rate。

Zhang　Fei　met　Xu　Huang　and　engaged　him；　but　his　rear　was　also　attacked　by　Yue　Jing。　At　length　he　cut　an　alley　out　and　with　a　half　score　of　his　troops　started　to　return　to　Xiaopei。　The　retreat　was　cut　off。　He　thought　to　make　for　Xuzhou　but　felt　certain　that　way　was　also　barred。　No　other　way　seemed　open；　and　so　he　made　for　the　Mangdang　Hills。

As　Liu　Bei　drew　near　the　camp；　he　intended　to　attack　when　he　heard　the　din　of　battle。　Then　he　was　attacked　in　the　rear　and　very　soon　had　lost　half　his　force。　Next　Xiahou　Dun　came　to　attack。　Thereupon　Liu　Bei　bolted。　He　was　pursued　by　Xiahou　Yuan。　Presently　Liu　Bei　looked　about　him　and　found　he　had　less　than　half　a　hundred　soldiers　following　him。　He　set　his　face　in　the　direction　of　Xiaopei。

But　before　long　Liu　Bei　saw　that　place　was　in　flames。　So　he　changed　his　plan　and　went　toward　Xiapi。　However　he　found　the　whole　countryside　full　of　the　enemy；　and　he　could　not　get　through。　So　he　bethought　himself　of　the　promise　of　Yuan　Shao；　that　he　would　find　refuge　if　things　went　unfavorable；　and　determined　to　go　to　Yuan　Shao　till　he　could　form　some　other　plan。　Wherefore　he　took　the　Qingzhou　road。　But　it　also　was　blocked；　and　he　went　into　the　open　country　and　made　his　way　north；　not　without　being　pursued　and　losing　the　remainder　of　his　few　followers。

He　hastened　toward　Qingzhou　City；　traveling　one　hundred　miles　a　day。　When　he　reached　the　city　and　summoned　the　gate；　the　guards　asked　who　he　was　and　they　told　the　Governor；　who　was　Yuan　Shao's　eldest　son；　Yuan　Tan。　Yuan　Tan　was　greatly　surprised；　but　he　opened　the　gates　and　went　to　meet　Liu　Bei；　whom　he　treated　with　due　consideration。

Liu　Bei　told　the　story　of　his　defeat　and　said　he　wished　for　harbor。　He　was　given　suitable　quarters　and　hospitably　entertained；　w