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ing　each　other　in　each　three　days；　and　large　banquets　held　in　each　five　days。
Cao　Cao　also　presented　him　with　ten　most　lovely　serving　girls。　Guan　Yu　sent　these　also　within　to　wait　upon　his　two　sisters…in…law。
Every　third　day　Guan　Yu　went　to　the　door　of　the　women's　quarters　to　inquire　after　their　welfare；　and　then　they　asked　if　any　news　of　the　wanderer　had　e。　This　ceremony　closed　with　the　words：　〃Brother…in…law；　you　may　retire　when　you　wish。〃
Cao　Cao　heard　of　this　extremely　correct　behavior　and　thought　all　the　more　of　the　man　for　it。
One　day　Cao　Cao　noticed　that　the　robe　Guan　Yu　was　wearing　was　old　and　frayed。　Taking　his　measurements；　Cao　Cao　had　a　new　one　made　of　fine　brocade　and　presented　it　to　him。　Guan　Yu　took　it　and　put　it　on　under　the　old　robe；　so　that　the　latter　covered　it。
〃Why　so　very　thrifty？〃　laughed　Cao　Cao。
〃It　is　not　thrift；〃　was　his　reply。　〃The　old　robe　was　a　gift　from　my　brother；　and　I　wear　it　because　it　reminds　me　of　him。　I　could　not　allow　the　new　gift　to　eclipse　his　old　one。〃
〃How　very　high　principled！〃　said　Cao　Cao；　sighing。
One　day　when　Guan　Yu　was　at　home；　there　came　a　messenger　to　say　that　the　two　women　had　thrown　themselves　on　the　ground　and　were　weeping。　They　would　not　say　why。
Guan　Yu　set　his　dress　in　order；　went　over；　and　knelt　by　the　door；　saying；　〃Why　this　grief；　sisters…in…law？〃
Lady　Gan　replied；　〃In　the　night　I　dreamed　that　the　Uncle　had　fallen　into　a　pit。　I　woke　up　and　told　Lady　Mi；　and　we　think　he　must　be　dead。　So　we　weep。〃
〃Dreams　are　not　to　be　credited；〃　he　replied。　〃You　dreamed　of　him　because　you　were　thinking　of　him。　Pray　do　not　grieve。〃
Just　then　Guan　Yu　was　invited　to　another　banquet；　so　he　took　leave　of　the　ladies　and　went。　Seeing　Guan　Yu　looked　sad　and　tearful；　his　host　asked　the　reason。
〃My　sisters…in…law　have　been　weeping　for　my　brother；　and　I　cannot　help　being　sad　in　sympathy。〃
Cao　Cao　smiled　and　tried　to　cheer　up　his　guest。　Cao　Cao　plied　Guan　Yu　with　wine　so　that　Guan　Yu　became　quite　intoxicated　and　sat　stroking　his　beard　and　saying；　〃What　a　useless　thing　am　I！　I　could　do　no　service　for　my　country；　and　I　have　parted　from　my　elder　brother。〃
〃How　many　hairs　in　your　beard？〃　suddenly　asked　his　host。
〃Some　hundreds；　perhaps。　In　the　autumn　a　few　fall　out；　but　in　the　winter　it　is　fullest。　Then　I　use　a　black　silk　bag　to　keep　the　hairs　from　being　broken；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
Cao　Cao　had　a　bag　made　for　him　to　protect　his　beard。　Soon　after　when　they　were　at　court；　the　Emperor　asked　what　was　the　bag　he　saw　on　Guan　Yu's　breast。
〃My　beard　is　rather　long；　Your　Majesty；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃So　the　Prime　Minister　gave　me　a　bag　to　protect　it。〃
The　Emperor　bade　him　take　off　the　bag　and　show　his　beard　in　all　its　fullness　and　it　fell　in　rippling　waves　below　his　breast。
〃Really　a　most　beautiful　beard！〃　said　the　Emperor。
This　is　why　people　call　him：　〃The　Man　with　the　Beautiful　Beard。〃
Another　time；　after　a　banquet；　Cao　Cao　was　seeing　his　guest　start　from　the　gate　of　his　palace　when　he　noticed　that　his　charger　was　very　thin。
〃Why　is　it　so　thin？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃My　worthless　body　is　rather　heavy　and　really　too　much　for　it。　It　is　always　out　of　condition。〃
Cao　Cao　at　once　told　his　attendants　to　bring　out　a　certain　steed；　and　before　long　it　appeared。　It　was　red；　like　glowing　charcoal；　and　a　handsome　creature　in　every　way。
〃Do　you　recognize　it？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃Why；　it　is　no　other　than　Red　Hare！〃　cried　Guan　Yu。
〃Yes；　it　is　Red　Hare；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
And　he　presented　the　horse；　all　fully　caparisoned；　to　his　guest。
Guan　Yu　bowed　many　times　and　thanked　him　again　and　again；　till　Cao　Cao　began　to　feel　displeased　and　said；　〃I　have　given　you　many　things；　lovely　handmaids　and　gold　and　silks　and　never　won　a　bow　of　gratitude　from　you　before。　This　horse　seems　to　please　you　better　than　all　the　rest。　Why　do　you　think　so　poorly　of　the　damsels　and　so　much　of　the　steed？〃
〃I　know　the　horse：　It　can　travel　five　hundred　miles　a　day；　and　I　am　very　lucky　to　get　him。　Now　as　soon　as　I　find　out　where　my　brother　is；　I　can　get　to　him　in　a　single　day；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Cao　Cao　grumbled　to　himself　and　began　to　repent　of　his　gift。

Fortune　dealt　a　stunning　blow；　still　he　played　his　part；
Partitioning　his　dwelling　proved　his　purity　of　heart。
The　crafty　minister　desired　to　win　him　to　his　side；
But　felt　that　failure　was　foredoomed　however　much　he　tried。

Said　Cao　Cao　to　Zhang　Liao；　〃I　have　treated　Guan　Yu　pretty　liberally；　but　he　still　cherishes　the　desire　to　leave　me。　Do　you　know　if　it　is　really　so？〃
〃I　will　try　to　find　out；〃　was　the　reply。
So　Zhang　Liao　took　an　early　opportunity　of　seeing　Guan　Yu；　and　when　the　politeness　of　the　visit　were　over；　Zhang　Liao　said；　〃I　remended　you　to　the　Prime　Minister；　and　you　have　not　lost　much　by　that。〃
〃I　am　deeply　affected　by　his　kindness　and　bounty；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃but；　though　my　body　is　here；　yet　I　am　always　thinking　of　my　brother。〃
〃Your　words　do　not　express　present　conditions　quite　correctly。　One　who　lives　in　the　world　without　discrimination　and　consideration　of　his　relations　with　others　is　not　the　most　admirable　type　of　person。　Even　Liu　Bei　never　treated　you　better　than　does　the　Prime　Minister。　Why　then　do　you　maintain　this　desire　to　get　away？〃
〃I　know　only　too　well　that　he　has　been　most　kind；　but　I　have　also　received　great　kindness　from　Uncle　Liu　Bei。　Beside　we　have　sworn　to　die　together；　and　I　cannot　remain　here。　But　before　I　go；　I　must　try　to　render　the　Prime　Minister　some　signal　service　to　prove　my　gratitude。〃
〃Supposing　Liu　Bei　should　have　left　the　world；　whither　will　you　go？〃　said　Zhang　Liao。
〃I　will　follow　him　to　the　below　realms　of　Nine　Golden　Springs。〃
There　could　no　longer　be　the　least　doubt　as　to　Guan　Yu's　intentions；　and　Zhang　Liao　told　Cao　Cao　just　how　matters　stood。　Cao　Cao　sighed。
〃To　serve　one's　chief　with　unswerving　fidelity　is　a　proof　of　the　highest　principle　of　all；〃　said　he。
Said　Xun　Yu；　〃He　spoke　of　performing　some　act　of　service　before　leaving。　If　he　gets　no　chance　of　such　a　thing；　he　will　not　be　able　to　go。〃
Cao　Cao　agreed　that　this　was　so。
Liu　Bei　went　to　Yuan　Shao　for　refuge。　Here　Liu　Bei　was　always　sorrowful　and；　when　asked　the　reason；　said　he　did　not　know　where　his　brothers　were　nor　what　had　happened　to　his　family　since　they　fell　into　the　hands　of　Cao　Cao。
〃Why　should　I　not　be　sad　when　I　have　failed　towards　my　country　and　my　family？〃　said　he。
〃I　have　long　wished　to　attack　Xuchang；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃Now　it　is　autumn　and　just　the　time　for　an　expedition；　so　let　us　discuss　plans　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。〃
Tian　Feng　at　once　opposed　this。
〃When　Cao　Cao　attacked　Xuzhou　and　Xuchang　was　undefended；　you　let　the　chance　slip　by。　Now　that　Xuzhou　has　been　captured；　and　their　soldiers　are　flushed　with　victory；　it　would　be　madness　to　attempt　it。　It　is　necessary　to　await　another　chance。〃
〃Let　me　think　about　it；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。
He　asked　advice　from　Liu　Bei　whether　to　attack　or　to　hold　on。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　is　a　rebel。　I　think　you　are　failing　in　your　duty　if　you　do　not　attack　him。〃
〃Your　words　are　good；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。
He　made　up　his　mind　to　move。　But　again　the　adviser　Tian　Feng　intervened。
Then　Yuan　Shao　grew　angry；　saying；　〃You　fellows　who　cultivate　literature　and　despise　war　have　made　me　miss　a　lot！〃
Tian　Feng　bowed　his　head　and　said；　〃Neglect　your　servant's　wise　words；　and　you　will　fail　in　the　field。〃
Yuan　Shao　was　so　angry　that　he　wanted　to　put　Tian　Feng　to　death。　However；　Liu　Bei　begged　him　off　and　he　was　only　imprisoned。
Seeing　the　fate　of　his　colleague；　another　adviser；　Ju　Shou；　assembled　his　clan　and　distributed　among　them　all　his　possessions；　saying；　〃I　go　with　the　army。　If　we　succeed；　then　nothing　can　exceed　our　glory；　but　if　we　are　defeated；　the　risk　I　run　is　great。〃
His　friends　wept　as　they　said　farewell。
General　Yan　Liang　was　appointed　to　the　mand　of　the　advance　guard；　to　go　to　attack　Baima。
Then　Ju　Shou　first　protested；　〃His　mind　is　too　narrow　for　such　a　post。　He　is　brave　but　unequal　to　such　a　trust。〃
〃You　are　not　the　sort　of　man　to　measure　my　best　generals；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。
The　army　marched　to　Liyang；　and　Governor　Liu　Yue　of　Dongjun　sent　an　urgent　call　to　Xuchang　for　aid。　Cao　Cao　moved　his　armies　hastily。
As　soon　as　the　news　of　battle　got　about；　Guan　Yu　went　to　see　the　Prime　Minister　and　said；　〃Illustrious　Sir；　the　army　is　mobilized。　I　volunteer　for　the　van　leader。〃
〃I　scarcely　dare　put　you　to　such　inconvenience；　but　presently；　if　need　arises；　I　will　call　upon　you。〃
So　Guan　Yu　retired；　and　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　soldiers　marched　out　in　three　directions。　On　the　road　the　letters　from　Liu　Yue　arrived　praying　for　help；　and　Cao　Cao　marched　the　first　fifty　thousand　troops　to　Baima　and　took　up　a　position　supported　by　the　hills。　In　the　wide　plains　in　front　of　them；　Yan　Liang　was　encamped　with　one　hundred　thousand　veterans。
Cao　Cao　was　frightened　at　the　force　opposed　to　him　and；　returning　to　camp；　spoke　to　Song　Xian；　who　had　once　served　under　Lu　Bu；　saying；　〃You　are　one　of　Lu　Bu's　famous　veteran　generals。　Can　you　give　battle　to　this　Yan　Liang？〃
Song　Xian　agreed　to　try。　He　armed　himself；　mounted；　and　rode　to　the　front。　Yan　Liang　was　there　on　horseback；　his　sword　lying　crossways。　Seeing　an　opponent　approaching；　he　uttered　a　loud　shout　and　galloped　toward　Song　Xian。　The　two　met；　but　after　only　three　bouts；　Song　Xian　fell　under　a　mighty　slash　from　Yan　Liang's　sword。
〃What　a　terrible　leader！〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃He　has　slain　my　rade；　I　want　to　go　and　avenge　him；〃　then　cried　Wei　Xu。
Cao　Cao　bade　him　go　and　he　rode　out；　spear　set；　and　in　front　of　the　army　railed　at　Yan　Liang。
Yan　Liang　replied　not　a　word；　but　their　two　steeds　came　together；　and　at　the　first　blow　from　Yan　Liang's　sword；　Wei　Xu's　forehead　was　halved。
〃Now；　who　again　dares　face　him？〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
Xu　Huang　took　up　the　challenge　and　he　went　out。　The　bat　endured　twenty　bouts；　and　then　Xu　Huang　fled　back　to　his　own　side。　The　other　generals　were　now　greatly　depressed　at　their　failure。　Cao　Cao　withdrew　his　army；　feeling　very　sad　at　the　loss　of　two　generals　in　quick　succession。　Yan　Liang　also　marched　off　his　force。
Then　Cheng　Yu　went　to　see　his　chief；　saying；　〃I　can　produce　a　man　the　equal　of　Yan　Liang。〃
〃Who？〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
〃No　other　than　Guan　Yu。〃
〃I　am　afraid　that　if　he　is　given　an　opportunity　to　perform　that　return　service　he　spoke　of；　he　will　leave　me。〃
〃If　Liu　Bei　is　still　alive；　he　is　with　Yuan　Shao。　If　you　get　Guan　Yu　to　defeat　Yuan　Shao's　army；　Yuan　Shao　will　look　askance　at　Liu　Bei　and　put　him　to　death。　Liu　Bei　gone；　where　can　Guan　Yu　go？〃
This　argument　appealed　to　Cao　Cao　at　once；　and　he　sent　to　request　Guan　Yu　to　e。
Previous　to　obeying　the　call；　Guan　Yu　went　to　say　farewell　to　his　sisters…in…law。
〃You　may　get　news　of　the　Uncle　on　the　journey；〃　said　they。
〃Yes；〃　said　Guan　Yu　and　left　them。
Armed　with　his　green…dragon　saber；　riding　on　the　swift　steed　Red　Hare；　and　having　but　a　slender　following；　Guan　Yu　was　not　long　in　arriving　at　Baima。　He　saw　Cao　Cao；　who　told　him　what　had　happened。　Yan　Liang　was　too　valiant　for　any　to　face。
〃Let　me　look　at　him；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Then　wine　was　served　for　his　refreshment；　and　while　they　were　drinking；　it　was　reported　that　Yan　Liang　once　again　offered　a　challenge。　So　Cao　Cao　and　his　guest　and　staff　went　to　the　summit　of　a　hill　whence　the　enemy　could　be　seen。　Cao　Cao　and　Guan　Yu　sat　on　the　hill　top；　and　the　manders　stood　about　them。　Cao　Cao　pointed　out　Yan　Liang's　troops　arrayed　on　the　plains　below。　The　ensigns　and　banners　waving　fresh　and　bright　amid　the　forest　of　spears　and　swords　made　a　grand　and　imposing　spectacle。
〃See　how　formidable　these　soldiers　of　the　North　of　Yellow　River　are；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　regard　them　as　so　many　clay　fowls　and　mud　dogs；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Cao　Cao　pointed　out　Yan　Liang；　saying；　〃There　under　that　grand　umbrella；　in　that　embroidered　robe　and　that　silver　breastplate　and　riding　on　horseback　and　gripping　that　huge　sword　is　Yan　Liang。〃
〃His　head　looks　as　though　it　was　stuck　on　a　pole　for　sale；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　just　glancing　over　the　army　at　his　feet。
〃He　is　very　terrible。　You　must　not　despise　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Guan　Yu　rose；　saying；　〃I　am　a　poor　thing；　but　I　will　go　over　and　bring　you　his　head　if　you　like。〃
〃Joking　is　not　allowed　in　this　army；〃　interposed　Zhang　Liao。　〃Please　be　careful　what　you　say；　General。〃
Guan　Yu　quickly　mounted；　turned　down　his　mighty　weapon；　and　galloped　down　the　hill；　his　pho