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