if the enemy came。
〃There is no danger here；〃 said they。 〃The camp is defended by a tenfold line of thorny barriers。 Even a bird could not get in。〃
Guan Ping and Liao Hua mustered all the veterans they had and went away to the first stockade。
Seeing the Wei soldiers camped on a low hill； Guan Ping said to his colleague； 〃Those soldiers are stationed in an unsafe place。 Let us raid their camp tonight。〃
〃You take half the force； General； and I will remain to keep the camp；〃 said Liao Hua。
When night fell； the attacking force went out。 But on reaching the camp not a man opposed them。 The camp was empty。 Then Guan Ping knew he had been deceived； and turned to retreat。 He was at once attacked on two sides by Xu Shang and Lu Qian from left and right。 Unable to stand； his troops ran for the camp。 The soldiers of Wei followed； and presently the camp was surrounded。 They were pelled to abandon the position and set off for Sizhong。 As they drew near they saw torches； and presently knew by the ensigns displayed that the camp had also fallen to the enemy。 Retiring； they hastened along the high road toward Fancheng； but presently their way was barred by a force under Xu Huang himself。 By dint of hard fighting they got away and returned to their main camp； and Guan Ping went to his father。
Said he； 〃Xu Huang has got possession of Yencheng。 Cao Cao's main army is on the way in three divisions。 And many say that Jingzhou is in the enemy's hands。〃
Guan Yu bade him be silent。
〃This is a fabrication of the enemy；〃 said Guan Yu； 〃but it may dishearten the soldiers。 We know Lu Meng is ill； and they have appointed that impractical fellow Lu Xun to succeed him at Lukou。 There is nothing to fear。〃
Then news came that Xu Huang had arrived。 At once Guan Yu bade them saddle his charger。
〃Father； you are not strong enough to go into the battle；〃 said Guan Ping。
〃Xu Huang and I were once friends； and I know what he can do and not do。 I will give him the chance to retire。 If he does not take it； then I shall just slay him as a warning to the others。〃
Mounting his charger； Guan Yu rode out as impetuously as of yore； and the sight of the old warrior made to quake the hearts of the troops of Wei。
When he came close enough to his enemy； Guan Yu checked his steed and said； 〃Where is my friend Xu Huang？〃
As a reply； the gate of the battle opened； and Xu Huang appeared under the standard。
With a low bow Xu Huang said； 〃Some years have passed since I met you； Most Excellent Marquis； but I had not expected to see you so gray。 I have not forgotten the old brave days； when we were together and you taught me so much； and I am very grateful。 Your new fame has spread throughout the whole empire； and your old friends cannot but praise you。 I am indeed glad that I have the happiness to see you。〃
Guan Yu replied； 〃We have been excellent friends； Xu Huang………better than most。 But why have you pressed my son so hardly of late？〃
Xu Huang suddenly turned to the officers about him and cried fiercely； 〃I would give a thousand ounces of gold for this Guan Yu's head。〃
Guan Yu； greatly shocked； said； 〃What did you say that for？〃
〃Because today I am on state business； and I have no inclination to let private friendship override my public duty。〃
As he said this； he whirled his battle…ax and rode at Guan Yu； who； greatly enraged； threw up his great saber to strike。 They fought a half score bouts； but although his skill lacked nothing of its pristine vigor and excelled all the world； the old warrior's right arm was still weak from the wound。 Guan Ping saw that his father failed somewhat； and so hastily beat the gong for retreat。 Guan Yu rode back。
Suddenly the noise of a great shouting was heard。 It came from the troops in Fancheng； for Cao Ren； having heard of the arrival of troops of his own side； had made a sortie and was about to attack to help Xu Huang。 His army fell on； and the army of Jingzhou were routed。 Guan Yu； with as many of his officers as could； fled away along the banks of River Xiang； hotly pursued by the army of Wei。 Crossing the river； he made for Xiangyang。
Suddenly the scouts reported： 〃Jingzhou has been taken by Lu Meng。 Your family is now in the hand of enemy。〃
Guan Yu was shocked。 Thence he marched for Gongan。
But the scouts told him： 〃Fu Shiren has yielded Gongan to the hands of Wu。〃
Then some of the men he had dispatched for supplies came in and reported： 〃Fu Shiren murdered the officer and persuade Mi Fang to surrender to Wu。〃
The story filled Guan Yu with boundless rage。 It was too much。 The wound reopened； and he fell in a swoon。
〃Wang Fu； you were right；〃 said he when he recovered consciousness。 〃How I regret that I did not heed what you said！〃
〃But why were the beacon fires not lighted？〃 continued he presently。
Said the scouts； 〃Lu Meng's marines in the guise of traders came over the river。 There were soldiers hidden in the ships； and they seized the beacon guards； so preventing them from kindling the fires。〃
Guan Yu sighed。 Beating the ground with his foot； he said； 〃Indeed I have fallen into their trap。 How shall I look my brother in the face？〃
Then outspoke missariat mander Zhao Lei； saying； 〃We are in straits。 Send to Chengdu for help； and let us take the land road to Jingzhou to try to recover it。〃
So Guan Yu sent Ma Liang and Yi Ji to Shu to ask for help。 The messengers rode out swiftly by different routes； while the army set out to return to Jingzhou； Guan Yu leading and Liao Hua with Guan Ping keeping the rear。
The siege of Fancheng being thus raised； Cao Ren went to see his master。 With tears he acknowledged his fault and asked pardon。
〃It was the will of heaven； and no fault of yours；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he rewarded the armies。
When he visited Sizhong and had inspected the captured stockades； he remarked on the defenses； saying； 〃Xu Huang was very clever to overe these。 With my thirty years of war； I should not have dared to penetrate such opposition。 He is valiant and wise； and both in a high degree。〃
〃Aye；〃 said they with him； for they could not but agree。
Cao Cao's army marched back to Mopo and there camped。 When Xu Huang returned； Cao Cao went out of the stockade to meet him； and netted with joy when seeing the excellent order and discipline that his army showed。 Every soldier was in his place； the ranks perfectly kept； all without a trace of disorder。
＇e＇ Zhou Yafu was son of Zhou Bo； the prime minister of Emperor Wen （BC 179…156）。 After the death of Emperor Wen； Duke Wu started a rebellion of Seven Kingdoms。 Zhou Yafu as a general put down this rebellion。 。。。。。
〃General Xu Huang has the spirit of the old Zhou Yafu*；〃 said Cao Cao； and on the spot conferred on his mander the title of General Who Pacifies the South。 Xu Huang was sent soon after to share in the defense of Xiangyang with Xiahou Shang and to meet Guan Yu's army。
Jingzhou being still in turmoil； Cao Cao remained at Mopo waiting for news。
Guan Yu found himself at a standstill on the road to Jingzhou with the army of Wu in front and the men of Wei ing up behind。
〃What is to be done；〃 he discussed the position with Zhao Lei； 〃when we cannot advance nor retreat and the aid has not e？〃
Zhao Lei proposed a halt to try to shame Lu Meng into aiding Cao Cao。
Said he； 〃When Lu Meng was at Lukou； he used to write to you often； and you agreed to join hands in the destruction of Cao Cao。 Now he is a traitor and fighting on the other side。 Send a letter and reproach him。 Perhaps we may get a satisfactory reply。〃
So the letter was written and sent to Jingzhou。
Meanwhile； by Lu Meng's special mand； the most plete protection was given to the families of all the officers who were serving under Guan Yu； and they were kept supplied with all they required。 Even the ailing members of their households were treated by physicians free of charge。 The result was that they were quite won over to the new order of things； and there was no attempt to disturb it。 When Guan Yu's letter came； the messenger was led into the city and well treated。
When Lu Meng read the letter； he said to the bearer thereof； 〃You must understand the different circumstances。 When your general and I were leagued together； it was a personal matter between us two。 Now things have changed。 I am se