Guan Yu (?-220), the word Yunchang, a native of Xie Liang in Hedong (now Yuncheng, Shanxi), a famous general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms, followed Liu Bei to various places in the early days, was captured by Cao Cao, killed Yuan Shao's general Yan Liang in Baimapo, and was known as the enemy of ten thousand people together with Zhang Fei. After the Battle of Chibi, Liu Bei assisted Zhou Yu of Eastern Wu to attack Cao Ren of Nanjun, and did not send Guan Yu to the north to block Cao Cao's reinforcements. Liu Bei entered Yizhou, and Guan Yu stayed in Jingzhou. In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, Guan Yu surrounded Xiangfan, Cao Cao sent Yu Ban to come to reinforcements, Guan Yu captured Yu Ban, killed Pang De, and shocked China, Cao Cao wanted to move the capital to avoid its sharpness. Later, Cao Cao sent Xu Huang to reinforcements, and Lü Meng of Eastern Wu attacked Jingzhou again, Guan Yu suffered from the enemy in the abdomen, and was defeated and killed. After Guan Yu died, he was gradually deified and revered by the people as "Guan Gong", also known as the beautiful bearded man. In the Qing Dynasty, he was regarded as "the Emperor of Loyalty, Righteousness, Martial Spirit, Benevolence, Courage and Might", and was worshiped as the "Martial Saint", which was as famous as Confucius. "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" respects him as the head of the "Five Tiger Generals" of Shu State, and Mao Zonggang calls it the "righteousness" of the "Three Uniques" of "Romance".

Guan Yu, whose original character is Changsheng, later changed to Yunchang, fled his hometown to Zhuo County, Youzhou in his early years due to crimes. In 184 A.D. (the first year of Zhongping), Liu Bei, a clan member of the Han family, organized a volunteer army in Zhuo County to participate in the war to extinguish the Yellow Turban Army, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were among them. After Liu Bei took up many official positions, he defected to his former classmate Gongsun Zhan, and was named the minister of the plains, and appointed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as the Sima of other departments, and divided the ministry. The three of them are like brothers, often sleeping together in the same bed, and when Liu Bei sat down, Guan and Zhang worked tirelessly to protect them. In 194 AD (the first year of Xingping), Cao Cao was angry with Tao Qian because Cao Song was killed. So he sent troops to attack Xuzhou. Tao Qian begged Liu Bei for help, and Liu Bei and Guan Yu led more than 1,000 people to the rescue. Cao Cao's soldiers retreated, Tao Qian said that Liu Bei was the assassin of Yuzhou, and Guan Yu and Liu Bei were stationed in Xiaopei. Then, under the repeated concessions of Tao Qian and others, Liu Bei led Xuzhou Mu. In 196 A.D. (the first year of Jian'an), Liu Bei was attacked by Yuan Shu and Lü Bu and lost Xuzhou, so Guan Yu followed Liu Bei to Cao Cao. Later, when he hunted with Cao Cao Xu Tian, Guan Yu persuaded Liu Bei to kill Cao Cao, but Liu Bei thought that Cao Cao at that time was going to support the Han family. I felt that it was a pity to kill him. So I didn't follow. In 198 A.D. (the third year of Jian'an), Liu Bei and Cao Cao captured Lü Bu in Xiapi and captured Xuzhou, and Guan Yu and Liu Bei followed Cao Cao's class back to Xuchang. Cao Cao appointed Che Xuan as the assassin of Xuzhou. Later, Yuan Shu went north to join Yuan Shao. Liu Bei was ordered by Cao Cao to intercept Yuan Shu in Xuzhou. Liu Bei took the opportunity to attack and kill Che Zhou, ordered Guan Yu to guard Xiapi and lead Xuzhou, and Liu Bei returned to Xiaopei.

200 A.D. (the fifth year of Jian'an). Cao Cao sent Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to attack Liu Bei, but was defeated by Liu Bei, Cao Cao then personally raised the army to go out, Liu Bei was defeated and fled, Guan Yu was defeated and captured, and had to surrender, Cao Cao treated him with a generous gift and appointed as a partial general. Later, Yuan Shao sent generals Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Guo Tu and others to attack Liu Yanyu Baima, and Cao Cao personally led the army to rescue and ordered Zhang Liao and Guan Yu to be the forwards. Guan Yu saw Yan Liang's cover, rode his horse and charged, killed Yan Liang in the army, and returned with his head, the generals of the Yuan army were unstoppable, the siege of the white horse was lifted, and Guan Yu was named the Marquis of Hanshou Pavilion. At that time, Cao Cao asked Zhang Liao to test with favors in order to know whether Guan Yu had the intention of staying for a long time. Guan Yu sighed to Zhang Liao and said: "I know that Duke Cao of the Dao Dao has a great love for me, but I am favored by General Liu Bei, and I swear to die together and not to turn my back." I will not stay, and I will leave after I have done my best for Cao Gonggong. Zhang Liao showed Cao Cao that Cao Cao knew that Guan Yu would leave, but instead rewarded him and wanted to keep him, but Guan Yu gave Cao Cao's reward, left a letter to say goodbye, and returned to Liu Bei. Cao Cao wanted to hunt him down and kill him, but Cao Cao thought that each was his master and stopped him. Folk culture calls this story "a thousand miles to ride alone".

In 208 A.D. (the thirteenth year of Jian'an), Liu Bei took refuge in Liu Biao and stationed troops in Xinye. Cao Cao led the army south, Liu Bei fled south, and sent Guan Yu to join Jiangling in hundreds of ships, but Liu Bei was chased by Cao Cao's army on the way, fortunately Guan Yu sailed to Hanjin and took a boat to Xiakou together. After Liu Bei and Sun Quan defeated Cao Cao, Cao Cao left Cao Ren and others to defend Jingzhou, so Liu Bei and Sun Quan's general Zhou Yu attacked Cao Ren and ordered Guan Yu to cut off Cao Ren's back road in the north road. When Liu Bei obtained the four counties of Jingnan (Changsha, Lingling, Wuling, Guiyang), he worshiped Guan Yu as the father, and was named Xiangyang Taishou and Dangkou General. During this period, Guan Yu rebuilt Gangneung Fortress. In 213 AD (the eighteenth year of Jian'an), Liu Bei entered Shu to help Liu Zhang defend Zhang Lu, and Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu defended Jingzhou. In 214 A.D. (the nineteenth year of Jian'an), Liu Bei broke with Liu Zhang, and the military advisor Pang Tong was killed, Liu Bei called Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Zhuge Liang into Sichuan to support, and Jingzhou only left Guan Yu to garrison. After Liu Bei pacified Shudi, he used Guan Yu Dong to supervise Jingzhou affairs, and authorized him to take charge of the parts controlled by Liu Bei in the Jingzhou area, including the four southern counties of Jingzhou and Jiangling, the southern county seat borrowed from Eastern Wu, and the nearby public security, Guan Yu actually guarded the five counties of Jingzhou (Nan County, Changsha County, Lingling County, Wuling County, and Guiyang County). In 215 A.D. (the twentieth year of Jian'an), Sun Quan knew that Liu Bei had captured Yizhou and hoped to recapture Jingzhou. Liu Bei said: "When you get Liangzhou, you will return Jingzhou." Sun Quan was very resentful of this, so he sent Lu Su to ask for Jingzhou. The generals of Sun and Liu had a "one-knife meeting" in front of the battle, and they fought with each other on the basis of reason, but in the end they broke up unhappily. Sun Quan ordered Lü Meng to prepare to attack the southern part of Jingzhou, Lu Su sent more than 10,000 men and horses to Yiyang to contain Guan Yu, and Liu Bei led troops from Yizhou to help. When Guan Yu claimed to have 30,000 horses, he selected 5,000 elites to prepare to cross the river from the upstream, Wu General Gan Ning led 1,000 people to garrison, Guan Yu did not cross the river after learning about it, and camped on the other side of the river, this place was later called "Guan Yuse". At this time, Cao Cao entered Zhang Lu in Hanzhong, and Liu Bei quickly reconciled with Sun Quan, and agreed to divide Jingzhou equally, that is, Jiangxia County, Changsha County, and Guiyang County in Jingzhou belonged to Sun Quan, and Nan County, Lingling County, and Wuling County in Jingzhou belonged to Liu Bei, which was the famous Xiangshui demarcation in the history of the Three Kingdoms.

In 218 A.D. (the twenty-third year of Jian'an), the imperial physician Ling Jiben, Shaofu Geng Ji, Si Zhi Wei Huang and others rebelled, but soon the matter was revealed, several people were killed by Cao Cao, Cao Cao then summoned Cao Ren as the general of the expedition to the south, crusading against Guan Yu. During the period of Cao Rentunfan, he was vigorously conscripted and conscripted, and the soldiers and civilians in Nanyang County were miserable. Wancheng Taishou Hou Yin and Wei Kai kidnapped Taishou and rebelled. Combined with Dongli Roll Guan Yu. Cao Ren led his army to quell the rebellion, and in the first month of the following year, he broke through Wancheng, beheaded Hou Yin, and slaughtered the city. In 219 A.D. (the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an), Liu Bei's army and Cao Cao's army fought for Hanzhong, Wei general Xiahou Yuan was beheaded by Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong, Cao Cao personally raised a large army to fight for Hanzhong, Liu Bei defended, Zhao Yun robbed the grain and grass in Hanshui, Cao Cao had no choice but to withdraw from Hanzhong. Liu Bei then occupied Hanzhong. In July of the same year. Liu Bei proclaimed himself the king of Hanzhong and appointed Xu Jing as Taifu, Fa Zheng as Shang Shuling, and Guan Yu as a former general. Zhang Fei is the right general. Ma Chao is the left general. Huang Zhong was the rear general, and sent Sima and Qianren Fei Shi from the front of Yizhou to Guan Yu's residence to grant Guan Yu the official seal, and Guan Yu heard that Huang Zhong's status was the same as his own. He said angrily: "The eldest husband must not be in the same column as the veteran!" and refused to accept the appointment. Fei Shi said to Guan Yu: "The people who founded the royal industry can't all use the same people. In the past, Xiao He, Cao Shen and Han Gaozu had a good relationship when they were young, and Chen Ping and Han Xin were later outlaws; Now that the king of Hanzhong respects Huang Zhong because of his momentary merits, how can Huang Zhong compare with you because of the importance of his heart! Moreover, the king of Hanzhong and you are like one body, sharing weal and woe, and sharing blessings and woes. I don't think you should care about the rank of official, or the number of titles and salaries. I am only a messenger, a man who is commanded, and if you do not accept the appointment, I will go back like this. It's just that I feel sorry for you like this, and I'm afraid you'll regret it later. After listening to his words, Guan Yu was greatly moved, came to his senses, and immediately accepted the appointment. At that time, Sun Quan attacked Hefei. Cao Wei's main forces were stationed in Huainan. Yangzhou Thorn Shi Wenhui said to Yanzhou Thorn Shi Pei Qian: "Although there are thieves here, it is not worth worrying about. Now that the water has just risen, the general of Zhengnan Cao Ren is alone in the depths, there is no long-term preparation, Guan Yu is strong and cunning, I am afraid that there will be changes in the general of Zhengnan. Soon, Guan Yu really ordered Nanjun Taishou Mi Fang to guard Jiangling, and the general Shiren to guard the public security, and he himself led the army to attack Cao Ren in Fancheng. Cao Cao sent a general to Ban to lead the Seventh Army to rescue Xiangfan. Liyi general Pang De engaged Guan Yu and shot Guan Yu in the forehead with an arrow. At that time, Pang De often rode on a white horse, and Guan Yujun was known as the white horse general, and he was very jealous of him. In August, it rained heavily for more than ten days, the Han River swelled, Guan Yu dug the river embankment to flood the forbidden army, although the forbidden army was on the flat ground, but was flooded five or six zhang, the seven armies were submerged, Yu Ban only climbed high and looked at the water with the generals, there was no evasion, Guan Yu attacked Yu Ban by big boat, and surrendered to Yu Ban. Cao Cao was very surprised to learn the news of Yu Ban's surrender. Guan Yu attacked Pang De's army by boat, most of Pang De's army surrendered to Guan Yu, Pang De was outnumbered, and was captured by Guan Yu after the most Lu, Pang De's brother was an official in Shu Han Han, Guan Yu wanted to persuade Pang De to surrender, but Pang De scolded and refused to surrender, so Guan Yu beheaded him. Guan Yu took advantage of the victory to launch a fierce attack on Fancheng, Fancheng flooded, the city wall collapsed, and Cao Ren's defenders were also greatly reduced due to many defeats, only a few thousand people remained, Fancheng was besieged several times, cut off from the outside and inside, and the food was almost eaten, and all the generals were panicked. Cao Ren, under the persuasion of full favor, swore an oath with the soldiers to defend the city to the death. Guan Yu sent other generals to surround the general Lü Chang in Xiangyang. Jingzhou Thorn Shi Hu Xiu and Nanxiang Taishou Fu Fang both surrendered to Guan Yu. In October of the same year, Lu Hunmin, Sun Wolf and others suffered from rumors, rebelled, attached to Guan Yu in the south, and received Guan Yu's seal from afar, and the momentum of Guan Yu for the party once shocked China.

At the end of 219 A.D. (the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an), Cao Cao thought that Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was in Xu, close to Guan Yu's army, and wanted to move the capital to avoid its edge, but Sima Yi and Jiang Ji dissuaded him, thinking that Sun Quan must not want to see Guan Yu's ambition, and he could use the promise to give Jiangnan to Sun Quan as a condition for him to send troops to attack Guan Yu from behind. At the same time, Cao Cao sent Xu Huang, Zhao Yan and others to lead the army to rescue Fancheng, and was ready to personally conquer Guan Yu. Xu Huang, who rescued Fancheng, thought it would be difficult to compete with Guan Yu due to insufficient troops, but Cao Cao successively sent generals such as Xu Shang and Lü Jian, as well as twelve battalions of soldiers and horses such as Yin and Zhu Gai to reinforce Xu Huang. Guan Yu sent troops to garrison in Weitou, and there were garrisons in Sizuka. Xu Huang then threatened to attack Weitou, but secretly attacked the four mounds. Guan Yu saw that the four mounds were in danger, so he personally led 5,000 infantry and cavalry to fight, Xu Huang met the attack, and Guan Yu retreated. Guan Yu had ten antlers in front of the trench, Xu Huang pursued Guan Yu, both of them entered Guan Yu's encirclement of Fancheng, the encirclement was broken, Fu Fang and Hu Xiu were killed, Guan Yu then retreated, but Guan Yu's ships were still guarding the water, and the road to Xiangyang was never passable. And Sun Quan ordered Lü Meng to attack Jingzhou as the commander-in-chief, and personally led the army as a backup. The important town of Jingzhou, Jiangling, guarded general Elfang (Liu Bei's brother-in-law), and the public security guard Shiren surrendered without a fight because of a disagreement with Guan Yu. At this time, after Guan Yu learned that Nanjun was lost, he immediately retreated south. On the way back to the division, Guan Yu sent envoys to contact Lü Meng many times, and Lü Meng treated Guan Yu's envoys well each time, allowed all kinds of tours in the city, and expressed condolences to the relatives of Guan Yu's subordinates. When the envoy returned, Guan Yu's subordinates privately asked him about the situation at home, knowing that the family was safe, and he was treated more than before, so Guan Yu's soldiers had no intention of fighting again, and the soldiers gradually dispersed and retreated to Maicheng. In December of the 24th year of Jian'an, Guan Yu led dozens of horsemen to flee, and broke through all the way to Linfu (now Nanzhang County, Xiangfan City, Hubei Province), which was only one or twenty miles away from Yizhou, where he was ambushed by Pan Zhang's general Ma Zhong and was captured, and his eldest son Guan Ping was killed in Linfang. Sun Quan gave Guan Yu's head to Cao Cao, and Cao Cao buried him in Luoyang with the gift of princes, while Sun Quan buried Guan Yu's body in Dangyang with princely rites, that is, Guan Ling, also known as Dangyang King Tomb. Shu Han built a mound for Guan Yu in Chengdu, which is the tomb of Guan Yu in Chengdu, and worships with spirits. Therefore, the folk also call Guan Yu "the head rests on Luoyang, the body lies in the sun, and the soul returns to his hometown (or 'the soul returns to Shanxi)." In September 260 A.D. (the third year of Jing Yao), Liu Chan (shàn), the queen of Shu Han, posthumously called Guan Yu "Marquis of Zhuang Miao" when he was posthumously admonishing several important ministers. (To be continued......)