Pei Yuanshao

史载（Historical Record）

Pei Yuanshao has no record in the official histories; his life and deeds do not appear in historical material such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms. Therefore, regarding Pei Yuanshao's origins, experiences, and end, historians can make no verification.

演中（In the Novel）

Pei Yuanshao is a remnant of the Yellow Turbans who appears in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, entering during Guan Yu's "solitary thousand-li journey" ^c:3349. He was originally a member of the Yellow Turban Army; after Zhang Jue's death, he and others such as Zhou Cang gathered in the forests as remnants of the Yellow Turbans, becoming bandits of the region ^c:13623. When Pei Yuanshao first appears, he is about to rob Guan Yu of his thousand-li horse. Believing the report of Guo Chang's son (Guo Chang being the innkeeper with whom Guan Yu lodged), he learned that a thousand-li horse was staying at the Guo household and came with men to seize it ^c:3349.

When Pei Yuanshao met Guan Yu, Guan Yu had halted his blade and reined in his horse, opening his beard-sack to reveal his long whiskers. Seeing this, Pei Yuanshao at once tumbled from his saddle, dragged Guo Chang's son before Guan Yu's horse, and announced his own name to Guan Yu. He explained to Guan Yu that he was a remnant of the Yellow Turbans since Zhang Jue's death, gathering in the forests, and that he had not meant any offense but had been lured to seize the horse by Guo Chang's son ^c:3349. Out of regard for Guo Chang the father, Guan Yu pardoned Guo Chang's son. Guan Yu then asked Pei Yuanshao how he had recognized him, and Pei Yuanshao mentioned Zhou Cang of Mount Woniu. He told Guan Yu that Zhou Cang had once been under Zhang Bao of the Yellow Turbans, often spoke to him of Guan Yu's great renown, and lamented having no way to meet him ^c:13623.

Guan Yu exhorted Pei Yuanshao and the others to "forsake evil and return to the right, and not bring ruin upon themselves," and Pei Yuanshao gave deep thanks for this ^c:13623. Just as they were conversing, Zhou Cang arrived with his men. On seeing Guan Yu, Zhou Cang expressed his wish to follow him. Mindful of the safety of his two sisters-in-law, Guan Yu was at first unwilling to accept Zhou Cang and his followers. Zhou Cang, however, insisted on following, and proposed that Pei Yuanshao lead his men back to the mountain while he himself followed Guan Yu alone on foot ^c:13625. In the end, Guan Yu agreed to let Zhou Cang follow, and ordered him to arrange men to go back with Pei Yuanshao. Pei Yuanshao also expressed his wish to follow Guan Yu, but Zhou Cang advised him to lead the men for the time being and come to him later, once Guan Yu had settled down ^c:13625. After this, Pei Yuanshao appears no more in Romance of the Three Kingdoms; his end is not accounted for, and the histories give no clear record.

关键关系

* Zhang Jue: Pei Yuanshao was once a member of the Yellow Turban Army; after Zhang Jue's death, he gathered in the forests with other remnants of the Yellow Turbans ^c:3349 (unique to the novel).
* Yellow Turban Army: Pei Yuanshao was a member of the Yellow Turban Army; after the failure of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he became a bandit, continuing to operate in the forests ^c:3349 (unique to the novel).
* Zhou Cang: Pei Yuanshao and Zhou Cang were old acquaintances, both remnants of the Yellow Turbans who gathered in the forests together. Zhou Cang had spoken to Pei Yuanshao of Guan Yu's great renown ^c:13623 (unique to the novel).
* Guan Yu: Pei Yuanshao met Guan Yu while trying to rob the thousand-li horse, and at last, under Guan Yu's exhortation, expressed his willingness to "forsake evil and return to the right" ^c:13623 (unique to the novel).
* Guo Chang's son: Guo Chang's son informed against Guan Yu to Pei Yuanshao, luring him to rob Guan Yu's thousand-li horse ^c:3349 (unique to the novel).

标志性场景

* Robbing the horse and meeting Guan Yu: Pei Yuanshao's most iconic scene is his encounter with Guan Yu during the "solitary thousand-li journey," when, incited by Guo Chang's son, he sought to rob Guan Yu's thousand-li horse and came face to face with Guan Yu ^c:3349. On seeing Guan Yu, he at once dismounted to pay his respects and explained his identity and intentions, thereby averting a clash. This scene not only displays Pei Yuanshao's identity as a remnant of the Yellow Turbans but also lays the groundwork for Zhou Cang's entrance.
* The conversation with Zhou Cang: In his talk with Guan Yu, Pei Yuanshao mentioned Zhou Cang of Mount Woniu and relayed Zhou Cang's admiration for Guan Yu ^c:13623. This conversation directly brought about the meeting of Zhou Cang and Guan Yu and ultimately made Zhou Cang a loyal follower of Guan Yu, exerting an important influence on the later development of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
* Temporarily leading the men: When Zhou Cang decided to follow Guan Yu, Pei Yuanshao also expressed his wish to follow. However, Zhou Cang advised him to lead the men for the time being and come to him later, once Guan Yu had settled down ^c:13625. This scene embodies the friendship between Pei Yuanshao and Zhou Cang and made it convenient for Zhou Cang to follow Guan Yu unencumbered—though after this Pei Yuanshao never appears again, and his end is not accounted for (unique to the novel).