Tung Cho agreed and at once ordered Li Tsʻui and Kuo Ssŭ to take half a company and surround the residence of Yüan Wei, the Tʻai-fu, slay every soul, and hang the head of the high officer outside the gate as a trophy. And Cho commanded twenty legions to advance in two armies. The first five legions were under Li Tsʻui and Kuo Ssŭ and they were to hold Ssŭshui Pass. They should not necessarily fight. The other fifteen legions under Tung Cho himself went to Tigertrap Pass. This Pass is fifty li from Loyang and as soon as they arrived Tung Cho bade Lü Pu take three legions and make a strong stockade on the outside of the Pass. The main body with Cho would occupy the Pass. News of this movement reaching the confederate lords the chief summoned a council. Said Tsʻao Tsʻao, “The occupation of the Pass would cut our armies in two, therefore must we oppose Tung Cho’s army on the way.” So eight of the confederate lords went in the direction of the Pass to oppose their enemy. Tsʻao Tsʻao and his men were a reserve to render help where needed. Of the eight, the Prefect of Honei was the first to arrive and Lü Pu went to give battle with three companies of mailed horsemen. When Wang Kʻuang, Prefect of Honei, had ordered his army, horse and foot, in battle array he took his station under the great banner and looked over at his foe. There he saw Lü Pu, a conspicuous figure in front of the line. On his head was a triple curved headdress of ruddy gold. He wore a robe of Ssŭchʻuan silk embroidered with flowers and over that breast and back mail adorned with a gaping animal’s head, joined by rings at the sides and girt to his waist with a belt fastened by a beautiful lion-head clasp. His bow and arrows were slung on his shoulders and he carried a trident-halberd (hua-chi). He was seated on his snorting steed “The Hare”. Indeed he was the man among men, as his steed was the horse among horses. “Who dares go out to fight him?” asked Wang Kʻuang turning to those behind him. In response a tried warrior named Fang spurred to the front, his spear set ready for battle. The two met: before the fifth bout Fang fell under a thrust of the halberd and Lü Pu dashed forward. Wang Kʻuang’s men could not stand and scattered in all directions. Lü Pu went to and fro slaying all he met. He was quite irresistible. Happily two other troops came up and rescued the wounded leader and his opponent retreated. The three having lost many men withdrew thirty li and made a stockade. And before long the remaining five lords came up and joined them. They held a council. “This Lü Pu is irresistible,” said they. And while they sat there anxious and uncertain, it was announced that Lü Pu had returned to challenge them. Each mounted his horse and placed himself at the head of his force, each body in its station on lofty cliffs. Around them was the opposing army, innumerable horse and foot, their embroidered banners waving in the breeze.