![]() ![]() As the two men stood before each other on the Huarong trail, Guan Yu was deeply troubled by the circumstances that had cruelly pitted him against his former benefactor and mentor. However, the unshakeable relationship he had forged with Liu Bei remained foremost on his mind, and he pledged to one day reunite with the vanquished warlord, whose whereabouts were unknown since his defeat.Īfter leaving Cao Cao’s fold and returning to Liu Bei’s army, memories of the brief, but mutually respectful camaraderie he shared with Cao Cao came flooding back to Guan Yu. Flattered by the reverence accorded by Cao Cao, Guan Yu agreed to join forces with Cao Cao for the time being. In a bid to win his fealty, he showered Guan Yu with gifts and favours, regarding him with great esteem and even installing him as a high-ranking general. ![]() Seeing Guan Yu as a valuable asset, Cao Cao seized the opportunity to coax him over to his side. In the ensuing chaos, Guan Yu was captured by Cao Cao, who had long admired his bravery, commitment and military prowess. It was a messy and drawn-out conflict, with both sides making errors through miscalculations and poor coordination. His thoughts wandered to the time he had spent previously as part of Cao Cao’s military, when Cao Cao launched a mission to capture Xu Province. As instructed, Guan Yu began questioning and rounding up Cao Cao and his troops, in preparation for their capture.Īs conversations between the two leaders progressed, however, the past dealings between them weighed heavily on Guan Yu’s mind. Before long, Cao Cao and his men duly arrived as anticipated, and were intercepted by Guan Yu. This masterstroke by the southern allies culminated in a swift and decisive victory, and Cao Cao was forced to flee.Īs part of the southern military alliance, Guan Yu was tasked to keep a lookout for Cao Cao as he made his way down the Huarong trail - the most direct path of retreat from the resounding defeat in the Yangtze. Having let their guard down, Cao Cao and his troops were caught off-guard when the southern forces launched a covert counterattack with flaming ships loaded with combustible material. Their disadvantage was compounded by a false surrender by the southern allied forces of warlords Sun Quan, Liu Bei and Liu Qi. Cao Cao’s troops, consisting largely of ground infantry forces and horse-mounted troops, were ill-equipped for the naval battle that had broken out along the northern banks of the Yangtze River. It was along this route that rival northern warlord Cao Cao (曹操) was fleeing following his resounding defeat in the Battle of Red Cliffs (赤壁之战). One of the most commonly retold stories in ancient Chinese folklore is set along the Huarong trail, in present day Jingzhou. ![]() While such a quality may not be immediately apparent in as fearsome a warrior as Guan Yu, historical accounts do feature his benevolence amidst his acclaimed military feats. Benevolence (仁) in this context is often perceived by Guan Gong’s followers as actively relating closely to the struggles and concerns of others, and extending support wherever and whenever possible. Over the years, Guan Gong has also come to be seen as a benevolent figure of great empathy. Specifically, Guan Gong has carved out a niche as Business Wealth God, bestowing upon both established and aspiring entrepreneurs an unceasing influx of lucrative leads and sales. Known henceforth as Guan Gong, or Lord Guan, he is commonly worshipped until this day as a direct wealth god, or one that governs the accumulation of wealth through one’s primary occupation. Since then, he has attracted a loyal following among Buddhists, Taoists as well as adherents of Chinese folk religions, in which he remains a prominent figure. It, thus, comes as no surprise that he was eventually deified by the supreme Jade Emperor. He was a significant figure in China’s famed Three Kingdoms period, integral to Liu Bei’s establishment of the Shu Han state through his heroic exploits on the battlefield.Īs a decorated military general who led scores of troops to victory after victory, Guan Yu commanded great respect and admiration from his subjects. Guan Yu enjoyed a close relationship with Liu Bei, and was often seen fighting alongside him in the tumultuous years of conflict between different factions. ![]() During his time on earth, he was known as Guan Yu (关羽), taking on the role of a commander under the renowned warlord Liu Bei (刘备) of the Eastern Han dynasty. Of the vast multitude of legendary figures in ancient Chinese history, Guan Gong (关公) without a doubt ranks among the most recognisable. ![]()
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