f 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 had given him this post。 As soon as he heard of the ing of the redoubtable Guan Yu； he cudgeled his brains for a ruse to use against him。 He decided upon an ambush。 In the State Guardian Temple at the pass he placed two hundred ax…men and swordsmen。 He reckoned on enticing Guan Yu to the temple for refreshment； and when he let fall a cup as signal； the hidden ruffians would rush out。
All being thus arranged and ready； he went out to wele Guan Yu in friendly guise； and Guan Yu dismounted at his ing。 Bian Xi began very amiably。
〃Your name； General； makes the very earth tremble； and everyone looks up to you。 This return to the Imperial Uncle proves you to be noble and true。〃
Guan Yu in reply told him the story of the men he had slain in the last two passes。
Bian Xi replied； 〃You slew them； that is well。 When I see the Prime Minister； I will explain to him the inner reasons for these acts。〃
Guan Yu thought he had found a friend and so mounted and rode through the pass。 When he came to the temple； a number of priests came out to meet him with clanging bells。
This temple； named State Guardian Temple； had a courtyard in which the Emperor Ming had burned incense in the past。 In the temple were thirty priests； and among these there happened to be one Pu Jing who came from the same village as Guan Yu。 His religious name was Transverse Peace。 Hearing who the visitor was； Transverse Peace came forward to speak with him。
〃General；〃 said Transverse Peace； 〃it is many a long year since you left Pudong。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Guan Yu； 〃nearly twenty years。〃
〃Do you recognize this poor priest？〃
〃I left the village many years ago； I do not recognize you。〃
〃My house and yours were only separated by a rivulet；〃 said the priest。
Now Bian Xi； seeing Transverse Peace holding forth about village matters； thought Transverse Peace would blab about the ambush； so Bian Xi bade him be silent。
〃I want to invite the General to a feast。 You priest fellows seem to have a lot to say；〃 said Bian Xi。
〃Not too much；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃Naturally when fellow villagers meet； they talk of old times。〃
Bian Xi invited the visitor into the guest room to take tea； but Guan Yu said； 〃The two ladies are out there in the carriage。 They ought to have some first。〃
So the priest bade them take some tea to the ladies； and then he led Guan Yu within； at the same time lifting the priest knife which he wore at his side and looking meaningfully at Guan Yu。 The latter understood and told his people to bring along his weapon and keep close at his side。
When Bian Xi invited Guan Yu to go into the Hall of the Laws for some refreshment； Guan Yu turned to him； saying； 〃Is this invitation with good intention or evil？〃
Bian Xi was so taken aback that he could make no reply； and then Guan Yu saw that many armed men were concealed behind the arras。
Then Guan Yu shouted loudly at Bian Xi； saying； 〃What means this？ I thought you an honorable man。 How dare you？〃
The traitor saw that his plot had failed and called to the assassins to e out and fall to； but Guan Yu had a short sword in his hand and slashed at anyone who came near。 So they scattered。 Their mander ran down the hall and tried to escape among the side buildings； but Guan Yu threw aside the short sword； took up the green…dragon saber and went after Bian Xi。 The latter was trying to get into position to throw his et…hammer； but Guan Yu cut the cord and the weapon was useless。 Guan Yu followed Bian Xi in and out and soon caught up with him。 Then with one blow Guan Yu cut him in halves。
The fight over； Guan Yu sought the two ladies； who were surrounded by soldiers。 These fled at sight of the terrible warrior。 Seeking out the priest； his fellow countryman； he thanked him for the timely warning which had saved him from death。
〃I cannot remain here after this；〃 said Transverse Peace。 〃I shall pack up my few garments and my alms bowl and take to the road； vague in my wanderings as the clouds in the sky。 But we shall meet again and till then take care of yourself。〃
Then Guan Yu took leave and retook the road to Yingyang。 The Governor of this city was named Wang Zhi； and he was related to Han Qu by their children's marriage。 Hearing of the death of his relative； Wang Zhi set about a scheme to kill Guan Yu secretly。 He sent soldiers to guard the city gates and； when he heard that Guan Yu approached； he went himself and received Guan Yu with a smiling countenance and bade Guan Yu wele。 Guan Yu told him the object of his journey。
〃You； General； have been able to get some exercise on the road； but the ladies in their carriage must be cramped and fatigued。 I pray you e into the city； and all of you remain the night in the official travelers' quarters。 Tomorrow you can set forth again。〃
The offer was tempting； and his host seemed in earnest； so the two ladies went into the city； where they found everything very fortably prepared for them。 And； though Guan Yu declined the Governor's invitations to a banquet； refreshments for the travelers were sent to their lodgings。 Guan Yu was fatigued from the trials of the journey； and as soon as the evening meal was over； he bade the ladies retire to rest while he sat down in the main room； quite alone； for he bade all to get repose while they could。 His horse was given a good feed for once。 He sat with his armor loosened in order to be more at ease。
Now Governor Wang Zhi had a general named Hu Ban to whom he had entrusted the arrangements for the destruction of his guest。
Said Wang Zhi； 〃This Guan Yu is a traitor to the Prime Minister and a fugitive。 On the road he has murdered several manders of Passes and is guilty of serious crimes。 But he is too strong and valiant for any ordinary soldier to overe。 So this evening you will lead a whole pany of a thousand troops to surround his lodging； each one armed with a torch； and we will burn him。 They will start the fire about midnight。 Everyone of the party will perish。 I will e with a force to stand by and assist if necessary。〃
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 agains