Xe ngu+`ng la.i tru+o+'c co^?ng ngo^i dde^`n, tu+o+`ng ga.ch lo+.p ngo'i. Mo^.t ngu+o+`i dda`n ba` ddu+'ng tuo^?i, mo^.t thie^'u nie^n khoa?ng mu+o+`i ba^?y, mu+o+`i ta'm cu`ng cha.y ra cu'i dda^`u cha`o:

_ Ki'nh cha`o quy' kha'ch! Xin mo+`i quy' kha'ch va`o le^~ ba`.

Thie^'u nie^n ca^`m la^'y da^y cu+o+ng ngu+.a, buo^.c va`o go^'c ca^y. Long-Xu+o+?ng nhi`n le^n co^?ng, co' bo^'n chu+~:

Tru+ng-vu+o+ng dda.i co^ng tha^`n linh tu+`.
( DDe^`n tho+` dda.i co^ng tha^`n linh thie^ng cu?a Tru+ng-vu+o+ng)

Tha(`ng Ba bu+ng ma^m le^~ va^.t ddi theo Long-Xu+o+?ng, va`o trong sa^n. DDa^y la` mo^.t ngo^i dde^`n, co' ba gian. Phi'a tru+o+'c la` mo^.t ha`ng hie^n. Tre^n no'c hie^n, gian giu+~a co' chu+~:

Uy tra^'n DDo^ng-ha?i
(Oai tra^'n bie^?n DDo^ng)

Hai be^n co' ddo^i ca^u ddo^'i:

To^ kha^'u tu+o+'c bi`nh, tru+.c ba? qua^`n thoa ddu+o+ng kie^'m ki'ch,
Tru+ng vu+o+ng du+.c ta?i, ha?o tu+o+ng ca^n qua('c ho^. so+n ha`.

Tha(`ng Ba ho?i:

_ Thu+a chu? nha^n, ddo^i ca^u ddo^'i na`y nghi~a nhu+ the^' na`o? Xin chu? nha^n gia?ng cho tie^?u nha^n.

_ Ve^' tre^n co' nghia~: De.p gia(.c To^ DDi.nh, du`ng qua^`n thoa ddu+o+ng vo+'i kie^'m, ki'ch. Ve^' du+o+'i nghi~a la`: Phu` vua Tru+ng, ddem kha(n ye^'m giu+~ non so^ng.

Tha(`ng Ba trao le^~ va^.t cho ba` tu+`, vo+'i thie^'u nie^n, ro^`i lu`i ra ngoa`i coi xe. Ba` tu+` tie^'p le^~, dda(.t le^n tre^n be^. tho+`. Ba` dda'nh lu+?a tha('p hu+o+ng. Lie^'c qua ba't, ddi~a, khay... dde^`u ba(`ng ba.c, va`nh vie^`n va`ng. Nhi`n ma^m le^~ va^.t, tuy kho^ng nhie^`u, nhu+ng toa`n nhu+~ng loa.i thu+o+.ng pha^?m : Mo^.t con lo+.n su+~a quay, mie^.ng nga^.m bo^ng sen. Mo^.t con ga` tro^'ng luo^.c, dda(.t trong tu+ the^' quy`, co^? ngu+?a le^n, mie^.ng nga^.m bo^ng ho^`ng ? Bo^'n con bo^` ca^u quay, dda(.t theo tu+ the^' dda^`u ra ngoa`i ddi~a, giu+~a dda(.t mo^.t nha'nh hoa dda`o nho?. Mo^.t ma^m ngu~ qua? xe^'p cao . Hai chai ru+o+.u cu'c, bo^'n bo' hoa. La.i nu+~a co' dde^'n bo^'n ngu+o+`i theo ha^`u, ngu+o+`i na`o y phu.c cu~ng sang tro.ng... ba` tu+` bie^'t ra(`ng vi. hai tie^?u co^ng tu+? , ba vi. tie^?u thu+ na`y, tha^n pha^.n thu+.c kho^ng nho?. Ba` ho?i ba(`ng gio.ng kha'ch sa'o:

_ Kho^ng bie^'t co^ng tu+?, tie^?u thu+ tu+` dda^u to+'i? Co^ng tu+? tie^?u thu+ co' ca^`n ngu+o+`i ha't cha^`u kho^ng?

Long-Xu+o+?ng chi? va`o ba ngu+o+`i ho. DDa`o:

_ To^i dde^'n tu+` Tha(ng-long. To^i co' mo+`i ba vi. na`y tu+` be^'n ddo` Long-bie^n theo dde^? ha't cha^`u nga`i.

DDa`o Duy, Nhu+-Ye^n, Nhu+-Nhu+ ngo^`i le^n ca'i chie^'u be^n tra'i. DDa`o Duy dda'nh tro^'ng, Nhu+-Ye^n vu+`a ha't vu+`a ke'o nhi., Nhu+ Nhu+ dda'nh dda`n. Khi Long-Xu+o+?ng, Ta(ng Khoa, DDoan-Nghi, Trang-Ho`a, Thu.y-Hu+o+ng vu+`a ddu+'ng va`o giu+~a chie^'u cha('p hai tay le^~, thi` a^m nha.c no^?i le^n. Nhu+-Ye^n ca^'t tie^'ng nga^m sa ma.c:

Pha^'n son to^ ddie^?m so+n ha`,
La`m cho to? ma(.t dda`n ba` Li~nh-Nam.

Vua Quang-Vu~ kho+?i binh tra(m va.n,
DDa'nh xuo^'ng vu`ng Nam-ha?i (1) chie^'m Thu+o+`ng-so+n (2)
Nam-an ha^`u DDoa`n Chi', li~nh ddo^ ddo^'c thu?y qua^n,
Mang ha.m ddo^.i, vu+o+.t so'ng, a^`m a^`m nhu+ tha'c ddo^?.

Mo^.t tra^.n bie^?n DDo^ng, Giao-long va^n vu~,(3)
Che'm bay dda^`u DDoa`n Chi', ba('t Sa^`m Anh. (4)
DDo^? qua^n le^n, quye^'t chie^'m La.c-du+o+ng,
Trie^`u DDo^ng-Ha'n cho^ng che^nh nhu+ tru+'ng ddo^?.

Xua^n phong La~ng-ba.c, thie^u Ye^n-vo~,(5)
Ha. hie^?u Tha^`n-phu`, ki'ch Tru+o+`ng-ye^n.(6)
Muo^n nghi`n na(m thanh su+? ghi te^n,
Du`ng ye^'m tha('m, qua^`n thoa ddu+o+ng kie^'m ki'ch.

Ho^m nay, ngo^`i tu+o+?ng uy linh nu+~ kie^.t,
Le^~ mo^.t ma^m da^ng tru+o+'c anh hu`ng,
DDo+`i ddo+`i gu+o+ng sa'ng soi chung.

Chu' gia?i: (1). Nam-ha?i: Te^n vu`ng dda^'t ve^` tho+`i vua Tru+ng, nay go^`m Mo^.t pha^`n ti?nh Qua?ng-Ta^y, toa`n ti?nh Qua?ng-DDo^ng, dda?o Ha?i-Nam. Ba^'y gio+` vu`ng na`y do co^ng chu'a Tha'nh-Thie^n tra^'n thu?.

(2). Thu+o+`ng-so+n, te^n mo^.t ngo.n nu'i nho?, no+i die^~n ra tra^.n dda'nh kinh khu?ng giu+~a tu+o+'ng Ha'n la` Phie^u-ki. ddai tu+o+'ng qua^n, tu+o+'c Phu`-la.c ha^`u Lu+u Long vo+'i DDo^ng-trie^`u co^ng chu'a Le^ Cha^n.

(3). Giao-long: Ca'c tu+o+'ng Ha'n dda'nh nhau vo+'i co^ng chu'a Gia-hu+ng, ha^`u he^'t bi. ba.i, ho. ta^u ve^` trie^`u ra(`ng co^ng chu'a la` con giao long tu nghi`n na(m o+? bie^?n Nam-ha?i.

(4) Sa^`m Anh, danh tu+o+'ng Ha'n, li~nh a^'n Long-nhu+o+ng dda.i tu+o+'ng qua^n. Bi. co^ng chu'a Gia-hu+ng ba('t so^'ng trong tra^.n thu?y chie^'n Nam-ha?i.

(5) Gio' Xua^n trong tra^.n La~ng-ba.c giu'p co^ng chu'a Gia-Hu+ng ddo^'t qua^n Ma~ Vie^.n o+? Ye^n-vu~ va`o dde^m giao thu+`a Quy'-Ma~o (43 sau Ta^y-li.ch).

(6) Na('ng ha. chie^'u xuo^'ng cu+?a bie^?n Tha^`n-phu`, co^ng chu'a Gia-Hu+ng dda.i pha' qua^n Ha'n o+? Tru+o+`ng-ye^n (Ninh-bi`nh nga`y nay).

Bo.n DDa`o Duy ta^'u lie^n tie^'p na(m ba?n kha'c nhau, dda.i y' ca'c ba`i ca dde^`u thua^.t chie^'n co^ng tho+`i Li~nh-Nam cu?a vua Tru+ng cu`ng chu+ tu+o+'ng. Sau khi he^'t tua^`n nhang, ba` tu+` ha. le^~ xuo^'ng. Long-Xu+o+?ng mo'c trong tu'i ra mo^.t ne'n ba.c, hai tay cung ki'nh trao cho ba` tu+`.

_ Go.i la` chu't i't, gu+?i ba` dde^? mua sa('m dde`n nhang, da^ng le^n co^ng chu'a ddie^.n ha..

Tho+`i ba^'y gio+`, du` ngu+o+`i gia^`u co' dde^'n dda^u, khi ddi le^~ chu`a, dde^`n... cu~ng chi? cu'ng dde^'n mo^.t quan tie^`n la` nhie^`u la('m. DDa^y Long-Xu+o+?ng cu'ng dde^'n mo^.t ne'n ba.c mu+o+`i lu+o+.ng, tu+'c mo^.t tra(m quan tie^`n, the^' ma` ba` tu+` va^~n bi`nh tha?n:

_ Phu'c ddu+'c qua'.

Ba` ha. le^~ tre^n ba`n tho+` xuo^'ng, ro^`i du`ng dao cha(.t ddu`i sau con lo+.n su+~a quay, xe^'p va`o hai ca'i ddi~a; trong khi thie^'u nie^n cha(.t mo^.t nu+?a con ga` tro^'ng luo^.c xe^'p va`o ca'i ddi~a kha'c. Ca? hai ddem ba't ddu~a ba^`y ra. Ba` no'i vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng, vo+'i bo.n DDa`o Duy:

_ Mo+`i ca'c co^ng tu+? , ca'c tie^?u thu+ vo+'i ca'c vi. thu. lo^.c Ba`.

Long-Xu+o+?ng le^n tie^'ng go.i tha(`ng Ba:

_ Na`y anh Ba, va`o dda^y thu. lo^.c co^ng chu'a vo+'i chu'ng to^i.

Bo^~ng co' tie^'ng a(n ma`y vo.ng va`o:

Con ca' no' so^'ng vi` nu+o+'c,
Con ngu+o+`i so^'ng vi` ddo^`ng tie^`n ba't co+m,
La^.y o^ng ddi qua, la^.y ba` ddi la.i,
Cho chu't co+m thu+`a canh ca(.n,
La`m phu'c cu~ng nhu+ la`m gia^`u
Nga`y sau con re^?, con da^u dda^`y nha`.

Ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y dda^`u ddo^.i chie^'c no'n ra'ch che khua^'t ma(.t, tha`nh ra kho^ng bie^'t y gia` hay tre? Long-Xu+o+?ng, DDoan-Nghi, Trang-Ho`a tu+`ng nghe cung nga, tha'i gia'm no'i nhie^`u ve^` a(n ma`y. DDo' la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i nghe`o kho^? cu`ng cu+.c, ngu? ddu+o+`ng ngu? cho+., qua^`n a'o kho^ng co' ma` ma(.c, co+m kho^ng co' ma` a(n. Nhu+ng cu~ng nhie^`u cao nha^n, di. si~, thu+o+`ng gia? da.ng a(n ma`y dde^? tru+` gian, die^.t ba.o. Tho+`i vua Tha'nh-to^ng, Nha^n-to^ng tu+`ng co' Long-bie^n ngu~ hu`ng, Ta^y-ho^` tha^'t kie^.t, thu?a nie^n thie^'u pha?i ddi a(n ma`y. Sau tro+? tha`nh dda.i tu+o+'ng la`m nghie^ng ngu+?a giang so+n Chie^m, To^'ng; khi tua^~n quo^'c, quo^'c su+? ghi te^n, da^n chu'ng tho+` ki'nh. Ho'a cho ne^n trong chuye^'n xua^'t ha`nh na`y, Long-Xu+o+?ng u+o+'c mong ga(.p ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i co' lo`ng son vo+'i xa~ ta('c, ma` pha?i ddi a(n ma`y. Vu+o+ng ca^`m nu+?a con ga` luo^.c chu+a cha(.t, mo^.t con bo^` ca^u quay, mo^.t na?i chuo^'i, vo+'i ddi~a xo^i, bo? va`o ca'i khay, hai tay tri.nh tro.ng trao cho ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y:

_ DDa^y, lo^.c cu?a co^ng chu'a dda^y, ngu+o+`i a(n ddi.

_ DDa ta. ho^`ng a^n cu?a co^ng chu'a, dda ta. tie^?u co^ng tu+?.

DDoan-Nghi ho?i:

_ Na`y, o^ng nghe`o la('m ha?. Tro+`i o+i ! Qua^`n a'o sao ma` ra'ch the^' kia! Sao ma` kho^? the^'. O^ng co' nha` kho^ng?

_ Thu+a tie^?u thu+ kho^ng.

_ Nha` cu?a anh to^i ro^.ng la('m, vi' thu+? anh to^i mo+`i o^ng ve^` o+? chung, o^ng co' ba(`ng lo`ng kho^ng?

_ Da., da.. Xin dda ta. tie^?u thu+. To^i kho^ng da'm dda^u. Gia' tie^?u thu+ co' tie^`n, cho to^i ma^'y lu+o+.ng ba.c, to^i mua tu'p le^`u o+? thi` to^'t qua'.

No'i ro^`i o^ng ta xo`e ba`n tay ra cho+` ddo+.i.

DDoan-Nghi luo^'ng cuo^'ng:

_ To^i co' ba.c, nhu+ng dde^? o+? nha`. La`m sao ba^y gio+`!

Na`ng quay la.i ho?i Trang-Ho`a :

_ Chi. co' mang ba.c ddi theo kho^ng ?

Trang-Ho`a tra? lo+`i ba(`ng ca'i la('c dda^`u. DDoan-Nghi nhi`n Thu.y-Hu+o+ng.

Thu.y-Hu+o+ng mo'c trong tu'i ra mo^.t lu+o+.ng ba.c :

_ Em chi? mang theo co' ba^'y nhie^u tho^i.

Ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y chi? va`o ddo^i xuye^'n tre^n tay DDoan-Nghi:

_ Kho^ng co' ba.c, thi` tie^?u thu+ cho to^i ddo^i xuye^'n kia va^.y.

DDoan-Nghi suy nghi~ mo^.t la't ro^`i tha'o ddo^i xuye^'n trao cho ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y:

_ DDo^i xuye^'n na`y, o^ng ngoa.i to^i cho to^i nha^n sinh nha^.t chi'n tuo^?i. DDem cho o^ng thi` phu. lo`ng ngu+o+`i. Nhu+ng to^i co' ddeo be^n ca.nh cu~ng cha(?ng i'ch gi`. To^i cho o^ng dda^'y.

Tha(`ng Ba can thie^.p:

_ Tie^?u thu+. Bo.n a(n xin vo^'n vo^ la.i, kho^ng ne^n ddem cu?a quy' cho chu'ng. Nhu+ va^.y chie^`u ve^` nha`, ba` dda'nh ddo`n cho ma` coi.

_ Me. ta hie^`n la('m, cha('c kho^ng dda'nh ta dda^u. Ne^'u me. ta co' dda'nh ta, thi` ta chi.u va^.y. Bo^' thi' cho ke? kho', mo+'i la` tu+` bi. Ta bo^' thi' ro^`i, trong lo`ng se~ vui bie^'t bao. Me. co' dda'nh ddo`n ddau dde^'n ma^'y ta cu~ng chi.u ddu+o+.c. Ngu+o+`i kho^ng ne^n ca?n ta.

Ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y ca^`m la^'y ddo^i xuye^'n bo? va`o tu'i, ro^`i va'i DDoan-Nghi ba va'i. Va'i xong, y ngo^`i xuo^'ng ca.nh ca'i co^.t dde^`n, tay bo^'c xo^i, tay xe' thi.t ga` a(n.

Y no'i mo^.t mi`nh:

_ Ngon qua' ! Nhu+ng thie^'u nu+o+'c ma('m. Nga`y xu+a, co^ng chu'a Gia-Hu+ng thi'ch nu+o+'c ma('m la('m. Co^ng chu'a xo+i mo'n gi` cu~ng pha?i co' nu+o+'c ma('m cha('t, the^' ma` nay ngu+o+`i ta cu'ng nga`i, la.i que^n ma^'t ca'i gia vi. na`y.

Tha(`ng Ba hu+` mo^.t tie^'ng, ro^`i ma('ng ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y:

_ La'o vu+`a tho^i nghe! Thi.t ga` pha?i a(n vo+'i la' chanh, cha^'m vo+'i muo^'i. Ai ddo+`i la.i cha^'m nu+o+'c ma('m bao gio+`! DDa~ do^'t, co`n le^n ma(.t da.y ddo+`i! Cu't!

Ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y chu+?i ddo^?ng:

_ Ho+~i o+i! Xu+a nay, ngu+o+`i ta chi? bie^'t chuye^.n ca'o mu+o+.n oai hu`m, chu+' chu+a tu+`ng nghe no'i cu+'t hu`m cu~ng oai bao gio+`!

Tha(`ng Ba no^?i ca'u:

_ Mi co' ca^m ca'i mo~m mi ddi kho^ng? O^ng la.i va? cho ru.ng ra(ng ba^y gio+`?

_ O^i! Sao chu? nha^n thi` phu'c ddu+'c, ma` to^i to+' la.i hung du+~ nhu+ cho' ddie^n va^.y ki`a?

Tha(`ng Ba la.ng ngu+o+`i to+'i vung tay ta't ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y mo^.t ca'i. Long-Xu+o+?ng qua't:

_ Kho^ng ddu+o+.c dda'nh ngu+o+`i.

Nhu+ng kho^ng ki.p. Bo^'p mo^.t tie^'ng. Ro~ ra`ng tha(`ng Ba ta't ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y, ma` tha^n hi`nh no' la.i bay tung ve^` sau. Chi'nh tay no' ta't va`o ma(.t no', la`m bo^'n ca'i ra(ng cu+?a bi. ga^~y. Hai mo^i no' su+ng vu`, ma'u ri ri? cha?y ra me'p.

Trong khi Long-Xu+o+?ng kinh nga.c, thi` ba` tu+` vo+'i thie^'u nie^n tha?n nhie^n lau ba`n tho+`. Ba ngu+o+`i ho. DDa`o lo+ dda~ng nhi`n ra sa^n. Tha(`ng Ba ga^`m le^n:

_ Ho^m nay mi pha?i che^'t.

Ro^`i no' tung ngu+o+`i la.i, cha^n pho'ng cu+o+'c va`o ngu+.c ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y. Binh mo^.t tie^'ng, tie^'p theo tie^'ng vu` . Tha(`ng Ba bay bo^?ng ra sa^n, ro+i xuo^'ng dda^'t dde^'n huy.nh. No' na(`m ngu+?a ma(.t le^n tro+`i, hai cha^n, hai tay mu'a loa.n xa.. Trong khi ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y va^~n ngo^`i du+.a co^.t dde^`n, tay ca^`m nu+?a con ga`, tay bo^'c xo^i a(n, nhu+ kho^ng co' su+. gi` xa^?y ra.

Long-Xu+o+?ng tu+`ng ho.c vo~ vo+'i ma^~u ha^.u, vu+o+ng dda~ ddu+o+.c chu+'ng kie^'n ma^~u ha^.u dda^'u vo+'i tha(`ng Ba ngang tay. Ba^y gio+` tha^'y ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y thu?y chung kho^ng ddu+'ng da^.y, cu~ng cha(?ng xua^'t chie^u, ma` la`m cho tha(`ng Ba la.c ba.i, thi` vu+o+ng bie^'t ra(`ng dda^y la` mo^.t ky` nha^n, di. si~, gia? la`m a(n ma`y. Vu+o+ng cha('p tay cung ki'nh:

_ Gia nha^n cu?a to^i co' chu't ma.o pha.m. Xin cao nha^n dung thu+' cho.

_ Dung thu+'! Tie^?u co^ng tu+? co' tha^'y y hung ha(ng dda'nh to^i kho^ng? Y dda'nh to^i, chu+' to^i co' dda'nh y dda^u ma` ba?o dung thu+'?

_ Tie^?u bo^'i xin tie^`n bo^'i cho bie^'t cao danh, quy' ti'nh?

Ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y chu+a ki.p tra? lo+`i, thi` tha(`ng Ba ddu+'ng da^.y nhi`n y:

_ Mi co' gio?i ha~y ddu+'ng da^.y cu`ng ta chie^'t chie^u, chu+' ngo^`i nhu+ va^.y la` he`n nha't.

No'i ro^`i no' xua^'t chu+o+?ng dda'nh tha(?ng va`o dda^`u ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y. Ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y va^~n ngo^`i ba^'t ddo^.ng, ngo'n tay cho? chi~a ra. Bo^.p mo^.t tie^'ng, tha(`ng Ba o^m tay nha(n nho', ddau ddo+'n cu+.c ky`. Nhu+ng no' nha?y lu`i la.i ba bu+o+'c, ro^`i cu+o+`i dda^`y ve? dda('c tha('ng:

_ Cho mi ne^'m mu`i ddau kho^? cu?a Huye^`n-a^m ddo^.c chu+o+?ng. Chi? ca^`n mo^.t kha('c nu+~a, mi se~ ddau ddo+'n dde^'n pha?i ke^u cha go.i me., ro^`i sau dda^'y co^ng lu+.c cu?a mi ma^'t he^'t, ngu+o+`i mi se~ me^`m xe`o nhu+ so+.i bu'n. Ha! Ha! Mi co' mau ra^.p dda^`u la.y la~o gia mo^.t tra(m la.y, la~o gia se~ tha cho mi ca'i to^.i vo^ le^~ ho^m nay.

Nhu+ng tie^'ng cu+o+`i cu?a no' bi. ta('t nga^'m ngay, vi` no' ca?m tha^'y cha^n khi' be^' ta('c, hai ba`n tay xa'm nga('t, su+ng vu`. Toa`n tha^n no' ddau ddo+'n cu`ng cu+.c. Ro~ ra`ng no' bi. tru'ng Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c. No' cu+o+`i ha ha?:

_ A` thi` ra mi cu~ng bie^'t Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c. Mi du`ng Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c xu+? du.ng Huye^`n-a^m chi?! Nhu+ng ddo^'i vo+'i ta thi` vo^ i'ch.

No'i du+'t, no' mo'c trong tu'i ra mo^.t ho^.p thuo^'c, la^'y ba vie^n bo? va`o mie^.ng nhai nga^'u nghie^'n ro^`i nuo^'t. Sau khi nuo^'t thuo^'c, no' tha^'y tay la.i su+ng lo+'n ho+n, ca?m gia'c ddau ddo+'n ca`ng ta(ng. No' nghie^'n ra(ng, cu'i ga^.p ngu+o+`i xuo^'ng dde^? kho?i ba^.t tha`nh tie^'ng ke^u, nhu+ng cuo^'i cu`ng kho^ng tu+. chu? ddu+o+.c, no' the't le^n:

_ Au`i! DDau qua'! A'i.

Ba^'y gio+` ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y mo+'i mo+? ca'i no'n ra. DDo' la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i dda`n o^ng, gu+o+ng ma(.t kho' co' the^? ddoa'n ddu+o+c ra(`ng o^ng ta co`n tre? hay gia`. Ma(.t o^ng dde.p nhu+ Pha^.t Di-La(.c, to'c ba.c nhu+ cu+o+'c. O^ng ta cung tay ha`nh le^~ vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng, DDoan-Nghi Trang-Ho`a:

_ Tie^?u co^ng tu+?. Tie^?u thu+ ! Cu?a bo^' thi' kho^ng ba(`ng cung ca'ch bo^' thi'. Chi? ca^`n mo^.t cu+? chi? cu?a co^ng tu+? ban lo^.c cho la~o ban na~y, la~o cu~ng bie^'t co^ng tu+?, tie^?u thu+ co' ta^m Bo^`-ta't. Co`n tie^?u thu+, kho^ng tie^'c cu?a, ban va`ng, la.i kho^ng so+. tra'ch pha.t, thi` ho+~i o+i lo`ng da. tie^?u thu+ co`n ro^.ng ho+n bie^?n DDo^ng nu+~a.

No'i ro^`i la~o ddeo ddo^i xuye^'n va`o tay DDoan-Nghi. Trong khi la~o a(n ma`y no'i, thi` tha(`ng Ba va^~n ddau ddo+'n la(n lo^.n tre^n ne^`n ddie^.n. La~o a(n ma`y hu+o+'ng thie^'u nie^n giu+~ dde^`n ra le^.nh:

_ Quang-Anh, ho?i cung no'.

Thie^'u nie^n da. mo^.t tie^'ng ro^`i no'i vo+'i tha(`ng Ba:

_ Mi co' bie^'t ta.i sao mi ddau ddo+'n nhu+ va^.y kho^ng?

_ Au`i! To^i kho^ng bie^'t. DDau qua', gie^'t to^i ddi!

Quang-Anh chi? va`o la~o a(n ma`y:

_ Mi co' bie^'t su+ phu. ta la` ai kho^ng?

_ To^i cu~ng kho^ng bie^'t. Au`i! Gie^'t...to^i ddi.

_ Ta ca^`n bie^'t mo^.t so^' tin tu+'c. Ne^'u mi khai dda^`y ddu?, ta se~ gia?i khai ca'i ddau ddo+'n cho mi.

_ Au`i! To^i xin no'i.

_ Ho., te^n thu+.c cu?a mi la` gi`?

_ To^i ho. DDo^~, te^n thu+.c la` DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o.

_ Na(m nay mi bao nhie^u tuo^?i

_ Hai mu+o+i ba tuo^?i.

_ Cha mi la` ai?

_ La`...a'i...la` DDo^~ Anh-Vu~.

_ Me. mi la` ai?

_ To^i kho^ng bie^'t!

_ Mi kho^ng bie^'t u+ ? Nhu+ va^.y la` mi no'i la'o. DDu+o+.c, ta dde^? cho mi ddau ddo+'n dde^'n che^'t , xem mi co' chi.u no'i hay kho^ng!

Tha(`ng Ba tu+'c DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o run ra^?y, la(n lo^.n mo^.t lu'c, ro^`i kho^ng chi.u ddu+o+.c, no' re^n:

_ Au`i! DDau che^'t ma^'t. To^i xin no'i... me. to^i la`...Ca?m-Tha'nh hoa`ng tha'i ha^.u.

Quang-Anh ddie^?m va`o huye^.t dda.i tru`y cu?a Anh-Ha`o, la^.p tu+'c ca?m gia'c ddau ddo+'n bie^'n ma^'t. Nhu+ng cha^n tay no' va^~n co`n run.

Nghe Anh-Ha`o cung khai, Long-Xu+o+?ng kinh hoa`ng dde^'n no^~i tu+o+?ng ra(`ng mi`nh na(`m mo+. Vu+o+ng nghi~ tha^`m: Tu+` tru+o+'c dde^'n nay, mi`nh ddu+o+.c ma^~u ha^.u cho bie^'t vie^.c DDo^~ Anh-Vu~ tu+ tho^ng vo+'i Tha'i-ha^.u, chuye^n quye^`n, gie^'t ha.i trung tha^`n, ta`n sa't to^ng tha^'t... Chu+' tuye^.t kho^ng ngo+` hai ngu+o+`i la.i co' con vo+'i nhau. Phu. hoa`ng ta sinh na(m Thie^n-chu+o+ng ba?o-tu+. thu+' tu+ (Bi'nh-Thi`n, DL. 1136) ti'nh dde^'n nay la` 25 tuo^?i. Hai na(m sau ddu+'c Tha^`n-to^ng ba(ng, nhu+ va^.y thi` ddu+'c Tha^`n-to^ng vu+`a ba(ng thi` Anh-Vu~ dda~ tu+ tho^ng vo+'i Tha'i-ha^.u. Tha'i-ha^.u mang thai te^n na`y ngay. Y? la` con cu?a Tha'i-ha^.u vo+'i Anh-Vu~, ne^n te^n Anh-Ha`o mo+'i coi thu+o+`ng ca? phu. hoa`ng la^~n ma^~u ha^.u ta.

_ Mi co' bao nhie^u anh em ? _ Mu+o+`i hai ngu+o+`i. Ta'm chi. em ga'i, bo^'n anh em trai. Nhu+ng chi? mi`nh to^i la` con cu?a Tha'i-ha^.u ma` tho^i.

_ Trong cung Ca?m-Tha'nh co' ba ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c Tha'i-ha^.u ban cho my~ danh la` Nu`ng-so+n tam anh. Mi ddu+'ng thu+' ba, va^.y co`n hai ngu+o+`i nu+~a la` ai ?

_ Ngu+o+`i ddu+'ng thu+' nha^'t la` su+ thu'c Vu+o+ng Nha^'t. Ngu+o+`i ddu+'ng thu+' nhi` la` su+ thu'c Cao Phi. Ca? hai dde^`u la` su+ thu'c cu?a to^i, do tha'i su+ phu. ddu+a va`o cung giu'p Tha'i-ha^.u.

_ Co`n hai cung nu+~ te^n Ca?m-Linh, Ca?m-Chi ?

_ Ho. la` cha'u go.i Tha'i-ha^.u ba(`ng co^ ruo^.t tu+'c con co^ con ca^.u vo+'i to^i. Ca?m-Linh la` vo+. Vu+o+ng su+ thu'c. Ca?m-Chi la` vo+. Cao su+ thu'c.

_ Hai ngu+o+`i na`y thuo^.c mo^n pha'i na`o ?

_ To^i kho^ng bie^'t.

_ Mi ho.c vo~ vo+'i ai?

_ Vo+'i phu. tha^n.

_ Cha mi la` dde^. tu+? cu?a Kha'nh-Hy? dda.i su+ thuo^.c pha'i Tie^u-so+n, thi` la`m sao bie^'t Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c ma` da.y mi?

_ Bo^' to^i ho.c Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c vo+'i tha'i su+ phu..

_ Tha'i su+ phu. te^n la` gi`? Hie^.n o+? dda^u?

_ To^i kho^ng bie^'t te^n ngu+o+`i. Ngu+o+`i a^?n hie^.n ba^'t thu+o+`ng. To^i dda~ ga(.p ngu+o+`i nhie^`u la^`n trong cung Ca?m-Tha'nh.

Ca'ch dda^y mu+o+`i ta'm na(m. Kha'nh-Hy? dda.i su+ thu? to.a Va.n-Ha.nh ddu+o+`ng cu?a pha'i Tie^u-so+n, trong khi va^n du Tha(ng-long, nga`i ha`nh hu+o+ng chu`a Chie^u-thie^`n (chu`a La'ng) thi` bi. ke? la. ma(.t dda'nh le'n mo^.t Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng. Nga`i qua(`n qua.i, la(n lo^.n bo^'n mu+o+i chi'n nga`y ro^`i vie^n ti.ch. Trong khi nga`i ddau ddo+'n cu`ng cu+.c, ca'c su+ huynh, su+ dde^. ho?i nga`i danh ti'nh thu? pha.m, nga`i nghie^'n ra(ng chi.u ddau, tra? lo+`i: "Khi nghie^.p qua? dda~ dde^'n, thi` pha?i an pha^.n ma` nha^.n" , ro^`i vie^n ti.ch. Vu. a'n mo^.t dde^. nha^'t cao thu? cu?a pha'i vo~ lo+'n nha^'t DDa.i-Vie^.t bi. a'm toa'n , dda~ ga^y cha^'n ddo^.ng vo~ la^m Hoa-Vie^.t. Ho+n nu+~a, nga`i bi. a'm toa'n ngay giu+~a Tha(ng-long, va`o lu'c dde^. tu+? cu?a nga`i la` DDo^~ Anh-Vu~ ddang la`m Tha'i-su+, quye^`n nghie^ng thie^n ha., ca`ng khie^'n cho vo~ la^m quan ta^m. Pha'i Tie^u-so+n, cu~ng nhu+ trie^`u ddi`nh cu+? kho^ng bie^'t bao nhie^u cao thu?, quan la.i ddie^`u tra, ma` cho dde^'n nay va^~n chu+a ti`m ddu+o+.c to^ng ti'ch thu? pha.m. Ho+n na(m sau dde^'n lu+o+.t chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Ta?n-vie^n la` DDa(.ng Phi-So+n, cu~ng bi. ma^'t ti'ch. Giang ho^` ddo^`n ra(`ng o^ng bi. gian nha^n du`ng Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng dda? thu+o+ng ro^`i bo? ma.ng. Ga^`n dda^y nha^'t, Nghi-Ho`a su+ tha'i, chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Me^-linh la.i ma^'t ti'ch,co' tin ddo^`n ba` bi. tru'ng Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng qua ddo+`i, va` ga^`n nha^'t Va(n DDu+'c-Y' ddi du+. DDo^ng-cung trie^`u ve^`, bi. gie^'t vo+'i ma~ phu, ngu+.a. Ba^y gio+` na?y ra vu. Anh-Vu~ luye^.n Huye^`n-a^m co^ng, ro^`i da.y con... Tha'i-ha^.u ddem va`o cung hai ca(.p vo+. cho^`ng dde^`u la` dda.i ha`nh gia, xu+? du.ng Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c.

Quang-Anh ho?i:

_ Mi co' bie^'t ta.i sao, mi du`ng Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng dda'nh su+ phu. ta, ma` chi'nh mi la.i bi. tru'ng ddo^.c chu+o+?ng na`y kho^ng?

_ To^i kho^ng bie^'t.

Anh-Ha`o hu+o+'ng la~o a(n ma`y ra^.p dda^`u binh binh: Xin la~o tie^n sinh tha cho tie^?u bo^'i.

DDo^'i vo+'i cuo^.c tha^?m va^'n cu?a Quang-Anh, du+o+`ng nhu+ la~o a(n ma`y bo? ngoa`i tai, la~o cu+' tha?n nhie^n uo^'ng ru+o+.u, a(n thi.t. Tha^'y Anh-Ha`o la^.y mi`nh, ma(.t la~o va^~n la.nh nhu+ tie^`n.

Quang-Anh ho?i tie^'p:

_ Mi co' bie^'t ta.i sao, khi mi uo^'ng thuo^'c gia?i Huye^`n-a^m ddo^.c chu+o+?ng cu?a mi, kho^ng nhu+~ng co+n ddau kho^ng gia?m, ma` co`n ddau ho+n kho^ng?

_ To^i cu~ng kho^ng bie^'t nu+~a. Xin thie^'u hie^.p no'i cho to^i bie^'t.

_ Cu~ng ddu+o+.c! Ta se~ no'i cho mi nghe. Nhu+ng mi pha?i no'i ro~ ve^` Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c cu?a mi, cho chu? nha^n mi nghe dda~.

Anh-Ha`o hu+o+'ng va`o Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i vo+'i gio.ng ke? ca?, dda^`y tu+. ha`o: _ Tho^ng thu+o+`ng khi ngu+o+`i na`o bi. dda'nh ba(`ng Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c, thi` ba^'t bie^'t co^ng lu+.c cao hay tha^'p, chi? ca^`n hai chu+o+?ng cha.m nhau, la` ddo^.c cha^'t cha.y va`o co+ the^?, lan ra^'t mau. Khoa?ng tre^n du+o+'i mo^.t kha('c, thi` tay xa'm nga('t, su+ng lo+'n, ro^`i ddau ddo+'n cu`ng cu+.c, la(n lo^.n dde^'n no^~i muo^'n tu+. tu+? cu~ng kho^ng co`n su+'c. Du` co' ddie^?m huye^.t, hay uo^'ng thuo^'c tra^'n tho^'ng, thi` cao nha^'t la` ba^?y nga`y, co^ng lu+.c ma^'t he^'t, su+'c kho^ng co`n, dde^'n no^~i ddi ddu+'ng cu~ng pha?i co' ngu+o+`i na^ng ddo+~. Ne^'u uo^'ng hai vie^n thuo^'c gia?i cu?a ba?n mo^n thi` kho^ng sao. Co`n nhu+ chi? uo^'ng mo^.t vie^n, thi` kho^ng che^'t, nhu+ng co^ng lu+.c ma^'t he^'t, pha?i luye^.n la.i tu+` dda^`u. Tu+` dda^'y, mo^~i na(m pha?i uo^'ng mo^.t vie^n nu+~a. Ba(`ng kho^ng la.i ddau ddo+'n sau 49 nga`y cu~ng che^'t.

Ca'ch dda^y hai na(m, DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o dda~ du`ng chu+o+?ng na`y dda'nh Hoa`ng-ha^.u, sau ddo' Tha'i-ha^.u kie^`m che^' ba`. Chi'nh vi` va^.y ma` ba` kho^ng da'm ra ma(.t giu'p nha` vua trong vie^.c phu.c ho^`i quo^'c gia. Ho^m qua trong lu'c Long-Xu+o+?ng tha^`n ho^`n ddi.nh ti?nh, Hoa`ng-ha^.u dda~ kha^?n khoa?n nha('c no' pha?i ti`m ngu+o+`i cu?a pha'i Sa`i-so+n, ha^`u gia?i vi~nh vie^~n ddo^.c chu+o+?ng cho ba`.

Long-Xu+o+?ng ru`ng mi`nh ho?i:

_ Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c pha't xua^'t tu+` dda^u?

Anh-Ha`o la('c dda^`u to? ve? kho^ng bie^'t. Y ho?i la.i Quang-Anh:

_ Thie^'u hie^.p co' bie^'t kho^ng? Ne^'u thie^'u hie^.p bie^'t xin ddu+`ng tie^'c co^ng da.y ba?o.

Quang-Anh cu~ng la('c dda^`u, y ho?i la~o a(n ma`y:

_ Su+ phu., dde^. tu+?...

La~o a(n ma`y chi? va`o ba` tu+`:

_ A`, ca'i vu. na`y thi` ta kho^ng bie^'t ro~. Mi ho?i su+ ma^~u a^'y.

Ca^u no'i cu?a la~o a(n ma`y khie^'n Long-Xu+o+?ng ti`m ra ddu+o+c mo^.t chu't a'nh sa'ng:

_ Mi`nh dda'ng che^'t thu+.c. Tu+` sa'ng dde^'n gio+`, nhu+~ng gi` xa^?y ra, dde^`u co' thu+' lo+'p. La~o a(n ma`y dda~ bie^'t tha^n pha^.n mi`nh ro^`i. Ro~ ra`ng co' mo^.t ba`n tay na`o ddo' dda~ xe^'p dda(.t. Mi`nh pha?i ca^?n tha^.n mo+'i ddu+o+.c: La~o a(n ma`y vo+'i ba` tu+` la` vo+. cho^`ng. La~o vo+'i vo+., dde^. tu+? chua^?n bi. sa(~n dde^? cho+` mi`nh, ma` mi`nh kho^ng bie^'t. Nhu+ va^.y vo+. cho^`ng la~o la` cao nha^n ddu+o+ng tho+`i dda~ bie^'t ro~ cha^n tu+o+'ng mi`nh, ne^n cho+` ddo'n mi`nh ta.i dda^y vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch gi`, mi`nh chu+a bie^'t. Nhu+ va^.y mi`nh pha?i to? ra bie^'t tro.ng hie^`n ta`i... Ne^'u nhu+ ddu+o+.c la~o tro+. giu'p thi` co' the^? tri. ddu+o+.c dda'm cao thu? cu?a cung Ca?m-Tha'nh. La.i co`n vo+. cho^`ng DDa`o Duy nu+~a, bie^'t dda^u ho. kho^ng cu`ng ha`nh su+.? Nhu+ng ai xe^'p dda(.t? Cha('c cha('n nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i na`y kho^ng pha?i cu?a Tha'i-ha^.u ro^`i, vi` nhu+~ng gi` xa^?y ra dde^`u ba^'t lo+.i cho Tha'i-ha^.u ca?. Ho. la` ngu+o+`i cu?a o^ng ngoa.i hay cu?a quan Tha'i-su+ Lu+u Kha'nh-DDa`m cu~ng ne^n. Du` ho. la` ngu+o+`i cu?a ai, thi` ro~ ra`ng ho. la`m lo+.i cho ta.

Ba` tu+` nguy't cho^`ng mo^.t ca'i, ro^`i no'i ma't:

_ Xu+a nay, la~o gia` kia ha(`ng tu+. ha`o la` tho^ng kim, ba'c co^?, ma` nay cu~ng pha?i lu`i sau la~o nu+o+ng mo^.t bu+o+'c u+ ?

La~o a(n ma`y cu+o+`i he^` he^`:

_ Bao gio+` to^i cu~ng thua ba`. Ai ma` ho+n ddu+o+.c ba` kia chu+'. Nha^'t ba`, nhi` tro+`i, thu+' ba thi.t ga`.

La~o la.i ca^`m ddu`i ga` cha^'m muo^'i vu+`a a(n vu+`a uo^'ng ru+o+.u. Ba` tu+` la('c dda^`u, no'i vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng:

"... Nguye^n va`o tho+`i Ta^`n Thu?y-Hoa`ng, sau khi tho^'ng nha^'t Trung-quo^'c, y muo^'n dda'nh chie^'m A^u-la.c. Te^? tu+o+'ng Trie^.u Cao ba`n ra(`ng : DDa^'t Vie^.t xu+a nay la` no+i ro^`ng na(`m, ho^? phu.c, va^.y tru+o+'c ta pha?i sai su+' sang do` xe't phong tho^? , binh lu+.c, vo~ ho.c cu?a chu'ng dda~. Thu?y-Hoa`ng thua^.n dde^` nghi. a^'y. Y sai su+' sang ba('t vua An-Du+o+ng (257 TTL- 207 TTL) co^'ng mo^.t ddo^.i vo~ si~ dde^? la`m thi. ve^. . Khi su+' Ta^`n sang, vua An-Du+o+ng bie^'t ra(`ng vo~ ho.c Trung-quo^'c ddang thi.nh tho+`i, ma` Thu?y-Hoa`ng ddo`i co^'ng vo~ si~, thi` chi? vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch ti`m hie^?u vo~ ho.c cua A^u-la.c ma` tho^i. Nga`i sai quan DDa.i Tu+-ma~ la` to^? su+ Ly' Tha^n mang mo^.t ddoa`n dde^. tu+? sang Ta^`n".

Quang-Anh ho?i :

_ Thu+a su+ ma^~u, que^ to^? o+? dda^u ?

_ To^? qua'n ngoa.i o^ Tha(ng-long... Khi su+' ddoa`n A^u-la.c to+'i Ha`m-du+o+ng, Thu?y-Hoa`ng sai ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng cao thu? ba^.c nha^'t Trung-quo^'c dda^'u vo+'i su+' ddoa`n tru+o+'c sa^n ro^`ng. To^? ra le^.nh cho chu+ dde^. tu+? ra(`ng : Ban nga`y, khi dda^'u cu+' dda'nh ca^`m chu+`ng, dde^? nga`i vo+'i chi'n dda.i dde^. tu+? ghi nho+' ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng chie^u thu+'c cu?a ddo^'i thu?. DDe^m, to^? vo+'i ca'c dde^. tu+? mo+'i die^~n la.i nhu+~ng chie^u thu+'c ddo', ro^`i ti`m ra pha' ca'ch. Sau nhu+~ng tra^.n long tranh, ho^? dda^'u, to^? vo+'i chi'n dde^. tu+? ti`m ra ra(`ng, ta.i Trung-quo^'c co' chi'n pha'i vo~, va` ti`m ra dda^`y ddu? ca'ch kha('c che^'. Cuo^'i cu`ng chu+ dde^. tu+? cu?a to^? tha('ng ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng cao thu? ba^.c nha^'t cu?a Ta^`n.

Tuy mo+'i luye^.n vo~, nhu+ng giai ddoa.n li.ch su+? na`y Long-Xu+o+?ng tu+`ng ddo.c qua. Nay nghe ba` tu+` ke^?, no' ga^.t dda^`u to? ve? thi'ch thu'. Ba` tu+` ho?i :

_ Tie^?u co^ng tu+? ! Thi` ra tie^?u co^ng tu+? cu~ng bie^'t ro~ chuye^.n na`y ro^`i u+ ?

_ Thu+a cao nha^n, va~n sinh dda~ ddo.c giai thoa.i na`y trong bo^. A^u-la.c gia?n su+?. Bo^. na`y vie^'t tu+` tho+`i vua Tru+ng.

_ Co^ng tu+? thu+? ke^? tie^'p, xem co' gio^'ng nhu+ ba?n pha? cu?a chu'ng ta kho^ng na`o !

_ Da. ! Sau ddo' Ta^`n Thu?y-Hoa`ng phong cho nga`i la`m Tu+-le^. hie^.u-u'y, cu`ng dde^. tu+? ca^`m qua^n tra^'n vu`ng La^m-thao, dda'nh Hung-no^. Trong khi ruo^?i ngu+.a tre^n vu`ng tuye^'t phu? phi'a Ba('c Va.n-ly' tru+o+`ng tha`nh, nga`i dda~ ti`m ddu+o+.c nguye^n ly' A^m tha('ng Du+o+ng, do va^.y nga`i vie^'t ra no^.i co^ng A^m-nhu, go^`m 99 ca^u quye^'t. Nga`i la.i thu go'p ta^'t ca? ye^'u quye^'t kie^'m thua^.t Trung-quo^'c, ro^`i ti`m ra ca'c chie^u kha('c che^', dda(.t tre^n ca(n ba?n di~ nhu che^' cu+o+ng, di~ to^'c che^' ma~nh, sau tha`nh pho Long-bie^n kie^'m pha'p. DDa.i dde^. tu+? cu?a nga`i la` Vu~ Ba?o-Trung thu tha^.p nghie^n cu+'u ta^'t ca? tinh ye^'u quye^`n, chu+o+?ng cu?a Trung-quo^'c, ro^`i nghi~ ra ca'c chie^u kha('c che^'. DDo' la` pho Thie^'t-ki`nh phi chu+o+?ng, A^u-la.c chu+o+?ng pha'p, co`n co' te^n kha'c la` Co^?-loa chu+o+?ng pha'p. Sau khi bi`nh Hung-no^, Thu?y-Hoa`ng phong cho nga`i tu+o+'c Va.n-ti'n ha^`u, ca'c dde^. tu+? cu?a nga`i dde^`u ddu+o+.c phong tu+o+'c ba', ro^`i cho ho^`i hu+o+ng. Y xin nga`i dde^? la.i mo^.t dde^. tu+? la`m To^?ng-li~nh thi. ve^.. Nga`i dde^? dde^. nhi. dde^. tu+? la` Tra^`n Ma.nh Chi o+? la.i. Ma.nh-Chi la^'y vo+. Ha'n, thu du.ng dde^. tu+? ro^`i la^.p ra pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch. Nga`i ve^` nu+o+'c ddu+o+.c ma^'y na(m, thi` Hung-no^ la.i vu+o+.t Va.n-ly' tru+o+`ng tha`nh qua^'y ro^'i Trung-quo^'c. Thu?y-Hoa`ng sai su+' sang ti`m nga`i. Nga`i kho^ng muo^'n vi` ba.o chu'a ma` la(n mi`nh va`o cho^~ che^'t, be`n tro^'n va`o ru+`ng. Vua An-Du+o+ng ca'o vo+'i su+' ra(`ng nga`i qua ddo+i` ro^`i. Su+' ve^` ta^u la.i, Thu?y-Hoa`ng tin la` la` thu+.c. Nhu+ng quan Tu+-thie^n gia'm coi Thie^n-va(n tha^'y tu+o+'ng tinh cu?a nga`i va^~n co`n , y ta^u la.i. Thu?y-Hoa`ng sai su+' ye^u sa'ch : Che^'t ro^`i thi` pha?i ddem xa'c qua. Nga`i bie^'t ra(`ng ne^'u mi`nh xua^'t hie^.n, thi` cha(?ng ho'a ra vua An-Du+o+ng no'i do^'i u+ ? Thu?y-Hoa`ng co' the^? kie^'m co+' ga^y chie^'n. Nga`i ho.p chu+ dde^. tu+? la.i, da(n do` vie^.c sau, ro^`i tu+. tu+? che^'t. Vua An-Du+o+ng sai u+o+'p xa'c nga`i, trao cho su+' cu?a Ta^`n. Thu?y-Hoa`ng tha^'y nga`i che^'t thu+.c ro^`i, y sai la`m mo^.t tu+o+.ng ba(`ng ddo^`ng dden gio^'ng nga`i, trong bu.ng co' ma'y, khie^'n cha^n tay cu+? ddo^.ng ddu+o+.c, ro^`i dde^? le^n ngu+.a cho ruo^?i tre^n Va.n-ly' tru+o+`ng tha`nh. Qua^n Hung-no^ nhi`n tha^'y, tu+o+?ng la` nga`i , be`n bo? cha.y. Ve^` phi'a A^u-la.c, vua An-Du+o+ng sai la^.p dde^`n tho+` nga`i. Nhu+ng khi Trie^.u DDa` chie^'m A^u-la.c, y pha' ddi. DDe^'n ddo+`i DDu+o+`ng, Trie^.u Xu+o+ng sang cai tri. nu+o+'c ta (803), dde^m thu+o+`ng na(`m mo+ tha^'y cu`ng nga`i ba`n sa'ch Xua^n-Thu, Ta? truye^.n. Y be`n ho?i ti`m dde^'n que^ cu~ cu?a nga`i, ro^`i cho la^.p dde^`n tho+`. Sau ddo' Cao Bie^`n sang cai tri. nu+o+'c ta, y ddu+o+.c nga`i hie^?n linh giu'p dda'nh qua^n Nam-chie^'u, y la.i sai tu bo^? dde^`n nga`i.

Ghi chu' cu?a thua^.t gia?. Tra?i qua ga^`n 1194 na(m, vo+'i bie^'t bao nhie^u tha(ng tra^`m cu?a li.ch su+?, vo+'i bie^'t bao nhie^u cuo^.c tru`ng tu, nay (1997) dde^`n cu?a Va.n-ti'n ha^`u va^~n co`n ta.i xa~ Thu.y-hu+o+ng, huye^.n Tu+`-lie^m Ha`-no^.i.

Ta`i lie^.u Trung-quo^'c.
Tu+-ma~ Thie^n, Su+?-ky' :
Quye^?n 6, Ta^`n Thu?y-Hoa`ng ba?n ky?.
Quye^?n 112 Bi`nh-ta^n ha^`u Chu?-phu. lie^.t truye^.n.
Quye^?n 113 Nam-Vie^.t lie^.t truye^.n.
Quye^?n 114 DDo^ng-Vie^.t lie^.t truye^.n.
Ta`i lie^.uVie^.t-Nam, chu+~ Ha'n.
DDVSKTT,
KDDVSTGCM,
DDa.i-Vie^.t ddi.a du+ chi',
Nam-Vie^.t ddi.a du+ chi',
DDi.a-du+ chi',
Hoa`ng-Vie^.t ddi.a du+,
Nam su+? lu+o+.c bie^n,
Tha(ng-long co^? ti'ch kha?o,
Nhi. Hoa`ng di a'i lu.c,
Long-bie^n ba'ch nhi. vi.nh,
Chu+ du+ chi' ta.p bie^n,
Thoa'i thu+.c ky` va(n.
Ta`i lie^.u Vie^.tNam, chu+~ Quo^'c-ngu+~.
Anh-hu`ng Li~nh-Nam.
DDo^.ng-ddi`nh ho^` ngoa.i su+?.
Ca^?m-khe^ di ha^.n.
Cu?a Ye^n-tu+? cu+-si~, do Nam-a' Paris xua^'t ba?n

Thua^.t dde^'n dda^y, Long-Xu+o+?ng cung tay:

_ Bo^. A^u-la.c gia?n su+? chi? che'p dde^'n ddoa.n vua An-Du+o+ng la^.p dde^`n tho+`. Co`n nhu+~ng vie^.c sau tie^?u sinh bie^'t la` do tha^`y da.y gia?ng the^m. Tie^?u sinh xin ki'nh ca^?n la('ng nghe cao nha^n bo^? khuye^'t cho nhu+~ng thie^'u so't.

Ba` tu+` no'i vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng nhu+ me. no'i vo+'i con:

_ Co^ng tu+? mo+'i ba(`ng na`y tuo^?i, ma` kie^'n thu+'c thu+.c ro^.ng bao la. Nhu+~ng ddie^`u co^ng tu+? ke^? thuo^.c ve^` quo^'c su+?. Co`n nhu+~ng bi' a^?n cu?a vo~ su+? co`n nhie^`u la('m. To^i xin vi` co^ng tu+? ma` ke^?.

Ba` nhi`n le^n tu+o+.ng co^ng chu'a Gia-Hu+ng, ro^`i tie^'p:

_ Sau khi A^u-la.c bi. Trie^.u DDa` chie^'m. Ca'c tu+o+'ng cu?a vua An-Du+o+ng kho^ng chi.u phu.c. Ho. ddem bo^. thuo^.c, gia ddi`nh quy da^n la^.p a^'p, mu+u ddo^` phu.c quo^'c. DDe^. tu+? cu?a Trung-ti'n ha^`u Vu~ Ba?o-Trung la^.p ra pha'i Cu+?u-cha^n. DDe^. tu+? cu?a Cao-ca?nh ha^`u Cao No^~ la^.p ra pha'i Hoa-lu+. DDe^. tu+? cu?a Phu+o+ng-chi'nh ha^`u Tra^`n Tu+.-Minh la^.p ra pha'i Khu'c-giang. Con cha'u cu?a to^? la^.p ra pha'i Long-bie^n. Khi con cha'u Trie^.u DDa` bi. vong quo^'c, la^.p ra pha'i Que^'-la^m. DDe^'n tho+`i Li~nh-Nam, nu+o+'c ta co' ca'c pha'i Ta?n-vie^n, Ta^y-vu, Khu'c-giang, Que^'-la^m, Hoa-lu+, Cu+?u-cha^n, Long-bie^n. Ca'c pha'i ho+.p nhau, cu`ng vua Tru+ng pha^'t co+` kho+?i nghi~a, la^.p ra trie^`u ddi`nh Li~nh-Nam. Li~nh-Nam bi. Ha'n die^.t, ca'c dde^. tu+? cu?a ba pha'i Long-bie^n, Cu+?u-cha^n, Hoa-lu+ la^.p ra pha'i Me^-linh....cho to+'i nay.

Ba` chi? va`o Anh-Ha`o:

_ Tro+? la.i vo+'i pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch be^n Trung-quo^'c, ddo+`i ddo+`i cha truye^`n con no^'i. To+'i tho+`i Ta^y-Ha'n, vi. chu+o+?ng mo^n sai dde^. tu+? la` Mao DDo^ng-Ca'c ddi die^.t tru+` mo^.t a'c ba'. Kho^ng may, y bi. te^n a'c ba' ba^`y mu+u gian ba('t giam. Te^n a'c ba' muo^'n co' no^.i co^ng A^m-nhu cu?a pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch, y du`ng na(m loa.i co^n tru`ng ddo^.c la` ra('n, re^'t, ta(`m, nhe^.n, bo` ca.p cho ca('n DDo^ng-Ca'c dde^? y pha?i khai ra bi' quye^'t luye^.n co^ng. Kho^ng ngo+` trong khi bi. ddau ddo+'n cu`ng cu+.c, y va^.n co^ng cho^'ng ddo^.c, no^.i co^ng A^m-nhu vo+'i ngu~ ddo^.c ho`a ho+.p vo+'i nhau tha`nh mo^.t thu+' ddo^.c co^ng kinh the^' ha~i tu.c. DDo^ng-Ca'c pha' vo+~ go^ng cu`m, ro^`i tie^u die^.t tro.n ve.n ke? thu`, tro+? ve^` phu.c me^.nh su+ phu.. Sau khi ti`m hie^?u ddo^.c co^ng cu?a dde^. tu+?, vi. chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch tha^'y ra(`ng ne^'u ngu+o+`i na`o luye^.n no^.i co^ng na`y, no' se~ la`m ma^'t nha^n ti'nh ddi, ma` tro+? tha`nh a'c nha^n, ddie^n ddie^n, khu`ng khu`ng. O^ng ba('t Mao DDo^ng-Ca'c pha?i cha^'m du+'t luye^.n ddo^.c co^ng . Y kho^ng tua^n. Trong mo^.t la^`n theo su+ phu. ddi ha`nh hie^.p, y dda'nh tro^.m su+ phu. mo^.t ddo^.c chu+o+?ng. O^ng bi. thu+o+ng na(.ng, ddau ddo+'n kho^'n kho^? , che^'t ddi so^'ng la.i trong 49 nga`y ro^`i che^'t. Su+ phu. che^'t ro^`i, y do^'i su+ huynh, su+ dde^. ddo^`ng mo^n ra(`ng su+ phu. ga't kie^'m quy a^?n, trao cho y la`m chu+o+?ng mo^n. Tu+` dda^'y y da.y ddo^.c co^ng cho dde^. tu+? pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch, cu~ng chi'nh y ti`m ra ddu+o+.c thuo^'c gia?i. DDa.i dde^. tu+? cu?a y la` Phan Su`ng du`ng ddo^.c chu+o+?ng ddi kho^'ng che^' vo~ la^m Trung-quo^'c giu'p Ca?nh-Thu?y hoa`ng dde^' trung hu+ng Ha'n nghie^.p. Ai bi. dda'nh tru'ng, pha?i ba'i y la`m su+ phu., thi` y cho thuo^'c gia?i. Thuo^'c gia?i na`y chi? hie^.u nghie^.m mo^.t na(m. Na(m sau la.i pha?i uo^'ng tie^'p. Trong na(m ddo', ne^'u kho^ng trung tha`nh vo+'i y, thi` kho^ng co' thuo^'c gia?i, na.n nha^n se~ ddau ddo+'n trong 49 nga`y ro^`i che^'t. Thu+.c la` mo^.t thu+' no^.i co^ng a'c ddo^.c nhu+ng vo^ song, vo^ ddo^'i.

Long-Xu+o+?ng ho?i:

_ Thu+a cao nha^n, ta.i sao la.i go.i la` vo^ song, vo^ ddo^'i? Kho^ng le~ luye^.n no^.i co^ng na`y, thi` tro+? tha`nh anh hu`ng vo^ ddi.ch u+ ?

Ba` tu+` mi?m cu+o+`i:

_ Co^ng tu+? mo+'i ho.c vo~, ne^n co^ng tu+? chu+a the^? hie^?u no^?i ca'i a'c lie^.t cu?a no^.i co^ng na`y. Bo+?i no' bao go^`m ca? chi'nh la^~n ta`, ra^'t kho' cho^'ng ddo+~. Chi'nh vi` go^'c no' la` no^.i co^ng A^m-nhu cu?a pha'i Long-bie^n. Ta` vi` no' du`ng no^.i co^ng A^m-nhu dda^?y ngu~ ddo^.c va`o co+ the^? ddo^'i thu?. Ba^'t cu+' cao thu? na`o, trong khi dda^'u vo+'i dde^. tu+? pha'i na`y, chi? ca^`n cha.m va`o chu+o+?ng cu?a chu'ng, la` la^.p tu+'c ddo^.c to^' cha.y va`o kinh ma.ch, trong vo`ng mo^.t kha('c thi` ddau ddo+'n dde^'n che^'t ddi so^'ng la.i. Sau na`y chi? co' Thie^`n-co^ng la` cho^'ng ddu+o+.c ma` tho^i.

Ba` la('c dda^`u:

_ Sau tra^.n dda'nh tre^n ddo^`i Vu+o+ng-so+n, o+? phi'a Nam La.c-du+o+ng, Mao DDo^ng-Ca'c cu`ng hai con ga'i bi. gie^'t; di thu+ cu?a pha'i na`y bi. Cu+?u-cha^n vu+o+ng DDa`o The^'-Kie^.t ddo^'t cha'y o+? Kinh-cha^u. Vo~ la^m Hoa-Vie^.t tu+o+?ng dda^u Huye^`n-a^m no^.i co^ng bi. tuye^.t die^.t . Na`o ngo+`, ca(.p vo+. cho^`ng Phan Anh, Tra^`n Nghi-Gia co`n so^'ng, chu'ng truye^`n cho con. Trong tra^.n dda'nh o+? Nam-ha?i vo+'i co^ng chu'a Tha'nh-Thie^n, tuy vo+. cho^`ng Phan Anh bi. gie^'t, ma` Huye^`n-a^m co^ng va^~n lu+u truye^`n. Nhu+ng ca'c ddo+`i sau kho^ng bie^'t che^' thuo^'c gia?i, tha`nh ra pha'i na`y kho^ng ro^.ng lo+'n. Ma~i to+'i tho+`i vua Ly' Tha'nh-to^ng, bo.n ma dda^`u Ho^`ng-thie^'t gia'o DDa.i-Vie^.t la` Vu~ Chu+o+ng-Ha`o, Le^ Phu'c-Huynh, DDinh Kie^'m-Thu+o+ng cha.y sang Trung-nguye^n trao ddo^?i vo~ co^ng vo+'i bo.n Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch, chu'ng mo+'i che^' ddu+o+.c thuo^'c gia?i. Trong tra^.n dda'nh o+? Ye^n-Du~ng (1077), Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng bi. ba.i du+o+'i tay pho` ma~ Tha^n Thie^.u-Tha'i, hai ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng xin a^n xa' cho, nhu+ng ba('t pha?i o+? la.i DDa.i-Vie^.t cho dde^'n gia`, ro^`i che^'t. Ba^'y la^u nay vo~ la^m Hoa-Vie^.t tu+o+?ng dda^u vo~ co^ng a'c ddo^.c na`y tuye^.t chu?ng. Cho dde^'n khi dda.i su+ Kha'nh-Hy?, su+ tha'i Nghi-Hoa`, dda.i hie^.p Phi-So+n bi. gie^'t, ba^'y gio+` vo~ la^m no^?i le^n co+n phong ba. Ngu+o+`i ngu+o+`i ra su+'c ddi ti`m thu? pha.m, ti`m bo.n luye^.n ddo^.c chu+o+?ng na`y dde^? tie^u die^.t.

Ba` chi? va`o te^n DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o:

_ May ma('n thay, ho^m nay chu'ng ta dda~ ti`m ra ddu+o+.c mo^.t chu't a'nh sa'ng.

Long-Xu+o+?ng ho?i:

_ Thu+a cao nha^n, giu+~a Chu-sa Nha^.t-Ho^` ddo^.c co^ng vo+'i Huye^`n-a^m co^ng kha'c nhau the^' na`o?

_ Kha'c ra^'t nhie^`u. Chu-sa Nha^.t-Ho^` ddo^.c chu+o+?ng pha't xua^'t tu+` Ta^y-vu+.c. DDa.i ma dda^`u Nha^.t-Ho^` la~o nha^n ddem va`o DDa.i-Vie^.t du+o+'i tho+`i Tha^.p-nhi. su+' qua^n. DDo^.c co^ng na`y do hai te^n khu`ng ngu+o+`i Ta^y-vu+.c pha't minh ra co' te^n la` Chu-sa ho^`ng thie^'t ta^m pha'p, du`ng 28 vi. thuo^'c ddo^.c luye^.n co^ng. No^.i co^ng na`y thua^`n du+o+ng, ra^'t de^~ tru+`. DDe^'n tho+`i ddu+'c Ly' Tha'i-to^?, pha'i Sa`i-so+n dda~ ti`m ra thuo^'c gia?i vi~nh vie^~n, ne^n no' kho^ng co`n la` mo^'i lo nu+~a. Va? phu+o+ng pha'p luye^.n cu~ng tha^'t truye^`n sau khi ma dda^`u DDinh Kie^'m-Thu+o+ng tu+'c su+ DDa.i-DDie^n bi. tha'nh ta(ng Tu+` DDa.o-Ha.nh gie^'t.

Ba` ha^'t ha`m cho Quang-Anh:

_ Con tie^'p tu.c ho?i cung no' ddi.

Ghi chu' cu?a thua^.t gia?. Ve^` nhu+~ng ua^?n khu'c na`y, xin ddo.c Anh-hu`ng Li~nh-Nam 4 quye^?n, DDo^.ng-ddi`nh ho^` ngoa.i su+? 3 quye^?n, Ca^?m-khe^ di ha^.n 4 quye^?n, cu?a Ye^n-tu+? cu+ si~ do Nam-a' Paris xua^'t ba?n.

Quang-Anh ho?i Anh-Ha`o:

_ Ba^y gio+` mi sa('p che^'t ro^`i. DDe^? ta no'i cho mi nghe, ke?o mi che^'t, xuo^'ng A^m-phu?; Die^m-vu+o+ng ho?i ta.i sao mi che^'t, ma` mi kho^ng bie^'t, e Die^m-vu+o+ng ma('ng mi la` phu+o+`ng ho^` ddo^` ro^`i ra le^.nh che'm mi, thi` mi la.i che^'t mo^.t la^`n nu+~a. Su+ phu. ta la` dda.i danh y ddu+o+ng tho+`i, ne^n la~o nha^n gia chi? nhi`n qua nu+o+'c da, a'nh ma('t dda~ bie^'t mi luye^.n no^.i co^ng A^m-nhu, cu`ng Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng. Ne^n khi mi pha't chie^u, la~o nha^n gia dda~ dda^?y nhu+~ng gi` mi dda'nh ra tro+? la.i ngu+o+`i mi.

_ Nhu+ng ta.i sao... ta.i sao to^i dda~ uo^'ng thuo^'c gia?i ma` vo^ hie^.u ?

_ Ta dda~ no'i he^'t dda^u ? Trong khi ddo+~ chie^u cu?a mi, su+ phu. ta co`n dda^?y va`o ngu+o+`i mi mo^.t vie^n thuo^'c nu+~a. Tha`nh ra thuo^'c gia?i cu?a mi vo^ du.ng dda~ dda`nh ma` thuo^'c ho+.p vo+'i Huye^`n-a^m co^ng tha`nh mo^.t thu+' ddo^.c co^ng vo^ cu`ng ba' dda.o, cho ne^n kho^ng nhu+~ng thuo^'c gia?i cu?a mi vo^ hie^.u, ma` co`n la`m cho ddau ho+n. Ba^y gio+` mi muo^'n so^'ng, hay muo^'n ddau ddo+'n cu`ng cu+.c ro^`i che^'t ?

_ To^i...to^i muo^'n so^'ng.

_ Ke^? tu+` ho^m nay, mi pha?i tua^n theo ba ddie^`u.

_ ? ! ? ! ?

_ Mo^.t la` mi pha?i dda^.y ki'n mie^.ng bi`nh, kho^ng ddu+o+.c tie^'t lo^. nhu+~ng gi` xa^?y ra ho^m nay, du` vo+'i Tha'i-ha^.u.

_ To^i xin tua^n. Co`n ddie^`u thu+' nhi` ?

_ Mi pha?i tuye^.t ddo^'i trung tha`nh vo+'i chu? nha^n mi. Ba^'t cu+' chu? nha^n mi ra le^.nh gi` mi pha?i nha^'t nha^'t tua^n theo.

_ To^i xin tua^n ! Co`n ddie^`u thu+' ba ? ! ?

_ Mi pha?i khai ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng bi' ma^.t trong cung Ca?m-Tha'nh cho ta. Nhu+ va^.y, cu+' nga`y tra(ng tro`n, mi pha?i ra chu`a Mo^.t-co^.t ga(.p su+ phu. ta dde^? li~nh mo^.t vie^n thuo^'c gia?i. Ne^'u mi que^n, thi` sang nga`y mu+o+`i sa'u, co+n ddau se~ ha`nh ha. mi. Tho^i, ba^y gio+` mi ra ngoa`i kia, khai ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng bi' a^?n trung cung Ca?m-Tha'nh cho ta.

DDo+.i Quang-Anh vo+'i DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o ra ngoa`i, ba` tu+` mo+`i bo.n Long-Xu+o+?ng, ngo^`i xuo^'ng chie^'c pha?n. Ba` vo+'i la~o a(n ma`y ngo^`i va`o ngo^i chu? vi. tie^'p kha'ch. Vo+. cho^`ng DDa`o Duy, cha('p tay ddu+'ng ha^`u.

La~o a(n ma`y nhi`n Long-Xu+o+?ng :

_ Tha'i-tu+?, la~o phu ddi a(n ma`y, kha('p hang cu`ng ngo~ he?m dda^u dda^u cu~ng nghe ngu+o+`i ta ddo^`n ra(`ng: Tha'i-tu+? Long-Xu+o+?ng tuo^?i tuy co`n nho?, ma` co' phong tha'i nhu+ Khai-Quo^'c vu+o+ng xu+a. Na`o va(n chu+o+ng qua'n the^', tri' lu+. kha'c pha`m. Tu+o+ng lai co' the^? vu+`a la` Khai-Quo^'c vu+o+ng, vu+`a la` vua Ly' Tha'nh-to^ng. Ho^m nay la~o phu mo+'i ddu+o+.c ga(.p. Nhu+~ng gi` Tha'i-tu+? no'i tu+` na~y dde^'n gio+`, la~o phu mo+'i tha^'y tu+ ca'ch Tha'i-tu+? co`n ho+n tie^'ng ddo^`n nu+~a.

_ DDa ta. tie^n sinh qua' khen. Xu+o+?ng na`y co' la`m ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng co^ng nghie^.p nhu+ vua Tha'nh-to^ng, nhu+ Khai-Quo'a'c vu+o+ng hay kho^ng, co`n nho+` va`o su+. da.y do^~ cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i nhu+ tie^n sinh.

Ha`nh tung cu?a la~o a(n ma`y, cu?a ba` tu+`, go+.i cho ky' u+'c giu'p Long-Xu+o+?ng nho+' la.i trong buo^?i thie^'t trie^`u hai na(m tru+o+'c ve^` vie^.c DDo^~ Anh-Vu~ bi. gie^'t... Vu+o+ng cha('p tay ha`nh le^~ vo+'i ngu+o+`i a(n ma`y va` ba` tu+` :

_ Thi` ta tie^`n bo^'i co' dda.i danh la` Nam-phu+o+ng tha^`n y, ho. Le^, te^n Thu'c-Ca^?n, chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Sa`i-so+n dda^'y ! Co`n phu nha^n dda^y ha(?n la` Ngo^ Lan-Chi, mo^.t cao thu? pha'i Me^-linh. He`n gi`, ha`nh tra.ng kha'c thu+o+`ng. Tie^?u sinh co' ma('t nhu+ mu`. Xin hai vi. dda.i xa' cho.

Long-Xu+o+?ng cho+.t nho+' ra ra(`ng : O^ng ngoa.i cu?a vu+o+ng la` su+ huynh cu?a Ngo^ Lan-Chi, vu+o+ng na?y ra y' nha^.n ho., dde^? ca^`u tha^n . Vu+o+ng cha('p tay ha`nh le^~ :

_ DDe^. tu+? xin ba'i kie^'n tha'i su+ thu'c.

Lan-Chi na('m tay Long-Xu+o+?ng :

_ Tha'i tu+? cha(?ng ne^n dda le^~. Quan Tha'i-su+ nho+` chu'ng ta giu'p Tha'i-tu+?. Chu'ng ta cho+` Tha'i-tu+? tu+` qua to+'i gio+`. Giu'p Tha'i-tu+? thi` chu'ng ta sa(~n sa`ng. Nhu+ng ta chi? giu'p ca'i chi' cu?a Tha'i-tu+? ma` tho^i. Va^.y tru+o+'c he^'t Tha'i-tu+? cho chu'ng ta bie^'t ca'i chi' cu?a Tha'i-tu+? nhu+ the^' na`o ?

Long-Xu+o+?ng ngo^`i ngay nga('n la.i, chi?nh ddo^'n y phu.c, ro^`i cung tay hu+o+'ng vo+. cho^`ng Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n xa' ba xa':

_ Xu+o+?ng na`y tre? ngu+o+`i, non da., tu+ cha^'t la.i dda^`n ddo^.n, kie^'n thu+'c chi? tro^ng va`o tha^`y da.y la` quan Tha'i-pho' Hoa`ng Nghi~a-Hie^`n va` di thu+ cu?a tie^`n nha^n dde^? la.i. Ho^m nay, duye^n may ga(.p g tie^n sinh cu`ng phu nha^n. Phu nha^n la.i la` cho^~ ddo^`ng mo^n vo+'i ngoa.i to^?. Xu+o+?ng xin gia~i ba^`y u+o+'c vo.ng, mong hai vi. da.y cho nhu+~ng lo+`i va`ng ngo.c.

Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n tu+`ng ngao du tu+' phu+o+ng tri. be^.nh cho da^n chu'ng. La~o nghe nhie^`u, bie^'t ro^.ng, kinh li.ch co' thu+`a ; the^' ma` ho^m nay, ngo^`i tru+o+'c mo^.t thie^'u nie^n mu+o+`i tuo^?i, no'i na(ng nhu+ nhu+~ng ba^.c anh hu`ng cao nie^n khua^'t tha^n ca^`u hie^`n, la~o kinh nga.c kho^ng i't.

Long-Xu+o+?ng tie^'p :

_ Ba?n trie^`u do ddu+'c Tha'i-to^?, u+'ng lo`ng ngu+o+`i, ho+.p lo`ng tro+`i, la^.p ne^`n chi'nh tho^'ng. DDe^'n ddo+`i ddu+'c Tha'i-to^ng, Tha'nh-to^ng, Nha^n-to^ng, nho+` lie^.t to^? DDa.i-Vie^.t phu` ho^.. Nho+` Khai-Quo^'c vu+o+ng cu`ng anh hu`ng khuo^ng pho`... ma` phi'a Nam bi`nh Chie^m, mo+? ro^.ng Nam-gio+'i to+'i Ha?i-va^n so+n, sa'u la^`n chi? ngo.n co+` le^n Ba('c, khie^'n cho giang so+n To^'ng nghie^ng ngu+?a, bo? mo^.ng xa^m la(ng. Be^n trong, vie^.c no^.i tri. vu+~ng va`ng, da^n chu'ng a^'m no, ho.c phong mo+? ro^.ng. Nha^'t la` anh hu`ng vo~ la^m cu`ng trie^`u ddi`nh nhu+ hai ma` la` mo^.t.

Thu'c-Ca^`n, Chi-Lan cu`ng ga^.t dda^`u ta'n tha`nh nhu+~ng ddie^`u Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i .

_ Nhu+ng tu+` khi ddu+'c Tha^`n-to^ng ba(ng, no^.i cung thi` bi. ca'i na.n ga` ma'i ga'y, ga^y ra nhu+~ng ve^'t nho+, muo^n ddo+`i kho^ng ru+?a sa.ch. Trie^`u ddi`nh thi` cu+o+`ng tha^`n la`m nhu+~ng chuye^.n ba.o thie^n, nghi.ch ddi.a, ta`n sa't to^ng tha^'t, tru die^.t trung tha^`n, ba.c dda~i hie^`n ta`i, khinh re? vo~ la^m. Ho'a cho ne^n nha^n ta`i bi. mai mo^.t vo+'i co? ca^y, vo~ la^m xa la'nh, to^ng tha^'t thu` ha^.n. Ho.c phong suy ddo^`i, si~ da^n kho^ng ham luye^.n vo~. Nhu+~ng lu'c Xu+o+?ng na`y ddo.c sa'ch, tha^'y to^? tie^n anh hu`ng nhu+ va^.y, da^n chu'ng a^'m no nhu+ va^.y... ma` tie^'c, ma` buo^`n dde^'n kho^ng ca^`m ddu+o+.c nu+o+'c ma('t, a(n kho^ng ngon, ngu? kho^ng ye^n. Cho ne^n Xu+o+?ng na`y khua^'t tha^n ca^`u hie^`n, mong xa^y du+.ng la.i ca'i thi.nh tho+`i ddo+`i vua Tha'i-to^ng, Tha'nh-to^ng, Nha^n-to^ng. Mong tie^n sinh vo+'i phu nha^n ddu+`ng tie^'c co^ng da.y ba?o.

Thu'c-Ca^?n mi?m cu+o+`i :

_ Da.y cho Tha'i-tu+? thi` vo+. cho^`ng la~o kho^ng da'm. Tuy nhie^n, nghe Tha'i-tu+? ba^`y to? ca'i chi', thi` du` ke? ngu phu, ngu phu. cu~ng pha?i ca?m ddo^.ng, huo^'ng ho^` vo+. cho^`ng la~o phu. Nhu+ng Tha'i-tu+? o+i ! Kho^?ng-tu+? no'i ra(`ng : Trong mo^.t a^'p mu+o+`i nha` ta^'t co' ngu+o+`i trung ti'n ! Ki`a, ta.i trie^`u cha(?ng co' Tha'i-su+ Lu+u Kha'nh-DDa`m, ngo^`i trong ma`n ma` quye^'t tha('ng ngoa`i nga`n da(.m ddo' u+ ? Lua^.n ve^` chi'nh su+. To^'ng, Chie^m, cu`ng nhu+~ng ke^' sa'ch cho da^n gia^`u nu+o+'c ma.nh thi` co' Tha'i-pho' Hoa`ng Nghi~a-Hie^`n. La.i co`n nhu+~ng ba^.c trung tha^`n nhu+ Vu~ Ta'n-DDu+o+`ng, Bu`i Kinh-An, Phi' Co^ng-Ti'n... Ke^? sao cho he^'t. Ho. cu~ng muo^'n ddem ta`i lu+o+ng ddo^'ng ra giu'p trie^`u ddi`nh. Nhu+ng, ho. dde^`u bo' cha^n, bo' tay, vi` hoa`ng-thu+o+.ng thi` kho^ng the^? la`m ba^'t cu+' vie^.c gi` tra'i vo+'i Tha'i-ha^.u. Trong khi Ca?m-Tha'nh hoa`ng tha'i ha^.u chuye^n quye^`n. Nay la~o phu muo^'n giu'p tha'i-tu+? la`m nhu+~ng chuye^.n nhu+ tho+`i vua Tha'i-to^ng, Tha'nh-to^ng, thi` ca^`n pha?i gia?i ta'n ca'i trie^`u ddi`nh ga` ma'i ga'y be^n cung Ca?m-Tha'nh. Ma` muo^'n gia?i ta'n ca'i trie^`u ddi`nh ga` ma'i ga'y kia, thi` ca^`n pha?i pha' ca'i vo`ng va^y trong Hoa`ng-tha`nh cho hoa`ng-thu+o+.ng, cho hoa`ng-ha^.u, va` nha^'t la` pha' ca'i lu+o+'i bao va^y tha'i tu+? o+? DDo^ng-cung. Pha' ca'i lu+o+'i na`y thi` ngoa`i ta^`m tay cu?a Tha'i-su+, Tha'i-pho'. Chi'nh vi` le~ ddo' ma` Lu+u Tha'i-su+ mo+'i xe^'p dda(.t dde^? tha'i-tu+? ga(.p vo+. cho^`ng la~o phu ho^m nay. La~o phu xin vi` tha'i-tu+? ma` la`m vie^.c na`y.

Long-Xu+o+?ng nhu+ ngu+o+`i mu` ddu+o+.c mo+? ma('t, tha'i-tu+? la.i xa' ba xa' :

_ Xin tie^n sinh da.y tie^'p cho.

_ Bo.n xu phu. be^n cung Ca?m-tha'nh so+? di~ co', vi` tha'i-ha^.u na('m quye^`n. Muo^'n la^'y la.i quye^`n thi` pha?i co' lu+.c. Hai na(m tru+o+'c, sau vu. a'n DDo^~ Anh-Vu~, hoa`ng-ha^.u dda~ la`m, nhu+ng vi` lu+.c kho^ng ddu?, la.i la`m ga^'p qua' ne^n tha^'t ba.i. Nay tha'i-tu+? muo^'n la`m, thi` pha?i bie^'t ro~ no^.i ti`nh cung Ca?m-Tha'nh.

O^ng chi? ra ngoa`i xe, cho^~ DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o ngo^`i :

_ Ta co' te^n ho. DDo^~ kia, y ddang cung khai nhu+~ng gi` ta ca^`n bie^'t. Khi ta bie^'t ro^`i thi` theo ddo' ma` ha`nh su+..

La't sau, Quang-Anh tro+? la.i, y thua^.t la.i nhu+~ng gi` ga~ DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o ke^?.

...Trong cuo^.c chie^'n tranh tho+`i Anh-vu~ chie^u-tha('ng, co' ra^'t nhie^`u tu+o+'ng To^'ng, cu~ng nhu+ cao thu? bi. DDa.i-Vie^.t ba('t so^'ng. Ho. ddu+o+.c Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng vo+'i co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu xin cho kho?i ho.a sa't tha^n. Linh-Nha^n hoa`ng tha'i ha^.u trao ho. cho vu+o+ng giu+~, ddo+.i he^'t chie^'n tranh se~ tra? ve^` To^'ng. Sau khi To^'ng Vie^.t ho`a ta^'t ca? binh tu+o+'ng To^'ng dde^`u ddu+o+.c trao tra?. Vu+o+ng chi? giu+~ la.i sa'u dda.i cao thu? ddo' la` Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng, Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m. Theo y' vu+o+ng, thi` ca'c tu+o+'ng ddu+o+c tra? ve^`, kho^ng la` mo^'i lo cho DDa.i-Vie^.t. Co`n Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng, Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m la` nhu+~ng cao thu? vo~ co^ng kinh the^' ha~i tu.c. Trong mo^n pha'i, ho. la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i duy nha^'t ddu+o+.c ho.c tuye^.t nghe^.. Nay ho. bi. nhu.c, ho. se~ truye^`n nghe^` cho ddo^` tu+?, ddo^` to^n, dde^? chu'ng sang ru+?a nhu.c cho mo^n ho^.. Va^.y ne^'u nhu+ giu+~ ho. la.i DDa.i-Vie^.t, ho. che^'t ro^`i, thi` tuye^.t ho.c hai pha'i na`y se~ ma^'t, mo^'i lo ddo^` tu+? ddo^` to^n sang tra? thu` kho^ng co`n nu+~a.

Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng Mao Cung, Mao Ki'nh ba.i du+o+'i tay pho` ma~ Tha^n Thie^.u-Tha'i trong tra^.n Ye^n-du~ng, bi. tru'ng Chu-sa ddo^.c chu+o+?ng, ro^`i bi. ba('t. Trie^`u ddi`nh cu~ng nhu+ vo~ la^m DDa.i-Vie^.t ddi.nh gie^'t chu'ng ddi, dde^? Huye^`n-a^m co^ng tuye^.t chu?ng. Nhu+ng hai ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng Tra^`n Tu+.-Mai, co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu xin Tha^n pho` ma~ tha ma.ng cho. Vu+o+ng truye^`n giam lo?ng hai ngu+o+`i la.i Thie^n-tru+o+`ng. Ha`ng tha'ng chu'ng ddu+o+.c trao thuo^'c gia?i. Ho. la^'y vo+. Vie^.t. Hai ngu+o+`i vo^'n gio?i nghe^` tri. ddo^.c, ho. la`m tha^`y lang chu+~a be^.nh cho da^n chu'ng, dde^? so^'ng cho qua nga`y. Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch nha^'t hu`ng kho^ng co' con trai. Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch nhi. hu`ng sinh ddu+o+.c mo^.t trai te^n Mao Khie^m, la.i cu~ng co' te^n Bi`nh, ne^n ddo^i khi go.i la` Mao Bi`nh. Khi Mao Ki'nh sa('p qua ddo+`i, Mao Khie^m mo+'i co' na(m tuo^?i, chu+a ta^.p vo~. Y tra(n tro^'i, xin co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu ra(`ng : Sau na`y Mao Khie^m lo+'n le^n, co^ng chu'a thu+o+ng ti`nh da.y cho no' mo^.t i't ba?n su+.. Tu+` dda^'y vo~ la^m Hoa-Vie^.t tin ra(`ng Huye^`n-a^m co^ng tuye^.t ti'ch.

Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng tuy giu+~ lo+`i hu+'a kho^ng da.y Huye^`n-a^m co^ng cho ai. Nhu+ng tru+o+'c khi che^'t, Mao Ki'nh ca?m tha^'y bo^`n cho^`n trong da., vi` mo^.t pho vo~ co^ng vo^ ddi.ch, lu+u truye^`n ho+n nghi`n na(m, ba^y gio+` mai mo^.t ddi thi` thu+.c la` ddie^`u dda'ng tie^'c. Vi` va^.y y du`ng ta^'t ca? ta`n lu+.c, vie^'t la.i tha`nh cuo^'n pho^?, ro^`i trao cho vo+., tro^'i ra(`ng : Pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch nha` ta go^'c tu+` to^? Va.n-ti'n ha^`u Ly' Tha^n cu?a DDa.i-Vie^.t, nguye^n thuo^.c chi'nh pha'i. DDe^'n ddo+`i to^? Mao DDo^ng-Ca'c, ngu+o+`i ho+.p vo+'i ngu~ ddo^.c tha`nh Huye^`n-a^m ddo^.c co^ng. Ba^'t cu+' vo~ la^m chi'nh hay ta` nghe dde^'n danh dde^`u kinh ho^`n ddo^.ng pha'ch. DDe^'n anh em ta, ca? hai dde^`u tha`nh anh hu`ng vo^ ddi.ch. Vi` vua To^'ng Tha^`n-to^ng vo+'i te^? tu+o+'ng Vu+o+ng An-Tha.ch ha^.u le^~, le^n nu'i ca^`u hie^`n, ma` chu'ng ta ha. so+n. Bo+?i tha^'t the^', chu'ng ta dda`nh gu+?i xu+o+ng o+? dda^'t Nam-man. Ne^'u nay ta che^'t ddi, ma` dde^? ta^m pha'p na`y tuye^.t chu?ng, thi` thu+.c co' to^.i vo+'i lie^.t to^?. Va^.y, sau khi ta qua ddo+`i, na`ng pha?i a^?n nha^~n nuo^i con. DDo+.i sau khi no' lo+'n, ho.c ddu+o+.c vo~ co^ng DDo^ng-a ro^`i, thi` na`ng cu`ng con xin ca?i ta'ng ddem xu+o+ng ta ve^` co^' quo^'c. Khi ve^` to+'i no+i, na`ng ti`m cho^~ a^?n, trao ta^.p pho^? na`y cho con. DDo+.i no' luye^.n tha`nh ba?n li~nh nghie^ng tro+`i le^.ch dda^'t ro^`i ha~y ti`m dde^'n to^?ng ddu+o+`ng pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch ma` nha^.n ho. .

Vo+. Mao Ki'nh cho xa^y ngo^i tu+` ddu+o+`ng, tho+` Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng ngay tre^n mo^` hai ngu+o+`i. Lu'c so^'ng, hai ngu+o+`i, du`ng ta`i tri. ddo^.c cu+'u ra^'t nhie^`u da^n ba?n xu+' thoa't che^'t , ne^n sau khi che^'t, ho. nho+' o+n. Nhu+~ng nga`y so'c, nga`y vo.ng, ho. ddem le^~ dde^'n mie^'u tho+`, cu'ng ba'i ra^'t ddo^ng.

Khi Mao Khie^m ba^?y tuo^?i, ca'i tuo^?i ba('t dda^`u ddu+o+.c ta^.p vo~, thi` Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng vo+'i co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu dde^`u hoa(ng ca? ro^`i. Chie^'u di chu'c, con cu?a vu+o+ng la` the^' tu+? Vi.-Hoa`ng, thu+o+ng ti`nh Mao Khie^m cu~ng thuo^.c hai gio`ng ma'u nhu+ mi`nh. The^'-tu+? thu Khie^m la`m dde^. tu+?, va` do^'c tu'i truye^`n thu. vo~ co^ng Hoa-so+n, DDo^ng-a cho no'. Na(m mu+o+`i ta'm tuo^?i, Mao Khie^m dda~ ho.c ddu+o+.c ba^?y tha`nh ba?n la~nh cu?a su+ phu. thi` su+' To^'ng sang ddo`i ca?i ta'ng xu+o+ng Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng ve^` co^' quo^'c. Trie^`u ddi`nh DDa.i-Vie^.t xin pha'i DDo^ng-a chu toa`n vie^.c ddo'. Me. con Mao Khie^m ddu+o+.c theo su+' To^'ng ho^`i hu+o+ng. Mie^'u tho+` cu~ng bi. pha' hu?y luo^n.

Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m bi. giam lo?ng o+? Thie^n-tru+o+`ng. Ho. ddu+o+.c ca^'p dda^'t, ca^'p nha` o+?. Vi` ho. la` dda.o si~, ne^n ho. ra^'t gio?i vie^.c tru+` ta`, ba('t ma. Ho. thu ddu+o+.c ca?m ti`nh cu?a da^n chu'ng. Nhu+ng bo^'n ngu+o+`i luo^n tu+o+?ng nho+' mo^n ho^., tu+o+?ng nho+' co^' quo^'c. Ho. la^.p ra hai ca'i dda`i, mo^.t ca'i mang te^n The^'-le^. ddoa.n tru+o+`ng (Kho'c dde^'n ddu+'t ruo^.t ra), mo^.t ca'i te^n Tie^u-ho^`n la.c pha'ch (Ho^`n bi. tan na't pha'ch bi. la.c ma^'t). Nga`y nga`y le^n dda`i, hu+o+'ng ma('t nhi`n ve^` Ba('c, tu+o+?ng nho+' co^' quo^'c. Buo^`n qua' bo^'n ngu+o+`i mang Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~ la` No^.i-co^ng, Quye^`n-pha'p, Chu+o+?ng-pha'p, Kie^'m-pha'p, ra nghie^n cu+'u, bo^? khuye^'t, sa'ng che^' tha`nh bo^. vo~ kinh, mang te^n Vo^-song vo^ ddo^'i, Trung-nguye^n vo~ kinh, go.i ta('t la` Vo^-Trung kinh. Nhu+ng bo^'n ngu+o+`i kho^ng la`m ca'ch na`o chuye^?n ve^` Trung-tho^? cho ddo^` tu+?, ddo^` to^n. Ma~i to+'i khi co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu hoa(ng, su+' To^'ng sang ddie^'u tang, ho. mo+'i la`m mo^.t ba`i ke^. nga('n, ma^.t gu+?i su+' ddoa`n mang ve^` cho pha'i Hoa-so+n. Nhu+ng tu+` khi Tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m bi. ba('t, tuye^.t nghe^. tha^'t truye^`n, ddo^` tu+? ddo^` to^n cu?a ho. kho^ng co' nhu+~ng tay kie^.t lie^.t, ne^n kho^ng da`nh ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng cho^~ ddu+'ng cao trong To^'ng trie^`u. Ma~i ga^`n dda^y nha^n hai vua To^'ng bi. Kim ba('t, mo+'i co' ba ngu+o+`i la` Ngo^ Gio+'i, Ngo^ La^n, Lu+u Ky` pha^'t co+` trung hu+ng, ma` tro+? tha`nh ba dda.i tha^`n. Pha'i Hoa-so+n co' a?nh hu+o+?ng lo+'n ta.i trie^`u Nam To^'ng. Nha^n di.p na`y, ho. cu+? cao thu? theo su+' ddoa`n sang ti`m no+i cho^n Vo^-Trung kinh.

Nie^n hie^.u Thie^.u-Minh thu+' nhi` (Ky? Mu`i, DL. 1139), be^n Trung-nguye^n la` nie^n hie^.u Thie^.u-Hu+ng thu+' 9, vua Tha^`n-To^ng ba(ng, Tha'i-tu+? Thie^n-to^. mo+'i ba tuo^?i le^n no^'i ngo^i. Chie^u-Hie^'u tha'i ha^.u ho. DDo^~ (Vo+. Su`ng-hie^`n ha^`u, me. vua Tha^`n-to^ng, ba` cu?a DDa.i-DDi.nh hoa`ng dde^', tu+'c vua Anh-To^ng) co' y' muo^'n cu+o+'p ngo^i vua cho em mi`nh la` DDo^~ Anh-Vu~. Ba` cu+? ma^.t su+' sang xin To^'ng phong cho Anh-Vu~ la`m vua DDa.i-Vie^.t. Thie^.u-Hu+ng hoa`ng dde^' ddem vie^.c na`y ddi`nh nghi.. Ca'c quan dde^`u ba`n kho^ng ne^n, vi` nhu+ va^.y la` dung du+ng bo.n gian tha^`n ta(.c tu+?. Thie^.u-Hu+ng dde^' cu+? su+' sang phong cho Tha'i-tu+? Thie^n-To^. la`m Giao-chi? qua^.n vu+o+ng. Mao Khie^m ddu+o+.c chi? ddi.nh theo la`m tho^ng di.ch. Trie^`u ddi`nh To^'ng ban ma^.t du. cho Mao Khie^m nhu+ sau:

Pha?i hu+'a lo+ mo+ vo+'i DDo^~ Anh-Vu~, khuye^n y chuye^n quye^`n, nhu+ va^.y trie^`u ddi`nh Vie^.t se~ chia na(m se? ba^?y. Ba^'y gio+` mo+'i xui y cu+o+'p ngo^i. To^'ng nha^n ddo' ddem qua^n sang ke'o cao ngo.n co+` hu+ng die^.t, ke^' tuye^.t (phu.c ho^`i trie^`u ddi`nh bi. die^.t, cho con cha'u bi. tuye^.t ke^' tu.c ngo^i vua), ro^`i chie^'m DDa.i-Vie^t tra? ca'i thu` Qua'ch Quy`, Trie^.u Tie^'t tha^'t ba.i na(m xu+a .

Khie^m la`m ddu'ng nhu+ chi? du.. Sau khi su+' ddoa`n To^'ng ve^`, Mao Khie^m tro^'n la.i, a^?n trong dinh DDo^~ Anh-Vu~, thu y la`m dde^. tu+?, va` truye^`n Huye^`n-a^m co^ng cho y. Vie^.c na`y dde^'n tai Kha'nh-Hy? dda.i su+. Nga`i vo^.i va~ ve^` Tha(ng-long khuye^n dde^. tu+?. Anh-Vu~ kho^ng nhu+~ng kho^ng nghe, ma` co`n dda'nh le'n dda.i su+ mo^.t Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng. Nhu+ng co^ng lu+.c y tha^'p qua', bi. dda.i su+ ba('t. Mao Khie^m xua^'t hie^.n cu+'u y. Hai ngu+o+`i dda^'u vo+'i nhau tre^n tra(m hie^.p, thi` Kha'nh-Hy? bi. tru'ng Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng. Trong lu'c nga`i ddau ddo+'n dde^'n che^'t ddi so^'ng la.i thi` Mao Khie^m ra ddie^`u kie^.n : Ne^'u nga`i trao ta^'t ca? na(m tuye^.t ho.c pha'i Tie^u-so+n cho y, thi` y se~ trao thuo^'c gia?i. Ba(`ng kho^ng, thi` nga`i se~ ddau ddo+'n trong 49 nga`y ro^`i che^'t. Nga`i dda`nh chi.u che^'t, chu+' kho^ng chi.u pha?n mo^n pha'i. Sau ddo' Mao Khie^m tie^'p tu.c kho^'ng che^' chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Ta?n-vie^n la` DDa(.ng Phi-So+n, chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Me^-linh la` Nghi-Ho`a su+ tha'i, nhu+ng hai vi. na`y cu~ng dda`nh chi.u che^'t. Hie^.n Mao ddang ti`m ca'ch kho^'ng che^' pha'i Sa`i-so+n nu+~a dde^? co' bi' ki'p vo~ co^ng. Co`n pha'i DDo^ng-a thi` kho^ng ca^`n, vi` y la` dde^. tu+? pha'i na`y, dda~ ho.c ddu+o+.c vo~ co^ng ro^`i. Giu+~a lu'c na`y Chie^u-Hie^'u tha'i ha^.u kha'm pha' ra cuo^.c vu.ng tro^.m giu+~a Anh-Vu~ vo+'i con da^u mi`nh la` Ca?m-Tha'nh tha'i ha^.u. Mao Khie^m ba('t ddu+o+.c di.p ba(`ng va`ng, dde^? ga^y co^ng pha^~n ta.i trie^`u ddi`nh DDa.i-Vie^.t ba(`ng ca'ch a'm sa't Chie^u-Hie^'u tha'i ha^.u. Trong trie^`u, ngoa`i da~, ai cu~ng ba?o Anh-Vu~ gie^'t chi..

DDe^? ga^y the^m va^y ca'nh, Mao Khie^m thu the^m hai dde^. tu+? nu+~a la` Vu+o+ng Nha^'t va` Cao Phi.. Y la.i xin Anh-Vu~ ho?i hai ngu+o+`i cha'u go.i Thie^n-Ca?m tha'i ha^.u ba(`ng co^ la` Le^ Ca?m-Linh, Le^ Ca?m-Chi cho hai dde^. tu+? mi`nh. Thie^n-Ca?m tha'i ha^.u cho ca? bo^'n ngu+o+`i va`o o+? trong cung cu?a ba`. DDe^? to? ra vie^.c la`m cu?a mi`nh, cu~ng ddi theo chi'nh dda.o nhu+ Linh-Nha^n hoa`ng tha'i ha^.u (Y?-Lan) tho+`i tru+o+'c, dda~ ban my~ danh cho Long-bie^n ngu~ hu`ng, Ta^y-ho^` tha^'t kie^.t; ba` ban cho Vu+o+ng Nha^'t, Cao Phi, DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o my~ danh Nu`ng-so+n tam anh, va` Ca?m-Linh, Ca?m-Chi my~ danh To^-li.ch nhi. tie^n. Kho^ng may cho Anh-Vu~, giu+~a lu'c y say quye^`n ha`nh, ddi.nh cu+o+'p ngo^i, y bi' ma^.t nho+` Mao Khie^m le^n ddu+o+`ng ve^` To^'ng ta^u xin Thie^.u-Hu+ng dde^', phong vu+o+ng cho y; thi` Co^i-so+n song u+ng gie^'t ca? nha` Anh-Vu~. Trong dde^m ddo', Mao Khie^m thi` ddang o+? be^n To^'ng, co`n ca'c dde^. tu+? cu?a Mao dde^`u o+? trong cung Ca?m-Tha'nh, ba(`ng kho^ng se~ co' cuo^.c long tranh, ho^? dda^'u.

Khi la^m trie^`u nghe tra^`n ta^'u ve^` vie^.c Anh-Vu~ bi. gie^'t, Ca?m-Tha'nh tha'i ha^.u tuye^.t kho^ng ngo+` nha` vua vo+'i Hoa`ng-ha^.u la.i ra tay kie^`m che^' he^'t ca'c quan thuo^.c phe dda?ng Anh-Vu~. Bi. ba^'t ngo+`, ba` tha^'t ba.i trong cho^'c la't. Tro+? ve^` cung, la^.p tu+'c ba` ddie^`u ddo^.ng Nu`ng-so+n tam anh, To^-li.ch nhi. tie^n pha?n co^ng. Ca'c quan thuo^.c dda?ng Anh-Vu~ ddu+o+.c tha? ra, mu+o+`i ta'm vo~ si~ cu?a hoa`ng-ha^.u bi. kie^`m che^' ro^`i bi. gie^'t. Nha` vua, hoa`ng-ha^.u bi. giam lo?ng. Hoa`ng-ha^.u bi. tru'ng Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng, hoa`n toa`n khua^'t phu.c tha'i-ha^.u.

Giu+~a lu'c ddo' thi` Cao Khie^m tro+? ve^` vo+'i mo^.t su+' ddoa`n. Cha'nh su+' cu~ng nhu+ pho' su+' la` hai dda.i tha^`n, va(n vo~ kie^m toa`n, mu+u tri' tru`m hoa`n vu~. Ca? hai ngu+o+`i dde^`u la` cao thu? vo~ la^m danh tra^'n Hoa-ha.. Trong hai ngu+o+`i na`y, thi` pho' su+' la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i no^?i danh dde^. nha^'t my~ nam tu+? cu?a Trung-nguye^n. Tha'i-ha^.u tha^'y y la` que^n ngay Anh-Vu~. Ba` say me^ y dde^'n ddie^n dda?o tha^`n ho^`n. Ba^'t cu+' y no'i gi` ba` cu~ng nha^'t nha^'t nghe theo. Y cu`ng cha'nh su+' tha^'y lu+.c lu+o+.ng nha` vua qu'a ye^'u. Ne^'u nhu+ tha'i-ha^.u phe^' nha` vua, e ra(`ng phe trung tha`nh vo+'i nha` vua bi. dde` be.p de^~ da`ng. Ho. thie^'t ke^' pha?i la`m sao cho phe nha` vua ma.nh le^n ddo^i chu't, ro^`i mo+'i xui tha'i-ha^.u trua^'t phe^'. Tha'i-ha^.u trua^'t phe^' nha` vua, thi` qua^`n tha^`n cho^'ng ddo^'i. Di~ nhie^n ba^'y gio+` se~ co' no^.i chie^'n. DDo+.i cho hai co.p ca('n nhau, tinh lu+.c quo^'c gia ye^'u ddi. To^'ng chi? vie^.c ddem mo^.t dda.o qua^n nho? sang, la` chie^'m ddu+o+.c DDa.i-Vie^.t. Chi'nh vi` va^.y ma` hai na(m qua, vie^n pho' su+' kie^`m che^' Tha'i-ha^.u, khi thi` ba(`ng ti`nh ca?m, khi thi` ba(`ng thuye^'t phu.c, xui ba` dde^? cho nha` vua la`m mo^.t so^' vie^.c nhu+ chi?nh ddo^'n ho.c phong, khuye^'n khi'ch no^ng tang, ta'i to^? chu+'c mu+o+`i hai hie^.u Thie^n-tu+? binh. Mo^.t ma(.t yi~ xui tha'i-ha^.u to^? chu+'c trhi.-ve^., trie^`u ddi`nh rie^ng, khie^'n co^ng kho^' kha'nh kie^.t, ma` hi`nh tha`nh ddu+o+.c hai lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddo^'i kha'ng nhau, ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o cu~ng co' the^? xa^?y ra chie^'n tranh.

Ba^y gio+`, tha'i-ha^.u cu`ng ho. Le^ cu?a ba`., ho. DDo^~ vo+'i du+ dda?ng cu?a Anh-Vu~; ca`ng lo^.ng quye^`n ho+n tru+o+'c. Ma^.t su+' khuye^n ba`:

Ba` cu~ng nhu+ to^ng to^.c ho. Le^, ho. DDo^~ dde^`u la^m the^' co+~i co.p, kho^ng the^? xuo^'ng ddu+o+.c nu+~a. Ca'i gu+o+ng tho+`i tie^`n Ha'n, La~ ha^.u va` ho. La~ chuye^n quye^`n, sau khi La~ ha^.u ba(ng, to^ng tha^'t nha` Ha'n, cu`ng qua^`n tha^`n tru die^.t ba ho. nha` ha^.u cu~ng nhu+ phe dda?ng. Mo^.t lie^`u, ba ba^?y cu~ng lie^`u, ba` ne^n vu cho nha` vua bi. be^.nh, ba('t ddi tu. Sau ddo' ba('t chu+o+'c tha'i-ha^.u Du+o+ng Va^n-Nga phe^' con trai la` DDinh Toa`n, nhu+o+`ng ngo^i cho ti`nh qua^n la` Le^ Hoa`n ; ba` la^.p vie^n pho' su+' le^n la`m vua. Ba^'y gio+` To^'ng kho^ng ca^`n ba('n mo^.t mu~i te^n, dda'nh mo^.t chie^u vo~, ma` chie^'m ddu+o+.c DDa.i-Vie^.t . Hie^.n tha'i-ha^.u va` phe dda?ng ddang chua^?n bi. la`m vie^.c ddo' va`o cuo^'i na(m.

Nghe Quang-Anh thua^.t, Long-Xu+o+?ng cu~ng nhu+ vo+. cho^`ng Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n dde^`u kinh ho^`n ddo^.ng pha'ch. Lan-Chi than:

_ Tu+` tru+o+'c dde^'n gio+`, vo~ la^m DDa.i-Vie^.t dda~ nghe bie^'t nhu+~ng ddie^`u o^ ue^' trong hoa`ng to^.c, ngu+o+`i ngu+o+`i dde^`u tu+o+?ng ra(`ng dda^y cha(?ng qua la` chuye^.n to^`i ba.i cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i dda`n ba` ngu ddo^.n, tham da^m ma` tho^i. Cho ne^n ca'c to^n su+ dde^`u khuye^n dde^. tu+? ddu+'ng ngoa`i, kho^ng can thie^.p va`o. Ba^y gio+` co' ba ddie^`u kho^ng ai co' the^? bo? qua. Mo^.t la`, Mao Khie^m vo+'i dde^. tu+? du`ng Huye^`n-a^m co^ng sa't ha.i Kha'nh-Hy? dda.i su+, Nghi-Ho`a su+ tha'i, dda.i hie^.p DDa(.ng Phi-So+n. Du+o+`ng nhu+ To^'ng muo^'n co' ta^'t ca? bi' lu.c vo~ la^m DDa.i-Vie^.t, ro^`i nghie^n cu+'u ra pha' ca'ch, nhu+ va^.y, thi` vi~nh vie^~n DDa.i-Vie^.t kho^ng giu+~ no^?i nu+o+'c nu+~a. Tha^m thu+.c, ma` cu~ng ddo^.c thu+.c. Hai la`, chu'ng du`ng my~ nam tu+? lung la.c Ca?m-Tha'nh tha'i ha^.u, du`ng Huye^`n-a^m ddo^.c chu+o+?ng kie^`m che^' hoa`ng-ha^.u...dde^? mu+u ddo^` ddem qua^n To^'ng va`o DDa.i-Vie^.t. Ba la`, su+' ddoa`n ma^.t cu?a To^'ng dda~ va`o DDa.i-Vie^.t tu+` la^u, mu+u ddo^` chie^'m nu+o+'c. Ne^'u vo~ la^m kho^ng mau ra tay, thi` ca'i ho.a ma^'t nu+o+'c kho' tra'nh.

Ba` ho?i cho^`ng:

_ O^ng nghi~ sao?

_ Ta kho^ng the^? giu'p nha` vua die^.t phe tha'i-ha^.u, vi` la`m nhu+ the^', se~ co' no^.i chie^'n, vo^ ti`nh tru'ng ke^' bo.n To^'ng. Ta pha?i ha`nh ddo^.ng thu+.c khe'o, gie^'t che^'t he^'t bo.n tha^`y tro` Mao Khie^m, ta`n sa't bo.n su+' ddoa`n To^'ng vo+'i cha^n tay cu?a tha'i-ha^.u. Nhu+ va^.y bo.n ngoa.i thi'ch ho. Le^, ho. DDo^~ nhu+ ra('n ma^'t dda^`u, chi? ca^`n mo^.t to+` chie^'u chi?, ba('t ddem cha(.t dda^`u la` xong.

Ba` than :

_ Co' mo^.t ddie^`u ra^'t kho' xu+?. Vi` ba?n li~nh Mao Khie^m cao tha^m kho^ng bie^'t dda^u ma` lu+o+`ng. DDe^'n Kha'nh-Hy?, Nghi-Ho`a, DDa(.ng Phi-So+n co`n bi. ma^'t ma.ng ve^` tay y thi` ta kho^ng pha?i la` ddi.ch thu? cu?a y ma^'t ro^`i. Ho+n nu+~a, y la` dde^. tu+? cu?a the^' tu+? Vi.-Hoa`ng, tu+'c su+ dde^. cu?a chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i DDo^ng-a Tra^`n Tu+.-Kinh. Vi' du` ba?n la~nh ta co' cao ho+n y, thi` lua^.t le^. vo~ la^m kho^ng cho ta gie^'t y. Ta chi? co' the^? ca'o vo+'i pha'i DDo^ng-a dde^? ho. tu+. thanh ly' mo^n ho^. ma` tho^i.

O^ng to? ve? cu+o+ng quye^'t :

_ Ca'i kho' kha(n nha^'t do ta kho^ng bie^'t cha'nh, pho' su+' To^'ng la` ai? Su+' ddoa`n co' bao nhie^u ngu+o+`i? Ngay ba^y gio+` tro+? ve^`, tha'i-tu+? pha?i xu+? du.ng Khu-ma^.t vie^.n, dde^? ti`m cho ra bo.n chu'ng.

Long-Xu+o+?ng to? ve? tu+. tin:

_ Nhi. vi. ye^n ta^m. Tie^?u bo^'i dda~ na('m cha('c Khu-ma^.t vie^.n ro^`i.

_ Tha'i tu+? na('m nhu+ the^' na`o?

Thu'c-Ca^?n ho?i: Lie^.u nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ddo' co' tin ddu+o+c kho^ng?

_ Tru+o+'c kia Khu-ma^.t vie^.n do DDo^~ Anh-Vu~ kie^m nhie^.m. Tu+` khi y che^'t ro^`i, thi` Tha'i-su+ Lu+u Kha'nh-DDa`m ta.m thay the^'. Nay tie^?u bo^'i dda~ xin phu. hoa`ng tha(ng Ba?o-Ninh ha^`u Ly' Long-Can le^n chu+'c Phie^u-ki. thu+o+.ng tu+o+'ng qua^n, qua?n Khu-ma^.t vie^.n.

_ DDu+o+.c dda^'y. O^ng na`y vu+`a co' ta`i, la.i trung tha`nh.

_ Trong Khu-ma^.t vie^.n co' ba ty. Ty Pho`ng-ngu+. do Binh-bo^. dda?m tra'ch. Tru+o+'c dda^y tru+o+?ng ty la` Trung-vu~ thu+o+.ng tu+o+'ng qua^n Chu Co^ng-Chi'nh vo^'n thuo^.c du+ dda?ng cu?a DDo^~ Anh-Vu~. Tie^?u bo^'i dda~ ta^u phu. hoa`ng tha(ng cho y le^n chu+'c Tuye^n-vu~ tra^'n Thanh-ho'a; la^'y Long-nhu+o+ng thu+o+.ng tu+o+'ng qua^n Lu+u Kha'nh-Bi`nh, con cu?a Tha'i-su+ Lu+u Kha'nh-DDa`m thay the^'.

_ Hay la('m. Tu+` nay bao nhie^u chi'nh le^.nh ban ra cho ca'c dda.o qua^n, la.i la` ngu+o+`i tha^m ti`nh cu?a tha'i-tu+?. Nhu+ va^.y ta na('m cha('c qua^n ca'c tra^'n trong tay. Co`n ty No^.i-sa't. Ty na`y la` tai, la` ma('t cu?a DDa.i-Vie^.t dda^y.

_ Ty No^.i-sa't , tru+o+'c kia do con trai DDo^~ Anh-Vu~ la` DDo^~ Anh-Hu`ng dda?m tra'ch. Sau khi y bi. Co^i-so+n song u+ng gie^'t che^'t, ty na`y do La.i-bo^. thu+o+.ng thu+ DDo^~ An-Di, em cu?a DDo^~ tha^`n phi kie^m nhie^.m. Co`n ty quan tro.ng nha^'t la` ty Ma^.t-su+., tru+o+'c kia do To^ Hie^'n-Tha`nh kie^m nhie^.m. Tie^?u bo^'i mo+'i ta^u phu. hoa`ng tha(ng cho o^ng ta le^n la`m Long-tha`nh tie^'t ddo^. su+', va` cu+? Ta?-thie^n ngu+u-ve^. thu+o+.ng tu+o+'ng qua^n Ta(ng Quo^'c le^n thay. Ta(ng Quo^'c la` cho^`ng cu?a nhu~ ma^~u. Nhu+ nhi. vi. tie^`n bo^'i bie^'t, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ngo^`i o+? Khu-ma^.t vie^.n bo^?ng lo^.c kho^ng co', la.i de^~ bi. mang ho.a. Ne^n nay To^ Hie^'n-Tha`nh, Chu Co^ng-Chi'nh ddu+o+.c tha(ng chu+'c lo+'n, ddu+o+.c cu+? va`o nhu+~ng chu+'c vu. be'o bo+?, thi` mu+`ng la('m. Tha'i ha^.u kho^ng nhi`n ra ke^' sa'ch cu?a tie^?u bo^'i, ne^n vui ve? ra ma(.t.

_ To^i ye^n ta^m.

Thu'c-Ca^?n tie^'p: Ca'i vie^.c quan tro.ng la` gie^'t te^n Mao Khie^m , vo+'i die^.t su+' ddoa`n. Su+. dda~ nhu+ the^' na`y, thi` ta pha?i ca'o vo+'i chu+o+?ng mo^n nha^n na(m dda.i mo^n pha'i, dde^? ha`nh ddo^.ng chung, ha^`u tra'nh hie^`m khi'ch vo+'i nhau.

The^' ro^`i ba ngu+o+`i ba`n ddi.nh vo+'i nhau ma~i dde^'n chie^`u mo+'i du+'t. Thu'c-Ca^`n no'i :

_ Tha'i-tu+? cu+' ye^n ta^m ve^` DDo^ng-cung giu+~ ki'n mo.i vie^.c dda~ xa^?y ra. Vi` chi? ca^`n lo^. ra ra(`ng ta bie^'t ro~ mu+u gian cu?a bo.n ngoa.i thi'ch ho. Le^, ho. DDo^~, thi` la^.p tu+'c chu'ng pha?i ha`nh su+. ngay. Nhu+ va^.y, thi` no^.i chie^'n e kho' tra'nh. Co`n te^n DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o, chu'ng to^i co' ca'ch kie^`m che^' no'.

O^ng ghe' mie^.ng va`o tai Long-Xu+o+?ng thi` tha^`m mo^.t lu'c. Kho^ng bie^'t o^ng no'i nhu+~ng gi`, ma` chi? tha^'y Long-Xu+o+?ng mi?m cu+o+`i, ga^.t dda^`u lie^n tie^'p. Cuo^'i cu`ng o^ng trao cho Long-Xu+o+?ng ca'i bi`nh nho?, trong ddu+.ng ta'm vie^n thuo^'c, da(.n ra(`ng :

_ DDa^y la` thuo^'c gia?i Huye^`n-a^m chu+o+?ng. Tha'i-tu+? ve^` da^ng le^n hoa`ng-ha^.u. Tuy ha^.u ddu+o+.c tri. be^.nh, nhu+ng va^~n gia? nga^y, gia? da.i, so+. se^.t tha'i-ha^.u dde^? ba` kho^ng dde^` pho`ng, ta mo+'i de^~ ha`nh ddo^.ng.

Long-Xu+o+?ng, cu`ng tu`y tu`ng tu+` bie^.t Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n, Ngo^ Chi-Lan va` vo+. cho^`ng DDa`o Duy, ro^`i tro+? ve^` Tha(ng-long.