and they begged him to let them in. Still Ch‘ê Chou hesitated. They shouted louder than ever to open the gate.
Presently Ch‘ê girded on his armour, placed himself at the head of a company and went out. He galloped over the bridge, shouting, “Where is Wênyüan?”
Then lights blazed around and he recognised Kuan Yü with his sword drawn.
“Wretch!” cried Kuan Yü. “You would plot to slay my brother, would you?”
Ch‘ê Chou was too frightened to make good defence and he turned to re-enter the gate. But as he reached the drawbridge flights of arrows met him, wherefore he turned aside and galloped along under the wall. But Kuan Yü came quickly in pursuit. His sword was raised aloft and as it came down the fugitive fell to the earth. Kuan Yü cut off his head and returned, shouting, “I have slain the traitor. You others need not fear if you only surrender.”
They threw aside their spears and gave in. As soon as the excitement had calmed Kuan Yü took the head to show Yüan-tê and told him the story of the plot.
“But what will Ts‘ao Ts‘ao think of this?” said Yüan-tê. “And he may come.”
“If he does we can meet him,” said Kuan Yü.
But Yüan-tê was grieved beyond measure. When he entered the city the elders of the people knelt in the road to welcome him. When he reached his residence he found that Chang Fei had already exterminated the family of Ch‘ê Chou.
Yüan-tê said, “We have slain one of his best friends and how will he stand that?”
“Never mind!” cried Ch‘ên Têng. “I have a plan.”
Just from grave danger extricated,
An injured friend must be placated.
The plan proposed by Ch‘ên Têng will be disclosed next.
