(ddo.c sa'ch Ta`u) "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c chi'"

["Hoang Linh" <linhpriv@salamon.baralib.hu>]

 Cha`o ca'c ba'c,

 Trong ca'c bo^. co^? thu+ cu?a Ta`u, "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" vo^'n la`
cuo^'n ddu+o+.c to^i u+a thi'ch va`o ha.ng nha^'t, nhi`. Ne^'u pha?i cho.n
"Tu+' ta`i thu+?" nhu+ ca'c cu. nga`y xu+a, co' le~ ca'i list cu?a to^i
(kho^ng theo thu+' tu+. nha^'t, nhi`...) se~ la`:

 1. "Ho^`ng la^u mo^.ng"
 2. "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c"
 3. "Su+? ky'"
 4. "Nho la^m ngoa.i su+?"

 "So+? tu+`", "Ta^y Su+o+ng ky'"... cu~ng hay, nhu+ng to^i cho la` kho^ng
ba(`ng 4 pho no'i tre^n.

 Cha('c ca'c ba'c se~ la^'y la`m la. va` ho?i: ta.i sao to^i la.i kho^ng
nha('c dde^'n nhu+~ng "Thu?y hu+?", "Tam quo^'c chi' die^~n nghi~a", "Ta^y
du ky'"..., cu~ng la` nhu+~ng tie^?u thuye^'t tru+o+`ng thie^n cu+. pha'ch
cu?a Ta`u? Thi` xin thu+a: ma^'y bo^. ddo', hay thi` hay tha^.t, nhu+ng la`
ca'i hay ddo^'i vo+'i tuo^?i thanh thie^'u nie^n, khoa'i hi`nh a?nh ma^'y
tay anh hu`ng vo~ bie^`n kie^?u Ma~ Sie^u, Vo~ To`ng... Lo+'n le^n, ddo.c
la.i "Thu?y hu+?", "Tam quo^'c"..., to^i kho^ng co`n tha^'y ha'o hu+'c nhu+
tho+`i tre? da.i.

 Nhu+ng coi "DDo^ng Chu" va^~n tha^'y su+o+'ng la('m. Ca'ch dda^y 8,9 na(m,
to^i ddu+o+.c mo^.t anh ba.n mang tu+` Nga qua cho bo^. sa'ch na`y, nhu+ng
mo^.t la^`n chuye^?n nha`, kho^ng hie^?u tha(`ng cha tro+`i dda'nh tha'nh
va^.t na`o cuo^~m ma^'t, gio+` va^~n co`n tha^'y ha^.n va` tie^'c! ((:-.
(Ba?n di.ch tho^ng du.ng ngoa`i Ba('c cu?a cu. Nguye^~n DDo^~ Mu.c, to^i cho
la` hay ho+n ba?n cu?a Mo^.ng Bi`nh Long trong Nam).

 Vo+' ddu+o+.c ca'i "Lo+`i tu+.a DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c chi'" cu?a cu. Cao
Xua^n Huy, post cho ca'c ba'c coi. Chi? tie^'c la` mo^.t nha` DDa.o ho.c
kie^m Ha'n ho.c uye^n tha^m nhu+ cu. Cao, ma` vu+o+'ng pha?i ma^'y ca'i ho.c
thuye^'t giai ca^'p, ne^n "Lo+`i tu+.a" na`y ddo.c chu+a khoa'i la('m. Theo
to^i, le~ ra, cu. co' the^? vie^'t nhu+~ng ba`i hay ga^'p mu+o+`i!

 HLinh

 ***

 LO+`I TU+.A BO^. TIE^?U THUYE^'T "DDO^NG CHU LIE^.T QUO^'C" CU?A CAO XUA^N
HUY

 Tie^?u thuye^'t tru+o+`ng thie^n cu?a Trung Quo^'c xua^'t hie^.n o+? dda^`u
ddo+`i nha` Minh, vo+'i bo^. "Tam Quo^'c die^~n nghi~a", ro^`i dde^'n bo^.
"Thu?y Hu+? truye^.n", ro^`i dde^'n bo^. "Ta^y Du Ky'".

 DDe^'n na(m Gia Ti~nh thi` xua^'t hie^.n bo^. "Lie^.t quo^'c chi' truye^.n"
cu?a Du+ Thie^.u Ngu+ go^`m 8 quye^?n, 226 tie^'t, ba('t dda^`u tu+` khi vua
Tru. (nha` Thu+o+ng) la^'y DDa't Ky?, dde^'n khi nha` Ta^`n tho^'ng nha^'t
Trung Quo^'c. Sau ddo' va`o cuo^'i ddo+`i Minh, Phu`ng Mo^.ng Long ca?i bo^.
"Lie^.t quo^'c chi' truye^.n", ddo^?i te^n la` "Ta^n lie^.t quo^'c chi'",
da`i 108 ho^`i, ba('t dda^`u tu+` ddo+`i Tuye^n vu+o+ng nha` Chu, cho dde^'n
ddo+`i Ta^`n Thu?y Hoa`ng. Va`o khoa?ng ddo+`i Kie^`n Long nha` Thanh xua^'t
hie^.n bo^. "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c chi'". Ba?n na`y du+.a va`o ba?n "Ta^n
lie^.t quo^'c chi'" ma` su+?a ddo^?i la.i chu't i't va` the^m va`o ra^'t
nhie^`u nhu+~ng lo+`i phe^ bi`nh, chu' thi'ch cu?a Sa'i Nguye^n Phong.

 Na(m 1995 (1), Nha` xua^'t ba?n Ta'c gia o+? Ba('c Kinh (Trung Quo^'c)
pha't ha`nh bo^. "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c chi'" du+.a va`o ba?n cu?a Phu`ng
Mo^.ng Long. Nhu+~ng cho^~ na`o Sa'i Nguye^n Phong su+?a chu+~a "Ta^n lie^.t
quo^'c chi'" mo^.t ca'ch sai la^`m thi` Nha` xua^'t ba?n Ta'c gia kho^i
phu.c la.i ba?n cu~, co`n nhu+~ng cho^~ na`o ma` ca? Phu`ng Mo^.ng Long va`
Sa'i Nguye^n Phong dde^?u sai la^`m thi` Nha` xua^'t ba?n Ta'c gia ddi'nh
chi'nh la.i mo^.t ca'ch tha^.n tro.ng.

 ***

 "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c chi'" bao go^`m mo^.t tho+`i ky` li.ch su+? da`i
ho+n 400 na(m (the^? ky? VI, V, IV, III tru+o+'c co^ng nguye^n). Tho+`i ky`
a^'y ba('t dda^`u tu+` khi Bi`nh vu+o+ng nha` Chu do+`i ddo^ sang phi'a
DDo^ng va` ke^'t thu'c vo+'i cuo^.c tho^'ng nha^'t cu?a Ta^`n Thu?y Hoa`ng.
Su+? cu~ng go.i tho+`i ky` a^'y la` ddo+`i DDo^ng Chu (chia la`m hai giai
ddoa.n la` Xua^n thu va` Chie^'n quo^'c). Trong li.ch su+? Trung Quo^'c,
ddo' la` tho+`i ky` qua' ddo^. tu+` che^' ddo^. phong kie^?n pha^n quye^`n
dde^'n che^' ddo^. phong kie^'n ta^.p quye^`n (co' mo^.t thuye^'t cho ra(`ng
ddo+`i Xua^n thu co`n o+? trong che^' ddo^. no^ le^.).

 Phu`ng Mo^.ng Long ca(n cu+' chu? ye^'u va`o ca'c sa'ch "Ta? truye^.n" va`
"Quo^'c ngu+~" cu?a Ta? Kha^u Minh va` sa'ch "Su+? ky'" cu?a Tu+ Ma~ Thie^n
va` co' tham kha?o ca'c sa'ch "Co^ng du+o+ng truye^.n", "Chie^'n quo^'c
sa'ch" va` ho+n mu+o+`i bo^. su+? kha'c nu+~a, dde^? bie^n soa.n "DDo^ng Chu
lie^.t quo^'c chi'".

 ***

 Tu+ tu+o+?ng toa't ra trong bo^. tie^?u thuye^'t na`y la` tu+ tu+o+?ng
"da^n ba?n" cu?a nha` nho: da^n la` go^'c cu?a nu+o+'c, la` su+'c ma.nh cu?a
nu+o+'c; kho^ng pha?i vo~ lu+.c quye^'t ddi.nh su+. tha`nh co^ng hay su+.
tha^'t ba.i ma` chi'nh la` lo`ng da^n. Trong truye^.n, nhu+~ng ba^.c anh
hu`ng cu+'u nu+o+'c (Huye^`n Cao, Ti'n La(ng Qua^n, La.n Tu+o+ng Nhu+,
v.v...) nhu+~ng nha` tri thu+'c chi'nh tru+.c (DDo^ng Ho^`, Lo^~ Tro.ng
Lie^n, v.v...); nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i cha^'p chi'nh co' nhie^.t ti`nh vo+'i da^n
vo+'i nu+o+'c (Qua?n Tro.ng, Tu+? Va(n, To^n Thu'c Ngao, v.v...) dde^`u
ddu+o+.c ta'c gia? nhie^.t lie^.t ca ngo+.i va` dde^` cao.

 Ma(.t kha'c, ta'c gia? mie^u ta? kho^ng de` da(.t, kho^ng ne^? nang, ca'i
ba?n cha^'t xa^'u xa, bi? o^?i cu?a giai ca^'p tho^'ng tri.. Nhu+~ng ma^u
thua^~n sa^u sa('c giu+~a ca'c ta^.p ddoa`n tho^'ng tri., su+. tranh gia`nh
quye^`n lo+.i giu+~a ca'c ca' nha^n, ga^y ne^n vo^ so^' nhu+~ng cuo^.c
chi'nh bie^'n va` nhu+~ng cuo^.c ta`n sa't trong ho+n bo^'n the^? ky?. Cu~ng
kho^ng sao no'i he^'t ddu+o+.c su+. da^m loa.n vo^ si? o+? cho^'n cung
ddi`nh: quan he^. nam nu+~ ba^.y ba. giu+~a anh em ruo^.t, giu+~a bo^'
cho^`ng va` na`ng da^u, con cho^`ng va` tha^n ma^~u, v.v... (Te^` Khu+o+ng
co^ng va` na`ng Va(n Khu+o+ng, Ve^. Tuye^n co^ng va` na`ng Tuye^n Khu+o+ng,
Ta^'n Hie^'n co^ng va` na`ng Te^` Khu+o+ng, v.v...) dde^`u ddu+o+.c ta'c
gia? ke^? la.i va` co' tha'i ddo^. phe^ pha'n. Su ngu xua^'n cu?a bo.n
tho^'ng tri. thi` ddu+o+.c bie^?u hie^.n trong nhu+~ng nha^n va^.t ddie^?n
hi`nh la` To^'ng Tu+o+ng co^ng (du+.ng co+` nha^n nghi~a, kho^ng chi.u
dda'nh gia(.c trong lu'c gia(.c ddang qua so^ng), Ve^. Y' co^ng (cho ha.c
la`m quan), Ye^n Khoa'i (ba('t chu+o+'c Nghie^u, Thua^'n nhu+o+`ng ngo^i)
v.v... Tua^~n ta'ng la` mo^.t ta^.p tu.c vo^ nha^n dda.o do su+. ngu xua^'n
cu?a bo.n dde^' vu+o+ng sinh ra: Te^` Hie^?u co^ng cho^n so^'ng ho+n hai
tra(m no^.i thi. va` cung nha^n, dde^? cho cha mi`nh (che^'t ro^`i) co'
ngu+o+`i ha^`u ha. o+? du+o+'i dda^'t; 177 ngu+o+`i da^n, trong ddo' co'
nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i u+u tu' (Tam Lu+o+ng) cu~ng chi.u mo^.t so^' pha^.n nhu+
va^.y o+? dda^'t Ung, ta'ng ddi.a cu?a Ta^`n Mu.c co^ng; Ngo^ vu+o+ng Ha.p
Lu+ dda'nh ba^~y ho+n mo^.t va.n nam nu+~ dde^? tua^~n ta'ng cho con ga'i
che^'t ye^?u cu?a mi`nh la` Tha('ng Ngo.c...

 Be^n ca.nh nhu+~ng tu+ tu+o+?ng tie^'n bo^., thi` do su+. ha.n che^' cu?a
tho+`i dda.i, Phu`ng Mo^.ng Long cu~ng kho^ng tra'nh kho?i nhu+~ng quan
ddie^?m tie^u cu+.c, la.c ha^.u.

 O+? "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c", tu+ tu+o+?ng chi'nh tho^'ng va` ddi.nh
me^.nh ra^'t pho^? bie^?n. Vua nha` Chu la`m thie^n tu+? la` do me^.nh
tro+`i, cho ne^n nhu+~ng nu+o+'c chu+ ha^`u na`o xu+ng vu+o+ng dde^?u bi.
coi la` "tie^'m". DDo' la` tu+ tu+o+?ng chi'nh tho^'ng, xa^y du+.ng tre^n
quan ddie^?m ddi.nh me^.nh.

 "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" cu~ng dde^` cao "trung hie^'u tie^'t nghi~a"
phong kie^'n. Chu+~ "trung" o+? dda^y la` su+. trung tha`nh tuye^.t ddo^'i
cu?a ke? la`m to^i, la`m da^n ddo^'i vo+'i ca' nha^n thie^n tu+? la`
ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ chi.u me^.nh tro+`i dde^? cai tri. thie^n ha..
Trong "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" kho^ng thie^'u gi` chuye^.n vua ba('t ke?
la`m to^i pha?i che^'t, ke? be^` to^i pha?i vui lo`ng che^'t theo dde^?
ddu+o+.c tie^'ng la` "trung". Chu+~ "hie^'u" cu~ng cu`ng ba?n cha^'t vo+'i
chu+~ "trung" vi` thie^n tu+? ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ la` cha me. da^n. Co^ng tu+?
Tho. va` Ca^'p Tu+? nu+o+'c Ve^. vui lo`ng che^'t dde^? kho?i tra'i dda.o
"hie^'u" ddo^'i vo+'i mo^.t ngu+o+`i cha ta`n a'c, ba^'t co^ng. Chu+~
"trinh", chu+~ "tie^'t" cu~ng ddu+o+.c quan nie^.m mo^.t ca'ch he.p ho`i,
bie^?u hie^.n mo^.t quan he^. phu. quye^`n ra^'t cha(.t che~. Ngu+o+`i con
ga'i nu+o+'c So+? gia(.t va?i o+? bo+` so^ng La.i Thu?y dda~ nha?y xuo^'ng
so^ng che^'t chi? vi` dda~ "tro't" no'i chuye^.n va` ca^`m na('m co+m ddu+a
ta^.n tay cho Ngu~ Tu+? Tu+ la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i trai nu+o+'c So+? ddu+o+ng
la'nh na.n. Chu+~ "nghi~a" thi` thu+o+`ng thu+o+`ng ddu+o+.c xa^y du+.ng
tre^n co+ so+? a^n oa'n ca' nha^n. "Si~ vi. tri ky? gia? tu+?", ke? si~
pha?i la^'y ca'i che^'t dde^? dde^'n o+n ngu+o+`i bie^?t mi`nh, ne^?u kho^ng
thi` kho^ng dda'ng go.i la` ke? tru+o+.ng phu. Du+. Nhu+o+.ng hu?y hoa.i ca?
tha^n the^? mi`nh dde^? ddi ba'o thu` cho Tri' Ba'; Ye^u Ly kho^ng nhu+~ng
dde^? cho ngu+o+`i ta cha(.t tay mi`nh ddi, la.i co`n ba(`ng lo`ng dde^? cho
ngu+o+`i ta gie^'t ca? vo+. cu?a mi`nh dde^? dde^'n dda'p o+n ngu+o+`i tri
ky?. Nhu+~ng truye^.n nhu+ the^? ra^'t nhie^`u trong "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t
quo^'c". Do ddo', ne^'u chu+~ "nghi~a" co' the^? ddem la.i ddoa`n ke^'t
dde^? phu.c vu. chi'nh nghi~a, thi` no' la.i hay bi. giai ca^'p tho^'ng tri.
quy' to^.c lo+.i du.ng ma` mu+u ddo' lo+.i rie^ng.

 Nhie^`u nha` phe^ bi`nh tru+o+'c dda^y dda~ chi? tri'ch su+. me^ ti'n, ma
quy? bo'i toa'n, nha^n qua?, ba'o o+n, trong sa'ch "Ta? truye^.n". "DDo^ng
Chu lie^.t quo^'c" kho^ng nhu+~ng tho^i ke^? su+. me^ ti'n a^'y ma` co`n
ta(ng cu+o+`ng no' le^n. Ngay trong ho^`i thu+' nha^'t dda~ co' dde^'n bo^'n
na(m chuye^.n huye^~n hoa(.c: ddu+'a tre? ma(.c a'o ddo? da.y ba`i ha't
cha(?ng la`nh, nhu+~ng cung phi co' thai bo^'n mu+o+i na(m, ngu+o+`i con
ga'i hie^.n hi`nh o+? trai cung, oan ho^`n cu?a DDa^.u Ba' va` Ta? Nho ddo`i
ma.ng, v.v... Ve^? sau la.i co`n vo^ so^' nhu+~ng chuye^.n ddie^`m to^'t,
ddie^`m xa^'u, quy? tha^`n, ddo'ng cet, ye^u qua'i, v.v... Nhu+~ng chuye^.n
hoang ddu+o+`ng nhu+ the^? thu+o+`ng tha^'y che'p trong nhie^`u truye^.n
co^? no'i chung.

 Ta^'t nhie^n nga`y nay ta kho^ng tin nhu+~ng chuye^.n a^'y la` co' thu+.c
ma` hie^?u ra(`ng hoa(.c la` do su+. ha.n che^' cu?a tho+`i dda.i, ta'c gia?
"DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" kho^ng the^? co' ca'i nhi`n khoa ho.c nhu+ chu'ng
ta nga`y nay ddo^'i vo+'i mo.i va^'n dde^` xa~ ho^.i; hoa(.c la` o+? du+o+'i
che^' ddo^. cu~ ma` vua chu'a co' uy quye^`n tuye^.t ddo^'i, ngu+o+`i ca^`m
bu't kho^ng the^? no'i ra su+. tha^.t ne^n pha?i mu+o+.n ca^u chuye^.n U
vu+o+ng nha` Chu ma^'t nu+o+'c o+? ma^'y ho^`i dda^`u tie^?u thuye^'t
"DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c", theo y' chu'ng to^i, dda~ ddu+o+.c to^ dda^.m
ma`u sa('c hoang ddu+o+`ng, cu~ng kho^ng ngoa`i nhu+~ng ly' do chu? ye^'u
a^'y.

 Ve^` nghe^. thua^.t ti'nh cu?a "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" thi` tru+o+'c
he^?t pha?i no'i dde^'n va^'n dde^` ke^'t ca^'u. Tu+` khi Bi`nh vu+o+ng nha`
Chu do+`i kinh ddo^ sang DDo^ng dde^'n Ta^`n Thu?y Hoa`ng tho^'ng nha^'t
dda^'t nu+o+'c la` mo^.t tho+`i ky` ha('c a'm, ho^~n loa.n, vo^ cu`ng phu+'c
ta.p, co' vo^ so^' nhu+~ng cuo^.c chi'nh bie^'n, ta`n sa't; vo^ so^' nhu+~ng
cuo^.c chie^'n tranh hoa(.c nho?, hoa(.c lo+'n, hoa(.c giu+~a va`i ba
nu+o+'c, hoa(.c giu+~a ha`ng chu.c nu+o+'c; vo^ so^' nhu+~ng chuye^.n thi
tho^' ta`i na(ng; vo^ so^' nhu+~ng nha^n va^.t xa^'u, to^'t; vo^ so^'
nhu+~ng ddo+`i so^'ng tu+ nha^n co' lie^n quan vo+'i nhu+~ng su+. kie^.n
chi'nh tri. lo+'n nho?. Ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ca'i ddo', pha?i ddu+o+.c ta cho.n
la.i, to^?ng ho+.p la.i nhu+ the^? na`o; tro.ng ta^m, tro.ng ddie^?m pha?i
dda(.t o+? nhu+~ng cho^~ na`o, nhu+~ng lu'c na`o; ca'c ho^`i, ca'c ddoa.n
pha?i ddu+o+.c pha^n pho^'i nhu+ the^? na`o, dde^? cho ca'i mo+' su+. kie^.n
va` nha^n va^.t a^'y tro+? tha`nh mo^.t chuye^.n hoa`n chi?nh? "Xua^n thu",
"Ta? truye^.n", "Co^ng du+o+ng", "Co^'c lu+o+ng" thi` tu+. thua^.t ca'c su+.
kie^.n a^'y theo thu+' tu+. na(m tha'ng (bie^n nie^n), "Quo^'c ngu+~",
"Chie^'n quo^'c sa'ch" thi` ghi che'p theo tu+`ng nu+o+'c. Tu+ Ma~ Thie^n
thi` dda~ bie^n ta? theo tu+`ng mu.c, loa.i. Phu`ng Mo^.ng Long dda~ gia?i
quye^'t va^'n dde^? ke^'t ca^'u cu?a "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" mo^.t ca'ch
sa'ng su?a va` tu+. nhie^n, ddu+'ng tre^n quan ddie^?m chi'nh tho^'ng ma`
tu+. thua^.t nhu+~ng su+. bie^'n chi'nh tri. va` qua^n su+. tre^n con
ddu+o+`ng thay ddo^?i "thie^n me^.nh" tu+` nha` Chu dde^'n nha` Ta^`n, ba('t
dda^`u tu+` khi nu+o+'c Tri.nh la^'n a't thie^n tu+? va` tra?i qua su+.
nghie^.p ba' chu? cu?a nu+o+'c Te^`, nu+o+'c Ta^'n, nu+o+'c So+?, nu+o+'c
Ngo^, nu+o+'c Vie^.t, ro^`i dde^'n chi'nh sa'ch "ho+.p tung" va` "lie^n
hoa`nh" cu?a To^ Ta^`n, Tru+o+ng Nghi va` ke^'t thu'c ba(`ng su+. tho^'ng
nha^'t cu?a nu+o+'c Ta^`n. Vo+'i nhu+~ng ddie^?u kie^.n phie^`n phu+'c nhu+
dda~ no'i tre^n dda^y, ngu+o+`i ta kho^ng co' the^? ddo`i ho?i the^m nu+~a,
ma` ngu+o+`i ta chi? co' the^? khen ngo+.i ta'c gia? dda~ kha'i qua't
ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng su+. kie^.n vo^ cu`ng ro^'i ren a^'y dde^? hie^'n ddo^.c
gia? mo^.t bu+'c ho.a bao la ve^? mo^.t tho+`i ky` li.ch su+? co^? dda.i
ro^.ng lo+'n cu?a Trung Quo^'c.

 Mo^.t so^' nha^n va^.t trong "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" ddu+o+.c ngo`i bu't
ta'c gia? mie^u ta? ra^'t sinh ddo^.ng, ra^'t "no'i". DDo.c "DDo^ng Chu
lie^.t quo^'c", kho^ng ma^'y ai que^n ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng nha^n va^.t nhu+ Ti'n
La(ng Qua^n, Ngu~ Tu+? Tu+, Pha.m La~i, La.n Tu+o+ng Nhu+, Kinh Kha, Chuye^n
Chu+, Nhie^?p Chi'nh v.v... Chi'nh la` tre^n co+ so+? nhu+~ng ma^u thua^~n
gay ga('t cu?a nhu+~ng su+. kie^.n chi'nh tri. lo+'n, ta'c gia? dda~ khe'o
tho^ng qua ngo^n ngu+~ va` ha`nh ddo^.ng ma` xa^y du+.ng ne^n hi`nh tu+o+.ng
nghe^. thua^.t nhu+~ng nha^n va^.t ddie^?n hi`nh ddo'.

 Ngu+o+`i DDo^ng Chu thi` the^', dde^'n vie^.c DDo^ng Chu thi` ta'c gia?
la.i khe'o co' ngo`i bu't tu+. su+. tha^.t go.n ga`ng, sa'ng su?a va`
ddo^`ng tho+`i la.i co`n ra^'t kha^'n tru+o+ng, ca?m ddo^.ng nu+~a. Co'
nhu+~ng su+. kie^.n ra^'t phu+'c ta.p, quanh co, ma` ta'c gia? chi? ca^`n
nu+?a ho^`i dde^? thua^.t la.i mo^.t ca'ch ra^'t ma.ch la.c, tro^i cha?y,
nhu+ ddoa.n vie^'t ve^` bo^'n ho. tranh quye^`n nhau o+? nu+o+'c Ta^'n. La.i
co' nhu+~ng su+. vie^.c ke'o da`i trong ddo' quan he^. giu+~a ca'c nha^n
va^.t bie^?n ho'a kho^ng ngu+`ng, cu.c die^.n pha't trie^?n nhu+ ddo+.t
so'ng, le^n le^n xuo^'ng xuo^'ng, ta^`ng ta^`ng lo+'p lo+'p, nhu+ chuye^.n
Sa'i Tu'c nu+o+'c To^'ng la^.p vua, chuye^.n Tru`ng Nhi~ nu+o+'c Ta^'n la'nh
na.n, chuye^.n Ngu~ Tu+? Tu+ nu+o+'c So+? ba'o thu` v.v... Nhu+~ng ddoa.n
a^'y ke'o da`i nhie^`u ho^`i va` ngo`i bu't tu+. thua^.t cu?a ta'c gia? dda~
khe'o da^~n da('t ngu+o+`i ddo.c mo^.t ca'ch ta`i ti`nh he^'t ho^`i no. sang
ho^`i kia, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ddi ddu+o+`ng xa mo^~i bu+o+'c la.i tha^'y hoa
tho+m co? la., mo^~i lu'c mo^.t tha^'y phong ca?nh ddo^?i mo+'i ddo^.t
ngo^.t, ba^'t ky`.

 Lo+`i va(n "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c" tuy kho^ng uye^n tha^m, ddie^?n nha~
nhu+ va(n "Ta? truye^.n", va(n "Su+? ky'", nhu+ng co' u+u ddie^?m la` cu.
the^?, ro~ ra`ng, de^~ hie^?u. Nhie^?u ddoa.n ra^'t ha`m su'c, nhie^`u
ddoa.n la.i ra^'t ti`nh tu+`, ne^n tho+. Nhu+ ddoa.n vie^'t ve^` hai anh em
co^ng tu+? Tho. nu+o+'c Ve^.:

 "... Co^ng tu+? Tho. lie^`n bu+o+'c sang thuye^`n Ca^'p Tu+?, ro't mo^.t
che'n ru+o+.u dde^? mo+`i, nhu+ng chu+a ki.p no'i gi` thi` nu+o+'c ma('t
dda~ o`a ra, ro? xuo^'ng che'n ru+o+.u. Ca^'p Tu+? vo^.i va`ng ddi la^'y ma`
uo^'ng. Co^ng tu+? Tho. no'i: "Che'n ru+o+.u na`y dda~ ba^?n ma^'t ro^`i!"
Ca^'p Tu+? no'i: "A^'y, chi'nh anh uo^'ng ca'i ti`nh cu?a em o+? trong
a^'y!" Co^ng tu+? Tho. ga.t nu+o+'c ma('t no'i: "Che'n ru+o+.u ho^m nay la`
che'n ru+o+.u vi~nh bie^.t cu?a anh em ta. Ne^?u anh nghi~ dde^'n ti`nh em
thi` xin ga('ng uo^'ng cho tha^.t nhie^`u...".

 Va` ddoa.n ta? Lo^.ng Ngo.c tho^?i sa'o dde^m tra(ng:

 "... Lo^.ng Ngo.c o+? tre^n la^`u cuo^'n re`m lan nga('m ca?nh, tha^'y
tro+`i ta.nh ma^y trong, tra(ng sa'ng nhu+ gu+o+ng, go.i thi. nu+~ dda(.t
mo^.t ne'n hu+o+ng, ro^`i ddi la^'y ca'i o^'ng sinh la`m ba(`ng ngo.c bi'ch,
dde^'n be^n cu+?a so^? ma` tho^?i. Tie^?ng sinh ve'o von vo.ng le^n vo`m
tro+`i, gio' ha^y ha^y tho^?i, bo^~ng nghe nhu+ co' ngu+o+`i ho.a la.i, khi
ga^`n khi xa. Lo^.ng Ngo.c kho^ng kho?i ba(n kha(n, be`n ngu+`ng la.i,
kho^ng tho^?i nu+~a, co' y' dde^? nghe xem sao. Tie^?ng ho.a cu~ng im ddi,
nhu+ng du+ a^m co`n le~o dde~o kho^ng du+'t. Lo^.ng Ngo.c ba^ng khua^ng
tru+o+'c gio', nhu+ mo^.t ngu+o+`i vu+`a dda'nh ma^'t va^.t gi`. Cho^'c dda~
nu+?a dde^m, tra(ng xe^' hu+o+ng ta`n, na`ng ddem o^'ng sinh dde^? tre^n
dda^`u giu+o+`ng, ga('ng gu+o+.ng ddi na(`m...".

 ***

 O+? cuo^'i ddo+`i Minh, sau bo^. "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c chi'" co`n
xua^'t hie^.n ho+n hai mu+o+i bo^. tie^?u thuye^'t li.ch su+?, nhu+ "Nam
Ba('c su+? die^~n nghi~a", "To^'ng truye^.n", "Ta^y Ha'n die^~n nghi~a",
"Lu+o+ng Ta^'n die^~n nghi~a", v.v... Ve^? gia' tri. va(n ho.c va` pha.m vi
a?nh hu+o+?ng thi` "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c chi'" ddu+'ng dda^`u ca'c bo^.
tie^?u thuye^'t a^'y, theo su+. nha^.n ddi.nh cu?a ca'c nha` phe^ bi`nh xu+a
va` nay.

 Tra^n tro.ng gio+'i thie^.u bo^. tie^?u thuye^'t "DDo^ng Chu lie^.t quo^'c"
vo+'i ca'c ba.n ddo.c.

 Cao Xua^n Huy

 (1) Hi`nh nhu+ ca'i date na`y sai. (H.L.)