Why the Peach Garden Oath Begins Liu Bei's Legend

In the previous episode, Dong Zhuo's death did not restore order. Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan fought in the north, and the realm kept dividing.

At the edge of this world, a still minor figure began stepping forward with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Put Aside the Three Heroes Fighting Lü Bu

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives us the famous scene of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei fighting Lü Bu at Hulao Pass.

It is thrilling, but not history. By this point in the historical sequence, Dong Zhuo is already dead and Lü Bu has fled Chang'an. The Hulao scene is a literary way to introduce the three brothers and Lü Bu.

To see Liu Bei's historical entrance, we should begin with Gongsun Zan.

Gongsun Zan, the White Horse General

Gongsun Zan had long fought on the northern frontier against Wuhuan, Xianbei, and other groups.

He was famous for ferocity. When enemies came, he chased as if pursuing private hatred and often fought until nightfall. His elite white-horse cavalry were called the White Horse Volunteers, and he became known as the White Horse General.

In 191 CE, Qing Province Yellow Turbans attacked Bohai. Gongsun Zan defeated them with twenty thousand infantry and cavalry, killed tens of thousands, pursued them to the river, and captured more than seventy thousand.

Around the same time, Gongsun Zan's younger brother, who followed Yuan Shu, was killed by a subordinate of Yuan Shao. Gongsun Zan angrily attacked Yuan Shao and at first gained the advantage.

Among those following Gongsun Zan was Liu Bei.

Liu Bei's Imperial Clan Claim

Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, was from Zhuo County in Zhuo Commandery.

He claimed descent from Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan and son of Emperor Jing of Western Han. But Liu Sheng had many sons, and by the late Eastern Han, such distant imperial relatives were not rare. Liu Bei's family had fallen low. His grandfather and father held only local offices, and his father died early. Liu Bei and his mother sold straw sandals and wove mats.

One childhood story says a huge mulberry tree near his home looked like an imperial carriage canopy. Liu Bei once said he would ride such a canopy one day. His uncle warned him not to speak recklessly and invite disaster.

At fifteen, Liu Bei studied under Lu Zhi together with Gongsun Zan. He was not fond of books. He liked horses, dogs, music, fine clothes, and the world of local gallants. He spoke little, hid his emotions, and attracted young men and merchants willing to support him.

When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Liu Bei used such support to recruit followers and fight for the court.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei joined him in this period.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei Became Brothers in Practice

Guan Yu, courtesy name Yunchang, came from Xie County in Hedong and had fled to Zhuo. Zhang Fei, courtesy name Yide, was from Zhuo itself.

The official histories do not describe their faces the way later fiction does. Guan Yu's red face and Zhang Fei's fierce features belong mainly to literary and performance tradition.

The Peach Garden Oath itself is also not clearly recorded as a historical ritual.

But the histories do say that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were as close as brothers. Liu Bei slept in the same bed with them. In public, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood beside him all day as guards and companions.

So even if the peach garden ceremony cannot be proven, the brotherhood was real.

The famous Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Zhang Fei's long serpent spear also belong mostly to later imagination. Without mature stirrups, wielding huge heavy polearms from horseback was unlikely. Ring-pommel swords and spears were more realistic weapons of the time.

Liu Bei Entered Office and Lost It

After fighting the Yellow Turbans, Liu Bei became commandant of Anxi County.

It was a small post, but for a man once selling sandals, it was entry into official life.

Then the court began dismissing some men who had gained office through military merit. A supervising officer came to Anxi, likely to remove Liu Bei. Liu Bei sought an audience. The officer refused, claiming illness.

Liu Bei grew angry, tied him up, beat him two hundred times, abandoned the office, and fled.

In the novel, Zhang Fei beats the inspector. In the historical record, Liu Bei himself does it.

Later Liu Bei joined forces raised under He Jin, held more local posts, and participated in the anti-Dong Zhuo movement. But compared with Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan, or Yuan Shu, he remained a minor figure with only Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and a small force.

When Gaotang was broken by disorder, Liu Bei went to his old classmate Gongsun Zan.

Zhao Yun Appeared

Under Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei met Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun, courtesy name Zilong, was from Zhending in Changshan. He was tall, impressive, and chosen by his home commandery to lead local troops to Gongsun Zan during the struggle with Yuan Shao.

Gongsun Zan welcomed him. Zhao Yun campaigned under him.

Liu Bei treated Zhao Yun warmly, and Zhao Yun came to see Liu Bei as a man who understood him. Later Zhao Yun judged that Gongsun Zan was narrow, selfish, and too fond of war.

When Zhao Yun's elder brother died, Zhao Yun asked leave to return home. Liu Bei knew he might not come back to Gongsun Zan. He held Zhao Yun's hand in sadness. Zhao Yun said he would not betray Liu Bei's kindness.

At this point, Liu Bei still had no territory and no great army. But Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun had already entered his life.

Yuan Shao Defeated Gongsun Zan

The strongest northern powers were still Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan.

In 192 CE, they fought south of Jie Bridge. Gongsun Zan had many troops and his White Horse Volunteers. Yuan Shao sent Qu Yi with eight hundred elite men forward and placed strong crossbows on both sides.

Qu Yi had long fought in Liangzhou and knew hard battle. Gongsun Zan saw his small numbers and sent cavalry to break him. Qu Yi kept his men crouched behind shields until the cavalry came close, then rose and attacked while crossbows fired from the sides.

Gongsun Zan's army was thrown into disorder, and the White Horse Volunteers suffered badly.

Yuan Shao himself was nearly surrounded by fleeing enemy cavalry, but he refused to hide behind a low wall when Tian Feng pulled him back. He threw down his helmet and said a great man should advance and die if necessary. His crossbowmen fought back, and Gongsun Zan's riders withdrew without realizing Yuan Shao was before them.

After Jie Bridge, Gongsun Zan could not regain the advantage.

Gongsun Zan Killed Liu Yu and Buried Himself at Yijing

Back in You Province, Gongsun Zan quarreled with Liu Yu, the imperial clansman who was his nominal superior.

Liu Yu wanted peace and stable governance. Gongsun Zan kept fighting Yuan Shao and burdening the people. Liu Yu cut supplies. Gongsun Zan grew furious and built his own fortified position outside Ji.

Liu Yu finally attacked with a large but poorly trained army and ordered his men not to burn or harm civilians, only to capture Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan used a small picked force, set fires with the wind, and routed him.

He captured Liu Yu and later used an imperial envoy as cover to accuse him of plotting to become emperor with Yuan Shao. Liu Yu and his family were executed in the market.

Gongsun Zan then became harsher and more isolated. He moved to Yijing, built layers of ditches, mounds, and towers, and shut himself behind iron gates. Documents were hauled up by rope. Commands were shouted out by women with trained voices.

In 199 CE, Yuan Shao attacked. Gongsun Zan's message to outside allies was intercepted, and Yuan Shao used the signal fire to lure him out. After defeat, Gongsun Zan retreated. Yuan Shao's men dug tunnels under the towers, burned the supports, and collapsed them.

Gongsun Zan killed his wife, sisters, and children, then burned himself.

Yuan Shao now controlled Ji, You, Qing, and Bing provinces and became the strongest warlord in the north.

While Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan fought, Cao Cao was also rising. The next episode follows Cao Cao's revenge after his father's death, when war comes brutally to Xuzhou.