since they parted in Runan.

“Have you heard any news of my brother since we separated in Runan?” asked Guan Yu.

“After your departure the city fell back into the hands of its former leaders, Liu Pi and Gong Du, who sent me to the north to seek peace with Yuan Shao and to invite your brother to go and help them in planning against Cao Cao. But to my disappointment Yuan Shao’s men are jealous of each other. Of the four chief advisors, one of them is in jail; another is disfavored; and the other two vie for power. Yuan Shao himself is suspicious by nature and hesitates in taking any action. So I advised your brother to seek an opportunity to get away from them all. Now he’s gone to Runan to join Liu Pi and I’ve come specially to inform you of this. It’s really fortunate for me to meet you here. Otherwise you’ d go to Yuan Shao and might be harmed by him. Now we must hasten to Runan to join your brother.”

Then Sun Qian paid his respects to the two ladies, who asked him for news—he told them of the risks Liu Bei had suffered because of Yuan Shao’s sudden bursts of anger and that he was at present safe in Runan, where they would meet him.

The two ladies covered their faces and wept as they listened to him. Now the party no longer traveled northward but took the road toward Runan. Not long after, however, a great cloud of dust rose behind them and presently an armed force appeared, led by Xiahou Dun, who shouted out to Guan Yu and demanded him to stop.

One by one the pass commanders stopped his progress and were slain,
Another army comes to block the way and he must fight again.

How Guan Yu managed to escape will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Guan Yu Kills Cai Yang to Clear Zhang Fei’s Doubt

Liu Bei Is Reunited with His Followers at Old City

T
he
previous chapter ended with Sun Qian joining Guan Yu in escorting the two ladies on the road to Runan. Suddenly they were pursued by Xiahou Dun with three hundred followers. Sun Qian went ahead with the carriage while Guan Yu remained to deal with the pursuers. When his opponent drew near, Guan Yu said, “The prime minister is magnanimous enough to allow me to leave but your coming after me like this simply damages his name.”

Xiahou Dun replied, “The prime minister has sent no instructions to the pass commanders to allow you free passage and yet you have caused the death of all these officers, including one of my men. Your behavior is unpardonable. I have come to capture you and take you back to the prime minister. Let him decide what to do with you.”

Then he dashed forward with his spear ready to thrust but at that moment a rider galloped up behind him at full speed, crying, “You must not fight with Yun-chang!”

Guan Yu reined in his steed at once and waited. The messenger came up, drew from his bosom an official document and said to Xiahou Dun: “The prime minister admired General Guan for his loyalty and honor, and fearing that he might be stopped at the various passes, he sent me over to show this document at every pass on the road.”

“But this Guan Yu has slain several commanders of the passes. Does the prime minister know that?” asked Xiahou Dun.

The messenger said that he did not know.

“Then,” said Xiahou Dun, “I will arrest him and take him to the prime minister, who can set him free or not as he wishes.”

“Do you think I am afraid of you?” said Guan Yu getting angry.

And he rode forward. His rival, too, set his spear and pushed forth for battle. They met and had reached the tenth encounter when a second horseman came up at full speed, crying, “Generals, wait a moment!”

Xiahou Dun stopped and asked the messenger, “Does the prime minister want me to arrest him?”

“No,” replied the second messenger. “For fear that General Guan should have difficulties at the passes the prime minister has sent me with a dispatch to say he is to be allowed to leave.”

“Did the prime minister know that he had slain several men on the way?”

“No, he did not.”

“In that case, I must not let him go,” and he signalled for his men to close in around Guan Yu.

But Guan Yu flourished his mighty sword and a battle was again imminent. At that moment a third rider appeared, who called the two combatants by their names and cried, “Don’t fight!”

The speaker was Zhang Liao. Both combatants made no further move and waited.

Zhang Liao said, “I have brought the prime minister’s strict orders. He has heard that Yun-chang has slain several men on the way and he fears that someone else may hinder his passage again, so he has sent me to deliver his command at each pass—Yun-chang is to be allowed to leave freely.”

Xiahou Dun said, “Qin Qi was Cai Yang’s nephew and he was left in my special care. Now this Guan Yu has killed him—how can I let him go?”

“When I see his uncle I’ll explain. But now the main point is that you have the prime minister’s order to let him pass and you mustn’t act against his wish.”

So the only thing for Xiahou Dun to do was to obey and he did.

“Where are you going now?” asked Zhang Liao to Guan Yu.

“I hear my brother is no longer with Yuan Shao and now I’m going to roam the land to look for him.”

“Since you don’t know where he is, why don’t you return to the prime minister?”

“What’s the sense of that?” said Guan Yu with a smile. “But, Wen-yuan, please apologize to the prime minister for my faults when you return.”

With this he bade farewell to Zhang Liao and departed. Zhang Liao and the others returned to the capital.

Guan Yu quickly overtook the carriage and the group resumed their journey. He rode side by side with Sun Qian and told him what had happened. Several days later they were caught in a heavy rain and their luggage was all wet. Looking about for protection, they noticed a farm by the side of a hill and they went there to seek shelter. An old man came out to greet them, to whom Guan Yu told their story. When he had finished, the old man said, “My name is Guo Chang and my family has always lived here. I am very pleased to meet you, General, for I have long known your name by reputation.”

So he killed a sheep and brought out wine to treat the travelers. The two ladies were ushered into the inner quarters to take a rest. While they refreshed themselves their baggage was put out to dry and their horses were fed.

As the day closed in they saw a young man leading several people into the house and their host said to him, “Come here and pay your respects to the general.”

“This is my son,” he said to Guan Yu, pointing to the young man.

“What has he been doing?” asked Guan Yu.

“He has just come in from hunting.”

The young fellow saluted Guan Yu and went out. The old man continued, “All my family have been farmers or scholars. He is my only son and instead of following in the footsteps of his ancestors he cares for nothing but gad-ding about and hunting. It is a misfortune for our family.”

“Why is it a misfortune?” asked Guan Yu. “In these days of disorder a good soldier can make a name for himself as well.”

“If he would only learn the military arts that would be something of a career, but he is nothing but a vagabond and does everything he should not do. He is a grief to me.”

Guan Yu sighed in sympathy. The old man stayed till a late hour and when he took his leave his two guests began to prepare for rest.

Suddenly there arose a great hubbub in the backyard, men shouting and horses neighing. Guan Yu called his people but as no one answered he and his companion drew their swords and went into the stable yard to investigate. There they found their host’s son on the ground while their men were struggling with the farm people. Guan Yu asked what had happened and his men told him that the young fellow had tried to steal the Red Hare but had been badly kicked by the horse. They had heard shouting and had gone to see what it meant when the farm people set upon them.

Guan Yu was very angry. “You mean thieves! How dare you steal my horse?” he cried.

But before he could do anything his host came running up and implored, “It was not with my consent that my son did this evil thing. I know he deserves death but his mother loves him tenderly and I beg you to be merciful and pardon him.”

“He is indeed unworthy of his father,” said Guan Yu. “What you told me shows he is a degenerate. For your sake I pardon him.”