“Do you recognise him?” asked Ts‘ao.
“Why, it is no other than ‘Red Hare!’ ” cried Kuan Yü.
“Yes; it is he,” said Ts‘ao, and he presented the horse, all fully caparisoned, to his guest. Kuan Yü bowed many times and thanked him again and again, till Ts‘ao began to feel displeased and said, “I have given you many things, lovely handmaids and gold and silks and never won a bow of gratitude from you before. This horse seems to please you better than all the rest. Why do you think so poorly of the damsels and so much of the steed?”
“I know the horse, and his speed, and I am very lucky to get him. Now as soon as I find out where my brother is I can get to him in a single day,” said Kuan.
Ts‘ao grumbled to himself and began to repent of his gift, but Kuan Yü took his leave and went away.
Fortune dealt a stunning blow, still he played his part;
Partitioning his dwelling proved his purity of heart.
The crafty Minister desired to win him to his side,
But felt that failure was foredoomed however much he tried.
Said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao to Chang Liao, “I have treated him pretty liberally, but he still cherishes the desire to leave me. Do you know if it is really so?”
“I will try to find out,” was the reply.
So he took an early opportunity of seeing Kuan Yü and when the politenesses of the visit were over, Liao said, “I recommended you to the Minister and you have not lost much by that.”
“I am deeply affected by his kindness and bounty,” said Kuan Yü, “but, though my body is here, yet I am always thinking of my brother.”
“Your words do not express present conditions quite correctly. One who lives in the world without discrimination and consideration of his relations with others is not the most admirable type of man. Even Yüan-tê never treated you better than does the Minister. Why then do you maintain this desire to get away?”
“I know only too well that he has been most kind, but I have also received great kindness from Uncle Liu. Beside we have sworn to die together and I cannot remain here, but before I go I must try to render him some signal service to prove my gratitude.”
“Supposing Yüan-tê should have left the world, whither will you go?” said Chang.
“I will follow him to the realms below.”
There could no longer be the least doubt as to Kuan Yü’s intentions and Chang Liao told Ts‘ao Ts‘ao just how matters stood. Ts‘ao sighed. “To serve one’s chief with unswerving fidelity is a proof of the highest principle of all,” said he.
Said Hsün Yü, “He spoke of performing some act of service
