Qin Qi 秦琪

In Chapter 27 of the Romance, when Guan Yu, having cut down Wang Zhi, reaches the border of Huazhou, Liu Yan comes out of the city wall to meet him. When Guan Yu says he is on his way to seek his elder brother, Liu Yan says that the pass at the Yellow River ford is now held by Qin Qi, Xiahou Dun's subordinate general, and that he fears Qin Qi will not let him cross. When Guan Yu asks for a boat, Liu Yan says that he has boats but cannot give one, for fear that Xiahou Dun will punish him if he finds out. Romance, Ch. 27 §40–42

When Guan Yu urges his carriages on by himself and reaches the Yellow River ford, Qin Qi comes out with his troops and asks who he is. When Guan Yu says that he is going to Hebei to seek his elder brother Liu Xuande and wishes to borrow the ford to cross, Qin Qi asks where the Chancellor's official papers are, and Guan Yu answers that he is not under the Chancellor's command. When Qin Qi says that he guards the pass on the orders of General Xiahou and that Guan Yu could not fly across even with wings, Guan Yu asks whether he knows that Guan Yu has cut down and killed those who blocked him on the road. Romance, Ch. 27 §43–44

Qin Qi retorts that Guan Yu has only killed petty, nameless generals and asks whether he would dare to kill him. When Guan Yu angrily asks how he compares with Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Qin Qi, in a great rage, spurs his horse and charges straight at Guan Yu with his blade raised, but as the two horses meet, Guan Yu's blade rises in a single bout and Qin Qi's head falls. Saying that the one who blocked him is already dead, Guan Yu has the remaining soldiers prepare boats, puts his two sisters-in-law aboard and crosses into Yuan Shao's territory. Romance, Ch. 27 §44–45

In Chapter 28 Xiahou Dun pursues Guan Yu, who is heading for Runan, with more than three hundred horsemen, and tries to capture him, saying that Guan Yu has killed men on the road and even cut down his own subordinate general, which is too great an insolence. Envoys sent by Cao Cao come one after another with official papers, saying Guan Yu is to be let through, but Xiahou Dun has his troops surround Guan Yu, saying that the Chancellor does not know Guan Yu has killed people. Romance, Ch. 28 §1–5

When Zhang Liao arrives and conveys the Chancellor's order that Guan Yu be allowed to pass as he pleases, Xiahou Dun says that Qin Qi was Cai Yang's nephew, whom Cai Yang had entrusted to him, and that now he has been killed by Guan Yu, so how can he simply let it pass? When Zhang Liao says that he will meet General Cai and settle it with him separately and urges him not to go against the Chancellor's wishes, Xiahou Dun has no choice but to withdraw his troops. Romance, Ch. 28 §6–7

At Gucheng, while Guan Yu is under suspicion from Zhang Fei, Cao Cao's troops arrive, and Cai Yang, at their head, shouts that Guan Yu has killed his nephew Qin Qi and fled here. Before the first roll of the drum sounded by Zhang Fei has ended, Guan Yu beheads Cai Yang. A captured soldier reports that Cai Yang, enraged on hearing that Guan Yu had killed his nephew, had wanted to go to Hebei to fight him, but the Chancellor did not permit it and instead sent him to Runan to attack Liu Pi. Romance, Ch. 28 §34–37