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loud shout and galloped toward Song Xian。 The two met； but after only three bouts； Song Xian fell under a mighty slash from Yan Liang's sword。
〃What a terrible leader！〃 said Cao Cao。
〃He has slain my rade； I want to go and avenge him；〃 then cried Wei Xu。
Cao Cao bade him go and he rode out； spear set； and in front of the army railed at Yan Liang。
Yan Liang replied not a word； but their two steeds came together； and at the first blow from Yan Liang's sword； Wei Xu's forehead was halved。
〃Now； who again dares face him？〃 cried Cao Cao。
Xu Huang took up the challenge and he went out。 The bat endured twenty bouts； and then Xu Huang fled back to his own side。 The other generals were now greatly depressed at their failure。 Cao Cao withdrew his army； feeling very sad at the loss of two generals in quick succession。 Yan Liang also marched off his force。
Then Cheng Yu went to see his chief； saying； 〃I can produce a man the equal of Yan Liang。〃
〃Who？〃 cried Cao Cao。
〃No other than Guan Yu。〃
〃I am afraid that if he is given an opportunity to perform that return service he spoke of； he will leave me。〃
〃If Liu Bei is still alive； he is with Yuan Shao。 If you get Guan Yu to defeat Yuan Shao's army； Yuan Shao will look askance at Liu Bei and put him to death。 Liu Bei gone； where can Guan Yu go？〃
This argument appealed to Cao Cao at once； and he sent to request Guan Yu to e。
Previous to obeying the call； Guan Yu went to say farewell to his sisters…in…law。
〃You may get news of the Uncle on the journey；〃 said they。
〃Yes；〃 said Guan Yu and left them。
Armed with his green…dragon saber； riding on the swift steed Red Hare； and having but a slender following； Guan Yu was not long in arriving at Baima。 He saw Cao Cao； who told him what had happened。 Yan Liang was too valiant for any to face。
〃Let me look at him；〃 said Guan Yu。
Then wine was served for his refreshment； and while they were drinking； it was reported that Yan Liang once again offered a challenge。 So Cao Cao and his guest and staff went to the summit of a hill whence the enemy could be seen。 Cao Cao and Guan Yu sat on the hill top； and the manders stood about them。 Cao Cao pointed out Yan Liang's troops arrayed on the plains below。 The ensigns and banners waving fresh and bright amid the forest of spears and swords made a grand and imposing spectacle。
〃See how formidable these soldiers of the North of Yellow River are；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃I regard them as so many clay fowls and mud dogs；〃 said Guan Yu。
Cao Cao pointed out Yan Liang； saying； 〃There under that grand umbrella； in that embroidered robe and that silver breastplate and riding on horseback and gripping that huge sword is Yan Liang。〃
〃His head looks as though it was stuck on a pole for sale；〃 said Guan Yu； just glancing over the army at his feet。
〃He is very terrible。 You must not despise him；〃 said Cao Cao。
Guan Yu rose； saying； 〃I am a poor thing； but I will go over and bring you his head if you like。〃
〃Joking is not allowed in this army；〃 interposed Zhang Liao。 〃Please be careful what you say； General。〃
Guan Yu quickly mounted； turned down his mighty weapon； and galloped down the hill； his phoenix eyes rounded； and his silkworm eyebrows fiercely bristling。 He dashed straight into the enemy's array； and the northern soldiers opened like falling waves and dissolving storms。 He made directly for the mander。
Now Yan Liang sitting there in state saw a horseman rushing toward him； and just as he began to ask who the rider of the red horse was； lo！ the horseman was there。 Taken utterly by surprise； the leader could make no defense。 Guan Yu's arm rose and the mighty weapon fell。 And with it fell Yan Liang。
Leaping from the saddle； Guan Yu cut off his victim's head and hung it to his horse's neck。 Then he mounted and rode out； just as if there was no army there。
The northern troops； panic stricken； made no fight。 Cao Cao's army attacked with full force and slew great numbers of them。 They captured many horses and weapons and much military gear。 Guan Yu rode quickly back up the hill and laid the proof of his prowess at the feet of the Prime Minister。
〃You are more than human； General！〃 cried Cao Cao。
〃What have I done to talk about？〃 said Guan Yu。 〃My brother； Zhang Fei； did the same thing in an army of a hundred legions； and did it as easily as picking something from his own pocket。〃
Cao Cao marveled at the statement and turning to those about him said； 〃If you meet this Zhang Fei； be careful。〃
And he bade them make a note on the overlap of their robes so that they should remember。
The beaten army returning northward met Yuan Shao on the road and told their story。
〃A red…faced warrior with a long beard； wielding a huge； long…handled sword； broke into the army； cut off the general's head and bore it off；〃 said they。
〃Who was this？〃 asked Yuan Shao。
Ju Shou said； 〃It must have been Liu Bei's brother； Guan Yu。 It could be nobody else。〃
Yuan Shao was very angry and； pointing to Liu Bei； he said； 〃Your brother has slain my beloved leader。 You are in the plot too。 Why should I save you alive？〃
He bade the lictors take Liu Bei away and behead him。
Morning saw him guest on high。
Evening； prisoner； doomed to die。
Liu Bei's actual fate will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 26 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Yuan Shao Loses Another Leader；
Guan Yu Abandons Rank And Wealth。
As the last chapter closed； Liu Bei had been condemned to die。
Liu Bei spoke up； however； and said； 〃Pray hear one word； Illustrious Sir； before you decide。 I have lost sight of my brother since my misfortune at Xuzhou and know not whether Guan Yu be dead or alive。 There are many men in the world who resemble him。 Is every red…faced man with a beard named Guan Yu？ Should you not rather seek some evidence？〃
Now Yuan Shao was impulsive and facile by nature； and when Liu Bei spoke thus； he suddenly turned upon Ju Shou； saying； 〃By wrongly regarding what you said； I nearly killed an innocent person。〃
Then Yuan Shao requested Liu Bei once more to resume his seat in the tent and give advice on how to avenge Yan Liang。
Soon from the lower end a voice was heard； saying； 〃Yan Liang and I were as brothers； and can I allow any other to avenge his death？〃
The speaker was a man of eight…span height with a face like a jilin； a famous leader from the North of Yellow River； named Wen Chou。
Yuan Shao was pleased and said； 〃You are the only man who can do it。 I will give you one hundred thousand troops； and you can cross the Yellow River； and quickly smite that rebel Cao Cao。
〃You cannot do it。 Wen Chou will fail；〃 said Ju Shou。 〃The proper course is to hold Yenjin and detach a force to Guandu。 If you rashly cross the river and anything goes wrong； not a soul will return。〃
Yuan Shao said； 〃That is always the way with you fellows； always delaying and taking the dash out of the army。 You put off today and postpone tomorrow till success has bee impossible。 Do you forget that promptitude is what each soldier honors？〃
The adviser withdrew sadly； saying； 〃Superiors do not curb their ambitions； inferiors crave for achievements； things are undone。 Eternal is the course of Yellow River； shall I change it？〃
Thereafter Ju Shou feigned illness and went no more to the council。
Liu Bei said； 〃I have received much kindness at your hands and have been unable to show my gratitude。 I would acpany General Wen Chou that I may repay your bounty and also that I may hear news of my brother。〃
Yuan Shao gladly consented and ordered Wen Chou to share his mand with Liu Bei。
But the former objected； saying； 〃Liu Bei has been so often defeated that it will augur ill for success this time。 Since you wish； I will give Liu Bei mand of the rear guard of thirty thousand soldiers。〃
And this being approved； three legions were told off under Liu Bei's special mand to follow the main body。
The prowess displayed by Guan Yu in the bold attack on Yan Liang redoubled Cao Cao's respect for him； and Cao Cao memorialized the Throne that Guan Yu receive the title of Lord of Hanshou； and a seal was cast for him。
Just then came the unexpected news that Yuan Shao's army had moved toward the Yellow River and was in position above Yenjin。 Cao Cao first sent to transfer the inhabitants to the west bank and then led out an army to oppose Yuan Shao。 He issued an order to face about； thus placing the rear panies in front。 The missariat wagons were also placed in the van。
〃What is this reversal for？〃 asked Lu Qian。
Cao Cao replied； 〃When the supplies are in rear； they are liable to be plundered。 So I have put them first。〃
〃But if you meet the enemy and they steal them？〃
〃Wait till the enemy appears。 I shall know what to do。〃
Lu Qian was much exercised at this new move of the Prime Minister。 In the meantime the supply train moved along the river toward Yenjin。 Presently the foremost troops raised a great shout； and Cao Cao sent to see what it meant。
The messenger came back； saying； 〃Wen Chou's army is approaching； and the supply train has been abandoned and is at the mercy of the enemy。 The main body is still far behind。 What to do next？〃
Thereupon Cao Cao pointed to two mounds； saying； 〃We will take refuge here for the present。〃