for one more effort； but before moving he saw a horseman riding up at full speed and presently discerned Zhang Liao。
When within speaking distance； Guan Yu said； 〃Are you e to fight me； Zhang Liao？〃
〃No；〃 replied Zhang Liao。 〃I am e to see you because of our old friendship。〃
Wherefore Zhang Liao threw aside his sword； dismounted； and came forward saluting。 And the two sat down。
〃Then naturally you have e to talk me over；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃Not so！〃 said Zhang Liao。 〃Sometime ago you saved me。 Can I help saving you？〃
〃Then you desire to help me。〃
〃Not exactly that；〃 replied Zhang Liao。
〃Then what are you doing here if you have not e to help me？〃
〃Nothing is known of the fate of your elder brother； nor whether your younger brother is alive or dead。 Last night your city fell into the hands of Cao Cao； but neither soldiers nor people were harmed； and a special guard was set over the family of Liu Bei lest they should be alarmed。 I came to tell you how well they had been treated。〃
〃This is certainly talking me over；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃Though escape is impossible； yet I am not perturbed。 I look upon death as going home。 You had better depart quickly and let me go down and begin the struggle again。〃
〃Surely you must know everybody will ridicule you when they hear of this；〃 said Zhang Liao。
〃I shall die for loyalty and righteousness。 Who will laugh？〃 said Guan Yu。
〃You would be guilty of three faults if you died。〃
〃Tell me them；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃First of all； you and your elder brother pledged yourselves in the Peach Garden to die or to live together。 Now your brother has been defeated； and you want to fight to the death。 Therefore； if your brother appears again by and by and wants your help； he will seek it in vain。 Is this anything else than betraying the Peach Garden Oath？ Secondly； you are in charge of your brother's family and； if you fought and died； the two women would be left forlorn and without a protector。 That would be a betrayal of trust。 Thirdly； your military skill stands out conspicuous and will go down in history。 If you do not aid your brother in his noble attempt to maintain the dynasty； then all your labors and sufferings will have been spent to win a worthless reputation as a valiant fool。 Where is the sense in that？ I feel it my duty to point out these three faults to you。〃
Guan Yu remained silent and thought for some time。
Then he said； 〃You have spoken of my three faults。 What do you desire？〃
〃You are surrounded with the certainty of death if you do not yield。 There is no advantage in a useless death。 Wherefore your best course is to yield to Cao Cao till you hear news of Liu Bei and can rejoin him。 Thus you will ensure the safety of the two ladies and also keep inviolate the Peach Garden pact。 You will preserve a useful life。 Brother； you must reflect on these things。〃
〃Brother； you have spoken of three advantages； now I have three conditions。 If the Prime Minister concede these； then will I doff my armor。 If he refuses； then I prefer to be guilty of the three faults and die。〃
〃Why should the Prime Minister not concede them？ He is most liberal and large minded。 I pray you let me hear your conditions。〃
〃The first is that as I and the Imperial Uncle have sworn to support the Hans； I now submit to the Emperor and not to His Prime Minister Cao Cao。 The second condition is that suitable provision be made for the two ladies under my care and that no one shall be allowed to approach them。 The third is that I shall be allowed to set off to rejoin Uncle Liu Bei so soon as I shall hear where he is； whether it be far or near。 I require all these to be satisfied。 Failing a single one； I will not submit。 Wherefore； Zhang Liao； I pray you hasten back and announce them。〃
Zhang Liao lost no time but rode back to Cao Cao。 When he spoke of Guan Yu's intention to submit to the Hans but not to Cao Cao； the latter laughed； saying； 〃As I am a minister of Han； so am I Han。 I grant that。〃
Zhang Liao then spoke of provision due to their rank and security from molestation for the ladies； to which Cao Cao replied； 〃I will give them twice the regular amount for an Uncle of the Emperor。 As for securing them from molestation； that is simple。 The ordinary domestic law is enough。 Why should there be any doubt？〃
Then said Zhang Liao； 〃Whenever he shall get news of the whereabouts of Liu Bei； he must go to him。〃
At this Cao Cao shook his head； saying； 〃Then I am merely to feed Guan Yu。 What is the use of this？ I cannot consent。〃
Zhang Liao replied； 〃You must know of Yu Rang's saying： The difference in behavior brought about by difference of treatment？ Liu Bei treats Guan Yu just kindly and liberally。 You can surely engage Guan Yu's heart and support by being kinder and more liberal。〃
〃What you say is much to the point。 I will grant the three conditions；〃 said Cao Cao。
Whereupon Zhang Liao left to carry the news to Guan Yu； still on the summit of the Tushan Mountains。
Said Guan Yu； 〃Now I expect the army to withdraw so that I may enter the city to tell the two ladies what has been arranged。 After that I submit at once。〃
Zhang Liao rode back once more with this request； and the order was given for the army to retire three miles。
〃Do not do this；〃 said Xun Yu。 〃I fear treachery。〃
〃He will certainly not break faith；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃He is too high principled。〃
The army retired； and Guan Yu with his force reentered the city of Xiapi； where he saw that the people were following their ordinary avocations in tranquillity。 He came to the palace and went in to see the two ladies； who hastened to meet him。
He bowed to them below the steps and said； 〃I apologize for having caused you to feel alarmed。〃
〃Where is the Uncle？〃 asked they。
〃I know not whither he has gone。〃
〃What do you intend to do； brother…in…law？〃
〃I went out of the city to try a last battle。 I was surrounded on a hill top； and Zhang Liao has urged me to yield。 I proposed three conditions； all of which were conceded； and the enemy drew off to allow me to return to the city。 Unless I have your decision； sisters…in…law； I scarcely dare to take any final step。〃
They asked what were the conditions and were told。
Lady Gan said； 〃When Cao Cao's army came in； we took it to mean certain death。 But it is scarcely credible that not a hair of our heads has been disturbed。 Not a soldier has dared enter our doors。 You have accepted the conditions； brother…in…law； and there is no need to ask our consent。 Our only fear is that he will not let you go by and by to search for the Uncle。〃
〃Sisters…in…law； you need not be anxious。 I will see to that。〃
〃You must decide everything and need not ask us。〃
Guan Yu withdrew and then； with a small escort； went to his interview with Cao Cao。 Cao Cao came to the outermost gate to wele him； and Guan Yu dismounted and made obeisance。 Cao Cao returned his salute with the greatest cordiality。
〃The leader of a defeated army is grateful for the graciousness that has preserved his life；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃I have so long admired your loyalty and high principles that this happy meeting gratifies the desire of my whole life；〃 replied Cao Cao。
〃As the Prime Minister has granted the three requests which my friend petitioned for on my behalf； there is now but little to discuss；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃As I have spoken； so be it。 I could not break faith；〃 replied Cao Cao。
〃Whenever I hear where Uncle Liu Bei is； I must certainly go to him； even if through fire and water。 It may be that there will be no time nor opportunity of saying farewell。 I trust you will understand the reason。〃
〃If Liu Bei should prove to be alive； you must certainly be allowed to go to him。 But I fear that in the confusion he may have lost his life。 You may set your mind at rest and let me make inquiries。〃
Guan Yu thanked him。 Then a banquet was prepared in Guan Yu's honor。 Next day the army started on its homeward march。
For the journey to the capital； a carriage was prepared for the two ladies； and Guan Yu was its guard。 On the road they rested at a certain post station； and Cao Cao； anxious to promise Guan Yu by beguiling him into forgetfulness of his duty； assigned Guan Yu to the same apartment as his sisters…in…law。 Guan Yu stood the whole night before the door with a lighted candle in his hand。 Not once did he yield to fatigue。 Cao Cao's respect for him could not but increase。
At the capital the Prime Minister assigned a dignified residence to Guan Yu； which he immediately divided into two enclosures； the inner one for the two ladies and the other for himself。 He placed a guard of eighteen of his veterans over the women's quarters。
Guan Yu was presented to Emperor Xian who conferred upon him the rank of General Who Serves the Hans。 Guan Yu expressed his thanks to the Emperor。 Next day Cao Cao made a great banquet； inviting all his advisers and officers； solely in honor of Guan Yu； who sat in the seat of honor。 Beside this Guan Yu received presents of silks and gold and silver vessels； all of which Guan Yu sent into the ladies' quarters for their use and keeping。 In fact from the day of arrival in the capital； Guan Yu was treated with marked respect and distinction； small banquets following each other in each three days； and large banquets held in each five days。
Cao Cao also presente