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〃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　phoenix　eyes　rounded；　and　his　silkworm　eyebrows　fiercely　bristling。　He　dashed　straight　into　the　enemy's　array；　and　the　northern　soldiers　opened　like　falling　waves　and　dissolving　storms。　He　made　directly　for　the　mander。
Now　Yan　Liang　sitting　there　in　state　saw　a　horseman　rushing　toward　him；　and　just　as　he　began　to　ask　who　the　rider　of　the　red　horse　was；　lo！　the　horseman　was　there。　Taken　utterly　by　surprise；　the　leader　could　make　no　defense。　Guan　Yu's　arm　rose　and　the　mighty　weapon　fell。　And　with　it　fell　Yan　Liang。
Leaping　from　the　saddle；　Guan　Yu　cut　off　his　victim's　head　and　hung　it　to　his　horse's　neck。　Then　he　mounted　and　rode　out；　just　as　if　there　was　no　army　there。
The　northern　troops；　panic　stricken；　made　no　fight。　Cao　Cao's　army　attacked　with　full　force　and　slew　great　numbers　of　them。　They　captured　many　horses　and　weapons　and　much　military　gear。　Guan　Yu　rode　quickly　back　up　the　hill　and　laid　the　proof　of　his　prowess　at　the　feet　of　the　Prime　Minister。
〃You　are　more　than　human；　General！〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
〃What　have　I　done　to　talk　about？〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃My　brother；　Zhang　Fei；　did　the　same　thing　in　an　army　of　a　hundred　legions；　and　did　it　as　easily　as　picking　something　from　his　own　pocket。〃
Cao　Cao　marveled　at　the　statement　and　turning　to　those　about　him　said；　〃If　you　meet　this　Zhang　Fei；　be　careful。〃
And　he　bade　them　make　a　note　on　the　overlap　of　their　robes　so　that　they　should　remember。
The　beaten　army　returning　northward　met　Yuan　Shao　on　the　road　and　told　their　story。
〃A　red…faced　warrior　with　a　long　beard；　wielding　a　huge；　long…handled　sword；　broke　into　the　army；　cut　off　the　general's　head　and　bore　it　off；〃　said　they。
〃Who　was　this？〃　asked　Yuan　Shao。
Ju　Shou　said；　〃It　must　have　been　Liu　Bei's　brother；　Guan　Yu。　It　could　be　nobody　else。〃
Yuan　Shao　was　very　angry　and；　pointing　to　Liu　Bei；　he　said；　〃Your　brother　has　slain　my　beloved　leader。　You　are　in　the　plot　too。　Why　should　I　save　you　alive？〃
He　bade　the　lictors　take　Liu　Bei　away　and　behead　him。

Morning　saw　him　guest　on　high。
Evening；　prisoner；　doomed　to　die。

Liu　Bei's　actual　fate　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　26　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　26
　Chapter　26
Yuan　Shao　Loses　Another　Leader；
Guan　Yu　Abandons　Rank　And　Wealth。
As　the　last　chapter　closed；　Liu　Bei　had　been　condemned　to　die。
Liu　Bei　spoke　up；　however；　and　said；　〃Pray　hear　one　word；　Illustrious　Sir；　before　you　decide。　I　have　lost　sight　of　my　brother　since　my　misfortune　at　Xuzhou　and　know　not　whether　Guan　Yu　be　dead　or　alive。　There　are　many　men　in　the　world　who　resemble　him。　Is　every　red…faced　man　with　a　beard　named　Guan　Yu？　Should　you　not　rather　seek　some　evidence？〃
Now　Yuan　Shao　was　impulsive　and　facile　by　nature；　and　when　Liu　Bei　spoke　thus；　he　suddenly　turned　upon　Ju　Shou；　saying；　〃By　wrongly　regarding　what　you　said；　I　nearly　killed　an　innocent　person。〃
Then　Yuan　Shao　requested　Liu　Bei　once　more　to　resume　his　seat　in　the　tent　and　give　advice　on　how　to　avenge　Yan　Liang。
Soon　from　the　lower　end　a　voice　was　heard；　saying；　〃Yan　Liang　and　I　were　as　brothers；　and　can　I　allow　any　other　to　avenge　his　death？〃
The　speaker　was　a　man　of　eight…span　height　with　a　face　like　a　jilin；　a　famous　leader　from　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　named　Wen　Chou。
Yuan　Shao　was　pleased　and　said；　〃You　are　the　only　man　who　can　do　it。　I　will　give　you　one　hundred　thousand　troops；　and　you　can　cross　the　Yellow　River；　and　quickly　smite　that　rebel　Cao　Cao。
〃You　cannot　do　it。　Wen　Chou　will　fail；〃　said　Ju　Shou。　〃The　proper　course　is　to　hold　Yenjin　and　detach　a　force　to　Guandu。　If　you　rashly　cross　the　river　and　anything　goes　wrong；　not　a　soul　will　return。〃
Yuan　Shao　said；　〃That　is　always　the　way　with　you　fellows；　always　delaying　and　taking　the　dash　out　of　the　army。　You　put　off　today　and　postpone　tomorrow　till　success　has　bee　impossible。　Do　you　forget　that　promptitude　is　what　each　soldier　honors？〃
The　adviser　withdrew　sadly；　saying；　〃Superiors　do　not　curb　their　ambitions；　inferiors　crave　for　achievements；　things　are　undone。　Eternal　is　the　course　of　Yellow　River；　shall　I　change　it？〃
Thereafter　Ju　Shou　feigned　illness　and　went　no　more　to　the　council。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃I　have　received　much　kindness　at　your　hands　and　have　been　unable　to　show　my　gratitude。　I　would　acpany　General　Wen　Chou　that　I　may　repay　your　bounty　and　also　that　I　may　hear　news　of　my　brother。〃
Yuan　Shao　gladly　consented　and　ordered　Wen　Chou　to　share　his　mand　with　Liu　Bei。
But　the　former　objected；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　has　been　so　often　defeated　that　it　will　augur　ill　for　success　this　time。　Since　you　wish；　I　will　give　Liu　Bei　mand　of　the　rear　guard　of　thirty　thousand　soldiers。〃
And　this　being　approved；　three　legions　were　told　off　under　Liu　Bei's　special　mand　to　follow　the　main　body。
The　prowess　displayed　by　Guan　Yu　in　the　bold　attack　on　Yan　Liang　redoubled　Cao　Cao's　respect　for　him；　and　Cao　Cao　memorialized　the　Throne　that　Guan　Yu　receive　the　title　of　Lord　of　Hanshou；　and　a　seal　was　cast　for　him。
Just　then　came　the　unexpected　news　that　Yuan　Shao's　army　had　moved　toward　the　Yellow　River　and　was　in　position　above　Yenjin。　Cao　Cao　first　sent　to　transfer　the　inhabitants　to　the　west　bank　and　then　led　out　an　army　to　oppose　Yuan　Shao。　He　issued　an　order　to　face　about；　thus　placing　the　rear　panies　in　front。　The　missariat　wagons　were　also　placed　in　the　van。
〃What　is　this　reversal　for？〃　asked　Lu　Qian。
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃When　the　supplies　are　in　rear；　they　are　liable　to　be　plundered。　So　I　have　put　them　first。〃
〃But　if　you　meet　the　enemy　and　they　steal　them？〃
〃Wait　till　the　enemy　appears。　I　shall　know　what　to　do。〃
Lu　Qian　was　much　exercised　at　this　new　move　of　the　Prime　Minister。　In　the　meantime　the　supply　train　moved　along　the　river　toward　Yenjin。　Presently　the　foremost　troops　raised　a　great　shout；　and　Cao　Cao　sent　to　see　what　it　meant。
The　messenger　came　back；　saying；　〃Wen　Chou's　army　is　approaching；　and　the　supply　train　has　been　abandoned　and　is　at　the　mercy　of　the　enemy。　The　main　body　is　still　far　behind。　What　to　do　next？〃
Thereupon　Cao　Cao　pointed　to　two　mounds；　saying；　〃We　will　take　refuge　here　for　the　present。〃
All　those　near　him　hastened　to　the　mounds。　There　Cao　Cao　ordered　them　all　to　loosen　their　dress；　lay　aside　their　breastplates；　and　rest　a　time。　The　horsemen　turned　their　steeds　loose。
Wen　Chou's　soldiers　approached　under　cover。　As　they　drew　near；　the　officers　told　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃The　rebels　are　near。　We　ought　to　catch　the　horses　and　go　back　to　Baima。〃
But　Adviser　Xun　You　checked　them；　saying；　〃These　are　a　bait　for　the　enemy。　Why　retire？〃
Cao　Cao　glanced　across　at　him　and　said；　〃He　understands。　Do　not　say　anything。〃
Now　having　got　possession　of　the　supply　carts；　the　enemy　next　came　to　seize　the　horses。　By　this　time　they　had　all　broken　ranks　and　were　scattered；　each　soldier　going　his　own　way。　Then　suddenly　Cao　Cao　gave　the　order　to　go　down　from　the　mounds　and　smite　them。
The　surprise　was　plete。　Wen　Chou's　army　was　in　confusion；　and　Cao　Cao's　army　surrounded　them。　Wen　Chou　made　a　stand；　but　those　about　him　trampled　each　other　down；　and　he　could　do　nothing　but　flee。　And　he　fled。
Then　standing　on　the　top　of　a　mound　Cao　Cao　pointed　to　the　flying　leader；　calling　out；　〃There　is　one　of　the　most　famous　generals　of　the　north。　Who　can　capture　him？〃
Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　both　mounted　and　dashed　after　him；　crying；　〃Wen　Chou；　do　not　run　away！〃
Looking　round；　the　fugitive　saw　two　pursuers；　and　then　he　set　aside　his　spear；　took　his　bow　and　adjusted　an　arrow；　which　he　shot　at　Zhang　Liao。
〃Cease　shooting；　you　rebel！〃　shouted　Xu　Huang。
Zhang　Liao　ducked　his　head；　and　the　shaft　went　harmlessly　by；　save　that　it　carried　away　the　tassel　of　his　cap。　He　only　pressed　harder　in　pursuit。　The　next　arrow　however　struck　his　horse　in　the　head；　and　the　animal　stumbled　and　fell；　throwing　its　rider　to　the　earth。
Then　Wen　Chou　turned　to　e　back。　Xu　Huang；　whirling　his　battle…ax；　stood　in　his　way　to　stop　Wen　Chou。　But　Xu　Huang　saw　behind　Wen　Chou　several　more　horsemen　ing　to　help；　and　as　they　would　have　been　too　many　for　him；　he　fled。　Wen　Chou　pursued　along　the　river　bank。　Suddenly　he　saw　ing　toward　him　with　banners　fluttering　in　the　breeze；　a　small　party　of　horse；　and　the　leader　carried　a　great　sword。
〃Stop！〃　cried　Guan　Yu；　for　it　was　he；　and　he　attacked　at　once。
At　the　third　bout　Wen　Chou's　heart　failed　him；　and　he　wheeled　and　fled；　following　the　windings　of　the　river。　But　Guan　Yu's　steed　was　fast　and　soon　caught　up。　One　blow；　and　the　hapless　Wen　Chou　fell。
When　Cao　Cao　saw　from　the　mound　that　the　leader　of　the　enemy　had　fallen；　he　gave　the　signal　for　a　general　onset；　and　half　of　the　northern　army　were　drowned　in　the　river。　And　the　carts　with　supplies　and　all　the　horses　were　quickly　recovered。
Now　Guan　Yu；　at　the　head　of　a　few　horsemen；　was　thrusting　here　and　striking　there　at　the　moment　when　Liu　Bei；　with　the　thirty　thousand　reserve　troops；　appeared　on　the　battle　field　on　the　other　bank　of　the　river。　At　once　they　told　him　that　the　red…faced；　long…bearded　warrior　was　there　and　had　slain　Wen　Chou。　Liu　Bei　hastily　pressed　forward　to　try　to　get　a　look　at　the　warrior。　He　saw　across　the　river　a　body　of　horse　and　the　banners　bore　the　words　Guan　Yu；　Lord　of　Hanshou　。
〃Then　it　is　my　brother；　and　he　is　really　with　Cao　Cao；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　secretly　thanking　God　that　Guan　Yu　was　safe。
Liu　Bei　made　an　attempt　to　wait　about　till　he　could　call　to　Guan　Yu；　but　a　great　mass　of　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　came　rushing　down；　and　he　was　forced　to　retire。
Yuan　Shao；　bringing　reinforcements；　reached　Guandu　and　built　a　stockade。
Two　advisers；　Guo　Tu　and　Shen　Pei；　went　in　to　see　him　and　said；　〃Again　that　fellow　Guan　Yu　has　been　in　the　battle。　He　killed　Wen　Chou。　Liu　Bei　pretends　ignorance　of　him。〃
Their　master　was　angry　and　railed　at　Liu　Bei；　〃The　long…cared　rebel！　How　dare　he　do　such　a　thing？〃
Soon　Liu　Bei　appeared。　Again　Yuan　Shao　ordered　him　out　to　instant　execution。
〃What　crime　have　I　mitted？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃You　sent　your　brother　to　slay　one　of　my　generals。　Is　that　no　crime？〃
〃Pray　let　me　explain　before　I　die。　Cao　Cao　hated　me　and　has　always　done　so。　Now　he　has　found　out　where　I　am　and；　fearing　that　I　may　help　you；　has　got　my　brother　to　destroy　your　two　generals；　feeling　sure　that　when　you　heard　of　it；　you　would　be　angry　and　put　me　to　death。　You　cannot　fail　to　see　this。〃
〃What　he　says　is　sense；〃　said　Yuan　Shao；　turning　to　his　advisers；　〃and　you　two　nearly　brought　on　me　the　reproach　of　injuring　the　good。〃
Yuan　Shao　ordered　his　attendants　to　retire　and　asked　Liu　Bei　to　e　and　sit　by　him。
Liu　Bei　came；　saying；　〃I　am　deeply　thankful；　Illustrious　Sir；　for　your　great　kindness；　for　which　I　can　never　be　sufficiently　grateful。　Now　I　desire　to　send　some　confidential　messenger　with　a　secret　letter　to　my　brother　to　tell　him　where　I　am；　and　I　am　sure　he　will　e　without　a　moment's　delay。　He　will　help　you　to　destroy　Cao　Cao　to　make　up　for　having　destroyed　your　two　officers。　Do　you　approve　of　this？〃
〃If　I　got　Guan　Yu；　he　would　be　ten　times　better　than　the　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　that　I　have　lost；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。
So　Liu　Bei　prepared　a　letter。　But　there　was　no　one　to　take　it。　Yuan　Shao　ordered　the　army　to　withdraw　to　Wuyang；　where　they　made　a　large　camp。　For　some　time　nothing　was　done。
Then　Cao　Cao　sent　Xiahou　Dun　to　defend　the　strategic　points　at　Guandu　while　he　led　the　bulk　of　the　army　back　to　the　capital。　There　he　gave　many　banquets　in　honor　of　the　services　of　Guan　Yu；　and　then　he　told　Lu　Qian　that　putting　the　supplies　in　the　front　of　the　army　had　been　meant　as　a　bait　to　draw　the　enemy　to　destruction。
〃Only　Xun　You　understood　that；〃　said　Cao　Cao　in　conclusion。
Everyone　present　praised　his　ingenuity。　Even　while　the　banquet　was　proceeding；　there　arrived　news　of　a　rising　of　Yellow　Scarves　rebels　at　Runan　led　by　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du。　They　were　very　strong；　and　Cao　Hong　had　been　defeated　in　several　engagements。　Now　he　begged　for　help。
Guan　Yu　hearing　this　said；　〃I　should　like　to　have　the　opportunity　of　performing　some　service　by　destroying　these　rebels。〃
〃You　have　already　rendered　noble　services　for　which　you　have　not　been　properly　requited。　I　could　hardly　trouble　you　again；〃　said