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。
On the subject of the mission； Guo Tu came in to his chief to dissuade him。
Said Guo Tu； 〃Liu Bei went to speak to Liu Pi； but he acplished nothing。 Now you are sending Jian Yong with him； and I am sure neither will ever return。〃
〃Do not be too suspicious；〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃Jian Yong is clever enough。〃
That was the end of the interview。 Forthwith Liu Bei sent Sun Qian back to Guan Yu and then； with Jian Yong； took leave of Yuan Shao and rode out of the city； As soon as they reached the border line； they met Sun Qian and all three rode off to Guan Ding's farm to meet Guan Yu。 He came out to wele them； bowed and then seized his brother's hands while tears streamed down his face。
Presently the two sons of their host came to bow to the visitors。 Liu Bei asked their names。
〃These are of the same name as myself；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃The sons are Guan Neng； who is a student； and Guan Ping； who is to be a soldier。〃
〃I have been thinking of sending the younger in your train； General；〃 said old Guan Ding； 〃Would you take him？〃
〃What is his age？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃He is eighteen。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃Since； O Senior； you are so kind； I venture to suggest that your son should be adopted by my brother； who has no son of his own。 What think you of that？〃
Guan Ding was perfectly willing； so he called Guan Ping and bade him make a son's obeisance to Guan Yu and to style Liu Bei 〃Uncle。〃
Then it was time to get on their way lest they should be pursued； and with Guan Yu went Guan Ping。 Guan Ding and Guan Ning escorted them a long distance and then returned。
The party took the road to Sleeping Bull Mountain。 Before they had gone very far； they met Zhou Cang with a small party。 He was wounded。 He was introduced to Liu Bei who asked him how it was。
He replied； 〃Before I reached the hill； a certain warrior all alone； had fought with my friend Pei Yuanshao and killed him。 Then many of our troops surrendered to him； and he occupied our old camp。 When I reached it； I tried to allure the so