So Liu Bei prepared a letter。 But there was no one to take it。 Yuan Shao ordered the army to withdraw to Wuyang； where they made a large camp。 For some time nothing was done。
Then Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to defend the strategic points at Guandu while he led the bulk of the army back to the capital。 There he gave many banquets in honor of the services of Guan Yu； and then he told Lu Qian that putting the supplies in the front of the army had been meant as a bait to draw the enemy to destruction。
〃Only Xun You understood that；〃 said Cao Cao in conclusion。
Everyone present praised his ingenuity。 Even while the banquet was proceeding； there arrived news of a rising of Yellow Scarves rebels at Runan led by Liu Pi and Gong Du。 They were very strong； and Cao Hong had been defeated in several engagements。 Now he begged for help。
Guan Yu hearing this said； 〃I should like to have the opportunity of performing some service by destroying these rebels。〃
〃You have already rendered noble services for which you have not been properly requited。 I could hardly trouble you again；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃I have been idle too long。 I shall get ill；〃 said Guan Yu。
Cao Cao then let him to go and gave him fifty thousand troops with Yu Jin and Yue Jing as generals under him。 They were to leave soon。
Then Xun Yu said privily to his master； 〃He always cherishes the idea of returning to Liu Bei。 He will leave you if he hears any news。 Do not let him go on this expedition。〃
〃If he does well this time； I will not let him go into battle again；〃 said Cao Cao。
In due time the force led by Guan Yu drew near the rebels in Runan and made their camp。 One night； just outside his camp； two spies were caught and taken in to Guan Yu who in one of them recognized Sun Qian。 The attendants being dismissed； Guan Yu questioned Sun Qian。
〃After we lost sight of each other； I have heard not a word of you。 What are you doing here？〃 said Guan Yu。
〃After I escaped； I drifted hither and thither till I had the good fortune to reach Runan； and Liu Pi and Gong Du； the Yellow Scarves leaders； took me in。 But why are you with Cao Cao； General？ And where are your sisters…in…law？ Are they well？〃
Guan Yu told him all that had happened。
〃I have heard lately that Liu Bei is with Yuan Shao。 I would have liked to go and join him； but I have not found a convenient opportunity。 Now the two men I am with have taken the side of Yuan Shao against Cao Cao。 By good luck you were ing here； so I got mand of a small party of scouts to be able to see you and tell you。 Presently our two leaders will pretend to be defeated and you； and the two ladies； can go over to Yuan Shao。 And you will see your brother。〃
〃Since he is there； I certainly must go at once to see him。 But it is a misfortune that I have slain two of Yuan Shao's generals。 I fear things are not in my favor；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃Let me go first and see how the land lies。 I will e back and tell you。〃
〃I would risk a myriad deaths to see my brother；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃But I must go to say farewell to Cao Cao。〃
Sun Qian was sent away that night； and next day Guan Yu led out his army to offer battle。 Gong Du； in armor； went out to the front of the line of battle； and Guan Yu said； 〃You people； why have you risen against the government？〃
〃Why do you blame us when you have turned your back on your own lord？〃 replied Gong Du。
〃How have I turned my back on my lord？〃
〃Liu Bei is with Yuan Shao； and you are with Cao Cao。 What is that？〃
Guan Yu could not reply； but he whirled round his sword and rode forward。 Gong Du fled； and Guan Yu followed。 Gong Du turned and said to Guan Yu； 〃Do not forget your old chief's kindness。 Now attack as soon as you can； and I will give up the defense。〃
Guan Yu understood and urged on his troops。 The leaders of the rebels pretended they were worsted； and they all scattered。 So Runan was retaken。 Having pacified the people； Guan Yu quickly led his army back to the capital； where he was met by Cao Cao and congratulated on his success and feasted。
When this was all over； Guan Yu went to the dwelling of his sisters…in…law to pay his respects at their gate。
〃Have you been able to get any news of Uncle Liu Bei in your two expeditions？〃 asked Lady Gan。
〃None；〃 replied Guan Yu。
As he retired from the door； he heard sounds of bitter weeping within。
〃Alas！ He is dead；〃 said they。 〃Our brother…in…law thinks we shall be greatly distressed； and thus； he hides the truth from us。〃
One of the old soldiers； who acted as guard； hearing the sounds of perpetual grief； took pity on them and said； 〃Do not weep； ladies。 Your lord is with Yuan Shao in the North of Yellow River。〃
〃How do you know that？〃 said they。
〃I went out with General Guan Yu； and one of the soldiers told me。〃
The two ladies summoned Guan Yu and reproached him； saying； 〃Uncle Liu Bei never betrayed you； and yet you remain here enjoying the bounty of Cao Cao and forgetting the old times。 And you tell us falsehoods。〃
Guan Yu bowed his head； saying； 〃My brother really is in the North of Yellow River； but I dared not tell you； lest it should bee known。 Something must be done； but done carefully； and it needs time。〃
〃Brother…in…law； you should hasten；〃 said Lady Gan。
Guan Yu withdrew feeling that he must evolve some scheme of departure without further loss of time。 It caused him much uneasiness。
Yu Jin； having found out that Liu Bei was in the north； told Cao Cao； who at once sent Zhang Liao to find out Guan Yu's intentions。
Zhang Liao entered jauntily and congratulated Guan Yu； saying； 〃They tell me you obtained news of your brother in the battlefield。 I felicitate you。〃
〃My lord was there indeed； but I met him not。 I see nothing to be glad about。〃
〃Is there any difference between the relationship of you two and that of any other two brothers？〃
Guan Yu replied； 〃You and I stand in the relationship of friends。 Liu Bei and I are friends and brothers beside； and prince and minister in addition to both。 Our relationship cannot be discussed in usual terms。〃
〃Well； now that you know where your brother is； are you going to him？〃
〃How can I go back on what I said before？ I am sure you will explain fully to the Prime Minister。〃
Zhang Liao went back and told his master； who said； 〃I must find a way to keep him here。〃
While Guan Yu was pondering over his difficulties； they told him that a friend had e to inquire for him。 The visitor was introduced but Guan Yu did not recognize him。
〃Who are you？〃 asked Guan Yu。
〃I am Chen Zhen of Nanyang； in the service of Yuan Shao。〃
In great perturbation； Guan Yu sent away the attendants and； they being gone； said； 〃There is some special reason for your visit？〃
For reply Chen Zhen drew out a letter and handed it to his host； who recognized that it was from his brother Liu Bei。 The letter read：
〃I； the writer； and you； Sir； pledged ourselves in the Peach Garden to die together。 Why then are we apart and yet alive； our kindly feelings destroyed； our sense of right outraged？ If you desire to obtain fame and acquire riches and honor； I will offer my head without hesitation so that your achievement is fulfilled。 More might be said； but I await your mands with great anxiety。〃
Guan Yu finished the letter with a bitter cry。
〃I alwa