Toward the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), the cruel and manipulative Dong Zhuo seized state power. Yuan Shao, leader of an opposition force, led a punitive expedition to the capital, Luoyang. In response, Dong Zhuo sent his formidable general, Hua Xiong, who swiftly killed several of Yuan Shao's commanders.
Guan Yu volunteered to challenge Hua Xiong, vowing to take his own life if he failed. Admiring his courage, Cao Cao offered him a cup of warmed wine for encouragement. "Keep the wine here until I return," said Guan Yu. He soon came back with Hua Xiong's head, and the wine was still warm. Dong Zhuo was alarmed by the loss of his brave general.
Dong Zhuo then dispatched his most powerful warrior, Lv Bu, with 150,000 troops to guard the Hulao Pass. Yuan Shao sent eight armies to attack. In the ensuing battle, Lv Bu proved invincible, killing several generals. Zhang Fei charged forward and fought Lv Bu fiercely for fifty rounds but could not defeat him.
Seeing his sworn brother unable to gain the upper hand, Guan Yu joined the fray with his crescent-moon blade. After thirty more rounds of intense combat, their elder sworn brother, Liu Bei, unsheathed his twin swords and charged in. The three brothers closed in together. Overwhelmed, Lv Bu feigned a lance thrust, and as one of the brothers dodged, he seized the chance to flee back to the safety of Hulao Pass.