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s　in　ceremonial　offerings。　However；　that　branch　of　the　family　had　remained　on　in　the　place；　gradually　being　poorer　and　poorer　as　the　years　rolled　on。　His　father　Liu　Hong　had　been　a　scholar　and　a　virtuous　official　but　died　young。　The　widow　and　orphan　were　left　alone；　and　Liu　Bei　as　a　lad　won　a　reputation　for　filial　piety。
At　this　time　the　family　had　sunk　deep　in　poverty；　and　Liu　Bei　gained　his　living　by　selling　straw　sandals　and　weaving　grass　mats。　The　family　home　was　in　a　village　near　the　chief　city　of　Zhuo。　Near　the　house　stood　a　huge　mulberry　tree；　and　seen　from　afar　its　curved　profile　resembled　the　canopy　of　a　wagon。　Noting　the　luxuriance　of　its　foliage；　a　soothsayer　had　predicted　that　one　day　a　man　of　distinction　would　e　forth　from　the　family。
As　a　child；　Liu　Bei　played　with　the　other　village　children　beneath　this　tree；　and　he　would　climb　up　into　it；　saying；　〃I　am　the　Son　of　Heaven；　and　this　is　my　chariot！〃　His　uncle；　Liu　Yuanqi；　recognized　that　Liu　Bei　was　no　ordinary　boy　and　saw　to　it　that　the　family　did　not　e　to　actual　want。
When　Liu　Bei　was　fifteen；　his　mother　sent　him　traveling　for　his　education。　For　a　time　he　served　Zheng　Xuan　and　Lu　Zhi　as　masters。　And　he　became　great　friends　with　Gongsun　Zan。
Liu　Bei　was　twenty…eight　when　the　outbreak　of　the　Yellow　Scarves　called　for　soldiers。　The　sight　of　the　notice　saddened　him；　and　he　sighed　as　he　read　it。
Suddenly　a　rasping　voice　behind　him　cried；　〃Sir；　why　sigh　if　you　do　nothing　to　help　your　country？〃
Turning　quickly　he　saw　standing　there　a　man　about　his　own　height；　with　a　bullet　head　like　a　leopard's；　large　eyes；　a　swallow　pointed　chin；　and　whiskers　like　a　tiger's。　He　spoke　in　a　loud　bass　voice　and　looked　as　irresistible　as　a　dashing　horse。　At　once　Liu　Bei　saw　he　was　no　ordinary　man　and　asked　who　he　was。
〃Zhang　Fei　is　my　name；〃　replied　the　stranger。　〃I　live　near　here　where　I　have　a　farm；　and　I　am　a　wine　seller　and　a　butcher　as　well；　and　I　like　to　bee　acquainted　with　worthy　people。　Your　sighs　as　you　read　the　notice　drew　me　toward　you。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　am　of　the　Imperial　Family；　Liu　Bei　is　my　name。　And　I　wish　I　could　destroy　these　Yellow　Scarves　and　restore　peace　to　the　land；　but　alas！　I　am　helpless。〃
〃I　have　the　means；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃Suppose　you　and　I　raised　some　troops　and　tried　what　we　could　do。〃
This　was　happy　news　for　Liu　Bei；　and　the　two　betook　themselves　to　the　village　inn　to　talk　over　the　project。　As　they　were　drinking；　a　huge；　tall　fellow　appeared　pushing　a　hand…cart　along　the　road。　At　the　threshold　he　halted　and　entered　the　inn　to　rest　awhile　and　he　called　for　wine。
〃And　be　quick！〃　added　he。　〃For　I　am　in　haste　to　get　into　the　town　and　offer　myself　for　the　army。〃
Liu　Bei　looked　over　the　newer；　item　by　item；　and　he　noted　the　man　had　a　huge　frame；　a　long　beard；　a　vivid　face　like　an　apple；　and　deep　red　lips。　He　had　eyes　like　a　phoenix's　and　fine　bushy　eyebrows　like　silkworms。　His　whole　appearance　was　dignified　and　awe…inspiring。　Presently；　Liu　Bei　crossed　over；　sat　down　beside　him　and　asked　his　name。
〃I　am　Guan　Yu；〃　replied　he。　〃I　am　a　native　of　the　east　side　of　the　river；　but　I　have　been　a　fugitive　on　the　waters　for　some　five　years；　because　I　slew　a　ruffian　who；　since　he　was　wealthy　and　powerful；　was　a　bully。　I　have　e　to　join　the　army　here。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　told　Guan　Yu　his　own　intentions；　and　all　three　went　away　to　Zhang　Fei's　farm　where　they　could　talk　over　the　grand　project。
Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃The　peach　trees　in　the　orchard　behind　the　house　are　just　in　full　flower。　Tomorrow　we　will　institute　a　sacrifice　there　and　solemnly　declare　our　intention　before　Heaven　and　Earth；　and　we　three　will　swear　brotherhood　and　unity　of　aims　and　sentiments：　Thus　will　we　enter　upon　our　great　task。〃
Both　Liu　Bei　and　Guan　Yu　gladly　agreed。
All　three　being　of　one　mind；　next　day　they　prepared　the　sacrifices；　a　black　ox；　a　white　horse；　and　wine　for　libation。　Beneath　the　smoke　of　the　incense　burning　on　the　altar；　they　bowed　their　heads　and　recited　this　oath：
〃We　three………Liu　Bei；　Guan　Yu；　and　Zhang　Fei………though　of　different　families；　swear　brotherhood；　and　promise　mutual　help　to　one　end。　We　will　rescue　each　other　in　difficulty；　we　will　aid　each　other　in　danger。　We　swear　to　serve　the　state　and　save　the　people。　We　ask　not　the　same　day　of　birth；　but　we　seek　to　die　together。　May　Heaven；　the　all…ruling；　and　Earth；　the　all…producing；　read　our　hearts。　If　we　turn　aside　from　righteousness　or　forget　kindliness；　may　Heaven　and　Human　smite　us！〃
They　rose　from　their　knees。　The　two　others　bowed　before　Liu　Bei　as　their　elder　brother；　and　Zhang　Fei　was　to　be　the　youngest　of　the　trio。　This　solemn　ceremony　performed；　they　slew　other　oxen　and　made　a　feast　to　which　they　invited　the　villagers。　Three　hundred　joined　them；　and　all　feasted　and　drank　deep　in　the　Peach　Garden。
The　next　day　weapons　were　mustered。　But　there　were　no　horses　to　ride。　This　was　a　real　grief。　But　soon　they　were　cheered　by　the　arrival　of　two　horse　dealers　with　a　drove　of　horses。
〃Thus　does　Heaven　help　us！〃　said　Liu　Bei。
And　the　three　brothers　went　forth　to　wele　the　merchants。　They　were　Zhang　Shiping　and　Su　Shuang　from　Zhongshan。　They　went　northwards　every　year　to　buy　horses。　They　were　now　on　their　way　home　because　of　the　Yellow　Scarves。　The　brothers　invited　them　to　the　farm；　where　wine　was　served　before　them。　Then　Liu　Bei　told　them　of　the　plan　to　strive　for　tranquillity。　Zhang　Shiping　and　Su　Shuang　were　glad　and　at　once　gave　the　brothers　fifty　good　steeds；　and　beside；　five　hundred　ounces　of　gold　and　silver　and　one　thousand　five　hundred　pounds　of　steel　fit　for　the　forging　of　weapons。
The　brothers　expressed　their　gratitude；　and　the　merchants　took　their　leave。　Then　blacksmiths　were　summoned　to　forge　weapons。　For　Liu　Bei　they　made　a　pair　of　ancient　swords；　for　Guan　Yu　they　fashioned　a　long…handled；　curve　blade　called　Green…Dragon　Saber；　which　weighed　a　full　one　hundred　twenty　pounds；　and　for　Zhang　Fei　they　created　a　ten…foot　spear　called　Serpent　Halberd。　Each　too　had　a　helmet　and　full　armor。
When　weapons　were　ready；　the　troop；　now　five　hundred　strong；　marched　to　mander　Zhou　Jing；　who　presented　them　to　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Yan。　When　the　ceremony　of　introduction　was　over；　Liu　Bei　declared　his　ancestry；　and　Liu　Yan　at　once　accorded　him　the　esteem　due　to　a　relation。
Before　many　days　it　was　announced　that　the　rebellion　had　actually　broken　out；　and　a　Yellow　Scarves　chieftain；　Cheng　Yuanzhi；　had　invaded　the　region　with　a　body　of　fifty　thousand　rebels。　Liu　Yan　bade　Zhou　Jing　and　the　three　brothers　to　go　out　to　oppose　them　with　the　five　hundred　troops。　Liu　Bei　joyfully　undertook　to　lead　the　van　and　marched　to　the　foot　of　the　Daxing　Hills　where　they　saw　the　rebels。　The　rebels　wore　their　hair　flying　about　their　shoulders；　and　their　foreheads　were　bound　with　yellow　scarves。
When　the　two　armies　had　been　drawn　up　opposite　each　other；　Liu　Bei　rode　to　the　front；　Guan　Yu　to　his　left；　Zhang　Fei　to　his　right。
Flourishing　his　whip；　Liu　Bei　began　to　hurl　reproaches　at　the　rebels；　crying；　〃O　malcontents！　Why　not　dismount　and　be　bound？〃
Their　leader　Cheng　Yuanzhi；　full　of　rage；　sent　out　one　general；　Deng　Mao；　to　begin　the　battle。　At　once　rode　forward　Zhang　Fei；　his　serpent　halberd　poised　to　strike。　One　thrust　and　Deng　Mao　rolled　off　his　horse；　pierced　through　the　heart。　At　this　Cheng　Yuanzhi　himself　whipped　up　his　steed　and　rode　forth　with　sword　raised　ready　to　slay　Zhang　Fei。　But　Guan　Yu　swung　up　his　ponderous　green…dragon　saber　and　rode　at　Cheng　Yuanzhi。　At　the　sight；　fear　seized　upon　Cheng　Yuanzhi；　and　before　he　could　defend　himself；　the　great　saber　fell；　cutting　him　in　halves。

Two　heroes　new　to　war's　alarms；
Ride　boldly　forth　to　try　their　arms。
Their　doughty　deeds　three　kingdoms　tell；
And　poets　sing　how　these　befell。

Their　leader　fallen；　the　rebels　threw　away　their　weapons　and　fled。　The　official　soldiers　dashed　in　among　them。　Many　thousands　surrendered　and　the　victory　was　plete。　Thus　this　part　of　the　rebellion　was　broken　up。
On　their　return；　Liu　Yan　personally　met　them　and　distributed　rewards。　But　the　next　day；　letters　came　from　Imperial　Protector　Gong　Jing　of　Qingzhou　Region　saying　that　the　rebels　were　laying　siege　to　the　chief　city　and　it　was　near　falling。　Help　was　needed　quickly。
〃I　will　go；〃　said　Liu　Bei　as　soon　as　he　heard　the　news。
And　he　set　out　at　once　with　his　own　soldiers；　reinforced　by　a　body　of　five　thousand　under　Zhou　Jing。　The　rebels；　seeing　help　ing；　at　once　attacked　most　fiercely。　The　relieving　force　being　paratively　small　could　not　prevail　and　retired　some　ten　miles；　where　they　made　a　camp。
〃They　are　many　and　we　but　few；〃　said　Liu　Bei　to　his　brothers。　〃We　can　only　beat　them　by　superior　strategy。〃
So　they　prepared　an　ambush。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　each　with　a　goodly　party；　went　behind　the　hills；　right　and　left；　and　there　hid。　When　the　gongs　beat　they　were　to　move　out　to　support　the　main　army。
These　preparations　made；　the　drums　rolled　noisily　for　Liu　Bei　to　advance。　The　rebels　also　came　forward。　But　Liu　Bei　suddenly　retired。　Thinking　this　was　their　chance；　the　rebels　pressed　forward　and　were　led　over　the　hills。　Then　suddenly　the　gongs　sounded　for　the　ambush。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　poured　out　from　right　and　left　as　Liu　Bei　faced　around　to　meet　the　rebels。　Under　three…side　attack；　the　rebels　lost　heavily　and　fled　to　the　walls　of　Qingzhou　City。　But　Imperial　Protector　Gong　Jing　led　out　an　armed　body　to　attack　them；　and　the　rebels　were　entirely　defeated　and　many　slain。　Qingzhou　was　no　longer　in　danger。

Though　fierce　as　tigers　soldiers　be；
Battle　are　won　by　strategy。
A　hero　es；　he　gains　renown；
Already　destined　for　a　crown。

After　the　celebrations　in　honor　of　victory　were　over；　mander　Zhou　Jing　proposed　to　return　to　Youzhou。
But　Liu　Bei　said；　〃We　are　informed　that　Imperial　mander　Lu　Zhi　has　been　struggling　with　a　horde　of　rebels　led　by　Zhang　Jue　at　Guangzong。　Lu　Zhi　was　once　my　teacher；　and　I　want　to　go　help　him。〃
So　Liu　Bei　and　Zhou　Jing　separated；　and　the　three　brothers　with　their　troops　made　their　way　to　Guangzong。　They　found　Lu　Zhi's　camp；　were　admitted　to　his　presence；　and　declared　the　reason　of　their　ing。　The　mander　received　them　with　great　joy；　and　they　remained　with　him　while　he　made　his　plans。
At　that　time　Zhang　Jue's　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　troops　and　Lu　Zhi's　fifty　thousand　troops　were　facing　each　other。　Neither　had　had　any　success。
Lu　Zhi　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　am　able　to　surround　these　rebels　here。　But　the　other　two　brothers；　Zhang　Ba　and　Zhang　Lian；　are　strongly　entrenched　opposite　Huangfu　Song　and　Zhu　Jun　at　Yingchuan。　I　will　give　you　a　thousand　more　troops；　and　with　these　you　can　go　to　find　out　what　is　happening；　and　we　can　then　settle　the　moment　for　concerted　attack。〃
So　Liu　Bei　set　off　and　marched　as　quickly　as　possible　to　Yingchuan。　At　that　time　the　imperial　troops　were　attacking　with　success；　and　the　rebels　had　retired　upon　Changshe。　They　had　encamped　among　the　thick　grass。
Seeing　this；　Huangfu　Song　said　to　Zhu　Jun；　〃The　rebels　are　camping　in　the　field。　We　can　attack　them　by　fire。〃
So　the　Imperial　manders　bade　every　man　cut　a　bundle　of　dry　grass　and　laid　an　ambush。　That　night　the　wind　blew　a　gale；　and　at　the　second　watch　they　started　a　blaze。　At　the　same　time　Huangfu　Song　and　Zhu　Jun's　troops　attacked　the　rebels　and　set　their　camp　on　fire。　The　flames　rose　to　the　very　heaven。　The　rebels　were　thrown　into　great　confusion。　There　was　no　time　to　saddle　horses　or　don　armor：　They　fled　in　all　directions。
The　battle　continued　until　dawn。　Zhang　Lian　and　Zhang　Ba；　with　a　group　of　flying　rebels；　found　a　way　of　escape。　But　suddenly　a　troop　of　soldiers　with　crimson　banners　appeared　to　oppose　them。　Their　leader　was　a　man　of　medium　stature　with　small　eyes　and　a　long　beard。　He　was　Cao　Cao；　a　Beijuo　man；　holding　the　rank　of　Cavalry　mander。　His　father　was　Cao　Song；　but　he　was　not　really　a　Cao。　Cao　Song　had　been　born　to　the　Xiahou　family；　but　he　had　been　brought　up　by　Eunuch　Cao　Teng　and　had　taken　this　family　name。
As　a　young　man　Cao　Cao　had　been　fond　of　hunting　and　delighted　in　songs　and　dancing。　He　was　resourceful　and　full　of　guile。　An　uncle；　seeing　the　young　fellow　so　unsteady；　used　to　get　angry　with　him　and　told　his　father　of　his　misdeeds。　His　father　remonstrated　with　him。
But　Cao　Cao　made　equal　to　the　occasion。　One　day；　seeing　his　uncle　ing；　he　fell　to　the　ground　in　a　pretended　fit。　The　uncle　alarmed　ran　to　tell　his　fa