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Lü Bu

Courtesy nameFengxian

The Slave of Three Surnames — First Among Men as Red Hare Among Horses

The Three Kingdoms A-List · Central Figures

Martial ProwessBetrayalTragedy

Who they are

The mightiest warrior of the Three Kingdoms, peerless in arms, yet earning the slur "slave of three surnames" for his serial betrayals — first taking Ding Yuan as adoptive father, then killing him for the Red Hare horse and riches to join Dong Zhuo; then killing Dong Zhuo over a woman, Diaochan, in Wang Yun’s chain-link scheme. Brave in battle but blind in politics, forever attaching himself to others and forever turning on them, he was strangled at last by Cao Cao at the White Gate Tower. His dying plea — "the bonds are too tight, I beg you loosen them" — is the most pitiable line the novel leaves him.

Primary sourcesChen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Lü Bu

Key stories

The Chain-Link Scheme That Killed Dong Zhuo

Minister over the Masses Wang Yun laid a chain-link scheme: he first promised his ward Diaochan to Lü Bu, then presented her to Dong Zhuo, using the two men’s rivalry over her to sow division. Lü Bu — who had already betrayed Ding Yuan for the Red Hare and for riches — now, egged on by Wang Yun and by Diaochan’s whispers, assassinated Dong Zhuo with his own hand. This "honey-trap" is a classic novel episode; the histories do record Lü Bu killing Dong Zhuo, but whether Diaochan existed at all they do not clearly say.

Death at the White Gate Tower

Repeatedly treacherous, Lü Bu was at last besieged by Cao Cao at Xiapi, betrayed by his own officers who opened the gates, and brought bound to the White Gate Tower. He begged Cao Cao for his life, offering to charge the front lines in his service, and Cao Cao was half inclined to keep him — until Liu Bei, at his side, reminded him "of Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo," and Cao Cao ordered Lü Bu strangled at once. A single reminder ended the life of the realm’s mightiest warrior.

Relationships

Lover

🌺Diaochan　The object of rivalry in the chain-link scheme — Diaochan is unverified in the histories

Nemesis

🐗Zhang Fei　Crossed spears at Hulao Pass — the three-hero duel is a novel invention 🦅Cao Cao　Strangled at the White Gate Tower

Slain by

👹Dong Zhuo　Killed Dong Zhuo in the chain-link scheme

Echoes today

Below are how modern works borrow or reinterpret this name or story — not the original material. The two differ, so keep them apart.

"Slave of three surnames"Zhang Fei’s slur against Lü Bu in the novel, now a byword for one who betrays master after master with no principle.

"First among men is Lü Bu; first among horses, Red Hare"A folk saying for the peerless and outstanding; "Red Hare among horses" refers to his equally famous mount.

Appears in

The Misrule of Dong ZhuoThe Chain-Link Scheme Kills Dong Zhuo The Warlords ContendThe White Gate Tower Ends Lü Bu

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