Then unexpectedly came news that the enemy had stopped a train of supplies brought by Gong Du； and at once Zhang Fei went to the rescue。 Worse still was the news that followed； that an army led by Xiahou Dun had got in behind to attack Runan。
Quite dismayed； Liu Bei said； 〃If this be true； I have enemies in front and rear and have no place to go。〃
He then sent Guan Yu to try to recover the city and thus both his brothers were absent from his side。 One day later a horseman rode up to say that Runan had fallen； its defender Liu Pi had fled； and Guan Yu was surrounded。 To make the matters worse； the news came that Zhang Fei； who had gone to rescue Gong Du； was in like case。
Liu Bei tried to withdraw his troops； fearing all the time an attack from Cao Cao。 Suddenly the sentinels came in； saying： 〃Xu Chu is at the camp gate offering a challenge。〃
Liu Bei did not allow his army to go out。 They waited till dawn； and then Liu Bei bade the soldiers get a good meal and be ready to start。 When ready the foot went out first； the horsemen next； leaving a few troops in the camp to beat the watches and maintain an appearance of occupation。
After traveling some miles； they passed some mounds。 Suddenly torches blazed out； and on the summit stood one who shouted； 〃Do not let Liu Bei run away！ I； the Prime Minister； am here awaiting you！〃
Liu Bei dashed along the first clear road he saw。
Zhao Yun said； 〃Fear not； my lord； only follow me！〃
And setting his spear； Zhao Yun galloped in front opening an alley as he went。 Liu Bei gripped his double swords and followed close。 As they were winning through； Xu Chu came in pursuit and engaged Zhao Yun； and two other panies led by Yu Jin and Li Dian bore down as well。 Seeing the situation so desperate； Liu Bei plunged into the wilds and fled。 Gradually the sounds of battle became fainter and died away while he went deeper and deeper into the hills； a single horseman fleeing for his life。 He kept on his way till daybreak； when a pany suddenly appeared beside the road。 Liu Bei saw these men with terror at first； but was presently 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 mak