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〃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 Cang and asked him； saying； 〃How many followers are there with Pei Yuanshao at Sleeping Bull Mountain？〃
〃I should think four or five hundred。〃
〃Now；〃 said Guan Yu； 〃I am going to take the shortest road to find my brother。 Can you go to summon your army and lead them along the high road to assist me？〃
With instructions to bring up this force； Zhou Cang left； while Guan Yu and Sun Qian and their small escort went off to the north。
When they drew near the boundary； Sun Qian said； 〃You must be careful how you go over。 You ought to stop here while I go in； see Uncle Liu Bei； and take the necessary steps。〃
Seeing the wisdom of this； Guan Yu stopped there and sent his panion in advance。 He and his followers going up to a nearby farm as an abiding place。
When they got to the farm； out came a venerable man leaning on a staff。 After exchanging salutes； Guan Yu told the old man all about himself。
〃My family name is also Guan； my personal name being Ding；〃 said the old man。 〃I know your reputation； and I am very happy to meet you。〃
Guan Ding sent for his two sons to e and make their bow。 He put up Guan Yu in his house and provided for his escort in the farm buildings。
In the meantime Sun Qian had made his way to Jizhou City and told Liu Bei the whole story。
Liu Bei said； 〃Jian Yong is also here。 We will send for him secretly to talk over this matter。〃
They did so； and when the usual salutes had been exchanged； they three began to consider the means of getting away。
〃My lord；〃 said Jian Yong； 〃you see Yuan Shao personally and say you wish to go to Jingzhou to see Liu Biao about a scheme for the destruction of Cao Cao。 That will give an excuse。〃
〃That seems best；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃but will you go with me？〃
〃I have another plan to extricate myself；〃 said Jian Yong。
Having settled their plans； Liu Bei soon went in to see his protector and suggested； 〃Liu Biao is strong and well posted。 His help should be sought against our enemy。〃
〃I have sent messengers repeatedly to ask his help；〃 said Yuan Shao； 〃but he is unwilling。〃
〃As he and I are of the same family； he will not refuse me if I go and ask him；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Certainly he is worth much more than Liu Pi。 You shall go。〃
〃I have just heard；〃 Yuan Shao continued； 〃that Guan Yu has left Cao Cao and wants to e here。 If he does； I will put him to death out of revenge for my two beloved generals………Yan Liang and Wen Chou。〃
〃Illustrious Sir； you wished to employ him and so I sent for him。 Now you threaten to put him to death。 The two men he slew were but deer pared with such a tiger as he is。 When you exchange a couple of deer for a tiger； you need not plain of the bargain。〃
〃Really I like him；〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃I was only joking。 You can send another messenger for him and tell him to e soon。〃
〃May I send Sun Qian for him？〃
〃Certainly。〃
After Liu Bei had gone； Jian Yong came in and said to Yuan Shao； 〃If Liu Bei goes； he will not e back。 I had better go to speak to Liu Biao。 And I can keep a watch on Liu Bei。〃
Yuan Shao agreed and issued orders for both to go。
On the subject of the mission； Guo Tu came in to his chief to dissuade him。
Said Guo Tu； 〃Liu Bei went to speak to Liu Pi； but he acplished nothing。 Now you are sending Jian Yong with him； and I am sure neither will ever return。〃
〃Do not be too suspicious；〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃Jian Yong is clever enough。〃
That was the end of the interview。 Forthwith Liu Bei sent Sun Qian back to Guan Yu and then； with Jian Yong； took leave of Yuan Shao and rode out of the city； As soon as they reached the border line； they met Sun Qian and all three rode off to Guan Ding's farm to meet Guan Yu。 He came out to wele them； bowed and then seized his brother's hands while tears streamed down his face。
Presently the two sons of their host came to bow to the visitors。 Liu Bei asked their names。
〃These are of the same name as myself；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃The sons are Guan Neng； who is a student； and Guan Ping； who is to be a soldier。〃
〃I have been thinking of sending the younger in your train； General；〃 said old Guan Ding； 〃Would you take him？〃
〃What is his age？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃He is eighteen。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃Since； O Senior； you are so kind； I venture to suggest that your son should be adopted by my brother； who has no son of his own。 What think you of that？〃
Guan Ding was perfectly willing； so he called Guan Ping and bade him make a son's obeisance to Guan Yu and to style Liu Bei 〃Uncle。〃
Then it was time to get on their way lest they should be pursued； and with Guan Yu went Guan Ping。 Guan Ding and Guan Ning escorted them a long distance and then returned。
The party took the road to Sleeping Bull Mountain。 Before they had gone very far； they met Zhou Cang with a small party。 He was wounded。 He was introduced to Liu Bei who asked him how it was。
He replied； 〃Before I reached the hill； a certain warrior all alone； had fought with my friend Pei Yuanshao and killed him。 Then many of our troops surrendered to him； and he occupied our old camp。 When I reached it； I tried to allure the soldiers back to my side but only succeeded with a few。 The others were too afraid。 I got angry and engaged the interloper； who however worsted me time after time and wounded me thrice。〃
〃Who is the warrior？ What does he look like？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃All I know he is a doughty fighter； I do not know his name。〃
Thereafter they advanced toward the hill with Guan Yu in front and Liu Bei in rear。 When they drew near； Zhou Cang began to abuse his enemy； who soon appeared； mailed and armed； ing down the hill like a tornado。
Suddenly Liu Bei rode out waving his whip and shouting； 〃O Zhao Yun； I am here to look for you！〃
Indeed the rider was Zhao Yun。 He instantly slipped out of the saddle and bowed by the roadside。
Liu Bei dismounted to talk with him and ask how he came to be there。
〃When I left you； I had no idea that Gongsun Zan was a man who would listen to no reason。 The result was disaster； and he perished in the flames。 Yuan Shao invited me to him several times； but I thought too little of him to go。 Then I wanted to go to Xuzhou to you； but you had lost that place； and Guan Yu had gone over to Cao Cao； and you had joined Yuan Shao。 Several times I thought of ing to you； but I feared Yuan Shao。 So I drifted from one place to another with nowhere to rest till I happened to e this way； and Pei Yuanshao tried to steal my horse。 So I slew him and took possession of his camp。 I heard Zhang Fei was in Gucheng but thought it might be only a rumor。 And so the days have passed till this happy meeting。〃
Liu Bei told Zhao Yun all that had happened to him since they parted； and so did Guan Yu。
Said Liu Bei； 〃The first time I saw you； I felt drawn to you and did not want to part from you。 I am very happy to meet you again。〃
〃In all my wanderings； trying to find a lord worth serving； I have seen no one like you。 Now I have reached your side； that is enough for all my life。 I care not what may happen to me。〃
Next they burned the camp on Sleeping Bull Mountain； after which they all took the road back to Gucheng where they were weled。 They exchanged the stories of their several adventures； and the two ladies related the valiant deeds of Guan Yu whereat Liu Bei was too affected to speak。
Then they performed a great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth with the slaughter of a bull and a horse。
The soldiers also were repensed for their toils。 Liu Bei surveyed the conditions around him and found therein much to rejoice at。 His two brothers were restored to his side and none of his helpers were missing。 Moreover he had gained Zhao Yun； and Guan Yu had acquired an adopted son Guan Ping。 Another mander had joined his ranks in the person of Zhou Cang。 There was every occasion for feasting and gratification。
Scattered wide were the brothers； none knew another's retreat；
Joyfully now they foregather； dragon and tigers meet。
At this time the forces under the mand of Liu Bei； Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； Zhao Yun； Sun Qian； Jian Yong； Mi Zhu； Mi Fang； Guan Ping； and Zhou Cang numbered four or five thousand soldiers。 Liu Bei was in favor of leaving Gucheng and occupying Runan； and just then Liu Pi and Gong Du； the manders of that city； sent to invite him to go there。 So they went。 There they devoted all their efforts to strengthen their army； both horse and foot。
Yuan Shao was much annoyed when Liu Bei did not return and at first was for sending a force after him。 However Guo Tu dissuaded him。
〃Liu Bei needs cause you no anxiety。 Cao Cao is your one enemy and must be destroyed。 Even Liu Biao； though strongly posted on River Han； is none too terrible。 There is Sun Ce on the southeast of the Great River； strong； feared； with wide domain of six territories； a large army； and able counselors and leaders； you should make an alliance there against Cao Cao。〃
Guo Tu won his chief to his view and wrote to Sun Ce； sending the letter by Chen Zhen。
Just as one warrior leaves the north；
Another from the east es forth。
Future chapters will reveal the oute of these dispositions。
Main Next to Chapter 29 》》
Romance