s　been　silently　waiting　his　turn；　but　Zhuge　Liang　said　no　word　to　him。

When　Guan　Yu　could　bear　this　no　longer；　he　cried；　〃Since　I　first　followed　my　brother　to　battle　many　years　ago；　I　have　never　been　left　behind。　Now　that　great　things　are　afoot；　is　there　no　work　for　me？　What　is　meant　by　it？〃

〃You　should　not　be　surprised。　I　wanted　you　for　service　at　a　most　important　point；　only　that　there　was　a　something　standing　in　the　way　that　prevented　me　from　sending　you；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃What　could　stand　in　the　way？　I　wish　you　would　tell　me。〃

〃You　see　Cao　Cao　was　once　very　kind　to　you；　and　you　cannot　help　feeling　grateful。　Now　when　his　soldiers　have　been　beaten；　he　will　have　to　flee　along　the　Huarong　Road。　If　I　sent　you　to　guard　it；　you　would　have　to　let　him　pass。　So　I　will　not　send　you。〃

〃You　are　most　considerate；　Instructor。　But　though　it　is　true　that　he　treated　me　well；　yet　I　slew　two　of　his　most　redoubtable　opponents；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；　by　way　of　repayment；　beside　raising　a　siege。　If　I　happened　upon　him　on　this　occasion；　I　should　hardly　let　him　go。〃

〃But　what　if　you　did？〃

〃You　could　deal　with　me　by　military　rules。〃

〃Then　put　that　in　writing。〃

So　Guan　Yu　wrote　a　formal　undertaking　and　gave　the　document　to　Zhuge　Liang。

〃What　happens　if　Cao　Cao　does　not　pass　that　way？〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃I　will　give　you　a　written　engagement　that　he　will　pass。〃　Then　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃On　the　hills　by　the　Huarong　Valley；　you　are　to　raise　a　heap　of　wood　and　grass　to　make　a　great　column　of　smoke　and　mislead　Cao　Cao　into　ing。〃

〃If　Cao　Cao　sees　a　smoke；　he　will　suspect　an　ambush　and　will　not　e；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃You　are　very　simple；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Do　you　not　know　more　of　war's　ruses　than　that？　Cao　Cao　i