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 onlooker with folded arms,” thought lv, “i will be in danger after yuan defeats liu. but if i help liu, yuan will be be resentful（厌恶的） to me.” so lv invited both liu bei and ji ling to a banquet（宴会） .
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（长矛） 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 averted 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。