False edicts are issued to summon provincial stations to Cao.
Three heroes at the Guan Pass break Lü Bu.

Chen Gong, who had been about to strike Cao Cao down, suddenly reconsidered. “I came this far with him for the sake of the state. To kill him now would be wrong. Better I leave and go elsewhere.” He sheathed his sword, mounted, and left before dawn, heading straight for Dong Commandery.

When Cao Cao, whose courtesy name was Mengde, woke and did not see Chen Gong, he thought, “This man heard me speak these two words and suspected my intent. He thought me unvirtuous and left. I must move at once and not linger.” He rode through the night to Chenliu and found his father. He explained everything from the beginning and asked to disburse family resources and raise just-war troops. His father replied, “Your funds are too small to sustain this; success is unlikely. There is in this region a filial and able man named Wei Hong. He is austere with money and proud of his integrity, and his household is very wealthy. If we gain his help, matters may be arranged.”

Cao Cao prepared wine and tables, invited Wei Hong to his house, and said, “The Han court is without a true master. Dong Zhuo monopolizes power, cheats the Son of Heaven, and harms the people. The realm spits with grief and anger. I wish to uphold the state, but my strength is not enough. You are a man of loyalty and justice. Dare you give aid?”

Wei Hong said, “I have carried this will for long and have only lamented not having met a true hero. Since Mengde has such grand intent, I will put my family resources behind it.” Cao Cao rejoiced. He first issued counterfeit edicts and sent them flying to all the commanderies, then gathered volunteer troops. He raised a white recruitment banner with the word “Loyalty” above it. In a few days the volunteers came thick as rain.

One day, Le Jin, a man from Yángpíng named Le, with given name Jin and courtesy name Wenqian, came to serve Cao Cao. Soon afterward, another man arrived: Li Dian, from Julu in Shanyang, surname Li, given name Dian, courtesy name Mancheng. Cao Cao kept both as clerks at the main command tent.

Another arrived as well: Xiahou Dun, courtesy name Yuanrang, from Qia of Pei state, a descendant of Xiahou Ying. He had trained with spear and staff since childhood. At fourteen he studied arms under a master, and when someone insulted his teacher, Xiahou Dun killed the culprit and fled into the outside territories. Learning that Cao Cao had raised the army, he and his clan-brother Xiahou Yuan, each leading a thousand sturdy men, came to join. These two were in truth related to Cao Cao’s household: Cao Song, Cao Cao’s father, had been a son of the Xiahou clan by a collateral connection, so there was kinship.

Not long after, Cao Cao’s brothers, Cao Ren and Cao Hong, came each with more than a thousand troops. Cao Ren’s courtesy name was Zixiao and Cao Hong’s was Zilian. Their soldiers and mounts were well trained, and both were highly skilled in arms. Cao Cao was delighted and arranged their horse and foot around the camp.

Wei Hong spent the entire family wealth and equipped armor, standards, and banners. Supplies came in from all directions, too many to count.

At that time Yuan Shao learned of Cao Cao’s false edicts, gathered his civil and military officers, and brought thirty thousand troops from Bohai to meet Cao Cao. Cao Cao had his proclamation carried to all the commanderies:

Cao and the others, with reverence to great righteousness, now announce to the realm: Dong Zhuo deceives Heaven and earth, has destroyed the state, and murdered the Son of Heaven; he has defiled the palace and slaughtered the living. Fierce, reckless, and without humanity, his crimes are beyond counting. Now, under a secret order of the Son of Heaven, we have raised forces for loyal duty and swear to sweep across the Central Plains and put the violent crowd to death. Let all those of upright feeling rise together, vent the public grievance, support the imperial house, and save the common people. When this edict arrives, follow it without delay.

After the proclamations spread, lords from many commanderies rose and responded:

1. The First Position: Grand General and Administrator of Nanyang Commandery, Yuan Shu.
2. The Second Position: Han Fu, Inspector of Ji Province.
3. The Third Position: Kong Zhou, Inspector of Yu Province.
4. The Fourth Position: Liu Dai, Inspector of Yanzhou.
5. The Fifth Position: Wang Kuang, Administrator of Henan Commandery.
6. The Sixth Position: Zhang Miao, Administrator of Chenliu.
7. The Seventh Position: Qiao Mao, Administrator of Dong Commandery.
8. The Eighth Position: Yuan Yi, Administrator of Shanyang.
9. The Ninth Position: Bao Xin, Minister of Jibei.
10. The Tenth Position: Kong Rong, Administrator of Beihai.
11. The Eleventh Position: Zhang Chao, Administrator of Guangling.
12. The Twelfth Position: Tao Qian, Inspector of Xuzhou.
13. The Thirteenth Position: Ma Teng, Administrator of Xiliang.
14. The Fourteenth Position: Gongsun Zan, Administrator of Beiping.
15. The Fifteenth Position: Zhang Yang, Administrator of Shangdang.
16. The Sixteenth Position: Sun Jian, Marquis of Wucheng and Administrator of Changsha.
17. The Seventeenth Position: Yuan Shao, Marquis of Qixiang and Administrator of Bohai.

Their troop strengths varied; some brought 30,000, some 10,000 to 20,000, and each arrived with both civil officials and military commanders, all converging on Luoyang.

Now hear of Gongsun Zan, Administrator of Beiping, commanding fifteen thousand elite soldiers, passing through P’ingyuan County in Dezhou Prefecture. As he rode, he saw a yellow banner rise among a clump of mulberry trees and several riders coming out in greeting. It was Liu Bei, whose courtesy name was Xuande.

Gongsun asked, “Elder brother, what brings you here?”

Liu Bei said, “I used to serve under your protection as magistrate of P’ingyuan County. Hearing that your main army is passing this way, I came to offer my regards and to invite you to enter the city and rest your horses.”

Gongsun pointed at Guan and Zhang and asked, “Who are these two?”

Liu Bei answered, “This is Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. They are sworn brothers with me.”

“Did they help break the Yellow Turbans, then?”

“By their efforts alone.”

“What offices do they hold now?”

Guan Yu answered, “Guan Yu serves as mounted archer. Zhang Fei serves as foot archer.”

Gongsun sighed. “Then your heroes have been buried in small posts. Dong Zhuo has ruined the realm. All lords are going against him. You should leave this petty office, go now with us, restore the Han court, and uphold the state.”

Liu Bei replied, “I am willing.”

Zhang Fei said, “If I had had room then to kill this robber, we would not have reached this day.”

Yunchang said, “The matter has already arrived at this point; we shall gather our strength and follow.”

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei brought a few riders and came with Gongsun Zan. Cao Cao met them and they all camped. The lords came in over the next days and each established camp and stockades, linked in a line for more than two hundred li. Cao Cao held a grand sacrifice, slaughtering oxen and horses, and convened the lords to discuss advancing the army.

Wang Kuang said, “Since this is righteous duty, we must name an alliance leader. If the lords all accept common discipline, we can advance.”

Cao Cao said, “Yuan Shao was formerly Benchu, four generations from high office, descendant of a great minister of Han. He can serve as alliance leader.”

Yuan Shao demurred repeatedly. The assembly cried, “No one else but Benchu is possible.”

Only then did Yuan Shao assent. The next day they built a three-tiered platform, hung five directional banners, and raised white-mane lances with yellow battle standards and the seals of command. They invited Yuan Shao up onto the platform. He adjusted his robes, strapped on his sword, climbed up with feeling, burned incense, and bowed twice.

Their alliance oath read:

The Han house is unfortunate; the imperial thread has lost its order. The treacherous minister Dong Zhuo has exploited disorder, unleashed harm upon the Supreme Ruler, and oppressed the common people. We fear the state will collapse and the altar will fall. Therefore we have gathered righteous troops and come in response to the national emergency. We who enter this alliance are one in spirit and one in labor, to preserve our official loyalty; there shall be no divided intent. Whoever violates this oath shall lose life and have no descendants spared. Heaven and Earth, ancestors, and the bright spirits of previous rulers all bear witness.

After they read this, all drank blood and swore. Their emotion was such that tears flowed down many faces.

Once the oath was done, they descended. The lords helped Yuan Shao into the reception tent and sat according to rank and age in two rows. Cao Cao went around with cups and said, “Now that we have chosen our alliance leader, all will obey deployment orders and together support the state. Do not measure one another by strength.”

Yuan Shao said, “Though I lack talent, having accepted your appointment as leader, any merit shall be rewarded and any guilt punished. The state has regular punishment, and the army has discipline; each must obey it, and none may transgress.”

They all replied, “We will do as ordered.”

Yuan Shao said, “My brother Yuan Shu now supervises provisions. He will answer each camp so there is no shortfall. We still need one man for the vanguard to ride straight to Sishui Pass and provoke battle. The rest should hold difficult terrain for support.”

Sun Jian stepped forward: “I, Wentai of Wucheng, will take the vanguard.”

Yuan Shao said, “You are brave and fierce, Wentai; you can bear this task.”

Thus Sun Jian led his own men and rode hard to Sishui Pass.

The officers at the pass sent mounted couriers to the Prime Minister’s Office in Luoyang to report the alarm. Since Dong Zhuo had seized great power, he was hosting drinking sessions each day. Li Ru received the urgent memorial and came straight to Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo was greatly startled. He gathered all his generals and consulted. Wenhou Lü Bu stepped forward and said, “Do not worry, Your Highness. The lords from beyond the passes are no more than weeds and grasses to me. Let me take a tiger-and-wolf army and cut all their heads, hanging them at your gate.”

Dong Zhuo rejoiced. “Since we have Fengxian, we may rest easy!” he said.

Before he finished, a tall man behind him shouted in a loud voice, “Why cut a chicken with an ox knife?” The speaker continued, “There is no need for the Wenhou to ride there in person. I can cut down the lords’ chiefs as easily as removing a plum from a basket.”

Dong Zhuo turned and saw him: he was nine chi tall, with a tiger’s chest and wolflike waist, a leopard face and ape-like arms; he was a man of Guanzhong. His surname was Hua, given name Xiong. Dong Zhuo rejoiced again and promoted him to Assistant Cavalry Commander, assigning him fifty thousand horse and foot with Li Su, Hu Zhen, and Zhao Cen to ride through the night and meet the lords at the pass.

Among those lords there was Bao Xin, Minister of Jibei. He thought, “Since Sun Jian has taken the vanguard, he may seize all the glory. I will secretly send my brother Bao Zhong with three thousand mounted infantry by a short route straight under the pass to force hand-to-hand contact before the vanguard gets there.”

Hua Xiong led five hundred iron cavalry and thundered down the pass with a cry: “Rebel commanders, do not run!” Bao Zhong tried to fall back, but Hua Xiong struck instantly and beheaded him from horseback. He took many officers alive. He sent Bao Zhong’s head back to Dong Zhuo as a message of success, and Dong Zhuo promoted Hua to Chief Commander.

Now Sun Jian arrived with four generals, and straightened out the front. They were:

The first was Cheng Pu, from northeastern Beiping in Tiyin, surname Cheng, given name Pu, courtesy name Demou, who carried a long iron-serpentine spear.

The second was Huang Gai, surname Huang, given name Gai, courtesy name Gongfu, from Lingling, and he used an iron flail.

The third was Han Dang, surname Han, given name Dang, courtesy name Yigong, from Liao-Xi Ling; he wielded a great sabre.

The fourth was Zu Mao, surname Zu, given name Mao, courtesy name Darong, from Fuchun in Wu Commandery, and he used a pair of swords.

Sun Jian wore torn silver armor, a red helmet beneath it, and a broad old mace. He rode a mane-maned horse, pointed at the pass, and shouted, “Assist those villains? Why did you not surrender earlier?”

Hu Zhen, Hua Xiong’s second-in-command, brought five thousand men out to meet him.

Cheng Pu, riding hard and lifting his spear, charged straight for Hu Zhen. After only a few engagements, he skewered Hu Zhen in the throat; Hu Zhen fell dead from his horse. Sun Jian drove the troops straight to the pass mouth, where arrows and stones rained down.

He brought his men back to camp on the east of the Ridge and sent word to Yuan Shao of his success and then to Yuan Shu urging him for supplies.

A courtier said to Yuan Shu, “Sun Jian is a ferocious tiger of Jiangdong. If we break through to Luoyang and kill Dong Zhuo, this is removing a wolf and taking its tiger. If you do not provide supplies now, his army will scatter.”

Yuan Shu believed him and sent no grain.

Sun Jian’s army soon had a shortage, and confusion spread. Hu Zhen then informed Dong Zhuo. He advised, “Tonight I will lead one unit by a side track down the pass and strike behind Sun Jian’s camp. Once our general swings his forward camp down, Jian can be taken.”

Hua Xiong followed this plan. He ordered all soldiers to eat to fullness and ride down the pass during the night.

That night the moon was clear and the wind mild. When he reached Jian’s camp, it was past midnight. The drums and cries drove straight forward. Sun Jian hastily buckled on his armor and mounted. He met Hua Xiong immediately. The two horses clashed; after only a few engagements, a second wave of Li Su’s soldiers arrived and sent fire rising from the camps. Sun Jian’s men scattered in panic. The commanders fought in mixed confusion; only Zu Mao stayed fixed on Sun Jian and broke through with him. They ran.

Hua Xiong pursued.

Sun Jian shot two arrows, both dodged by Hua. When he released a third, he pulled too hard and snapped the Qiehua bow, so he abandoned the bow and fled at speed.

Zu Mao said, “My lord, your face is visible through the red helmet and can be recognized from afar. Take it off and give it to me to wear.”

Sun Jian removed it and switched helmets. Then they split on two routes and escaped. Hua Xiong’s troops chased only the red helmet. Sun Jian slipped away by a small path. Zu Mao, seeing the pursuit close, hung the red helmet on a courtyard pillar that still had burning soot and then disappeared into the woods.

At the pass the moonlight revealed that red helmet among the shadows. They encircled him from all sides, too afraid to close in closely. They shot arrows until they realized the trick, and then moved to recover the helmet.

Zu Mao broke out behind the trees, swinging his twin swords and trying to cleave Hua Xiong.

Hua shouted once and cut Zu Mao down from horseback.

It was dawn before he led his troops back up the pass. Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang found Sun Jian and helped him reform and set up camp once more.

Because Zu Mao had fallen, Sun Jian was deeply shaken. That night he sent word to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao was alarmed: “I never expected Sun Wentai to be defeated at the hand of Hua Xiong!” and gathered the lords for counsel. All came except Gongsun Zan, who arrived last; Yuan Shao asked him in.

“Sun Wentai violated our orders and advanced of his own choosing. He was hit and killed many of our men and has fallen. Now he has been defeated again by Hua Xiong. Morale is bruised. What are we to do?” he asked.

No one spoke.

Yuan Shao looked around and saw three unusual men standing behind Gongsun Zan, who were smiling coldly. He asked, “Who are those men behind the Governor?”

Gongsun lifted up Liu Bei and said, “They are my childhood housemates and sworn brothers, including the magistrate of P’ingyuan named Liu Bei.”

Cao Cao said, “Could it be Liu Bei, the one who once broke the Yellow Turbans?”

Gongsun nodded. “Yes.”

He then ordered Liu Bei to bow and present himself. Gongsun recounted Liu Bei’s service and background in full. Yuan Shao said, “Since you are from the Han imperial household, come take a seat.” He ordered him to sit. Liu Bei thanked him.

Yuan Shao said, “I do not honor your title; I honor you as a scion of the imperial house.”

Liu Bei sat at the end position, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei knelt with hands crossed behind him.

Then a messenger came: “Hua Xiong has ridden down from the pass with a long spear, holding aloft Sun Wentai’s red helmet, and has come to the camp to taunt our front-line struggle.”

Yuan Shao asked, “Who goes to fight him?” Yuan Shu emerged from behind with his brave man Yu She. “This junior officer wishes to go.”

Yuan Shao was pleased and gave Yu She leave to ride.

The immediate report came back: “Yu She fought Hua Xiong for less than three engagements. Hua Xiong has beheaded him.”

The camp was greatly startled.

Wang Kuang said, “I have Han general Pan Feng; he can behead Hua Xiong.” Yuan Shao ordered him forward at once.

Pan Feng carried a great axe and went up on horseback. Not long after, a rider returned: “Pan Feng was also cut down by Hua Xiong.”

Again the camp lost color.

Yuan Shao said, “It is a pity that my top generals Yan Liang and Wenchou have not yet arrived. A single brave man in this place—why should we fear Hua Xiong?” Before he could finish, someone shouted from the steps below, “I, a junior officer, volunteer to behead Hua Xiong and offer him under your camp!”

All looked. The man was near nine chi tall, with a beard two chi long, darting Danfeng eyes, broad eyebrows like a curled silkworm, a face like a ripe date, and a voice like a bronze bell. He stood before the tent.

Yuan Shao asked, “Who is this?”

Gongsun said, “He is Guan Yu, brother of Liu Bei.”

Yuan Shao asked, “What office does he hold?”

Gongsun said, “He serves Liu Bei as mounted archer.”

Yuan Shu shouted from the rank, “Do you dare boast before our lords as if no general stood above you? A mere archer, how dare you challenge! Fight with me!”

Cao Cao hastened to stop him. “Calm down,” he said. “He has spoken boldly; he must have courage and skill. Let him ride and test it. If he cannot win, it is no later to hold him accountable.”

Yuan Shao said, “If one archer goes out, Hua Xiong will mock him.”

Cao Cao said, “This man has uncommon bearing. How would Hua Xiong know he is only an archer?”

Guan Yu said, “If I fail, I will submit my head.”

Cao Cao handed him a cup of warmed wine, drank with him, and then sent him up.

Guan said, “Set the cup aside and pour it down; I will return shortly.”

He stepped from the tent, took up his saber, and vaulted onto his horse. The other lords heard the war drums and shouts outside the passes like a sky collapsing and the earth opening. Just as they strained to learn what was happening, a jangling bell sounded and he entered the center, Yun chang lifted Hua Xiong’s head and flung it to the ground while the wine was still warm.

Later someone composed a verse in praise:

He alone restrains heaven and earth with the first of deeds, Drumskins in Yüan Gate thunder in the gate-way’s roar. Yunchang set down the cup and displayed valor, With his wine still warm, he cut down Hua Xiong.

Cao Cao rejoiced greatly.

From behind Liu Bei, Zhang Fei stepped out, shouting at full voice, “My brother has beheaded Hua Xiong. Shall we not ride into the pass and seize Dong Zhuo alive now? How long can we wait?”

Yuan Shu was furious and shouted, “My lord is still yielding in humility. How can a foot soldier under a county magistrate dazzle and display arms here? Send him out of camp at once!”

Cao Cao said, “Reward follows merit, not rank.”

Yuan Shu said, “If the lords honor only a county magistrate, then I withdraw.”

Cao Cao said, “Can we let one word ruin major business?” and ordered Gongsun Zan to escort Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei back to camp.

The officers dispersed. Cao Cao quietly sent men with ox and wine to soothe the three.

Now Hua Xiong’s defeated forces carried news back to Dong Zhuo. Li Su quickly wrote an urgent memorial and presented it. Dong Zhuo convened Li Ru, Lü Bu, and others and consulted.

Li Ru said, “We have now lost our senior general Hua Xiong; the rebel forces are vast. Yuan Shao is alliance leader, and Yuan Wai, now Grand Tutor, serves in our heartland. If inside and out there is collusion, it would be deeply troublesome. First remove him. I suggest the Chancellor should personally lead the great army to divide and hunt the rebels.”

Dong Zhuo accepted this view. He called Li Jue and Guo Si and ordered each to lead five hundred men to surround the home of the Grand Tutor Yuan Wai, killing old and young alike and leaving no survivors, and then sending Yuan Wai’s head to the pass front as a warning. Dong Zhuo then raised 200,000 troops and split into two columns. One column, first, sent Li Jue and Guo Si with 500 men to hold Sishui Pass and avoid close battle; Dong Zhuo himself led 150,000 with Li Ru, Lü Bu, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji, and others to guard Hulao Pass, which was fifty li from Luoyang. When the host arrived at Hulao Pass, Dong Zhuo ordered Lü Bu to take 30,000 and set a great encampment before the pass. Dong Zhuo himself stayed on the pass.

A messenger who had watched from starry horse patrols reported to Yuan Shao’s main camp. Yuan Shao gathered the lords again to discuss.

Cao Cao said, “Dong Zhuo is now stationed at Hulao, blocking the middle route of our lords. We should send half the army out to meet him now.”

Yuan Shao then assigned eight lords—Wang Kuang, Qiao Mao, Bao Xin, Yuan Yi, Kong Rong, Zhang Yang, Tao Qian, and Gongsun Zan—to go to Hulao to meet Dong Zhuo. Cao Cao brought his own troops in support. The eight lords separately raised their forces.

The Administrator of Henan, Wang Kuang, arrived first with his troops. Lü Bu then brought three thousand heavy cavalry and came rushing to meet him. Wang Kuang drew up his men in battle formation and held them beneath the horse-banner gate when he saw Lü Bu take command. Lü Bu appeared with a triple-braided black-gold crown, a Sichuan red brocade robe in a hundred-flower pattern, beast-faced overlapping mail, and an elaborate leopard-patterned belt of armor at his waist. A bow and arrows hung at his side. He sat astride a wind-whistling Chìtù horse. Truly, among men he was Lü Bu, and among horses he was Chìtù.

Wang Kuang turned to ask, “Who dares to take the field?” A commander rode out behind him and presented a spear.

Wang Kuang recognized him as Fang Yue, a famous general of Henan. Their horses clashed; within fewer than five exchanges, Lü Bu skewered him so he fell from the saddle. Wang Kuang’s army collapsed badly and broke in all directions.

Lü Bu rode east and west as if crossing an empty place. By good fortune, Qiao Mao and Yuan Yi arrived with both armies and came to save Wang Kuang. Lü Bu then withdrew.

The three roads of lords, each losing some men and horses, withdrew thirty li south to reestablish camp. Soon the other five contingents arrived and they gathered to debate. All praised Lü Bu as an unmatched hero.

In the midst of this, a junior adjutant reported, “Lü Bu is offering battle.” The eight lords mounted as one and split their armies into eight divisions. Lü Bu stood atop a high mound. From afar his horse and men and embroidered banners were seen, and he first crashed into the line.

The commander of Zhang Yang’s column, Mu Shun, rode forward and met him with a spear; Lü Bu thrust once and felled him in the saddle.

The crowd gasped. The Officer of Beihai’s command, Wu An’guo, rode out with a hammer and an iron maul. Lü Bu struck and then swept with his halberd in reply. Their fight lasted over ten exchanges before Lü Bu cut off Wu An’guo’s wrist with one stroke; he dropped his hammer and fled.

The eight armies surged together and rescued Wu An’guo. Lü Bu rode back.

The lords returned to camp and deliberated. Cao Cao said, “Lü Bu is valiant and invincible in close combat. Let us gather all eighteen allied forces and craft a better plan. If we can capture him, Dong Zhuo will be easy to kill.”

While they were still discussing, Lü Bu once more brought his force out to fight. The eight lords advanced together. Gongsun Zan wielded his long spear and engaged Lü Bu in person. Within only a few passes, Gongsun fled. Lü Bu prised his red-horse forward to pursue.

That horse could run a thousand li a day, and flew like the wind. When it nearly caught him, Lü Bu raised his painted halberd and aimed at Gongsun’s back. At that moment another commander beside him, with round eyes and upright tiger whiskers and a tall snake-spear in hand, spurred on and shouted, “Three-surname houseman, do not run! Zhang Fei of Yan is here!”

When Lü Bu saw this, he dropped Gongsun and turned to Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei stirred his resolve and fought Lü Bu in full force. After more than fifty rounds they clashed without clear victory.

Yunchang saw this, struck his horse once, and came with his eighty-two-lb Green Dragon Crescent Blade to flank Lü Bu. Three horses whirled and clashed like a turning lantern pattern.

After thirty exchanges, none could yet bring Lü Bu down.

Liu Bei drew his double-edged sword, reined his gold maned horse sharply, and rode in with a slanting stroke to join.

The three then closed around Lü Bu and fought as if whirling lanterns. No one could stay apart from the press for long. Lü Bu tried to force gaps in their lines. Turning from one flank to another, he made a feint with one stroke of the halberd and made Liu Bei move to avoid it. Lü Bu then whipped the flank aside and wheeled, dragging his painted halberd, and sped his horse back.

The three refused to yield. They spurred after him. The armies of all eight lords shouted so loudly it shook the air as they moved to cover the encirclement.

Lü Bu’s army turned and ran toward the pass. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei followed.

An old saying was written of this three-man fight with Lü Bu:

The stars of the Han have ordained this age for Huanling. The blazing sun slants toward the west. The treacherous minister Dong Zhuo deposed a young emperor, Liu Xie, timid and weak, dreams in alarm. Cao Cao sent a memorial to all beneath the sky and lords throughout the realm rose in wrath to raise troops. They chose Yuan Shao as alliance leader, swearing to uphold the Wang house and set peace at last. Lü Bu, called Wenhou, is unmatched under heaven; his lion-like talent draws praise from the four seas. He shields his body in silver scales like dragon scales, binds his hair with a golden crown crowned by peacock feather tail. Gemmed belts hang askew across the saddle, his brocade robes flutter like flying phoenixes. His dragon steed leaps and kicks up a wind from heaven, its painted halberd gleams and throws winter-water light. Out of the pass to brawl—who can bear him? Every lord’s heart quails in fear. Zhang Fei of Yan springs forth, gripping a snake spear the length of eight chi. Tiger whiskers bristling, eyes round as a wheel, they flash like lightning. Their fierce battle could not decide one side, while at the frontline Guan Yunchang’s rage swelled. The Green Dragon blade flashed with frost-white brilliance; his parrot-patterned battle robe flew like a scarab. Horse-hooves screamed everywhere and ghosts and spirits screamed back; when anger peaked, blood was to run. He who seemed a wolf, Liu Bei, drew his twin blades, shook out heavenly awe and displayed his martial valor. Three men circled and fought long, guarding and interposing with no rest. Their battle cry made heaven and earth move, killing breath filling the air with a cold of stars and ladles. Luo Bu, his strength exhausted, sought a road to escape, looked to the mountain pass and rode, turning back. Dragging back his painted halberd, the Fāngtiān spear, he scattered and disordered the five-colored banners. He snapped the red reins and rode the Chìtù in a turning leap back to Hulao Pass. The three chased Lü Bu all the way to the foot of the pass, and saw to the west wind a blue gauze parasol flapping above the gate. Zhang Fei cried out, “That must be Dong Zhuo. Where is there strength in chasing Lü Bu? Better to seize the bandit first. Then we truly remove the root.” he spurred up the pass to seize Dong Zhuo.

Then:

If we seize the bandit, we must first seize the bandit’s head. Great merit waits only for a rare man. How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.