第69部分(第5/7 頁)

　to　see；　he　exclaimed　joyfully；　〃This　is　General　Guan　Yu！〃

In　a　moment　he　had　slipped　out　of　the　saddle　and　was　on　his　knees　by　the　roadside。

〃Zhou　Cang　renders　obeisance；〃　said　he。

Said　Guan　Yu；　〃O　Warrior；　where　have　you　known　me？〃

〃I　was　one　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　and　I　saw　you　then。　My　one　regret　was　that　I　could　not　join　you。　Now　that　my　good　fortune　has　brought　me　here；　I　hope　you　will　not　reject　me。　Let　me　be　one　of　your　foot　soldiers　to　be　always　near　you　to　carry　your　whip　and　run　by　your　stirrup。　I　will　cheerfully　die　for　you。〃

As　he　seemed　thoroughly　in　earnest；　Guan　Yu　said；　〃But　if　you　follow　me；　what　of　your　panions？〃

〃They　may　do　as　they　please：　Follow　me　or　go　their　ways。〃

Thereupon　they　all　shouted；　〃We　will　follow！〃

Guan　Yu　dismounted　and　went　to　ask　the　ladies　what　they　thought　of　this。

Lady　Gan　replied；　〃Brother…in…law；　you　have　traveled　thus　far　alone　and　without　fighters；　you　have　safely　passed　many　dangers　and　never　wanted　their　assistance。　You　refused　the　service　of　Liao　Hua；　why　then　suffer　this　crowd？　But　this　is　only　a　my　view　and　you　must　decide。〃

〃What　you　say；　sister…in…law；　is　to　the　point。〃

Therefore　returning　to　Zhou　Cang；　he　said；　〃It　is　not　that　I　am　lacking　in　gratitude；　but　my　sisters…in…law　do　not　care　for　a　large　following。　Wherefore　return　to　the　mountains　till　I　shall　have　found　my　brother；　when　I　will　surely　call　you。〃

Zhou　Cang　replied；　〃I　am　only　a　rough　uncouth　fellow；　wasting　his　life　as　a　brigand。　Meeting　you；　General；　is　like　seeing　the　full　sun　in　the　skies；　and　I　feel　that　I　can　never　bear　to　miss　you　again。　As　it　might　be　inconvenient　for　all　my　people　to　follow　you；　I　will　bid　my　panion　lead　them　away；　but　I　will　e　and　follow　you　on　foo