When Yuan Shao resolved to execute Liu Bei, Liu Bei stepped forward calmly and said, “My lord, you condemn me on a single man’s word and forget our past affection? I was scattered in Xuzhou, and my second brother, Guan Yunzhang, may be dead—or alive. Many men share my features; it is not because someone has a red face and long beard that he must be Lord Guan. Why not investigate first?” Yuan Shao, indecisive by nature, chastised Ju Shou, “I have been misled by you and nearly slew an innocent man.” He then invited Liu Bei into his tent and turned to vengeance for Yan Liang. A voice rose from the ranks: “Yan Liang was like a brother to me; he was slain by Cao’s bandits. How could I fail to avenge him?” Liu Bei looked and saw a tall man eight feet high, his visage fierce as a mythical beast—this was Wen Chou, a famous general of the Hebei army. Overjoyed, Yuan Shao declared, “None but you can avenge Yan Liang. With a hundred thousand troops we will cross the Yellow River and annihilate Cao’s forces!”
Ju Shou protested, “Better to hold Yan Jin and split our army at Guandu. If we cross lightly and disaster strikes, none can retreat.” Yuan Shao flew into a rage: “Your dithering dampens our soldiers’ spirit and delays our plans! Have you not heard that in war speed is paramount?” Ju Shou withdrew, lamenting, “He aims high yet neglects the details; like this, how shall we cross the Yellow River?” feigning illness to excuse himself.
Liu Bei bowed: “My lord bestows great favor upon me; I wish to accompany General Wen Chou, both to repay your grace and to seek word of my brother Guan Yunzhang.” Yuan Shao smiled and called for Wen Chou and Liu Bei to lead the vanguard. Wen Chou said, “Liu Bei has suffered many defeats and would ill serve in front. If Your Majesty insists he go, I shall take seventy thousand men ahead; you lead thirty thousand in the rear.” Thus Wen Chou marched off with his seventy thousand, and Liu Bei followed with his thirty thousand.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao, hearing of Guan Yu’s slaying of Yan Liang, held him in ever-greater esteem. He petitioned the court to confer upon Guan Yu the title “Marquis of Hanshou Pavilion,” forging a seal to send him. Suddenly he received word that Yuan Shao had sent Wen Chou across the Yellow River, where he occupied Yan Jin. Cao Cao first ordered the local populace west of the river, then personally led his army to confront the invader. He issued this command: “From now on, designate the rear guard as the vanguard, and the vanguard as the rearguard; let our supplies march first, our troops follow.” Lu Qian asked, “Why place supplies at the front?” Cao Cao replied, “Supplies in front lure the enemy; they will seize them first.” Qian asked, “If the enemy carries off our supplies, what then?” Cao Cao smiled, “We will deal with that when it happens.”
They emplaced their baggage-train in a trench along the river near Yan Jin. Cao Cao himself rode with the rearguard. Soon the vanguard raised the alarm: Wen Chou’s forces had arrived, and the soldiers, abandoning their supplies, fled in disorder. Supplies and wagons fell into enemy hands. Cao Cao whipped his horse toward an earthen mound and commanded his men to strip off armor and rest their horses. Wen Chou’s troops, seeing the pillaged train, surged forward to seize horses and arms, their ranks thrown into confusion. Cao Cao then ordered his rallied troops from the mound to fall upon the disordered enemy. Wen Chou’s army broke and fled; he himself fought on foot until trampled horses drove him to remount and retreat.
From the mound Cao Cao pointed and said, “Wen Chou is a famed general of Hebei—who will capture him?” Zhang Liao and Xu Huang spurred forward, shouting, “Wen Chou, hold!” Turning, Wen Chou planted his iron spear and loosed arrows at them. One shot struck Zhang Liao’s helmet, snipping away its tassel; as Xu Huang charged with his great axe, Wen Chou loosed another bolt, wounding Zhang Liao’s cheek and felling his horse. Xu Huang, too, was forced to withdraw when Wen Chou’s fresh troops arrived.
At that moment more than a dozen riders bore down in a riot of fluttering banners—Guan Yu had come. “Enemy general, hold!” he roared, and he and Wen Chou met in single combat. In fewer than three strokes Wen Chou’s courage failed; he wheeled aside and fled along the riverbank, but Guan Yu’s red Hare overtook him. With a single sweeping blow Guan Yu cleaved Wen Chou from his mount. Seeing this, Cao Cao surged down the mound with his troops and finished routing the Hebei army. Countless drowned in the river; their supplies and horses were all recovered.
Guan Yu then galloped east and west through the fleeing ranks. As he fought, Liu Bei and his thirty thousand marched up. Scouts reported, “Your lord, the red-faced, long-bearded warrior, has slain Wen Chou!” Liu Bei spurred his mount in amazement and looked across the river to see a cluster of horsemen bearing the banner “Marquis of Hanshou Pavilion, Guan Yunzhang.” He thanked Heaven, crying, “My brother indeed lives yet!” He advanced to embrace him, but Cao’s soldiers closed around, forcing Liu Bei to draw back with his men.
At Guandu, Yuan Shao held his ground and completed his fortifications. Guo Tu and Shen Pei reported in: “Once again Lord Guan has slain one of our generals, and Liu Bei feigns ignorance.” Yuan Shao raged, “That cursed bandit dares such insolence!” Moments later Liu Bei arrived. Shao ordered his guards to seize him for execution. Liu Bei protested, “May I speak before I die? Cao Cao has always envied me. Knowing I dwell in your camp, he sent my brother to kill your generals and stir your wrath. He hoped you would slay me by my own hand. I beseech you to consider this.” Yuan Shao, seeing the truth in Liu Bei’s words, sighed, “You have saved me from slander.” He bid Liu Bei sit.
Liu Bei bowed: “I am forever in your debt. I would send a trusted envoy with a secret letter to my brother, so that he may learn my whereabouts in your camp. Then he will ride to your side to help you vanquish Cao Cao and avenge Yan Liang and Wen Chou.” Yuan Shao beamed, “With your brother at my flank, we are ten times mightier.” Liu Bei wrote the dispatch, but no one delivered it.
Yuan Shao then ordered his army to redeploy at Wuyang, holding tens of miles of camp and making no further moves.
Cao Cao dispatched Xiahou Dun to hold the Guandu pass, then returned to Xuchang, where he hosted a grand banquet in honor of Guan Yu’s exploits. Turning to Lu Qian, he said, “When I placed my supplies in front, it was to bait the enemy, as Master Xun alone understood.” All gave thanks.
Midfeast, a messenger arrived: “Bandits Liu Bi and Gong Du have ravaged Runan. Cao Hong fought them but could not prevail. We beg for reinforcement.” Guan Yu rose: “I will gladly serve at the risk of my life to defeat these rebels.” Cao Cao protested, “You have already earned great glory! Why strain yourself again?” Guan Yu replied, “Idle warriors breed disease. I must ride once more.” Cao Cao admired his resolve and ordered fifty thousand men to accompany him, with Yu Jin and Le Jin as deputies. On the morrow they departed.
Xun Yu warned in private, “Guan Yu’s heart still lies with Liu Bei; if he hears news of his brother, he will leave. Do not send him on campaign again.” Cao Cao promised, “After this assignment, he shall not return to the front.”
At Runan, Guan Yu’s camp held two captured spies. One revealed himself to be Sun Qian. Guan Yu rebuked him: “After I scattered, your trail was lost—why are you here?” Sun Qian explained, “I fled to Runan and was taken in by Liu Bi. Once I learned you served Cao Cao, I came to learn of your wife and my lady’s welfare.” Guan Yu told him the whole story. “I heard my lord is with Yuan Shao,” said Sun Qian. “If you haste north, I will scout their positions and return.” Guan Yu promised, “Once I see my brother, I will leave Cao Cao’s service!” And Sun Qian was dispatched under cover of darkness.
The next day, Guan Yu led his cavalry forth. He encountered Gong Du on the field. “Why have you rebelled against the court?” he demanded. Gong Du retorted, “You, who have abandoned your lord, dare scold me?” Guan Yu replied, “How have I forsaken my lord?” Gong Du sneered, “Liu Bei is with Yuan Shao; you serve Cao Cao!” Without another word, Guan Yu charged. Overwhelmed, Gong Du feigned defeat and scattered. Thus Guan Yu pacified the prefectures and returned to Xuchang, where Cao Cao greeted and rewarded him.
At home, Lady Gan wept at the gate: “My lord has ridden west; have you news of Liu Bei?” Guan Yu replied, “None.” Lady Mi faltered: “Perhaps he is dead. Brother fears my tears would grieve you, so he conceals the truth.” Just then an old veteran announced, “My lady, hold your tears. Lord Liu is at Yuan Shao’s camp in Hebei.” “How do you know?” she asked. “I heard it among the ranks,” he said. Lady Gan snapped, “He would never deceive me. Why did you keep silent?” Guan Yu knelt: “I feared word might leak. The time is not yet ripe.”
Cao Cao, having learned Liu Bei was with Yuan Shao, sent Zhang Liao to test Guan Yu’s loyalty. Zhang Liao found him pensive and greeted, “I hear you learned of your brother in the field—congratulations!” Guan Yu said, “How can I rejoice when we have not yet met?” Zhang Liao pressed, “If you had no wish to leave, would your friendship with Liu Bei differ from the bond between brothers? Are avuncular ties greater than brotherhood?” Guan Yu replied, “My bond with Zhang Liao is that of fellow soldiers; with Liu Bei it is brotherhood, lord and vassal. They are not of the same order.” Zhang Liao returned to Cao Cao and reported. Cao Cao said, “I have a plan to keep him.”
One day Guan Yu was visited by a supposed old comrade—Chen Zhen of Yuan Shao’s army. Guan Yu asked, “Who are you?” He revealed a letter from Liu Bei, reproaching:
Brothers by oath since the Peach Garden, sworn to live or die together—how can you break our bond and seek fame for yourself? Here is my own head, to complete your glory.
Guan Yu wept: “I never forgot my brother. How could I forsake our oath for rank?” Chen Zhen said, “Lord Liu earnestly awaits your arrival.” Guan Yu insisted on writing a reply:
Loyalty cannot be betrayed, courage never made for death alone. Since Xuzhou fell, I asked of three pledges—and they were granted. Now that I know of my lord’s whereabouts, I will soon bid Cao Cao farewell and bring my wives to join me. If my heart were otherwise, heavens would strike me down. My deepest devotion cannot be expressed in words; we shall meet soon.
Guan Yu dispatched Chen Zhen with his letter. He then informed his wives and rode to Cao Cao’s camp to resign. Cao Cao, recognizing his intent, hung a “Do Not Disturb” placard on his gate. Guan Yu departed moodily and ordered his retainers to pack only essential possessions—leaving behind all gifts from Cao Cao and the seal of Hanshou Pavilion.
At the north gate, the guards barred him. Guan Yu, eyes blazing, lifted his blade and roared; the gate guards fled. He instructed his men, “Escort the carriage first; if pursued, leave that to me—do not alarm my ladies.” And he rode north along the highway.
Cao Cao, still discussing Guan Yu’s rising fame, was informed that Guan Yu had departed with over twenty horsemen. A retainer reported that all the gifts and treasures had been left behind, the inner palace ladies safe, and only his original retinue and baggage had accompanied him. A commander, Cai Yang, leapt up: “I will lead three thousand cavalry to capture him, for presentation to the Chancellor!” The assembly fell silent—it was none other than General Cai Yang.
As the verse goes:
About to leave the dragon’s thousand-fathom lair, He encounters three thousand troops fierce as wolves and tigers.
Cai Yang now presses the chase. What will become of Guān Yúnzhāng? Listen to the next chapter!
