uan Yu was like the kernel in a nut； quite surrounded。
This was not all。 He saw the number of his followers diminishing every moment。 He fought on till dusk； and looking about him he saw all the hills crowded with Jingzhou folks and heard them calling siblings for brother and children for father； till his soldiers' hearts had melted within them。 One by one they ran to their relatives； heedless of their leader and his voice。 Presently he had but three hundred left； but with them he kept up the battle till the third watch。 Then there was another shouting in another note； for his leaders； Guan Ping； his son； and Liao Hua； came to his help。 And they rescued him。
〃The soldiers' hearts are all melted；〃 said Guan Ping。 〃We must find some place wherein to camp till help can arrive。 There is Maicheng； small； but sufficient。 Let us camp there。〃
Guan Yu consented； and the exhausted army hurried thither as quickly as they could。 The small force was divided among the four gates to guard。
Zhao Lei said； 〃This place is near Shangyong where Meng Da and Liu Feng station。 We should send for their help。 If their army marches to our relief until the grand army of Shu es； the morale of our army will improve。〃
But disappointments dogged them。 Very soon the army of Wu came up and laid siege to the city。
〃Who will try to break through and go away to Shangyong for assistance？〃 asked Guan Yu。
〃I will go；〃 said Liao Hua。
〃And I will escort you past the danger zone；〃 said Guan Ping。
Guan Yu wrote his letter； which Liao Hua concealed next to his skin； and having eaten a full meal； he rode out at the gate。 The leader of the enemy； Ding Feng； tried to check him； but Guan Ping fought vigorously and drove him away。 So Liao Hua escaped the siege and reached Shangyong； while Guan Ping returned。 Then they barred the gates and hold their defense。
Now； having captured Shangyong； Liu Feng and Meng Da had remained to guard it。 Liu Feng had been created Governor General； and together with Meng Da； to defend that city。 When they heard of the defeat of Guan Yu； they took counsel what to do。 When Liao Hua came； he was admitted into the city。 He told the tale of Guan Yu's straits； and asked for help。
Said Liao Hua； 〃Guan Yu is closely besieged in Maicheng。 Help from the west will be a long time in ing； so I have been sent to beg your assistance。 I hope you will march the Shangyong troops thither as quickly as possible； for any delay will be fatal。〃
Liu Feng replied； 〃Sir； go to the rest…house for a time till we can decide。〃
So Liao Hua went； and the two leaders talked over the matter。
Liu Feng said； 〃This is bad news。 What is to be done？〃
〃Wu is very powerful；〃 replied his colleague。 〃Now they have control over the whole region of Jingzhou； save this small clod of earth called Maicheng。 Cao Cao is at hand with five hundred thousand troops； and we cannot stand against the two mighty forces。 I say we must not move。〃
〃I know all this。 But Guan Yu is my uncle； and I cannot bear to sit still and not try to save him。〃
〃So you hold him as an uncle！〃 said Meng Da with a smile。 〃Yet I do not think he holds you much as a nephew。 When the Prince of Hanzhong adopted you； Guan Yu was greatly annoyed。 And after the Prince had accepted his new dignity and was nominating his heir； I heard he consulted Zhuge Liang； who said the affair was one to be decided within the family and declined to advise。 Then the Prince sent to ask Guan Yu's advice。 Did Guan Yu name you？ Not at all。 You were only a son by adoption and could have no place in the succession。 Further； Guan Yu advised that you be sent to a distance lest you might cause trouble。 This is mon knowledge； and I am surprised that you are ignorant of it。 Yet today you make capital out of the relationship and are willing to run a great risk to support it。〃
〃Granted that what you say is true； still what reply can we give？〃
〃Simply say that this city is still unsettled； and you dare not move lest it be lost。〃
Liu Feng took his colleague's view； sent for the messenger and told him。 Liao Hua was greatly disappointed。 He threw himself on the ground and knocked his head； imploring assistance。
〃If you act thus； there is an end of Guan Yu！〃 cried Liao Hua。
〃Will a cup of water extinguish a wagon load of blazing wood？〃 said Meng Da。 〃Hasten back and await patiently for the ing of help from the west。〃
Liao Hua renewed his entreaties。 The two manders simply rose； shook out their sleeves； and left him。 Liao Hua saw that things had gone against him and thought his best course would be to go at once to Chengdu。 He rode out of the city cursing its defenders and went away west。
Guan Yu from his fortress looked anxiously； but vainly； for the ing of the expected aid。 He was in a sorry plight。 His army numbered but a few hundred； many wounded； there was no food。
Then someone came to the foot of the wall and； calling out to the defenders on the wall not to shoot； said he had a message for the mander。 He was allowed to enter。 It was Zhuge Jin。 When he had made his salutations and taken tea； he began his harangue。
〃I e at the mand of my master； the Marquis of Wu； to persuade you to a wise course。 From of old it has always been recognized that the hero must bow to circumstances。 The region with its nine territories and forty…two counties that you ruled have e under another； with the exception of this single city。 Within； there is no food； without； no help； so that it must fall quickly。 Wherefore； O General； why not hear me and join your fortunes to those of Wu？ You shall be restored to your governorship； and you will preserve your family。 If haply； Sir； you would reflect thereon。〃
Guan Yu replied； quite calmly； 〃I am a simple soldier from the village of Jieliang； yet my lord and I have bee brothers。 How can I betray him？ If the city may fall； then I can but die。 Jade may be shattered； but its whiteness remains； bamboo may be burned； but its joints stand straight。 My body may be broken； but my name shall live true in history。 Say no more； but leave the city； I beg。 I will fight Sun Quan to the end。〃
＇e＇ Jin was a state that occupied the western part of the empire； in the mountainous area north of the Yellow River。 During the Spring and Autumn period； under the leadership of Duke Wen and his successors； Jin grew into a very large state； which broke into three states in the Warring States period。 Qin was a western…most state existed in both Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods。 Because Jin blocked its way to the east； Qin was shielded from the wars in the central plain。 Wars between Qin and Jin were not few； but intermarriages between the two houses were frequent； and this alliance strengthened both states。 。。。。。
〃My master desires to enter into such a league with you as did Qin and Jin in former days*； that you may mutually assist to destroy Cao Cao and restore the Hans。 That is his idea； and why do you persist in this wrong course？〃
As Zhuge Jin finished this speech； Guan Ping； who was by； drew his sword to slay him。 But his father checked him。
〃Remember his brother is in Shu； helping your uncle。 If you hurt him； you will injure the principle of fraternity。〃
Guan Yu then bade his servants lead Zhuge Jin away。 Zhuge Jin went； his face covered with shame； and left the city。 When he reached his master； he told of Guan Yu's obduracy and rejection of all argument。
〃He is indeed a loyal servant！〃 said Sun Quan。 〃Still； what is to be done next？〃
〃Take some casts in the Book of Changes；〃 said Lu Fan。
So the lots were taken and explained to mean that the Marquis' enemies should flee to a distance。
Then Sun Quan asked Lu Meng； saying； 〃If he flies to a distance； how can he be captured？〃
〃The divination exactly fits in with my schemes；〃 replied Lu Meng。 〃Even if Guan Yu had wings to soar to the skies； he would not escape my net。〃
The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps；
The phoenix in a cage is mocked of small birds。
The scheme of Lu Meng will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 77 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Cao Cao Is Possessed At Luoyang；
Guan Yu Manifests At The Jade Spring Mount。
Sun Quan having asked Lu Meng for a plan； Lu Meng replied； 〃This Guan Yu has very few soldiers left； and he will not venture along the high road。 North of Maicheng is a risky path； and he will try to escape along that。 Therefore you must lay an ambush for him seven miles away from the city； but do not stop him。 Let him go by； and then harass his rear。 Thus he will be forced into Linju。 Set another small ambush near there； and you will capture your enemy。 For the present； attack the city vigorously on all sides but one； leaving the north gate for escape。〃
Before carrying out this plan； Sun Quan bade Lu Fan consult the auspices。
Lu Fan did so； announcing； 〃The enemy will flee toward the northwest； but will be caught that night before midnight。〃
So Zhu Ran was sent in mand of the first ambush； and Pan Zhang was the second。 The troops sent were all veterans。
When Guan Yu mustered his fighting men in the city of Maicheng； he had but three hundred。 The food was done。 That night many soldiers of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name； and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted； reducing the small force still further。 No rescue force appeared； and Guan Yu was at the end of his resources。
Again he bewailed to Wang Fu； saying； 〃I regret that I have neglected your wise warning。 In this danger what is to be done？〃
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
〃I think even if Lu Wang* could e to life again； he would be helpless in this case；〃 replied Wang Fu； weeping。
Said Zhao Lei； 〃Liu Feng and Meng Da have surely decided not to send help from Shangyong。 Let us abandon this miserable place； try to get to Yizhou； and recover the army。 We may then tempt our fortune once more。〃
〃I agree with you that that is the best plan；〃 said Guan Yu。
Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country。 Noting that the weakest side was the north； he called in some of the inhabitants and inquired the nature of the country on that side。
They replied； 〃There are only paths there； but by them one may get into the West River Land。〃
〃We will go that way tonight；〃 said Guan Yu。
Wang Fu opposed it； saying； 〃General； you will surely fall into an ambush。 The main road will be safer。〃
〃There may be an ambush； but do I fear that？〃 said the old warrior。
Orders were given to be ready to march。
〃At least be very cautious；〃 said Wang Fu。 〃I will defend this city to the very last。 I only need a hundred troops。 Never will we surrender。 Only I hope； Most Noble General； that you will send me speedy help。〃
The two parted in tears。 Wang Fu and Zhou Cang remaining to guard Maicheng。 Guan Yu； Guan Ping； and Zhao Lei marched with their weak force out of the north gate。 Guan Yu； his green…dragon saber ready to hand； went first。 About the third watch； seven miles lay between them and the city。 There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums。 And men were shouting。 Soon appeared a large forc