Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/321

 to see them better he found they were Mi Chu and Mi Fang. Quickly slipping out of the saddle they came up and Mi Chu said, “After the dispersal at Hsü-chou when we lost sight of you we returned to our village whence we sent all around for news of you. We heard that Kuan Yü had surrendered to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and our lord was in Hopei. The one of whom we could hear nothing was yourself. But yesterday, while on our way, we fell in with some travellers who told us a certain General Chang, of such and such an appearance, had suddenly occupied Kuch‘êng and we felt it must be you. So we came to enquire and we happily fell in with you here.”

Fei replied, “Kuan Yü and Sun Ch‘ien are here and my two sisters are with them. They had heard where my elder brother was.”

This news added to the joy of the two newcomers who went to see Kuan Yü and the women and then they all entered the city. When the ladies had settled down a little they related the whole story of the adventures on the road at which Chang Fei was overcome with remorse and bowed before his brother bitterly weeping. The brothers Mi were greatly affected. Then Chang Fei related what had happened to him.

A day was spent in banquets and next day Chang Fei wished his newly found brother to go with him to Junan to see their elder brother Yüan-tê. But Kuan Yü said, “No; you take care of the ladies here while Sun Ch‘ien and I go to get news.”

So Kuan Yü and Sun Ch‘ien with a small escort set out. When they reached Junan they were received by Liu P‘i who told them their brother was no longer in the city. After waiting some days he had come to the conclusion that the soldiers were too few and had gone back to Yüan Shao to consult with him.

Kuan Yü was greatly disappointed and his companion did his best to console him. “Do not be sorrowful; it only means the trouble of another journey into Hopei to tell Uncle Liu and then we can all meet at Kuch‘êng.”

So spoke Sun Ch‘ien and Kuan Yü accepted it. They took leave of Liu P‘i and returned to Kuch‘êng where they related what had happened. Chang Fei wanted to go with them into Hopei, but Kuan Yü opposed this, saying, “Seeing you have this city it makes a rallying point for us and a resting place. We must not abandon it lightly. We two will go and while away we look to you to keep the city safe.”

“How can you go after killing the two generals, Yen Liang and Wên Ch‘ou?”

“That will not stop me. And after I am there I can act according to circumstances.”

Then he summoned Chou Ts‘ang and asked him, saying, “How many men are there with P‘ei at Sleeping Bull Mountain?”