ile on his way with his force of fifteen thousand； passed through the county of Pingyuan。 There he saw among the mulberry trees a yellow flag under which marched a small pany。 When they drew nearer； he saw the leader was Liu Bei。
〃Good brother； what do you here？〃 asked Gongsun Zan。
〃You were kind to me once； and on your remendation I was made the magistrate of this county。 I heard you were passing through and came to salute you。 May I pray you； my elder brother； enter into the city and rest your steed？〃
〃Who are these two？〃 said Gongsun Zan； pointing to Liu Bei's brothers。
〃These are Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； my sworn brothers。〃
〃Were they fighting with you against the Yellow Scarves？〃 asked Gongsun Zan。
〃All my success was due to their efforts；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃And what offices do they fill？〃
〃Guan Yu is a mounted archer； Zhang Fei is a foot archer。〃
〃Thus are able people buried！〃 said Gongsun Zan； sighing。 Then he continued。 〃All the highest in the land are now going to destroy the rebellious Dong Zhuo。 My brother； you would do better to abandon this petty place and join us in restoring the House of Han。 Why not？〃
〃I should like to go；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If you had let me kill him that other time； you would not have this trouble today；〃 said Zhang Fei to Liu Bei and Guan Yu。
〃Since things are so； let us pack and go；〃 said Guan Yu。
So without more ado； the three brothers； with a few horsemen； joined Gongsun Zan and marched with him to join the great army。
One after another the feudal lords came up and encamped。 Their camps extended over seventy miles and more。 When all had arrived； Cao Cao； as the head； prepared sacrificial bullocks and horses and called all the lords to a great