ion that made Yangjue Ai and Zuo Botao die rather than separate。 I was in charge of Xiapi； 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 your trust。 And so I made a prisoner of myself； hoping to find a way of release。 I heard of you lately in Runan。 I must； however； bid farewell to Cao Cao and bring the ladies with me when I e。 May I perish； victim to the superhuman powers； if I have harbored any traitorous thought。 Ink and paper are poor substitutes for what I would say； but I look to see you soon。〃
Chen Zhen left with this missive； and Guan Yu went to tell the women。 Then he proceeded to the Prime Minister's palace to say farewell。 But Cao Cao knew what he was ing for； and at the gate Guan Yu found 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 Cao Cao 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 Zhang Liao； but Zhang Liao was indisposed。
〃This means Cao Cao will not let me go；〃 thought Guan 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。〃
Guan Yu sealed and sent it to the palace。 Then he deposited in the treasury of his dwelling all the gold and silver he had received； hung his seal of lordship of Hanshou in the middle of the reception hall and left； taking his sisters…in…law with him in a carriage。 He rode Red Hare and carried the green…dragon saber in his hand。 With a small escort of guards； those formerly under his mand； he left the city by the north gate。
The wardens would have stopped him； but Guan Yu 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； Guan Yu's letter reached the Prime 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 Guan 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 anyone of the waiting maids。 Everything was left in the house。 Even his seal was there。 His only escort were the few soldiers of his original force。
Suddenly from the assembly of officers rose a voice； saying； 〃With three thousand of mailed horse； I will bring him back alive。〃
Their eyes turned to the speaker； who was General Cai 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。
Main Next to Chapter 27 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 27
Chapter 27
The Man of Beautiful Beard Rides On A Solitary Journey；
Guan Yu Slays Six Generals Through Five Passes。
Now of all the officers in Cao Cao's army； the two friendly toward Guan Yu were Zhang Liao and Xu Huang。 The others treated Guan Yu with respect； except Cai Yang who was decidedly inimical。 So this Cai Yang was ready to pursue and capture Guan Yu as soon as he heard of his departure。 But Cao Cao accepted Guan Yu's 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；〃 said Cao Cao。
So Cao Cao bade the would…be pursuer be gone and say no more about pursuit。
〃You were exceedingly good to Guan 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。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃But he had my promise； and can I break my word？ Each has his master。 Do not pursue。〃
But Cao Cao said to Zhang 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 him。 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 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 gif