Three Kingdoms games · Master Archer
The Halberd at the Camp Gate
196 AD. Yuan Shu sends Ji Ling to attack Liu Bei at Xiaopei. Lü Bu invites both sides to a feast and has his halberd planted 150 paces outside the camp gate: if one arrow strikes the halberd's side branch, both sides stand down; if it misses, each goes back to camp to fight. You loose the arrow.
The camp gate is 150 paces from headquarters (about 208 m)
The Halberd at the Camp Gate
150 paces from the camp gate, one arrow for peace or war
What the two books say
Records of the Three Kingdoms is history; Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a novel. They tell the same shot differently.
- Ji Ling's army
Records of the Three Kingdoms
「術遣將紀靈等步騎三萬攻備」
Yuan Shu sent Ji Ling and other generals with 30,000 foot and horse to attack Liu Bei
Records, vol. 7
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「提十萬之兵」
with a hundred thousand men
Romance, ch. 16
- Why Lü Bu stepped in
Records of the Three Kingdoms
「術若破備，則北連太山諸將，吾爲在術圍中，不得不救也。」
If Yuan Shu breaks Liu Bei, he will join the Taishan generals to the north, and I will be caught in his encirclement. I have no choice but to save him.
Records, vol. 7
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「玄德與布乃兄弟也，今為將軍所困，故而救之。」
Xuande (Liu Bei) and I are brothers. Now that you have him hard pressed, general, I have come to save him.
Romance, ch. 16
- Where the halberd stood
Records of the Three Kingdoms
「布令門候於營門中舉一隻戟」
Lü Bu had the gate officer raise a single halberd at the camp gate
Records, vol. 7
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「令左右接過畫戟，去轅門外遠遠插定」
had his attendants take the painted halberd and plant it far off outside the camp gate
Romance, ch. 16
- Distance
Records of the Three Kingdoms
Not recorded
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「轅門離中軍一百五十步」
The camp gate is 150 paces from headquarters
Romance, ch. 16
- The terms
Records of the Three Kingdoms
「諸君觀布射戟小支，一發中者諸君當解去，不中可留決鬬。」
Gentlemen, watch me shoot at the halberd's small branch. If one shot hits, you must break off and go; if it misses, you may stay and fight it out.
Records, vol. 7
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「吾若一箭射中戟上小枝，你兩家罷兵；如射不中時，各自回營，安排廝殺。」
If my one arrow strikes the small branch on the halberd, you two stand down; if it misses, each goes back to camp and makes ready to fight.
Romance, ch. 16
- The shot
Records of the Three Kingdoms
「布舉弓射戟，正中小支。」
Lü Bu raised his bow and shot at the halberd, striking the small branch square.
Records, vol. 7
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「只見呂布挽起袍袖，搭上箭，扯滿弓，叫一聲「著！」」
Lü Bu rolled back his sleeves, nocked an arrow, drew the bow full and cried, "There!"
Romance, ch. 16
- After the hit
Records of the Three Kingdoms
「諸將皆驚，言「將軍天威也」！明日復歡會，然後各罷。」
The generals were all astonished and said, "The general has Heaven's own might!" The next day they feasted together again, then each side withdrew.
Records, vol. 7
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「此天令你兩家罷兵也！」
This is Heaven telling your two sides to stand down!
Romance, ch. 16
- Later
Records of the Three Kingdoms
Not recorded
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
「大耳兒！不記轅門射戟時耶？」
Big-ears! Have you forgotten when I shot the halberd at the camp gate?
Romance, ch. 19
Bound at the White Gate Tower, Lü Bu reminds Liu Bei of this very shot.
- The halberd's shapeScholarship
- The novel says "painted halberd", and later artists drew it with two crescent blades. An Eastern Han halberd (ji) was shaped like the character 「卜」: a spear point with one blade branching off the side. That side blade is the "small branch". The game draws the Eastern Han form.