Yuan Shu sent 100 thousand troops, led by General Ji Ling, to attack Liu Bei. For fear of Lv Bu in Xuzhou who might lend Liu a hand, Yuan wrote Lv a letter, together with many food supplies as gifts, asking him not to help Liu. Liu, on the other hand, wrote Lv a letter asking for assistance. “If I remain an onlooker¹ with folded arms,” thought Lv, “I will be in danger after Yuan defeats Liu. But if I help Liu, Yuan will be be resentful to me.” So Lv invited both Liu Bei and Ji Ling to a banquet.

袁绍之弟袁术派大将纪灵率领十万大军攻打刘备。袁术担心在徐州的吕布救援刘备，派人给吕布送去粮草和密信，要吕布按兵不动。刘备考虑到自己兵力不足，也写信求助吕布。吕布收了袁术的粮草，又收了刘备的求援信，他想：我若不救刘备，袁术得逞后我也危险；若我救刘备，袁术必恨我。于是，吕布让人把刘备和纪灵同时请来赴宴。

Lv sat between Liu and Ji at the banquet. After a few rounds of toasts Lv began, “Please grant me a favor by stopping the fight.” When Ji Ling refused, Lv shouted for his long lance to be brought over. Both Liu and Ji got a fright. “I'll stand my lance 150 steps away outside the gate. If my arrow hits its edge you two will stop your fight. And if I miss the target you have your own way.” Ji secretly hoped that he would miss the target, while Liu crossed his fingers wished Lv succees.

吕布坐在刘备和纪灵中间，吩咐开宴，刚吃几杯酒，吕布说：“ 看在我的面上，你两家不要打了。”纪灵不肯。吕布大叫一声：“把我的画戟拿来！”刘备、纪灵都吓了一跳。吕布又说：“我把画戟插到辕门外一百五十步地方，如果我一箭射中画戟的枝尖，你们两家就不要打了。如果我射不中，打不打我就不管了。纪灵希望射不中，刘备希望能射中。

Lv had wine brought up to him. After each one had a cup Lv arched his bow, aimed and shot with a big shout. The arrow flew like lightening toward the target, and hit right on the edge of the lance. A big applause rose from everybody around. Lv dropped his bow and laughed, saying, “You see, even the heavens wish that you stop fighting.”

吕布叫人端上酒来，各自饮了一杯，酒毕，取出弓箭，搭箭拉弦，只听”嗖“的一声，吕布大喊：”着！“那箭不偏不倚，正中画戟的枝尖。在场的人无不喝彩。吕布把弓扔在地上，笑着说：”看来老天也不愿意让你们打仗啊！“

With his excellent archery, Lv averted² a fight between the two sides.

就这样，吕布以他精湛的箭法平息了一场厮杀。