第63部分(第1/7 頁)

〃As　the　Prime　Minister　has　granted　the　three　requests　which　my　friend　petitioned　for　on　my　behalf；　there　is　now　but　little　to　discuss；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃As　I　have　spoken；　so　be　it。　I　could　not　break　faith；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

〃Whenever　I　hear　where　Uncle　Liu　Bei　is；　I　must　certainly　go　to　him；　even　if　through　fire　and　water。　It　may　be　that　there　will　be　no　time　nor　opportunity　of　saying　farewell。　I　trust　you　will　understand　the　reason。〃

〃If　Liu　Bei　should　prove　to　be　alive；　you　must　certainly　be　allowed　to　go　to　him。　But　I　fear　that　in　the　confusion　he　may　have　lost　his　life。　You　may　set　your　mind　at　rest　and　let　me　make　inquiries。〃

Guan　Yu　thanked　him。　Then　a　banquet　was　prepared　in　Guan　Yu's　honor。　Next　day　the　army　started　on　its　homeward　march。

For　the　journey　to　the　capital；　a　carriage　was　prepared　for　the　two　ladies；　and　Guan　Yu　was　its　guard。　On　the　road　they　rested　at　a　certain　post　station；　and　Cao　Cao；　anxious　to　promise　Guan　Yu　by　beguiling　him　into　forgetfulness　of　his　duty；　assigned　Guan　Yu　to　the　same　apartment　as　his　sisters…in…law。　Guan　Yu　stood　the　whole　night　before　the　door　with　a　lighted　candle　in　his　hand。　Not　once　did　he　yield　to　fatigue。　Cao　Cao's　respect　for　him　could　not　but　increase。

At　the　capital　the　Prime　Minister　assigned　a　dignified　residence　to　Guan　Yu；　which　he　immediately　divided　into　two　enclosures；　the　inner　one　for　the　two　ladies　and　the　other　for　himself。　He　placed　a　guard　of　eighteen　of　his　veterans　over　the　women's　quarters。

Guan　Yu　was　presented　to　Emperor　Xian　who　conferred　upon　him　the　rank　of　General　Who　Serves　the　Hans。　Guan　Yu　expressed　his　thanks　to　the　Emperor。　Next　day　Cao　Cao　made　a　great　banquet；　inviting　all　his　advisers　and　officers；　solely　in　honor　of　Guan　Yu；　who　sat