Forthwith Liu Bei sent Sun Qian back to Guan Yu and then, with Jian Yong,
took leave of Yuan Shao and rode out of the city, As soon as they reached
the border line, they met Sun Qian and all three rode off to Guan Ding's
farm to meet Guan Yu. He came out to welcome them, bowed and then seized his brother's hands
while tears streamed down his face. Presently the two sons of their host came to bow to the visitors. Liu Bei
asked their names.
"These are of the same name as myself," said Guan Yu. "The sons are Guan Neng, who is a student, and Guan Ping, who is to be a
soldier." "I have been thinking of sending the younger in your train, General," said old Guan Ding, "Would you take him?" "What is his age?" said Liu Bei.
"He is eighteen."
Liu Bei said, "Since, O Senior, you are so kind, I venture to suggest that your son should be adopted by my brother, who has no son of his own. What think you of that?" Guan Ding was perfectly willing, so he called Guan Ping and bade him make a
son's obeisance to Guan Yu and to style Liu Bei "Uncle." Then it was time to get on their way lest they should be pursued, and with
Guan Yu went Guan Ping. Guan Ding and Guan Ning escorted them a long distance
and then returned.
The party took the road to Sleeping Bull Mountain. Before they had gone very far, they met Zhou Cang with a small party. He
was wounded. He was introduced to Liu Bei who asked him how it was. He replied, "Before I reached the hill, a certain warrior all alone, had fought with my friend Pei Yuanshao and killed him. Then many of our troops surrendered to him, and he occupied our old camp.
When I reached it, I tried to allure the soldiers back to my side but only
succeeded with a few. The others were too afraid. I got angry and engaged the interloper, who however worsted me time after
time and wounded me thrice." "Who is the warrior? What does he look like?" asked Liu Bei.
"All I know he is a doughty fighter, I do not know his name." Thereafter they advanced toward the hill with Guan Yu in front and Liu Bei in rear. When they drew near, Zhou Cang began to abuse his enemy, who soon appeared, mailed and armed, coming down the hill like a tornado. Suddenly Liu Bei rode out waving his whip and shouting, "O Zhao Yun, I am here to look for you!" Indeed the rider was Zhao Yun. He instantly slipped out of the saddle and
bowed by the roadside.
Liu Bei dismounted to talk with him and ask how he came to be there. "When I left you, I had no idea that Gongsun Zan was a man who would listen
to no reason. The result was disaster, and he perished in the flames. Yuan
Shao invited me to him several times, but I thought too little of him to
go. Then I wanted to go to Xuzhou to you, but you had lost that place, and
Guan Yu had gone over to Cao Cao, and you had joined Yuan Shao. Several
times I thought of coming to you, but I feared Yuan Shao. So I drifted from one place to another with nowhere to rest till I happened
to come this way, and Pei Yuanshao tried to steal my horse. So I slew him
and took possession of his camp.I heard Zhang Fei was in Gucheng but thought
it might be only a rumor. And so the days have passed till this happy meeting." Liu Bei told Zhao Yun all that had happened to him since they parted, and so
did Guan Yu.
Said Liu Bei, "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."
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