Lü Bu

史载（Historical Record）

Lü Bu, styled Fengxian, was a native of Jiuyuan in Wuyuan Commandery, renowned throughout Bingzhou for his valor and skill in battle^[1]. He first served as registrar under Ding Yuan, the inspector of Bingzhou, and was deeply trusted and favored by him^[1]. However, when Emperor Ling died and Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Dong Zhuo, intending to absorb Ding Yuan's troops, induced Lü Bu to assassinate Ding Yuan. Lü Bu cut off Ding Yuan's head and went over to Dong Zhuo, who therefore appointed him cavalry commandant, treated him as an adopted son, and showered him with favor^[1].

After Dong Zhuo seized power, the Minister over the Masses Wang Yun and the Supervisor of the Masters of Writing Shisun Rui secretly plotted to kill Dong Zhuo. Wang Yun, well aware of the complicated relationship between Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo, exploited Lü Bu's resentment toward Dong Zhuo and persuaded him to act as an inside agent^[2]. Lü Bu at first hesitated out of the "father-son" bond, but under Wang Yun's persuasion finally agreed to assassinate Dong Zhuo^[2]. In 192 CE, Lü Bu killed Dong Zhuo with his own hand and exterminated his clan to the third degree^[3]. When it was done, Wang Yun appointed Lü Bu General Who Exerts Valor, gave him the staff of authority, granted him ceremonial honors equal to the Three Excellencies, advanced him in fief to Marquis of Wen, and shared the governance of the court with him^[2].

Soon after Dong Zhuo's death, his former subordinates Li Jue, Guo Si and others, out of hatred for Lü Bu, joined forces to attack Chang'an^[2]. Lü Bu could not hold out; Chang'an fell, and he was forced to flee out through Wu Pass with several hundred horsemen, intending to seek refuge with Yuan Shu^[2]. However, Yuan Shu refused to take him in because of his fickleness^[4]. Lü Bu then turned to Yuan Shao, and helped him defeat Zhang Yan^[4]. But because of his arrogance and overbearing manner, Yuan Shao came to fear him and sought to harm him. Detecting this, Lü Bu fled to Henei and joined forces with Zhang Yang^[4].

In 194 CE, when Cao Cao campaigned east against Xu Province, Yanzhou was left empty. Chen Gong persuaded Zhang Miao to betray Cao Cao and welcome Lü Bu to take control of Yanzhou^[5]. Lü Bu thereupon occupied Puyang and waged fierce battle with Cao Cao. The two sides remained deadlocked for over a hundred days; because of drought and a locust plague, the people resorted to cannibalism, and Lü Bu was forced to move east and station at Shanyang^[5]. Two years later, Cao Cao recovered Yanzhou and defeated Lü Bu at Juye, whereupon Lü Bu went over to Liu Bei^[5].

Liu Bei took Lü Bu in and settled him at Xiaopei^[6]. However, while Liu Bei was campaigning east against Yuan Shu, Lü Bu seized the opportunity to take Xiapi and captured Liu Bei's wife and children^[6]. Liu Bei was forced to return and made peace with Lü Bu, who settled Liu Bei at Xiaopei while styling himself inspector of Xu Province^[6]. Thereafter Lü Bu's relations with Yuan Shu were complicated; he once intended to form a marriage alliance, but abandoned it at Chen Gui's persuasion^[7]. He also once "shot the halberd at the camp gate" to defuse a conflict between Yuan Shu and Liu Bei^[6].

In 198 CE, Lü Bu betrayed Liu Bei again, sending Gao Shun to attack Pei and defeating Liu Bei. Cao Cao personally campaigned against Lü Bu and besieged him at Xiapi^[8]. Lü Bu once wished to surrender, but was stopped by Chen Gong and others^[8]. During the siege, Lü Bu's subordinates Hou Cheng, Song Xian, Wei Xu and others rebelled, seized Chen Gong, and surrendered the city^[8]. Lü Bu was finally captured alive, and Cao Cao, on Liu Bei's advice, had him strangled^[8]. The heads of Lü Bu, Chen Gong and others were displayed and sent to Xu before they were buried^[8].

演中（In the Novel）

The Lü Bu of Romance of the Three Kingdoms is further artistically embellished on the basis of historical fact, becoming a typical figure of unmatched martial prowess and fickleness. At his first appearance he displays an image of "imposing bearing and awe-inspiring majesty, holding a Sky-Piercing Halberd"^[9]. The Romance describes in detail how Li Su tempted Lü Bu with the Red Hare horse and treasures of gold and pearl, leading him to betray Ding Yuan^[10], and finally to "cut off Ding Yuan's head with a single stroke"^[11] and go over to Dong Zhuo, honoring Dong Zhuo as his adoptive father. This episode reinforces Lü Bu's negative image as a "slave of three surnames."

During the period of Dong Zhuo's dominance, the Romance emphasizes Lü Bu's valor and Dong Zhuo's trust in him. When the eighteen warlords campaigned against Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu once boasted, "I am willing to lead a host fierce as tigers and wolves, to cut off all their heads and hang them at the capital gate"^[12], but his subordinate Hua Xiong was slain by Guan Yu, so that Lü Bu's valorous image was not fully displayed. The Romance also invents an episode in which Lü Bu fails in an attempt to assassinate Cao Cao at Dong Zhuo's residence, Cao Cao escaping under the pretext of presenting a blade^[13], adding dramatic tension.

Diao Chan's "chain stratagem" is the centerpiece of Lü Bu's characterization in the Romance. The Romance describes in detail how Diao Chan moved between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu, sowing discord between them^[14]. On account of Diao Chan, Lü Bu conceived a murderous intent toward Dong Zhuo, and finally, at Wang Yun's instigation, killed Dong Zhuo with his own hand^[15]. In the Romance, after assassinating Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu also killed Li Su^[16], which is not clearly recorded in the historical sources.

The Romance also greatly embellishes Lü Bu's many clashes with Cao Cao in Yanzhou. He repeatedly crossed swords with Cao Cao's fierce generals such as Xu Chu and Dian Wei, displaying his valor of "crossing the realm alone on a single horse"^[17]. For example, in the Battle of Puyang, Lü Bu single-handedly fought six of Cao Cao's leading generals (Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Li Dian, and Yue Jin)^[18]; though he was finally driven back, the strength of his martial prowess is evident. The Romance also depicts Lü Bu nearly losing his life to Cao Cao's fire attack within the city of Puyang^[19], and his wife Lady Tian refusing to open the city gate out of displeasure with Lü Bu^[20], which further enrich Lü Bu's image.

During the siege of Xiapi, the Romance magnifies Lü Bu's character traits of indecision and failure to heed loyal counsel. Chen Gong offered stratagems many times, but Lü Bu, whether because of the words of his wives and concubines or his own suspicions, failed to adopt them^[8]. In the end, the betrayal of his subordinates Hou Cheng, Song Xian, Wei Xu and others led to Lü Bu's capture^[8]. After being captured, Lü Bu begged Cao Cao for mercy and tried to drive a wedge between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, but Liu Bei finally exposed his fickle nature with a single remark, and he was cruelly strangled^[8]. In the Romance, before his death Lü Bu rebuked Liu Bei as "the most untrustworthy of all"^[8], reflecting his resentment and distrust of Liu Bei.

关键关系

* Ding Yuan (enemy_of): The histories record that Lü Bu, tempted by Dong Zhuo, killed Ding Yuan and absorbed his troops^[1]. In the Romance, Li Su bought Lü Bu over with the Red Hare horse and money, leading him to betray and kill Ding Yuan and honor Dong Zhuo as his adoptive father, further reinforcing Lü Bu's image as a "slave of three surnames"^[10],^[11].
* Dong Zhuo (betrayed_by): Lü Bu first attached himself to Dong Zhuo and was taken as his adopted son, deeply favored^[1]. However, owing to Dong Zhuo's cruelty and Wang Yun's stratagem of discord (Romance only), Lü Bu finally killed Dong Zhuo with his own hand^[3],^[15].
* Dong Zhuo's Faction (serves): While under Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu served him, but after Dong Zhuo's death his former subordinates Li Jue, Guo Si and others, out of hatred for Lü Bu, attacked Chang'an, and Lü Bu, unable to hold out, was forced to flee^[2].
* Yuan Shu (friend_of): After being defeated by Li Jue and Guo Si, Lü Bu wished to seek refuge with Yuan Shu, but Yuan Shu refused to take him in because of his fickleness^[4]. Later, Lü Bu and Yuan Shu had brief cooperation and conflict, and once even intended to form a marriage alliance, but finally abandoned it at Chen Gui's persuasion^[7]. In the Romance, Yuan Shu sent Ji Ling to attack Liu Bei, and Lü Bu defused the conflict by "shooting the halberd at the camp gate"^[6].
* Yuan Shao: After being refused by Yuan Shu, Lü Bu went over to Yuan Shao and helped him defeat Zhang Yan^[4]. But because of Lü Bu's arrogance, Yuan Shao came to fear him and sought to harm him, so Lü Bu fled^[4].
* Liu Bei: After being defeated by Cao Cao in Yanzhou, Lü Bu went over to Liu Bei^[5]. However, while Liu Bei was campaigning east against Yuan Shu, Lü Bu seized Xiapi and captured Liu Bei's wife and children^[6]. Thereafter their relations alternated between good and bad, and finally, in the Battle of Xiapi, Liu Bei persuaded Cao Cao to put Lü Bu to death^[8].
* Cao Cao: Lü Bu was a long-time adversary of Cao Cao. The two fought many times in Yanzhou and Xu Province, with victories on both sides^[5],^[8]. In the end, Cao Cao defeated and captured Lü Bu in the Battle of Xiapi^[8].
* Chen Gong: Chen Gong was Lü Bu's important strategist, repeatedly devising plans for him^[5],^[8]. However, Lü Bu often failed to heed his advice, leading to defeat. In the end, Chen Gong was captured and executed together with Lü Bu^[8].
* Gao Shun: Gao Shun was a loyal general under Lü Bu, and the "Camp-Breaking Battalion" he led fought valiantly^[8]. He repeatedly remonstrated with Lü Bu, but Lü Bu would not listen. In the end, Gao Shun was captured and executed together with Lü Bu^[8].
* Diao Chan (Romance only): In the Romance, Diao Chan was Wang Yun's adopted daughter, used by Wang Yun in the "chain stratagem" to sow discord between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu^[14]. Diao Chan's beauty and schemes were among the important reasons Lü Bu finally assassinated Dong Zhuo^[14].

标志性场景

* Assassinating Ding Yuan: Tempted by Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu betrayed and killed Ding Yuan and went over to Dong Zhuo, becoming his adopted son^[1]. This event established the fickleness at the base of Lü Bu's character.
* Assassinating Dong Zhuo: At Wang Yun's instigation, Lü Bu killed Dong Zhuo with his own hand, ending Dong Zhuo's tyranny^[3]. This event won Lü Bu the reputation of a "loyal minister" for a time.
* Shooting the halberd at the camp gate: To defuse the conflict between Yuan Shu and Liu Bei, Lü Bu set up a halberd before the camp gate, wagering on hitting the small branch of the halberd, and finally struck it with a single arrow, forcing both sides to cease hostilities^[6]. This scene displays Lü Bu's superb martial skill and a measure of political tact.
* The Battle of Puyang: Lü Bu waged fierce battle with Cao Cao at Puyang in Yanzhou, once gaining the upper hand and repeatedly crossing swords with Cao Cao's fierce generals^[18]. In the Romance, Lü Bu even single-handedly fought six of Cao Cao's generals, glorious even in defeat^[18].
* The siege of Xiapi: Lü Bu was besieged by Cao Cao at Xiapi; because of his suspicion, his failure to heed loyal counsel, and the rebellion of his subordinates, he was finally captured^[8]. This scene marks the beginning of Lü Bu's tragic end.
* Death at White Gate Tower: Lü Bu was captured at White Gate Tower, begged Cao Cao for mercy, and tried to sow discord, but Liu Bei exposed his fickle nature with a single remark, and he was finally strangled by Cao Cao^[8].
* Diao Chan's chain stratagem (Romance only): Wang Yun used Diao Chan to sow discord between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu, so that Lü Bu, his love turning to hatred, finally assassinated Dong Zhuo^[14]. This episode greatly enriches Lü Bu's image, making him not merely a brute warrior but a tragic hero ruled by passion.