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ing each other in each three days； and large banquets held in each five days。
Cao Cao also presented him with ten most lovely serving girls。 Guan Yu sent these also within to wait upon his two sisters…in…law。
Every third day Guan Yu went to the door of the women's quarters to inquire after their welfare； and then they asked if any news of the wanderer had e。 This ceremony closed with the words： 〃Brother…in…law； you may retire when you wish。〃
Cao Cao heard of this extremely correct behavior and thought all the more of the man for it。
One day Cao Cao noticed that the robe Guan Yu was wearing was old and frayed。 Taking his measurements； Cao Cao had a new one made of fine brocade and presented it to him。 Guan Yu took it and put it on under the old robe； so that the latter covered it。
〃Why so very thrifty？〃 laughed Cao Cao。
〃It is not thrift；〃 was his reply。 〃The old robe was a gift from my brother； and I wear it because it reminds me of him。 I could not allow the new gift to eclipse his old one。〃
〃How very high principled！〃 said Cao Cao； sighing。
One day when Guan Yu was at home； there came a messenger to say that the two women had thrown themselves on the ground and were weeping。 They would not say why。
Guan Yu set his dress in order； went over； and knelt by the door； saying； 〃Why this grief； sisters…in…law？〃
Lady Gan replied； 〃In the night I dreamed that the Uncle had fallen into a pit。 I woke up and told Lady Mi； and we think he must be dead。 So we weep。〃
〃Dreams are not to be credited；〃 he replied。 〃You dreamed of him because you were thinking of him。 Pray do not grieve。〃
Just then Guan Yu was invited to another banquet； so he took leave of the ladies and went。 Seeing Guan Yu looked sad and tearful； his host asked the reason。
〃My sisters…in…law have been weeping for my brother； and I cannot help being sad in sympathy。〃
Cao Cao smiled and tried to cheer up his guest。 Cao Cao plied Guan Yu with wine so that Guan Yu became quite intoxicated and sat stroking his beard and saying； 〃What a useless thing am I！ I could do no service for my country； and I have parted from my elder brother。〃
〃How many hairs in your beard？〃 suddenly asked his host。
〃Some hundreds； perhaps。 In the autumn a few fall out； but in the winter it is fullest。 Then I use a black silk bag to keep the hairs from being broken；〃 replied Guan Yu。
Cao Cao had a bag made for him to protect his beard。 Soon after when they were at court； the Emperor asked what was the bag he saw on Guan Yu's breast。
〃My beard is rather long； Your Majesty；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃So the Prime Minister gave me a bag to protect it。〃
The Emperor bade him take off the bag and show his beard in all its fullness and it fell in rippling waves below his breast。
〃Really a most beautiful beard！〃 said the Emperor。
This is why people call him： 〃The Man with the Beautiful Beard。〃
Another time； after a banquet； Cao Cao was seeing his guest start from the gate of his palace when he noticed that his charger was very thin。
〃Why is it so thin？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃My worthless body is rather heavy and really too much for it。 It is always out of condition。〃
Cao Cao at once told his attendants to bring out a certain steed； and before long it appeared。 It was red； like glowing charcoal； and a handsome creature in every way。
〃Do you recognize it？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃Why； it is no other than Red Hare！〃 cried Guan Yu。
〃Yes； it is Red Hare；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he presented the horse； all fully caparisoned； to his guest。
Guan Yu bowed many times and thanked him again and again； till Cao Cao began to feel displeased and said； 〃I have given you many things； lovely handmaids and gold and silks and never won a bow of gratitude from you before。 This horse seems to please you better than all the rest。 Why do you think so poorly of the damsels and so much of the steed？〃
〃I know the horse： It can travel five hundred miles a day； and I am very lucky to get him。 Now as soon as I find out where my brother is； I can get to him in a single day；〃 said Guan Yu。
Cao Cao grumbled to himself and began to repent of his gift。
Fortune dealt a stunning blow； still he played his part；
Partitioning his dwelling proved his purity of heart。
The crafty minister desired to win him to his side；
But felt that failure was foredoomed however much he tried。
Said Cao Cao to Zhang Liao； 〃I have treated Guan Yu pretty liberally； but he still cherishes the desire to leave me。 Do you know if it is really so？〃
〃I will try to find out；〃 was the reply。
So Zhang Liao took an early opportunity of seeing Guan Yu； and when the politeness of the visit were over； Zhang Liao said； 〃I remended you to the Prime Minister； and you have not lost much by that。〃
〃I am deeply affected by his kindness and bounty；〃 said Guan Yu； 〃but； though my body is here； yet I am always thinking of my brother。〃
〃Your words do not express present conditions quite correctly。 One who lives in the world without discrimination and consideration of his relations with others is not the most admirable type of person。 Even Liu Bei never treated you better than does the Prime Minister。 Why then do you maintain this desire to get away？〃
〃I know only too well that he has been most kind； but I have also received great kindness from Uncle Liu Bei。 Beside we have sworn to die together； and I cannot remain here。 But before I go； I must try to render the Prime Minister some signal service to prove my gratitude。〃
〃Supposing Liu Bei should have left the world； whither will you go？〃 said Zhang Liao。
〃I will follow him to the below realms of Nine Golden Springs。〃
There could no longer be the least doubt as to Guan Yu's intentions； and Zhang Liao told Cao Cao just how matters stood。 Cao Cao sighed。
〃To serve one's chief with unswerving fidelity is a proof of the highest principle of all；〃 said he。
Said Xun Yu； 〃He spoke of performing some act of service before leaving。 If he gets no chance of such a thing； he will not be able to go。〃
Cao Cao agreed that this was so。
Liu Bei went to Yuan Shao for refuge。 Here Liu Bei was always sorrowful and； when asked the reason； said he did not know where his brothers were nor what had happened to his family since they fell into the hands of Cao Cao。
〃Why should I not be sad when I have failed towards my country and my family？〃 said he。
〃I have long wished to attack Xuchang；〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃Now it is autumn and just the time for an expedition； so let us discuss plans for the destruction of Cao Cao。〃
Tian Feng at once opposed this。
〃When Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou and Xuchang was undefended； you let the chance slip by。 Now that Xuzhou has been captured； and their soldiers are flushed with victory； it would be madness to attempt it。 It is necessary to await another chance。〃
〃Let me think about it；〃 said Yuan Shao。
He asked advice from Liu Bei whether to attack or to hold on。
Liu Bei replied； 〃Cao Cao is a rebel。 I think you are failing in your duty if you do not attack him。〃
〃Your words are good；〃 said Yuan Shao。
He made up his mind to move。 But again the adviser Tian Feng intervened。
Then Yuan Shao grew angry； saying； 〃You fellows who cultivate literature and despise war have made me miss a lot！〃
Tian Feng bowed his head and said； 〃Neglect your servant's wise words； and you will fail in the field。〃
Yuan Shao was so angry that he wanted to put Tian Feng to death。 However； Liu Bei begged him off and he was only imprisoned。
Seeing the fate of his colleague； another adviser； Ju Shou； assembled his clan and distributed among them all his possessions； saying； 〃I go with the army。 If we succeed； then nothing can exceed our glory； but if we are defeated； the risk I run is great。〃
His friends wept as they said farewell。
General Yan Liang was appointed to the mand of the advance guard； to go to attack Baima。
Then Ju Shou first protested； 〃His mind is too narrow for such a post。 He is brave but unequal to such a trust。〃
〃You are not the sort of man to measure my best generals；〃 replied Yuan Shao。
The army marched to Liyang； and Governor Liu Yue of Dongjun sent an urgent call to Xuchang for aid。 Cao Cao moved his armies hastily。
As soon as the news of battle got about； Guan Yu went to see the Prime Minister and said； 〃Illustrious Sir； the army is mobilized。 I volunteer for the van leader。〃
〃I scarcely dare put you to such inconvenience； but presently； if need arises； I will call upon you。〃
So Guan Yu retired； and one hundred fifty thousand soldiers marched out in three directions。 On the road the letters from Liu Yue arrived praying for help； and Cao Cao marched the first fifty thousand troops to Baima and took up a position supported by the hills。 In the wide plains in front of them； Yan Liang was encamped with one hundred thousand veterans。
Cao Cao was frightened at the force opposed to him and； returning to camp； spoke to Song Xian； who had once served under Lu Bu； saying； 〃You are one of Lu Bu's famous veteran generals。 Can you give battle to this Yan Liang？〃
Song Xian agreed to try。 He armed himself； mounted； and rode to the front。 Yan Liang was there on horseback； his sword lying crossways。 Seeing an opponent approaching； he uttered a loud shout and galloped toward Song Xian。 The two met； but after only three bouts； Song Xian fell u