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[Assistant] But, that was too good to last. In the summer of 189, five years after when we first started talking about the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Emperor Ling was on his deathbed, and he summoned the regent marshal He Jin to make arrangements for the transition of power after his death.


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[Assistant] This He Jin was the embodiment of career advancement not through talent, but through connections. He started out as a butcher.


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[Assistant] Basically a nobody, but his sister caught the eye of the emperor and was made a concubine in his harem.


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[Assistant] Because of this, He Jin's sister was elevated to empress, and He Jin rode her coattail to power, becoming regent marshal, which is the highest ranking military position in the government.


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[Assistant] Empress He was extremely jealous and poisoned Lady Wang. After that, Lady Wang's baby came into the care of the Lady Dong.


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[Assistant] And this next part is going to get a little confusing as we dive into the relationship between the key players in the royal household.


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[Assistant] The son became the emperor who has been on the throne for most of the two episodes of the story so far, Emperor Ling.


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[Assistant] When Emperor Ling came to the throne, Lady Dong became the emperor's dowager.


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[Assistant] And now she has taken the son of Lady Wang under her care.


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[Assistant] So what you have here is an emperor on his deathbed and two potential heirs backed by and controlled by powerful women. On one side, you have the prince Liu Bian.


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[Assistant] Emperor's dowager Dong had always tried to persuade her son, Emperor Ling, to name Liu Xie as the heir to the throne. And in fact, the emperor loved the boy and was inclined to do so. When the emperor was on his deathbed,


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[Assistant] One of the Unix, Jian Shuo, told him, if you're going to make Liu Xie your heir, then you must kill He Jin to prevent a coup.


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[Assistant] The emperor agreed, so he summoned He Jin to the palace. However, just as He Jin was about to step through the palace gates, Pan Yin, one of his commanders, stopped him.


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[Assistant] Don't enter the palace, Pan Yin said. Jian Shuo is plotting to kill you.


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[Assistant] Stunned, He Jin rushed home and gathered the ministers to discuss how to eliminate the eunuchs.


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[Assistant] He Jin looked to see who had spoken these words and saw that it was Cao Cao. And I remember from earlier that Cao Cao had found great success during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and rose through the ranks. He was at this time the general of military standards. What he just said, however, didn't sit well with He Jin.


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[Assistant] What do lowly officers like you know about the important affairs of state? He Jin reproached him.


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[Assistant] In the midst of the confusion, Pan Yin arrived with news. The emperor is dead. The eunuchs have decided to keep the death a secret and forge a decree for the regent marshal to go to the palace to settle the issue of succession in an attempt to eliminate him.


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[Assistant] Meanwhile, they have slated Prince Liu Xie for the throne.


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[Assistant] Before Pan Yin could even finish his last sentence, the edict summoning He Jin to the palace arrived.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao said the plan right now should be to put the rightful heir on the throne first, and then deal with the traitors.


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[Assistant] Who dares to join me in supporting the rightful heir and slaying the traitors?


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[Assistant] At once, an officer stepped forward and shouted, Give me five thousand veterans, and we will fight our way into the palace, set up the true heir, kill the eunuchs, and sweet clean the court. Then peace will be restored to the empire.


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[Assistant] This man was named Yuan Shao. He comes from one of the most influential families in the empire. His father was the former minister of the interior, and his uncle was currently the imperial commander.


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[Assistant] Delighted by Yuan Shao's enthusiasm, He Jin gave him 5,000 imperial guards.


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[Assistant] Yuan Shao donned his armor, while He Jin, accompanied by thirty-some high-ranking officials, marched into the palace. In front of the coffin of the late emperor, they placed He Jin's nephew, the Prince Liu Bian, on the throne.


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[Assistant] After the ceremony was over, Yuan Shao went in to arrest the unit Jian Shuo. Jian Shuo fled into the palace garden and hid among the shrubs, but he was discovered there and killed by Guo Sheng, one of the ten regular attendants. The guards who were under Jian Shuo's command all surrendered.


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[Assistant] Yuan Shao then advised He Jin to take this opportunity to wipe out all the eunuchs once and for all. But Zhang Rang and the other ten regular attendants got wind of this imminent disaster and rushed in to see Empress He, who you'll remember is He Jin's sister.


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[Assistant] The Unix said the plan to assassinate the Regent Marshal was the doing of Jian Shuo and Jian Shuo alone.


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[Assistant] We had nothing to do with it, but now the Regent Marshal, on Yuan Shao's advice, wants to kill us all. Your Majesty, please save us.


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[Assistant] Fear not, I will protect you, said Empress He. Or I guess we should say Empress Dowager He now, since her son had just become emperor.


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[Assistant] So she sent for her brother and said to him, You and I were low born. If not for eunuchs like Zhang Rong, how could we have ever attained this good fortune?


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[Assistant] The dishonorable Jian Shuo has been slain. Why must you let others push you into killing the rest of them?


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[Assistant] He Jin obeyed her wish. He came out and said to the various gathered ministers, The real offender, Jian Shuo, has met his fate. His clan will be exterminated. But we need not harm the rest.


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[Assistant] But if you don't root them all out right now, they will be your undoing. Yuan Shao cried.


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[Assistant] As you can probably guess already, this decision is going to come back and haunt He Jin.


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[Assistant] Let's see how it all plays out in the next episode of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast. Thanks for listening. See you next time.


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[Assistant] And I guess it's for the everyday user that's, especially for like hunting, I don't think you really need to worry about burning your pants or necessarily mirage because it's not like you sent 15 rounds downrange before you engaged an animal, hopefully. I don't know about you, maybe.


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[Assistant] I personally put the flip-flops away like a year ago, and I wore on Crocs now, like, my dad. So, I was a hater for a long time, but Crocs are the thing.


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[Assistant] You can put little like, I don't remember what they're called, gibets or something. You can put little plugs in them. Oh yeaah. You can put little plugs in them and all your, we don't, that's the next Q product is croc gibets. Oh god. I just released. Know your audience. I just released some information. Um, yeaah, okay, so croc.


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[Assistant] That's what I said, but once you put them on, you won't take them off.


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[Assistant] Which, that makes sense. Do you differentiate between flip-flops and like a slide? Like a Nike slide? Or just...


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[Assistant] Is it a thong? Yea right, thongs, that's right, thongs. Where's that, Australia or something?


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[Assistant] Well, what do they, do they, back to proof, uhm, what, what do they, do they mean the carbon barrels? Cause, like even the steel barrels.


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[Assistant] I wouldn't say guys that are like shooting PRS or anything like that where you're putting tons of rounds down because it will heat up. Those carbon barrels do heat up.


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[Assistant] That was kind of my question on it, like for you is it, at this point is it a must have, at least specifically the range-finding binoculars, is that like a must have for you at this point, or do you find yourself doing what you were just talking about with the separate?


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[Assistant] Uh, god, I don't know. I've seen so many ridiculous- They don't heat up in Hollywood. There's no POI shift. You can't hear anything.


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[Assistant] It is cool when people shoot something suppressed for the first time, especially like a 556 that's still pretty loud with a can on it. And they're so disappointed.


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[Assistant] Movies, I can't think of off the top of my head, but I will say that, that CBS show Seal Team, uhm, they have a lot of good advisors, and they do a better job at it. It's not so much pew pew, it's more of a...


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[Assistant] Was the gunplay, like, was she good? Could she handle the gun? Or was it just like, what is going on?


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[Assistant] I was gonna say, cause that's what I was gonna say. Oh, that's what you were gonna say? Only because the gun, the actual technical, like their movements, the gun work is very good.


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[Assistant] The first one. The first one, yea. The second one, where, is it, is that the one where Benicio del Toro like, bumpfires a Beretta or something? Oh yea, with his...


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[Assistant] I guess you'll have to bring it in and we'll shoot it and then revisit the question. Yea, revisit the question and show you.


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[Assistant] Uh, is there a difference between the AAC Honey Badger and what we do? Oh yea. Did, I know you, I mean we've talked about it before, but the whole integral versus non-integral. Uhm, I think people confuse that a lot. They see a can under the handguard and just assume it's an integrally suppressed gun.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I mean there's also obviously kind of compounding everything. People talk about the price and there's not a ton of interchangeable parts as far as-


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[Assistant] We don't get a great deal on them either. Yeaah. We pay surprisingly. My man's tight. More than I thought, but. Yeaah, so. We pay for that chocolate.


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[Assistant] Even just the receiver sets, I don't think people understand how much, just the receiver sets, the stripped receivers cost to make.


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[Assistant] It's cool because we do have those engineers. Just the tolerance stacking alone, it's amazing what they're able to do.


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[Assistant] I think that's a misconception that people have about the Honey Badger, where people try to look at it as though it's gonna be this gun that, it's the end of the world gun, it's gonna just do everything you need, and it, it does a good job at basically everything I can think of.


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[Assistant] It's not designed to be a tank. It was designed for a specific role and it does it very well and it also does other things well.


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[Assistant] I've seen people, well, if you were to, if you had to breach a door with it, like, why am I gonna mortar my gun into a door handle?


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[Assistant] My favorite is people that get mad at the cherry bomb. How dare they call this a quickie mount. It's, it's just a, it's just the same as a direct thread. You're threading it on. But there's no actual, because it's not tri-lug and you don't just twist it half way.


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[Assistant] We talked about mounts for cans, but what about optic mounts and stuff like that?


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[Assistant] Unity stuff's real popular right now. It is? I'm not familiar with it. All the guys that are running nods are running Unity risers specifically, but uhm, so Unity's really popular. I like Eotech's just, I have a little bit of a stigmatism, so Eotech's a little easier for me than just a dot that's


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[Assistant] They're becoming more popular too. Ivan's got a bunch of videos on a few of them. I know you use them all the time. The old Kit Badger. The old Kit Badger. Yeaah.


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[Assistant] Do you have that Mark 5 in a loop hold mount or do you have it in that badger?


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[Assistant] Yeah, I know people like the Scaler Works mount a lot, and I think there's a consensus here, especially with the engineers, that the only thing that they have a gripe about is the actual, the ring itself. It's like a latch on the top. Oh, the hinge. Yeah, so it makes it, it'll never be perfectly round.


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[Assistant] I have an arrow, I have an arrow precision mount that per the engineers is not perfect, but it's super light and it does what it needs to do for me.


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[Assistant] They're shooting, I think they used a couple of them when they did the prairie dog thing. And they said that it worked for that, but if, they're like if you want to do real precision shooting, there's better out there. Similar idea where it's, instead of a hinge, it kind of clasps on from the side. So that similar idea that it's not, it's never going to be perfectly round.


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[Assistant] For what I do with it, it's great and it weighs nothing, so on my fix it's great.


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[Assistant] I think the Warren rings, the, the Warren, people like those a lot, but I think they're just rings specifically, I don't know if it's an actual mount, and uh, I think they're a little heavy though too.


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[Assistant] Honestly, me either. Like, I shoot, if I can hit things at 6800 and it's hitting, I'm happy.


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[Assistant] The delta point micro, is that what it is? I get the idea, but I think it is hideous. I think it is so ugly. So you won't give it a chance because of aesthetics? Well, I mean, I'm not going to go spend money to give it a chance, but if someone happens to hand me one, I will absolutely give it a chance. I'll give anything a chance if someone wants to hand it to me.


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[Assistant] I think currently they have Glock and they have, uhm, an option for MMPs, the Smith and Wesson MMPs.


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[Assistant] I'm curious to see what the durability is, like, how many times can you...


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[Assistant] I get that it's, they put it there, it's probably compatible with most holsters, so you're eliminating that or whatever, but how many times, if you appendix carry, like put it in and then go tie your shoes. Like, is it gonna be a feasible thing? I just, I understand the idea and I think it's, it'll probably be better than I'm anticipating, but I just think it is so ugly.


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[Assistant] Might be. I don't know. And I think it's, I think they say it's got eight settings, eight, uh, power settings or whatever. I don't know the word I'm looking for, but. I think power settings. Power settings? Yeah.


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[Assistant] Brightness. Brightness settings, that's even better, yeaah. Okay. Are you gonna try one?


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[Assistant] If they fire one over? Or did you get one?


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[Assistant] Or if someone that's listening sends one in with the knives they're sending me. That'd be great.


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[Assistant] To do that little trade off, especially with a gun as light as the fix or the honey badger or whatever, I think maybe the, the weight.


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[Assistant] Yeah, when you're out humping around for all day carrying your rifle with you, then it makes sense.


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[Assistant] No, that's a, that's a huge thing for this like, I mean there are things that he might think are ugly that I'm into.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I mean, if I see a bass that I hear people are raving about and I look at it and I don't think it's, it's good looking, I won't even test it, I won't even play it, I don't wanna see how it feels, how it sounds, I don't care. Cause I don't personally like it.


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[Assistant] Yeah, yeah, you're definitely a performance-oriented person, definitely. But I am admittedly not. I'm very shallow and... Huh. Aesthetics are a big part in it.


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[Assistant] I think especially too with the way the industry is moving where you're getting a lot of, I mean you've said it before, you're getting a lot of younger people that are more interested in guns, they're seeing them in video games and movies. If you don't have an aesthetically pleasing gun, chances are it's not going to be in a movie.


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[Assistant] Like I think the M2010 is one of the coolest looking bolt guns, but it weighs 1500 pounds.


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[Assistant] Once you shoot 6.5, you never shoot 3.08 again. Is it? That's the way you feel? That's the way I feel, yea. Why? I just think, application wise, if I were hunting, yea, I'm sure I would use 3.08 again. Uhm, but to just go shoot 6.5 feels a little more gentle when you shoot it. It's more of a push than a jarring, like, knock.


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[Assistant] I don't know, you say it to outside 300, if you're shooting within 300, 308, great. Beyond 300, I think you're keeping a few extra things with 6.5 that you kind of lose with 308.


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[Assistant] Right, have more fun. I definitely have more fun, I think, if I spend a whole day shooting 6.5, as opposed to a whole day shooting 308.


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[Assistant] I think 308's still cool, I don't wanna see like a- It's a great cartridge. I don't wanna see a 240 in 6.5, I don't wanna see. A what? A 240.


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[Assistant] If there's a bunch of guns that are .308 that I want to stay .308, but personally.


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[Assistant] Yeah, and like both of your applications with that is different than Colin and I going and shooting steel all day. So, I think application is definitely important.


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[Assistant] Do you guys have a- completely off topic, but do you have like a


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[Assistant] A end of world kit. You have to have like, you have to, like, have you ever thought about like, if you could only have one, one rifle and one pistol, and I don't mean pistol in the, in the Honey Badger variant, I mean a handgun pistol. Do you, do you ever think about it? And if you do, what do you think about?


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[Assistant] Well, not necessarily the end of the world, but just like an, it doesn't even have to be the end of the world, but you can only have...


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[Assistant] Yeah. Cause I just, I mean, I've always kind of been in the school of thinking of like, a do-all would be like a 14 and a half inch, five, five, six. Like, 77 grain OTM, you can do a lot with it. But, thinking about the Honey Badger, like, it does,


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[Assistant] See, that's the way I thought, I thought. There's too many questions. Well, I know, I agree, and I, that's, I thought that, because that's why I went with that 14.5, initially it was like a, a low powered variable optic on it or something like that, and maybe a 45 degree for coolness, but little dot.


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[Assistant] No, but now, I mean, I agree, I think the Honey Badger's a good one. Obviously, if you, aside from your 22 picks, I think if you go with anything other than a Glock 17 or 19 in 9 mil, you're an idiot, but whatever. The hipsters will say a CZ, P10, whatever, but.


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[Assistant] More experience with guns that even he and I have never touched, so it's cool to see what you would pick of all the guns.


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[Assistant] Did you answer? Yeah, I'm on a pretty little reccy gun. Yeah, that was my initial whatever they are for


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[Assistant] Yeah, exactly, yeah. That was my initial thought, but I'm still gonna stick with a Glock in 9 mil, but I think Honey Badger makes a lot of sense. S.D. for the cool factor.


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[Assistant] Would you do any of the aforementioned optics, just anything you can get, or do you have a favorite that you think, like a do-all?


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[Assistant] Do you have a favorite one on the optic? I don't think so.


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[Assistant] I think that's such a big point. Expensive. We kind of covered it before about our guns being expensive. Everyone here basically has worked at another firearms manufacturer. Most of us have worked at the same one, but the


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[Assistant] I see every one of the parts that goes into the guns and we covered it before, like, there are very few common parts. Uhm, and the machining that goes into them, everything that goes into them, they're expensive to make and they're not the same as the stuff that's on


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[Assistant] Palmetto State or Radical or whatever, they're not the same parts.


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[Assistant] That was something you touched on yesterday when we were talking too is that the average person doesn't know how much goes into the actual design, the engineering and all that, like how long it takes to create a product. Uhm, you talked about the person that


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[Assistant] But even that too, like, did you not spend your entire upbringing shooting right handed guns?


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[Assistant] I shoot a handgun left handed and long gun right handed, cause I don't know which side of the street to walk on, but...


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[Assistant] If I were to do the, if I were to change my mag release to a left handed mag release for my Glock or whatever, it would slow me down because I just grew up shooting a right handed, quote unquote, pistol my whole life. You just get used to it. So did these people have the option to just shoot left handed bolt guns their entire life or?


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[Assistant] Just get proficient. Shooting ready. Get over it.


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[Assistant] If you email at 9.30 at night on a Saturday and you don't get an email by 5am on a Sunday, don't send another email. Like, we're not open.


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[Assistant] Well, that's, that's the same with shipping too. Like, everyone's home goods. People, people will wait three weeks for a book they ordered or whatever and not complain, but they have to wait an extra couple days for their gun and it's our fault.


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[Assistant] I thought it was great in his mom's basement, uh, I thought it was really cool. I saw some feedback. Have you seen it? Have you seen it, Thomas? Well, you will.


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[Assistant] I thought it was great. I did see some negative feedback, but it was just from heart I was being.


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[Assistant] It's just, it's a joke now or whatever. It's like, it's just funny. Yeah. Knights is such a, a huge company.


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[Assistant] And they're kinda known for their, obviously their military stuff, but it's like, they're not allowed to have fun like the rest of us. I think every single day, Q's presence online is mostly making jokes about things. And that's fine, but when Trey does it, it's...


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[Assistant] I can't see you without my glasses on. Well Kevin just discovered YouTube last year and I was here for when he discovered it.


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[Assistant] Yeah, it was cool to see personality behind knights, which some people seem to not like, but I thought it was really cool to see that.


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[Assistant] Are there really any notable, for good or bad, gun ads over time that are super memorable? Like, I only think, I only think about the, other than ours, you know?


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[Assistant] I only ever think about the H&K one with the rounds loaded backwards in the magazine. Like that's the only one that I think of all the time.


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[Assistant] I think that, like, that's what I liked about the Knights thing is I think more companies not knock it off, but they should, like, they should do things like that. Actual personality, like I think.


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[Assistant] Well, I just think- I thought you were saying like, we do that. Which I think we do as a whole.


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[Assistant] The Wolfman is modular, multi-caliber, uh, it specializes in subgun, light duty rifle, and pistol use. Specializes. So the Wolfman's the new one, it's the modular one. I guess so.


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[Assistant] Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 34.


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[Assistant] Last time, Guan Yu had stormed through four checkpoints on his journey to rejoin his brother Liu Bei, killing five of Cao Cao's officers in the process. And now, his traveling party approached the border of their next stop, Hua Zhou, which sat on the banks of the Yellow River. On the other side of the river laid Hebei,


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[Assistant] The territory that's under the control of Yuan Shao, where Liu Bei is currently taking refuge.


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[Assistant] When the governor of Huazhou, a man named Liu Yan, heard that Guan Yu was near, he rode out to greet him. Guan Yu bowed from his horse and said, How have you been, Governor Liu? General, where are you headed? Liu Yan asked.


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[Assistant] I have taken leave of the Prime Minister and am on my way to search for my brother.


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[Assistant] But Liu Bei is currently with Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao is the Prime Minister's enemy. How could His Excellency allow you to go there? Liu Yan inquired. We had a prior agreement, Guan Yu answered.


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[Assistant] Right now the key crossing of the Yellow River is being guarded by Qin Qi, a lieutenant of Xiahou Dun's. Liu Yan told him, he might not allow you to cross. In that case, can you lend me a boat? I do have boats, but I dare not lend them to you.


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[Assistant] But I once helped you out of a jam by slaying Yan Liang and Wen Chou when they were besieging your territory.


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[Assistant] Now I am asking for one measly boat. Why do you refuse? If Xia Houdun finds out, it may cause me trouble.


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[Assistant] Well, Guan Yu figured that it was pointless to talk to Liu Yan, so he led his party forward to the river crossing where Qin Qi greeted them with soldiers. Who goes there? Qin Qi asked.


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[Assistant] It is I, Guan Yu, the Marquis of Hanzhou Precinct. Where are you headed?


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[Assistant] To Hebei to find my brother Liu Bei. I have come to borrow a boat to ferry me across. Do you have authorization from the Prime Minister? So, oh boy, here we go again.


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[Assistant] This was where the previous checkpoint officers went wrong, and Qin Qi is charging head first down the same path again.


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[Assistant] I am not under the Prime Minister's control, so why would I have his authorization, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] I am guarding this crossing on the order of General Xia Houdun, Qin Qi said. Even if you have wings, you will not be able to fly across.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu was pretty irritated by this idol boast.


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[Assistant] Do you know the fate of those who block my path along the way? He warned Qin Qi.


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[Assistant] You can only kill no-name officers. Do you dare to kill me? Qin Qi shot back.


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[Assistant] Hehe, how do you compare to Yan Liang and Wen Chao?


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[Assistant] Qin Qi, angered by the slight, galloped toward Guan Yu with knife in hand,


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[Assistant] Within one bout, however, Guan Yu's saber lobbed off Qin Qi's head. Guan Yu then told Qin Qi's men,


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[Assistant] The one who stood in my way is dead. The rest of you, stay. Prepare a boat and ferry me across the river.


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[Assistant] There was no way anyone was going to say no, having seen the fate of the one who did, so the soldiers quickly prepped a boat.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu helped his sisters-in-law onto the boat, and they crossed the river into Yuan Shao's territory.


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[Assistant] So make that five checkpoints run and six officers slain on Guan Yu's journey. This is one of the most famous episodes in the novel and one that drew Guan Yu praise for millennia to come for his determination and loyalty, including this poem. Forsaking rank and riches, he took his leave.


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[Assistant] By long and winding road did he his brother seek.


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[Assistant] He covered the ground on a supreme horse, with dragon saber he took each pass by force. Placing loyalty and honor high above all, the hero from that day forth kept the world in awe. The single night before whom each foe fell left the world a story that men will ever tell.


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[Assistant] Upon crossing the river, Guan Yu and company continued their journey. Guan Yu, however, could not help but lament as he rode.


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[Assistant] When word gets back to Prime Minister Cao, he would surely think me an ingrate.


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[Assistant] Just then, a rider approached from the north and shouted for Guan Yu to stop.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu pulled up his reins and looked, and saw that it was Sun Qian, one of Liu Bei's former advisors, who told him where Liu Bei was.


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[Assistant] What news have you since we parted at Runan? Guan Yu asked.


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[Assistant] After you and your army departed, Liu Pi and Gong Dou recapture the territory and sent me to Hebei to seek a coalition with Yuan Shao and to ask Lord Liu to help devise a plan to defeat Cao Cao. Sun Qian replied,


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[Assistant] However, Yuan Shao's men were all jealous of each other. Tian Feng has been imprisoned. Ju Shou has gone into seclusion. Shen Pei and Guo Tu are fighting for power. Yuan Shao is too paranoid and cannot make up his mind.


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[Assistant] I discussed the matter with the Imperial Uncle, and we decided that he should first try to extricate himself from that situation.


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[Assistant] So right now, he has gone to Runan to meet up with Liu Pi. He was worried that you would unknowingly go to Yuan Shao and end up being killed by him.


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[Assistant] So you sent me to travel along this road to find you. What good fortune it is to run into you here.


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[Assistant] You should immediately go to Runan to meet up with the Imperial Uncle.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu then had Sun Qian go to see the two ladies. They asked him for news, and he told them that Yuan Shao had twice threatened to kill Liu Bei, but Liu Bei had managed to slip away to Runan, and that they can now go see him there.


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[Assistant] When they heard this update, the two ladies covered their faces and wept.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu did not waste any time and immediately turned his entourage toward Runan, which, by the way, is to the south after they had spent all this time traveling north.


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[Assistant] Just as they were traveling, however, a cloud of dust kicked up behind them, and a detachment of 300 soldiers raced toward them. At its head was Xia Houdun, one of Cao Cao's top generals.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu, stay where you are! Xia Houdun shouted as he approached.


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[Assistant] It did not take a genius to figure out why Xia Houdun was there.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu had, after all, just killed one of his lieutenants at the river crossing, so Xia Houdun came looking for revenge.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu told Sun Qian to escort the carriage and keep moving forward, while he himself turned around with saber in hand and said to Xia Hodun,


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[Assistant] You are doing a disservice to his excellency's reputation for magnanimity in coming after me.


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[Assistant] The Prime Minister did not send any notification to the passes on your route. Xia Houdun shot back.


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[Assistant] You killed officers all along the way, including my lieutenant. You have gone too far!


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[Assistant] I have come to capture you so that the Prime Minister can deal with you.


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[Assistant] At this, he galloped toward Guan Yu with his spear and prepared for battle. Just then, a rider flew onto the scene, shouting, Do not fight with General Guan! Guan Yu held his ground and did not move.


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[Assistant] This writer approached Xia Oudun, took out a document from his shirt and said to him,


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[Assistant] The Prime Minister admires General Guan's loyalty and honor. His Excellency was concerned that the General might run into resistance at the checkpoints, so he sent me to deliver his authorization to all the checkpoints along the way.


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[Assistant] Does His Excellency know that Guan Yu has killed the officers guarding the checkpoints? Xiaodun asked. Not yet.


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[Assistant] Well then, I will capture him alive and take him back to see the Prime Minister. His Excellency can release him personally if he wants to. Guan Yu was ticked off at this remark.


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[Assistant] Do you think I'm afraid of you? He said as he galloped towards Xia Hodun, who prepared to exchange blows with him.


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[Assistant] After less than ten bouts, another rider hurried into the fray and shouted, Generals, please, pause! Xiao Dun pulled back his spear and asked, Is His Excellency ordering me to capture Guan Yu?


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[Assistant] No. His Excellency was worried that the officers at the various checkpoints might try to stop General Guan, so he sent another document ordering them to let him pass.


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[Assistant] Does His Excellency know that Guan Yu has killed people all along the way? Xiaodun asked again. Not yet. Well then, I cannot let him go.


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[Assistant] Xia Houdun now ordered his men to surround Guan Yu, which of course only further fired up Guan Yu, and the two were just about to go at it again when another man rolled onto the scene and shouted for them to stop.


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[Assistant] This, it turned out, was the General Zhang Liu, Xiao Dun's comrade and Guan Yu's friend.


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[Assistant] I am here on the Prime Minister's orders. When he heard that General Guan had killed the officers at the checkpoints along his journey, he was concerned that the General would run into further resistance. So he sent me to bring word to all the checkpoints to let him go.


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[Assistant] So you really have to hand it to Cao Cao here. It's one thing to honor a prior agreement and let a guy go even though he's going to join up with your mortal enemy.


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[Assistant] But it's something else to send three messengers to make sure his journey goes smoothly, even after hearing that he had killed your men.


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[Assistant] Of course, the checkpoint officers who were lying in a ditch with their heads cut off at that moment probably wish that Cao Cao would have thought of this two days earlier. So yea, thanks a lot. But Xia Houdun was not so magnanimous.


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[Assistant] My Lieutenant Qin Qi was the nephew of General Cai Yang, he told Zhang Liao. General Cai entrusted him to me, and now he has been killed by Guan Yu. How can I just let it go?


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[Assistant] When I see General Cai, I will deal with him, Zhang Liao said.


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[Assistant] Since the Prime Minister is so magnanimous and has instructed that General Guan be allowed to go, you cannot disobey him.


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[Assistant] So Xia Wudong had no choice but to lead his men away. Zhang Liao then asked Guan Yu, Where are you headed now?


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[Assistant] I heard that my brother is not with Yuan Shao anymore, Guan Yu answered. I intend to search near and far until I find him.


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[Assistant] Since you do not know his whereabouts, why not come back with me to see the Prime Minister, Zhang Liao said. Nonsense, Guan Yu answered.


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[Assistant] My friend, when you see his excellency, please, convey my apologies. After that, Guan Yu took his leave.


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[Assistant] And Zhang Liao and Xia Houdun went their separate ways.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu then caught up to his party and told Sun Qian what happened. They then journeyed forth together.


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[Assistant] After being on the road for a few days, the group was beset by a torrential downpour that soaked them and their luggage.


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[Assistant] In the distance, they spotted a manor house by a hill, so they went there to ask for lodging for the night. An old man came out to greet them.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu explained their purpose in coming, and the old man said,


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[Assistant] My name is Guo Chang, and my family has lived here for generations. I have long heard of your name, and it is our great fortune that you have dropped in.


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[Assistant] So the old man told his servants to prepare a banquet to welcome the party and invited the two ladies to rest in the private quarters.


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[Assistant] Guo Chang meanwhile sat in his parlor drinking with Guan Yu and Sun Qian while their men tended to the horses and the luggage.


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[Assistant] Around dusk, a young man, flanked by a number of others, entered the manor house, and he came into the parlor.


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[Assistant] My son, come pay your respects to the general, Guo Chang said. He then turned to Guan Yu and said, this is my humble son.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu asked the young man where he was coming from, and the lad said he had been hunting. And then he took his lead.


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[Assistant] After his son left, Guo Chang said with tears trickling from his eyes.


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[Assistant] For generations, my family has tilled the land and studied the classics. Yet, my only son cares for nothing but hunting. What grave misfortune it is for our house.


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[Assistant] But in this time of chaos, he can also make a name for himself if he can become skilled in the martial arts, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] And Guan Yu and Sun Qian were just about to go to bed when they heard horses neighing and men shouting from the rear courtyard.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu called for his attendance, but no one answered. So he and Sun Qian grabbed their swords and went out to investigate.


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[Assistant] In the courtyard, they saw Guo Chang's son lying on the ground groaning while Guan Yu's attendants were brawling with the house servants.


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[Assistant] You vermin! How dare you try to steal my horse! Guan Yu said angrily, and was just about to explode, but Guo Chang hurried over and begged him. My unfilial son deserves to die for this offense, but his old mother dotes on him. I beg you to show mercy.


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[Assistant] He really is unfilial, Guan Yu said. Now I believe your words earlier.


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[Assistant] It's true, no one knows a son like his father.


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[Assistant] Fine, out of respect for you, I will spare him.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu then ordered his attendants to keep a close eye on the horse and told the house servants to scram. He and Sun Qian then went back to rest in the parlor.


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[Assistant] The next day, Guo Chang and his wife came into the parlor to thank Guan Yu for not chopping off their kid's head the night before.


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[Assistant] Our worthless son had the gall to commit such an affront to you, General. Thank you for your mercy, they told him.


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[Assistant] Tell him to come here, Guan Yu said. I want to have a word with him.


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[Assistant] Denied a chance to deliver a stern lecture about how there is no honor in being a thief,


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[Assistant] Guan Yu thanked Guo Chang for his hospitality, helped his sisters-in-law into the carriage, and set off once again along a mountain path.


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[Assistant] Before they had gone 10 miles, a hundred some people suddenly rushed out from behind the hill.


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[Assistant] At their head were two people on horses. The man in the front wore a yellow turban and a battle gown, while the guy behind him was none other than Guo Chang's son.


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[Assistant] I was a lieutenant under Zhang Jue, the general of heaven. The man in the yellow turban shouted, Leave the red horse, and I will let you pass.


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[Assistant] Well, ain't this a laugh, since Guan Yu was no stranger to Zhang Jue, one of the leaders of the Yellow Turban Rebellion whom Guan Yu had helped vanquish.


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[Assistant] You ignorant bandit, when you shot back. Since you followed Zhang Jue into rebellion,


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[Assistant] Have you not heard of Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei?


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[Assistant] I have only heard that Guan Yu was the one with a red face and long beard, but I have not met him. Who are you? the bandit asked.


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[Assistant] Well, since he asked, Guan Yu latched his saber and tied a sack that he used to protect his beard and put his hairy masterpiece on display.


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[Assistant] At this, the guy in the yellow turban hopped off his horse, grabbed Guo Chang's son by the hair on the back of his head, dragged him in front of Guan Yu's horse, and kneeled. When Guan Yu asked him for his name, the man said, My name is Pei Yuan Shao.


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[Assistant] After Zhang Jue died, I had been without a master, so I rounded up a group of men and took to banditry. This morning, this scoundrel came and told us that a traveler with a fine horse was staying at his house, and told us to come seize the horse. Who knew it would lead us to you, General?


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[Assistant] Guo Changsheng now threw himself at Guan Yu's mercy.


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[Assistant] And Guan Yu once again spared him on account of his father. After the young man then skittered off like a rat, Guan Yu asked Pei Yuan Shao, How do you know my name without having met me?


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[Assistant] Not far from here is Sleeping Ox Hill, Pei Yuan Shao replied. On that hill is a man named Zhou Cang.


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[Assistant] He is very strong and has a striking face with a wiry, curly beard.


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[Assistant] He used to be an officer under yellow turban leader Zhang Bao. After Zhang Bao died, he took to banditry.


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[Assistant] He often speaks of your great name but laments that he had no opportunity to meet you.


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[Assistant] Banditry is no life for gallant men like you, when you lecture them. From now on, you guys should return to the proper path. Do not become mired in this life.


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[Assistant] Pei Yuan Shao bowed and thanked Guan Yu for his advice. Just then, a group arrived on the scene. This must be Zhou Cang, Pei Yuan Shao said.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu looked from atop his horse and saw a man with a dark face and a tall frame, riding on a horse and holding a spear, coming his way at the head of the group. When this man saw Guan Yu, he exclaimed, That's General Guan!


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[Assistant] He then hurriedly dismounted and prostrated on the ground. My respects to you, General!


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[Assistant] Gallant Warrior, where have we met? Guan Yu asked.


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[Assistant] When I followed Zhang Bao, I once caught a glimpse of your honorable visage.


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[Assistant] Unfortunately, I have mistakenly joined up with rebels and thus could not follow you. But today, I have the fortune to meet you.


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[Assistant] If it is not too far beneath you, I am willing to serve as a mere foot soldier and carry your horse whip and follow you. If I can do so, I would die without regret.


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[Assistant] Zhou Cang's man crush moved Guan Yu, but he asked, if you are to follow me, what happens to the men you're leading?


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[Assistant] Those who are willing to follow me can do so. Those who are not are free to leave.


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[Assistant] At that moment, all of Zhou Cang's men said they were willing to follow, so Guan Yu dismounted and went to his sisters-in-law's carriage to consult them. But here, he met some resistance.


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[Assistant] Since leaving Xuchang, we have traveled here by ourselves and weathered many a hardship without needing any troops.


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[Assistant] Previously, when Liao Hua tried to follow us, you declined. So why accept Zhou Cang and his men now?


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[Assistant] But of course, that's just the view of us women folks. You should do as you see fit.


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[Assistant] Uhm, sure, if you say so, Miss Passive Aggressive. Guan Yu yielded to their wishes and told Zhou Cang, It is not that I am untouched, but the two ladies would not allow it. Go back to your camp for now. Once I find my brother, I will send for you.


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[Assistant] But Zhou Cang would not take no for an answer. He kowtowed and said,


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[Assistant] I am but a brute who strayed into becoming a rebel.


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[Assistant] Getting to meet you today is like seeing the sun again. How can I return to my errant ways?


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[Assistant] Certainly not Guan Yu, so he relayed those words to his sisters-in-law, and they met him halfway.


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[Assistant] If only one or two follow us, that's okay, LadyGun said.


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[Assistant] Elated, Guan Yu told Zhou Cang to tell his men to go with Pei Yuan Shao.


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[Assistant] But Pei Yuan Shao was like, hey wait a minute, you're not the only one with a man crush on General Guan here, I wanna come too. But Zhou Cang told him,


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[Assistant] While Zhou Cang followed Guan Yu as they set out toward Runan.


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[Assistant] After traveling for a few days, they saw in the distance a mountain hamlet. They asked one of the locals, and he told them, this is called Gu Cheng.


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[Assistant] A few months ago, a general named Zhang Fei came here with a few dozen riders and chased out the local magistrate.


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[Assistant] He has taken over the town and is recruiting soldiers, buying horses and stockpiling grain.


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[Assistant] I have not heard anything about Brother Johnson since we were separated at Xu province. Who would have thought that he would be here?


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[Assistant] After the defeat at Xu province, he hold up on Mt. Mangdang for about a month.


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[Assistant] Later, he left the mountain to go look for news on Liu Bei.


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[Assistant] On his way, he passed Gu Cheng and went in to ask the local magistrate for provisions.


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[Assistant] The magistrate refused which, yeaah, was not a very smart move. In a fit of anger, Zhang Fei ran him out of town and took over control of the town as a temporary home. When Sun Qian went into town to meet Zhang Fei, they exchanged greetings and Sun Qian said,


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[Assistant] Lord Liu has left Yuan Shao and gone to Runan, and now General Guan has escorted the two ladies here. Please go welcome them. When Zhang Fei heard this, he said nothing.


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[Assistant] He threw on his armor, grabbed his spear, hopped on his horse, and led about a thousand men out through the north gate.


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[Assistant] Sun Qian was startled by this reaction, but he dared not ask why, so all he could do was tag along.


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[Assistant] When Guan Yu saw Zhang Fei coming toward him in the distance, he could not contain his joy. He handed his saber to Zhou Cang and rode up to greet his brother, but he was in for a rude welcome. As he got near, he saw that Zhang Fei's eyes were glaring and his whiskers bristling.


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[Assistant] Letting our thunderous roar, Zhang Fei tried to stab Guan Yu with his spear. Stunned, Guan Yu quickly dodged the thrust and shouted, My brother, what is this for? Have you forgotten our pledge in the Peach Orchard? You have no honor! Zhang Fei shouted back. How dare you come to see me? Why do you say I have no honor?


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[Assistant] But the two sisters-in-law are here. Go ask them.


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[Assistant] By now, the two ladies had heard a commotion outside, and they pulled back the curtain on their carriage and said,


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[Assistant] Sisters-in-law, just wait a moment, Zhang Fei said.


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[Assistant] Watch me kill this ingrate first, and then I will welcome you into the town.


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[Assistant] When your second brother was in Xu Chang, it was really because he had no choice. Do not be deceived by him, Zhang Fei said.


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[Assistant] General Guan has come here specifically to look for you, he told Zhang Fei.


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[Assistant] Don't you go spouting that nonsense too, Zhang Fei hollered. He must be here to capture me.


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[Assistant] If I am here to capture you, I would have brought an army, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] What do you call that? Zhang Fei said as he pointed behind Guan Yu.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu turned and saw in the distance a dust cloud kicked up by an approaching army.


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[Assistant] Judging from the banners, these were Cao Cao's soldiers.


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[Assistant] Now what do you have to say for yourself? Zhang Fei said he tried to stab Guan Yu again. Guan Yu quickly stopped him and said, Brother, stop.


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[Assistant] Watch me kill this approaching general to prove my sincerity.


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[Assistant] If you are sincere, then you will kill him before I am done with three rounds of drumming, Zhang Fei said. Guan Yu agreed.


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[Assistant] Momentarily, the troops arrived. At their head was Cai Yang, who wielded his knife and shouted,


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[Assistant] So this is where you ran off to after you killed my nephew Qin Qi. I am here on the Prime Minister's orders to capture you.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu did not even bother responding. He raised his saber and started slashing. Zhang Fei personally beat the drums to cheer him on. Before the first round of drumming was done, Guan Yu's blade had lopped off Cai Yang's head. Cai Yang's soldiers fled, but Guan Yu captured the flag bearer and interrogated him.


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[Assistant] Cai Yang was irate when he heard that you had killed his nephew, the flag bearer said. He wanted to come to Hebei to fight you, but the Prime Minister would not allow it, and instead order him to go to Runan to attack Liu Pi. We did not expect to run into you here.


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[Assistant] Zhang Fei grilled a guy about Guan Yu stay in Xu Chang.


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[Assistant] After hearing the whole story, Zhang Fei was finally convinced.


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[Assistant] While they were talking, soldiers from inside the city rushed out to report that a dozen or so riders had just arrived at the South Gate, their identity and purpose unknown.


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[Assistant] Zhang Fei got suspicious, so they went to the South Gate to investigate.


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[Assistant] There, they saw about a dozen lightly armed riders. When the riders saw Zhang Fei, they immediately dismounted.


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[Assistant] At their head were Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, who, if you will remember, were not only Liu Bei's advisors, but also his brothers-in-law, since Liu Bei had taken their sister as one of his wives.


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[Assistant] After we were separated at Xu province, we fled back to our home village to seek shelter, Miju said.


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[Assistant] Then we send people out to look for news about you guys.


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[Assistant] We found out that General Guan had surrendered to Cao Cao, and that our lord was in Hebei. We then heard that Jian Yong had also gone to Hebei, but we did not know you were here.


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[Assistant] Yesterday, we encountered a group of travelers who told us that this town had been occupied by a general named Zhang.


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[Assistant] When he described his appearance, we figured it might be you, so we came to see for ourselves. What great fortune that we have run into you.


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[Assistant] Brother Guan and Sun Qian have just arrived with the two ladies, and we know my big brother's whereabouts. Jiang Fei told them.


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[Assistant] Once they have settled in, the two ladies recounted all the obstacles that Guan Yu had overcome in getting them there, at which point Zhang Fei wept bitterly and prostrated in front of his brother. The Mi brothers were also touched by Guan Yu's tale.


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[Assistant] Zhang Fei then shared his own adventures since their separation, and the group feasted in celebration.


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[Assistant] Alright, so we'll close this episode on a high note, with everyone shedding tears of joy and getting drunk to celebrate a reunion.


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[Assistant] Next up on the agenda, meeting up with Liu Bei.


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[Assistant] We will get to that and more in the next episode of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast. Thanks for listening.


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[Assistant] Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 31.


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[Assistant] Last time, we saw the conspiracy to assassinate Cao Cao fall apart, and most of the conspirators were promptly executed, with the exception of Ma Teng and Liu Bei, who were out of Cao Cao's reach at the moment.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao then mounted an expedition against Liu Bei in Xu province. Liu Bei and his brother Zhang Fei tried to raid Cao Cao's camp, but were routed.


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[Assistant] With their forces gone, Zhang Fei holed up on Mount Mangdang, while Liu Bei ran off to seek refuge with Yuan Shao, once again leaving his family behind.


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[Assistant] So after they successfully quashed Liu Bei's Knight Raid,


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[Assistant] Cao Cao's forces easily took Xiao Pei. They then moved on to Xu province, where two of Liu Bei's civil officials, Mi Zhu and Jian Yong, were no match for the might of Cao Cao's army. So they abandoned the city and fled. After that, Chen Deng,


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[Assistant] Who has served Cao Cao while remaining secretly loyal to Liu Bei, flung open the city gate and welcomed Cao Cao.


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[Assistant] After the usual routine of assuring the people of the city that they were not about to be massacred, Cao Cao gathered his advisors to discuss how to take the city of Xia Pi, where Liu Bei's brother Guan Yu was stationed.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu is there protecting Liu Bei's family. One of the advisors, Xun Yu, said,


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[Assistant] He would no doubt defend the city to the last. We must take it quickly, or it might fall into Yuan Shao's hands.


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[Assistant] I have always admired Guan Yu's abilities, Cao Cao said. I would like to have him in my service. Can we send someone to convince him to surrender?


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[Assistant] Guan Yu has a deep sense of honor. He would not surrender, said another advisor, Guo Jia. Whomever we send might end up getting killed.


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[Assistant] But at this moment, the General Zhang Liao stepped forward and said,


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[Assistant] I have crossed paths with Guan Yu before. I am willing to go talk to him.


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[Assistant] Even though you have a connection with Guan Yu, I doubt words alone would sway him, said yet another advisor, Cheng Yu.


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[Assistant] I do have a plan to leave him with no other options, and then you can go talk to him. Then he would no doubt submit to the Prime Minister. Here's the plan.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu is the equal of 10,000 men. We must outsmart him instead of trying to outfight him.


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[Assistant] We can instruct the soldiers who came over to us from Liu Bei to go to Xia Pi and tell Guan Yu that they were survivors of last night's battle. Then they can be our inside men.


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[Assistant] When Guan Yu comes out for battle, we can lure him away from the city and cut off his path of retreat. Then we can talk him over.


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[Assistant] So Cao Cao ordered a few dozen of the defectors to go to Xiapi to see Guan Yu, and he took them in without suspicion since they were part of Liu Bei's army.


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[Assistant] The next day, the General Xia Houdun led a vanguard of 5,000 men to Xiapi to challenge for battle.


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[Assistant] He had his men hurl curses and insults at Guan Yu, who was outraged and led 3,000 men out of the city to meet the challenge.


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[Assistant] After the two generals battled for a dozen bouts or so, Xia Hodun turned and ran, and Guan Yu gave chase.


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[Assistant] Xiaodun ran a little, then turned and fought a little, and then turned and ran some more.


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[Assistant] He kept this up for a few miles, at which point Guan Yu suddenly realized that Xia Pi might be in danger, so he halted his pursuit.


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[Assistant] But just then, with the sound of an explosive as a signal, Xu Huang and Xu Chu led two squads of soldiers out of hiding and cut off Guan Yu's path of retreat.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu tried to break through, but a torrent of arrows kept him at bay. Xu Huang and Xu Chu then rode forward to challenge him, and they tangled for a while before Guan Yu fought them off.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu now tried to once again turn back towards Xia Pi, but Xia Houdun now stood in his way, and the two sides fought some more.


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[Assistant] By now, it was dusk, and with no way home, Guan Yu could only lead his men to the top of a dirt hill for a breather. Cao Cao's forces quickly surrounded this mound of dirt.


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[Assistant] From the top of the mound, Guan Yu could see flames inside Xia Pi, roaring toward the heavens. That was the handiwork of the defectors that Cao Cao had planted inside the city. They opened up the city gates, and Cao Cao's army stormed in.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao then had his men set up some bonfires just to make Guan Yu worry about what's going on in the city. The trick had the intended effect.


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[Assistant] As Guan Yu was so concerned that he tried several times to fight his way down the hill, but was turned back by arrows every time.


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[Assistant] I was thinking about our past acquaintance and wanted to come talk. He then set aside his blade and dismounted.


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[Assistant] Not so, Zhang Liao answered. Brother, you saved me once, so how can I not save you now?


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[Assistant] In case you have forgotten, Zhang Liao used to serve Lv Bu. When Cao Cao defeated Lv Bu, he had wanted to execute Zhang Liao.


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[Assistant] But Guan Yu and Liu Bei convinced him otherwise because they knew Zhang Liao was a man of honor. So you have come to help me fight then? Guan Yu asked. Not so either.


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[Assistant] If you're not here to help me, then what are you doing here?


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[Assistant] Brother, won't those words make you a laughing stock throughout the realm?


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[Assistant] How so? I am dying in the name of loyalty and honor.


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[Assistant] Brother, if you die now, you would have committed three crimes, Zhang Liao said. What three crimes?


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[Assistant] When you and Lord Liu swore to be brothers, you pledged to die on the same day.


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[Assistant] Right now, Lord Liu has just suffered a defeat. If you fight to the death, what happens when Lord Liu re-emerges and needs your help? Won't you be betraying your oath? That is your first crime.


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[Assistant] Also, Lord Liu entrusted his family to your protection. If you die in battle today, his two wives would have no one to depend on, and you would have betrayed his trust. That is your second crime.


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[Assistant] Finally, your fighting skills are unrivaled, and you are well-versed in the classics and histories. But instead of helping Lord Liu support the House of Han, you would rather vainly rush to your death on a fool's valor. How is that honor?


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[Assistant] That is your third crime. I cannot watch you commit these three crimes without pointing them out.


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[Assistant] Well, Zhang Liao knew exactly which buttons to push, because Guan Yu took his words to heart. He thought for a while, and then asked,


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[Assistant] You say that I would be committing three crimes by dying, so what would you have me do?


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[Assistant] Right now you're surrounded by the Prime Minister's soldiers, Zhang Liao replied. If you do not surrender, you would surely die, and you would be dying for nothing.


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[Assistant] Why not submit to His Excellency for now, and then try to find out what happened to Lord Liu?


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[Assistant] Once you know his whereabouts, you can go join him.


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[Assistant] This way, you can protect his wife, uphold your oath, and keep your talents alive. You should consider those three pros.


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[Assistant] Brother, you have laid out three pros for submitting, and now I have three conditions, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] If the Prime Minister agrees to them, then I shall surrender. If not, I would rather die with those three crimes on my head.


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[Assistant] His Excellency is extremely generous. He would no doubt agree. What are your three conditions?


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[Assistant] First, I have sworn an oath with the Imperial Uncle to support the House of Han. So today, I am surrendering to the Han Emperor, not to Cao Cao.


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[Assistant] Second, the Imperial Uncle's two wives must receive the stipend and treatment due to his position at court.


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[Assistant] No one, no matter how high their station may approach their gates.


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[Assistant] Third, as soon as I know the Imperial Uncle's whereabouts, no matter how far away he is, I will take my leave and go join him. Of those three conditions, if any of them is refused, I would not surrender. Please relay them at once.


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[Assistant] So Zhang Liao took his leave and reported back to Cao Cao. When Cao Cao heard the first condition, he laughed and said, I am the Prime Minister of the Han. Surrendering to the Han is the same as surrendering to me. That's fine.


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[Assistant] When Zhang Liu repeated the second condition, Cao Cao also consented.


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[Assistant] I will even double the Imperial Uncle's stipend, he said.


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[Assistant] As for keeping outsiders away, that is the rule of any decent house, so of course. But now, the whopper.


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[Assistant] Zhang Liao relayed the final and no doubt most difficult condition, that Guan Yu would be allowed to leave as soon as he found out where Liu Bei was. To this, Cao Cao was a little dubious. Well, what's the point of me keeping Guan Yu then? This one is hard to grant, he said. But Zhang Liao now put in a word on his friend's behalf.


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[Assistant] Your Excellency, Liu Bei has Guan Yu's loyalty because he treated him well.


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[Assistant] If you treat him even better, then you would earn his loyalty. There is no need to worry about not winning Guan Yu over.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao was swayed by this, and he consented to all three conditions. Zhang Liao then went back up the hill to tell Guan Yu.


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[Assistant] Even so, Guan Yu said, please have his excellency call off his troops and allow me to go into the city so that I can inform my brother's wife before surrendering.


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[Assistant] When Zhang Liao relayed this further request, Cao Cao granted it without a second thought and ordered his men to fall back 10 miles.


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[Assistant] Xun Yu, however, had second thoughts. This may be a trick, he told Cao Cao.


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[Assistant] And you know, that is a justifiable concern. I mean, what if Guan Yu runs into the city and locks the gates behind him? But Cao Cao dismissed such concerns.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu is a man of honor, he would not break his word, Cao Cao said and ordered his troops to fall back.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu led his men back into Xia Pi, where he saw that, true to Zhang Liao's words, the people of the city had not been disturbed.


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[Assistant] He went to Liu Bei's residence where his two sisters-in-law, Lady Gan and Lady Mi, came out to meet him.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu prostrated on the ground and said, it was my fault that you two were disturbed. Where is the Imperial uncle? They asked him. I do not know his whereabouts. Well, what do we do now?


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[Assistant] I went out of the city to fight to the death and was trapped on a dirt hill, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu then listed them, and Lady Gan said,


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[Assistant] Last night when Cao Cao's army sacked the city, we thought we were doomed. But they have not so much as harmed the hair on our heads. Now a single soldier has dared to enter our gates.


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[Assistant] Brother-in-law, since you have already struck an agreement, there is no need to consult us. But I just worry that Cao Cao would not allow you to go find the Imperial Uncle. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] Brother-in-law, you can proceed as you see fit, the two ladies said. No need to console us women folk.


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[Assistant] Thus reassured of the correctness of his masculine wisdom, Guan Yu took his leave of the two ladies and led an entourage of a few dozen riders to go see Cao Cao.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao went outside the gates of his camp to welcome Guan Yu, who dismounted and bowed. Cao Cao quickly returned the gesture.


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[Assistant] I am but a defeated general. Thank you for your kindness and sparing me, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] I have long admired your loyalty and honor, Cao Cao said. Today, it is my great fortune that we meet. It has fulfilled my lifelong wish.


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[Assistant] I hope your excellency will keep your promise and consent to the three conditions that Zhang Liao relayed. I have given the word. I will not break it.


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[Assistant] If I find out the Imperial Uncle's whereabouts, then no matter how difficult the journey, I will go join him.


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[Assistant] When that day comes, there may not be time to properly take my leave of you. I hope you will understand.


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[Assistant] If Liu Bei is alive, then I will definitely let you go, Cao Cao said.


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[Assistant] But I worry that he might have perished in the melee. But do not worry. Let me see what I can find out.


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[Assistant] So Guan Yu bowed and thanked Cao Cao, and Cao Cao welcomed him with a feast.


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[Assistant] The next day, Cao Cao disembarked for the capital with Guan Yu and Liu Bei's family in tow.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu had his sisters-in-law ride in a carriage while he rode alongside.


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[Assistant] When they stop for the night, however, Cao Cao, in an attempt to pervert the proprieties between the lord and his servant, arrange for Guan Yu and Liu Bei's wives to stay in the same room.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu, of course, would have none of this. So while Liu Bei's wife slept in the room, he stood guard outside, alone, all night, without showing any signs of fatigue.


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[Assistant] When Cao Cao saw this, he came to admire Guan Yu even more.


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[Assistant] When they returned to Xu Chang, Cao Cao gave Guan Yu a house. Guan Yu divided it into two sections, with his sisters-in-law staying in the inner section and him in the outer section.


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[Assistant] You can't have these women folks showing their faces in public after all.


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[Assistant] And you certainly cannot have strapping young labs guarding their residents.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao then brought Guan Yu to court to see the emperor.


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[Assistant] And the emperor appointed him to the rank of adjutant general.


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[Assistant] The next day, Cao Cao threw a huge feast, where his advisors and generals all gathered, and welcomed Guan Yu as the guest of honor.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao also lavished silk, gold, silver, and all sorts of riches on Guan Yu, who gave it all to his sisters-in-law to keep in storage.


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[Assistant] If you couldn't tell already, Cao Cao was putting on an all-out charm offensive to win over Guan Yu.


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[Assistant] From the time Guan Yu arrived in Xuchang, Cao Cao would treat him to a small banquet every three days and a large feast every five days. He also sent Guan Yu ten beautiful young women to, uhm, tend to him.


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[Assistant] But Guan Yu sent them all to the inner residence to tend to the two ladies instead.


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[Assistant] Every three days, Guan Yu would stand outside the entrance to the inner residence and bow and ask how the two ladies were doing. They would ask if he had heard anything about Liu Bei, and only when they said, Brother-in-law, you may go, did Guan Yu dare to take his leave.


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[Assistant] When Word Of This trickled back to Cao Cao, it made him respect Guan Yu even more.


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[Assistant] One day, Cao Cao noticed that Guan Yu's green battle robe was looking pretty old, so he ordered a new robe made from the finest material.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu accepted the gift, put it on, but then he put the old robe back on top of the new one.


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[Assistant] When Cao Cao saw this, he laughed. Why are you so frugal? he asked.


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[Assistant] This is not frugality, Guan Yu answered. The old robe was a gift from the Imperial uncle.


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[Assistant] When I am wearing it, it is like I am seeing my brother. I dare not forget my brother's old gift because of your excellency's new gift, so I am wearing both. You are such an honorable man, Cao Cao said.


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[Assistant] But while he was praising Guan Yu, as you can imagine, Cao Cao did not exactly feel great about what Guan Yu told him.


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[Assistant] On another day, when Guan Yu was at home, the servants suddenly reported that the two ladies were sitting on the floor weeping for reasons unknown.


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[Assistant] So Guan Yu straightened out his attire and kneeled outside the entrance to the inner residence and asked his sisters-in-law what's up.


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[Assistant] You cannot put too much stock in dreams, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] You had a dream because you missed the Imperial Uncle. Please do not let it concern you.


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[Assistant] As they were speaking, a messenger arrived from Cao Cao to invite Guan Yu to yet another feast.


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[Assistant] So Guan Yu took his leave of the two ladies and attended the banquet.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao noticed that Guan Yu looked like he had been crying and inquired about it.


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[Assistant] My sisters in law were weeping over my brother, and I could not help but feel sadness as well. Guan Yu answered,


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[Assistant] Cao Cao smiled and tried to steer the topic of conversation away from Liu Bei with the help of a little wine.


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[Assistant] After a few cups, Guan Yu was working on a nice buzz, and he stroked his beer and sighed.


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[Assistant] I cannot serve the country, and I have betrayed my brother. I have truly lived in vain.


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[Assistant] So sigh, here we go again, all Liu Bei, all the time. Cao Cao once again tried to change the topic.


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[Assistant] Do you know how many strands of hair you have in your beard? He asked Guan Yu. A few hundred, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] Every autumn, a few would break off. During the winter, I covered them with a black silk sack to keep the hairs from breaking.


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[Assistant] Sensing another opportunity to show Guan Yu Wen awesome guy he was, Cao Cao ordered a gorgeous silk sack made for his beard.


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[Assistant] The next day at court, the emperor noticed that Guan Yu had his sack hanging in front of his chest, which, yeaah, just makes you wonder what's the deal. So he inquired, and Guan Yu said,


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[Assistant] Your servant has a very long beard, so the prime minister gave me a sack to protect it.


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[Assistant] The emperor asked to see the beard, and Guan Yu complied.


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[Assistant] Thoroughly impressed by his facial hair, the emperor called Guan Yu the man of the magnificent beard, and the nickname quickly caught on.


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[Assistant] On yet another day, after yet another banquet, as Cao Cao was seeing Guan Yu out, he noticed that Guan Yu's horse was looking rather emaciated, and he asked why.


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[Assistant] I am heavy. The horse feels the strain, so it is often skinny, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] Well, it sure sounds like Guan Yu could use a new horse, doesn't it?


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[Assistant] Cao Cao told his attendants to bring forth a horse. This fine steed was the color of fiery coal and had a magnificent stature.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao then had the horse saddled and offered it to Guan Yu, which prompted Guan Yu to kneel to express his gratitude. But this made Cao Cao kind of unhappy.


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[Assistant] I have given you many beautiful women and lots of riches, he said.


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[Assistant] Yet you never kneel to me to thank me for those things. Today, I gave you a horse and you kneel. Do you value a beast more than people?


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[Assistant] No, it is just that I know this horse can travel more than 300 miles in a day, Guan Yu said. Now that I have it, when I find out my brother's whereabouts, I will be able to see him in one day.


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[Assistant] Well, needless to say, Cao Cao was regretting this gift just a little bit. Later, someone wrote a poem about this.


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[Assistant] Upon a realm divided shines this hero's fame. Staying by his sisters-in-law, he kept his honor clean.


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[Assistant] The cunning chancellor showed false courtesy, little knowing Guan Yu would never bend the knee.


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[Assistant] Well, this all Liu Bei all the time business was starting to get to Cao Cao, so he asked Zhang Liu,


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[Assistant] So things have worked out pretty well since I recommended you to the Prime Minister, no? Zhang Liao asked.


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[Assistant] I am deeply grateful to the Prime Minister for his generosity, Guan Yu said. But even though my body is here, my heart is with the Imperial Uncle. He never leaves my thoughts.


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[Assistant] Brother, you are in error, Zhang Liao said. A true man must have correct priorities. I doubt Liu Bei treated you better than His Excellency is treating you. So why do you keep harboring thoughts of leaving?


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[Assistant] I know Lord Cao treats me extremely well, Guan Yu said, but I have received Imperial Uncle's favor and have sworn to die together. I cannot turn my back on that.


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[Assistant] I cannot stay here, but I must render some service to repay Lord Tauf before I leave.


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[Assistant] But what if Liu Bei is dead? What will you do then? Zhang Liao asked. Then I will follow him to the underworld, Guan Yu said.


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[Assistant] Realizing that there was no change in Guan Yu's mind, Zhang Liao took his leave and reported back to Cao Cao.


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[Assistant] Guan Yu says he must render service before leaving. If you do not give him the opportunity to repay you, then he might not leave.


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[Assistant] And with this, a light bulb went on in Cao Cao's head.


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[Assistant] But we'll leave him for now and go check in on Liu Bei.


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[Assistant] So ever since he went to crash on Yuan Shao's couch, Liu Bei had been looking rather unhappy. When Yuan Shao asked him why, he said,


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[Assistant] I do not know the fate of my brothers, and my family is in the hands of the rebel Cao Cao.


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[Assistant] I cannot serve the country or protect my own family. How can I not be unhappy?


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[Assistant] I have long wanted to attack Xu Chang, Yuan Shao said. Right now, spring has just arrived and it is the perfect time to mobilize the army.


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[Assistant] So Yuan Shao began to make plans to attack Cao Cao, but his advisor Tian Feng was against it.


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[Assistant] The time to move on Xu Chang was when Cao Cao was attacking Xu province, and the capital was vulnerable, he said.


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[Assistant] Now, Xu Province has fallen, and Cao Cao's army is keen. He is a formidable enemy. We should play the long game instead, and wait for an opportunity.


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[Assistant] Yuan Shao said he would think about Tian Feng's advice. He then asked Liu Bei what he thought. Liu Bei, of course, was for action right now.


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[Assistant] This swayed Yuan Shao, and he decided to mobilize his forces. Tian Feng once again advised against it.


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[Assistant] But this time, he was met with anger from Yuan Shao.


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[Assistant] The likes of you value books over arms, and you make me renege on my allegiance to the Han, Yuan Shao said.


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[Assistant] But Tian Feng did not yield. Instead, he prostrated so low that his head hit the ground.


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[Assistant] If you do not listen to my advice, the campaign will meet with disaster, he said.


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[Assistant] Yuan Shao became irate and wanted to execute Tian Feng. It was only with much pleading from Liu Bei that Yuan Shao backed off and instead merely imprisoned Tian Feng.


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[Assistant] When another of Yuan Shao's advisors, Juxiu, saw this, he assembled his clansmen and divided all of his property among them. He told them,


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[Assistant] I am accompanying the army on an expedition. If we are victorious, then there would be no limit to my wealth and influence. If we lose, then not even my life can be saved.


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[Assistant] With that, his family bid him a teary goodbye.


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[Assistant] Yuan Shao ordered one of his top generals, Yan Liang, to lead the vanguard and lay siege to the city of Bai Ma, but Juxiu was against this assignment.


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[Assistant] Yan Liang may be brave, but he is not fit to assume command alone, Juxiu said.


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[Assistant] The likes of you do not know what my top warriors are capable of, Yuan Xiao said, and he ignored this advice.


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[Assistant] So Yuan Shao's army set off toward Liyang, and Liu Yan, the governor of Dongjun, quickly sent word to Cao Cao for help. And Cao Cao immediately began to plan a response. When Guan Yu heard about this, he went to see Cao Cao and volunteered to be the vanguard. But Cao Cao told him,


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[Assistant] I dare not trouble you with this. If I need you, I will definitely ask. So Guan Yu could do nothing but go home.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao meanwhile set off with 150,000 men in three armies. Along the way, he got another urgent message from Liu Yan. So Cao Cao personally led a detachment of 50,000 men and hurried to Bai Ma, where they set up shop on a hill.


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[Assistant] As Cao Cao looked out on the open plain in front of the hill, he saw Yan Liang's vanguard of 10,000 crack troops lined up in battle formation. The sight of this force made Cao Cao uneasy.


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[Assistant] He turned and said to Song Xian, one of the officers who had betrayed Lyu Bu,


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[Assistant] I hear that you are one of Lyu Bu's top warriors. You can go take on Yan Liang.


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[Assistant] Song Xian accepted the order, hopped on his horse, grabbed his spear, and rode out to the front of the lines. On the other side, Yan Liang stood under his banner with his knife across his saddle.


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[Assistant] As Song Xian galloped near, Yan Liang let out a roar and rode out to meet him. Before they had reached three bouts, Yan Liang cut down Song Xian.


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[Assistant] He is truly a fearsome warrior, a stunned Cao Cao said.


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[Assistant] Another of Lyu Bu's former officers, Wei Xu, now set to Cao Cao.


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[Assistant] Yan Liang killed my friend. Allow me to go avenge him.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao consented, and Wei Xu wrote out and cursed Yan Liang. Yan Liang did not even bother answering.


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[Assistant] As soon as they tangled, Yan Liang cut down Wei Xu with one swing of his blade.


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[Assistant] Now who dares to go face him? Cao Cao asked.


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[Assistant] Xu Huang, one of his top generals, answered the call. He managed the last 20 bouts against Yan Liang, but nonetheless returned in defeat. Seeing this, everyone else trembled.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao ordered his army to fall back, and Yan Liang led his own force back to camp as well.


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[Assistant] Having lost two officers, Cao Cao was troubled. His advisor Cheng Yu said to him,


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[Assistant] But I am afraid that once he renders service to me, he will leave me.


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[Assistant] If Liu Bei is still alive, he would no doubt have joined up with Yuan Shao, Cheng Yu said.


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[Assistant] If you use Guan Yu to defeat Yuan Shao's forces, then Yuan Shao would suspect Liu Bei of collaborating with you and execute him. Once Liu Bei is dead, where would Guan Yu go?


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[Assistant] This delighted Cao Cao, and he immediately dispatched the messenger back to the capital to fetch Guan Yu.


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[Assistant] To see how Guan Yu would fare against Yan Liang, tune in to the next episode of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast. Thanks for listening.


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[Assistant] Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 41.


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[Assistant] Last time, Cao Cao had just chased off Yuan Shang and captured Ji Province, the former power base of the Yuan clan. He executed Shen Pei, the advisor to the Yuan's who had put up a dogged defense of the city.


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[Assistant] Now Cao Cao was just about to enter his newly-conquered prize when he saw that his troops had captured Chen Lin, the man who once upon a time had written a decree for Yuan Shao that had badmouthed Cao Cao and his forefathers.


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[Assistant] You can refer back to the post on our website for episode 28 to see a link to the full text of this denunciation. Suffice it to say, Cao Cao and his forefathers do not come off very well in this piece.


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[Assistant] The arrow had been loaded and the bowstring pulled back. I had no choice but to fire it.


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[Assistant] So once again, Cao Cao is showing magnanimity and mercy to his enemies, even the ones who trolled him and his family really hard.


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[Assistant] While Cao Cao was busy being a gracious winner, his eldest son was busy inside the city.


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[Assistant] Now remember that Cao Cao had a son before, but that son was killed on one of Cao Cao's campaigns.


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[Assistant] But Cao Cao also had multiple sons by his second wife, and the oldest of those was named Cao Pi.


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[Assistant] When Cao Pi was born, there was a purplish cloud that was as round as a chariot's canopy hovering over his room for a whole day.


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[Assistant] A fortune teller saw this and said to Cao Cao in private,


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[Assistant] This is the aura of an emperor. Your son will know unnameable honors.


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[Assistant] At the age of eight, Cao Pi could already write literary compositions that showed great talent. He was knowledgeable of things modern and ancient, and was skilled at writing, archery, and was fond of sword fighting.


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[Assistant] I don't know about you, but by now, when I see the novel spend so much time talking about a character's auspicious birth and childhood accomplishments, I think, hey, this guy might be important one day. So stay tuned.


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[Assistant] At the time that Cao Cao conquered Ji Province, Cao Pi was 18 years old.


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[Assistant] Instead of staying at his father's side, he had gone on ahead with his personal guards to Yuan Shao's residence.


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[Assistant] There, he entered the house with a sword in hand.


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[Assistant] An officer told him that Cao Cao had decreed that no one shall enter the Yuan residence, but Cao Pi dismissed him and stomped into the private quarters.


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[Assistant] There, Cao Pi saw two women clutching each other and weeping. He was just about to kill them both because, well, hey, what could be easier than killing defenseless crying women?


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[Assistant] But just then, a red light flashed before his eyes, so he held back his sword and asked the women who they were. One of them answered,


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[Assistant] I am General Yuan Shao's wife, Lady Liu.


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[Assistant] She is Lady Zhen, the wife of Yuan Shao's second son, Yuan Xi. Lady Liu replied,


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[Assistant] Yuanxi is stationed at You Province, and she did not want to go to such a distant place, so she stayed here.


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[Assistant] Cao Pi pulled Lady Jin closer, lifted back her disheveled hair, and wiped her soiled face with his sleeve.


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[Assistant] And then he sat down in the room with his hand on his sword. Now as for Cao Cao...


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[Assistant] He was about to enter the city, but Xu You, the advisor who defected from Yuan Shao, rode up near him, pointed at the city gates with his whip, and shouted to him.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao, if not for me, you would not be able to enter this gate.


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[Assistant] Now what Xu You just did was very disrespectful and very out of line considering he was speaking to the Prime Minister and calling him by his name instead of Your Excellency or even just Sir.


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[Assistant] But Xu You dared to take such liberties because 1. He did play a key role in Cao Cao's victories over Yuan Shao, and 2. He and Cao Cao went way back. So Cao Cao simply laughed off Xu You's remark, but Cao Cao's officers were not so pleased.


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[Assistant] In any case, Cao Cao arrived at Yuan Shao's residence and asked if anyone had been there.


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[Assistant] The guard at the door told him, yeaah, your son is inside.


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[Assistant] Cao Cao was not happy about this, so he called Cao Pi outside to admonish him.


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[Assistant] Lady Liu went out with Cao Pi, paid her respects to Cao Cao, and said to him,


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[Assistant] I am willing to offer Lady Jin to serve in his household.


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[Assistant] Tao Tao summoned Lady Jen outside so he could get a look at her. Beholding her beauty, he said.


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[Assistant] She is truly worthy of being my son's wife.


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[Assistant] So he ordered Cao Pi to marry her, which I'm sure he did quite reluctantly.


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[Assistant] With the city firmly under his control, Cao Cao, now get this, went to Yuan Xiao's grave to pay his respects.


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[Assistant] There, he prostrated on the ground, cried and mourned Yuan Shao.


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[Assistant] Quite a show for someone who, you know, helped send Yuan Shao to said grave.