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d my brother； when I will surely call you。〃
Zhou Cang replied； 〃I am only a rough uncouth fellow； wasting his life as a brigand。 Meeting you； General； is like seeing the full sun in the skies； and I feel that I can never bear to miss you again。 As it might be inconvenient for all my people to follow you； I will bid my panion lead them away； but I will e and follow you on foot wherever you go。〃
Guan Yu again asked his sisters…in…law what they thought of this。 Lady Gan said one or two made no difference； and so Guan Yu consented。 But Pei Yuanshao was not satisfied with this arrangement and said he wished also to follow。
Zhou Cang said； 〃If you do not stay with the band； they will disperse and be lost。 You must take mand for the moment and let me acpany General Guan Yu。 As soon as he has a fixed abode； I will e to fetch you。〃
Somewhat discontentedly Pei Yuanshao accepted the situation and marched off； while his one…time colleague joined the train of Guan Yu； and they went toward Runan。 They traveled quickly for some days； and then they saw a city on a hill。
The natives told them； 〃This city is called Gucheng。 A few months before a warrior suddenly appeared； drove out the magistrate； and took possession。 Then he has begun to recruit soldiers； bought up horses； and laid in stores。 The warrior's name is Zhang Fei。 Now he has a large force； and no one in the neighborhood dare face him。〃
〃To think that I should find my brother like this！〃 said Guan Yu； delighted。 〃I have had never a word of him； nor knew I where he was since Xuzhou fell。〃
So Guan Yu dispatched Sun Qian into the city to tell its new mander to e out to meet him and provide for their sisters…in…law。
Now； after being separated from his brothers； Zhang Fei had gone to the Mangdang Hills； where he had remained a month or so while he sent far and near for tidings of Liu Bei。 Then as he happened to pass Gucheng； he had sent in to borrow some grain； but had been refused。 In revenge； he had driven away the magistrate and taken possession of the city。 He found the place well suited to his needs at the moment。
As directed by Guan Yu； Sun Qian entered the city and； after the usual ceremonies； told Zhang Fei the news； 〃Liu Bei has left Yuan Shao and gone to Runan； and Guan Yu； with your sisters…in…law； is at the gates。 He wishes you to go out and receive them。〃
Zhang Fei listened without a word till he came to the request to go out to meet his brother。 At that point he called for his armor and； when he had put it on； laid hold of his long serpent halberd； mounted； and rode out with a large pany at his back。 Sun Qian was too astonished to ask what this meant and simply followed。
Guan Yu was very glad when he saw his brother ing； put up his weapons and； with Zhou Cang at his back； rode toward him at full speed。 But as Guan Yu approached； he saw all the signs of fierce anger on Zhang Fei's face； and Zhang Fei roared as he shook his spear； threatening Guan Yu。
Guan Yu was entirely taken aback and called out anxiously； 〃Brother； what does this mean？ Is the Peach Garden Pledge quite forgotten？〃
〃What impudence is this that you e to see me since your disgraceful behavior？〃 shouted Zhang Fei。
〃What disgraceful behavior has been mine？〃 said Guan Yu。
〃You have betrayed your brother； you have surrendered to Cao Cao； and you have received title and office at his hands。 And now you are e to exploit me。 One of us shall die！〃
Guan Yu said； 〃Really you do not understand； and it is hard for me to explain。 But ask the two ladies here； worthy brother； and they will tell you。〃
At this the ladies lifted the curtain of the carriage and called out： 〃Brother； why is this？〃
Zhang Fei said； 〃Wait a while； sisters； and see me slay this traitor。 After that I will conduct you into the city。〃
Said Lady Gan； 〃Since he knew not where you were； our brother took shelter with Cao Cao。 And since he knew that his elder brother was at Runan； he has braved every danger to escort us thus far on the road。 Pray take a correct view of his conduct。〃
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