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〃Have you been able to get any news of Uncle Liu Bei in your two expeditions？〃 asked Lady Gan。
〃None；〃 replied Guan Yu。
As he retired from the door； he heard sounds of bitter weeping within。
〃Alas！ He is dead；〃 said they。 〃Our brother…in…law thinks we shall be greatly distressed； and thus； he hides the truth from us。〃
One of the old soldiers； who acted as guard； hearing the sounds of perpetual grief； took pity on them and said； 〃Do not weep； ladies。 Your lord is with Yuan Shao in the North of Yellow River。〃
〃How do you know that？〃 said they。
〃I went out with General Guan Yu； and one of the soldiers told me。〃
The two ladies summoned Guan Yu and reproached him； saying； 〃Uncle Liu Bei never betrayed you； and yet you remain here enjoying the bounty of Cao Cao and forgetting the old times。 And you tell us falsehoods。〃
Guan Yu bowed his head； saying； 〃My brother really is in the North of Yellow River； but I dared not tell you； lest it should bee known。 Something must be done； but done carefully； and it needs time。〃
〃Brother…in…law； you should hasten；〃 said Lady Gan。
Guan Yu withdrew feeling that he must evolve some scheme of departure without further loss of time。 It caused him much uneasiness。
Yu Jin； having found out that Liu Bei was in the north； told Cao Cao； who at once sent Zhang Liao to find out Guan Yu's intentions。
Zhang Liao entered jauntily and congratulated Guan Yu； saying； 〃They tell me you obtained news of your brother in the battlefield。 I felicitate you。〃
〃My lord was there indeed； but I met him not。 I see nothing to be glad about。〃
〃Is there any difference between the relationship of you two and that of any other two brothers？〃
Guan Yu replied； 〃You and I stand in the relationship of friends。 Liu Bei and I are friends and brothers beside； and prince and minister in addition to both。 Our relationship cannot be discussed in usual terms。〃
〃Well； now that you know where your brother is； are you going to him？〃
〃How can I go back on what I said before？ I am sure you will explain fully to the Prime Minister。〃
Zhang Liao went back and told his master； who said； 〃I must find a way to keep him here。〃
While Guan Yu was pondering over his difficulties； they told him that a friend had e to inquire for him。 The visitor was introduced but Guan Yu did not recognize him。
〃Who are you？〃 asked Guan Yu。
〃I am Chen Zhen of Nanyang； in the service of Yuan Shao。〃
In great perturbation； Guan Yu sent away the attendants and； they being gone； said； 〃There is some special reason for your visit？〃
For reply Chen Zhen drew out a letter and handed it to his host； who recognized that it was from his brother Liu Bei。 The letter read：
〃I； the writer； and you； Sir； pledged ourselves in the Peach Garden to die together。 Why then are we apart and yet alive； our kindly feelings destroyed； our sense of right outraged？ If you desire to obtain fame and acquire riches and honor； I will offer my head without hesitation so that your achievement is fulfilled。 More might be said； but I await your mands with great anxiety。〃
Guan Yu finished the letter with a bitter cry。
〃I always wanted to find my brother； but I did not know where he was。 How can he think such evil of me？〃 said he。
〃Liu Bei looks for you very eagerly。 If you are still bound by the old pledge； you should go quickly；〃 said Chen Zhen。
〃Anyone born into the world without the essential virtue of sincerity is no true human。 I came here openly and can go in no other way。 Now will I write a letter which I will ask you to bear to my brother； that as soon as I can take leave of Cao Cao； I will bring the ladies and e to him。〃
〃But what if Cao Cao refuse to let you go？〃 said Chen Zhen。
〃Then would I rather die。 I will not remain here。〃
〃Then； Sir； quickly write your letter and relieve your brother from his anxiety。〃
So Guan Yu wrote like this：
〃I； the humble one； know full well that a human of principle does not betray and a human of loyalty despises death。 I have been a student in my youth and know somewhat of the proprieties。 I sigh and weep at the memory of the fraternal affection that made Yangjue Ai and Zuo Botao die rather than separate。 I was in charge of Xiapi； but the place lacked provision and there was no help。 I would have fought to the death； but there was on my shoulders the responsibility for my sisters…in…law。 Wherefore I had to take care of my body lest I betrayed your trust。 And so I made a prisoner of myself； hoping to find a way of release。 I heard of you lately in Runan。 I must； however； bid farewell to Cao Cao and bring the ladies with me when I e。 May I perish； victim to the superhuman powers； if I have harbored any traitorous thought。 Ink and paper are poor substitutes for what I would say； but I look to see you soon。〃
Chen Zhen left with this missive； and Guan Yu went to tell the women。 Then he proceeded to the Prime Minister's palace to say farewell。 But Cao Cao knew what he was ing for； and at the gate Guan Yu found the board intimating that no one could be received。 So he had to return。 However； he bade his own few soldiers prepare to start at any moment。 He also gave orders that everything received from Cao Cao was to be left in the quarters。 Nothing was to be taken。
Next day he again proceeded to the palace to say farewell to his patron； but again found the board hanging there to show there was no admission。 So it was several times； he could never enter。 Then he went to see Zhang Liao； but Zhang Liao was indisposed。
〃This means Cao Cao will not let me go；〃 thought Guan Yu。 〃But I am going； and I shall hesitate no longer。〃
So he wrote this letter：
〃As a young man I entered the service of the Imperial Uncle； and pledged myself to share his fortunes。 Heaven and Earth witnessed this oath。 When I lost the city； I made three requests which you granted。 Now I hear my brother is with Yuan Shao and I； remembering our pledge； cannot but go to him。 Though your bounty is great； I forget not the bond of the past； wherefore I write this letter of farewell trusting that when you have read it； you will be content for me to postpone to another season the proof of my gratitude。〃
Guan Yu sealed and sent it to the palace。 Then he deposited in the treasury of his dwelling all the gold and silver he had received； hung his seal of lordship of Hanshou in the middle of the reception hall and left； taking his sisters…in…law with him in a carriage。 He rode Red Hare and carried the green…dragon saber in his hand。 With a small escort of guards； those formerly under his mand； he left the city by the north gate。
The wardens would have stopped him； but Guan Yu frightened them with a fierce shout。 Having got out； he told the escort to go in front with the carriage while he would remain behind to guard against pursuit。 So they pushed the carriage toward the high road。
In the city； Guan Yu's letter reached the Prime Minister while he was consulting about what to do。 He read it and exclaimed； 〃So he has left！〃
Then the warden of the gate came to report that Guan Yu had forced his way out； and was gone with a carriage； a horse； and a score of guards。 Next came the servants from his house to report that he had left； taking nothing of the treasure； nor anyone of the waiting maids。 Everything was left in the house。 Even his seal was there。 His only escort were the few soldiers of his original force。
Suddenly from the assembly of officers rose a voice； saying； 〃With three thousand of mailed horse； I will bring him back alive。〃
Their eyes turned to the speaker； who was General Cai Yang。
On the dragon's cave he turns his back；
But numberless wolves infest his track。
What came of this offer to pursue will be seen in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 27 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 27
Chapter 27
The Man of Beautiful Beard Rides On A Solitary Journey；
Guan Yu Slays Six Generals Through Five Passes。
Now of all the officers in Cao Cao's army； the two friendly toward Guan Yu were Zhang Liao and Xu Huang。 The others treated Guan Yu with respect； except Cai Yang who was decidedly inimical。 So this Cai Yang was ready to pursue and capture Guan Yu as soon as he heard of his departure。 But Cao Cao accepted Guan Yu's going as natural。
〃He does not forget his old leader； and he was perfectly open in all his actions。 He is a gentleman； and you would do well to follow his example；〃 said Cao Cao。
So Cao Cao bade the would…be pursuer be gone and say no more about pursuit。
〃You were exceedingly good to Guan Yu；〃 said Cheng Yu； 〃but he went off very rudely。 He certainly left a screed behind with his reasons； but he affronted you； and that is no light matter。 Now to let him join Yuan Shao is to add wings to a tiger。 You had better catch him and put him to death so as to guard against future evil。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃But he had my promise； and can I break my word？ Each has his master。 Do not pursue。〃
But Cao Cao said to Zhang Liao； 〃He has rejected all I gave him； so bribes were powerless with him in whatever shape。 I have the greatest respect for such as him。 He has not yet gone far； and I will try to strengthen his attachment to me and make one appeal to sentiment。 Ride after him and beg him to stop till I can e up and bid farewell and offer him a su