〃I e at the mand of my master； the Marquis of Wu； to persuade you to a wise course。 From of old it has always been recognized that the hero must bow to circumstances。 The region with its nine territories and forty…two counties that you ruled have e under another； with the exception of this single city。 Within； there is no food； without； no help； so that it must fall quickly。 Wherefore； O General； why not hear me and join your fortunes to those of Wu？ You shall be restored to your governorship； and you will preserve your family。 If haply； Sir； you would reflect thereon。〃
Guan Yu replied； quite calmly； 〃I am a simple soldier from the village of Jieliang； yet my lord and I have bee brothers。 How can I betray him？ If the city may fall； then I can but die。 Jade may be shattered； but its whiteness remains； bamboo may be burned； but its joints stand straight。 My body may be broken； but my name shall live true in history。 Say no more； but leave the city； I beg。 I will fight Sun Quan to the end。〃
＇e＇ Jin was a state that occupied the western part of the empire； in the mountainous area north of the Yellow River。 During the Spring and Autumn period； under the leadership of Duke Wen and his successors； Jin grew into a very large state； which broke into three states in the Warring States period。 Qin was a western…most state existed in both Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods。 Because Jin blocked its way to the east； Qin was shielded from the wars in the central plain。 Wars between Qin and Jin were not few； but intermarriages between the two houses were frequent； and this alliance strengthened both states。 。。。。。
〃My master desires to enter into such a league with you as did Qin and Jin in former days*； that you may mutually assist to destroy Cao Cao and restore the Hans。 That is his idea； and why do you persist in this wrong course？〃
As Zhuge Jin finished this speech； Guan Ping； who was by； drew his sword to slay him。 But his father checked him。
〃Remember his brother is in Shu； helping your uncle。 If you hurt him； you will injure the principle of fraternity。〃
Guan Yu then bade his servants lead Zhuge Jin away。 Zhuge Jin went； his face covered with shame； and left the city。 When he reached his master； he told of Guan Yu's obduracy and rejection of all argument。
〃He is indeed a loyal servant！〃 said Sun Quan。 〃Still； what is to be done next？〃
〃Take some casts in the Book of Changes；〃 said Lu Fan。
So the lots were taken and explained to mean that the Marquis' enemies should flee to a distance。
Then Sun Quan asked Lu Meng； saying； 〃If he flies to a distance； how can he be captured？〃
〃The divination exactly fits in with my schemes；〃 replied Lu Meng。 〃Even if Guan Yu had wings to soar to the skies； he would not escape my net。〃
The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps；
The phoenix in a cage is mocked of small birds。
The scheme of Lu Meng will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 77 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Cao Cao Is Possessed At Luoyang；
Guan Yu Manifests At The Jade Spring Mount。
Sun Quan having asked Lu Meng for a plan； Lu Meng replied； 〃This Guan Yu has very few soldiers left； and he will not venture along the high road。 North of Maicheng is a risky path； and he will try to escape along that。 Therefore you must lay an ambush for him seven miles away from the city； but do not stop him。 Let him go by； and then harass his rear。 Thus he will be forced into Linju。 Set another small ambush near there； and you will capture your enemy。 For the present； attack the city vigorously on all sides but one； leaving the north gate for escape。〃
Before carrying out this plan； Sun Quan bade Lu Fan consult the auspices。
Lu Fan did so； announcing； 〃The enemy will flee toward the northwest； but will be caught that night before midnight。〃
So Zhu Ran was sent in mand of the first ambush； and Pan Zhang was the second。 The troops sent were all veterans。
When Guan Yu mustered his fighting men in the city of Maicheng； he had but three hundred。 The food was done。 That night many soldiers of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name； and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted； reducing the small force still further。 No rescue force appeared； and Guan Yu was at the end of his resources。
Again he bewailed to Wang Fu； saying； 〃I regret that I have neglected your wise warning。 In this danger what is to be done？〃
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
〃I think even if Lu Wang* could e to life again； he would be helpless in this case；〃 replied Wang Fu； weeping。
Said Zhao Lei； 〃Liu Feng and Meng Da have surely decided not to send help from Shangyong。 Let us abandon this miserable place； try to get to Yizhou； and recover the army。 We may then tempt our fortune once more。〃
〃I agree with you that that is the best plan；〃 said Guan Yu。
Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country。 Noting that the weakest side was the north； he called in some of the inhabitants and inquired the nature of the country on that side。
They replied； 〃There are only paths there； but by them one may get into the West River Land。〃
〃We will go that way tonight；〃 said Guan Yu。
Wang Fu opposed it； saying； 〃General； you will surely fall into an ambush。 The main road will be safer。〃
〃There may be an ambush； but do I fear that？〃 said the old warrior。
Orders were given to be ready to march。
〃At least be very cautious；〃 said Wang Fu。 〃I will defend this city to the very last。 I only need a hundred troops。 Never will we surrender。 Only I hope； Most Noble General； that you will send me speedy help。〃
The two parted in tears。 Wang Fu and Zhou Cang remaining to guard Maicheng。 Guan Yu； Guan Ping； and Zhao Lei marched with their weak force out of the north gate。 Guan Yu； his green…dragon saber ready to hand； went first。 About the third watch； seven miles lay between them and the city。 There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums。 And men were shouting。 Soon appeared a large force with Zhu Ran at their head。
He came dashing forward； and summoned the small party； saying； 〃Guan Yu； do not run！ Surrender and live！〃
But Guan Yu whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes。 Then Zhu Ran ran away。 Guan Yu followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum； and out sprang troops from all sides。 Guan Yu dared not engage such a number； and fled in the direction of Linju。 Zhu Ran came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers； so that Guan Yu's following gradually became smaller and smaller。
Still he struggled on。 A few miles farther the drums rolled again； and torches lit up all round。 This was Pan Zhang's ambush； and he appeared flourishing his sword。 Guan Yu whirled his blade and went to meet him； but Pan Zhang ran away after a couple of bouts。 However； Guan Yu saw they were too many for him； and sought refuge among the mountains。
His son followed； and when he got within speaking distance； Guan Ping gave him the mournful tidings： 〃Zhao Lei has fallen in the melee！〃
Guan Yu was very sad； and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward。
With about ten men he reached Zhuxi； a place with mountains on both sides。 At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass。 The trees grew very close。 It was then the fifth watch。 Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush； and the ambushing soldiers thrust forth hooks and threw ropes。 Entangled in these； Guan Yu's horse fell； and Guan Yu reeled out of the saddle。 In a moment Ma Zhong； the Marching General of Pan Zhang； made him a prisoner。 Guan Ping dashed to his rescue； but before he could do anything； he also was surrounded and held。 Father and son were both captives。
With great joy Sun Quan heard of the success of his plans。 In the morning； he assembled all his officers in his tent to await the arrival of the prisoners。 Before long； Ma Zhong came hustling his prisoner before his lord。
〃I have long had a friendly feeling for you；〃 said Sun Quan to Guan Yu； 〃on account of your great virtues。 Now I would have made a covenant and alliance with you； if you would。 You and your son have long held yourselves to be invincible； but you see you are my prisoners today。 Yet I hope to win you over to my side。〃
But Guan Yu only answered roughly； 〃You green…eyed boy！ You purple…bearded rat！ I made a covenant in the Peach Garden with my brothers to uphold the Hans。 Think you that I will stand side by side with a rebel such as you are？ I am a victim of your vile schemes； but I can only die once。 And there is no need of many words。〃
〃He is a real hero； and I love him；〃 said Sun Quan to those standing near。 〃I will treat him well and endeavor to win him over。 Do you think it well？〃
Said the First Secretary Zuo Xian； 〃When Cao Cao had hold of this man； Cao Cao treated him lavishly well。 Cao Cao created him a marquis； in three…day interval Cao Cao held a small banquet； in five days a great one； Cao Cao gave him gold and presented him with silver； all this； hoping to retain him at his side。 But Cao Cao failed。 The man broke through his gates； slew his six generals in five passes and went away。 Today Cao Cao fears him； and almost moved the capital for dread of him。 Now he is in your power； destroy him； or you will rue the day。 Evil will e if you spare him。〃
Sun Quan reflected for some time。
〃You are right；〃 said he presently； and gave the order for execution。
So father and son met their fate together in the winter of the twenty…fourth year （AD 219） in the tenth month。 Guan Yu was fifty…eight。
A poem says：
Peerless indeed was our Lord Guan Yu； of the latter days；
Head and shoulders stood he out among the best；
Godlike and terrible in war； elegant and refined in peace；
Resplendent as the noonday sun in the heavens；
Haloed as are the noblest of those early days；
He stands； the brightest model for all ages；
And not only for the strenuous days he lived in。
And another：
Seek ye a noble one？ Then take ye the way of Jieliang；
Watch ye how all people revere