第57部分(第5/7 頁)

ds。

Liu　Bei　at　once　dismounted　and　loosed　the　cords；　saying；　〃My　young　brother　was　rather　hasty；　but　you　must　pardon　him。〃

So　Liu　Dai　was　freed。　He　was　taken　into　the　city；　his　colleague　was　released；　and　both　were　cared　for。

Liu　Bei　said　to　them；　〃I　could　not　help　putting　Deputy　Imperial　Protector　Che　Zhou　to　death　when　he　tried　to　kill　me；　but　Cao　Cao　took　it　as　disaffection　and　sent　you　two　generals　to　punish　me。　I　have　received　much　kindness　from　him　and　certainly　would　not　show　ingratitude　by　killing　you。　I　wish　you　to　speak　for　me　and　explain　when　you　get　back。〃

〃We　are　deeply　grateful　that　you　spare　our　lives；　and　we　will　certainly　do　so　in　gratitude　for　what　our　wives　and　children　owe　you。〃

Next　day　the　two　leaders　and　their　army　were　allowed　to　depart　unscathed。　But　before　they　had　got　three　miles　from　the　boundary；　they　heard　a　mighty　shouting　and　there　appeared　Zhang　Fei　barring　the　road。

〃My　brother　made　a　mistake　in　letting　you　go。　He　did　not　understand。　How　could　he　give　freedom　to　two　rebels？〃

This　made　the　two　men　quake　with　fear；　but　as　the　fierce　eyed　warrior　with　uplifted　sword　was　bearing　down　upon　them；　they　heard　another　man　galloping　up　and　shouting；　〃Do　not　behave　so　disgracefully！〃

The　newer　was　Guan　Yu；　and　his　appearance　relieved　the　unhappy　men　of　all　fear。

〃Why　do　you　stop　them　since　our　brother　set　them　free？〃　cried　Guan　Yu。

〃If　they　are　let　go　today；　they　will　surely　e　back；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。

〃Wait　till　they　do；　then　you　may　kill　them；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。

The　two　leaders　with　one　voice　cried；　〃Even　if　the　Prime　Minister　slay　our　whole　clans；　we　will　never　e　again。　We　pray　you　pardon　us。〃

Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃If　Cao　Cao　himself　had　e；　I　would　have　slain　him