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Cao Cao grumbled to himself and began to repent of his gift。
Fortune dealt a stunning blow； still he played his part；
Partitioning his dwelling proved his purity of heart。
The crafty minister desired to win him to his side；
But felt that failure was foredoomed however much he tried。
Said Cao Cao to Zhang Liao； 〃I have treated Guan Yu pretty liberally； but he still cherishes the desire to leave me。 Do you know if it is really so？〃
〃I will try to find out；〃 was the reply。
So Zhang Liao took an early opportunity of seeing Guan Yu； and when the politeness of the visit were over； Zhang Liao said； 〃I remended you to the Prime Minister； and you have not lost much by that。〃
〃I am deeply affected by his kindness and bounty；〃 said Guan Yu； 〃but； though my body is here； yet I am always thinking of my brother。〃
〃Your words do not express present conditions quite correctly。 One who lives in the world without discrimination and consideration of his relations with others is not the most admirable type of person。 Even Liu Bei never treated you better than does the Prime Minister。 Why then do you maintain this desire to get away？〃
〃I know only too well that he has been most kind； but I have also received great kindness from Uncle Liu Bei。 Beside we have sworn to die together； and I cannot remain here。 But before I go； I must try to render the Prime Minister some signal service to prove my gratitude。〃
〃Supposing Liu Bei should have left the world； whither will you go？〃 said Zhang Liao。
〃I will follow him to the below realms of Nine Golden Springs。〃
There could no longer be the least doubt as to Guan Yu's intentions； and Zhang Liao told Cao Cao just how matters stood。 Cao Cao sighed。
〃To serve one's chief with unswerving fidelity is a proof of the highest principle of all；〃 said he。
Said Xun Yu； 〃He spoke of performing some act of service before leaving。 If he gets no chance of such a thing； he will not be able to go。〃
Cao Cao agreed that this was so。
Liu Bei went to Yuan Shao for refuge。 Here Liu Bei was always sorrowful and； when asked the reason； said he did not know where his brothers were nor what had happened to his family since they fell into the hands of Cao Cao。
〃Why should I not be sad when I have failed towards my country and my family？〃 said he。
〃I have long wished to attack Xuchang；〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃Now it is autumn and just the time for an expedition； so let us discuss plans for the destruction of Cao Cao。〃
Tian Feng at once opposed this。
〃When Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou and Xuchang was undefended； you let the chance slip by。 Now that Xuzhou has been captured； and their soldiers are flushed with victory； it would be madness to attempt it。 It is necessary to await another chance。〃
〃Let me think about it；〃 said Yuan Shao。
He asked advice from Liu Bei whether to attack or to hold on。
Liu Bei replied； 〃Cao Cao is a rebel。 I think you are failing in your duty if you do not attack him。〃
〃Your words are good；〃 said Yuan Shao。
He made up his mind to move。 But again the adviser Tian Feng intervened。
Then Yuan Shao grew angry； saying； 〃You fellows who cultivate literature and despise war have made me miss a lot！〃
Tian Feng bowed his head and said； 〃Neglect your servant's wise words； and you will fail in the field。〃
Yuan Shao was so angry that he wanted to put Tian Feng to death。 However； Liu Bei begged him off and he was only imprisoned。
Seeing the fate of his colleague； another adviser； Ju Shou； assembled his clan and distributed among them all his possessions； saying； 〃I go with the army。 If we succeed； then nothing can exceed our glory； but if we are defeated； the risk I run is great。〃
His friends wept as they said farewell。
General Yan Liang was appointed to the mand of the advance guard； to go to attack Baima。
Then Ju Shou first protested； 〃His mind is too narrow for such a post。 He is brave but unequal to such a trust。〃
〃You are not the sort of man to measure my best generals；〃 replied Yuan Shao。
The army marched to Liyang； and Governor Liu Yue of Dongjun sent an urgent call to Xuchang for aid。 Cao Cao moved his armies hastily。
As soon as the news of battle got about； Guan Yu went to see the Prime Minister and said； 〃Illustrious Sir； the army is mobilized。 I volunteer for the van leader。〃
〃I scarcely dare put you to such inconvenience； but presently； if need arises； I will call upon you。〃
So Guan Yu retired； and one hundred fifty thousand soldiers marched out in three directions。 On the road the letters from Liu Yue arrived praying for help； and Cao Cao marched the first fifty thousand troops to Baima and took up a position supported by the hills。 In the wide plains in front of them； Yan Liang was encamped with one hundred thousand veterans。
Cao Cao was frightened at the force opposed to him and； returning to camp； spoke to Song Xian； who had once served under Lu Bu； saying； 〃You are one of Lu Bu's famous veteran generals。 Can you give battle to this Yan Liang？〃
Song Xian agreed to try。 He armed himself； mounted； and rode to the front。 Yan Liang was there on horseback； his sword lying crossways。 Seeing an opponent approaching； he uttered a 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 mi