nger　and　then　rode　toward　Meng　Tan。　They　engaged；　but　very　soon　Meng　Tan　turned　his　steed　and　fled。　Guan　Yu　pursued。　Meng　Tan；　intent　only　on　leading　his　enemy　toward　the　ambush；　took　no　account　of　the　speed　of　Red　Hare。　Very　soon　Meng　Tan　was　caught　up；　and　a　stroke　of　the　mighty　sword　cut　him　in　two　pieces。　Then　Guan　Yu　stopped　and　turned　back。　The　archers　in　the　gate　shot　their　hardest；　and　though　it　was　a　long　way　off；　one　of　them　lodged　an　arrow　in　his　left　arm。　He　pulled　it　out　with　his　teeth；　but　the　blood　streamed　down　as　he　rode　toward　Governor　Han　Qu。　The　men　scattered。　Guan　Yu　rode　straight　at　his　next　victim。　He　raised　his　sword　and　made　an　oblique　cut　which　sliced　off　the　head　and　shoulder　of　Han　Qu。

Then　Guan　Yu　drove　off　the　soldiers　and　returned　to　escort　the　carriage。　He　bound　up　his　wound；　and；　fearing　lest　anyone　might　take　advantage　of　his　weakness；　he　made　no　long　halts　on　the　road　but　hurried　toward　River　Si　Pass。

The　warden　of　this　pass　was　Bian　Xi　of　Bingzhou；　a　warrior　whose　weapon　was　a　et…hammer。　He　had　been　a　Yellow　Scarf　and　had　gone　over　to　Cao　Cao；　who　had　given　him　this　post。　As　soon　as　he　heard　of　the　ing　of　the　redoubtable　Guan　Yu；　he　cudgeled　his　brains　for　a　ruse　to　use　against　him。　He　decided　upon　an　ambush。　In　the　State　Guardian　Temple　at　the　pass　he　placed　two　hundred　ax…men　and　swordsmen。　He　reckoned　on　enticing　Guan　Yu　to　the　temple　for　refreshment；　and　when　he　let　fall　a　cup　as　signal；　the　hidden　ruffians　would　rush　out。

All　being　thus　arranged　and　ready；　he　went　out　to　wele　Guan　Yu　in　friendly　guise；　and　Guan　Yu　dismounted　at　his　ing。　Bian　Xi　began　very　amiably。

〃Your　name；　General；　makes　the　very　earth　tremble；　and　everyone　looks　up　to　you。　This　return　to　the　Imperial　Uncle　proves　you　to　be　noble　an