He　and　his　followers　going　up　to　a　nearby　farm　as　an　abiding　place。

When　they　got　to　the　farm；　out　came　a　venerable　man　leaning　on　a　staff。　After　exchanging　salutes；　Guan　Yu　told　the　old　man　all　about　himself。

〃My　family　name　is　also　Guan；　my　personal　name　being　Ding；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃I　know　your　reputation；　and　I　am　very　happy　to　meet　you。〃

Guan　Ding　sent　for　his　two　sons　to　e　and　make　their　bow。　He　put　up　Guan　Yu　in　his　house　and　provided　for　his　escort　in　the　farm　buildings。

In　the　meantime　Sun　Qian　had　made　his　way　to　Jizhou　City　and　told　Liu　Bei　the　whole　story。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃Jian　Yong　is　also　here。　We　will　send　for　him　secretly　to　talk　over　this　matter。〃

They　did　so；　and　when　the　usual　salutes　had　been　exchanged；　they　three　began　to　consider　the　means　of　getting　away。

〃My　lord；〃　said　Jian　Yong；　〃you　see　Yuan　Shao　personally　and　say　you　wish　to　go　to　Jingzhou　to　see　Liu　Biao　about　a　scheme　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。　That　will　give　an　excuse。〃

〃That　seems　best；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃but　will　you　go　with　me？〃

〃I　have　another　plan　to　extricate　myself；〃　said　Jian　Yong。

Having　settled　their　plans；　Liu　Bei　soon　went　in　to　see　his　protector　and　suggested；　〃Liu　Biao　is　strong　and　well　posted。　His　help　should　be　sought　against　our　enemy。〃

〃I　have　sent　messengers　repeatedly　to　ask　his　help；〃　said　Yuan　Shao；　〃but　he　is　unwilling。〃

〃As　he　and　I　are　of　the　same　family；　he　will　not　refuse　me　if　I　go　and　ask　him；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃Certainly　he　is　worth　much　more　than　Liu　Pi。　You　shall　go。〃

〃I　have　just　heard；〃　Yuan　Shao　continued；　〃that　Guan　Yu　has　left　Cao　Cao　and　wants　to　e　here。　If　he　does；　I　will　put　him　to　death　out　of　revenge　for　my　two　beloved　generals………Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Ch