ou；　bearers　of　news　of　the　moves　in　the　game。　At　first　they　brought　good　tidings；　then　evil。　Guan　Xing　came　first　to　tell　of　the　drowning　of　the　seven　armies　of　Yu　Jin。　Then　one　reported　the　installation　of　beacon　towers　along　the　river　bank；　and　other　preparations　which　seemed　as　near　perfect　as　any　could　be。　And　Liu　Bei's　anxiety　ceased。

But　evil　tidings　were　on　the　way。　Liu　Bei　was　ill　at　ease　and　felt　a　creepiness　of　the　skin　that　boded　evil。　He　was　restless　by　day　and　sleepless　by　night。　One　night　he　rose　from　his　couch　and　was　reading　by　the　light　of　a　candle　when　drowsiness　overcame　him；　and　he　fell　asleep　over　the　low　table　by　his　side。　He　dreamed。　A　cold　gust　of　wind　swept　through　the　chamber；　almost　putting　out　the　candle　flame。　When　it　brightened　again　he　glanced　up　and　saw　a　figure　standing　near　the　light。

〃Who　are　you；　who　thus　e　by　night　to　my　chamber？〃　asked　he。

The　figure　made　no　reply；　and　Liu　Bei　got　up　to　go　over　and　see　who　it　was。　Then　the　figure　took　the　shape　of　his　brother。　But　it　avoided　him；　retreating　as　he　advanced。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃Brother；　there　is　nothing　wrong；　I　hope。　But　surely　something　of　great　importance　brings　you　here　thus　in　the　dead　of　the　night。　And　why　do　you　avoid　me；　your　brother；　who　loves　you　as　himself？〃

Then　the　figure　wept　and　said；　〃Brother；　send　your　armies　to　avenge　me。〃

As　Guan　Yu　said　that；　a　chilly　blast　went　through　the　room；　and　the　figure　disappeared。　Just　then　Liu　Bei　awoke　and　knew　that　he　had　dreamed。

The　drums　were　beating　the　third　watch　as　he　awoke。　He　felt　greatly　worried　and　disturbed。　So　he　went　into　the　front　portion　of　the　Palace　and　sent　for　Zhuge　Liang。　Soon　he　came；　and　Liu　Bei　told　him　of　the　vision。

〃You　have　been　thinking　too　deeply　of　Guan　Y