omeone　told　Liu　Yue；　who　rode　out　to　wele　him。　Liu　Yue　had　been　once　rescued　by　Guan　Yu；　who　slew　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　and　lifted　the　siege　of　the　city。

Guan　Yu　did　not　dismount　but　bowed　from　horseback；　saying；　〃Have　you　been　quite　well　since　we　parted？〃

〃Whither　are　you　going；　Sir？〃　replied　Liu　Yue。

〃I　have　left　the　Prime　Minister　and　am　on　my　way　to　find　my　brother。〃

〃Liu　Bei　is　with　Yuan　Shao；　who　is　at　enmity　with　the　Prime　Minister。　How　can　you　be　allowed　to　go　to　him？〃　asked　Liu　Yue。

〃That　matter　was　settled　long　ago。〃

〃The　Yellow　River　Ferry　is　an　important　point　and　is　guarded　by　a　mander　of　Xiahou　Dun。　He　will　not　let　you　cross。〃

〃But　suppose　then　you　provide　boats　for　me？〃

〃Though　there　are　boats；　I　dare　not　give　them　to　you。〃

〃Well；　formerly　I　slew　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　and　saved　you　a　grave　danger。　Now　you　refuse　me　a　ferry　boat！〃

〃I　am　afraid　Xiahou　Dun　will　know　of　it　and　make　it　a　fault　against　me。〃

Guan　Yu　perceived　that　no　help　was　to　be　expected　from　this　man；　so　he　pushed　on　and　presently　reached　the　ferry。　There　the　mander　of　the　Guard；　Qin　Qi；　came　out　to　question　him。

〃I　am　one　Guan　Yu；　Lord　of　Hanshou。〃

〃Whither　are　you　bound？〃

〃I　go　to　the　North　of　Yellow　River　to　seek　my　brother；　Liu　Bei；　and　I　respectfully　ask　you　to　grant　me　a　passage　over　the　river。〃

〃Where　is　the　authority　of　the　Prime　Minister？〃

〃I　am　not　on　a　mission　from　the　Prime　Minister；　so　why　should　I　have　such　an　authority？〃

〃I　have　orders　from　my　chief　to　guard　the　ferry；　and　you　will　not　cross。　Even　if　you　grew　wings；　you　should　not　fly　over。〃

Guan　Yu's　choler　arose。

〃Do　you　know　that　I　have　been　the　death　of　all　those　who　have　hitherto　tried　to