Cao Cao’s three fits of laughter caused Liu Bei’s generals, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun to appear. Had he never laughed, they might never have appeared. But as he laughed, they did appear! Now Cao Cao pleads with Guan Yu, and mentions the moment formerly when they parted by bridge Ba. Guan Yu is rendered speechless. As soon as bridge Ba is mentioned, Guan Yu wishes to give Cao Cao a chance for escape. Guan Yu feels obliged to release Cao Cao and return to confess his crime, thinking: “Never shall I, Guan Yu, be indebted to a mean man.”
曹操三聲大笑，笑出劉備家內關、張、趙。不笑不到，一笑就到。曹操與關公算倒帳，提到壩橋分別之事，關公無言以對，關公在壩橋一言，願讓君三舍地，只有放曹操，自己回去領罪，我關某總不能欠小人的情。