Novel scene
Lord and Vassals Reunite at Gucheng 會古城主臣聚義
About this event
Lord and Vassals Reunite at Gucheng is the latter scene of Chapter 28 of the Romance, titled "Cai Yang is slain and the brothers are reconciled; at Gucheng lord and vassals reunite in righteousness": the story of how Liu Bei, having slipped away from Yuan Shao, met Guan Yu again, gained Zhao Yun, and gathered at Gucheng, where Zhang Fei was. It is the final part of Guan Yu's Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, and the assembled band, grown to four or five thousand, moved to Runan. Romance, Ch. 28 §41–61
Chen Shou's text also records Guan Yu's return to Liu Bei. The Biography of the First Sovereign (Records of Shu 2) records that when Yuan Shao had Liu Bei raid the area around Xu together with Liu Pi and others, Guan Yu fled back to Liu Bei. Records, Shu 2 §18
In the Romance
In Chapter 28, Guan Yu heard from Liu Pi and Gong Du in Runan that Liu Bei had gone back to Yuan Shao; leaving Zhang Fei to hold Gucheng, he went with Sun Qian to the border of Hebei and stayed at Guan Ding's manor. Sun Qian, entering Yuan Shao's camp, met Liu Bei and Jian Yong, and they devised a plan for leaving Yuan Shao on the pretext of persuading Liu Biao to join in attacking Cao Cao. Yuan Shao said he would kill Guan Yu to avenge Yan Liang and Wen Chou, but at Liu Bei's words that this would be losing two deer to gain a tiger, he laughed and said it had been a joke, and sent Jian Yong along with Liu Bei to keep watch on him. Romance, Ch. 28 §41–51
At Guan Ding's manor Liu Bei and Guan Yu met, clasping hands and weeping, and Liu Bei had Guan Ding's second son, Guan Ping, become the son of the sonless Guan Yu. On the way to Mount Woniu, Zhou Cang reported that he had been speared in three places by an unknown general, and when that general saw Liu Bei he dismounted and prostrated himself. It was Zhao Yun, who had been wandering since the fall of Gongsun Zan; he had killed Pei Yuanshao and taken over his mountain stronghold. Romance, Ch. 28 §52–58
Liu Bei's party burned the stronghold and entered Gucheng, where they met Zhang Fei, Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, and Liu Bei, hearing of Guan Yu's deeds from the two ladies, was filled with admiration. They slaughtered oxen and horses to give thanks to heaven and earth, and, rejoicing that the brothers were together again and that they had gained Zhao Yun, Guan Ping and Zhou Cang besides, they feasted for several days in a row. The band, now four or five thousand strong, went to Runan at the invitation of Liu Pi and Gong Du and garrisoned it, while Yuan Shao, when Liu Bei did not return, sought to ally himself with Sun Ce. Romance, Ch. 28 §59–62
Where the Romance differs
How he left Yuan Shao: In Chapter 28 of the Romance, Liu Bei left Yuan Shao together with Jian Yong, saying he was going to persuade Liu Biao, and met Guan Yu. In the Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records, Liu Bei, secretly wishing to leave Yuan Shao, urged Yuan Shao to ally with Liu Biao in the south, and Yuan Shao had him lead the troops he had originally commanded back to Runan. Romance, Ch. 28 §47–51Records, Shu 2 §18
Zhao Yun: In Chapter 28 of the Romance, Zhao Yun, after wandering since the fall of Gongsun Zan, met Liu Bei at Mount Woniu and followed him. In the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records, when Gongsun Zan sent Liu Bei to resist Yuan Shao on Tian Kai's behalf, Zhao Yun went along with him and took charge of Liu Bei's cavalry. Romance, Ch. 28 §56–58Records, Shu 6 §39
Guan Ping: In Chapter 28 of the Romance, Guan Ping was Guan Ding's second son and became Guan Yu's adopted son at this time. The Biography of Guan Yu in the Records records Guan Ping as Guan Yu's son, and records that he died together with Guan Yu at Linju. Romance, Ch. 28 §52–53Records, Shu 6 §12
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.