Rural Dictionary

Lu Bu

Lu Bu (Fengxian)
Born 156 AD - Died 199 AD
43 Years
Place of birth - Jiuyuan, Wuyuan County

Lu Bu was a master of horse riding, archery and armed combat. He was tall and immensely strong for this, he was nicknamed 'The Flying General'. He had a horse called Red Hare, capable of 1000 miles a day. It was often said, "Among men, Lu Bu. Among horses, Red Hare."

He started his career as a Chief Secretary for Ding Yuan who treated him as his own son. However, when Dong Zhuo began to lay many splendid gifts at Lu Bu's feet, Lu Bu was talked into killing Ding Yuan.

Lu Bu was appointed Cavalry Commander and Imperial Corps Commander. Dong Zhuo adopted Lu Bu as his son and Lu Bu adopted Dong Zhuo as his father. From that moment on, Lu Bu became Dong Zhuo's closest bodyguard.

When the Allies took Si Shui Gate and faced Hu Lao Gate, Lu Bu was put in charge of holding the gate. The Allies faltered in the face of such unstoppable might, Gongsun Zan was about to be slain when a warrior charged out to save him.

It was none other than Zhang Fei in a drunken stupour, he fought with Lu Bu but neither gained the advantage.

Guan Yu joined his brother, but still Lu Bu showed no signs of fatigue.

Finally, Liu Bei joined the fray and Lu Bu was forced to retreat. The Allies took Hu Lao Gate and Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo burned the capital and ordered a mass exodus from Luo Yang to Chang An.

Wang Yun, a minister in the capital devised a plan to have Lu Bu kill Dong Zhuo, for this, he took a young dancer girl named Diao Chan and offered her to both of them. Lu Bu became enraged when he learned that Diao Chan had became Dong Zhuo's consort and swore to avenge her, he murdered Dong Zhuo as he stepped out his carriage one night.

When he was attacked by former officers of Dong Zhuo he retreated and sought refuge with Yuan Shao. Lu Bu entered the Yan Province where he fought with Cao Cao, but he lost this and fled to the Xu Province where Liu Bei was acting Prefect for Tao Qian.

Lu Bu called Liu Bei his little brother and settled in Xu. But the peace did not last for long.

Yuan Shu's General, Zhi Ling arrived in Xu with an army of ten legions, but Lu Bu sick of Zhang Fei and Zhi Ling's bickering took his Halberd and placed it in the ground. He then walked back 150 paces and announced if he hit the centre branch of the halberd head, there would be no fighting and if he missed, they could fight.

Lu Bu fired his arrow and it hit the exact mark he had indicated.

Lu Bu turned to Cao Cao and served under him briefly before betraying him and allying himself with Yuan Shu.

Lu Bu then took over Xia Pi and tried to align himself with Yuan Shu. Liu Bei was forced to turn to Cao Cao for help.

Cao Cao regarded Liu Bei highly and suggested a joint attack on Lu Bu. However, Lu Bu himself discovered the plot and attacked Liu Bei at Xiao Pei. Xiahou Dun was sent by Cao Cao, but withdrew when an arrow pierced his eye.

Liu Bei and Cao Cao then besieged Lu Bu at Xia Pi Castle and flooded the castle interior.

Having no solution to the problem at hand, Lu Bu's behaviour became erratic. He turned to drinking, then swore off alcohol altogether. Lu Bu then punished anyone who drank severely.

He was eventually betrayed whilst he slept and captured. His prized sted Red Hare given to Cao Cao as a peace offering, and his halberd thrown out the window.

As he sat in defeat, face to face with Cao Cao, he offered his services to him. But was rejected as Liu Bei reminded Cao Cao what Lu Bu had done to Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo.

Lu Bu immediately barked threats at Liu Bei, those were to be the last words he would ever speak, and he was beheaded at White Tower Gate.

For more information, check out www.kongming.net

Parts of this guide taken from there.

by Bruce March 25, 2005

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