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said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　have　been　idle　too　long。　I　shall　get　ill；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Cao　Cao　then　let　him　to　go　and　gave　him　fifty　thousand　troops　with　Yu　Jin　and　Yue　Jing　as　generals　under　him。　They　were　to　leave　soon。
Then　Xun　Yu　said　privily　to　his　master；　〃He　always　cherishes　the　idea　of　returning　to　Liu　Bei。　He　will　leave　you　if　he　hears　any　news。　Do　not　let　him　go　on　this　expedition。〃
〃If　he　does　well　this　time；　I　will　not　let　him　go　into　battle　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
In　due　time　the　force　led　by　Guan　Yu　drew　near　the　rebels　in　Runan　and　made　their　camp。　One　night；　just　outside　his　camp；　two　spies　were　caught　and　taken　in　to　Guan　Yu　who　in　one　of　them　recognized　Sun　Qian。　The　attendants　being　dismissed；　Guan　Yu　questioned　Sun　Qian。
〃After　we　lost　sight　of　each　other；　I　have　heard　not　a　word　of　you。　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃After　I　escaped；　I　drifted　hither　and　thither　till　I　had　the　good　fortune　to　reach　Runan；　and　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du；　the　Yellow　Scarves　leaders；　took　me　in。　But　why　are　you　with　Cao　Cao；　General？　And　where　are　your　sisters…in…law？　Are　they　well？〃
Guan　Yu　told　him　all　that　had　happened。
〃I　have　heard　lately　that　Liu　Bei　is　with　Yuan　Shao。　I　would　have　liked　to　go　and　join　him；　but　I　have　not　found　a　convenient　opportunity。　Now　the　two　men　I　am　with　have　taken　the　side　of　Yuan　Shao　against　Cao　Cao。　By　good　luck　you　were　ing　here；　so　I　got　mand　of　a　small　party　of　scouts　to　be　able　to　see　you　and　tell　you。　Presently　our　two　leaders　will　pretend　to　be　defeated　and　you；　and　the　two　ladies；　can　go　over　to　Yuan　Shao。　And　you　will　see　your　brother。〃
〃Since　he　is　there；　I　certainly　must　go　at　once　to　see　him。　But　it　is　a　misfortune　that　I　have　slain　two　of　Yuan　Shao's　generals。　I　fear　things　are　not　in　my　favor；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃Let　me　go　first　and　see　how　the　land　lies。　I　will　e　back　and　tell　you。〃
〃I　would　risk　a　myriad　deaths　to　see　my　brother；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃But　I　must　go　to　say　farewell　to　Cao　Cao。〃
Sun　Qian　was　sent　away　that　night；　and　next　day　Guan　Yu　led　out　his　army　to　offer　battle。　Gong　Du；　in　armor；　went　out　to　the　front　of　the　line　of　battle；　and　Guan　Yu　said；　〃You　people；　why　have　you　risen　against　the　government？〃
〃Why　do　you　blame　us　when　you　have　turned　your　back　on　your　own　lord？〃　replied　Gong　Du。
〃How　have　I　turned　my　back　on　my　lord？〃
〃Liu　Bei　is　with　Yuan　Shao；　and　you　are　with　Cao　Cao。　What　is　that？〃
Guan　Yu　could　not　reply；　but　he　whirled　round　his　sword　and　rode　forward。　Gong　Du　fled；　and　Guan　Yu　followed。　Gong　Du　turned　and　said　to　Guan　Yu；　〃Do　not　forget　your　old　chief's　kindness。　Now　attack　as　soon　as　you　can；　and　I　will　give　up　the　defense。〃
Guan　Yu　understood　and　urged　on　his　troops。　The　leaders　of　the　rebels　pretended　they　were　worsted；　and　they　all　scattered。　So　Runan　was　retaken。　Having　pacified　the　people；　Guan　Yu　quickly　led　his　army　back　to　the　capital；　where　he　was　met　by　Cao　Cao　and　congratulated　on　his　success　and　feasted。
When　this　was　all　over；　Guan　Yu　went　to　the　dwelling　of　his　sisters…in…law　to　pay　his　respects　at　their　gate。
〃Have　you　been　able　to　get　any　news　of　Uncle　Liu　Bei　in　your　two　expeditions？〃　asked　Lady　Gan。
〃None；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
As　he　retired　from　the　door；　he　heard　sounds　of　bitter　weeping　within。
〃Alas！　He　is　dead；〃　said　they。　〃Our　brother…in…law　thinks　we　shall　be　greatly　distressed；　and　thus；　he　hides　the　truth　from　us。〃
One　of　the　old　soldiers；　who　acted　as　guard；　hearing　the　sounds　of　perpetual　grief；　took　pity　on　them　and　said；　〃Do　not　weep；　ladies。　Your　lord　is　with　Yuan　Shao　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River。〃
〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　said　they。
〃I　went　out　with　General　Guan　Yu；　and　one　of　the　soldiers　told　me。〃
The　two　ladies　summoned　Guan　Yu　and　reproached　him；　saying；　〃Uncle　Liu　Bei　never　betrayed　you；　and　yet　you　remain　here　enjoying　the　bounty　of　Cao　Cao　and　forgetting　the　old　times。　And　you　tell　us　falsehoods。〃
Guan　Yu　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃My　brother　really　is　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　but　I　dared　not　tell　you；　lest　it　should　bee　known。　Something　must　be　done；　but　done　carefully；　and　it　needs　time。〃
〃Brother…in…law；　you　should　hasten；〃　said　Lady　Gan。
Guan　Yu　withdrew　feeling　that　he　must　evolve　some　scheme　of　departure　without　further　loss　of　time。　It　caused　him　much　uneasiness。
Yu　Jin；　having　found　out　that　Liu　Bei　was　in　the　north；　told　Cao　Cao；　who　at　once　sent　Zhang　Liao　to　find　out　Guan　Yu's　intentions。
Zhang　Liao　entered　jauntily　and　congratulated　Guan　Yu；　saying；　〃They　tell　me　you　obtained　news　of　your　brother　in　the　battlefield。　I　felicitate　you。〃
〃My　lord　was　there　indeed；　but　I　met　him　not。　I　see　nothing　to　be　glad　about。〃
〃Is　there　any　difference　between　the　relationship　of　you　two　and　that　of　any　other　two　brothers？〃
Guan　Yu　replied；　〃You　and　I　stand　in　the　relationship　of　friends。　Liu　Bei　and　I　are　friends　and　brothers　beside；　and　prince　and　minister　in　addition　to　both。　Our　relationship　cannot　be　discussed　in　usual　terms。〃
〃Well；　now　that　you　know　where　your　brother　is；　are　you　going　to　him？〃
〃How　can　I　go　back　on　what　I　said　before？　I　am　sure　you　will　explain　fully　to　the　Prime　Minister。〃
Zhang　Liao　went　back　and　told　his　master；　who　said；　〃I　must　find　a　way　to　keep　him　here。〃
While　Guan　Yu　was　pondering　over　his　difficulties；　they　told　him　that　a　friend　had　e　to　inquire　for　him。　The　visitor　was　introduced　but　Guan　Yu　did　not　recognize　him。
〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
〃I　am　Chen　Zhen　of　Nanyang；　in　the　service　of　Yuan　Shao。〃
In　great　perturbation；　Guan　Yu　sent　away　the　attendants　and；　they　being　gone；　said；　〃There　is　some　special　reason　for　your　visit？〃
For　reply　Chen　Zhen　drew　out　a　letter　and　handed　it　to　his　host；　who　recognized　that　it　was　from　his　brother　Liu　Bei。　The　letter　read：
〃I；　the　writer；　and　you；　Sir；　pledged　ourselves　in　the　Peach　Garden　to　die　together。　Why　then　are　we　apart　and　yet　alive；　our　kindly　feelings　destroyed；　our　sense　of　right　outraged？　If　you　desire　to　obtain　fame　and　acquire　riches　and　honor；　I　will　offer　my　head　without　hesitation　so　that　your　achievement　is　fulfilled。　More　might　be　said；　but　I　await　your　mands　with　great　anxiety。〃
Guan　Yu　finished　the　letter　with　a　bitter　cry。
〃I　always　wanted　to　find　my　brother；　but　I　did　not　know　where　he　was。　How　can　he　think　such　evil　of　me？〃　said　he。
〃Liu　Bei　looks　for　you　very　eagerly。　If　you　are　still　bound　by　the　old　pledge；　you　should　go　quickly；〃　said　Chen　Zhen。
〃Anyone　born　into　the　world　without　the　essential　virtue　of　sincerity　is　no　true　human。　I　came　here　openly　and　can　go　in　no　other　way。　Now　will　I　write　a　letter　which　I　will　ask　you　to　bear　to　my　brother；　that　as　soon　as　I　can　take　leave　of　Cao　Cao；　I　will　bring　the　ladies　and　e　to　him。〃
〃But　what　if　Cao　Cao　refuse　to　let　you　go？〃　said　Chen　Zhen。
〃Then　would　I　rather　die。　I　will　not　remain　here。〃
〃Then；　Sir；　quickly　write　your　letter　and　relieve　your　brother　from　his　anxiety。〃
So　Guan　Yu　wrote　like　this：
〃I；　the　humble　one；　know　full　well　that　a　human　of　principle　does　not　betray　and　a　human　of　loyalty　despises　death。　I　have　been　a　student　in　my　youth　and　know　somewhat　of　the　proprieties。　I　sigh　and　weep　at　the　memory　of　the　fraternal　affection　that　made　Yangjue　Ai　and　Zuo　Botao　die　rather　than　separate。　I　was　in　charge　of　Xiapi；　but　the　place　lacked　provision　and　there　was　no　help。　I　would　have　fought　to　the　death；　but　there　was　on　my　shoulders　the　responsibility　for　my　sisters…in…law。　Wherefore　I　had　to　take　care　of　my　body　lest　I　betrayed　your　trust。　And　so　I　made　a　prisoner　of　myself；　hoping　to　find　a　way　of　release。　I　heard　of　you　lately　in　Runan。　I　must；　however；　bid　farewell　to　Cao　Cao　and　bring　the　ladies　with　me　when　I　e。　May　I　perish；　victim　to　the　superhuman　powers；　if　I　have　harbored　any　traitorous　thought。　Ink　and　paper　are　poor　substitutes　for　what　I　would　say；　but　I　look　to　see　you　soon。〃
Chen　Zhen　left　with　this　missive；　and　Guan　Yu　went　to　tell　the　women。　Then　he　proceeded　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace　to　say　farewell。　But　Cao　Cao　knew　what　he　was　ing　for；　and　at　the　gate　Guan　Yu　found　the　board　intimating　that　no　one　could　be　received。　So　he　had　to　return。　However；　he　bade　his　own　few　soldiers　prepare　to　start　at　any　moment。　He　also　gave　orders　that　everything　received　from　Cao　Cao　was　to　be　left　in　the　quarters。　Nothing　was　to　be　taken。
Next　day　he　again　proceeded　to　the　palace　to　say　farewell　to　his　patron；　but　again　found　the　board　hanging　there　to　show　there　was　no　admission。　So　it　was　several　times；　he　could　never　enter。　Then　he　went　to　see　Zhang　Liao；　but　Zhang　Liao　was　indisposed。
〃This　means　Cao　Cao　will　not　let　me　go；〃　thought　Guan　Yu。　〃But　I　am　going；　and　I　shall　hesitate　no　longer。〃
So　he　wrote　this　letter：
〃As　a　young　man　I　entered　the　service　of　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　pledged　myself　to　share　his　fortunes。　Heaven　and　Earth　witnessed　this　oath。　When　I　lost　the　city；　I　made　three　requests　which　you　granted。　Now　I　hear　my　brother　is　with　Yuan　Shao　and　I；　remembering　our　pledge；　cannot　but　go　to　him。　Though　your　bounty　is　great；　I　forget　not　the　bond　of　the　past；　wherefore　I　write　this　letter　of　farewell　trusting　that　when　you　have　read　it；　you　will　be　content　for　me　to　postpone　to　another　season　the　proof　of　my　gratitude。〃
Guan　Yu　sealed　and　sent　it　to　the　palace。　Then　he　deposited　in　the　treasury　of　his　dwelling　all　the　gold　and　silver　he　had　received；　hung　his　seal　of　lordship　of　Hanshou　in　the　middle　of　the　reception　hall　and　left；　taking　his　sisters…in…law　with　him　in　a　carriage。　He　rode　Red　Hare　and　carried　the　green…dragon　saber　in　his　hand。　With　a　small　escort　of　guards；　those　formerly　under　his　mand；　he　left　the　city　by　the　north　gate。
The　wardens　would　have　stopped　him；　but　Guan　Yu　frightened　them　with　a　fierce　shout。　Having　got　out；　he　told　the　escort　to　go　in　front　with　the　carriage　while　he　would　remain　behind　to　guard　against　pursuit。　So　they　pushed　the　carriage　toward　the　high　road。
In　the　city；　Guan　Yu's　letter　reached　the　Prime　Minister　while　he　was　consulting　about　what　to　do。　He　read　it　and　exclaimed；　〃So　he　has　left！〃
Then　the　warden　of　the　gate　came　to　report　that　Guan　Yu　had　forced　his　way　out；　and　was　gone　with　a　carriage；　a　horse；　and　a　score　of　guards。　Next　came　the　servants　from　his　house　to　report　that　he　had　left；　taking　nothing　of　the　treasure；　nor　anyone　of　the　waiting　maids。　Everything　was　left　in　the　house。　Even　his　seal　was　there。　His　only　escort　were　the　few　soldiers　of　his　original　force。
Suddenly　from　the　assembly　of　officers　rose　a　voice；　saying；　〃With　three　thousand　of　mailed　horse；　I　will　bring　him　back　alive。〃
Their　eyes　turned　to　the　speaker；　who　was　General　Cai　Yang。

On　the　dragon's　cave　he　turns　his　back；
But　numberless　wolves　infest　his　track。

What　came　of　this　offer　to　pursue　will　be　seen　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　27　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　27
　Chapter　27
The　Man　of　Beautiful　Beard　Rides　On　A　Solitary　Journey；
Guan　Yu　Slays　Six　Generals　Through　Five　Passes。
Now　of　all　the　officers　in　Cao　Cao's　army；　the　two　friendly　toward　Guan　Yu　were　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang。　The　others　treated　Guan　Yu　with　respect；　except　Cai　Yang　who　was　decidedly　inimical。　So　this　Cai　Yang　was　ready　to　pursue　and　capture　Guan　Yu　as　soon　as　he　heard　of　his　departure。　But　Cao　Cao　accepted　Guan　Yu's　going　as　natural。
〃He　does　not　forget　his　old　leader；　and　he　was　perfectly　open　in　all　his　actions。　He　is　a　gentleman；　and　you　would　do　well　to　follow　his　example；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
So　Cao　Cao　bade　the　would…be　pursuer　be　gone　and　say　no　more　about　pursuit。
〃You　were　exceedingly　good　to　Guan　Yu；〃　said　Cheng　Yu；　〃but　he　went　off　very　rudely。　He　certainly　left　a　screed　behind　with　his　reasons；　but　he　affronted　you；　and　that　is　no　light　matter。　Now　to　let　him　join　Yuan　Shao　is　to　add　wings　to　a　tiger。　You　had　better　catch　him　and　put　him　to　death　so　as　to　guard　against　future　evil。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃But　he　had　my　promise；　and　can　I　break　my　word？　Each　has　his　master。　Do　not　pursue。〃
But　Cao　Cao　said　to　Zhang　Liao；　〃He　has　rejected　all　I　gave　him；　so　bribes　were　powerless　with　him　in　whatever　shape。　I　have　the　greatest　respect　for　such　as　him。　He　has　not　yet　gone　far；　and　I　will　try　to　strengthen　his　attachment　to　me　and　make　one　appeal　to　sentiment。　Ride　after　him　and　beg　him　to　stop　till　I　can　e　up　and　bid　farewell　and　offer　him　a　sum　of　money　f