kly　in　advance　and　informed　the　Governor　of　Luoyang；　Han　Qu；　of　the　slaughter　of　Kong　Xiu。　Wherefore　Han　Qu　assembled　his　officers　to　take　counsel。

Meng　Tan；　one　of　his　generals；　said；　〃This　Guan　Yu　must　be　a　fugitive；　or　he　would　have　a　safe　conduct。　Our　only　course　is　to　stop　him；　or　we　shall　incur　blame。〃

〃The　man　is　fierce　and　brave。　Remember　the　fate　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou。　It　seems　vain　to　oppose　him　by　force；　and　so　we　must　think　out　some　trap　for　him；〃　said　Han　Qu。

〃I　have　a　ruse　ready；〃　said　Meng　Tan。　〃I　will　close　the　gate　with　thorny　blockades；　and　I　will　go　to　fight　with　him。　I　will　engage　and　then　flee；　and　you　can　shoot　him　from　an　ambush　along　the　road。　If　we　can　get　him　and　his　party　and　send　them　prisoners　to　the　capital；　we　ought　to　be　well　rewarded。〃

This　course　was　determined　upon；　and　soon　they　heard　that　Guan　Yu　was　approaching。　Han　Qu　strung　his　bow　and　filled　his　quiver　with　arrows　and　with　one　thousand　soldiers　took　up　position　along　the　pass。

Then　as　the　party　approached；　Han　Qu　said；　〃Who　is　the　traveler　who　es？〃

Guan　Yu　bowed　low　and　said；　〃He　is　a　certain　Guan　Yu；　Lord　of　Hanshou；　and　he　wishes　to　go　through　the　pass。〃

〃Have　you　a　letter　from　the　Prime　Minister？〃

〃In　the　hurry　of　departure　I　did　not　get　any。〃

〃My　special　orders　from　him　are　to　hold　this　pass　and　make　examination　of　all　spies　that　may　go　to　and　fro。　Any　person　without　an　authority　must　be　a　fugitive。〃

Then　Guan　Yu　began　to　be　angry；　saying；　〃I　have　killed　Kong　Xiu　at　Dongling　Pass。　Do　you　also　seek　death？〃

〃Who　will　capture　him　for　me？〃　cried　Han　Qu；　and　Meng　Tan　offered　himself。　He　rode　out；　whirling　his　double　swords；　and　made　straight　for　Guan　Yu。

Guan　Yu　sent　back　the　carriage　out　of　da