Lady Mi； and we think he must be dead。 So we weep。〃
〃Dreams are not to be credited；〃 he replied。 〃You dreamed of him because you were thinking of him。 Pray do not grieve。〃
Just then Guan Yu was invited to another banquet； so he took leave of the ladies and went。 Seeing Guan Yu looked sad and tearful； his host asked the reason。
〃My sisters…in…law have been weeping for my brother； and I cannot help being sad in sympathy。〃
Cao Cao smiled and tried to cheer up his guest。 Cao Cao plied Guan Yu with wine so that Guan Yu became quite intoxicated and sat stroking his beard and saying； 〃What a useless thing am I！ I could do no service for my country； and I have parted from my elder brother。〃
〃How many hairs in your beard？〃 suddenly asked his host。
〃Some hundreds； perhaps。 In the autumn a few fall out； but in the winter it is fullest。 Then I use a black silk bag to keep the hairs from being broken；〃 replied Guan Yu。
Cao Cao had a bag made for him to protect his beard。 Soon after when they were at court； the Emperor asked what was the bag he saw on Guan Yu's breast。
〃My beard is rather long； Your Majesty；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃So the Prime Minister gave me a bag to protect it。〃
The Emperor bade him take off the bag and show his beard in all its fullness and it fell in rippling waves below his breast。
〃Really a most beautiful beard！〃 said the Emperor。
This is why people call him： 〃The Man with the Beautiful Beard。〃
Another time； after a banquet； Cao Cao was seeing his guest start from the gate of his palace when he noticed that his charger was very thin。
〃Why is it so thin？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃My worthless body is rather heavy and really too much for it。 It is always out of condition。〃
Ca