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esently　relieved　to　find　they　were　led　by　the　friendly　Liu　Pi。　They　were　a　pany　of　his　defeated　army　escorting　the　family　of　their　chief。　With　them　also　were　Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　and　Mi　Fang。
They　told　him；　〃The　attack　on　Runan　was　too　strong　to　be　resisted；　and　so　we　were　pelled　to　abandon　the　defense；　and　the　enemy　followed；　and　only　Guan　Yu's　timely　arrival　saved　us　from　destruction。〃
〃I　do　not　know　where　my　brother　is；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃All　will　e　right　if　you　will　push　on；〃　said　Liu　Pi。
They　pushed　on。　Before　they　had　gone　far；　the　beating　of　drums　was　heard　and　suddenly　appeared　Zhang　He　with　a　thousand　soldiers。
Zhang　He　cried；　〃Liu　Bei；　quickly　dismount　and　surrender！〃
Liu　Bei　was　about　to　retire　when　he　saw　a　red　flag　waving　from　a　rampart　on　the　hills　and　down　came　rushing　another　body　of　troops　under　Gao　Lan。
Thus　checked　in　front　and　his　retreat　cut　off；　Liu　Bei　looked　up　to　Heaven　and　cried；　〃O　Heaven；　why　am　I　brought　to　this　state　of　misery？　Nothing　is　left　me　now　but　death！〃
And　he　drew　his　sword　to　slay　himself。
But　Liu　Pi　stayed　his　hand；　saying；　〃Let　me　try　to　fight　a　way　out　and　save　you。　Death　is　nothing　to　me！〃
As　he　spoke　Gao　Lan's　force　was　on　the　point　of　engaging　his。　The　two　leaders　met　and　in　the　third　bout　Liu　Pi　was　cut　down。　Liu　Bei　at　once　rushed　up　to　fight；　but　just　then　there　was　sudden　confusion　in　the　rear　ranks　of　the　opponents；　and　a　warrior　dashed　up　and　thrust　at　Gao　Lan　with　his　spear。　Gao　Lan　fell　from　his　steed。　The　newer　was　Zhao　Yun。
His　arrival　was　most　opportune。　He　urged　forward　his　steed　thrusting　right　and　left；　and　the　enemy's　ranks　broke　and　scattered。　Then　the　first　force　under　Zhang　He　came　into　the　fight；　and　the　leader　and　Zhao　Yun　fought　thirty　or　more　bouts。　However；　this　proved　enough；　for　Zhang　He　turned　his　horse　away　recognizing　that　he　was　worsted。　Zhao　Yun　vigorously　attacked；　but　was　forced　into　a　narrow　space　in　the　hills　where　he　was　hemmed　in。　While　seeking　for　some　outlet；　they　saw　Guan　Yu；　Guan　Ping；　and　Zhou　Cang；　with　three　hundred　men；　ing　along。　Soon　Zhang　He　was　driven　off；　and　then　Liu　Bei's　troops　came　out　of　the　narrow　defile　and　occupied　a　strong　position　among　the　hills　where　they　made　a　camp。
Liu　Bei　sent　Guan　Yu　for　news　of　the　missing　brother。　Zhang　Fei　had　been　attacked　by　Xiahou　Yuan　who　had　killed　Gong　Du；　but　Zhange　Fei　had　vigorously　resisted；　beaten　him　off；　and　followed　him　up。　Then　Yue　Jing　had　e　along　and　surrounded　Zhang　Fei。
In　this　pass　he　was　found　by　Guan　Yu；　who　had　heard　of　his　plight　from　some　of　his　scattered　soldiers　met　on　the　way。　Now　they　drove　off　the　enemy。　The　two　brothers　returned。　Soon　they　heard　of　the　approach　of　a　large　body　of　Cao　Cao's　army。　Liu　Bei　then　bade　Sun　Qian　guard　his　family　and　sent　him　on　ahead；　while　he　and　the　others　kept　off　the　enemy；　sometimes　giving　battle　and　anon　marching。　Seeing　that　Liu　Bei　had　retired　too　far；　Cao　Cao　let　him　go　and　left　the　pursuit。
When　Liu　Bei　collected　his　army；　he　found　they　numbered　only　a　thousand；　and　this　halting　and　broken　force　marched　as　fast　as　possible　to　the　west。　ing　to　a　river　they　asked　the　natives　its　name　and　were　told　it　was　the　Han　River；　and　near　it　Liu　Bei　made　a　temporary　camp。　When　the　local　people　found　out　who　was　in　the　camp；　they　presented　flesh　and　wine。
A　feast　was　given　upon　a　sandy　bank　of　the　Han　River。
After　they　had　drunk　awhile；　Liu　Bei　addressed　his　faithful　followers；　saying；　〃All　you；　Fair　Sirs；　have　talents　fitting　you　to　be　advisers　to　a　monarch；　but　your　destiny　has　led　you　to　follow　poor　me。　My　fate　is　distressful　and　full　of　misery。　Today　I　have　not　a　spot　to　call　my　own；　and　I　am　indeed　leading　you　astray。　Therefore　I　say　you　should　abandon　me　and　go　to　some　illustrious　lord　where　you　may　be　able　to　bee　famous。〃
At　these　words　they　all　covered　their　faces　and　wept。
Guan　Yu　said；　〃Brother；　you　are　wrong　to　speak　thus。　When　the　great　Founder　of　Han　contended　with　Xiang　Yu；　he　was　defeated　many　times；　but　he　won　at　the　Nine…Mile　Mountains　and　that　achievement　was　the　foundation　of　a　dynasty　that　endured　for　four　centuries。　Victory　and　defeat　are　but　ordinary　events　in　a　soldier's　career；　and　why　should　you　give　up？〃
〃Success　and　failure　both　have　their　seasons；〃　said　Sun　Qian；　〃and　we　are　not　to　grieve。　Jingzhou；　which　your　illustrious　relative；　Liu　Biao；　mands；　is　a　rich　and　prosperous　country。　Liu　Biao　is　of　your　house；　why　not　go　to　him？〃
〃Only　that　I　fear　he　may　not　receive　me；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Then　let　me　go　and　prepare　the　way。　I　will　make　Liu　Biao　e　out　to　his　borders　to　wele　you。〃
So　with　his　lord's　approval；　Sun　Qian　set　off　immediately　and　hastened　to　Jingzhou。　When　the　ceremonies　of　greeting　were　over；　Liu　Biao　asked　the　reason　of　the　visit。
Said　Sun　Qian；　〃The　princely　Liu　Bei　is　one　of　the　heroes　of　the　day；　although　just　at　the　moment　he　may　lack　soldiers　and　leaders。　His　mind　is　set　upon　restoring　the　dynasty　to　its　pristine　glory；　and　at　Runan　the　two　manders；　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du；　though　bound　to　him　by　no　ties；　were　content　to　die　for　the　sake　of　his　ideals。　You；　Illustrious　Sir；　like　Liu　Bei；　are　a　scion　of　the　imperial　stock。　Now　the　Princely　One　has　recently　suffered　defeat　and　thinks　of　seeking　a　home　in　the　east　with　Sun　Quan。　I　have　ventured　to　dissuade　him；　saying　that　he　should　not　turn　from　a　relative　and　go　to　a　mere　acquaintance；　telling　him　that　you；　Sir；　are　well　known　as　courteous　to　the　wise　and　condescending　to　scholars；　so　that　they　flock　to　you　as　the　waters　flow　to　the　east　sea；　and　that　certainly　you　would　show　kindness　to　one　of　the　same　ancestry。　Wherefore　he　has　sent　me　to　explain　matters　and　request　your　mands。〃
〃He　is　my　brother；〃　said　Liu　Biao；　〃and　I　have　long　desired　to　see　him；　but　no　opportunity　has　occurred。　I　should　be　very　happy　if　he　would　e。〃
Cai　Mao；　who　was　sitting　by；　here　broke　in；　〃No；　no！　Liu　Bei　first　followed　Lu　Bu；　then　he　served　Cao　Cao；　and　next　he　joined　himself　to　Yuan　Shao。　And　he　stayed　with　none　of　these；　so　that　you　can　see　what　manner　of　man　he　is。　If　he　es　here；　Cao　Cao　will　assuredly　e　against　us　and　fight。　Better　cut　off　this　messenger's　head　and　send　it　as　an　offering　to　Cao　Cao；　who　would　reward　you　well　for　the　service。〃
Sun　Qian　sat　unmoved　while　this　harangue　was　pronounced；　saying　at　the　end；　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　death。　Liu　Bei；　the　Princely　One；　is　true　and　loyal　to　the　state　and　so　out　of　sympathy　with　Lu　Bu；　or　Cao　Cao；　or　Yuan　Shao。　It　is　true　he　followed　these　three；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。　Now　he　knows　your　chief　is　a　member　of　the　family；　so　that　both　are　of　the　same　ancestry；　and　that　is　why　he　has　e　far　to　join　him。　How　can　you　slander　a　good　man　like　that？〃
Liu　Biao　bade　Cai　Mao　be　silent　and　said；　〃I　have　decided；　and　you　need　say　no　more。〃
Whereat　Cai　Mao　sulkily　left　the　audience　chamber。
Then　Sun　Qian　was　told　to　return　with　the　news　that　Liu　Bei　would　be　wele；　and　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Biao　went　ten　miles　beyond　the　city　to　meet　his　guest。
When　Liu　Bei　arrived；　he　behaved　to　his　host　with　the　utmost　politeness　and　was　warmly　weled　in　return。　Then　Liu　Bei　introduced　his　two　sworn　brothers　and　friends　and　they　entered　Jingzhou　City　where　Liu　Bei　finally　was　lodged　in　the　Imperial　Protector's　own　residence。
As　soon　as　Cao　Cao　knew　whither　his　enemy　had　gone；　he　wished　to　attack　Liu　Biao；　but　Cheng　Yu　advised　against　any　attempt　so　long　as　Yuan　Shao；　the　dangerous　enemy；　was　left　with　power　to　inflict　damage。
He　said；　〃My　lord　should　return　to　the　capital　to　refresh　the　soldiers　so　that　they　may　be　ready　for　a　north　and　south　campaign　in　the　mild　spring　weather。〃
Cao　Cao　accepted　his　advice　and　set　out　for　the　capital。　In　the　first　month　of　the　eighth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　203）；　Cao　Cao　once　again　began　to　think　of　war；　and　sent　to　garrison　Runan　as　a　precaution　against　Liu　Biao。　Then；　after　arranging　for　the　safety　of　the　capital；　he　marched　a　large　army　to　Guandu；　the　camp　of　the　year　before；　and　aimed　at　Jizhou。
As　to　Yuan　Shao；　who　had　been　suffering　from　blood…spitting　but　was　now　in　better　health；　he　began　to　think　of　measures　against　Xuchang；　but　Shen　Pei　dissuaded　him；　saying；　〃You　are　not　yet　recovered　from　the　fatigues　of　last　year。　It　would　be　better　to　make　your　position　impregnable　and　set　to　improving　the　army。〃
When　the　news　of　Cao　Cao's　approach　arrived；　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃If　we　allow　the　foe　to　get　close　to　the　city　before　we　march　to　the　river；　we　shall　have　missed　our　opportunity。　I　must　go　out　to　repel　this　army。〃
Here　his　son　Yuan　Shang　interposed；　〃Father；　you　are　not　sufficiently　recovered　for　a　campaign　and　should　not　go　so　far。　Let　me　lead　the　army　against　this　enemy。〃
Yuan　Shao　consented；　and　he　sent　to　Qingzhou　and　Youzhou　and　Bingzhou　to　call　upon　his　other　two　sons　and　his　nephew　to　attack　Cao　Cao　at　the　same　time　as　his　own　army。

Against　Runan　they　beat　the　drum；
And　from　Jizhou　the　armies　e。

To　whom　the　victory　will　be　seen　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　32　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　32
　Chapter　32
Jizhou　Taken：　Yuan　Shang　Strives；
River　Zhang　Cut：　Xun　You　Schemes。
Yuan　Shang　was　puffed　up　with　pride　after　his　victory　over　Shi　Huan　and；　without　deigning　to　wait　the　arrival　of　his　brothers；　he　marched　out　with　thirty　thousand　troops　to　Liyang　to　meet　the　army　of　Cao　Cao。　Zhang　Liao　came　out　to　challenge　him；　and　Yuan　Shang；　accepting　the　challenge　rode　out　with　spear　set。　But　he　only　lasted　to　the　third　bout　when　he　had　to　give　way。　Zhang　Liao　smote　with　full　force　and　Yuan　Shang；　quite　broken；　fled　pell…mell　to　Jizhou。　His　defeat　was　a　heavy　shock　to　his　father　Yuan　Shao；　who　had　a　severe　fit　of　hemorrhage　at　the　news　and　swooned。
Lady　Liu；　his　wife；　got　him　to　bed　as　quickly　as　possible；　but　he　did　not　rally；　and　she　soon　saw　it　was　necessary　to　prepare　for　the　end。　So　she　sent　for　Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji　that　the　succession　might　be　settled。　They　came　and　stood　by　the　sick　man's　bed；　but　by　this　time　he　could　no　longer　speak。　He　only　made　motions　with　his　hands。
When　his　wife　put　the　formal　question；　〃Is　Yuan　Shang　to　succeed？〃
Yuan　Shao　nodded　his　head。　Shen　Pei　at　the　bedside　wrote　out　the　dying　man's　testament。　Presently　Yuan　Shao　uttered　a　loud　moan；　a　fresh　fit　of　bleeding　followed；　and　he　passed　away。

Born　of　a　line　of　nobles　famous　for　generations；
He　himself　in　his　youth　was　wayward　always　and　headstrong；
Vainly　he　called　to　his　side　generals　skilled　and　courageous；
Gathered　beneath　his　banner　countless　legions　of　soldiers；
For　he　was　timid　at　heart；　a　lamb　dressed　as　a　tiger；
Merely　a　cowardly　chicken；　phoenix…feathered　but　spurless。
Pitiful　was　the　fate　of　his　house；　for　when　he　departed
Brother　with　brother　strove　and　quarrels　arose　in　the　household。

Shen　Pei　and　some　others　set　about　the　mourning　ceremonies　for　the　dead　man。　His　wife；　Lady　Liu；　put　to　death　five　of　his　favorite　concubines；　and　such　was　the　bitterness　of　her　jealousy　that；　not　content　with　this；　she　shaved　off　the　hair　and　slashed　the　faces　of　their　poor　corpses　lest　their　spirits　should　meet　and　rejoin　her　late　husband　in　the　land　of　shades　beneath　the　Nine　Golden　Springs。　Her　son　followed　up　this　piece　of　cruelty　by　slaying　all　the　relatives　of　the　unhappy　concubines　lest　they　should　avenge　their　deaths。
Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji　declared　Yuan　Shang　successor　with　the　titles　of　Regent　Marshal　and　Supreme　Imperial　Protector　of　the　four　regions　of　Jizhou；　Qingzhou；　Youzhou；　and　Bingzhou　and　sent　in　a　report　of　the　death　of　the　late　Imperial　Protector。
At　this　time　Yuan　Tan；　the　eldest　son；　had　already　marched　out　his　army　to　oppose　Cao　Cao。　But　hearing　of　his　father's　death；　he　called　in　Guo　Tu　and　Xin　Ping　to　consult　as　to　his　course　of　action。
〃In　your　absence；　my　lord；〃　said　Guo　Tu；　〃the　two　advisers　of　your　younger　brother　will　certainly　set　him　up　as　lord；　wherefore　you　must　act　quickly。〃
〃Those　two；　Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji；　have　already　laid　their　plans；〃　said　Xin　Ping。　〃If　you　go；　you　will　meet　with　some　misfortune。〃
〃Then　what　should　I　do？〃　asked　Yuan　Tan。
Guo　Tu　replied；　〃Go　and　camp　near　the　city；　and　watch　what　is　taking　place　while　I　enter　and　inquire。〃
Accordingly　Guo　Tu　entered　the　city　and　sought　an　interview　with　the　young　Imperial　Protector。
〃Why　did　not　my　brother　e？〃　asked　Yuan　Shang　after　the　usual　salutes。
Guo　Tu　s