Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times before finally persuading Zhuge Liang to become his military adviser. However, his sworn brothers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, did not take Zhuge Liang seriously.
Not long after, Cao Cao sent an army of 100,000 men to attack Liu Bei's headquarters at Xinye, led by General Xiahou Dun. When Liu Bei sought Zhuge Liang's counsel, Zhuge said, "I must borrow Your Majesty's sword of authority, for I fear Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will not heed my commands." Liu Bei promptly handed over the sword, and Zhuge Liang began to dispatch the troops for defense.
Zhuge Liang's orders were precise:
- Guan Yu was to wait at Mount Yushan with 1,000 soldiers, let the enemy pass, and only charge when he saw fire in their ranks.
- Zhang Fei was to lurk in a valley with another 1,000 troops and attack Bowang town upon seeing the same signal.
- Guan Ping and Liu Feng were each to lead 500 men to hide behind the Bowang slope and set the enemy ranks ablaze upon their arrival.
- Zhao Yun was recalled from Fancheng to serve as vanguard but was ordered to feign defeat.
- Liu Bei himself commanded a reserve force of 1,000 men.
Guan Yu, puzzled, asked, "We are all going to battle. What will you do?" Zhuge Liang replied with a smile, "I will stay and wait here in the town." Zhang Fei laughed loudly, "We risk our lives while you sit here carefree!" Zhuge Liang responded sternly, "I hold the sword of authority. Those who disobey will be executed." The two brothers had nothing more to say but walked away sneeringly.
The generals followed Zhuge Liang's orders exactly, resulting in a decisive victory. His first military strategy proved brilliant and far-sighted. Soon after, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the other generals in Liu Bei's camp came to respect their new military adviser.