Yuan Shu dispatched 100,000 troops under General Ji Ling to attack Liu Bei. Fearing that Lü Bu in Xuzhou might assist Liu, Yuan sent him a letter with generous food supplies, urging him not to intervene. Liu Bei, however, also wrote to Lü Bu seeking help.
Lü Bu pondered, "If I remain a passive onlooker, I'll be in danger once Yuan defeats Liu. But if I help Liu, Yuan will resent me." He devised a plan and invited both Liu Bei and Ji Ling to a banquet.
Seated between his two guests, Lü Bu proposed a toast after several rounds of drinks. "Grant me this favor," he said, "and cease your hostilities." When Ji Ling refused, Lü Bu called for his long lance. Alarmed, both Liu and Ji watched as he continued, "I will place my lance 150 paces outside the camp gate. If my arrow strikes its blade, you will end your fight. If I miss, you may proceed as you wish."
Secretly, Ji Ling hoped for a miss, while Liu Bei crossed his fingers for success.
Lü Bu called for wine, drank a cup, then drew his bow. With a shout, he released the arrow. It flew like lightning and struck the lance's blade squarely. The onlookers erupted in applause.
Dropping his bow, Lü Bu laughed. "You see," he declared, "even the heavens wish you to stop fighting." Through his exceptional archery, Lü Bu successfully averted a battle between the two forces.