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d　my　brother；　when　I　will　surely　call　you。〃
Zhou　Cang　replied；　〃I　am　only　a　rough　uncouth　fellow；　wasting　his　life　as　a　brigand。　Meeting　you；　General；　is　like　seeing　the　full　sun　in　the　skies；　and　I　feel　that　I　can　never　bear　to　miss　you　again。　As　it　might　be　inconvenient　for　all　my　people　to　follow　you；　I　will　bid　my　panion　lead　them　away；　but　I　will　e　and　follow　you　on　foot　wherever　you　go。〃
Guan　Yu　again　asked　his　sisters…in…law　what　they　thought　of　this。　Lady　Gan　said　one　or　two　made　no　difference；　and　so　Guan　Yu　consented。　But　Pei　Yuanshao　was　not　satisfied　with　this　arrangement　and　said　he　wished　also　to　follow。
Zhou　Cang　said；　〃If　you　do　not　stay　with　the　band；　they　will　disperse　and　be　lost。　You　must　take　mand　for　the　moment　and　let　me　acpany　General　Guan　Yu。　As　soon　as　he　has　a　fixed　abode；　I　will　e　to　fetch　you。〃
Somewhat　discontentedly　Pei　Yuanshao　accepted　the　situation　and　marched　off；　while　his　one…time　colleague　joined　the　train　of　Guan　Yu；　and　they　went　toward　Runan。　They　traveled　quickly　for　some　days；　and　then　they　saw　a　city　on　a　hill。
The　natives　told　them；　〃This　city　is　called　Gucheng。　A　few　months　before　a　warrior　suddenly　appeared；　drove　out　the　magistrate；　and　took　possession。　Then　he　has　begun　to　recruit　soldiers；　bought　up　horses；　and　laid　in　stores。　The　warrior's　name　is　Zhang　Fei。　Now　he　has　a　large　force；　and　no　one　in　the　neighborhood　dare　face　him。〃
〃To　think　that　I　should　find　my　brother　like　this！〃　said　Guan　Yu；　delighted。　〃I　have　had　never　a　word　of　him；　nor　knew　I　where　he　was　since　Xuzhou　fell。〃
So　Guan　Yu　dispatched　Sun　Qian　into　the　city　to　tell　its　new　mander　to　e　out　to　meet　him　and　provide　for　their　sisters…in…law。
Now；　after　being　separated　from　his　brothers；　Zhang　Fei　had　gone　to　the　Mangdang　Hills；　where　he　had　remained　a　month　or　so　while　he　sent　far　and　near　for　tidings　of　Liu　Bei。　Then　as　he　happened　to　pass　Gucheng；　he　had　sent　in　to　borrow　some　grain；　but　had　been　refused。　In　revenge；　he　had　driven　away　the　magistrate　and　taken　possession　of　the　city。　He　found　the　place　well　suited　to　his　needs　at　the　moment。
As　directed　by　Guan　Yu；　Sun　Qian　entered　the　city　and；　after　the　usual　ceremonies；　told　Zhang　Fei　the　news；　〃Liu　Bei　has　left　Yuan　Shao　and　gone　to　Runan；　and　Guan　Yu；　with　your　sisters…in…law；　is　at　the　gates。　He　wishes　you　to　go　out　and　receive　them。〃
Zhang　Fei　listened　without　a　word　till　he　came　to　the　request　to　go　out　to　meet　his　brother。　At　that　point　he　called　for　his　armor　and；　when　he　had　put　it　on；　laid　hold　of　his　long　serpent　halberd；　mounted；　and　rode　out　with　a　large　pany　at　his　back。　Sun　Qian　was　too　astonished　to　ask　what　this　meant　and　simply　followed。
Guan　Yu　was　very　glad　when　he　saw　his　brother　ing；　put　up　his　weapons　and；　with　Zhou　Cang　at　his　back；　rode　toward　him　at　full　speed。　But　as　Guan　Yu　approached；　he　saw　all　the　signs　of　fierce　anger　on　Zhang　Fei's　face；　and　Zhang　Fei　roared　as　he　shook　his　spear；　threatening　Guan　Yu。
Guan　Yu　was　entirely　taken　aback　and　called　out　anxiously；　〃Brother；　what　does　this　mean？　Is　the　Peach　Garden　Pledge　quite　forgotten？〃
〃What　impudence　is　this　that　you　e　to　see　me　since　your　disgraceful　behavior？〃　shouted　Zhang　Fei。
〃What　disgraceful　behavior　has　been　mine？〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃You　have　betrayed　your　brother；　you　have　surrendered　to　Cao　Cao；　and　you　have　received　title　and　office　at　his　hands。　And　now　you　are　e　to　exploit　me。　One　of　us　shall　die！〃
Guan　Yu　said；　〃Really　you　do　not　understand；　and　it　is　hard　for　me　to　explain。　But　ask　the　two　ladies　here；　worthy　brother；　and　they　will　tell　you。〃
At　this　the　ladies　lifted　the　curtain　of　the　carriage　and　called　out：　〃Brother；　why　is　this？〃
Zhang　Fei　said；　〃Wait　a　while；　sisters；　and　see　me　slay　this　traitor。　After　that　I　will　conduct　you　into　the　city。〃
Said　Lady　Gan；　〃Since　he　knew　not　where　you　were；　our　brother　took　shelter　with　Cao　Cao。　And　since　he　knew　that　his　elder　brother　was　at　Runan；　he　has　braved　every　danger　to　escort　us　thus　far　on　the　road。　Pray　take　a　correct　view　of　his　conduct。〃
Lady　Mi　also　chimed　in；　〃When　your　brother　went　to　Xuchang；　no　other　course　was　open　to　him。〃
〃Sisters；　do　not　let　him　deceive　you　to　the　truth。　Real　loyalty　prefers　death　to　dishonor。　No　good　person　can　serve　two　masters。〃
Guan　Yu　said；　〃Brother；　cease　to　wrench　me　I　pray　you。〃
Sun　Qian　said；　〃Guan　Yu　came　expressly　to　seek　you。〃
〃How　much　more　nonsense　will　you　talk？〃　roared　Zhang　Fei。　〃How　can　he　be　true…hearted？　He　came　to　capture　me；　I　say。〃
〃Had　I　e　to　capture　you；　I　should　have　e　with　troops　and　horses；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃And　are　there　not　troops　and　horses？〃　said　Zhang　Fei　pointing　to　a　point　behind　Guan　Yu。
Guan　Yu　turned；　and　there　he　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　rising　as　though　a　squadron　of　horse　was　ing。　And　soon　they　were　near　enough；　and　from　their　trumpets　and　banners　they　showed　themselves　to　be　of　Cao　Cao's　army。
〃Now　will　you　try　to　cajole　me　further？〃　cried　Zhang　Fei　in　a　rage。
He　set　his　serpent　halberd　and　was　just　ing　on　when　Guan　Yu　said；　〃Brother；　wait　a　while。　See　me　slay　the　leader　of　these　that　I　may　prove　myself　no　traitor。〃
〃Well；　if　you　are　really　true；　prove　it　by　slaying　that　leader；　whoever　he　may　be；　before　I　have　finished　three　rolls　of　the　drum。〃
Zhang　Fei's　condition　was　accepted。　Soon　the　attacking　force　was　near　enough　to　make　out　the　leader　to　be　Cai　Yang。
Sword　in　hand　Cai　Yang　rode　at　full　speed；　crying；　〃So　I　have　found　you；　slayer　of　my　nephew！　I　have　a　mand　to　capture　you　and　will　execute　it。〃
Guan　Yu　made　no　reply。　Raising　his　sword　ready　to　strike；　he　moved　out　and　the　drums　began　to　beat。　Before　a　roll　could　be　pleted　the　fight　was　over；　and　Cai　Yang's　head　had　rolled　on　the　ground。　His　force　scattered　and　fled。　Guan　Yu；　however；　captured　the　young　ensign　bearer　and　questioned　him。
The　youth　said；　〃The　fact　is　the　Prime　Minister　had　not　given　an　order。　Incensed　at　the　loss　of　his　nephew；　Cai　Yang　wished　to　cross　the　river　to　pursue　and　attack　you；　General；　although　the　Prime　Minister　refused　permission。　To　satisfy　him；　the　Prime　Minister　had　sent　Cai　Yang　to　attack　Runan；　and　the　meeting　at　this　place　is　entirely　an　accident。〃
Guan　Yu　bade　him　repeat　this　story　to　his　brother。　Zhang　Fei　also　questioned　him　concerning　all　that　had　happened　in　the　capital；　and　the　recital　of　the　whole　story　satisfied　Zhang　Fei　of　the　fidelity　of　Guan　Yu。
Just　then　messengers　came　from　the　city　to　Zhang　Fei　to　say：　〃Some　scores　of　horsemen　has　arrived　at　the　south　gate。　They　seem　in　a　great　hurry　but　no　one　know　them。〃
Zhang　Fei；　with　still　a　lingering　doubt　in　his　mind；　went　to　look　at　the　newers　and　there　saw　some　forty　mounted　archers　with　light　bows　and　short　arrows。　Hastily　dismounting　to　see　them　better；　he　found　they　were　Mi　Zhu　and　Mi　Fang。
Quickly　slipping　out　of　the　saddle；　they　came　up　and　Mi　Zhu　said；　〃After　the　dispersal　at　Xuzhou　when　we　lost　sight　of　you；　we　returned　to　our　village　whence　we　sent　all　around　for　news　of　you。　We　heard　that　Guan　Yu　had　surrendered　to　Cao　Cao　and　our　lord　was　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River　with　Yuan　Shao。　The　one　of　whom　we　could　hear　nothing　was　yourself。　But　yesterday；　while　on　our　way；　we　fell　in　with　some　travelers　who　told　us　a　certain　General　Zhang　Fei；　of　such　and　such　an　appearance；　had　suddenly　occupied　Gucheng；　and　we　felt　it　must　be　you。　So　we　came　to　inquire；　and　we　happily　fell　in　with　you　here。〃
Zhang　Fei　replied；　〃Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　are　here；　and　my　two　sisters　are　with　them。　They　had　heard　where　my　elder　brother　was。〃
This　news　added　to　the　joy　of　the　two　newers　who　went　to　see　Guan　Yu　and　the　women；　and　then　they　all　entered　the　city。　When　the　ladies　had　settled　down　a　little；　they　related　the　whole　story　of　the　adventures　on　the　road　at　which　Zhang　Fei　was　overe　with　remorse　and　bowed　before　his　brother　bitterly　weeping。　Mi　Zhu　and　Mi　Fang　were　greatly　affected。　Then　Zhang　Fei　related　what　had　happened　to　him。
A　day　was　spent　in　banquets；　and　next　day　Zhang　Fei　wished　his　newly　found　brother　to　go　with　him　to　Runan　to　see　their　elder　brother　Liu　Bei。
But　Guan　Yu　said；　〃No；　you　take　care　of　the　ladies　here　while　Sun　Qian　and　I　go　to　get　news。〃
So　Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　with　a　small　escort　set　out。　When　they　reached　Runan；　they　were　received　by　Liu　Pi。
〃Liu　Bei　is　no　longer　in　the　city。　After　waiting　some　days；　he　has　e　to　the　conclusion　that　the　soldiers　are　too　few；　and　has　gone　back　to　Yuan　Shao　to　consult　with　him；〃　said　Liu　Pi。
Guan　Yu　was　greatly　disappointed；　and　Sun　Qian　did　his　best　to　console　him；　saying；　〃Do　not　be　sorrowful。　It　only　means　the　trouble　of　another　journey　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River　to　tell　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　and　then　we　can　all　meet　at　Gucheng。〃
So　spoke　Sun　Qian；　and　Guan　Yu　accepted　it。　They　took　leave　of　Liu　Pi　and　returned　to　Gucheng　where　they　related　what　had　happened。
Zhang　Fei　wanted　to　go　with　them　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　but　Guan　Yu　opposed　this；　saying；　〃Seeing　you　have　this　city；　it　makes　a　rallying　point　for　us　and　a　resting　place。　We　must　not　abandon　it　lightly。　Sun　Qian　and　I　will　go；　and　while　sway　we　look　to　you　to　keep　the　city　safe。〃
〃How　can　you　go　after　killing　the　two　generals；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou？〃
〃That　will　not　stop　me。　And　after　I　am　there；　I　can　act　according　to　circumstances。〃
Then　Guan　Yu　summoned　Zhou　Cang　and　asked　him；　saying；　〃How　many　followers　are　there　with　Pei　Yuanshao　at　Sleeping　Bull　Mountain？〃
〃I　should　think　four　or　five　hundred。〃
〃Now；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃I　am　going　to　take　the　shortest　road　to　find　my　brother。　Can　you　go　to　summon　your　army　and　lead　them　along　the　high　road　to　assist　me？〃
With　instructions　to　bring　up　this　force；　Zhou　Cang　left；　while　Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　and　their　small　escort　went　off　to　the　north。
When　they　drew　near　the　boundary；　Sun　Qian　said；　〃You　must　be　careful　how　you　go　over。　You　ought　to　stop　here　while　I　go　in；　see　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　and　take　the　necessary　steps。〃
Seeing　the　wisdom　of　this；　Guan　Yu　stopped　there　and　sent　his　panion　in　advance。　He　and　his　followers　going　up　to　a　nearby　farm　as　an　abiding　place。
When　they　got　to　the　farm；　out　came　a　venerable　man　leaning　on　a　staff。　After　exchanging　salutes；　Guan　Yu　told　the　old　man　all　about　himself。
〃My　family　name　is　also　Guan；　my　personal　name　being　Ding；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃I　know　your　reputation；　and　I　am　very　happy　to　meet　you。〃
Guan　Ding　sent　for　his　two　sons　to　e　and　make　their　bow。　He　put　up　Guan　Yu　in　his　house　and　provided　for　his　escort　in　the　farm　buildings。
In　the　meantime　Sun　Qian　had　made　his　way　to　Jizhou　City　and　told　Liu　Bei　the　whole　story。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Jian　Yong　is　also　here。　We　will　send　for　him　secretly　to　talk　over　this　matter。〃
They　did　so；　and　when　the　usual　salutes　had　been　exchanged；　they　three　began　to　consider　the　means　of　getting　away。
〃My　lord；〃　said　Jian　Yong；　〃you　see　Yuan　Shao　personally　and　say　you　wish　to　go　to　Jingzhou　to　see　Liu　Biao　about　a　scheme　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。　That　will　give　an　excuse。〃
〃That　seems　best；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃but　will　you　go　with　me？〃
〃I　have　another　plan　to　extricate　myself；〃　said　Jian　Yong。
Having　settled　their　plans；　Liu　Bei　soon　went　in　to　see　his　protector　and　suggested；　〃Liu　Biao　is　strong　and　well　posted。　His　help　should　be　sought　against　our　enemy。〃
〃I　have　sent　messengers　repeatedly　to　ask　his　help；〃　said　Yuan　Shao；　〃but　he　is　unwilling。〃
〃As　he　and　I　are　of　the　same　family；　he　will　not　refuse　me　if　I　go　and　ask　him；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Certainly　he　is　worth　much　more　than　Liu　Pi。　You　shall　go。〃
〃I　have　just　heard；〃　Yuan　Shao　continued；　〃that　Guan　Yu　has　left　Cao　Cao　and　wants　to　e　here。　If　he　does；　I　will　put　him　to　death　out　of　revenge　for　my　two　beloved　generals………Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou。〃
〃Illustrious　Sir；　you　wished　to　employ　him　and　so　I　sent　for　him。　Now　you　threaten　to　put　him　to　death。　The　two　men　he　slew　were　but　deer　pared　with　such　a　tiger　as　he　is。　When　you　exchange　a　couple　of　deer　for　a　tiger；　you　need　not　plain　of　the　bargain。〃
〃Really　I　like　him；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃I　was　only　joking。　You　can　send　another　messenger　for　him　and　tell　him　to　e　soon。〃
〃May　I　send　Sun　Qian　for　him？〃
〃Certainly。〃
After　Liu　Bei　had　gone；　Jian　Yong　came　in　and　said　to　Yuan　Shao；　〃If　Liu　Bei　goes；　he　will　not　e　back。　I　had　better　go　to　speak　to　Liu　Biao。　And　I　can　keep　a　watch　on　Liu　Bei。〃
Yuan　Shao　agreed　and　issued　orders　for　both　to　go。
O