seman　rushing　toward　him；　and　just　as　he　began　to　ask　who　the　rider　of　the　red　horse　was；　lo！　the　horseman　was　there。　Taken　utterly　by　surprise；　the　leader　could　make　no　defense。　Guan　Yu's　arm　rose　and　the　mighty　weapon　fell。　And　with　it　fell　Yan　Liang。

Leaping　from　the　saddle；　Guan　Yu　cut　off　his　victim's　head　and　hung　it　to　his　horse's　neck。　Then　he　mounted　and　rode　out；　just　as　if　there　was　no　army　there。

The　northern　troops；　panic　stricken；　made　no　fight。　Cao　Cao's　army　attacked　with　full　force　and　slew　great　numbers　of　them。　They　captured　many　horses　and　weapons　and　much　military　gear。　Guan　Yu　rode　quickly　back　up　the　hill　and　laid　the　proof　of　his　prowess　at　the　feet　of　the　Prime　Minister。

〃You　are　more　than　human；　General！〃　cried　Cao　Cao。

〃What　have　I　done　to　talk　about？〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃My　brother；　Zhang　Fei；　did　the　same　thing　in　an　army　of　a　hundred　legions；　and　did　it　as　easily　as　picking　something　from　his　own　pocket。〃

Cao　Cao　marveled　at　the　statement　and　turning　to　those　about　him　said；　〃If　you　meet　this　Zhang　Fei；　be　careful。〃

And　he　bade　them　make　a　note　on　the　overlap　of　their　robes　so　that　they　should　remember。

The　beaten　army　returning　northward　met　Yuan　Shao　on　the　road　and　told　their　story。

〃A　red…faced　warrior　with　a　long　beard；　wielding　a　huge；　long…handled　sword；　broke　into　the　army；　cut　off　the　general's　head　and　bore　it　off；〃　said　they。

〃Who　was　this？〃　asked　Yuan　Shao。

Ju　Shou　said；　〃It　must　have　been　Liu　Bei's　brother；　Guan　Yu。　It　could　be　nobody　else。〃

Yuan　Shao　was　very　angry　and；　pointing　to　Liu　Bei；　he　said；　〃Your　brother　has　slain　my　beloved　leader。　You　are　in　the　plot　too。　Why　should　I　save　you　alive？〃

He　bade　the　lictors　take　Liu　Bei　away　and　behead　him。