T'ien Fêng struck the ground with his staff. "It is such a pity!" cried he. "Just as an unique opportunity presents itself everything is spoiled by the illness of a child."

He went out. Sun Ch'ien saw that no help could be hoped. for and set out to return. When he had arrived and related what he had seen Yüan-tê was quite alarmed and asked what could be done.

"Do not be troubled, brother," said Chang Fei. "We can destroy Ts'ao Ts'ao merely by a sudden attack before his army shall have time to camp."

"That would be according to the rules of war," said Yuan-tê. "You have always been a bold warrior and that move against Liu Tai shows that you are becoming a strategist too."

So he gave his younger brother command of enough men to carry out his plan.

Now while Ts'ao Ts'ao was in the midst of his march toward Hsiaop'ei a tornado sprang up and the howling gale tore down one of the banners and broke the staff. Ts'ao Ts'ao called together his advisers and leaders to ask them what this portended. Hsün Yü said, "From what direction was the wind at the time and what was the colour of the flag?"

"The wind was from the south-east and the flag was blue and red."

"There is only one interpretation; there will be a raid on the camp to-night."

Ts'ao nodded.

At that moment Mao Chih entered and reported a similar incident. Ts'ao asked him the portent. "My foolishness tells me that it means a night raid," replied he.

Alas for the weakness of this descendant of kings!
He placed his faith on a night raid,

But the broken staff of a banner warned his enemy.
Why should the ancient of days favour the wicked?

"This is evidently providence," said Ts'ao Ts'ao and he began to make preparations. He told off nine bodies of men to take stations, leaving only one of them as if camped while he placed the others in ambush at eight points.

There was but little moonlight as Yüan-tê and Chang Fei marched their respective armies toward Ts'ao Ts'ao's camp. They had left Sun Ch'ien to guard Hsiaop'ei. Chang Fei, since he was the originator of the stratagem, led the way with some light horse. As they drew near everything seemed very quiet and no one seemed moving. Then suddenly lights flashed out all about them and Chang Fei saw he had fallen into a trap. At once from all the eight directions came out the ambushed troops.

Chang Fei, dashing this way and rushing that, guarding his van and protecting his rear, vainly tried to clear himself. The soldiers he had, being originally Ts'ao Ts'ao's men, soon gave

in and returned to their old leader. The position became very desperate.

Chang Fei met Hsü Huang and engaged him but his rear was also attacked by Yo Chin. At length he cut his own way out and with a half score of his men started to return to Hsiaop'ei. The retreat was cut off. He thought to make for Hsüchou but felt certain that way was also barred. No other way seemed open and so he made for the Mangyang Hills.

As Yuan-tê drew near the camp he intended to attack he heard the din of battle. Then he was attacked in the rear and very soon had lost half his force. Next Hsiahou Tun came to attack. Thereupon Yüan-tê bolted. He was pursued by Hsiahou Yüan. Presently he looked about him and found he had less than half a hundred men following him. He set his face in the direction of Hsiaop'ei.

But before long he saw that place was in flames. So he changed his plan and went toward Hsiap'i. However he found the whole countryside full of the enemy and he could not get through. So he bethought himself of the promise of Yüan Shao, that he would find refuge if things went agley, and determined to go to him till he could form some other plan. Wherefore he took the Ch'ingchou road. But it also was blocked and he went into the open country and made his way north, not without being pursued and losing the remainder of his few followers.

He hastened toward Ch'ingchou, travelling three hundred li a day. When he reached the city and summoned the gate the guards asked who he was and they told the governor, who was Yüan Shao's eldest son, T'an. Yüan T'an was greatly surprised, but he opened the gates and went to meet Yuan-tê, whom he treated with due consideration.

Liu Pei told the story of his defeat and said he wished for harbour. He was given suitable quarters and hospitably entertained, while the young man wrote to inform his father. Then he provided an escort and sent Yüan-tê on his journey as far as the boundary of P‘ingyüan.

At Yehchün he was met by Yuan Shao in person, with a great escort. Yüan-tê made a humble obeisance which Yüan Shao hastened to return and said, "I have been very distressed that, on account of my son's illness, I did not come to your aid. It is great joy to see you; the one desire of my life is satisfied."

Yüan-tê replied, "The poor Liu Pei you see here has long desired to take refuge with you, but fate has hitherto denied him that privilege. Now, attacked by Ts'ao Ts'ao, my family lost, I remembered that you, General, would receive gentlemen from all sides. Wherefore I put my pride in my pocket. I trust that I may be found worthy and one day I will prove my gratitude."

Yüan Shao received him with much pleasure and treated him exceedingly well. And they both lived in Ch'ichou.

After the capture of Hsiaop'ei, Ts'ao Ts'ao pressed on toward Hsüchou, which, after a short defence and the flight of the defenders, was surrendered by Ch'ên Têng. Ts'ao Ts'ao led his army into the city, restored order and pacified the people. Next he wanted to press on to Hsiap'i, where Kuan Yü was holding out and keeping guard of Liu Pei's family.

Hsün Yü said, "Kuan Yü is there, in charge of his brother's family, and he will defend the city to the last. If you do not take it quickly Yüan Shao will get it."

"I have always loved Kuan Yü, both for his warlike abilities. and his intelligence. I would engage him to enter my service. I would rather send some one to talk him into surrender."

"He will not do that," said Kuo Chia; "his sense of right is too solid. I fear any one who went to speak with him would suffer."

Then suddenly a man stepped out, saying, "I know him slightly and I will go."

The speaker was Chang Liao. Hsün Yü looked at him and said, "Though you are an old acquaintance I do not think you are equal to talking over Kuan Yü. But I have a scheme that will so entangle him that he will have no alternative; he will have to enter the service of the Minister.”

They set the fatal spring beside the lordly tiger's trail,

They hide the hook with fragrant bait to catch the mighty whale. How Kuan Yü was to be entrapped will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XXV.

FROM T'USHAN CAMP KUAN YU MAKES THREE CONDITIONS: THE RESCUE AT PAIMA RELEASES TS'AO TS'AO.

The plan to seduce Kuan Yü from allegiance to his brothers was now announced by its proposer. Since Kuan was far braver than ordinary men he could only be overreached by superior cunning. So it was proposed to send some of his soldiers who had lately been of Liu Pei's army into Hsiap'i, where they would say they had come back. They would thus be allies on the inside. Then an attack and a feigned defeat would entice Kuan to a distance from the city. And his return road would be cut.

Ts'ao Ts'ao accepted the scheme and a few score of the men who had lately been in Hsüchou were sent to the city. The commander believed the story they told and trusted them. So they were suffered to remain.

After this part of the game had been played, Hsiahou Tun led forward five companies against the city. At first Kuan Yü would not accept the challenge, but provoked by men sent to hurl insults at him from the foot of the wall, his wrath got the better of him and he moved out with three companies. After the leaders had exchanged a half score bouts Tun made to run away. Kuan Yü pursued. Tun stopped and made a stand; then he fled again. Thus alternately fighting and retiring, he enticed Kuan Yü twenty li from the city. Then Kuan suddenly remembering the risk to the city drew off his men to return homeward.

Soon, at the sound of a signal bomb, out moved two bodies of men who barred his way. Kuan Yü hastened along a road that seemed to offer retreat, but from both sides his ambushed enemies shot their crossbows and the arrows flew like locusts on the wing. No way past was found and he turned back. Then both bodies joined in attacking him. He drove them off and got into the road to his own city, but soon Hsiahou Tun came up again and attacked fiercely as before. Evening came and still Kuan was hemmed in, so he went up on a low hill upon which he encamped for a rest.

He was surrounded on all sides by enemies. By and by, looking toward his city, he saw the glow of fire. It meant that the traitors, who had come in to surrender, had opened the gate and the enemy had gone in in force. They had made

the fires in order to perplex and distress Kuan Yü and indeed the sight saddened him.

In the night he made efforts to escape from the hill, but every attempt was checked by flights of arrows. At daybreak he prepared for one more effort, but before moving he saw a horseman riding up at full speed and presently discerned Chang Liao. When within speaking distance, Kuan Yü said, "Are you come to fight me, Wên-yüan?"

"No," replied Chang Liao. "I am come to see you because of our old friendship."

Wherefore he threw aside his sword, dismounted and came forward saluting. And the two sat down.

"Then naturally you have come to talk me over," said Kuan Yü.

"Not so;" said Chang Liao. "Sometime ago you saved me; can I help saving you?"

"Then you desire to help me."

"Not exactly that," replied Chang.

"Then what are you doing here if you have not come 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 Ts'ao Ts'ao, but neither soldiers nor people were harmed and a special guard was set over the family of Yuan-tê lest they should be alarmed. I came to tell you how well they had been treated."

"This is certainly talking me over," said Kuan testily. "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 Chang, laughing loud.

"I shall die for loyalty and righteousness. Who will laugh?" said Kuan.

"You would be guilty of three faults if you died." "Tell me them," said Kuan.

"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 appear 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 labours and sufferings will have been spent to win a worthless reputation as a valiant fool. Where