Guan Ding 關定

In Chapter 28 of the Romance, Guan Yu heads for Hebei with Sun Qian and only some twenty riders, and on reaching the border, following Sun Qian's advice that he should go in first to see the Imperial Uncle and work out a plan, sends him ahead. Seeing a manor in a village in the distance ahead, Guan Yu goes there with his followers to ask for lodging, and an old man comes out of the manor leaning on a staff and greets him courteously. When Guan Yu tells him the whole truth in detail, the old man says that his own surname is also Guan and his given name Ding, that he has long heard of Guan Yu's great name and is fortunate to meet him, calls his two sons to pay their respects, and has Guan Yu and his followers all stay at the manor. Romance, Ch. 28 §45–46

Meanwhile Sun Qian, having entered Ji Province alone, meets Liu Bei, and Liu Bei calls Jian Yong to plan their escape together. The next day Liu Bei obtains Yuan Shao's order to leave by saying he will persuade Liu Biao of Jing Province to attack Cao Cao with them, and Jian Yong obtains an order to go with him by telling Yuan Shao that he will go along to persuade Liu Biao and keep watch on Liu Bei. Liu Bei first sends Sun Qian out of the city to inform Guan Yu, then leaves the city with Jian Yong, is met at the border by Sun Qian, and goes to Guan Ding's manor. Romance, Ch. 28 §47–51

Guan Yu greets Liu Bei at the gate with a bow and, clasping his hands, cannot stop weeping, and Guan Ding leads his two sons to bow before the thatched hall. When Liu Bei asks his name, Guan Yu says that this man shares his surname, and that his elder son Guan Ning (關寧) studies letters and his second son Guan Ping studies the martial arts. When Guan Ding says he would like to send his second son to follow General Guan but does not know whether he will be accepted, Liu Bei asks his age, and Guan Ding answers that he is eighteen. Romance, Ch. 28 §52–53

Liu Bei says that since the elder has shown them such kindness, how would it be to make the young man the son of his younger brother, who has no son yet, and Guan Ding, overjoyed, at once has Guan Ping bow to Guan Yu as his father and call Liu Bei his uncle. As Liu Bei, fearing pursuit by Yuan Shao, hastily packs up and sets out, Guan Ping sets out too, following Guan Yu, and Guan Ding sees them off for some distance and goes home. In the Romance Guan Ding does not appear again after this. Romance, Ch. 28 §53