〃Liu　Bei　is　no　longer　in　the　city。　After　waiting　some　days；　he　has　e　to　the　conclusion　that　the　soldiers　are　too　few；　and　has　gone　back　to　Yuan　Shao　to　consult　with　him；〃　said　Liu　Pi。

Guan　Yu　was　greatly　disappointed；　and　Sun　Qian　did　his　best　to　console　him；　saying；　〃Do　not　be　sorrowful。　It　only　means　the　trouble　of　another　journey　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River　to　tell　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　and　then　we　can　all　meet　at　Gucheng。〃

So　spoke　Sun　Qian；　and　Guan　Yu　accepted　it。　They　took　leave　of　Liu　Pi　and　returned　to　Gucheng　where　they　related　what　had　happened。

Zhang　Fei　wanted　to　go　with　them　into　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　but　Guan　Yu　opposed　this；　saying；　〃Seeing　you　have　this　city；　it　makes　a　rallying　point　for　us　and　a　resting　place。　We　must　not　abandon　it　lightly。　Sun　Qian　and　I　will　go；　and　while　sway　we　look　to　you　to　keep　the　city　safe。〃

〃How　can　you　go　after　killing　the　two　generals；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou？〃

〃That　will　not　stop　me。　And　after　I　am　there；　I　can　act　according　to　circumstances。〃

Then　Guan　Yu　summoned　Zhou　Cang　and　asked　him；　saying；　〃How　many　followers　are　there　with　Pei　Yuanshao　at　Sleeping　Bull　Mountain？〃

〃I　should　think　four　or　five　hundred。〃

〃Now；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃I　am　going　to　take　the　shortest　road　to　find　my　brother。　Can　you　go　to　summon　your　army　and　lead　them　along　the　high　road　to　assist　me？〃

With　instructions　to　bring　up　this　force；　Zhou　Cang　left；　while　Guan　Yu　and　Sun　Qian　and　their　small　escort　went　off　to　the　north。

When　they　drew　near　the　boundary；　Sun　Qian　said；　〃You　must　be　careful　how　you　go　over。　You　ought　to　stop　here　while　I　go　in；　see　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　and　take　the　necessary　steps。〃

Seeing　the　wisdom　of　this；　Guan　Yu　stopped　there　and　sent　his　panion　in　advance。