“Really he is unworthy of his father,” said Guan Yu. “What you told me shows he is a degenerate. For your sake I pardon him.”
Then Guan Yu told his own people to keep a better lookout, sent the people about their business and, in company with Sun Qian, went away to rest.
Next morning both host and hostess were up betimes waiting to thank Guan Yu for forgiving their son's mad freak.
“My son has insulted your tiger dignity, I know, and I am deeply affected by your kindness in not punishing him,” said the old man.
“Bring him here and I will talk to him,” said Guan Yu.
“He went out before daylight with a lot of his fellow rogues, and I know not where he is.”
So Guan Yu bade them farewell, got the ladies into their carriage, and they moved out of the farmyard; Guan Yu and Sun Qian riding abreast as escort. They took the road toward the hills.
Before they had gone far, they saw a large party of men, led by a couple of riders, pouring down one of the gullies. One of the riders wore a yellow turban and a battle robe. The other was Guo Chang's son.
The wearer of the turban called out, saying, “I am one of the commanders of Zhang Jue the Lord of Heaven. Whoever you may be, leave that horse you are riding for me. You may then go free!”
Guan Yu greeted the speech with a hearty laugh.
“O you mad ignoramus! If you had ever been with Zhang Jue as a bandit, you would have learned to know Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, the three brothers.”
“I have heard of the ruddy long beard called Guan Yu, but I have never seen him. Who may you be?”
Guan Yu then laid aside his sword, stopped his horse, and drew off the bag that covered his beard thus showing its magnificence.
The turban wearer immediately slipped out of the saddle, laid an angry hand on his companion, and they both bowed low in front of Guan Yu's steed.
“Who are you?” asked Guan Yu.
“I am Pei Yuanshao. After the death of Zhang Jue, I was left forlorn; and I got together a few others like myself, and we took refuge in the forests. This morning early this fellow came to tell us that a guest at his father's farm had a valuable horse and proposed to me to steal it. I did not think I should meet you, General.”
The wretched Guo Chang's son implored that his life might be spared, and Guan Yu pardoned him for his father's sake. Then Guan Yu covered his face and crept away.
“You did not recognize me; how then did you know my name?” asked Guan Yu.
Pei Yuanshao replied, “Not far from here is a mountain called the Sleeping Bull, where lives a certain Zhou Cang, a very powerful man who came from the west. He has a stiff curly beard and looks very handsome. He also was a commander in the rebel army, who took to the forest when his leader perished. He has told me a lot about you, but I have never had the happiness of seeing you.”
Said Guan Yu, “Under the green wood trees is no place for a hero's foot. You would better abandon this depraved life and return to the path of virtue. Do not work out your own destruction.”
As they were talking, a troop of horsemen appeared in the distance. They belonged to Zhou Cang, as Pei Yuanshao said, and Guan Yu waited for them to approach. The leader was very dark complexioned, tall, and armed with a spear. As soon as he drew near enough to see, he exclaimed joyfully, “This is General Guan Yu!”
In a moment he had slipped out of the saddle and was on his knees by the roadside.
“Zhou Cang renders obeisance,” said he.
Said Guan Yu, “O Warrior, where have you known me?”
“I was one of the Yellow Scarves, and I saw you then. My one regret was that I could not join you. Now that my good fortune has brought me here, I hope you will not reject me. Let me be one of your foot soldiers to be always near you to carry your whip and run by your stirrup. I will cheerfully die for you.”
As he seemed thoroughly in earnest, Guan Yu said, “But if you follow me, what of your companions?” “They may do as they please; follow me or go their ways.”
Thereupon they all shouted, “We will follow!”
Guan Yu dismounted and went to ask the ladies what they thought of this. Lady Gan replied, “Brother-in-Law, you have traveled thus far alone and without fighters; you have safely passed many dangers and never wanted their assistance. You refused the service of Liao Hua, why then suffer this crowd? But this is only a my view and you must decide.”
“What you say, Sister-in-Law, is to the point.”
Therefore returning to Zhou Cang, he said, “It is not that I am lacking in gratitude, but my sisters-in-law do not care for a large following. Wherefore return to the mountains till I shall have found my brother, when I will surely call you.”
Zhou Cang replied, “I am only a rough uncouth fellow, wasting his life as a brigand. Meeting you, General, is like seeing the full sun in the skies, and I feel that I can never bear to miss you again. As it might be inconvenient for all my people to follow you, I will bid my companion lead them away, but I will come and follow you on foot wherever you go.”
