Trong dda.i sa?nh ddu+o+`ng pha'i DDo^ng-a.
Chu+o+?ng mo^n nha^n Tra^`n Tu+.-Kinh ngo^`i o+? ngo^i chu? vi. tie^'p kha'ch. Hie^?n-Trung vu+o+ng Ly' Long-Xu+o+?ng ngo^`i o+? ngo^i vi. dde^. nha^'t, ke^' tie^'p la` ddo^ ddo^'c Ly' Long-Tha^`n, tu+'c Nha^'t-Lie^~u. DDo^ng-a ngu~ tuye^.t cu`ng ca'c phu nha^n, ca'c dde^. tu+? ddo+`i thu+' nhi`, theo thu+' ba^.c ngo^`i du+o+'i. Mo^.t ngu+o+`i, tuy la` dde^. tu+? ra^'t tha^'p ddo+`i thu+' ba, ddu+o+.c dda(.t ngo^`i ngang vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng la` Tra^`n Thu?-Huy. Vi` Huy la` em ke^'t nghi~a cu?a vu+o+ng.
DDa^y la` mo^.t sa?nh ddu+o+`ng lo+'n nha^'t cu?a mo^n pha'i. Tu+o+`ng xa^y ba(`ng dda', ne^`n la't ga.ch. Cu+?a va`o hai be^n ho^ng, theo hu+o+'ng Nam, Ba('c. Ba`n tho+` , ba`i vi. tho+` to^? dda(.t ta.i dda^`u DDo^ng. Ca'c ha`ng ghe^' dda(.t da`i tu+` dda^`u Ta^y, hu+o+'ng ve^` ba`n tho+`. Ngay tru+o+'c ba`n tho+` co' ca'i ho^` nho?, theo hi`nh ba't qua'i, ddu+o+`ng ki'nh khoa?ng bo^'n tru+o+.ng, trong ho^` dda^`y ca' che'p va`ng lu+~ng lo+` bo+i lo^.i.
Long-Xu+o+?ng cha('p tay va'i cu+? to.a, ro^`i tie^'p:
_ Va~n sinh dda~ tri`nh ba^`y ca'i chi' no^ng ca.n ro^`i. Xin chu+ vi. cho bie^'t to^n y' ? Kho^ng bie^'t chu+ vi. se~ giu'p va~n sinh ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng gi` ?
DDe^. nhi. nha^n trong DDo^ng-a ngu~ tuye^.t la` Vu~ Tu+?-Ma^~n, ddu+o+.c to^n la` ca'i tu'i kho^n cu?a DDa.i-Vie^.t ; ddu+a ma('t nhi`n su+ phu. dde^? ho?i y' kie^'n. Tu+.-Kinh ga^.t dda^`u. Tu+?-Ma^~n hu+o+'ng va`o Long-Xu+o+?ng :
_ Chi' cu?a ddie^.n ha. thu+.c kho^ng nho?. Ne^'u ddu+o+.c thi ha`nh, thi` DDa.i-Vie^.t co' co+ phu.c ho^`i phong khi' ddo+`i ca'c tie^n dde^' . Tu+` tho+`i ddu+'c Tha'i-to^?, pha'i DDo^ng-a dda~ go'p kho^ng i't co^ng lao va`o vie^.c tra^'n Ba('c, bi`nh Nam. Nhu+ng tu+` nga`y bo.n Qua'ch Quy`, Trie^.u Tie^'t bi. ba.i, pha?i ru't qua^n (1077), pha'i DDo^ng-a la.i tro+? ve^` vo+'i mo^n quy la` tie^u dao vo+'i co? ca^y, ha`nh hie^.p giu'p ddo+`i. Vie^.c no^.i tri. dde^? cho trie^`u ddi`nh. Vi` va^.y chu'ng to^i kho^ng giu'p gi` cho ddie^.n ha. ddu+o+.c ca?.
Long-Xu+o+?ng ddu+'ng da^.y cung tay :
_ Thu+a Nhi.-hie^.p ! Kho^ng bie^'t mo^n quy cu?a quy' pha'i the^' na`o ? Nhu+ng va`o tho+`i ddu+'c Tha'i-to^? ngoa`i Quo^'c-ma^~u Thanh-Mai ra, co`n co' ca'c dde^. tu+? nhu+ Quo^'c-co^ng Ngo^ An-Ngu+~ li~nh Tru+o+`ng-ye^n tie^'t ddo^. su+'. Ca'c vi. DDoa`n Tho^ng, Vu~ Minh, Pha.m Tuy tu+`ng li~nh ddo^ ddo^'c, ke? ddu+o+.c phong ha^`u, ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c phong co^ng. DDe^'n tho+`i ddu+'c Nha^n-to^ng ta^'t ca? ca'c ddo^ ddo^'c dde^`u la` ngu+o+`i qu'y pha'i. Quo^'c da^n thie^n ha. va^~n no'i ra(`ng : Quo^'c gia an nguy tha^'t phu hu+~u tra'ch. Mo.i an nguy cu?a DDa.i-Vie^.t dde^`u do pha'i DDo^ng-a tro+. thu? . The^' ma` nay Nhi.-hie^.p la.i no'i ra(`ng, mo^n quy quy' pha'i kho^ng cho dde^. tu+? li~nh tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a tru+o+.ng phu, thi` va~n sinh kho^ng hie^?u no^?i.
_ Mo^n quy cu?a thie^?m pha'i thay ddo^?i luo^n luo^n. Vie^.c thie^?m pha'i cho dde^. tu+? xua^'t chi'nh, vo^'n co' tu+` tru+o+'c. Sau khi to^? Tu+.-An quy tie^n, thi` to^? Tu+.-Mai (Kinh-Nam vu+o+ng) to^? chu+'c dda.i ho^.i dde^? xe't la.i mo^.t so^' ddie^`u le^.. Trong nhu+~ng ddie^`u le^. thay ddo^?i ddo' co' khoa?n tuye^.t ddo^'i xa la'nh co^ng danh.
Long-Xu+o+?ng ngo^`i nho^?m da^.y mi?m cu+o+`i :
_ DDie^`u na`y va~n sinh bie^'t. Va~n sinh thu+? no'i ra xem, ne^'u co' gi` sai, xin dda.i hie^.p chi?nh cho. Trong dda.i ho^.i ddo' quye^'t ddi.nh ba ddie^`u quan tro.ng : Mo^.t la`, dde^. tu+? pha?i ho.c va(n luye^.n vo~. Luye^.n vo~ dde^? co' su+'c kho?e, ma` ho.c va(n. Ho.c va(n dde^? co' kie^'n thu+'c nghie^n cu+'u, pha't huy nhu+~ng ddie^`u mo+'i la. cho vo~. Hai la`, la^'y ha`nh hie^.p giu'p ddo+`i, trong bo^'n ly' : DDe^. nha^'t ly' la` ba?o ve^. xa~ ta('c. DDe^. nhi. ly' la` cu+'u kho^'n pho` nguy . DDe^. tam ly' la` tru die^.t bo.n sa^u da^n, mo.t nu+o+'c. DDe^. tu+' ly' la` tru+` gian, die^.t ba.o. Ba la`, la^'y tie^u dao vo+'i co? ca^y la`m nguo^`n vui, tuye^.t ddo^'i xa la'nh co^ng danh.
Nghe Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i, Vu~ Tu+?-Ma^~n nhu? tha^`m :
_ Che^'t thu+.c, tu+` tru+o+'c dde^'n gio+`, nghe thie^n ha. ddo^`n tha'i-tu+? Long-Xu+o+?ng la` mo^.t tha^`n ddo^`ng, ta cho ra(`ng qua' dda'ng. Ban na~y, y va`o dda^y ta cu+' tu+o+?ng y la` con ni't, thi` nhu+~ng phu+o+ng lu+o+.c y tri`nh ba^`y dde^? chi?nh ddo^'n la.i dda^'t nu+o+'c la` cu?a Tha'i-su+ Lu+u Kha'nh-DDa`m ; ne^n ta thu+? y. Ba^y gio+` y u+'ng kha^?u ddo^'i dda'p vo+'i ta the^' na`y, thi` y la` mo^.t thie^n ta`i thu+.c. Ta ha~y thu+? y i't ca^u nu+~a xem sao.
Nghi~ va^.y o^ng no'i :
_ DDu'ng nhu+ ddie^.n ha. no'i. Chu'ng to^i quye^'t vui vo+'i co? ca^y, ma` kho^ng vu+o+'ng va`o vo`ng co^ng danh, tham du+. va`o vie^.c trie^`u chi'nh ha^`u giu'p ddie^.n ha. thi ha`nh ca'i chi'.
Long-Xu+o+?ng cha('p tay ddu+'ng da^.y va'i cu+? to.a mo^.t la^`n ro^`i cu+o+`i :
_ DDa.i hie^.p hie^?u la^`m ro^`i. Va~n sinh kho^ng co' y' ddi.nh nhu+ the^'. Kho^ng pha?i va^.y. Muo^n nga`n la^`n kho^ng pha?i va^.y. Va~n sinh to+'i dda^y xin quy' pha'i tro+. giu'p, dda^u pha?i ddem ma^'y dda^'u ga.o, ma^'y ddo^`ng ba.c ra dde^? thi?nh ca'c vi. la`m quan ! Va~n sinh dde^'n dda^y dde^? nho+` ca'c vi. giu'p su+'c ba?o ve^. xa~ ta('c ma` !
Tu+.-Kinh la` ngu+o+`i dda.o ddu+'c, o^ng kho^ng muo^'n thu+? Long-Xu+o+?ng nhu+ Vu~ Tu+?-Ma^~n. Oa^ng ho?i : _ Theo la~o phu, tu+` khi vua Tha^`n-to^ng ba(ng, thi` ha^.u cung bi. ca'i na.n ga` ma'i ga'y, trong trie^`u bi. ca'i na.n ngoa.i thi'ch hoa`nh ha`nh. Muo^'n tru+` ca'i na.n na`y, chi? ca^`n hoa`ng-thu+o+.ng hay ddie^.n ha. truye^`n mo^.t chi?, ddem ta^.n so^' chu'ng ra xu+? tu+? la` xong. Vie^.c gi` pha?i nho+` dde^'n vo~ la^m ?
_ Thu+a la~o dda.i hie^.p, su+. vie^.c kho^ng gia?n di. nhu+ va^.y dda^u. Ti`nh hi`nh xa~ ta('c sa('p nguy trong so+'m to^'i, ne^'u la~o dda.i hie^.p kho^ng ra tay thi` nu+o+'c se~ ma^'t kho^ng bie^'t lu'c na`o. Ma` ngu+o+`i la`m ma^'t nu+o+'c la.i chi'nh la` cao ddo^` cu?a quy' pha'i, ne^n vo~ la^m kho^ng ai da'm ra tay gie^'t y. Bo+?i tu.c ngu+~ co' ca^u : DDa'nh cho' pha?i ne^? chu? nha`. Tu+.-Ha^'p kinh ha~i :
_ DDe^. tu+? ba?n mo^n ? Y te^n gi` ?
_ Thu+a, y te^n Mao Khie^m.
Ca? sa?nh ddu+o+`ng cu`ng ba^.t le^n tie^'ng o^` lo+'n. Tu+.-Ha^'p ho?i :
_ Thie^?m pha'i qua? co' mo^.t dde^. tu+? te^n Mao Khie^m. Nhu+ng y ve^` To^'ng tu+` la^u ro^`i, kho^ng co' tin tu+'c gi`. DDie^.n-ha. no'i ma^'t nu+o+'c, y' chi? vie^.c Mao Khie^m la`m gian te^' cho To^'ng cha(ng ?
_ Thu+a dda.i hie^.p kho^ng. Mao Khie^m kho^ng la`m gian te^' cho To^'ng, ma` y co^ng khai ddu+a gia(.c To^'ng va`o trong nu+o+'c tu+` ma^'y na(m nay ro^`i !
_ The^' qua^n To^'ng dda~ nha^.p bie^n u+ ? Do tu+o+'ng na`o chi? huy ?
_ Thu+a, gia(.c To^'ng kho^ng pha?i o+? Ung, Lie^m, Dung, Nghi, Ba.ch cha^u, hay o+? Nhu+-nguye^.t, Co^?-pha'p, ma` chu'ng dda~ dde^'n Tha(ng-long. Kho^ng pha?i chu'ng o+? ngoa`i tha`nh Tha(ng-long, ma` chu'ng na(`m o+? trong Hoa`ng-tha`nh. Xa~ ta('c nguy nhu+ tru+'ng cho^`ng tre^n dda', mo^.t so+'m, mo^.t to^'i se~ tro+? tha`nh qua^.n huye^.n cu?a To^'ng. DDau ddo+'n thay gia(.c To^'ng la.i do cao ddo^` cu?a quy' pha'i la` Mao Bi`nh ddu+a va`o.

Tu+` ma^'y na(m nay, theo le^.nh cu?a chu+o+?ng mo^n Tra^`n Tu+.-Kinh, DDo^ng-a ngu~ tuye^.t da^~n dde^. tu+? qua la.i giang ho^` tru+` gian die^.t ba.o. DDe^. ngu~ tuye^.t la` Tra^`n Tu+?-Gia'c, trong khi ha`nh hie^.p o+? Tha(ng-long, thi` ga(.p Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n. Thu'c-Ca^?n ba'o cho o^ng ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng tin tu+'c ve^` Ca?m-Tha'nh tha'i ha^.u chuye^n quye^`n, ve^` vie^.c Mao Khie^m la`m gian te^' cho To^'ng. Ca?m-Tha'nh tha'i ha^.u da^'u su+' ddoa`n trong cung, chua^?n bi. phe^' nha` vua xuo^'ng, ga^y no^.i chie^'n, ro^`i To^'ng mang qua^n sang.
Tu+?-Gia'c kinh hoa?ng, mo^.t ma(.t sai ngu+o+`i ba'o cho su+ phu. bie^'t. Mo^.t ma(.t truye^`n le^.nh cho ca'c dde^. tu+? tung ngu+o+`i kha('p Tha(ng-long theo do~i ti`nh hi`nh. Tu+.-Kinh nha^.n ddu+o+.c hung tin, o^ng sai chim u+ng mang thu+ ddi trie^.u ho^`i ta^'t ca? ca'c con, va` na(m dde^. tu+? kha^?n tro+? ve^`, dde^? ba`n ddi.nh phu+o+ng sa'ch ddo^'i pho'.

Tin na`y dde^'n vo+'i vo+. cho^`ng Tra^`n Tu+.-Ha^'p, giu+~a lu'c o^ng ba` ddang da^~n hai con la` Tra^`n Thu?-Ly' va` Tra^`n Thu?-Huy ha`nh hie^.p o+? Kinh-Ba('c. O^ng ba` vo^.i va~ da^~n con ve^` phu.c me^.nh. Tre^n ddu+o+`ng tu+` Tha(ng-long xuo^i Nam, o^ng ba` ga(.p Nghi-ta`m song ma ddang dduo^?i ba('t Long-Xu+o+?ng. DDu'ng ra, o^ng ba` pho'ng chu+o+?ng dda^.p che^'t chu'ng, dde^? tru+` ddi hai te^n ma dda^`u. Nhu+ng, vi` kho^ng bie^'t ro~ Long-Xu+o+?ng la` ai ? Ta.i sao Song-ma la.i muo^'n ba('t co'c, ne^n ba` cho con bie^'n Song-ma tha`nh tro` cu+o+`i, ro^`i pho'ng hai chie^u Bu+'c-ma.ch va`o ngu+o+`i chu'ng, ba('t chu'ng pha?i ve^` Thie^n-tru+o+`ng cung khai su+. thu+.c.
Trong khi giao tie^'p vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng, o^ng ba` tha^'y o+? thie^'u nie^n na`y to?a ra khi' pha'ch phi thu+o+`ng, la.i muo^'n ti`m mi`nh dde^? theo ho.c. Ba` ddo^`ng y' cho Thu?-Huy ddi chung ngu+.a vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng, ha^`u do` ly' li.ch y. Nhu+ng khi o^ng ba` ve^` dde^'n nha`, thi` kho^ng tha^'y Long-Xu+o+?ng, Thu?-Huy dda^u. Ba` tu+'c to^'c sai na(m con nuo^i la` Hoa`ng-Anh, Ba.ch-Ha.c, Huye^`n-Mi, Thanh-Tu+o+'c, Ho^`ng-Ye^'n ddi ti`m. Vi` kha('p tra^'n Thie^n-tru+o+`ng, cho^~ na`o cu~ng co' tai ma('t cu?a pha'i DDo^ng-a, ne^n kho^ng kho' kha(n, na(m thie^'u nu+~ ti`m ngay ra tung ti'ch hai tre?. Na`o vie^.c Long-Xu+o+?ng, Thu?-Huy ke^'t nghi~a. Na`o vie^.c hai ngu+o+`i xuo^'ng mo^.t du thuye^`n cu?a ddo^ ddo^'c Nha^'t-Lie^~u, va` thuye^`n ddang xuo^i ra bie^?n. Na(m ngu+o+`i cu~ng thu ddu+o+.c tin co' con thuye^`n cu?a bo.n kha'ch thu+o+ng To^'ng, lua^?n qua^?n quanh Thie^n-tru+o+`ng tu+` ho+n tua^`n qua, kho^ng ro~ vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch gi` ?
Nghe na(m con nuo^i ba'o tin, Tu+.-Ha^'p bie^'t ngay, ddo' kho^ng pha?i la` thuye^`n buo^n, ma` bo.n na`y la` dde^. tu+? pha'i Hoa-so+n sang ti`m vo~ kinh. Vi` tu+` la^u dda~ co' nhie^`u dde^. tu+? Hoa-so+n gia? la`m kha'ch thu+o+ng dde^'n ti`m bo^. Vo^-trung vo~ kinh, dda~ bi. pha'i DDo^ng-a dda'nh dduo^?i hoa(.c gie^'t che^'t. O^ng ba'o cho phu. tha^n cu`ng anh em, chu+ dde^. tu+? bie^'t. Tu+.-Kinh sai Vu~ Tu+?-Ma^~n la^.p ke^', sai na(m co^ con nuo^i cu?a Tu+.-Ha^'p ba('t ca? bo.n Hoa-so+n ddem ve^` to^?ng dda`n, ro^`i giam trong lao xa'.

Nha('c la.i, sau khi Thu?-Huy cu`ng Long-Xu+o+?ng, Nha^'t-Lie^~u nha?y xuo^'ng thuye^`n cu?a Hoa`ng-Anh ; Thu?-Huy mo+'i no'i thu+.c cho Long-Xu+o+?ng bie^'t phu. tha^n mi`nh chi'nh la` Tra^`n Tu+.-Ha^'p, ma^~u tha^n mi`nh la` Bu`i Anh-Hoa. Nghe Thu?-Huy ke^?, Long-Xu+o+?ng mu+`ng run le^n ddu+o+.c. Huy gio+'i thie^.u vo+'i Long-Xu+o+?ng na(m co^ ga'i da`n thuye^`n ba('t bo.n Hoa-so+n, la` na(m ngu+o+`i chi. nuo^i cu?a mi`nh. Trong ma^'y na(m qua, na(m ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c pha'i DDo^ng-a da.y va(n, luye^.n vo~, ro^`i theo bo^' me. nuo^i, cu`ng ca'c su+ thu'c qua la.i giang ho^` ha`nh hie^.p, ddu+o+.c vo~ la^m ta(.ng cho my~ danh la` Vy.-xuye^n ngu~ tie^n.
Khi Vy.-xuye^n ngu~ tie^n da^~n Long-Xu+o+?ng, Thu?-Huy ga(.p Tu+.-Ha^'p, o^ng ba` mo+'i bie^'t thie^'u nie^n ma` mi`nh ga(.p go+~ giu+~a ddu+o+`ng chi'nh la` tha'i-tu+? Ly' Long-Xu+o+?ng, tu+o+'c phong Hie^?n-Trung vu+o+ng. Oa^ng ba` vo^.i ba'o cho phu. tha^n bie^'t, ro^`i sai dda'nh tro^'ng ho.p dde^. tu+? o+? dda.i sa?nh ddu+o+`ng du`ng le^~ tie^'p thie^'u nie^n na`y.

Ba^y gio+` nghe Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i : Gia(.c To^'ng dda~ o+? trong Hoa`ng-tha`nh Tha(ng-long, va` la.i do dde^. tu+? pha'i DDo^ng-a la` Mao Khie^m ddu+a va`o, Tu+.-Kinh vo^.i cha('p tay :
_ Ne^'u qua? Mao Khie^m dda~ ga^y ra nhu+~ng ddie^`u tai ha.i cho xa~ ta('c, cho vo~ la^m, la~o phu xin chi.u lo^~i. Nay la~o phu tuo^?i dda~ cao, i't qua la.i giang ho^`, ne^n kho^ng bie^'t Mao Khie^m dda~ ga^y ra nhu+~ng gi` ba^'t lo+.i cho dda^'t nu+o+'c. Mong ddie^.n ha. gia?i the^m chi tie^'t, thi` la~o phu mo+'i hie^?u ro~, dde^? co`n tru+` y.
Long-Xu+o+?ng thu+' tu+. tu+o+`ng thua^.t : Na`o Mao Ki'nh a^m tha^`m che'p vo~ co^ng Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch ma^.t trao cho vo+.. Mao Khie^m ddu+o+.c the^' tu+? Vi.-Hoa`ng thu la`m dde^. tu+?, ro^`i y theo su+' To^'ng ca?i ta'ng Tru+o+`ng-ba.ch song hu`ng ve^` Trung-nguye^n. Trie^`u ddi`nh To^'ng sai y la`m tho^ng di.ch theo su+' ddoa`n. Khi su+' ddoa`n ve^`, y tro^'n la.i tie^`m a^?n trong phu? DDo^~ Anh-Vu~, da.y Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c cho y. Na`o y du`ng ddo^.c chu+o+?ng kho^'ng che^' ca'c chu+o+?ng mo^n nha^n, dde^? la^'y bi' lu.c ca'c pha'i, ddem ve^` cho To^'ng trie^`u, dde^? To^'ng trie^`u nghie^n cu+'u pha' ca'ch. Co`n vie^.c y gie^'t Kha'nh-Hy? dda.i su+, thi` Long-Xu+o+?ng no'i tre'o ddi la` do Anh-Vu~ a'm toa'n. Mao co`n da.y na(m dde^. tu+? la` Nu`ng-so+n tam anh, To^-li.ch nhi. tie^n. Na`o y ddu+a bo.n Ngo^ Gio+'i, Lu+u Ky` a^?n trong cung Ca?m-tha'nh. Na`o bo.n Ngo^, Lu+u vo+'i y giu'p tha'i-ha^.u to^? chu+'c cung Ca?m-Thanh tha`nh trie^`u ddi`nh rie^ng vo+'i dda^`y ddu? chu+'c quan. Na`o y vo+'i bo.n Ngo^ khuye^n tha'i-ha^.u la^.p nhu+~ng ddo^.i Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. nhu+ mo^.t qua^n ddo^.i rie^ng. Na`o bo.n Ngo^, Lu+u vo+'i Mao Bi`nh chi? co`n cho+` di.p phe^' nha` vua xuo^'ng, ddu+a Lu+u Ky` le^n la`m vua... Na`o la` khi Long-Xu+o+?ng ddi Thie^n-tru+o+`ng, thi` tha'i-ha^.u sai Nghi-ta`m song ma, sai Nha^'t-Lie^~u ddo'n ddu+o+`ng ha.i. Na`o bo.n Ngo^, Lu+u ba('t Long-Xu+o+?ng vo+'i Thu?-Huy. Ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng vie^.c ddo' co' nghi~a la` tha'i-ha^.u vo+'i bo.n Ngo^, Lu+u co^ng khai ha`nh su+., coi DDa.i-Vie^.t nhu+ giang so+n To^'ng va^.y.

Nghe Long-Xu+o+?ng vo+'i Thu?-Huy tri`nh ba^`y, Tu+.-Kinh ho?i ca'c con, ca'c dde^. tu+? :
_ Ba^y gio+` chu'ng ta pha?i la`m gi` ? Ca'c con nghi~, chu'ng ta pha?i ddo^'i pho' vu. na`y ra sao ?
Con thu+' cu?a Tu+.-Kinh la` Tu+.-Duy ba`n :
_ Thu+a bo^', con nghi~ mi`nh pha?i pha^n vu. na`y ra la`m ba. Mo^.t la` ddo^'i pho' vo+'i Mao Khie^m, Ngo^ Gio+'i, Lu+u Ky`. DDo^'i vo+'i Mao, thi` chu'ng ta pha?i thanh ly' mo^n ho^.. Co`n bo.n Hoa-so+n, chu'ng sang dda^y vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch ti`m bo^. Vo^-Trung vo~ kinh. Vu. na`y chu'ng ta dda~ gia?i quye^'t xong. Ba la`, vu. tha'i-ha^.u chuye^n quye^`n, vu. na`y ta kho^ng ne^n can thie^.p va`o.
Tu+?-Ma^~n xua tay to? y' pha?n ddo^'i :
_ Ta kho^ng the^?...
DDe^'n ddo' dde^. tu+? va`o ba'o :
_ Co' chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Tie^u-so+n la` Pha'p-Dung dda.i su+, chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Me^-linh la` Nghi-Ninh su+ tha'i, chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Ta?n-vie^n la` To^n DDu+'c-Ho`a, chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Sa`i-so+n la` Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n, xin ca^`u kie^'n.
Tu+.-Kinh ddu+'ng le^n va^~y hai con va` na(m dda.i dde^. tu+? :
_ Quy' kha'ch to+'i dda^y cu~ng kho^ng ngoa`i vie^.c Mao Khie^m, Ngo^ Gio+'i, Lu+u Ky`. Chu'ng ta pha?i ra ddo'n quy' kha'ch.
Long-Xu+o+?ng ddu+'ng da^.y :
_ Va~n sinh cu~ng xin ddu+o+.c ra ddo'n ca'c vi. dda.o cao, ddu+'c tro.ng na`y, dde^? to? lo`ng ngu+o+~ng mo^..
To+'i co^?ng trang, Tu+.-Kinh cung tay :
_ Kho^ng bie^'t tra^.n gio' na`o tho^?i, ma` ca? bo^'n vi. dda.i to^n su+ la.i gia' la^m te^. trang the^' na`y !
Bo^'n vi. dde^`u cha('p tay dda'p le^~. Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n chi? va`o Long-Xu+o+?ng :
_ Thu+a la~o dda.i hie^.p, tra^.n gio' ddu+a chu'ng to^i to+'i ca^`u kie^'n dda.i hie^.p la` ddie^.n ha. dda^y. Le^~ nghi ta^'t.
Pha^n ngo^i chu? kha'ch xong. Long-Xu+o+?ng nghi~ tha^`m : _ Cha('c cha('n ca'c vi. to^n su+ to+'i dda^y la` do lo+`i mo+`i cu?a Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n ro^`i. Ha(?n o^ng dda~ tho^ng tri cho ca'c vi. bie^'t nhu+~ng gi` DDo^~ Anh-Ha`o cung khai. Co`n nhu+~ng tin tu+'c ta mo+'i thu lu+o+.m trong chuye^'n ddi vu+`a ro^`i, thi` ca'c vi. na`y chu+a bie^'t. Va^.y ta pha?i tu+o+`ng thua^.t chi tie^'t, ro^`i trao he^'t tra'ch nhie^.m cho ho.. Co' nhu+ va^.y ho. mo+'i chi.u ra tay.
_ Ki'nh thu+a ca'c vi. dda.i to^n su+. Xu+o+?ng na`y la` ddu+'a tre? to'c co`n ddo?, kie^'n thu+'c kho^ng la`m bao. Nhu+ng vi` ca'i ho.a ma^'t nu+o+'c trong so+'m to^'i, ne^n lo+'n ma^.t xin ca'c vi. cho phe'p ddu+o+.c tri`nh ba^`y ta^'t ca? nguy co+ ma^'t nu+o+'c ddo'.
DDa.i su+ Pha'p-Dung cung tay dda'p le^~ :
_ Xin ddie^.n ha. cu+' no'i.
Long-Xu+o+?ng theo thu+' tu+. tri`nh ba^`y die^~n tie^'n nhu+~ng gi` dda~ xa^?y ra. Ro^`i nha^'n ma.nh dde^'n vu. a'n Kha'nh-Hy? dda.i su+, Nghi-Ho`a su+ tha'i, dda.i hie^.p DDa(.ng Phi-So+n bi. gian nha^n ha~m ha.i :
_ Khi vu. a'n xa^?y ra, thi` trie^`u ddi`nh kho^ng bie^'t hung thu? la` ai. Cho dde^'n nay, va~n sinh mo+'i bie^'t la` do a'c nha^n DDo^~ Anh-Vu~ a'm toa'n.
_ DDie^.n ha. la^`m ro^`i.
Pha'p-Dung dda.i su+ la('c dda^`u : Anh-Vu~ la` dde^. tu+? tu.c gia cu?a ba?n pha'i. Vo~ co^ng cu?a y bi`nh thu+o+`ng. Y kho^ng ddu? co^ng lu+.c do^`n ddo^.c to^' va`o ngu+o+`i su+ huynh Kha'nh-Hy?, du` dda'nh tro^.m. Ba(`ng co+' la`, khi hoa`ng-thu+o+.ng kha'm pha' ra vu. y tu+ tho^ng vo+'i Ca?m-Tha'nh hoa`ng tha'i ha^.u, ngu+o+`i truye^`n chi? cho Chie^u-ho`a vu+o+ng Ly' Long-Vu~ ba('t y. Y dda^'u vo+'i vu+o+ng ddu+o+.c va`i chu.c hie^.p thi` bi. ba.i. La.i nu+~a, khi Tri'-Minh vu+o+ng, Ba?o-Minh ha^`u v.v. to^? chu+'c binh bie^'n, y bi. pho` ma~ Du+o+ng Tu+.-Minh dda'nh co' ba chie^u thi` bi. ba('t . Vo+'i co^ng lu+.c nhu+ the^', y kho^ng ddu? kha? na(ng dda? thu+o+ng mo^.t thu? to.a Va.n-Ha.nh ddu+o+`ng.
Mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u ga^.t dda^`u, co^ng nha^.n kie^'n gia?i cu?a Pha'p-Dung dda.i su+ co' ly'. Pha'p-Dung tie^'p :
_ Ngu+o+`i dda? thu+o+ng su+ huynh Kha'nh-Hy? kho^ng ha(?n vo+'i mu.c gie^'t ngu+o+`i. Ne^'u nhu+ sa't nha^n chu? ta^m gie^'t su+ huynh, thi` sau khi su+ huynh bi. tru'ng ddo^.c chu+o+?ng, co^ng lu+.c kho^ng co`n, ddau ddo+'n cu`ng cu+.c, y chi? vie^.c bu'ng tay mo^.t ca'i, ngu+o+`i dda~ vie^n ti.ch ro^`i.
DDa.i-su+ chi? va`o Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n : Ho^`i a^'y, khi ddu+o+c tin ba'o su+ huynh bi. tru'ng Huye^`n-a^m ddo^.c chu+o+?ng. Ba^`n ta(ng sai dde^. tu+? ddem ngu+o+`i ve^` chu`a Tie^u-so+n, ro^`i sai dde^. tu+? thi?nh Le^ tie^n sinh, xin ddie^`u tri.. Nhu+ng ba^'y gio+` Le^ tie^n sinh ddang va^n du Xie^m-quo^'c, ma` ca'c dde^. tu+? thi` kho^ng ai bie^'t tri. ca'i ddo^.c co^ng na`y ca?. Khi Le^ tie^n sinh tro+? ve^` ti`m ra ddu+o+.c thuo^'c gia?i, thi` su+ huynh ba^`n ta(ng dda~ vie^n ti.ch. Tru+o+'c khi vie^n ti.ch, su+ huynh mo+'i tie^'t lo^. cho ba^`n ta(ng bie^'t ra(`ng : Sa't nha^n du`ng vo~ co^ng DDo^ng-a, dde^? xu+? du.ng Huye^`n-a^m no^.i lu+.c. Y ra ddie^`u kie^.n cho su+ huynh, ne^'u ngu+o+`i trao cho y toa`n bo^. pho Thie^`n-co^ng cu?a ba?n pha'i, thi` y se~ trao cho thuo^'c gia?i. Nhu+ng su+ huynh ba^`n ta(ng dda`nh cho.n ca'i che^'t, chu+' kho^ng chi.u pha?n la.i mo^n ho^..
Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n tie^'p lo+`i Pha'p-Dung :
_ Tu+` hai chu.c na(m nay, trong vo~ la^m dda~ xa^?y ra kho^ng bie^'t bao nhie^u nghi a'n, do Huye^`n-a^m ddo^.c to^' ga^y ra. Na`o Chie^u-Hie^'u tha'i ha^.u, na`o Le^.-Thie^n hoa`ng ha^.u, na`o Ly' So+n...Nhu+ng ddo' la`nhu+~ng vu. a'n trong Hoa`ng-cung. DDe^'n vu. a'n Kha'nh-Hy? dda.i su+ , Nghi-Ho`a su+ tha'i, dda.i hie^.p DDa(.ng Phi-So+n thi` thu+.c la` ddie^`u kho^ng bao gio+` vo~ la^m co' the^? tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng no^?i. Vi` dda.i su+ la` thu? to.a Va.n-ha.nh ddu+o+`ng, no^.i co^ng cao tha^m kho^ng bie^'t dda^u ma` lu+o+`ng. Hai vi. chu+o+?ng mo^n pha'i Me^-linh, Ta?n-vie^n, co^ng lu+.c dda^u co' tha^'p ? Nhu+ va^.y co^ng lu+.c sa't nha^n pha?i cao tha^m kho^n lu+o+`ng ? ? ? To^i nghi~ chi? te^n Mao Khie^m mo+'i co' co^ng lu+.c na`y. Nghi-Ninh su+ tha'i ddu+a ma('t nhi`n Pha'p-Dung, Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n, To^n DDu+'c-Ho`a :
_ Ca'i tin pha'i Hoa-so+n ddem dda.i lu+.c lu+o+.ng sang DDa.i-Vie^.t, ddi'ch tha^n Trung-nha.c Tung-so+n dda.o su+ Ngo^ Gio+'i chu+o+?ng mo^n nha^n ca^`m dda^`u, lie^.u co' ddu'ng kho^ng ? Ba^`n ni tha^'y trung gian co' gi` kho' hie^?u. Bo+?i hai na(m tru+o+'c, pha'i Hoa-so+n to^? chu+'c gio^~ to^?. DDa.o su+ co' dda.t thu+ mo+`i anh hu`ng vo~ la^m Hoa, Vie^.t, Xie^m, Cao-ly, DDa.i-ly'...Ba^`n ni dda~ ddu+o+.c tie^'p xu'c vo+'i Hoa-nha.c tam nu+o+ng. Ho. la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i dda.o cao, ddu+'c tro.ng, vo~ co^ng cao tha^m kho^ng bie^'t dda^u ma` lu+o+`ng. Ba^`n ni dda~ ke^'t ba.n vo+'i ca'c vi. ddo'. Kho^ng le~, nay vi` ma^'y dda^'u ga.o, ma` Ngo^ dda.o su+ cu`ng Tam-nu+o+ng bo? nu'i Hoa-so+n sang DDa.i-Vie^.t, la`m chuye^.n ba^'t chi'nh ? Pha'p-Dung dda.i su+ cu~ng than :
_ Na(m ddo', ba^`n ta(ng co' ke^'t ba.n vo+'i Trung-nha.c Tung-so+n Ngo^ Gio+'i, ba^`n dda.o tha^'y dda.o su+ qua? dda~ cha'n the^' tu.c. Kho^ng le~ nay la.i ddi la`m ma^.t su+' cho To^'ng ?
Long-Xu+o+?ng qua? quye^'t :
_ Ca'c vi. dda~ ke^'t ba.n vo+'i ca'c cao thu? Hoa-so+n, va` nha^.n xe't ve^` ho. nhu+ va^.y, va~n sinh kho^ng da'm no'i ra(`ng ca'c vi. sai la^`m. Nhu+ng su+. thu+.c la` su+. thu+.c. La't nu+~a dda^y ca'c vi. se~ tha^'y lo+`i cu?a va~n sinh la` ddu'ng.
To^n DDu+'c-Ho`a than :
_ Ne^'u qua? su+. vie^.c dda~ nhu+ va^.y, thi` chu'ng ta kho^ng the^? khoanh tay ddu+'ng nhi`n ddu+o+.c nu+~a ro^`i. Co^ng vie^.c chu'ng ta la` pha?i ga.t bo? ti`nh rie^ng ra ngoa`i . Ta co' hai vie^.c pha?i la`m la` gie^'t bo.n Ngo^ Gio+'i, Lu+u Ky`, Mao Khie^m, cu`ng die^.t ca'i trie^`u ddi`nh ga` ma'i ga'y kia. DDe^? ha`nh ddo^.ng tho^'ng nha^'t, ta pha?i ba^`u la^'y mo^.t vi. la`m minh chu?.
Nghi-Ninh su+ tha'i chi? Tu+.-Kinh :
_ Trong vu. na`y, thi` pha'i DDo^ng-a lie^n he^. nhie^`u nha^'t. Va^.y xin dda.i hie^.p Tu+.-Kinh ddu+'ng la`m minh chu? cho.
Pha'p-Dung, Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n, To^n DDu+'c-Ho`a cu`ng ho.a theo :
_ DDu'ng va^.y. Va? trong chu'ng ta dda^y, thi` Tra^`n dda.i hie^.p la` ngu+o+`i cao nie^n nha^'t.
Tu+.-Kinh dda`nh nha^.n tra'ch nhie^.m. Oa^ng go.i Vu~ Tu+?-Ma^~n :
_ Chu+ vi. dda? ti'n nhie^.m chu'ng ta. Va^.y con ha~y tri`nh ba^`y ke^' hoa.ch le^n dde^? ca'c vi. cho bie^'t to^n y'.
_ Ki'nh thu+a ca'c vi.. Ta kho^ng the^? ta'ch vu. die^.t su+' ddoa`n To^'ng, bo.n gian Mao Khie^m vo+'i trie^`u ddi`nh ga` ma'i ga'y ra ddu+o+.c. Hai vu. kha'c nhau ma` la` mo^.t.
Mo.i ngu+o+`i co^ng nha^.n ly' lua^.n cu?a Tu+?-Ma^~n . Tu+?-Ma^~n tie^'p :
_ Ca'i trie^`u ddi`nh ga` ma'i ga'y na`y thu+.c kho^ng ta^`m thu+o+`ng. Tru+o+'c dda^y dda~ co' ba cuo^.c la^.t ddo^?, ma` kho^ng tha`nh. DDa^`u tie^n, Chie^u-Ho`a vu+o+ng ra tay tru+` DDo^~ Anh-Vu~, ro^`i bi. gie^'t ca? nha`, vi` tha'i-ha^.u che cho+? cho y. Sau bie^'n co^' ddo', Anh-Vu~ cu?ng co^' the^m the^' lu+.c, tha`nh ra Tri'-Minh vu+o+ng pha?i ho+.p vo+'i bo.n Vu~ DDa'i, lu+.c lu+o+.ng hu`ng ma.nh ho+n y, mo+'i tha`nh co^ng. Nhu+ng tha`nh co^ng, ma` kho^ng ddo^`ng ta^m, nha^'t tri', ro^`i cu~ng bi. gie^'t. DDe^'n dda^y, tha'i-ha^.u co^ng khai na('m quye^`n. Ro^`i ma^'y na(m tru+o+'c, chi'nh Hoa`ng-ha^.u, vo+'i ddie^.n ha. ddu+o+.c pha'i Me^-linh ddu+'ng sau, ddu+o+.c Co^i-so+n song u+ng giu'p ddo+~. Cu~ng tha`nh co^ng, nhu+ng chi? bie^'t mi`nh, ma` kho^ng bie^'t ngu+o+`i ; tu+'c kho^ng bie^'t dde^'n bo.n su+' ddoa`n a^?n trong cung Ca?m-Tha'nh. Ru't cuo^.c tha`nh co^ng nu+?a chu+`ng.
Nghi-Ninh su+ tha'i tho+? da`i :
_ Ba^y gio+` chu'ng ta cu`ng ra tay cu+'u nu+o+'c. Va^.y ca'i gi` ne^n la`m tru+o+'c ? Ca'i gi` ne^n la`m sau ? Ta pha?i ha`nh ddo^.ng the^' na`o dde^? tra'nh ddo^? ma'u ? Tu+?-Ma^~n ho?i Long-Xu+o+?ng :
_ Lie^.u tha'i-ha^.u co' the^? ra le^.nh cho Thie^n-tu+? binh, cu~ng nhu+ ca'c dda.o binh ddi.a phu+o+ng kho^ng ?
_ Kho^ng ! Tha'i-ha^.u chi? co' the^? ddie^`u ddo^.ng na(m ddo^.i Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. tru+.c thuo^.c ma` tho^i. Co`n muo^'n ddie^`u ddo^.ng Thie^n-tu+? binh, cu~ng nhu+ ca'c dda.o binh ddi.a phu+o+ng thi` pha?i do phu. hoa`ng, hoa(.c va~n sinh ban chi? tru+.c tie^'p cho qua?n Khu-ma^.t vie^.n. Qua?n Khu-ma^.t vie^.n la` Ba?o-Ninh ha^`u Ly' Long-Can , tru+o+?ng ty Pho`ng-ngu+. la` Long-nhu+o+ng thu+o+.ng tu+o+'ng qua^n Lu+u Kha'nh-Bi`nh se~ la`m le^.nh. Le^.nh xua^'t qua^n pha?i do hai ngu+o+`i na`y ky', chu+' mo^.t ngu+o+`i thi` tu+o+'ng chi? huy ca'c hie^.u binh cu~ng kho^ng tua^n.
_ Va^.y ba^y gio+` the^' na`y.
Tu+?-Ma^~n tie^'p : Mo^.t ma(.t chu'ng ta gu+?i cao thu? ve^` giu'p tha'i-tu+?. Tha'i-tu+? du`ng ca'c cao thu? la`m chu? Hoa`ng-tha`nh, cu`ng kie^`m che^' bo.n quan theo cung Ca?m-Thanh, va` gia ddi`nh chu'ng. Mo^.t ma(.t ta du. ho^? ly so+n, sao cho na(m ddo^.i Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. ro+`i xa Tha(ng-long. Khi chu'ng ro+`i Tha(ng-long, ta kie^`m che^' vo+. con chu'ng. O+? xa Tha(ng-long chu'ng ddu+o+.c tin ca'c gian tha^`n theo phe Ca?m-Tha'nh bi. ba('t he^'t, vo+. con bi. kie^`m che^', a('t chu'ng pha?i dda^`u ha`ng. Mo.i ngu+o+`i co^ng nha^.n mu+u cu?a Tu+?-Ma^~n thu+.c tha^`n die^.u.
Tu+?-Ma^~n hu+o+'ng Long-Xu+o+?ng : Tha'i-tu+? tro+? ve^`, lo+` ddi nhu+ kho^ng bie^'t vu. tha'i-ha^.u sai Nghi-ta`m song ma, Nha^'t-Lie^~u ddo'n ddu+o+`ng ba('t tha'i-tu+?. Tha'i-tu+? la`m nhu+ so+. tha'i-ha^.u, muo^'n la^'y lo`ng tha'i-ha^.u. Tha'i-tu+? ban chi? sai chu+ ta(ng chu`a Chie^u-thie^`n la`m chay ca^`u sie^u cho DDo^~ Anh-Vu~ va` gia quye^'n y. La^'y ly' ddo', pha'i Tie^u-so+n a^m tha^`m ddem ve^` ho+n tra(m cao thu?, ma` tha'i-ha^.u kho^ng nghi ngo+` gi` ca?. DDu'ng dde^m ha`nh su+., thi` tha'i-tu+? thi?nh chu+ ta(ng to+'i DDo^ng-cung dde^? cu'ng da`ng co+m chay. Khi kho+?i su+. thi` chu+ ta(ng ra tay ba('t he^'t bo.n Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. canh ga'c DDo^ng-cung, cu`ng bo.n gian tha^`n theo cung Ca?m-Tha'nh.
Pha'p-Dung mi?m cu+o+`i ga^.t dda^`u vui ve? :
_ DDie^`u na`y ra^'t de^~. Bo+?i tu+` tru+o+'c dde^'n gio+` mo^~i khi chu`a Chie^u-thie^`n la^.p dda`n tra`ng, thu+o+`ng mo+`i i't ra ho+n tra(m ta(ng chu'ng ve^` tro+. giu'p.
_ Ba^y gio+` to+'i pha'i Me^-linh.
Tu+~-Ma^~n hu+o+'ng Nghi-Ninh su+ tha'i : Nha^n dde^`n tho+` vua Tru+ng mo+'i ddu+o+.c xa^y. Pha'i Me^-linh gu+?i tra(m cao thu?, chia ra la`m hai chu.c toa'n, ke'o ve^` Tha(ng-long, ddi quye^n gia'o, la^'y tie^`n ddu'c tu+o+.ng mu+o+`i hai nu+~ dda.i co^ng tha^`n. A^?n tha^n ta.i ca'c ni am. Khi kho+?i su+. thi` cu`ng nha^.p Hoa`ng-tha`nh tro+. giu'p hoa`ng-ha^.u, chie^'m cung Ca?m-Tha'nh, kie^`m che^' gia thuo^.c bo.n gian tha^`n.

Ghi chu' cu?a thua^.t gia?.
Tho+`i Li~nh-Nam co' 162 anh hu`ng cu`ng no^?i da^.y theo vua Tru+ng. Trong so^' 162 anh hu`ng a^'y thi` 12 nu+~ tu+o+'ng ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ dda.i co^ng tha^`n. Mu+o+`i hai nu+~ dda.i co^ng tha^`n trie^`u ddi`nh vua Tru+ng la` :
1.Minh-tu+` hoa`ng tha'i ha^.u Hoa`ng Thie^`u-Hoa.
2.Te^? tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Phu+o+ng-Dung.
3.Tu+-ddo^`, co^ng chu'a Nguye^.t-DDu+'c Phu`ng Vi~nh-Hoa.
4.Bi`nh-Ngo^ dda.i tu+o+'ng qua^n, co^ng chu'a Nguye^~n Tha'nh-Thie^n.
5.DDa.i ddo^ ddo^'c, co^ng chu'a Gia-Hu+ng Tra^`n Quo^'c .
6.Chinh-Ba('c dda.i tu+o+'ng qua^n, co^ng chu'a Pha^.t-Nguye^.t.
7.Tra^'n-vie^~n dda.i tu+o+'ng qua^n, co^ng-chu'a Ta^y-vu Ho^` DDe^`.
8.Tra^'n-DDo^ng tu+o+'ng qua^n, co^ng chu'a DDo^ng-Trie^`u Le^ Cha^n.
9. Uy-vie^~n dda.i tu+o+'ng qua^n, co^ng chu'a Ba't-Na`n Vu~ Trinh-Thu.c.
10..Long-nhu+o+ng dda.i tu+o+'ng qua^n, co^ng chu'a Ye^n-la~ng Tra^`n Na(ng.
11. Ninh-vie^~n dda.i tu+o+'ng qua^n Co^ng chu'a DDa(ng-cha^u DDa`o Phu+o+ng-Dung.
12. To^?ng tra^'n Luy-la^u, co^ng chu'a Kha^u-Ni Qua'ch-A.

Xin ddo.c 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.

Nghi-Ninh su+ tha'i ho?i :
_ DDe^. tu+? Me^-linh ha^`u he^'t dde^`u du`ng kie^'m. Trong khi ddi quye^n gia'o, kho^ng le~ cu~ng mang kie^'m theo ?
_ Su+ tha'i ho?i thu+.c pha?i. Kie^'m ddo', tha'i-tu+? se~ ddem va`o cung tu+` tru+o+'c.
Tu+?-Ma^~n hu+o+'ng va`o Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n :
_ Ba^y gio+` to+'i pha'i Sa`i-so+n. Pha'i Sa`i-so+n gu+?i ho+n tra(m cao thu?, gia? la`m tha^`y thuo^'c, ve^` Tha(ng-long, ba'n thuo^'c rong. DDu'ng gio+` kho+?i su+. thi` a`o va`o ddie^.n Uy-vie^~n, ba('t he^'t bo.n Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. canh pho`ng, ro^`i ba?o ve^. ca'c quan ta.i dda^y.
Le^ Thu'c-Ca^?n phi` cu+o+`i :
_ DDie^`u na`y ho+i kho', vi` chi? co' ngu+o+`i Hoa mo+'i ba'n thuo^'c rong, chu+' dde^. tu+? ba?n pha'i chu+a tu+`ng la`m vie^.c na`y. Tho^i ddu+o+.c chu'ng to^i xin co^' ga('ng.
_ Co`n dde^. tu+? pha'i Ta?n-vie^n, To^n dda.i hie^.p gu+?i ca`ng nhie^`u cao thu? ca`ng to^'t. Ta^'t ca? gia? la`m tie^`u phu, dda^?y xe cho+? cu?i ve^` Tha(ng-long ba'n. To^'i, to^'i a^?n o+? bo+` ho^` Ta^y. Khi kho+?i su+., thi` chia nhau ra kie^`m che^' ta^'t ca? gia thuo^.c bo.n Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. thuo^.c cung Ca?m-Tha'nh.
Pha'p-Dung dda.i su+ to? ve? lo la('ng :
_ Thu+a Nhi.-tuye^.t, hie^.n tha'i-ha^.u co' na(m tra(m Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^., bo.n na`y ddu+o+.c chi? huy bo+?i Mao Khie^m. Theo nhu+ ba^`n ta(ng bie^'t thi` ba?n li~nh Mao Khie^m cao tha^m kho^ng bie^'t dda^u ma` lu+o+`ng, ca.nh y co`n ca'c cao thu? ba^.c nha^'t Hoa-so+n. Ba^`n ta(ng e khi chu'ng ta kho+?i su+., thi` chu'ng se~ tie^'n chie^'m cung Long-thu.y, uy hie^'p Hoa`ng-thu+o+.ng, dde^? ngu+o+`i ban chi? go.i Thie^n-tu+? binh ve^` thi` ta kho' ma` tha`nh co^ng. DDa.i hie^.p pha?i la`m the^' na`o, dde^? co' the^? khie^'n cho Mao Khie^m vo+'i Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. ro+`i Tha(ng-long thi` mo+'i hy vo.ng tha`nh co^ng.
Tu+.-Ha^'p dda'p thay cho su+ dde^. :
_ DDa.i su+ ye^n ta^m. Vie^.c ddo^'i pho' vo+'i Mao Khie^m va` na(m ddo^.i Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^., thi` pha'i DDo^ng-a xin li~nh tra'ch nhie^.m. Ta.i ha. se~ ti`m ca'ch cho ddem Mao Khie^m vo+'i na(m ddo^.i Phu.ng-quo^'c ve^. ve^` Thie^n-tru+o+`ng. Anh em ta.i ha i~se~ thanh ly' mo^n ho^.. Co`n bo.n Hoa-so+n thi` kho^ng ca^`n.
_ ? ! ? ! ? !
_ Chu'ng to^i mo+'i ba('t ddu+o+.c mo^.t bo.n kha'ch thu+o+ng ngu+o+`i Hoa. Chu'ng du`ng thuye^`n, xa^m nha^.p ddi.a pha^.n ba?n pha'i. Tha^?m va^'n so+ kho+?i, chu'ng khai la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n. DDe^? ta.i ha. sai ddu+a chu'ng va`o dda^y, ha^`u ca'c vi. cu`ng tha^?m cung.
_ DDa.i hie^.p no'i chu'ng la` ngu+o+`i pha'i Hoa-so+n ? !? !
_ Va^ng !
Tu+.-Ha^'p le^n tie^'ng :
_ Ma^'y ddu+'a con ga'i cu?a bo^' dda^u ? Mau ra ma('t ca'c ba^.c to^n tru+o+?ng.
Vy.-xuye^n ngu~ tie^n cu`ng da. ran, ro^`i tie^'n le^n ha`nh le^~.
Tu+.-Ha^'p ho?i :
_ DDa'm kha'ch thu+o+ng xu+ng la` ngu+o+`i cu?a pha'i Hoa-so+n dda^u, ca'c con mo+`i ho. va`o dda^y.
Ca'c to^n su+ vo~ ho.c kho^ng ai la. gi` Tu+.-Ha^'p, ba^'t cu+' tru+o+`ng ho+.p na`o o^ng cu~ng du`ng lo+`i le~ kha'ch khi'. Ro~ ra`ng dda'm ngu+o+`i bi. ba('t, bi. ca^`m tu`, bi. tha^?m va^'n, ma` o^ng du`ng chu+~ kha'ch thay cho tu`, mo+`i thay cho gia?i, tu+o+ng kie^'n thay cho tha^'y ma(.t.
_ Da..
Hoa`ng-Anh ho^ :
_ Mo+`i Hoa-nha.c tam nu+o+ng va`o.
Mo^.t nu+~ dde^. tu+? da^~n ba dda.o co^, dda^`u bi. tru`m ba(`ng ca'i mu~ va?i dden, tay bi. tro'i di'nh tha`nh mo^.t phie^'n. Lo^'i tro'i cu?a pha'i DDo^ng-a ra^'t dda(.c bie^.t : Ca'nh tay, cu`i cho?, cu+o+`m tay tra'i cu?a ngu+o+`i thu+' nha^'t, bi. co^.t di'nh va`o vo+'i ca'nh tay, cu`i cho?, cu+o+`m tay pha?i cu?a ngu+o+`i thu+' nhi`. Cu~ng nhu+ va^.y, ca'nh tay, cu`i cho?, cu+o+`m tay tra'i cu?a ngu+o+`i thu+' nhi` co^.t di'nh va`o tay pha?i ngu+o+`i thu+' ba. Ca? ba ngu+o+`i im la(.ng kho^ng no'i lo+`i na`o. Ro~ ra`ng ho. bi. ddie^?m a' huye^.t. Ba.ch- Ha.c ho^ :
_ Mo+`i Hoa-nha.c tam phong va`o.
Mo^.t nam dde^. tu+? da^~n ba dda.o si~ va`o. Ho. cu~ng bi. tru`m dda^`u, bi. tro'i di'nh chu`m vo+'i nhau. Ca? ba kho^ng no'i mo^.t ca^u na`o. Ma(.t ho. cu'i ga^`m xuo^'ng. Huye^`n-Mi ho^ :
_ Mo+`i Ngu~-nha.c dda.i li~nh va`o.
Mu+o+`i dde^. tu+? khie^ng na(m ca'i cu~i. Mo^~i ca'i giam mo^.t dda.o si~, qua^`n a'o u+o+'t nhu+ chuo^.t, ngo^`i u? ru~ o+? trong, dda^`u cu~ng bi. tru`m. Tie^'p theo mo^.t ca'i cu~i nu+~a, trong giam Lu+u Ky`.
To^n DDu+'c-Ho`a kinh nga.c ho?i Tu+.-Kinh:
_ La~o dda.i hie^.p ! Ta.i ha. nghe, Ngu~-li~nh, Tam-phong, Tam-nu+o+ng cu?a pha'i Hoa-so+n, ba?n li~nh cao tha^m kho^ng bie^'t dda^u ma` lu+o+`ng. DDa.i hie^.p la`m ca'ch na`o ma` ba('t ddu+o+.c ho. ? Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i tru`m dda^`u na`y co' thu+.c la` ngu+o+`i cu?a pha'i Hoa-so+n kho^ng ? Tu+.-Kinh tra? lo+`i ba(`ng ca'i la('c dda^`u :
_ Gia` na`y co' bie^'t gi` dda^u ?
Oa^ng ho?i Vy.-xuye^n ngu~ tie^n :
_ Ca'c cha'u ngoan cu?a o^ng ! Ai dda~ ba('t nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i na`y ? Ba('t ba(`ng ca'ch na`o ? Ho. la` ai ? Hoa`ng-Anh cu+o+`i khu'c khi'ch, tay chi? va`o Long-Xu+o+?ng, Tu+.-Huy:
_ Thu+a o^ng ! Ho^m qua, chi. em chu'ng con ddang ddi dda'nh ca', thi` da^n trong trang ba'o ra(`ng co' bo.n cu+o+'p Ta^`u-o^, nha^.p va`o ddi.a gio+'i nha` mi`nh. Na(m ddu+'a chu'ng con theo do~i chu'ng, thi` tha^'y chu'ng ba('t co'c Hie^?n-Trung vu+o+ng vo+'i tie^?u su+ dde^. ddi.nh ddem ve^` Ta^`u. Bo.n con pha?i ra tay gia?i thoa't, ro^`i ba('t chu'ngi~ giam la.i cho+` gia?i le^n quan. Sa'ng nay con dda~ thu+a vo+'i me.. Me. ba?o chu'ng con tha^?m cung. Kho^ng nhu+~ng chu'ng bu+o+'ng bi?nh, che da^'u ly' li.ch, ma` co`n la`m pha'ch. Chu'ng lo+'n lo^'i tu+. xu+ng nhu+~ng ca'i gi` la` Hoa-nha.c tam nu+o+ng, Hoa-nha.c tam phong, Ngu~-nha.c dda.i li~nh .
Na`ng chi? va`o Ngo^ Gio+'i vo+'i Lu+u Ky` :
_ Co`n hai ngu+o+`i na`y, du+o+`ng nhu+ ho. ddie^n thi` pha?i. Ho. xu+ng la` Thie^n-su+'. Mo^.t ngu+o+`i tu+. xu+ng la` DDa(.c-tie^'n Khai-phu? nghi. ddo^`ng tam tu+, li~nh Tu+'-xuye^n tuye^n vu~ su+'. Mo^.t ngu+o+`i tu+. xu+ng Hoa`i-Nam ha^`u Giang-hoa`i tie^'t ddo^. su+'. Na(m co^ ga'i vu+`a no'i, vu+`a cu+o+`i, vu+`a ddem bo.n tu` nha^n ra la`m tro` cu+o+`i. Tu+.-Kinh cu~ng cu+o+`i theo. Nhu+ng trong ca'i ddu`a ddo' cu?a na(m co^ ga'i, ho. ti`m tha^'y mo^.t su+. tha^.t : Kho^ng bie^'t ba(`ng ca'ch na`o ddo', bo.n na`y dda~ bi. ca'c co^ ba('t.
Nguye^n dda.i hie^.p Tu+.-Kinh tuo^?i dda~ cao, ti'nh ti`nh o^ng tro+? tha`nh vui ve? de^~ da~i vo+'i con cha'u. Vi` va^.y bo.n Vy.-xuye^n tu+' tie^n luo^n ti`m nhu+~ng lo+`i no'i la`m cho o^ng ba^.t cu+o+`i, ne^n o^ng cu+.c ky` ye^u thu+o+ng na(m ddu+'a cha'u nuo^i na`y. Giu+~a o^ng cha'u, luo^n luo^n co' tie^'ng cu+o+`i, gio.ng no'i tu+. nhie^n, rie^'t ro^`i tha`nh quen.
Lie^'c nhi`n mu+o+`i hai ngu+o+`i, ba^'t ddo^.ng, ma` kho^ng no'i ddu+o+.c ca^u na`o. Tu+.-Kinh bie^'t ho. bi. dda'm cha'u mi`nh ddie^?m huye^.t. Oa^ng chi~a ngo'n tay cho? ddie^?m lie^n tie^'p na(m chi?. Na(m tie^'ng ve'o ri't le^n ghe^ tai, la^.p tu+'c Ngu~-dda.i li~nh ru`ng mi`nh mo^.t ca'i cha^n tay hoa.t ddo^.ng ddu+o+.c nhu+ thu+o+`ng. Tuy bi. ba('t, bi. giam trong cu~i, dda^`u bi. tru`m ki'n, nhu+ng Lu+u Ky` va^~n ho^'ng ha'ch :
_ Na(m con tie^.n ty` kia, chu'ng ta la` Thie^n-su+', ma` bo.n mi da'm la`m nhu.c chu'ng ta u+ ? Bo.n mi co' mau mo+? cu~i cho ta ra, ro^`i ra^.p dda^`u ta. to^.i kho^ng ? Ba(`ng nhu+ mi cha^.m tre^~, tha'i-ha^.u se~ ddem qua^n san ba(`ng ca? la`ng na`y, gie^'t he^'t bo.n bay, cho dde^'n con cho', con me`o cu~ng kho^ng tha.
Trong Vy.-xuye^n ngu~ tie^n, thi` Huye^`n-Mi la` co^ ga'i nhanh mie^.ng nha^'t. Co^ cu+o+`i khu'c khi'ch :
_ Na`y o^ng ! O^ng no'i sao nghe la. tai du+~ ? Ba^'t qua' bo.n o^ng la` nhu+~ng te^n cu+o+'p Ta^`u-o^, bi. na(m ddu+'a con ga'i chu'ng to^i ba('t nhu+ ba('t ba ba trong ro.. Oa^ng la` ca'i gi`, ma` tha'i-ha^.u pha?i ddem qua^n tra? thu` cho o^ng ? La.i nu+~a, tha'i-ha^.u thi` pha?i o+? trong cung, nga`y dde^m da.y do^~ hoa`ng tu+?, co^ng chu'a, chu+' tha'i-ha^.u dda^u co' ca^`m qua^n, ma` o^ng ddem ngu+o+`i ta ha(m do.a ?
Nguye^n sau khi Ngo^ Gio+'i, Lu+u Ky` bi. dda('m thuye^`n, bi. lu+o+'i chu.p le^n dda^`u, bi. di`m du+o+'i nu+o+'c cho dde^'n khi me^ man, ro^`i kho^ng bie^'t gi` nu+~a. Khi hai ngu+o+`i ti?nh da^.y, thi` tha^'y mi`nh cu`ng Ngu~-nha.c dda.i li~nh, vo+'i Lu+u Ky` bi. giam trong sa'u ca'i cu~i ddo^`ng. Phi'a sau la` Hoa-nha.c tam phong, Hoa-nha.c tam nu+o+ng. Ke? thi` bi. tro'i, ngu+o+`i thi` bi. ddo'ng go^ng. Y ho?i Tam-phong, Tam-nu+o+ng ly' do bi. ba('t, thi` ca? sa'u ngu+o+`i dde^`u hie^.n ra ve? the.n thu`ng, tra? lo+`i a^'p u'ng, nhu+ ba^'t dda('c di~. Suo^'t dde^m, mu+o+`i hai ngu+o+`i kho^ng ddu+o+.c na(`m, bi. muo^~i ddo^'t, ngu? kho^ng ddu+o+.c. Kho^ng ca^`n ba`n lua^.n, Ngo^ Gio+'i cu~ng bie^'t ra(`ng mi`nh bi. pha'i DDo^ng-a ra tay. Vi` no^.i trong tra^'n Thie^n-tru+o+`ng kho^ng co' the^' lu+.c na`o ddu? kha? na(ng la`m nhu+~ng vie^.c nhu+ va^.y.
Ba^y gio+`, Ngo^ cu`ng tu`y tu`ngi~ bi. tru`m va?i le^n dda^`u, bi. ddie^?m huye^.t, bi. ddu+a va`o sa?nh ddu+o+`ng kho^ng bie^'t dde^? la`m gi` ? Che^'t thi` Ngo^ kho^ng so+., Ngo^ chi? so+. bi. la`m nhu.c ma` tho^i. Ngo^ ddang suy nghi~, ti`m ke^' an toa`n, thi` Lu+u Ky` dda~ ddu+a ra lo+`i pha'ch lo^'i. Ngo^ Gio+'i bie^'t ga~ su+ dde^. Lu+u Ky` chi? co' bo^. vo' dde.p trai, hu+~u du~ng vo^ mu+u, no'ng na?y. Ne^'u dde^? y dda^'u kha^?u vo+'i na(m co^ ga'i na`y, thi` chi? la`m tro` cu+o+`i cho ma^'y tra(m ngu+o+`i hie^.n die^.n ma` tho^i.
Ngo^ o^n to^`n ho?i na(m co^ ga'i :
_ Ca'c ngu+o+`i la` ai, ma` du`ng thu? ddoa.n he`n ha. ba('t chu'ng ta the^' na`y ? Nam nhi dda.i tru+o+.ng phu, la`m gi` cu~ng pha?i quang minh chi'nh dda.i. Ne^'u ca'c ngu+o+`i la` anh hu`ng thi` ha~y mo+? cu~i, du`ng ba?n li~nh cha^n thu+.c tha('ng chu'ng ta, thi` chu'ng ta mo+'i phu.c.
Huye^`n-Mi cu+o+`i khu'c khi'ch :
_ Du+o+`ng nhu+ o^ng ddang le^n ddo^`ng thi` pha?i. O^ng ti?nh la.i ddi chu+' ? Ba('t ca'c o^ng la` na(m chi. em chu'ng to^i. Chu'ng to^i la` con ga'i ma` sao o^ng la.i ba?o chu'ng to^i la` nam nhi dda.i tru+o+.ngi~ phu !
Cho+.t nghi~ ddu+o+.c mo^.t ke^', Long-Xu+o+?ng mo'c ti'n ba`i, ddu+a cho Thu?-Huy :
_ Phie^`n nhi. dde^. sai mo^t gia nha^n, ddem ti'n ba`i na`y trie^.u vie^n huye^.n le^.nh Thie^n-tru+o+`ng cu`ng ddo^.i Hi`nh-binh to+'i dda^y cho+` chi? du. cu?a huynh.
Thu?-Huy ca^`m ti'n ba`i ra ngoa`i.
Tu+.-Kinh ra le^.nh :
_ Ca'c cha'u mo+? kha(n tru`m dda^`u cho ho..
Kha(n ddu+o+.c mo+? ra. Ta^'t ca? ca'c dda.i to^n su+ cu`ng ba^.t le^n tie^'ng o^` kinh nga.c.
To^n DDu+'c-Ho`a ho?i DDo^ng-nha.c Tha'i-so+n :
_ DDo^ng-nha.c dda.o su+! Sao ngu+o+`i ra no^ng no^~i na`y ?
Nghi-Ninh su+ tha'i ho?i Hoa-nha.c tam nu+o+ng :
_ Ho+~i o+i ! Thi` ra Va^n-DDa`i, Co^ng-Chu'a, Mao-Nu+~ tie^n tu+? ! Ca'c vi. dda~ la`m gi`, dde^? bi. ba('t tro'i. Kho^? kho^ng ?