Chapter 538: The Yuen Gate Javelin

Since Lu Bu has done such a thing, Bai Lang believes he has the ability to take that person down, so going to LiuBei is fine. Therefore Bai Lang prepares to go to Xiao Pei to aid LiuBei, and can almost be certain he will clash with Yuan Shu and Lu Bu.

Bai Lang had just set out when he heard that Sun Jian's eldest son Sun Ce had pledged the Imperial Seal as collateral, borrowing three thousand horsemen from Yuan Gonglu, claiming to rescue his mother's uncle Wu Jing, and headed straight for Jiangdong. "Traitorous minister! You said the Imperial Seal disappeared—so it was Sun Jian after all. The Son of Heaven is still alive, why isn't it returned? To pawn it privately—truly a treacherous minister. Yuan Gonglu, Sun Wentai and Sun Bofu are all the same scum!" Bai Lang said outright.

Bai Lang has stayed at both Cao's and Liu's places before, but he has no desire whatsoever to go to the Sun clan in Jiangdong.

Bai Lang leads a hundred riders patrolling outside Xuzhou without entering; he must also consider Xuande's stance. If Bai Lang went straight to Xuande, then LiuBei would inevitably have to face a decisive battle against Lu Bu and Yuan Shu, and neither Lu Bu nor Yuan Shu would tolerate LiuBei having another Bai Lang in his ranks.

Bai Lang himself understands this well, so he stays on the sidelines, only entering when the crucial moment arrives.

Yuan Shu also has great generals; men like Ji Ling are capable of battling GuanYu for thirty rounds without defeat. Now he employs a simple stratagem, sending supplies to Lu Bu to keep him from rescuing LiuBei, while Ji Ling and others lead a massive army straight at Xiao Pei. Even a profit‑driven Lu Bu is not wholly foolish; his forces still include talents such as Chen Gong, and Lu Bu himself is not entirely a fool.

LiuBei's presence at Xiao Pei can still serve as his support; in terms of character, LiuBei is far more trustworthy than Yuan Shu. If Yuan Shu were to destroy LiuBei, he could at any time join forces with the generals of Mount Tai to attack Lu Bu. Thus Lu Bu dispatches troops to rescue Xiao Pei, and the wandering Bai Lang seizes the chance, preparing to strike Ji Ling's army head‑on.

Lord Wen arrived, and LiuBei also led his forces forward against Ji Ling's army. At this moment, Bai Lang led a hundred riders to charge straight at Ji Ling's main camp. Bai Lang shouted loudly, his roar rolling as he swung his long spear, the first to mount his horse and charge into the camp's deer‑stockade, lifting it and throwing it aside. Only a green‑plumed horse can bear such weight; a lesser steed would have its four legs go limp and collapse, which would make Bai Lang look bad.

After tossing the deer stockade aside, Bai Lang plunged straight into Ji Ling's army. Yuan Shu is less a feudal lord than a warlord's alliance chief; Ji Ling also commands his own detachments. Ji Ling's command is quite capable—he shouted orders for any unit not trampled by Bai Lang to fall back and form a tight formation, leaving the soldiers before Bai Lang to die.

Once the formations were set, spears rose like a forest and bows rained like rain; Bai Lang could not act rashly, after all he only had a hundred riders. So he blew a whistle, leading his cavalry to break through a corner of Ji Ling's camp, charging toward LiuBei's army. "Xuande! I'm coming to aid you!" Bai Lang shouted. LiuBei, delighted, ordered GuanYu to lead troops to shield Bai Lang into the camp, while he himself went to the gate to help Bai Lang mount his horse.

When Bai Lang arrived, Lu Bu treated him as a formidable foe, yet he knew someone like Bai Lang might not stay at Xiao Pei, so he prepared to negotiate peace for LiuBei and Ji Ling; his desire to make peace grew even more urgent.

The Yuen Gate Javelin Shoot unfolds.

Bai Lang, LiuBei, GuanYu and Zhang Yide went into Lu Bu's camp; Lu Bu, upon seeing Bai Lang, invited him to sit, saying, "In respect of your bravery." Lu Bu said. LiuBei also took a seat, while GuanYu and Zhang Yide stood behind holding swords, as they never sit. Soon Ji Ling arrived; upon seeing Bai Lang and LiuBei, he turned to leave but was pulled back by Lu Bu.

Ji Ling said, "General, do you intend to kill Ji Ling?" Lu Bu replied, "No." Ji Ling asked, "Then perhaps you intend to kill the big‑ear?" Lu Bu said, "Also not." Ji Ling pressed, "Then why?" Lu Bu answered, "Xuande and I are brothers; now I am trapped by the general, so I have come to rescue him." Ji Ling said, "If that's the case, you would kill me?" Lu Bu replied, "That makes no sense. I have never been one to merely enjoy fighting; I now seek to resolve the dispute between the two families." Ji Ling asked, "May I know the method of resolution?" Lu Bu said, "I have a method, decreed from Heaven." He then led Ji Ling into his tent to meet Xuande.

In a few words, Lu Bu ordered his painted halberd to be brought. Bai Lang arrived without his long spear, holding only a single sword. Ji Ling and LiuBei's faces changed, but Bai Lang and GuanYu and Zhang Yide's expressions remained unchanged. The painted halberd was placed at the Yuen Gate, a hundred and fifty steps from the central command tent. Bai Lang estimated the distance to be about two hundred meters and thought of his own skill. "I can shoot that far, but I probably won't hit."

Lu Bu drew his strong bow, nocked an arrow as round as a full moon, and let it fly. The arrow streaked like a meteor, striking a small branch of the painted halberd and lodging in it. Lu Bu laughed heartily, and Bai Lang nodded, "Lord Wen truly is a master archer!" Lu Bu rejoiced, "Having received a word from Yuzhu, it truly makes me delighted!"

Thus the dispute was settled; Ji Ling led his hundred‑thousand‑strong army back without further comment, and Lu Bu intended to invite Bai Lang to Xuzhou, but Bai Lang declined, "I have not seen Xuande for many years; this rare meeting is naturally to rest with Xuande. In three days I will naturally head to Qiao County."

During the three days, host and guest enjoyed themselves fully; Bai Lang also spoke of Lu Bu, "If such a man forces me to die without a burial place, his conduct is utterly untrustworthy and unprincipled, and will sooner or later be crushed by Xuande." Bai Lang said. Xuande remained silent, only smiling, while Zhang Yide raged and cursed, and Yun Chang merely stroked his long beard with a look of contempt.

Xuande finally added, "Lu Fengxian never lost his heroic spirit; at least he safely returned our families." Bai Lang replied, "If not, Lu Bu would truly be a beast." LiuBei also wished to retain Bai Lang; such a brave general is rare in the world, and his feat of breaking Li Jue and Guo Fan in Guanzhong and welcoming back the Son of Heaven earned LiuBei's respect. "Back then it was truly a misstep; had we known this, we should have strongly kept Yuzhu as the Governor of Xuzhou." LiuBei sighed.

"What's there to lament? I live freely and happily. If I truly became the labor‑intensive Governor of Xuzhou, I'd be busy all day and never relaxed." Only Zhang Yide seemed to think this was fine; the others just laughed. Xuande also laughed heartily, patting Bai Lang's arm, "It seems this big‑ear is thinking of me fondly; I recall this fellow is a dashing rogue who loves fine clothes, pleasant music, soaring eagles and galloping horses."

Bai Lang took his leave, and LiuBei still escorted him for nearly thirty li. Then, just as LiuBei turned back, Lu Bu, emerging from a slanting thrust, blocked Bai Lang.

"What do you wish to do, sir?" Bai Lang was a little bewildered; he had expected four battles with Lu Bu, yet now it seemed nothing like that. Lu Bu did not look like he came to fight. "White Jade Pillar, come with me for a drink." Lu Bu said enthusiastically. Bai Lang stroked his beard, "Very well, Lord Wen leads the way; I'll follow you."

"What do you wish to do?" Bai Lang was a little baffled; he had expected Lu Bu to fight him four times, but now it seemed nothing like that. Lu Bu was not in a fighting stance, "White Jade Pillar, come with me to drink." Lu Bu was very enthusiastic, and Bai Lang stroked his beard, "Very well, let Marquis Wen lead the way; I'll follow you now."