Yuan　Shao　received　him　with　much　pleasure　and　treated　him　exceedingly　well。　And　they　both　lived　in　Yuan　Shao's　home　region　Jizhou。

After　the　capture　of　Xiaopei；　Cao　Cao　pressed　on　toward　Xuzhou　City；　which；　after　a　short　defense　and　the　flight　of　Mi　Zhu　and　Jian　Yong；　was　surrendered　by　Chen　Deng。　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　into　the　city；　restored　order；　and　pacified　the　people。　Next　he　wanted　to　press　on　to　Xiapi；　where　Guan　Yu　was　holding　out　and　keeping　guard　of　Liu　Bei's　family。

Xun　Yu　said；　〃Guan　Yu　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；　Yuan　Shao　will　get　it。〃

Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　have　always　loved　Guan　Yu；　both　for　his　warlike　abilities　and　his　principles。　I　would　engage　him　to　enter　my　service。　I　would　rather　send　someone　to　talk　him　into　surrender。〃

〃He　will　not　do　that；〃　said　Guo　Jia。　〃His　sense　of　right　is　too　solid。　I　fear　anyone　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　Zhang　Liao。

Cheng　Yu　looked　at　him　and　said；　〃Though　you　are　an　old　acquaintance；　I　do　not　think　you　are　equal　to　talking　over　Guan　Yu。　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　Prime　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　Guan　Yu　was　to　be　entrapped　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　25　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　25

Chapter　25

Besieged　In　Tushan　Mountains；　Guan　Yu　Makes　Three　Conditions；

The　Rescue