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aol；　Ju　Shou　was　degraded；　and　others　quarreled。　Then　Yuan　Shao　vacillated　and　hesitated；　so　that　your　brother　and　I　consulted　how　we　might　get　away　from　them　all。　Now　the　Uncle　is　at　Runan　with　Liu　Pi　and；　thinking　you　could　not　know　that　and　might　suffer　some　harm　if　you　unwillingly　went　to　Yuan　Shao；　I　have　e　to　warn　you。　It　is　good　fortune　to　find　you　like　this。　Now　we　can　hasten　to　Runan；　and　you　will　meet　your　brother。〃
Guan　Yu　took　Sun　Qian　to　make　his　bow　to　the　ladies；　who　asked　after　his　adventures；　and　Sun　Qian　said；　〃Uncle　Liu　Bei　were　nearly　executed　due　to　Yuan　Shao's　sudden　bursts　of　anger　after　the　deaths　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou。　Now；　however；　he　is　out　of　his　way　and　safe　at　Runan；　and　you　will　meet　him　soon。〃
The　ladies　covered　their　faces　and　wept　at　the　recital　of　his　dangers。　Then　the　party　no　longer　traveled　north　but　took　the　road　toward　Runan。　Not　long　after　a　great　cloud　of　dust　was　noticed　behind　them；　and　that　presently　made　out　a　hundred　of　horsemen。　These　were　led　by　Xiahou　Dun；　who　shouted　out　to　Guan　Yu　to　stop。

One　by　one　the　pass　manders　stopped　his
progress　and　were　slain；
The　river　crossed；　another　army　es　and　he
must　fight　again。

How　finally　Guan　Yu　escaped　death　will　appear　in　the　succeeding　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　28　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　28
　Chapter　28
Putting　Cai　Yang　To　Death；　The　Brothers'　Doubts　Disappear；
Meeting　At　Gucheng；　Lord　and　Liege　Fortify　Each　Other。
Sun　Qian　had　joined　Guan　Yu　in　escorting　the　two　ladies；　and　they　were　on　the　road　to　Runan　when　Xiahou　Dun　suddenly　determined　to　pursue。　So　with　a　couple　of　hundred　horse；　Xiahou　Dun　set　out。　When　Xiahou　Dun　was　seen　approaching；　Guan　Yu　bade　Sun　Qian　go　ahead　with　the　carriage　while　he　remained　to　deal　with　the　pursuers。
When　they　were　near　enough；　Guan　Yu　said；　〃In　ing　after　me　thus　you　do　not　reinforce　the　magnanimity　of　your　master！〃
Replied　Xiahou　Dun；　〃The　Prime　Minister　has　sent　no　definite　instructions。　You　have　caused　the　death　of　several　people；　among　them　one　of　my　manders；　and　so　I　have　e　to　capture　you！　You　have　behaved　most　grossly。　The　Prime　Minister　will　decide。〃
Thereupon　Xiahou　Dun　dashed　forward　with　his　spear　ready　to　thrust。
But　at　that　moment　a　rider　came　up　behind　him　at　full　gallop；　crying；　〃You　must　not　fight　with　Guan　Yu！〃
Guan　Yu　stayed　his　steed　at　once　and　waited。
The　messenger　came　up；　drew　from　his　bosom　an　official　letter；　and　said　to　Xiahou　Dun；　〃The　Prime　Minister　loves　General　Guan　Yu　for　his　loyalty　and　honor；　and　fearing　lest　Guan　Yu　might　be　stopped　at　the　various　passes；　he　sent　me　with　this　letter　to　show　when　necessary　at　any　point　on　the　road。〃
〃But　this　Guan　Yu　has　slain　several　manders　of　the　passes。　Does　the　Prime　Minister　know　that？〃　said　Xiahou　Dun。
The　messenger　said　these　things　were　unknown。
〃Then；〃　said　Xiahou　Dun；　〃I　will　arrest　him　and　take　him　to　the　Prime　Minister；　who　may　set　him　free　or　not　as　he　wills。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　fear　anything　you　can　do？〃　said　Guan　Yu　getting　wrathful。
And　he　rode　forward。　Xiahou　Dun；　nothing　loth；　set　his　spear　and　prepared　for　battle。　They　met　and　had　reached　the　tenth　encounter　when　a　second　horseman　came　up　at　full　speed；　crying；　〃Generals；　wait　a　little！〃
Xiahou　Dun　stayed　his　hand　and　asked　the　messenger；　saying；　〃Am　I　to　arrest　him？〃
〃No；〃　replied　the　messenger。　〃Fearing　lest　he　should　have　difficulties　at　the　passes；　the　Prime　Minister　has　sent　me　with　a　dispatch　to　say　he　is　to　be　released。〃
〃Did　the　Prime　Minister　know　that　he　had　slain　several　manders　on　the　way？〃
〃He　did　not　know！〃
〃Since　he　was　ignorant　of　that；　I　may　not　let　this　Guan　Yu　go；〃　and　Xiahou　Dun　gave　the　signal　to　his　men　to　close　in　round　Guan　Yu。
But　Guan　Yu　flourished　his　sword　and　made　to　attack　them　and　a　fight　was　again　imminent；　when　a　third　rider　appeared；　who　cried；　〃Guan　Yu；　give　way　and　do　not　fight！〃
The　speaker　was　Zhang　Liao。　Both　batants　made　no　further　move　but　awaited　his　arrival。
Zhang　Liao　said；　〃I　bring　the　Prime　Minister's　order　that　since　he　has　heard　that　Guan　Yu　has　slain　certain　manders　on　the　way；　he　fears　that　some　will　hinder　his　passage。　Wherefore　he　has　sent　me　to　deliver　his　mand　at　each　gate　that　Guan　Yu　is　to　be　suffered　to　pass　freely。〃
Xiahou　Dun　said；　〃Qin　Qi　was　the　son　of　Cai　Yang's　sister；　and　he　was　confided　to　my　especial　care。　Now　this　Guan　Yu　has　killed　him；　and　how　can　I　refrain？〃
〃When　I　see　his　uncle　Cai　Yang；　I　will　explain。　But　now　the　main　point　is　that　you　have　the　Prime　Minister's　orders　to　let　Guan　Yu　pass　and　you　may　not　despise　his　wish。〃
So　the　only　thing　for　Xiahou　Dun　to　do　was　to　retire；　and　he　did。
〃Whither　are　you　going？〃　then　said　Zhang　Liao　to　Guan　Yu。
〃I　fear　my　brother　is　no　longer　with　Yuan　Shao；　and　now　I　am　going　to　find　him　wherever　he　is。〃
〃As　you　do　not　know　where　to　go；　why　not　return　to　the　Prime　Minister？〃
〃Where　is　the　sense　of　that？〃　said　Guan　Yu　with　a　smile。　〃But；　Zhang　Liao；　you　return；　and　try　to　arrange　pardon　for　my　faults。〃
With　this　Guan　Yu　saluted　Zhang　Liao　and　took　his　leave。　Zhang　Liao　retired　and　joined　Xiahou　Dun。
Guan　Yu　quickly　regained　the　carriage；　and　as　they　went　along　side　by　side　he　told　Sun　Qian　what　had　happened。　Several　days　later　a　heavy　rain　storm　came　on　which　soaked　everything。　Looking　about　for　protection　they　noticed　a　farm　under　the　shelter　of　a　precipice　and　took　their　way　thither。　An　old　man　came　out　to　them；　to　whom　they　told　their　story。
When　they　had　finished；　the　old　fellow　said；　〃My　name　is　Guo　Chang；　and　I　have　lived　here　many　years。　I　am　very　pleased　to　greet　the　man　whom　I　have　known　so　long　by　reputation。〃
Guo　Chang　quickly　killed　a　sheep　for　their　refreshment　and　brought　out　wine　for　the　two　men。　The　two　ladies　were　entertained　in　the　inner　apartments。　And　while　they　refreshed　themselves；　their　baggage　was　put　out　to　dry　and　their　steeds　were　fed。
As　the　day　closed　in；　they　saw　several　youths　e　along；　and　their　host　said；　〃My　son　is　e　to　pay　his　respects。〃
〃This　is　my　humble　son；〃　said　Guo　Chang；　presenting　a　lad　to　Guan　Yu。
〃What　has　he　been　doing？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
〃He　has　just　e　in　from　hunting。〃
The　young　fellow　went　out。　The　old　man　continued；　〃All　my　family　have　been　farmers　or　scholars。　He　is　my　only　son；　and　instead　of　following　in　the　footsteps　of　his　ancestors　he　cares　for　nothing　but　gadding　about　and　hunting；　unhappily。〃
〃Why　unhappily？〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃In　these　days　of　disorder　a　good　soldier　can　make　a　name　for　himself。〃
〃If　he　would　only　learn　the　military　arts；　that　would　be　something　of　a　career。　But　he　is　nothing　but　a　vagabond　and　does　everything　he　should　not。　He　is　a　grief　to　me。〃
Guan　Yu　sighed　in　sympathy。　The　old　gentleman　stayed　till　a　late　hour；　and　when　he　took　his　leave；　his　two　guests　began　to　prepare　for　rest。
Suddenly　outside　there　arose　a　great　hubbub；　men　shouting　and　horses　neighing。　Guan　Yu　called　to　his　people；　but　as　no　one　answered；　he　and　Sun　Qian　drew　their　swords　and　went　into　the　stable　yard。　There　they　found　their　host's　son　on　the　ground　shouting　to　his　followers　to　fight。
Guan　Yu　asked　what　it　was　all　about；　and　his　guards　told　him；　〃The　young　fellow　had　tried　to　steal　Red　Hare；　but　had　been　badly　kicked。　We　heard　shouting　and　went　to　see　what　it　meant　when　his　men　had　set　on　us。〃
Guan　Yu　was　very　wrathful。
〃You　mean　thieves！　Would　you　steal　my　horse？〃　cried　he。
But　before　he　could　do　anything；　his　host　came　running　out；　saying；　〃It　was　not　with　my　consent　that　my　son　did　this　evil　thing。　I　know　he　is　very　guilty　and　deserves　death。　But　his　mother　loves　him　tenderly；　and　I　pray　you　be　generous　and　pardon　him！〃
〃Really　he　is　unworthy　of　his　father；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃What　you　told　me　shows　he　is　a　degenerate。　For　your　sake　I　pardon　him。〃
Then　Guan　Yu　told　his　own　people　to　keep　a　better　lookout；　sent　the　people　about　their　business　and；　in　pany　with　Sun　Qian；　went　away　to　rest。
Next　morning　both　the　host　and　hostess　were　up　betimes　waiting　to　thank　Guan　Yu　for　forgiving　their　son's　mad　freak。
〃My　son　has　insulted　your　tiger　dignity；　I　know；　and　I　am　deeply　affected　by　your　kindness　in　not　punishing　him；〃　said　the　old　man。
〃Bring　him　here　and　I　will　talk　to　him；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃He　went　out　before　daylight　with　a　lot　of　his　fellow　rogues；　and　I　know　not　where　he　is。〃
So　Guan　Yu　bade　them　farewell；　got　the　ladies　into　their　carriage；　and　they　moved　out　of　the　farmyard。　Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　riding　abreast　as　escort。　They　took　the　road　toward　the　hills。
Before　they　had　gone　far；　they　saw　a　large　party　of　men；　led　by　a　couple　of　riders；　pouring　down　one　of　the　gullies。　One　of　the　riders　wore　a　yellow　turban　and　a　battle　robe。　The　other　was　Guo　Chang's　son。
The　wearer　of　the　turban　called　out；　saying；　〃I　am　one　of　the　manders　of　Zhang　Jue　the　Lord　of　Heaven。　Whoever　you　may　be；　leave　that　horse　you　are　riding　for　me。　You　may　then　go　free！〃
Guan　Yu　greeted　the　speech　with　a　hearty　laugh。
〃O　you　mad　ignoramus！　If　you　had　ever　been　with　Zhang　Jue　as　a　bandit；　you　would　have　learned　to　know　Liu　Bei；　Guan　Yu；　and　Zhang　Fei；　the　three　brothers。〃
〃I　have　heard　of　the　ruddy　long　beard　called　Guan　Yu；　but　I　have　never　seen　him。　Who　may　you　be？〃
Guan　Yu　then　laid　aside　his　sword；　stopped　his　horse；　and　drew　off　the　bag　that　covered　his　beard　thus　showing　its　magnificence。
The　turban　wearer　immediately　slipped　out　of　the　saddle；　laid　an　angry　hand　on　his　panion；　and　they　both　bowed　low　in　front　of　Guan　Yu's　steed。
〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
〃I　am　Pei　Yuanshao。　After　the　death　of　Zhang　Jue；　I　was　left　forlorn；　and　I　got　together　a　few　others　like　myself；　and　we　took　refuge　in　the　forests。　This　morning　early　this　fellow　came　to　tell　us　that　a　guest　at　his　father's　farm　had　a　valuable　horse　and　proposed　to　me　to　steal　it。　I　did　not　think　I　should　meet　you；　General。〃
The　wretched　Guo　Chang's　son　implored　that　his　life　might　be　spared；　and　Guan　Yu　pardoned　him　for　his　father's　sake。　Then　Guan　Yu　covered　his　face　and　crept　away。
〃You　did　not　recognize　me。　How　then　did　you　know　my　name？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
Pei　Yuanshao　replied；　〃Not　far　from　here　is　a　mountain　called　the　Sleeping　Bull；　where　lives　a　certain　Zhou　Cang；　a　very　powerful　man　who　came　from　the　west。　He　has　a　stiff　curly　beard　and　looks　very　handsome。　He　also　was　a　mander　in　the　rebel　army；　who　took　to　the　forest　when　his　leader　perished。　He　has　told　me　a　lot　about　you；　but　I　have　never　had　the　happiness　of　seeing　you。〃
Said　Guan　Yu；　〃Under　the　green　wood　trees　is　no　place　for　a　hero's　foot。　You　had　better　abandon　this　depraved　life　and　return　to　the　path　of　virtue。　Do　not　work　out　your　own　destruction。〃
As　they　were　talking；　a　troop　of　horsemen　appeared　in　the　distance。　They　belonged　to　Zhou　Cang；　as　Pei　Yuanshao　said；　and　Guan　Yu　waited　for　them　to　approach。　The　leader　was　very　dark　plexioned；　tall；　and　armed　with　a　spear。　As　soon　as　he　drew　near　enough　to　see；　he　exclaimed　joyfully；　〃This　is　General　Guan　Yu！〃
In　a　moment　he　had　slipped　out　of　the　saddle　and　was　on　his　knees　by　the　roadside。
〃Zhou　Cang　renders　obeisance；〃　said　he。
Said　Guan　Yu；　〃O　Warrior；　where　have　you　known　me？〃
〃I　was　one　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　and　I　saw　you　then。　My　one　regret　was　that　I　could　not　join　you。　Now　that　my　good　fortune　has　brought　me　here；　I　hope　you　will　not　reject　me。　Let　me　be　one　of　your　foot　soldiers　to　be　always　near　you　to　carry　your　whip　and　run　by　your　stirrup。　I　will　cheerfully　die　for　you。〃
As　he　seemed　thoroughly　in　earnest；　Guan　Yu　said；　〃But　if　you　follow　me；　what　of　your　panions？〃
〃They　may　do　as　they　please：　Follow　me　or　go　their　ways。〃
Thereupon　they　all　shouted；　〃We　will　follow！〃
Guan　Yu　dismounted　and　went　to　ask　the　ladies　what　they　thought　of　this。
Lady　Gan　replied；　〃Brother…in…law；　you　have　traveled　thus　far　alone　and　without　fighters；　you　have　safely　passed　many　dangers　and　never　wanted　their　assistance。　You　refused　the　service　of　Liao　Hua；　why　then　suffer　this　crowd？　But　this　is　only　a　my　view　and　you　must　decide。〃
〃What　you　say；　sister…in…law；　is　to　the　point。〃
Therefore　returning　to　Zhou　Cang；　he　said；　〃It　is　not　that　I　am　lacking　in　gratitude；　but　my　sisters…in…law　do　not　care　for　a　large　following。　Wherefore　return　to　the　mountains　till　I　shall　have　found　my　brother；　when　I　will　surely　call　you。〃
Zhou　Cang　replied；　〃I　am　only　a　rough　uncouth　fellow；　w