〃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　lif