nd　crying　for　mercy。　But　he　also　had　pity　for　them。　Then　Zhang　Liao；　whom　he　knew　well；　came　along　and　was　allowed　to　go　free　also。

Cao　Cao；　his　army　lost；　fled　to　the　Huarong　Valley；

There　in　the　throat　of　the　gorge　met　he　Guan　Yu。

Grateful　was　Guan　Yu；　and　mindful　of　former　kindness；

Wherefore　slipped　he　the　bolt　and　freed　the　imprisoned　dragon。

Having　escaped　this　danger；　Cao　Cao　hastened　to　get　out　of　the　valley。　As　the　throat　opened　out；　he　glanced　behind　him　and　saw　only　forty…seven　horsemen。　As　evening　fell；　they　reached　Jiangling；　and　they　came　upon　an　army　that　they　took　to　be　more　enemies。

Cao　Cao　thought　the　end　had　surely　e；　but　to　his　delight　they　were　his　own　soldiers　and　he　regained　all　his　confidence。

Cao　Ren；　who　was　the　leader；　said；　〃I　heard　of　your　misfortunes；　my　lord；　but　I　was　afraid　to　venture　far　from　my　charge；　else　I　would　have　met　you　before。〃

〃I　thought　I　would　never　see　you　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

The　fugitives　found　repose　in　the　city；　where　Zhang　Liao　soon　joined　them。　He　also　praised　the　magnanimity　of　Guan　Yu。

When　Cao　Cao　mustered　the　miserable　remnant　of　his　officers；　he　found　nearly　all　were　wounded　and　he　bade　them　rest。　Cao　Ren　poured　the　wine　of　consolation　whereby　his　master　might　forget　his　sorrows。

As　Cao　Cao　drank　among　his　familiars；　he　became　exceedingly　sad。

Wherefore　they　said；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　when　you　were　in　the　cave　of　the　tiger　and　trying　to　escape；　you　showed　no　sign　of　sorrow。　Now　that　you　are　safe　in　a　city；　where　you　have　food　and　the　horses　have　forage；　where　all　you　have　to　do　is　to　prepare　for　revenge；　suddenly　you　lose　heart　and　grieve。　Why　thus？〃

Replied　Cao　Cao；　〃I　am　thinking　of　my　friend　Guo　Jia：　Had　he　been　alive；　h