Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/322

 “I should think four or five hundred.”

“Now,” said Kuan Yü, “I am going to take the shortest road to find my brother. Can you go to summon your men and lead them along the high road to assist me?”

With instructions to bring up these men Chou Ts‘ang left, while Kuan Yü and Sun Ch‘ien and their small escort went off to the north. When they drew near the boundary Sun Ch‘ien said, “You must be careful how you go over; you ought to stop here while I go in, see Uncle Liu and take the necessary steps.”

Seeing the wisdom of this Kuan Yü stopped there and sent his companion in advance, he and his followers going up to a nearby farm as an abiding place.

When they got to the farm out came a venerable man leaning on a staff. After exchanging salutes Kuan Yü told the old man all about himself.

“My name is also Kuan; my personal name being Ting,” said the old man. “I know your reputation and I am very happy to meet you.”

He sent for his two sons to come and make their bow. He put up Kuan in his house and provided for his escort in the farm buildings.

In the meantime Sun Ch‘ien had made his way to Ch‘ichow and seen Yüan-tê, who said, “Chien Yung also is here. We will send for him secretly to talk over this matter.”

They did so, and when the usual salutes had been exchanged, they three began to consider the means of getting away.

“You see Yüan Shao personally,” said Yung, “and say you wish to go to Chingchou to see Liu Piao about a scheme for the destruction of our enemy. That will give an excuse.”

“That seems best,” said Liu Pei, “but will you go with me?”

“I have another plan to extricate myself,” said Yung.

Having settled their plans, Yüan-tê soon went in to see his protector and suggested that, as Liu Piao was strong and well posted, his help should be sought against their enemy.

“I have sent messengers repeatedly to ask his help,” said Shao, “but he is unwilling.”

“As he and I are of the same family he will not refuse me if I go and ask him,” said Liu Pei.

“Certainly he is worth much more than Liu P‘i; you shall go.”

“I have just heard,” Shao continued, “that Kuan Yün-ch‘ang has left Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and wants to come here. If he does I will put him to death out of revenge for my two officers.”

“Illustrious Sir, you wished to employ him and so I sent for him. Now you threaten to put him to death. The two men he slew were but deer compared with such a tiger as he is. When you exchange a couple of deer for a tiger you need not complain of the bargain.”