Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/324

 the interloper, who however worsted me time after time and wounded me thrice.”

“Who is the warrior? what does he look like?” asked Yüan-tê.

“All I know he is a doughty fighter, I do not know his name.”

Thereafter they advanced toward the hill with Kuan Yü in front and Yuan-tê in rear. When they drew near Chou Ts‘ang began to abuse his enemy, who soon appeared, mailed and armed, coming down the hills.

Suddenly Yüan-tê rode out waving his whip and shouting, “You, O Comer, are surely Tzŭ-lung?”

The rider, for it was Chao Tzŭ-lung, (Chao Yün), instantly slipped out of the saddle and bowed by the roadside.

The brothers dismounted to talk with him and ask how he came to be there.

“When I left you I had no idea that Kungsun Tsan was a man who would listen to no reason. The result was disaster and he perished in the flames. Yüan Shao invited me to him several times, but I thought too little of him to go. Then I wanted to go to Hsüchou to you, but you had lost that place and Yün-ch‘ang had gone over to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and you had joined Yüan Shao. Several times I thought of coming to you but I feared Yüan Shao. So I drifted from one place to another with nowhere to rest till I happened to come this way and P‘ei Yüan-shao tried to steal my horse. So I slew him and took possession of his camp. I heard I-tê was in Kuch‘êng but thought it might be only a rumour. And so the days have passed till this happy meeting.”

Yüan-tê told him all that had happened to him since they parted and so did Kuan Yü.

Said Liu P‘ei, “The first time I saw you I felt drawn to you and did not want to part from you. I am very happy to meet you again.”

“In all my wanderings, trying to find a lord worth serving, I have seen no one like you. Now I have reached your side that is enough for all my life. I care not what may happen to me.”

Next they burned the camp, after which they all took the road back to Kuch‘êng where they were welcomed. They exchanged the stories of their several adventures and the two ladies related the valiant deeds of Kuan Yü whereat Yüan-tê was too affected to speak.

Then they performed a great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth with the slaughter of a bull and a horse.

The soldiers also were recompensed for their toils. Yüan-tê surveyed the conditions around him and found therein much to rejoice at. His two brothers were restored to his side and none of his helpers were missing. Moreover he had gained Chao Yün, and his brother Kuan Yü had acquired an adopted son P‘ing. Another captain had joined his ranks in the person