Kuan Yu bowed his head.“My brother really is in Hopei, but I dared not tell you, lest it should become known. Something must be done but done carefully and it needs time.”
“Brother-in-law, you should hasten,” said the Lady Kan. Kuan Yu withdrew feeling that he must evolve some scheme of departure without further loss of time. It caused him much uneasiness.
Yu Chin, having found out that Liu Pei was in the north, told Ts’ao Ts’ao, who at once sent Chang Liao to find out Kuan Yu’s intentions. Chang Liao entered jauntily and congratulated Kuan, saying,“They tell me you obtained news of your brother in the battlefield; I felicitate you.”
“My lord was there indeed but I met him not. I see nothing to be glad about.”
“Is there any difference between the relationship of you two and that of any other two brothers?”
Kuan replied,“You and I stand in the relationship of friends: Yuan-te and I are friends and brothers beside, and prince and minister in addition to both. Our relationship cannot be discussed in usual terms.”
“Well, now that you know where your brother is, are you going to him?”
“How can I go back on what I said before? I am sure you will explain fully to the Minister.”
Chang Liao went back and told his master who said,“I must find a way to keep him here.”
While Kuan Yu was pondering over his difficulties they told him that a friend had come to enquire for him. The visitor was introduced but Kuan did not recognise him.“Who are you?” asked Kuan.
“I am Ch’en Chen of Nanyang, in the service of Yuan Shao.” In great perturbation Kuan Yu sent away the attendants and, they being gone, said,“There is some special reason for your visit.”
For reply the newcomer drew out a letter and handed it to his host, who recognised that it was from his brother Yuan-te.
“I, the writer, and you, Sir, pledged ourselves in the Peach Garden to die together. Why then are we apart and yet alive, our kindly feelings destroyed, our sense of right outraged? Surely you desire to obtain fame and acquire riches and honour by offering my head as a crowning act of merit. More might be said but I await your commands with great anxiety.” Kuan Yu finished the letter with a bitter cry.“I always wanted to find my brother, but I did not know where he was. How can he think such evil of me?” said he.
“Yuan-te looks for you very eagerly, and if you are still bound by the old pledge you should go quickly,” said the messenger.
“Anyone born into the world without the one essential virtue of sincerity is no true man. I came here openly and can go in no other way. Now will I write a letter which I will ask you to bear to my brother, that as soon as I can take leave of Ts’ao Ts’ao I will bring the ladies and come to him.”
“But what if Ts’ao Ts’ao refuses to let you go?” said Ch’en.
“Then would I rather die; I will not remain here.”
“Then, Sir, quickly write your letter and relieve your brother from his anxiety.”
So Kuan Yu wrote like this: “I, the humble one, know full well that a man of principle does not betray and a man of loyalty despises death. I have been a student in my youth and know somewhat of the proprieties. I sigh and weep at the memory of the fraternal affection that made Yang Chio-ai and Tso Po-t’ao die rather than separate. I was in charge of Hsiap’i but the place lacked provision and there was no help. I would have fought to the death but there was on my shoulders the responsibility for my sisters-in-law. Wherefore I had to take care of my body lest I betrayed my trust. And so I made a prisoner of myself, hoping to find a way of release. I heard of you lately in Junan. I must, however, bid farewell to Ts’ao Ts’ao and bring the ladies with me when I come. May I perish, victim to the superhuman powers, if I have harboured any traitorous thought. Pencil and paper are poor substitutes for what I would say, but I look to see you soon.”
The visitor left with this missive and Kuan Yu went to tell the women. Then he proceeded to the Minister’s palace to say farewell. But Ts’ao knew what he was coming for and he found at the gate the board intimating that no one could be received. So he had to return. However, he bade his own few soldiers prepare to start at any moment. He also gave orders that everything received from Ts’ao was to be left in the quarters: nothing was to be taken.
Next day he again proceeded to the palace to say farewell to his patron, but again found the board hanging there to show there was no admission. So it was several times; he could never enter. Then he went to see Chang Liao, but he was indisposed.
“This means he will not let me go,” thought Kuan Yu.“But I am going and I shall hesitate no longer.”
So he wrote this letter:—“As a young man I entered the service of the Imperial Uncle, and pledged myself to share his fortunes. Heaven and Earth witnessed this oath. When I lost the city I made three requests which you granted. Now I hear my brother is with Yuan 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.”
He sealed and sent it to the Palace. Then he deposited in the treasury of his dwelling all the gold and silver he had received, suspended his seal of marquis in the reception hall and left, taking his sisters-in-law with him in a carriage. He rode “Red Hare” and carried Black Dragon in his hand. With a small escort of men, those formerly under his command, he left the city by the north gate.
The wardens would have stopped him but he 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 Kuan Yu’s letter reached the 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 Kuan 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 any one of the waiting maids. Everything was left in the house. Even his seal was there. His only escort were the few men of his original force.
Suddenly from the assembly of men rose a voice saying,“With three companies of mailed horse I will bring him back alive.”
Their eyes turned to the speaker, who was General Ts’ai Yang
On the dragon’s cave he turns his back,
But numberless wolves infest his track.
What came of this offer to pursue will be seen in the next chapter.
CHAPTER XXVII
“BEAUTIFUL BEARD” RIDES ON A SOLITARY JOURNEY: AND SLAYS SIX MEN AT FIVE PASSES
N ow of all the captains in Ts’ao Ts’ao’s army, the only one friendly toward Kuan Yu, with the exception of Chang Liao, was Hsu Huang. The others treated him with respect, except Ts’ai Yang who was decidedly inimical. So this Ts’ai was ready to pursue and capture him as soon as he heard of his departure. But Ts’ao accepted his going as natural.“He does not forget his old leader and he was perfectly open in all his actions. He is a gentleman and you would do well to follow his example.”
So he bade the would-be pursuer begone and say no more about pursuit.
“You were exceedingly good to Kuan Yu,” said Cheng Yu,“but he went off very rudely. He certainly left a screed behind with his reasons, but he affronted you and that is no light matter. Now to let him join Yuan Shao is to add wings to a tiger. You had better catch him and put him to death so as to guard against future evil.”
Ts’ao replied,“But he had my promise and can I break my word? Each has his master. Do not pursue.” But he said to Chang Liao,“He has rejected all I gave him, so bribes were powerless with him in whatever shape. I have the greatest respect for such as he. He has not yet gone far and I will try to strengthen his attachment to me and make one appeal to sentiment. Ride after him and beg him to stop til
l I can come 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 Chang rode out quite alone; Ts’ao followed him leisurely with an escort of a score or so.
Now the steed that Kuan Yu rode was “Red Hare” and he was very fast. No one could have come 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 Kuan Yu heard a shout behind him, a voice crying,“Co slowly, Yun-ch’ang.”
He turned and made out the person to be Chang Liao. Ordering the pushers of the carriage to press on along the high road, he reined in his steed, held Black Dragon ready for a stroke and waited for Chang Liao to come up.
“Of course you have come to take me back, Wenyuan?” said he.
“No; the 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 come up. That is the only thing.”
“Seeing that he is coming along with mailed men I shall fight to the very last,” said Kuan Yu and he took up his position on a bridge where he waited the approach of the party, who advanced quickly. Four of Ts’ao Ts’ao’s captains followed close. Seeing Kuan Yu was ready to fight, Ts’ao 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 Kuan Yu they meant no attack.
“Why do you go in such haste, Yun-ch’ang?” asked Ts’ao.
Kuan Yu inclined his head but did not dismount.
“I informed you in writing that since my lord was in Hopei 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 marquis seal and left everything for you. I hope you recall the promise you once made me.”
Ts’ao replied,“My desire is to keep my troth with all mеп; 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 he held out a packet of gold.
“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, Yun-ch’ang, you are the most highprincipled of men. 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 Ts’ao, and one of his captains, dismounting, held up a silken coat in both hands. Kuan 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 saying,“I thank you, Sir Minister, for the robe and trust we shall meet again.”
So saying he went down from the bridge and bore away to the north.
“He is a very rude man,” said Hsu Ch’u, who was of the escort.“Why do you not take him prisoner?”
Ts’ao 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.”
Ts’ao and his escort returned, the Minister very sad when he thought of the man who had gone.
But here we need say nothing more of Ts’ao’s return. Kuan Yu went down from the bridge and started in the wake of the carriage carrying the two ladies, which should have gone about thirty li 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 some one 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 Kuan Yu.
The young man dropped his spear, dismounted and made a low bow. Kuan feared this was some ruse so he only checked his horse and gripped his sword the more firmly, saying,“Sir Swashbuckler, I desire you to tell me your name.”
“My family name is Liao and I am known as Liao Hua or Liao Yuan-chien. I belong to a Hsiangyang family. Since these troubled times began I have been an outlaw among the rivers and lakes and I and my comrades have lived by plunder. We are about five hundred in all. By chance my friend Tu 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. My friend opposed this and spoke so ill-mannerly that I killed him. And here is his head. I pray you to pardon me.”
“Where are the two ladies?”
“They are among the hills,” replied Liao.
“Bring them down here, at once,” said Kuan.
In a short time a party of the brigands pushed the carriage down the hill and the ladies sat there before him.
Then Kuan 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 Tu Yuan had it not been for Liao Hua.”
“How did Liao Hua come to save the ladies?” asked Kuan of those who stood by.
They said,“Tu 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 Tu disagreed Liao slew him.”
Hearing this Kuan Yu bowed to Liao Hua and thanked him. Liao then wanted to join himself and his troop to Kuan Yu, but the latter, seeing he was a Yellow Turban, would have nothing to do with him. So he simply thanked him for his kindness to the ladies. Liao offered some presents but these were also declined.
So Liao Hua took his leave and presently disappeared in a valley among the hills. Kuan Yu told his sisters the story of his interview with Ts’ao 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 greybeard, came out to welcome the party and asked who they were. Kuan Yu described himself as the brother of Liu Pei, and said his name was Kuan.
“Surely you are no other than the slayer of Yen Liang and Wen Ch’ou,” said the venerable host.
“That is so,” replied Kuan Yu.
“Come in,” said the old man, joyfully.
“My two sisters-in-law are in the carriage” said Kuan Yu,“will you let your women-folk go out to receive them?”
As Kuan 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. Kuan 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 with the Prefect of Yungyang (in Szechuan) and if you should be going that way, General, I should like to send him a letter by you.”
Kuan 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 Kuan Yu, and the little party once more took the road. They went toward Loyang.
Presently they approached a pass known as the Tungling Pass, guarded by one K’ung Hsiu and half a company. When the soldiers saw a carriage being pushed toward the pass they ran to tell their commander, who came out to accost the travellers. Kuan Yu dismounted and returned the officer’s salute and the latter said,“Whither are you going?”
“I have left the Minister to go into Hopei 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 Kuan.
“I must stand by my instructions, that is the only thing to do,” said K’ung.
“Then you refuse to let me pass?”
“If you want to go through leave the family as a gage.”
At this Kuan Yu got very angry and made to cut at the officer on the spot, but he 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 Kuan Yu rode at full speed directly at the commander 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 Black Dragon the commander of the gate fell to the earth dead. His men fled.
“Soldiers, do not flee!” cried Kuan Yu.“I killed him because I could do no otherwise. I have nothing against you, but I would ask you to tell the Minister how this thing came to pass, that he wished to kill me and so I slew him in self-defence.”
The men bowed before him and Kuan Yu, with the carriage, passed through the gates and they continued their way to Loyang. But one of the guards of the pass went quickly in advance and informed the Prefect of Loyang Han Fu, of the slaughter of K’ung Hsiu. Wherefore Han Fu assembled his officers to take counsel. Meng Tan, one of his captains, said,“This Kuan 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 Yen and Wen. It seems vain to oppose him by force and so we must think out some trap for him,” said Han Fu.
“I have a ruse ready,” said Meng Tan.“I will close the gate with “deerhorns” (chevaux de frise) 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.”
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Page 39