Yu Jin followed the small party。
When he drew near he shouted； 〃I have an order from the great Prime Minister to put you both to death； mother and son！ You may as well submit quietly。〃
Lady Cai threw her arms about her son； lifted up her voice and wept。 Yu Jin bade his soldiers get on with their bloody work。 Only Wang Wei made any attempt to save his mistress； and he was soon killed。 The two； mother and son； were soon finished； and Yu Jin returned to report his success。 He was richly rewarded。
Next Cao Cao sent to discover and seize the family of Zhuge Liang； but they had already disappeared。 Zhuge Liang had moved them to the Three Gorges。 It was much to Cao Cao's disgust that the search was fruitless。
So Xiangyang was settled。 Then Xun You proposed a further advance。
He said； 〃Jiangling is an important place； and very rich。 If Liu Bei gets it； it will be difficult to dislodge him。〃
〃How could I have overlooked that？〃 said Cao Cao。
Then he called upon the officers of Xiangyang for one who could lead the way。 They all came except Wen Ping。
Cao Cao sent for him and soon he came also。
〃Why are you late？〃 asked Cao Cao。
Wen Ping said； 〃To be a minister and see one's master lose his own boundaries is most shameful。 Such a person has no face to show to anyone else； and I was too ashamed to e。〃
His tears fell fast as he finished this speech。 Cao Cao admired his loyal conduct and rewarded him with office of Governorship of Jiangxia and a title of Lordship； and also bade him open the way。
The spies returned and said； 〃Liu Bei is hampered by the crowds of people who have followed him。 He can proceed only three or four miles daily； and he is only one hundred miles away。〃
Cao Cao decided to take advantage of Liu Bei's plight； so he chose out five thousand of tried horsemen and sent them after the cavalcade； giving them a limit of a day and a night to e up therewith。 The main army would follow。
As has been said Liu Bei was traveling with a huge multitude of followers； to guard whom he had taken what precautions were possible。 Zhang Fei was in charge of the rear guard； and Zhao Yun was to protect his lord's family。 Guan Yu had been sent to Jiangxia。
One day Zhuge Liang came in and said； 〃There is as yet no news from Jiangxia。 There must be some difficulties。〃
〃I wish that you yourself would go there；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃Liu Qi would remember your former kindness to him and consent to anything you proposed。〃
Zhuge Liang said he would go and set out with Liu Feng； the adopted son of Liu Bei； taking an escort of five hundred troops。
A few days after； while on the march in pany with three of his manders………Jian Yong； Mi Zhu； and Mi Fang………a sudden whirlwind rose just in front of Liu Bei； and a huge column of dust shot up into the air hiding the face of the sun。
Liu Bei was frightened and asked； 〃What might that portend？〃
Jian Yong； who knew something of the mysteries of nature； took the auspices by counting secretly on his fingers。
Pale and trembling； he announced； 〃A calamity is threatening this very night。 My lord must leave the people to their fate and flee quickly。〃
〃I cannot do that；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If you allow your pity to overe your judgment； then misfortune is very near；〃 said Jian Yong。
Thus spoke Jian Yong to his lord； who then asked what place was near。
His people replied； 〃Dangyang is quite close； and there is a very famous mountain near it called Prospect Mountain。〃
Then Liu Bei bade them lead the way thither。
The season was late autumn； just changing to winter； and the icy wind penetrated to the very bones。 As evening fell； long…drawn howls of misery were heard on every side。 At the middle of the fourth watch； two hours after midnight； they heard a rumbling sound in the northwest。 Liu Bei halted and placed himself at the head of his own guard of two thousand soldiers to meet whatever might e。
Presently Cao Cao's men appeared and made fierce onslaught。 Defense was impossible； though Liu Bei fought desperately。 By good fortune just at the crisis Zhang Fei came up； cut an alley through； rescued his brother； and got him away to the east。 Presently they were stopped by Wen Ping。
〃Turncoat！ Can you still look humans in the face？〃 cried Liu Bei。
Wen Ping was overwhelmed with shame and led his troops away。 Zhang Fei； now fighting； protected his brother till dawn。
By that time Liu Bei had got beyond the sound of battle； and there was time to rest。 Only a few of his followers had been able to keep near him。 He knew nothing of the fate of his officers or the people。
He lifted up his voice in lamentation； saying； 〃Myriads of living souls are suffering from love of me； and my officers and my loved ones are lost。 One would be a graven image not to weep at such loss！〃
Still plunged in sadness； presently he saw hurrying toward him Mi Fang； with an enemy's arrow still sticking in his face。
Mi Fang exclaimed； 〃Zhao Yun has gone over to Cao Cao！〃
Liu Bei angrily bade him be silent； crying； 〃Do you think I can believe that of my old friend？〃
〃Perhaps he has gone over；〃 said Zhang Fei。 〃He must see that we are nearly lost and there are riches and honors on the other side。〃
〃He has followed me faithfully through all my misfortunes。 His heart is firm as a rock。 No riches or honors would move him；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃I saw him go away northwest；〃 said Mi Fang。
〃Wait till I meet him；〃 said Zhang Fei。 〃If I run against him； I will kill him！〃
〃Beware how you doubt him；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃Have you forgotten the circumstances under which your brother Guan Yu had to slay Cai Yang to ease your doubts of him？ Zhao Yun's absence is due to good reason wherever he has gone； and he would never abandon me。〃
But Zhang Fei was not convinced。 Then he； with a score of his men； rode to the Long Slope Bridge。 Seeing a wood near the bridge； an idea suddenly struck him。 He bade his followers cut branches from the trees； tie them to the tails of the horses； and ride to and fro so as to raise a great dust as though an army were concealed in the wood。 He himself took up his station on the bridge facing the west with spear set ready for action。 So he kept watch。
Now Zhao Yun； after fighting with the enemy from the fourth watch till daylight； could see no sign of his lord and； moreover； had lost his lord's family。
He thought bitterly within himself； 〃My master confided to me his family and the child lord Liu Shan； and I have lost them。 How can I look him in the face？ I can only go now and fight to the death。 Whatever happen； I must go to seek the women and my lord's son。〃
Turning about he found he had but some forty followers left。 He rode quickly to and fro among the scattered soldiers seeking the lost women。 The lamentations of the people about him were enough to make heaven and earth weep。 Some had been wounded by arrows； others by spears； they had thrown away their children； abandoned their wives； and were flying they knew not whither in crowds。
Presently Zhao Yun saw a man lying in the grass and recognized him as Jian Yong。
〃Have you seen the two mothers？〃 cried he。
Jian Yong replied； 〃They left their carriage and ran away taking the child lord Liu Shan in their arms。 I followed but on the slope of the hill I was wounded and fell from my horse。 The horse was stolen。 I could fight no longer； and I lay down here。〃
Zhao Yun put his colleague on the horse of one of his followers； told off two soldiers to support Jian Yong； and bade Jian Yong ride to their lord and tell him of the loss。
〃Say；〃 said Zhao Yun； 〃that I will seek the lost ones in heaven or hell； through good or evil。 And if I find them not； I will die in the battlefield。〃
Then Zhao Yun rode off toward the Long Slope Bridge。
As he went； a voice called out； 〃General Zhao Yun； where are you going？〃
〃Who are you？〃 said Zhao Yun； pulling up。
〃One of the Princely One's carriage guards。 I am wounded。〃
〃Do you know anything of the two ladies？〃
〃Not very long ago I saw Lady Gan go south with a party of other women。 Her hair was down； and she was barefooted〃
Hearing this； without even another glance at the speaker； Zhao Yun put his horse at full gallop toward the south。 Soon he saw a small crowd of people； male and female； walking hand in hand。
〃Is Lady Gan among you！〃 he called out。
A woman in the rear of the party looked up at him and uttered a loud cry。
He slipped off his steed； stuck his spear in the sand； and wept； 〃It was my fault that you were lost。 But where are Lady Mi and our child lord？〃
Lady Gan replied； 〃She and I were forced to abandon our carriage and mingle with the crowd on foot。 Then a band of soldiers came up； and we were separated。 I do not know where they are。 I ran for my life。〃
As she spoke； a howl of distress rose from the crowd of fugitives； for a thousand of soldiers appeared。 Zhao Yun recovered his spear and mounted ready for action。 Presently he saw among the soldiers a prisoner bound upon a horse； and the prisoner was Mi Zhu。 Behind Mi Zhu followed a general gripping a huge sword。 The troops belonged to the army of Cao Ren； and the general was Chunyu Dao。 Having captured Mi Zhu； he was just taking him to his chief as a proof of his prowess。
Zhao Yun shouted and rode at the captor who was speedily slain by a spear thrust and his captive was set free。 Then takin