Discussion: Hulao Pass

Could Lü Bu Have Defeated the Three Brothers One by One?

At Hulao Pass, Lü Bu faced three of the most celebrated warriors in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*: Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Liu Bei.

Zhang Fei challenged him first. Guan Yu then joined the fight, yet Lü Bu continued to hold his ground. Only when Liu Bei entered the battle did the three brothers finally force Lü Bu to retreat.

But here is an interesting question: **If Lü Bu had fought each of the three warriors separately, how many could he have defeated?**

Was Lü Bu truly on a different level from Guan Yu and Zhang Fei? Or did the famous three-against-one battle make him appear even more formidable?

We'd love to hear your interpretation of this legendary encounter—and how you would rank these four warriors based on the novel itself.