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； 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 quit