Khi hai con thuye^`n ke` ma.n va`o nhau, thi` tu+` be^n con thuye^`n ddinh, ba tie^~n thu? ban na~y, cu`ng ga~ thuye^`n tru+o+?ng, tay ca^`m tru+o+`ng kie^'m tung mi`nh qua con thuye^`n Nha^'t-Lie^~u. Bo^'n ngu+o+`i na`y dde^`u ma(.c qua^`n dden, a'o dda.o si~ gio^'ng nhau, nhu+ng mang bo^'n ma^`u kha'c nhau : Tra('ng, dden, xanh, ho^`ng. Ga~ thuye^`n tru+o+?ng ma(.c a'o tra('ng.

La~o Nha^'t-Lie^~u ru't trung bo.c ra mo^.t chie^'c tu` va` ro^`i tho^?i le^n tu tu. La^.p tu+'c trong ca'c khoang thuye^`n cu?a la~o xua^'t hie^.n hai ddo^.i vo~ si~ ddo^`ng phu.c, mo^.t tay ca^`m mo^.c che tha^n, mo^.t tay ca^`m ddao, mau cho'ng da`n ra tre^n sa`n thuye^`n.

DDo^'i vo+'i Thu?-Huy, Xu+o+ng-Long, la~o Nha^'t-Lie^~u to? ra le^~ phe'p, li.ch su+. bao nhie^u thi` ddo^'i vo+'i dda'm ngu+o+`i tre^n thuye^`n ddinh, la~o to? ra ha'ch di.ch ba^'y nhie^u. La~o qua't:

_ Ca'c ngu+o+`i la` ai? Ta.i sao con thuye^`n lo+'n nhu+ the^' kia ma` la.i kho^ng co' ba?ng te^n?

Ga~ dda.o si~ ma(.c a'o tra('ng cu+o+`i nha.t:

_ Hu+`! Thuye^`n ta co' ba?ng te^n hay kho^ng, cu~ng kho^ng dde^'n ca'i ba?n ma(.t nhu+ mi ho?i dde^'n.

Mo^.t ngu+o+`i ddu+'ng tre^n dda`i chi? huy, tha^n the^? hu`ng vi~. Tuo^?i y tuy lo+'n, nhu+ng ma(.t dde.p, ca(`m vuo^ng, tu+ tha'i phong lu+u. Thu+.c la` mo^.t my~ nam tu+?, tro^ng ga~ nhu+ ca^y ngo.c tru+o+'c gio'.

Ga~ chi? va`o ma(.t vie^n la'i thuye^`n vo+'i Thu?-Huy:

_ Na`y la~o gia` Nha^'t-Lie^~u kia, ai thi` la~o co' the^? ra oai ddu+o+.c, chu+' ddo^'i vo+'i ta thi` mi ddu+`ng ho`ng. Ta truye^`n le^.nh cho mi pha?i ddem no^.p hai te^n na`y dde^? ta tru+`ng pha.t, ba(`ng kho^ng thi` ta se~ la`m thi.t he^'t bo.n mi.

Thu?-Huy ba`n vo+'i Nha^'t-Lie^~u:

_ Tie^`n bo^'i, du+o+`ng nhu+ bo.n na`y chu? ta^m ga^y vo+'i ta tu+` tru+o+'c thi` pha?i, chu+' kho^ng hoa`n toa`n do vie^.c la'i thuye^`n dda^u. Vi` la~o thuye^`n tru+o+?ng bie^'t te^n tie^`n bo^'i. Mi`nh pha?i co' ca'ch na`o dde^? kho?i ddo^? ma'u thi` hay ho+n.

Tu+` trong khoang thuye^`n ddinh, mo^.t trung nie^n nam tu+?, trong y phu.c dda.o si~ khoan thai bu+o+'c ra. DDa.o si~ tha?n nhie^n nhi`n hai be^n tranh ca~i, gio^'ng nhu+ ngu+o+`i ngoa`i cuo^.c va^.y.

Nha^'t-Lie^~u no'i vo+'i Thu?-Huy:

_ DDu'ng nhu+ thie^'u hie^.p ba`n. La~o se~ co' ca'ch ddo^'i pho'.

La~o bu+o+'c ra ddu+'ng ddo^'i die^.n vo+'i dda'm ngu+o+`i thuye^`n ddinh:

_ Ta.i ha. la` Tha^.p-ba't Nha^'t-Lie^~u xin ddu+o+.c bie^'t cao danh quy' ti'nh cu?a chu+ vi.?

_ Ta la` ta!

Ga~ dda.o si~ a'o tra('ng chi? ma(.t Nha^'t-Lie^~u : Ca'i ba?n ma(.t nhu+ mi, kho^ng ddu? tu+ ca'ch ho?i te^n ta. Ne^'u mi muo^'n de^~ da`ng xu+ng ho^, thi` cu+' go.i ta la`u. Ngo.c-hoa`ng DDa.i-dde^' cu~ng ddu+o+.c.

No'i vu+`a du+'t thi` y xe.t to+'i, vung tay chu.p tha(`ng Cu, ro^`i tung mi`nh tro+? la.i. Tha^n pha'p, thu? pha'p cu?a y nhanh kho^ng the^? tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng ddu+o+.c. Nha^'t-Lie^~u qua't le^n:

_ DDe^? ngu+o+`i la.i!

Ro^`i ra chie^u U+ng-tra?o chu.p ddo^'i thu?. DDa.o si~ a'o tra('ng tra^`m ngu+o+`i xuo^'ng tra'nh, vung tay tra'i dda^?y ve^` sau mo^.t chu+o+?ng. Nha^'t-Lie^~u vo^.i bie^'n tra?o thanh chu+o+?ng ddo+~. Bu`ng mo^.t tie^'ng, ngu+o+`i Nha^'t-Lie^~u la?o dda?o ba^.t lui la.i sau ba bu+o+'c. La~o o.e mo^.t tie^'ng, ro^`i nho^? ra mo^.t bu'ng ma'u. DDa.o si~ a'o tra('ng cu+o+`i nha.t:

_ Ta mo+'i va^.n co' ba tha`nh co^ng lu+.c.

Nha^'t-Lie^~u bie^'t ddo^'i thu? no'i thu+.c, la~o va^~y tay mo^.t ca'i, hai ddo^.i vo~ si~ ddo^`ng phu.c cu`ng mu'a ddao ta^'n co^ng ga~ thuye^`n tru+o+?ng thuye^`n ddinh. La^.p tu+'c ga~ a'o tra('ng cu`ng ba vo~ si~ a'o dden, xanh, ho^`ng vung kie^'m nha?y ra ca?n la.i. Tuy chi? co' bo^'n ngu+o+`i, mo^.t ngu+o+`i pha?i dda^'u vo+'i na(m, nhu+ng ddo^.i vo~ si~ a'o dden va^~n co' ve? tha('ng the^'. Thoa'ng mo^.t ca'i, hai mu+o+i vo~ si~ cu?a Nha^'t-Lie^~u bi. dda'nh bay xuo^'ng so^ng, bo+i lo'p ngo'p, nhu+ng kho^ng co' ngu+o+`i na`o bi. gie^'t ca?.

Thu?-Huy nha^.n ra bo.n vo~ si~ thuye^`n ddinh xu+? du.ng vo~ co^ng Hoa-so+n be^n Trung-nguye^n.

DDa.o si~ a'o tra('ng tung mi`nh dde^'n be^n Xu+o+ng-Long, ro^`i pha't chie^u Long-tra?o chu.p vu+o+ng. Nha^'t-Lie^~u, Thu?-Huy qua't le^n:

_ Ngu+`ng tay!

Ca? hai ngu+o+`i cu`ng pha't chu+o+?ng ta^'n co^ng y, dde^? y pha?i thu tay ve^` tu+. cu+'u mi`nh. Nhu+ng ga~ va^.n co^ng chi.u chu+o+?ng cu?a Thu?-Huy, co`n tay tra'i ga.t chu+o+?ng cu?a Nha^'t-Lie^~u. Bi`nh, bi`nh hai tie^'ng. Nha^'t-Lie^~u ba^.t tung la.i sau, lu+ng la~o ddu.ng va`o ca'nh cu+?a buo^`ng la'i dde^'n ra^`m mo^.t tie^'ng. Co`n Thu?-Huy thi` ca?m tha^'y tro+`i long dda^'t lo+?.

DDa.o si~ a'o tra('ng dde^? tay le^n dda^`u Xu+o+ng-Long ro^`i cu+o+`i nha.t:

_ Ha`! Ha`, Hie^?n-Trung vu+o+ng. Kho^ng ngo+` ho^m nay ngu+o+`i la.i lo.t va`o tay ta. Pha`m thu+'c tho+`i mo+'i la` tua^'n kie^.t. Vu+o+ng gia mau ra le^.nh cho ga~ ddo^ ddo^'c Nha^'t-Lie^~u vo+'i dda'm qua^n to^m te'p cu?a y ngoan ngoa~n dda^`u ha`ng. Ba(`ng kho^ng ta nha? ki`nh lu+.c thi` dda^`u vu+o+ng gia se~ vo+~ lie^`n.

So+. Xu+o+ng-Long bu+o+'ng bi?nh, thi` uo^?ng ma.ng vo^ i'ch, Thu?-Huy le^n tie^'ng:

_ DDa.i ca! DDu+`ng che^'t dduo^'i trong lo^~ cha^n tra^u. Chu'ng ta chu+a bie^'t ho. la` ai, thi` ha~y ta.m tu`ng quye^`n. Kho^?ng-tu+? co`n pha?i chiu. ddo'i o+? nu+o+'c Tra^`n ma`.

Qu?a Long-Xu+o+?ng ddi.nh bu+o+'ng thu+.c, nhu+ng nghe lo+`i Thu?-Huy, vu+o+ng vo^.i no'i vo+'i Nha^'t-Lie^~u:

_ Nha^'t-Lie^~u tie^n sinh! Thi` ra tie^n sinh la` ddo^ ddo^'c Ly' Tha^`n, chi? huy ha.m ddo^.i A^u-Co+ dda^'y. Tie^n sinh no'i do^'i ta tu+` so+'m to+'i gio+`. Ke^? ra gan ddo^ ddo^'c cu~ng lo+'n thu+.c.

_ DDie^.n ha. minh gia'm, tha^`n dda~ xu+ng te^n vo+'i ddie^.n ha. ro^`i ma`.

Long-Xu+o+?ng ti?nh ngo^., nghi~ tha^`m:

_ U+` nhi?! Ha('n cha(?ng xu+ng la` Tha^.p ba't tu+? no^ ddo' sao? Tha^.p ba't tu+? la` chu+~ Ly'. No^ la` tha^`n tu+?. Thi` ra la~o dda~ xu+ng la` tha^`n tu+? ho. Ly' nha` mi`nh.

Long-Xu+o+?ng tuye^n chi?:

_ DDo^ ddo^'c ha~y le^.nh cho tu`y to`ng kho^ng ddu+o+.c vo.ng ddo^.ng.

Thu?-Huy kinh nga.c ho?i Xu+o+ng-Long:

_ DDa.i ca! Ca'i gi` la` Hie^?n-Trung vu+o+ng? DDa.i ca la` tha^n vu+o+ng ddo' sao?

Ga~ ma(.t dde.p cu+o+`i nha.t:

_ Na`y chu' be' nha` que^ kia o+i! Chu' dda~ ke^'t huynh dde^. vo+'i tha'i-tu+? Ly' Long-Xu+o+?ng, tu+o+'c phong Hie^?n-Trung vu+o+ng, con trai dda^`u lo`ng cu?a vua Giao-chi? ma` chu' kho^ng bie^'t. Ho^m nay y lo.t va`o tay ta, nhu+ng ta kho^ng gie^'t y dda^u. Co' ddie^`u ta pha?i giu+~ y la`m mo'n ha`ng. Ne^'u chu' bie^'t ddie^`u thi` ngoan ngoa~n ddi theo ha^`u ha. y, ta se~ da`nh cho chu' chu't i't lo+.i lo^.c. Co`n nhu+ chu' cu+' do+? ma^'y chie^u vo~ me`o ca`o cu?a chu' ra, thi` ta se~ gie^'t y, chu+' kho^ng gie^'t chu' dda^u.

Bo^~ng y nga^y ngu+o+`i ra, chau ma`y to? ve? dda('n ddo suy nghi~, ro^`i no'i mo^.t mi`nh:

_ Chie^u Va^n- hoa`nh Ta^`n-li~nh sao la.i tra^`m tro.ng nhu+ va^.y nhi?? Ro~ ra`ng chie^u so^' thi` la` chie^u so^' Hoa-so+n, nhu+ng sao no^.i co^ng la.i kho^ng hoa`n toa`n gio^'ng no^.i co^ng Hoa-so+n?

Y quay la.i ho?i Thu?-Huy:

_ Na`y chu' be', pha?i cha(ng su+ phu. chu' la` ngu+o+`i cu?a pha'i Hoa-so+n be^n Trung-nguye^n? Cao danh quy' ti'nh cu?a chu' la` gi` ? Su+ thu+`a la` ai ?

Thu?-Huy nghi~ ra^'t nhanh:

_ Tu+` ga~ thuye^`n tru+o+?ng cho dde^'n bo.n vo~ si~ dde^`u du`ng vo~ co^ng Hoa-so+n be^n Trung-quo^'c. Tie^'ng no'i cu?a y la.i lo+ lo+', thi` co' le~ chu'ng la` kha'ch thu+o+ng ngu+o+`i Hoa dda^y. Y tu+o+?ng ta la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n, thi` ta cu+' nha^.n bu+`a, dde^? y la^`m la^~n cho+i cho bo~ ghe't.

Nghi~ va^.y no' tra? lo+`i:

_ Hoa-so+n thi` dda~ sao. To^i ho. Tra^`n te^n Thu?-Huy. To^i kho^ng co' su+ phu.. To^i ho.c vo~ vo+'i o^ng no^.i to^i.

DDa'm thu? ha. cu?a Nha^'t-Lie^~u dda~ ddu+o+.c vo+'t le^n thuye^`n. Tu+` dda^`u dde^'n cuo^'i, dda.o si~ kho^ng no'i, kho^ng ra(`ng, ba^y gio+` y mo+'i le^n tie^'ng :

_ Pha?i cha(ng chu' em la` ddo^` tu+? ddo^` to^n cu?a Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m ?

Thu?-Huy bie^'t Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m la` bo^'n cao thu? ba^.c nha^'t cu?a Trung-nguye^n ga^`n tra(m na(m tru+o+'c. Va`o tho+`i vua Ly' Nha^n-to^ng be^n DDa.i-Vie^.t, be^n Trung-nguye^n la` ddo+`i vua To^'ng Tha^`n-to^ng. Ba^'y gio+` vua Tha^`n-to^ng nha` To^'ng du`ng Ta^n-pha'p cu?a Vu+o+ng An-Tha.ch, la`m cho Trung-nguye^n tro+? tha`nh hu`ng ma.nh, quo^'c sa?n du+ thu+`a. Nha` vua co' y' dda'nh chie^'m ba nu+o+'c hu`ng ma.nh xung quanh. Ba('c la` Lie^u, Ta^y la` Ha., Nam la` DDa.i-Vie^.t. Vi` Lie^u e'p To^'ng ca('t dda^'t , co^'ng va`ng lu.a. Ha. thi` ba^'t kho^ng chi.u xu+ng tha^`n, ddem qua^n pha.m ca.nh. DDa.i-Vie^.t thi` nhie^`u la^`n xua^'t qua^n vu+o+.t bie^n e'p To^'ng. DDu'ng ra nha` vua ddo+.i cho Ta^n-pha'p thi ha`nh tre^n mu+o+`i la(m na(m, ro^`i mo+'i ra binh. Nhu+ng trong chi'n na(m thi ha`nh, Ta^n-pha'p bi. ca'c Nho-tha^`n, danh si~ cho^'ng ddo^'i qua'. Vu+o+ng An-Tha.ch ba`n vo+'i nha` vua ddem qua^n dda'nh chie^'m DDa.i-Vie^.t, dde^? da(`e^n ma(.t ca'i ma^`m cho^'ng ddo^'i no^.i bo^.. Cuo^.c chua^?n bi. cu+.c ky` tinh vi, trong ddo' co' vie^.c nha` vua khua^'t tha^n thi?nh ta^'t ca? ca'c dda.i to^n su+ vo~ la^m Trung-quo^'c theo giu'p ; ro^`i cu+? Qua'ch Quy` la`m cha'nh tu+o+'ng, Trie^.u Tie^'t la`m pho' tu+o+'ng, ddem 40 va.n chi'nh binh, 60 va.n ba?o binh, da^n phu dda'nh DDa.i-Vie^.t. Ca'c danh mo^n dde^`u cu+? nhu+~ng dda.i cao thu? theo trong qua^n. Pha'i Thie^'u-la^m gu+?i Tha^.p dda.i tha^`n ta(ng, pha'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch cu+? Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng, pha'i Lie^u-DDo^ng cu+? Lie^u-DDo^ng tam ma, pha'i Hoa-so+n cu+? Tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m. Nhu+ng ca'c cao thu? dde^`u bi. vo~ la^m DDa.i-Vie^.t dda'nh ba.i. Lie^u-DDo^ng tam ma bi. gie^'t. Tha^.p dda.i tha^`n ta(ng bi. hai Bo^`-ta't Minh-Kho^ng, DDa.o-Ha.nh, tie^n nu+o+ng Ba?o-Ho`a ba('t so^'ng o+? Nhu+-nguye^.t. Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng bi. pho` ma~ Tha^n Thie^.u-Tha'i vo+'i co^ng chu'a Bi`nh-Du+o+ng ba('t o+? Ye^n-du~ng. Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m bi. Mo^.c-to^`n, Vie^n-Chie^'u ho`a thu+o+.ng ca^`m tu` o+? Kha'o-tu'c. Sau chie^'n tranh, duy Tha^.p dda.i tha^`n ta(ng ddu+o+.c tha ve^`. Co`n Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m vo+'i Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng bi. Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng ca^`m tu` ca? ddo+`i o+? Thie^n-tru+o+`ng (Xin ddo.c Nam-quo^'c so+n ha` cu?a Ye^n-tu+? cu+ si~ do DDa.i-Nam Hoa-ky` xua^'t ba?n).

Tuy bie^'t va^.y nhu+ng Thu?-Huy va^~n la`m bo^. nhu+ kho^ng bie^'t :

_ DDa.o su+ la^?m ca^?m ro^`i. Ta.i sao la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n la.i cu+' pha?i la` ddo^` tu+? ddo^` to^n cu?a Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m ?

DDa.o si~ ca`ng to? ra kha'ch khi' :

_ Ne^'u ddu'ng chu' la` dde^. tu+? pha'i Hoa-so+n, thi` chu' co' bie^'t chie^u na`y kho^ng?

No'i ro^`i y ru't kie^'m dda'nh lie^`n hai chie^u DDo^.c-ti'ch Hoa-so+n, Thu+o+ng-tu`ng nghe^nh kha'ch. Thu?-Huy mi?m cu+o+`i, no' nghi~ tha^`m:

_ DDa^y la` ba`i kie^'m tra^'n mo^n cu?a pha'i Hoa-so+n. DDo^'i vo+'i ai thi` no' huye^`n a?o, chu+' ddo^'i vo+'i ta thi` kho^ng co' gi` la` la. ca?. U+`, sao chie^u thu+'c y dda'nh ra la.i chi? bie^'n ho'a co' hai ba^.c, trong khi thu+.c su+. bie^'n dde^'n bo^'n ba^.c? DDa~ va^.i~y, ta dda'nh hai chie^u tie^'p hai chie^u DDo^.c ti'ch Hoa-so+n vo+'i Thu+o+ng tu`ng nghe^nh kha'ch vo+'i dda^`y ddu? bie^'n ho'a cho la~o ddie^n dda^`u cho+i.

No' cung tay hu+o+'ng te^n thu? ha. ma(.c a'o tra('ng cu?a dda.o si~ :

_ Xin dda.i huynh cho mu+o+.n kie^'m ?

Ga~ a'o tra('ng ddu+a ma('t nhi`n dda.o si~ nhu+ ho?i y' kie^'n. DDa.o-si~ ga^.t dda^`u. Ga~ trao kie^'m cho Thu?-Huy.

Thu?-Huy ru't kie^'m dda'nh hai chie^u So+n dda^`u tu`y phong va` chie^u La.c-nha.n thu pha^n, hai chie^u bie^'n tha`nh bo^'n, tu+'c bie^'n ho'a ba^.c hai, ro^`i mie^.ng ddo.c quye^'t :

Khi' tra^`m ddo+n ddie^`n,
Ta^m hu+ ba^'t ddo^.ng,
Tu+. To^'n chuye^?n Ca`n.
Tu+. Ca`n hu+.u Kha?m.

(Khi' ve^` ddo+n ddie^`n,
Lo`ng dde^? tro^'ng kho^ng,
Tu+` To^'n sang Ca`n,
Tu+` Ca`n ve^` Kha?m)

Trong khi kie^'m bie^'n tu+` bo^'n tha`nh mu+o+`i sa'u, mu+o+`i sa'u tha`nh hai tra(m na(m mu+o+i sa'u, tu+'c bie^'n ho'a ba^.c ba, ba^.c bo^'n; ddoa.n no' thu kie^'m ddu+'ng nhi`n dda.o si~, nhu+ muo^'n ho?i xem dda.o si~ co' bie^'t hai chie^u ddo' kho^ng?

Ma(.t vi. dda.o si~ nho+.t nha.t, tro^ng thu+.c nghie^m tro.ng, tay y vung kie^'m dda'nh la.i hai chie^u So+n dda^`u tu`y phong va` La.c nha.n thu pha^n, nhu+ng chi? bie^'n tha`nh mu+o+`i sa'u chu+' kho^ng bie^'n the^m ddu+o+.c nu+~a.

Y ho?i la.i Thu?-Huy:

_ Tie^?u co^ng tu+?! Tie^?u co^ng tu+? co' the^? die^~n la.i hai chie^u vu+`a ro^`i cho ba^`n dda.o xem mo^.t la^`n nu+~a kho^ng?

Tha^'y dda.o si~ ddo^?i ca'ch xu+ng ho^, tu+` go.i no' la` chu' em ddo^?i sang tie^?u co^ng tu+? ; Thu?-Huy ddu+a kie^'m le^n, tu+` tu+` die^~n la.i hai chie^u tre^n. Mie^.ng gia?ng gia?i :

_ Tro+`i o+i ! DDa.o tru+o+?ng ddu+'ng im ma` va^.n khi' thi` sao kie^'m chie^u co' lu+.c ma` bie^'n ho'a ddu+o+.c ? Trong khi pha't chie^u, thi` cha^n pha?i ddo^?i phu+o+ng vi. chu+' !

DDa.o si~, ga~ ma(.t dde.p, cu`ng dda'm tu`y tu`ng mo+? to ma('t ra quan sa't, tay mu'a kie^'m theo Thu?-Huy, cha^n ddo^?i phu+o+ng vi.. Sau khi die^~n xong bie^'n ho'a cu?a hai chie^u So+n dda^`u tu`y phong, La.c nha.n thu pha^n, no' thu kie^'m la.i mi?m cu+o+`i lie^'c nhi`n : Tre^n sa`n thuye^`n ngoa`i dda.o si~ thu? li~nh, ga~ ma(.t dde.p, co`n co' ba trung nie^n ddao. si~, ba trung nie^n dda.o co^.

DDa.o si~ thu? li~nh ho?i:

_ Chi? ma^'y chie^u ddo' tho^i, chu+a the^? coi nhu+ thie^'u hie^.p la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n. Xin thie^'u hie^.p bie^?u die^~n the^m i't chie^u nu+~a.

Tha^'y dda.o si~ ddo^?i ca'ch xu+ng ho^, y ddang go.i no' la` chu' em, chuye^?n sang tie^?u co^ng tu+?, ro^`i ba^y gio+` la` thie^'u hie^.p, gio.ng no'i ca`ng to? ve? kha'ch khi', Thu?-Huy cu~ng du`ng lo+`i le~ o^n to^`n:

_ Ca'i ddo' thi` kho^ng kho' !

Trong khi no' nghi~ tha^`m :

_ Bo.n na`y la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n , nhu+ng du+o+`ng nhu+ chu'ng kho^ng ho.c ddu+o+.c ba`i kie^'m tra^'n mo^n. Va^.y ta bie^?u die^~n he^'t ba`i na`y cho chu'ng le' ma('t cho+i. Ta kho^ng ddo.c kie^'m quye^'t thi` la`m sao chu'ng ho.c ddu+o+.c ?

No'i ro^`i tay no' ba('t kie^'m quye^'t, cha^n bu+o+'c theo phu+o+ng vi. Tie^n-thie^n ba't qua'i, kie^'m quay tro`n, a'nh sa'ng la^'p la'nh nhu+ sao sa. Tu+` dda.o si~, ga~ thuye^`n tru+o+?ng cho to+'i bo.n vo~ si~ dde^`u nga^y ngu+o+`i ra ma` nhi`n.

Sau khi dda'nh he^'t 72 lo^. Hoa-so+n kie^'m, Thu?-Huy ngu+`ng laii~, ba'i to^?, ro^`i tra kie^'m va`o vo? dde^'n ca'ch mo^.t tie^'ng.

No' gia?ng :

_ Ba`i kie^'m tra^'n mo^n cu?a ba?n pha'i co' ba^?y mu+o+i hai lo^.. Ca(n ba?n bie^'n ho'a la` Tha'i-cu+.c sinh Lu+o+~ng-nghi tu+'c Aa^m, Du+o+ng, ddo' la` bie^'n ho'a ba^.c mo^.t. Vi` va^.y 72 lo^. tha`nh 144 chie^u.

DDa.o-si~ nhi`n ga~ ma(.t dde.p ga^.t dda^`u lie^n tie^'p. Thu?-Huy la.i no'i tie^'p :

_ Khi tay ra ca'c lo^. bie^'n ho'a tha`nh Lu+o+~ng-nghi, thi` cha^n pha?i chuye^?n tu+` Ca`n la` thua^`n du+o+ng sang Kho^n la` thua^`n a^m. Ba(`ng kho^ng thi` cha^n khi' tuye^.t, cha^n khi' tuye^.t thi` kie^'m chie^u tro+? tha`nh cha^.m cha.p. Cha^.m cha.p thi` kho^ng co`n la` Hoa-so+n tha^`n kie^'m nu+~a.

DDa.o si~ ho?i :

_ Ro^`i sao ?

_ Thi` Lu+o+~ng-nghi sinh Tu+'-tu+o+.ng. Du+o+ng bie^'n tha`nh Tha'i-du+o+ng, Thie^'u-du+o+ng. Aa^m bie^'n tha`nh Tha'i-a^m, Thie^'u-a^m. Nhu+ va^.y 144 chie^u tha`nh 288 chie^u. Cuo^'i cu`ng Tu+'-tu+o+.ng sinh Ba't-qua'i tha`nh 576 chie^u. Ba't qua'i bie^'n ho'a vo+'i ta'm que? Ca`n, Kha?m, Ca^'n, Tra^'n, To^'n, Ly, Kho^n, DDoa`i, vo^ cu`ng, tha`nh 4.608 chie^u. Trong phe'p bie^'n ho'a thi` co' khi tam hu+ tha^'t thu+.c, tha`nh 13.824, co' khi tha^'t hu+ tam thu+.c...so^' chie^u tha`nh 32.256. Co^.ng chung co' 46.080. Nhu+ng ca'i kho' kha(n la` la`m the^' na`o ddang hu+ la.i bie^'n ra thu+.c ? La`m the^' na`o dde^? no^'i ca'c chie^u la.i vo+'i nhau ?

DDa.o-si~ run run ho?i :

_ Thie^'u hie^.p ! Thi` ra thie^'u hie^.p la` truye^`n nha^n cu?a pha'i Hoa-so+n. Xin thie^'u hie^.p ddo.c cho ba^`n dda.o nghe ba`i quye^'t bie^'n ho'a vo+'i ba`i kie^'m tra^'n mo^n na`y. Nguye^.n kho^ng bao gio+` que^n.

Thu?-Huy tha^'y tre^u bo.n Hoa-so+n nhu+ va^.y cu~ng ddu? ro^`i, no' dda'p :

_ Di~ nhie^n la` ddu+o+.c. Ro~ ra`ng dda.o su+ vo+'i chu+ vi. dda^y cu`ng la` ngu+o+`i ddo^`ng mo^n vo+'i tie^?u bo^'i. DDa~ ddo^`ng mo^n sao la.i y? lo+'n hie^'p nho?? Sao la.i la`m kho' de^~ nhau?

_ Ta.i sao thie^'u hie^.p bie^'t ta la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n ?

_ Co' gi` ma` kho^ng hie^?u.

Thu?-Huy chi? va`o dda.o si~ : Pha'i Hoa-so+n dda(.t to^?ng ddu+o+`ng tre^n Hoa-nha.c. Hoa-nha.c la` mo^.t trong Ngu~-nha.c. Cho ne^n ddo+`i na`o cu~ng co' na(m ngu+o+`i vai ve^' to^'i cao mang te^n Ngu~-nha.c. Ngu+o+`i chu+o+?ng mo^n la` Trung-nha.c Tung-so+n, luo^n luo^n ma(.c a'o va`ng. DDa.o-su+ chi'nh la` chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i na`y.

No' chi? va`o bo^'n dda.o si~ a'o tra('ng, dden, xanh, ho^`ng :

_ DDa.o-su+ vo+'i bo^'n vi. na`y hie^.n die^.n ta.i dda^y, thi` ra pha'i Hoa-so+n ke'o he^'t Ngu~-nha.c, tinh hoa sang DDa.i-Vie^.t, a('t co' mu+u ddo^` lo+'n chu+' kho^ng bi`nh thu+o+`ng dda^u. Vi. ma(.c a'o tra('ng cha('c la` Ta^y-nha.c Hoa-so+n. Vi. ma(.c a'o dden la` Ba('c-nha.c Ha(`ng-so+n. Vi. ma(.c a'o xanh la` DDo^ng-nha.c Tha'i-so+n. Co`n vi. ma(.c a'o ho^`ng kia cha('c la` Nam-nha.c Ha`nh-so+n.

Kho^ng tha^'y dda.o si~ a'o va`ng no'i gi` , bie^'t ra(`ng mi`nh ddoa'n ddu'ng. No' chi? va`o ba dda.o si~ trung nie^n:

_ Trong da~y Hoa-so+n co' ba ngo.n cao nha^'t la` ba ngo.n tro^'ng, mang te^n Lie^n-hoa, Tie^n-nha^n, La.c-nha.n, go.i chung la` Hoa-nha.c tam-phong. Cho ne^n ba ngu+o+`i co' vai ve^' cao mang te^n na`y. Cha('c la` ba vi.. No' chi? va`o ba dda.o co^ :

_ Ngoa`i ra, da~y Hoa-so+n co`n co' ba ngo.n nho? ho+n, la` Va^n-dda`i, Co^ng-chu'a, Mao-nu+~, go.i chung la` Hoa-nha.c tam nu+o+ng, hay ba ngo.n ma'i. Ba vi. dda^y cha('c mang te^n na`y. Vi. ma(.c a'o ti'm te^n la` Va^n-DDa`i, vi. ma(.c a'o tra('ng te^n la` Co^ng-Chu'a, vi. ma(.c a'o xanh te^n la` Mao-Nu+~.

Nghe Thu?-Huy no'i, Long-Xu+o+?ng cho+.t dde^? y' dde^'n dda.o co^ Va^n-DDa`i. Ba` na`y ddu+'ng o+? phi'a sau ma^'y dda.o si~. Ma(.t ba` ta ho+i xa.m dden, da da(n deo, nhu+ng da co^?, ba`n tay thi` tra('ng nga^`n, mi.n nhu+ mo+~. Nha^'t la` ca'i lu+ng ong tuye^.t dde.p. Nhi`n chung da'ng da^'p cu?a ba`, ra^'t quen thuo^.c, ra^'t tha^n a'i, ma` trong nha^'t tho+`i Long-Xu+o+?ng kho^ng nho+' dda~ ga(.p ba` ta o+? dda^u ?

DDa.o-si~ a'o va`ng ddu+a ma('t nhi`n ga~ ma(.t dde.p, ro^`i dda'nh tro^'ng la?ng :

_ Tho^i thi` cu+' coi bo.n ba^`n dda.o la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n, tu+'c cu`ng mo^n ho^. vo+'i thie^'u hie^.p ddi.

_ Ba^y gio+` dda.o su+ dda~ nha^.n la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n ro^`i pha?i kho^ng ? DDa~ cu`ng mo^n ho^. sao ca'c vi. la.i y? lo+'n hie^'p nho?. Nhu+ va^.y coi co' ddu+o+.c kho^ng ?

_ Thi` ngo^n ngu+~ Vie^.t cha? co' ca^u dda'nh nhau vo+~ dda^`u ro^`i mo+'i nha^.n ho. ddo' sao?

_ Tho^i cu~ng ddu+o+.c. Nhu+ng xin dda.o su+ cho tie^?u bo^'i bie^'t cao danh quy' ti'nh dda~ !

_ Ba^`n dda.o ho. Ngo^, te^n Gio+'i, dda.o hie^.u la` Trung-nha.c Tung-so+n.

Nha^'t-Lie^~u cu~ng nhu+ dda'm tu`y tu`ng cu?a la~o cu`ng ba^.t le^n tie^'ng u?a dda^`y ve? tha'n phu.c. Thu?-Huy cung tay va'i:

_ Thi` ra dda.o su+ nguye^n la` mo^.t trong Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ hu`ng dda^'y, he`n chi tu+ tha'i kha'c pha`m.

Ngo^ Gio+'i kinh nga.c vo^ cu`ng, vi` muo^n nga`n la^`n y kho^ng the^? tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng ddu+o+.c ra(`ng, mo^.t ddu+'a tre? o+? xu+' Nam-man na`y ma` la.i co' the^? bie^'t tie^'ng ta(m cu?a y. Y ho?i la.i:

_ Tie^?u co^ng tu+? bie^'t gi` ve^` Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ hu`ng?

Thu?-Huy cu~ng ddo^?i ca'ch xu+ng ho^:

_ Di~ nhie^n la` tie^?u bo^'i bie^'t, la.i bie^'t ra^'t nhie^`u, ra^'t ky~ nu+~a. Na`y Ngo^ dda.o su+, ne^'u nhu+ tie^?u bo^'i no'i ra ddu+o+.c he^'t ha`nh tra.ng cu?a Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ hu`ng, thi` dda.o su+ kho^ng ddu+o+.c la`m kho' de^~ dda.i ca cu?a tie^?u bo^'i nu+~a. DDa.o su+ nghi~ sao?

DDoa'n cha('c Thu?-Huy kho^ng the^? bie^'t the^m gi` ve^` Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ hu`ng, Ngo^ Gio+'i ga^.t dda^`u:

_ DDu+o+.c, ba^`n dda.o xin hu+'a.

Thu?-Huy mi?m cu+o+`i:

_ Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ hu`ng go^`m na(m ngu+o+`i la` Ngo^ Gio+'i, Ngo^ La^n, Ha`n The^'-Trung, Nha.c Phi va` Tru+o+ng Tua^'n.

Ngo^ Gio+'i kinh nga.c dde^'n nga^y ngu+o+`i ra. Y ho?i :

_ Thie^'u-hie^.p bie^'t gi` ve^` ta na`o? Thie^'u-hie^.p ha~y no'i nghe thu+? !

_ DDa.o su+ tu+. la` Ta^'n-Khanh, que^ o+? Lu~ng-can. Thu?a nho? cu+.c tho^ng minh, ba^'t cu+' sa'ch na`o, chi? lie^'c qua la` dda~ hie^?u ddu+o+.c dda.i lu+o+.c. DDa.o su+ cu`ng em la` Ngo^ La^n ddu+o+.c Thie^n-Hu+ dda.o su+ chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Hoa-so+n thu la`m dde^. tu+?. Na(m mu+o+`i chi'n tuo^?i, cu`ng em trai, dda~ no^?i tie^'ng va(n chu+o+ng qua'n the^', vo~ co^ng vo^ ddi.ch, la^`u tho^ng Lu.c-thao tam lu+o+.c, To^n Ngo^ binh pha'p. Lu'c dda^`u, hai anh em bo? tie^`n nha` cu`ng em to^? chu+'c ddo^.i hu+o+ng binh. Khi hai vua Huy-to^ng, Kha^m-to^ng cu?a To^'ng trie^`u bi. Kim ba('t ddem ve^` Ba('c, thi` con Huy-to^ng la` Trie^.u Ca^'u vu+o+.t Tru+o+`ng-giang, cha.y xuo^'ng Nam la^.p la.i trie^`u To^'ng ; thu+o+`ng go.i la` trie^`u Nam To^'ng. Nhu+ng si~ da^n, vo~ la^m thie^n ha. kho^? vi` ca'c vua trie^`u To^'ng ho^n a'm, quan la.i tham nhu~ng, ne^n kho^ng ai theo Ca^'u. Do va^.y, y bi. tu+o+'ng Kim la` Ngo^.t -Trua^.t dduo^?i cho cha.y ba'n ma.ng, vo^ so+? ba^'t chi'.

Ghi chu' cu?a thua^.t gia?:

DDoa.n na`y to^i thua^.t theo To^'ng-su+?, quye^?n 366, trang 11 399, Lu+u Ky`, Ngo^ Gio+'i, Ngo^ La^n lie^.t truye^.n.

Thu?-Huy bie^'t ra(`ng Ngo^ la` danh tu+o+'ng cu?a trie^`u Nam To^'ng, ne^n no' go.i te^n tu.c cu?a Thie^.u-Hu+ng hoa`ng dde^' To^'ng ra, dde^? cho y tu+'c gia^.n. The^' ma` y vo+'i thu? ha. kho^ng he^` pha?n u+'ng.

No' tie^'p:

_ Sau da^n To^'ng nghe tin, Kim ddem hai vua la`m tro` gia?i tri' nhu+: DDeo lu.c la.c tre^n ngu+o+`i, ba('t ngo^`i tre^n vi? sa('t, ro^`i ddo^'t lu+?a du+o+'i vi?; trong khi hai vua bi. no'ng qua' nha?y le^n choi choi, thi` chu'a to^i Kim ngo^`i uo^'ng u+o+.u a(n thi.t, cu+o+`i khoa'i tra'.

Thu?-Huy no'i dde^'n dda^y, thi` Ngo^ Gio+'i cu`ng vo+'i dda'm tu`y tu`ng nghie^'n ra(ng ken ke't, to? ra pha^~n ha^.n cu`ng cu+.c.

Thu?-Huy tie^'p:

_ Tin na`y ddu+a ddu+a ve^` Trung-nguye^n, khie^'n anh hu`ng, si~ da^n To^'ng cu+.c ky` pha^~n ua^'t. Nha^n ddo' dda.o su+ vo+'i em la` Ngo^ La^n pha^'t co+` ca^`n vu+o+ng. Nie^n hie^.u Thie^n-thua^.n thu+' tu+ (Ta^n Ho+.i, 1131) hai vi. dda'nh ba.i Kim Ngo^.t-Trua^.t mo^.t tra^.n, dduo^?i y cha.y da`i dde^'n ho+n tra(m da(.m.

Ngo^ Gio+'i cu+o+`i:

_ Thie^'u hie^.p o+i! Thie^'u hie^.p nho+' sai ro^`i. Na(m ddo' la` nie^n hie^.u Thie^.u-hu+ng nguye^n nie^n, chu+' dda^u pha?i Thie^n-thua^.n thu+' tu+?

Long-Xu+o+?ng ca~i du`m Thu?-Huy:

_ Tie^?u dde^. cu?a co^ gia no'i ddu'ng. Na(m ddo' la` nie^n hie^.u Thie^n-thua^.n thu+' tu+, ddo+`i vua Tha^`n-to^ng ba?n trie^`u, be^n Trung-nguye^n la` nie^n hie^.u Thie^.u-hu+ng nguye^n nie^n.

Ngo^ Gio+'i la` thu+' anh hu`ng ha`o sa?ng, y ga^.t dda^`u:

_ DDu+o+.c! Thie^'u-hie^.p no'i ddu'ng. Thie^'u-hie^.p tie^'p ddi.

_ Nie^n hie^.u Thie^n-chu+o+ng Ba?o-tu+o+.ng thu+' nhi`, ddo+`i vua Tha^`n-to^ng ba?n trie^`u (Gia'p Da^`n, 1134), hai vi. ho+.p qua^n vo+'i Ha`n The^'-Trung, Tru+o+ng Tua^'n, Nha.c Phi, pha' qua^n Kim na(m tra^.n, oai ru'ng Trung-nguye^n. Nho+` va^.y anh hu`ng si~ da^n thie^n ha. mo+'i quy phu.c trie^`u Nam To^'ng. Tu+` dda^'y na(m vi. ddu+o+.c vo~ la^m Trung-nguye^n dda(.t cho my~ danh la` Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ hu`ng hay ngu~ kie^.t. Thu+a dda.o su+ co' ddu'ng the^' kho^ng?

Ngo^ Gio+'i ga^.t dda^`u:

_ Ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng gi` thie^'u hie^.p no'i dde^`u ddu'ng he^'t. Nhu+ng ba^`n dda.o co' mo^.t tha('c ma('c la`: Nhu+~ng kie^'n thu+'c cu?a thie^'u hie^.p ve^` Trung-nguye^n, do ai truye^`n cho?

Thu?-Huy cu+o+`i:

_ Tro+`i o+i! DDa.o su+ la.i kho^ng bie^'t gi` ve^` anh em tie^?u bo^'i ro^`i. Tu+` na~y dde^'n gio+` tie^?u bo^'i dda~ ba^`y to? kie^'n thu+'c ve^` dda.o su+. Nhu+ va^.y co' nghi~a la` nhu+~ng ddie^`u ddo', ha^`u he^'t ngu+o+`i Vie^.t dde^`u bie^'t.

Ngo^ Gio+'i ca`ng to? ra kha'ch khi', kho^ng da'm coi thu+o+`ng hai ddu+'a tre? na`y nu+~a. Y cung tay:

_ Thie^'u hie^.p, ne^'u thie^'u hie^.p no'i ra ddu+o+.c chu+'c tu+o+'c cu?a ba^`n dda.o, thi` ba^`n dda.o mo+'i phu.c.

Thu?-Huy nghi~ tha^`m:

_ Bo.n na`y quye^'t kho^ng pha?i la` kha'ch thu+o+ng, cu~ng kho^ng the^? la` tro^.m cu+o+'p. Chu'ng ddu+o+.c ca^`m dda^`u bo+?i mo^.t dda.i ha`o kie^.t Trung-quo^'c, thi` co' le^? chu'ng la` su+' ddoa`n cu?a To^'ng dda^y. Y la` su+' tha^`n, ne^n thu+o+`ng co' gio.ng tri.ch thu+o+.ng, mu.c ha. vo^ nha^n. Ta pha?i do.a cho chu'ng so+. con cha'u tha'nh Gio'ng mo+'i ddu+o+.c.

Nghi~ va^.y, no' cha('p tay va'i Ngo^:

_ DDa.o su+ o+i! DDie^`u na`y de^~ qua'. Nie^n hie^.u Thie^.u-minh thu+' nhi` (Ky? Mu`i, 1131), ddo+`i vua Tha^`n-to^ng be^n DDa.i-Vie^.t...

Tha^'y bo.n ngu+o+`i be^n thuye^`n ddinh ngo+ ngo+ nga'c nga'c, no' la`m bo^. kho^ng the`m bie^'t dde^'n nie^n hie^.u cu?a To^'ng, coi nhu+ To^'ng kho^ng pha?i la` chi'nh tho^'ng, ma` Kim mo+'i la` chi'nh tho^'ng; nha^n tie^.n dde^` cao Long-Xu+o+?ng, no' ho?i:

_ DDa.i ca! Na(m a^'y be^n Trung-nguye^n la` nie^n hie^.u gi` cu?a Kim dda.i dde^' nhi?? DDa.i ca co' nho+' kho^ng?

Hie^?u y' Thu?-Huy, Long-Xu+o+?ng nghi~ ra^'t nhanh:

_ Phu. hoa`ng ta ddang nha^.n sa('c phong cu?a To^'ng. Tu+o+ng lai ta cu~ng pha?i nha^.n sa('c phong cu?a chu'ng, ma` bo.n na`y la` su+' ddoa`n, ta kho^ng the^? la`m nhu.c toa`n the^? nu+o+'c To^'ng.

Nghi~ va^.y Long-Xu+o+?ng dda'p:

_ Na(m ddo' la` nie^n hie^.u Thie^.u-hu+ng thu+' chi'n.

_ Ca?m o+n dda.i ca. Na(m ddo' To^'ng vo+'i Kim nghi. ho`a, trie^`u ddi`nh nghi. co^ng trong vie^.c trung hu+ng, thi` hai vi. ho. Ngo^ ddu+'ng dda^`u. DDa.o-su+ ddu+o+.c phong DDa(.c-tie^'n, Khai-phu? nghi. ddo^`ng tam tu+, li~nh Tu+'-xuye^n tuye^n vu~ su+'. Nhu+ng na(m ddo', cha con Nha.c Phi bi. ba('t giam o+? chu`a DDa.i-ly' vi` ca'i to^.i tu. ho.p qua^`n ha`o Trung-nguye^n ca('t ma'u a(n the^`; ddi.nh dda'nh tho^'c le^n Ba('c ddem hai vua Huy-to^ng, Kha^m-to^ng ve^`. Ma`...ho+~i o+i, Ngo^ dda.o su+ cu~ng co' du+. va`o vu. na`y.

No' cu+o+`i lo+'n:

_ Ve^` ta`i du`ng binh thi` dda.o su+ cu~ng nhu+ Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ kie^.t kho' ai sa'nh ba(`ng. Nhu+ng ve^` kie^'n thu+'c, cu~ng nhu+ minh ma^~n thi` bi`nh thu+o+`ng tho^i. Ra^'t may ma` dda^`u dda.o su+ kho^ng bi. cha(.t ; tha^y kho^ng bi. ddem pho+i na('ng, pho+i mu+a cho ruo^`i ba^u, cho qua. ri?a. Vo+., con ga'i, na`ng ha^`u chu+a bi. ddem la`m tro` gia?i tri' cho binh li'nh.

Ma(.t Ngo^ Gio+'i ta'i ddi:

_ Thi` ra tie^?u thie^'u hie^.p la` ngu+o+`i minh ma^~n dda^'y. Ta, Ngo^ Gio+'i xin ru+?a tai nghe ddie^`u ma` huynh dde^. ba?o ta u me^.

Thu?-Huy cho.c cho Ngo^ Gio+'i no^?i gia^.n, no' thi'ch la('m, mie^.ng cu+o+`i khu'c khi'ch:

_ Co' gi` dda^u ma` dda.o su+ pha?i gia^.n. To^i xin vi` dda.o su+ ma` no'i: Ca'i ga~ Trie^.u Ca^'u kia, ta`i kho^ng ho+n cha la` vua Huy-To^ng, ddu+'c kho^ng ho+n anh la` vua Kha^m-To^ng. Chi? vi` cha, anh bi. Kim ba('t ddi, si~ da^n thie^n ha. nha^n ca'i nhu.c ma^'t nu+o+'c pho` ta' y, ma` y ddu+o+.c le^n la`m vua. Nay Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ kie^.t ddi.nh dda'nh tho^'c le^n Ba('c ddem hai vua cha, anh ve^`, thi` ca'i ga~ Trie^.u Ca^'u kia se~ co`n ngo^`i tre^n ngai va`ng ddu+o+.c kho^ng? Di~ nhie^n la` kho^ng. Vi` va^.y y pha?i theo lo+`i Ta^`n Co^'i ma` nghi. ho`a. Nghi. ho`a xong, ye^n phi'a ngoa`i ro^`i, y mo+'i cu?ng co^' ngai va`ng. Tru+o+'c he^'t y ba('t giam cha con Nha.c Phi, dde^? nhu+~ng ke? na`o co`n muo^'n ba`n chuye^.n ddem hai vua ve^` coi ddo' la`m ca'i gu+o+ng.

No' quay la.i nhi`n Ngo^ Gio+'i, tha^'y ma(.t y ta'i xanh, no' ho?i:

_ Co' ddu'ng the^' kho^ng?

Tha^'y Ngo^ Gio+'i im la(.ng, no' tie^'p:

_ Vi` va^.y dda.o su+ vo^.i gia? che^'t o+? Tie^n-nha^n quan, le^n a^?n o+? nu'i Hoa-so+n, ddi tu la^'y dda.o hie^.u la` Trung-nha.c Tung-so+n tu+?u?; du` tuo^?i mo+'i co' bo^'n mu+o+i ba^?y. Hai na(m sau Nha.c Phi bi. ga~ Trie^.u Ca^'u tu+'c Thie^.u-Hu+ng gie^'t o+? chu`a DDa.i-ly'. Hai tu+o+'ng co' co^ng kho^ng ke'm Phi la` con Phi te^n Va^n, cu`ng vo+'i danh tu+o+'ng Tru+o+ng Ma^~n bi. ddem che'm o+? cho+.; ta`i sa?n bi. ti.ch thu. Vo+., to^i to+' bi. ddem cho binh li'nh gia?i tri' lu'c xa nha`... Ma^'y ngu+o+`i ddo' che^'t thu+.c dda'ng kie^'p, dda'ng to^.i. DDo' la` ca'i to^.i ngu trung. Tha^'y hoa`n ca?nh Nha.c Phi, dda.o su+ re't qua', vo^.i tie^u dao ma^y nu+o+'c. Ga~ vua Thie^.u-Hu+ng bie^'t dda.o su+ gia? che^'t, nhu+ng cu~ng vo+` than kho'c, ro^`i ban cho ba mu+o+i va.n ddo^`ng tie^`n, truy phong tu+o+'c Tha'i-su+.

Nha^'t-Lie^~u ho?i Ngo^ Gio+'i:

_ Na`y Ngo^ Tuye^n-vu~ su+', thi` ra ngu+o+`i sang DDa.i-Vie^.t ta vo+'i mu+u ddo^` tu+ rie^ng, chu+' kho^ng pha?i la` su+' tha^`n cu?a Thie^.u-Hu+ng hoa`ng dde^' pha?i kho^ng? Ngu+o+`i dda~ nha^.p ca?nh ba^'t ho+.p pha'p, la.i co`n vo^ phe'p vo+'i Tha'i-tu+? nu+~a. Ngu+o+`i to gan thu+.c.

Ngo^ Gio+'i mo'c trong tu'i ra ta^'m the? ba`i:

_ Na`y Ly' ddo^ ddo^'c, ngu+o+`i ha~y ddo.c ddi.

Nha^'t-Lie^~u chi? lie^'c qua, o^ng cu~ng bie^'t ddo' la` the? ba`i cu?a cung Ca?m-Tha'nh. Tuy nhie^n o^ng va^~n ca^`m le^n ddo.c: Ngo^ Gio+'i, Thie^n-su+'. Ba^'t cu+' va(n vo~ ba'ch quan, tha^'y Thie^n-su+' dde^`u pha?i ki'nh tro.ng. Ke? na`o la`m tra'i vo+'i le^.nh ba`i na`y, se~ bi. xu+? tu+? toa`n gia.

Ngo^ Gio+'i chi? ga~ ma(.t dde.p gio+'i thie^.u :

_ Ba^`n dda.o xin gio+'i thie^.u vo+'i ca'c vi. dda^y la` su+ dde^. cu?a ba^`n dda.o. Y ho. Lu+u te^n Ky`.

Long-Xu+o+?ng nghi~ tha^`m :

_ Thi` ra Ngo^ Gio+'i la` cha'nh su+', te^n Lu+u Ky` la` pho' su+'. Theo cung tu+` cu?a DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o, thi` te^n Lu+u Ky` na`y chi'nh la` ti`nh nha^n cu?a tha'i-ha^.u dda^y. Y vo+'i tha'i-ha^.u ddang chua^?n bi. phe^' phu. hoa`ng ta xuo^'ng, ro^`i to^n y le^n la`m vua dda^y.

Nghi~ va^.y vu+o+ng ung dung :

_ A`, thi` ra Phie^u-ky. thu+o+.ng tu+o+'ng qua^n, Hoa`i-Nam ha^`u, li~nh Giang-hoa`i tie^'t ddo^. su+' Lu+u Ky`, tu+. la` Ti'n-Thu'c dda^'y? Co^ gia nghe no'i, trong tra^.n dda'nh khu?ng khie^'p vo+'i Kim Ngo^t-Trua^.t, ngu+o+`i bi. ba.i, ro^`i mu+?a ra ma'u ma` che^'t. Thie^.u-Hu+ng dde^' truy phong cho ngu+o+`i to+'i Khai-phu? nghi. ddo^`ng tam tu+, thu.y la` Vu~ Mu.c, la.i ban cho gia ddi`nh 300 lu+o+.ng ba.c, ga^'m 300 ta^'m, dde^? phu? tua^'t. Sao ngu+o+`i va^~n so^'ng nha(n ?

Chi? mo^.t ca^u no'i cu?a Long-Xu+o+?ng : Ne^u ra te^n tu+. , chu+'c, tu+o+'c, chu+'c tu+o+'c truy phong, te^n thu.y, so^' va`ng, so^' ga^'m phu? tua^'t cu?a Lu+u Ky`; kho^ng sai mo^.t ly, la`m cho y pha't re't.

Long Xu+o+?ng nhi`n Lu+u, ro^`i ga^.t dda^`u:

_ Kha('p Trung-nguye^n dde^`u ddo^`n ra(`ng ngu+o+`i la` mo^.t dde^. nha^'t my~ nam tu+? cu?a Nam To^'ng. Lo`ng da. ngu+o+`i la.i trung chi'nh, co' ta`i ca^`m qua^n, vo~ co^ng cao sie^u kho^ng bie^'t dda^u ma` lu+o+`ng. Nhu+ng chi? vi` ngu+o+`i no'i na(ng tho^ lo^~ co^.c ca(`n, la.i y? va`o co^ng tra.ng ma` nghi.ch vo+'i Ha`n The^'-Trung, ne^n hoa.n lo^. ngu+o+`i dda^`y cho^ng gai. Cha('c vi` va^.y, ma` ngu+o+`i cu~ng nhu+ Ngo^ Tuye^n-vu~ su+' dda^y gia? che^'t. DDu'ng kho^ng?

_ DDu'ng thi` ddu'ng, co' sao dda^u.

Thu?-Huy tha^'y Nha^'t-Lie^~u ta^`n nga^`n, no' bie^'t ra(`ng o^ng na`y kho^ng la`m gi` ho+n ddu+o+.c, bo+?i ca'i le^.nh ba`i kia. No' vo^.i cu+'u o^ng:

_ Na`y Ngo^ dda.o su+. Tie^?u bo^'i dda~ no'i ro~ ha`nh tra.ng cu?a dda.o su+ ro^`i. Va^.y dda.o su+ kho^ng ddu+o+.c la`m kho' de^~ dda.i ca cu?a tie^?u bo^'i nu+~a nghe.

Ngo^ Gio+'i nhi`n Nha^'t-Lie^~u:

_ DDu+o+.c! Ta ba^`n dda.o xin hu+'a.

Thu?-Huy ddu+o+.c the^? no' tie^'p :

_ Hoa-so+n co' tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~, ne^n ddo+`i ddo+`i cho.n la^'y na(m dde^. tu+? ngo^. ti'nh cu+.c cao, dde^? truye^`n tuye^.t nghe^.. Na(m ngu+o+`i ddo' luo^n mang te^n cu?a Ngu~-nha.c : Trung-nha.c Tung-so+n, Ta^y-nha.c Hoa-so+n, Ba('c-nha.c Ha`nh-so+n, DDo^ng-nha.c Tha'i-so+n, Nam-nha.c Ha(`ng-so+n. Vi` trong Di.ch-ly', thi` Trung-u+o+ng thuo^.c ma^`u va`ng, DDo^ng thuo^.c ma^`u xanh, Ta^y thuo^.c ma^`u tra('ng, Nam thuo^.c ma`u ddo?, Ba('c thuo^.c ma^`u dden. Ne^n cu+' nhi`n y phu.c thi` bie^'t dda.o hie^.u , cu`ng ddi.a vi. trong mo^n pha'i. Tho+`i vua To^'ng Nha^n-to^ng quy' pha'i co' Hoa-so+n ngu~ la~o, tho+`i vua Tha^`n-to^ng co' Hoa-so+n ngu~ dda.i tha^`n kie^'m, nhu+ng chi? co' bo^'n vi. sang DDa.i-Vie^.t ro^`i bi. ba('t. Co`n mo^.t vi. so+'m va~ng du tie^n ca?nh. Ba^y gio+`, Tuye^n-vu~ su+' vo+'i bo^'n vi. dda.o su+ dda^y thuo^.c vai ve^' cao nha^'t cu?a Hoa-so+n. Bo+?i co^ gia tha^'y ba?n li~nh, phong tha'i cu?a na(m dda.o su+ thu+.c sie^u pha`m. Na(m vi. ddang ca^`m va^.n me^.nh quy' pha'i. The^' ma` quy' pha'i ke'o ta^'t ca? va`o DDa.i-Vie^.t, thi` ca'i vie^.c sang dda^y cu?a dda.o su+ a('t pha?i quan tro.ng la('m.

Nghe Long-Xu+o+?ng pha^n ti'ch su+. kie^.n, ma(.t Ngo^ Gio+'i ta'i xanh. Y cho^'ng che^':

_ Chu+a ha(?n the^'...

Y quay la.i no'i vo+'i Thu?-Huy:

_ Nhu+~ng gi` dda.i ca cu?a thie^'u hie^.p no'i hoa`n toa`n sai.

Thu?-Huy cu+o+`i :

_ Kho^? qua', Ngo^ dda.o su+ la` ngu+o+`i du`ng binh gio?i, thi` pha?i bie^'t mi`nh, bie^'t ngu+o+`i chu+'? Trong khi anh em tie^?u bo^'i chi? la` hai ddu+'a tre? chu+a ra'o ma'u dda^`u, tu+. bie^'t mi`nh, la.i bie^'t ra^'t ro~ ve^` dda.o su+. DDa.o su+ kho^ng bie^'t gi` ve^` anh em tie^?u bo^'i thi` cho+', ma` la.i co`n gia? nga^y, gia? ngo^ nu+~a.

_ Nghi~ ti`nh ca?nh dda.o su+ vo+'i em dda.o su+ la` Ngo^ La^n cu?a dda.o su+, thu+.c dda'ng thu+o+ng. Bo+?i hai vi. ddu+o+.c anh hu`ng Trung-nguye^n ta(.ng cho my~ danh la` Hoa-so+n tha^`n kie^'m. Nhu+ng hai vi. chi? co' hu+ danh, ma` kho^ng co' thu+.c.

_ Thie^'u hie^.p ! Ta la^'y le^~ ma` xu+ng ho^ vo+'i thie^'u hie^.p, ha co+' thie^'u hie^.p la.i nhu.c ma. ta ?

_ Tie^?u bo^'i dda^u da'm. Na`y dda.o su+ ! Tie^?u bo^'i xin nha('c la.i : Hai vi. tuy ddu+o+.c to^n la` Hoa-so+n tha^`n kie^'m. Nhu+ng chi? co' hu+ danh ma` tho^i. Vi` tu+` tho+`i vua Tha^`n-to^ng trie^`u To^'ng dde^'n gio+`, Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~ dda~ bi. mai mo^.t. Pha'i Hoa-so+n kho^ng co`n ddu+o+.c coi la` Tha'i-so+n Ba('c-dda^?u vo~ la^m Trung-nguye^n nu+~a.

Nghe ddo^'i dda'p giu+~a Ngo^ Gio+'i vo+'i Thu?-Huy, nhu+~ng gi` ma` Tha'i-su+ Lu+u Kha'nh-DDa`m gia?ng ve^` ca'c bie^'n co^' o+? Trung-nguye^n, nhu+~ng gi` Khu-ma^.t vie^.n tri`nh le^n, cu~ng nhu+ ba?n cung khai cu?a DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o, hie^.n le^n trong ky' u+'c Long-Xu+o+?ng. Vu+o+ng tu+. nhu? tha^`m :

_ Ca'i te^n Ngo^ Gio+'i na`y la` mo^.t ha`o kie^.t, nha^n the^' nu+o+'c nu+o+'c loa.n ly, da^n chu'ng bi. ngoa.i xa^m ta`n sa't, ma` kho+?i binh. Muo^'n kho+?i binh, thi` pha?i co' chi'nh nghi~a dde^? quy tu. anh hu`ng. Ca'i chi'nh nghi~a lo+'n nha^'t ba^'y gio+`, la` vie^.c hai vua Huy-to^ng, Kha^m-to^ng bi. ba('t ddem ve^` Ba('c la`m nhu.c. Nhu+ng, khi tha`nh co^ng, thi` ngu+o+`i hu+o+?ng la` Trie^.u Ca^'u, tu+'c Thie^.u-Hu+ng... vi` lo so+. cha, anh tro+? ve^`, se~ bi. ma^'t ngo^i, ne^n kho^ng muo^'n tie^'n qua^n nu+~a. Ca^'u ba`n vo+'i Te^? tu+o+'ng Ta^`n Co^'i sao giu+~ ddu+o+.c ngo^i vua. Co^'i ba`n chuye^.n nghi. ho`a, chia dda^'t vo+'i Kim. Di~ nhie^n, giu+~a lu'c the^' qua^n To^'ng nhu+ che? tre, ma` nghi. ho`a thi` ca'c tu+o+'ng pha?n ddo^'i. Ca^'u be`n gie^'t ngu+o+`i ca^`m qua^n gio?i nha^'t la` Nha.c Phi, dde^? da(`n ma(.t ca'c tu+o+'ng kha'c. Vi` va^.y Ngo^ Gio+'i pha?i ca'o be^.nh, ro^`i gia? che^'t dde^? an tha^n... Nhu+ng sao y la.i ddu+o+.c tha'i-ha^.u ca^'p the? ba`i la` su+' cu?a To^'ng ? Sao y la.i tha`nh dda.o si~ ? Kho^ng bie^'t co' pha?i y la` ngu+o+`i ca^`m dda^`u su+' ddoa`n tru+o+'c dda^y cu`ng sang vo+'i Mao Khie^m, tie^`m a^?n; mu.c ddi'ch ga^y cho DDa.i-Vie^.t co' no^.i chie^'n, ro^`i To^'ng ddem qua^n sang chie^'m hay kho^ng ? Y tuy la` cha'nh su+', nhu+ng la.i bi. pho' su+' Lu+u Ky` la^'n a'p, vi` Ky` y? la` ti`nh nha^n cu?a tha'i-ha^.u ? Y vo+'i tha'i-ha^.u, ddang chua^?n bi. phe^' phu. hoa`ng ta xuo^'ng, ro^`i le^n la`m vua , trong khi Ngo^ Gio+'i la.i kho^ng ddo^`ng y' ? Ta pha?i do` cho ra mo+'i ddu+o+.c. Te^n Ngo^ Gio+'i tuy co' ha`nh vi ba^'t thie^.n vo+'i ta, nhu+ng ddo^'i vo+'i Trung-quo^'c, y la` mo^.t thu+' anh hu`ng. Ngu+o+`i nhu+ the^' ta pha?i thu phu.c la^'y nha^n ta^m, ro^`i ke^'t tha^n, ho+n la` ga^y ha^'n. Co`n te^n Lu+u Ky`, ta pha?i ti`m ca'ch gie^'t y ddi, dde^? kho^ng co`n la` mo^'i lo nu+~a.

Ma(.t Ngo^ Gio+'i ta'i xanh, y hu+` mo^.t tie^'ng :

_ Thie^'u-hie^.p ca(n cu+' va`o dda^u ma` no'i nhu+~ng lo+`i huye^`n hoa(.c nhu+ va^.y ?

Thu?-Huy ca`ng do.a gia`, no' no'i vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng :

_ DDa.i ca ! Co' ddu'ng kho^ng ? Chuye^.n na`y dde^'n ddu+'a con ni't nhu+ tie^?u dde^. ma` co`n bie^'t, thi` di~ nhie^n vo~ la^m thie^n ha. dde^`u bie^'t. The^' ma` Ngo^ dda.o su+ la.i co`n co^' gia^'u die^'m.

Thu?-Huy tu+o+?ng mi`nh no'i ddu`a vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng dde^? cho.c gia^.n Ngo^ Gio+'i, no' na`o ngo+` nhu+~ng ua^?n khu'c na`y Long-Xu+o+?ng cu~ng bie^'t.

Long-Xu+o+?ng tra? lo+`i :

_ Na`y Ngo^ Tuye^n-vu~ su+' !

Mo^.t la^`n nu+~a Ngo^ Gio+'i kinh ha~i, vi` Long-Xu+o+?ng la.i go.i y ba(`ng chu+'c tu+o+'c cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a y ta.i trie^`u To^'ng. Y la('ng tai nghe:

_ Co^ gia thu+? no'i xem co' ddu'ng kho^ng nghe.... Ke^? tu+` khi to^? Tra^`n DDoa`n cu?a quy' pha'i giu'p To^'ng Tha'i-to^? chie^'m ddu+o+.c Trung-nguye^n, thi` pha'i Hoa-so+n tro+? tha`nh no+i pha't ti'ch ra To^'ng trie^`u. Pha'i Hoa-so+n tho+`i na`y no^?i tie^'ng nho+` pho no^.i co^ng du+o+ng cu+o+ng a'p dda?o ca? Di.ch-ca^n kinh cu?a Thie^'u-la^m, Tha'i-cu+.c co^ng cu?a Vo~-ddang. La.i co' pho chu+o+?ng bie^'n ho'a a?o die^.u nu+~a, ma` ddu+o+.c thie^n ha. to^n la` Thie^n-ha. nhi. dda.i tha^`n ky~. Nhu+ng quy' pha'i va^~n pha?i nhu+o+`ng pha'i Co^n-lua^n ve^` kie^'m pha'p. DDe^'n tho+`i vua To^'ng Nha^n-to^ng, nho+` Hoa-so+n tu+' la~o che^' ra pho kie^'m pha'p la^'y mau tha('ng cha^.m, la^'y ddo^.ng che^' ti~nh, khie^'n kie^'m pha'p Hoa-so+n vu+o+.t xa kie^'m pha'p Co^n-lua^n. Va`o tho+`i na`y ho.c tro` DDo^ng-so+n la~o nha^n la` DDi.ch Thanh tro+? tha`nh vo~ tra.ng. The^' la` Hoa-so+n co' Thie^n-ha. tam dda.i tha^`n ky~.

Long-Xu+o+?ng ngu+`ng la.i ho?i Ngo^ Gio+'i :

_ Co' ddu'ng the^' kho^ng.

_ ! ! !

_ Khi Nu`ng Tri' Cao kho+?i binh. Hoa-so+n tam la~o Ta^y, Nam, Ba('c dde^`u bi. vo~ la^m DDa.i-Vie^.t gie^'t. DDo^ng-so+n la~o nha^n ua^'t u+'c, vi` bi. co^ng chu'a Bi`nh-Du+o+ng du`ng Me^-linh kie^'m pha'p dda? ba.i trong dda.i ho^.i Lo^.c-ha`, vi` ba su+ dde^. Nam, Ba('c, Ta^y la~o nha^n bi. che^'t. La~o nha^n ga'c kie^'m quy a^?n, ti`m phu+o+ng pha'p kha('c che^' Long-bie^n kie^'m pha'p cu?a DDa.i-Vie^.t, tuy kho^ng tha`nh nhu+ng cu~ng che^' ra pho kie^'m khi', bie^'n ho'a tha^`n die^.u, vo~ la^m Trung-nguye^n dde^`u pha?i cu'i dda^`u ba'i phu.c. Tu+` dda^'y Hoa-so+n co' Thie^n ha. tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~.

Tha^'y Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i vanh va'ch nhu+ng ua^?n khu'c cu?a pha'i Hoa-so+n, Thu?-Huy kinh nga.c kho^ng i't. No' ho?i Ngo^ Gio+'i :

_ DDa.i ca cu?a to^i no'i co' ddu'ng kho^ng ?

_ DDu'ng thi` dda~ sao ?

Long-Xu+o+?ng tu+. nhu? :

_ Te^n Ngo^ Gio+'i ddu'ng la` ngu+o+`i ca^`m dda^`u su+' ddoa`n To^'ng, ddi theo te^n Mao Khie^m ro^`i. Co`n ca'i te^n Lu+u Ky` a('t la` pho' su+'. Ta pha?i no'i huy.ch toe.t a^m mu+u cu?a chu'ng ra, cho chu'ng bo+? vi'a.

Nghi~ va^.y vu+o+ng la`m bo^. no'i vo+'i Thu?-Huy, nhu+ng thu+.c ra dde^? do.a Ngo^ Gio+'i :

_ Na`y nhi. dde^.. DDe^'n ddo+`i vua To^'ng Tha^`n-to^ng, Hoa-so+n la.i no^?i danh vo+'i Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m. Bo^'n vi. theo Qua'ch Qu`y, Trie^.u Tie^'t mang qua^n sang dda'nh DDa.i-Vie^.t. Trong tra^.n Nhu+-nguye^.t, bo^'n vi. bi. Mo^.c-to^`n, Vie^n-Chie^'u bo^` ta't ba('t so^'ng. May sao, co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu nghi~ ti`nh ddo^`ng Mo^n, nho+` Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng xin li~nh bo^'n vi., ro^`i ddem ve^` an tri' o+? Thie^n-tru+o+`ng, ddo+.i he^'t chie^'n tranh, se~ tra? cho To^'ng trie^`u. Nhu+ng khi he^'t chie^'n tranh, bo^'n vi. va^~n bi. lu+u la.i cho dde^'n che^'t. DDo' la` no'i cho co' ve? my~ tu+., chu+' thu+.c su+. ra bo^'n vi. a^'y bi. giam lo?ng o+? Thie^n-tru+o+`ng. Vi` va^.y, Thie^n-ha. tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~ bi. mai mo^.t. Pha'i Hoa-so+n tu+` dda^'y chi? co`n hu+ danh.

Long-Xu+o+?ng nhi`n le^n ba^`u tro+`i trong xanh, tha'i ddo^. nhu+ mo^.t o^ng vua con, coi thu+o+`ng Ngo^ Gio+'i :

_ Vi` bo^'n tha^`n ky~ bi. ma^'t, ma` Tuye^n-vu~ su+' cu`ng ca'c cao thu? Hoa-so+n mo+'i nghi~ dde^'n la`m sao phu.c ho^`i la.i ngo^i vi. Tha'i-so+n Ba('c-dda^?u cho pha'i mi`nh. Ca'c vi. be`n gu+?i ngu+o+`i sang DDa.i-Vie^.t, ye^'t kie^'n dda.i hie^.p Tra^`n Tu+.-Kinh, xin nghi~ ti`nh co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu, ma` cho sao che'p bo^'n cuo^'n pho^? cu?a bo^'n tha^`n ky~. Nhu+ng co^ gia da'm quye^'t ra(`ng dda.i hie^.p Tu+.-Kinh se~ tu+` cho^'i.

Tha^'y Ngo^ Gio+'i im la(.ng, chu+'ng to? lo+`i mi`nh ddu'ng. Long-Xu+o+?ng cu+o+`i mi?a mai :

_ Giu+~a lu'c ddo' thi` Mao Khie^m tu+` DDai-Vie^.t ve^` To^'ng. Ca'c vi. ti`m y dde^? ho?i xem y co' ddu+o+.c ho.c Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~ kho^ng ? Khi tha?o lua^.n vo+'i y, ca'c vi. mo+'i ba^.t ngu+?a ra ra(`ng ba?n li~nh vo~ co^ng Hoa-so+n cu?a y ddu+o+.c the^' tu+? Vi.-Hoa`ng da.y cho cu~ng kho^ng ho+n ca'c vi.. Y cu~ng tie^'t lo^. ra(`ng, trong nhu+~ng nga`y bi. giam lo?ng o+? DDa.i-Vie^.t, Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n kie^'m nga`y dde^m thu+o+ng nho+' co^' hu+o+ng thu+o+`ng hu+o+'ng ve^` phu+o+ng Ba('c. Bo^'n vi. a^'y la`m hai ca'i dda`i. Mo^.t ca'i go.i la` o+~ The^' le^. ddoa.n tru+o+`ng u+~ (kho'c dde'n ddu+'t ruo^.t ra). Mo^.t ca'i la` o+~ Tie^u ho^`n la.c pha'ch u+~ (ma^'t ho^`n, la.c pha'ch). Nga`y nga`y bo^'n vi. a^'y le^n ddo', ngo^`i hu+o+'ng ma(.t ve^` Ba('c, ma('t mo+` le^., tu+o+?ng nho+' co^' quo^'c, tu+o+?ng nho+' que^ hu+o+ng, a^n ha^.n vi` tuye^.t ho.c cu?a Hoa-so+n kho^ng truye^`n la.i cho ha^.u the^' ddu+o+.c.

Tha^'y tu+` Ngo^ Gio+'i cho to+'i Lu+u Ky`, tu`y tu`ng dde^`u cu'i dda^`u xuo^'ng, nhu+ cu`ng tho^ng ca?m mo^'i ha^.n thie^n thu cu?a bo^'n vi. to^? Hoa-so+n. Long-Xu+o+?ng tie^'p :

_ Trong nhu+~ng nga`y a^'y, bo^'n vi. cu`ng ddem Thie^n-ha. tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~ nghie^n cu+'u la.i, bo^? khuye^'t nhu+~ng so+? ho+?, the^m va`o nhu+~ng kinh nghie^.m, nhu+~ng pha't minh. Ho'a cho ne^n Thie^n-ha. tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~ tro+? tha`nh mo^.t bo^. vo~ kinh mo+'i, vo^ ddi.ch thie^n ha. ; chi? thua co' bo^. Va.n-pha'p quy nguye^n cu?a DDa.i-Vie^.t ma` tho^i. Bo^'n vi. dda.o su+ dda(.t te^n bo^. vo~ kinh mo+'i la` Vo^ song, vo^ ddo^'i Trung-nguye^n vo~ kinh. Go.i ta('t la` Vo^ Trung kinh.

Ngo^ Gio+'i to? ve? kha^m phu.c :

_ Kie^'n thu+'c vu+o+ng gia thu+.c me^nh mo^ng.

_ DDa ta. Tuye^n-vu~ su+' qua' khen. DDe^? co^ gia tie^'p . Bo^'n dda.o su+ nghi~ ra(`ng : Mo^.t mai mi`nh qua ddo+`i ro^`i, Vo^-song vo^ ddo^'i Trung-nguye^n vo~ kinh bi. mai mo^.t ddi, thi` thu+.c la` thie^n co^? tru+o+`ng ha^.n. Bo^'n vi. a^'y mo+'i ti`m mo^.t no+i na`o ddo' da^'u bo^. vo~ kinh na`y, cho+` co' di.p se~ chuye^?n ve^` Trung-tho^?. Hay i't ra cu~ng ba'o cho ddo^` tu+? ddo^` to^n bie^'t no+i da^'u, dde^? sau na`y ti`m kie^'m. Bo^'n vi. nghi~ ra mo^.t phu+o+ng pha'p, la` la`m mo^.t ba`i ca khuye^'t gu+?i ve^` cho pha'i Hoa-so+n nhu+ sau :

o+~ Vo^-trung, vo^ ddo^'i,
Trung-tho^? vo~ kinh.
Nam-phu+o+ng tuye^.t ti'ch,
Ba('c phu+o+ng u minh.
Thu`y kha? ta^`m dda('c,
Bi`nh Man, DDi.ch, Nhung

(Bo^. vo~ kinh cu?a Trung-quo^'c, kho^ng co' vo~ co^ng na`o sa'nh ba(`ng, kho^ng co' vo~ co^ng na`o ddi.ch la.i, ai ma` ti`m ddu+o+.c, thi` co' the^? du`ng no' chie^'n tha('ng ca'c nu+o+'c Man, DDi.ch, Nhung).

Ghi chu' cu?a thua^t gia? : Man la` ca'c nu+o+'c phu+o+ng Nam Trung-quo^'c, dde^? chi? DDa.i-Vie^.t, DDa.i-ly', Xie^m-la, Chie^m-tha`nh, Cha^n-la.p, La~o-qua. Nhung la` ca'c nu+o+'c phu+o+ng Ta^y Trung-quo^'c, dde^? chi? Ta^y-ha., Ta^y-lie^u, Tho^?-pho^`n, Thanh-ha?i, Ta^y-ta.ng. DDi.ch la` ca'c nu+o+'c phi'a Ba('c Trung-quo^'c dde^? chi? ca'c nu+o+'c Cao-ly, Kim, Lie^u, Mo^ng-co^? v.v.

Tha^'y ma(.t Ngo^ Gio+'i thu+.c kho' coi, Long-Xu+o+?ng tie^'p :

_ Nhu+ng pha'i DDo^ng-a canh pho`ng qua' ky~. Bo^'n vi. ga^`n nhu+ tuye^.t vo.ng. May dda^u, nha^n di.p Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng phi la` Tru+o+?ng-dda.i co^ng chu'a Hue^.-Nhu hoa(ng, To^'ng trie^`u cu~ng nhu+ pha'i Hoa-so+n cu+? su+' gia? sang ddie^'u tang. Trong khi pha'i DDo^ng-a tang gia bo^'i ro^'i, bo^'n vi. dda~ ma^.t truye^`n ba`i ca khuye^'t tre^n cho dda.i die^.n pha'i Hoa-so+n, cu`ng no'i ro~ no+i ca^'t vo~ kinh. Tu+` dda^'y, pha'i Hoa-so+n ti`m ddu? ca'ch, dde^? sang DDa.i-Vie^.t ti`m bo^. Vo^-Trung kinh, ma` kho^ng ai co' gan, bo+?i muo^'n ti`m bo^. kinh tre^n thi` pha?i ddo^.t nha^.p to^?ng ddu+o+`ng pha'i DDo^ng-a. Ma` ba('c thang le^n tro+`i thi` de^~, chu+' ddo^.t nha^.p to^?ng ddu+o+`ng pha'i na`y thi` kho'. Co' pha?i the^' kho^ng ?

Ma(.t Ngo^ Gio+'i ca`ng ta'i xanh ho+n.

_ Tuye^.t vo.ng qu'a, ho'a lie^`u, Tuye^n-vu~ su+' nghi~ dde^'n vie^.c ddo^.i lo^'t kha'ch thu+o+ng sang DDa.i-Vie^.t, ha^`u do` da^~m, a(n ca('p vo~ pho^?. Tuye^n-vu~ su+' bie^'t ra(`ng mo^.t mi`nh pha'i Hoa-so+n qua DDa.i-Vie^.t, kho^ng khe'o se~ bo? tha^n o+? dda^y ma^'t. Ne^n Tuye^n-vu~ su+' ddo^.t nha^.p hoa`ng cung, ma^.t thu' to^.i khi qua^n gia? che^'t vo+'i vua To^'ng, ro^`i ti`nh nguye^.n la`m ma^.t su+' theo Mao Khie^m. DDa.o su+ tu+o+?ng ra(e`ng mi`nh ha`nh su+. gio^'ng nhu+ Ye^n-vu+o+ng Trie^.u Nguye^n-Nghie^~m xu+a kia, dde^? lo+~ ra khi a(n ca('p vo~ kinh bi. lo^., co`n nho+` trie^`u ddi`nh DDa.i-Vie^.t can thie^.p vo+'i pha'i DDo^ng-a tha ma.ng cho.

Ghi chu' cu?a thua^.t gia?.

Vie^.c DDi.nh-vu+o+ng Trie^.u Nguye^n-Nghie^~m ca^`m dda^`u mo^.t su+' ddoa`n ma^.t sang DDa.i-Vie^t, xa^?y ra va`o tho+`i vua Ly' Tha'i-to^?. Xin ddo.c Anh-hu`ng Tie^u-so+n, 3 quye^?n, 910 trang cu?a Ye^n-tu+? cu+ si~ do Xua^n-thu Hoa-ky` xua^'t ba?n. Ve^` gia` Nguye^n-Nghie^~m ddu+o+.c ca?i phong la` Ye^n-vu+o+ng.

Bi. Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i toe.t a^m mu+u ra, Ngo^ Gio+'i kinh ha~i vo^ cu`ng. Y cho^'ng che^' :

_ Tha'i-tu+? chi? nghe ddo^`n nha?m. Ba^`n dda.o sang DDa.i-Vie^.t vo+'i ma^.t chi? kha'c...

Long-Xu+o+?ng cau ma(.t la.i, no'i ga(`n tu+`ng tie^'ng:

_ Na`y Ngo^ Tuye^n-vu~ su+', giu+~a chu'ng ta dde^`u la` ngu+o+`i co' ddi.a vi. ca?, vie^.c gi` ma` pha?i cho^'i quanh ? Ne^'u nhu+ Tuye^n-vu~ su+' co`n giu+~ ddu+o+.c Hoa-so+n tu+' dda.i tha^`n ky~, thi` ta.i sao vu+`a ro^`i Tuye^n-vu~ su+' tha^'y nhi. dde^. cu?a co^ gia dda'nh va`i chie^u kie^'m Hoa-so+n, ma` Tuye^n-vu~ su+' pha?i nga^y ngu+o+`i ra xin y die^~n la.i dde^? ho.c ?

Long-Xu+o+?ng chi? va`o bo^'n su+ dde^. cu?a Ngo^ Gio+'i:

No' nha('c la.i nhu+~ng gi` dda~ no'i ban na~y ve^` vie^.c Tru+o+`ng-giang ngu~ kie^.t bi. vua To^'ng ti`m ca'ch ha.i, dde^? kho^ng ai da'm nha('c dde^'n vie^.c ddem hai vua Huy-To^ng, Kha^m-To^ng tu+` Kim ve^` ro^`i ho?i la.i :

_ Co' ddu'ng the^' kho^ng?

Tha^'y Ngo^ Gio+'i im la(.ng, no' tie^'p:

_ Ban na~y tie^?u bo^'i dda~ no'i ro^`i, ma` dda.o su+ la.i que^n, hay co^' ti`nh que^n. Va^.y tie^?u bo^'i xin nha('c la.i mo^.t la^`n nu+~a : Vi` tha^'y Nha.c Phi bi. ba('t, dda.o su+ vo^.i gia? che^'t o+? Tie^n-nha^n quan, le^n a^?n o+? nu'i Hoa-so+n, ddi tu la^'y dda.o hie^.u la` Trung-nha.c Tung-so+n tu+?; du` tuo^?i mo+'i co' bo^'n mu+o+i ba^?y. Hai na(m sau Nha.c Phi bi. ga~ Trie^.u Ca^'u tu+'c Thie^.u-Hu+ng gie^'t o+? chu`a DDa.i-ly'. Hai tu+o+'ng co' co^ng kho^ng ke'm Phi la` con Phi te^n Va^n, cu`ng vo+'i danh tu+o+'ng Tru+o+ng Ma^~n bi. ddem che'm o+? cho+.; ta`i sa?n bi. ti.ch thu. Vo+., to^i to+' bi. ddem cho binh li'nh gia?i tri' lu'c xa nha`... Ma^'y ngu+o+`i ddo' che^'t thu+.c dda'ng kie^'p, dda'ng to^.i. DDo' la` ca'i to^.i ngu trung. Tha^'y hoa`n ca?nh Nha.c Phi, dda.o su+ re't qua', vo^.i tie^u dao ma^y nu+o+'c. Ga~ vua Thie^.u-Hu+ng bie^'t dda.o su+ gia? che^'t, nhu+ng cu~ng vo+` than kho'c, ro^`i ban cho ba mu+o+i va.n ddo^`ng tie^`n, truy phong tu+o+'c Tha'i-su+.

DDe^'n dda^y no' cu+o+`i :

_ Na`y Ngo^ dda.o su+. DDa~ hai la^`n tie^?u bo^'i no'i ro~ ha`nh tra.ng cu?a dda.o su+ ro^`i. Va^.y dda.o su+ kho^ng ddu+o+.c la`m kho' de^~ dda.i ca cu?a tie^?u bo^'i nu+~a nghe.

Ngo^ Gio+'i nhi`n Nha^'t-Lie^~u:

_ DDu+o+.c! Ta ba^`n dda.o xin hu+'a.

Y ddo^?i ca'ch xu+ng ho^:

_ Nhu+ng su+. the^? dda~ nhu+ the^' na`y, thi` ta xin mo+`i Hie^?n-Trung vu+o+ng, thie^'u hie^.p vo+'i ddo^ ddo^'c Nha^'t-Lie^~u du ngoa.n nu'i Hoa-so+n i't la^u. kho^ng bie^'t thie^'u hie^.p co' vui lo`ng kho^ng?

Thu?-Huy cau ma(.t:

_ I't la^u? I't la^u la` ma^'y tha'ng?

_ Cho'ng hay cha^`y la` tu`y o+? thie^'u hie^.p.

_???

Ngo^ Gio+'i chi? khoang lo+'n cu?a thuye^`n ddinh:

_ Na`o mo+`i ca'c vi. va`o trong khoang thuye^`n, chu'ng ta uo^'ng chung tra`, ba`n chuye^.n dda.i su+..

Su+. kho^ng ddu+`ng ddu+o+.c, Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i vo+'i Thu?-Huy, Nha^'t-Lie^~u:

_ Nhi. dde^.! DDo^a^ ddo^'c! Chu'ng ta ha~y cu`ng la`m kha'ch cu?a Tuye^n-vu~ su+'.

No'i ro^`i vu+o+ng theo sau Ngo^ Gio+'i, cu+? chi? ddu+o+`ng be^., tu+ tha'i ung dung, la`m Ngo^ kinh nga.c kho^ng i't, trong lo`ng vie^n tu+o+'ng To^'ng nhu? tha^`m:

_ Thie^'u nie^n na`y ddo+?m lu+o+.c thu+.c phi pha`m. Ro~ ra`ng y bi. ta uy hie^'p, co' the^? ma^'t ma.ng, ma` va^~n bi`nh ti~nh, ngo^n tu+` o^n ho`a. Thu+.c kho' ma` kie^'m ddu+o+.c ngu+o+`i thu+' nhi`. Nay mai y le^n la`m vua Giao-chi? thi` la` ddie^`u ra^'t nguy ha.i cho Trung-nguye^n.

Pha^n ngo^i chu? kha'ch xong. Ngo^ Gio+'i mo+? lo+`i tru+o+'c tha'i ddo^. cu?a y to? ra ho`a nha~:

_ Co' gi` dda^u! DDu'ng nhu+ Hie^?n-trung vu+o+ng no'i. Mu.c ddi'ch chuye^'n ddi cu?a ba^`n dda.o la` ti`m la.i Vo^-Trung vo~ kinh. Nhu+ng nay ti`m kho^ng ddu+o+.c, ma` thie^'u hie^.p la.i thuo^.c lo`ng bo^. na`y, thi` thie^'u hie^.p la` bo^. vo~ pho^? so^'ng. Vi` va^.y, ba^`n dda.o mo+`i thie^'u hie^.p du ngoa.n Hoa-so+n, ro^`i vie^'t la.i cho ba^`n dda.o, the^' tho^i.

Thu?-Huy tha^'y y la.i ddo^?i tha'i ddo^. thi` mi?m cu+o+`i:

_ Kho^ng le~ chi? co' va^.y sao? Tie^?u bo^'i kho^ng tin. Na`y Ngo^ dda.o su+, i't nha^'t dda.o su+ co' dde^'n hai hay ba mu.c ddi'ch kha'c nhau trong vu. na`y.

Ngo^ Gio+'i ta'i ma(.t, y no'i vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng:

_ Nhi. dde^. cu?a vu+o+ng gia thu+.c la` xua^'t chu'ng. Sau na`y vu+o+ng gia le^n ngo^i ro^`i, ma` dda(.t y vao chu+'c te^? tu+o+'ng, thi` kho^ng mo^.t gian nha^n na`o qua ma('t ddu+o+c y. Na`y vu+o+ng gia, ba^`n dda.o bie^'t vu+o+ng gia ro+`i Tha(ng-long ddi Thie^n-tru+o+`ng dde^? mo+`i DDo^ng-a ngu~ tuye^.t tham du+. dda.i ho^.i Lo^.c-ha`. Ma` dda.i ho^.i Lo^.c-ha` chi? vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch chi?nh ddo^'n la.i ky? cu+o+ng, ne^u cao chu? dda.o to^.c Vie^.t. Nhu+ng ne^'u nhu+ dda.i ho^.i tha`nh co^ng, ca'c gia, ca'c pha'i ddo^`ng ta^m tro+. giu'p trie^`u ddi`nh, thi` i't ra co' hai gio`ng ho. ngoa.i thi'ch bi. tru di tam to^.c. Vu+o+ng gia co' bie^'t vie^.c ddo' kho^ng?

_ Ta quye^'t ne^u cao ddu+'c tu+` bi hy? xa? cu?a ddu+'c The^'-to^n, dda.i nghi~a bo^'n nghi`n na(m chu? dda.o cu?a to^.c Vie^.t, thi` sao la.i co' the^? ta`n sa't ngoa.i thi'ch nhi??

_ Vu+o+ng gia nghi~ the^', se~ la`m the^'. Nhu+ng bo.n ho. DDo^~ cu?a Chie^u-Hie^'u tha'i ha^.u, ho. Le^ cu?a Ca?m-Tha'nh tha'i ha^.u la.i kho^ng nghi~ the^'.

_ Nghi~a la`???

_ Chu'ng chi? nghi~ dde^'n vie^.c cu~ la` chu'ng dda~ ta`n sa't to^ng tha^'t qua' nhie^`u. Khi quye^`n ro+`i kho?i tay Tha'i-ha^.u, ba^'y gio+` phu. hoa`ng hoa(.c vu+o+ng gia ca^`m quye^`n thi` chu'ng se~ kho^ng co`n dda^'t ma` cho^n. Tru+o+'c ca'i the^' mo^.t ma^'t, mo^.t co`n, chu'ng pha?i e'p, pha?i xin tha'i-ha^.u ha. vu+o+ng gia. Nhu+ng vu+o+ng gia la` ngu+o+`i anh minh, ha`nh su+. quang minh lo^~i la.c, tha'i-ha^.u kho^ng the^? phe^' vu+o+ng gia ddu+o+.c. Nay bie^'t tin vu+o+ng gia a^m tha^`m ddi Thie^n-tru+o+`ng, tha'i-ha^.u sai Nghi-ta`m song ma ddo'n ddu+o+`ng ba('t co'c vu+o+ng gia giam la.i i't nga`y. Ba^'y gio+`...

Y mi?m cu+o+`i nhi`n Thu?-Huy:

_ Ca'i gi` se~ xa^?y ra, thie^'u hie^.p co' bie^'t kho^ng?