Novel scene
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei Capture Wang Zhong and Liu Dai 關張共擒王劉二將
About this event
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei Capture Wang Zhong and Liu Dai is the latter scene of the Chapter 22 title of the Romance, "Yuan Shao and Cao Cao each raise three armies of horse and foot; Guan Yu and Zhang Fei together capture the two generals Wang Zhong and Liu Dai," the episode at the opening of the Battle of Xuzhou in which Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in turn capture Wang Zhong and Liu Dai, whom Cao Cao had sent to attack Liu Bei at Xuzhou. The Romance begins with Cao Cao, advancing to Liyang to hold off Yuan Shao, giving the two men 50,000 troops and having them fly the Chancellor's banner as an empty show of strength. Romance, Ch. 22 §31–32
Chen Shou's text also has this fight. The Annals of Emperor Wu in Records of Wei 1 and the Biography of the First Sovereign in Records of Shu 2 record that Cao Cao sent Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to attack Liu Bei, who had killed Che Zhou and stationed himself at Pei, but they could not prevail. Records, Wei 1 §56Records, Shu 2 §16
In the Romance
In Chapter 22 of the Romance the two men pitch camp 100 li from Xuzhou and do nothing but watch for news from Hebei, until at Cao Cao's urging they draw lots and Wang Zhong goes first. Chen Deng reckons that Cao Cao is not there, and Guan Yu leads out 3,000 troops to face Wang Zhong on a snowy field in early winter. Feigning flight, Guan Yu turns back, seizes the cords of Wang Zhong's armor, drags him from the saddle and takes him captive, and Wang Zhong confesses that the Chancellor is not actually there. Romance, Ch. 22 §34–40
When Liu Bei worries that Liu Dai will be killed, Zhang Fei steps forward, swearing to pay with his own life if he kills him. To lure out Liu Dai, who holds fast, Zhang Fei pretends to be drunk, has a soldier flogged and then secretly lets him go so that word leaks of a night raid on the camp; when Liu Dai empties his camp and sets an ambush, Zhang Fei divides his men into three columns, cuts off his rear and captures Liu Dai in a single bout. Liu Bei rejoices that Zhang Fei has learned to use stratagems. Romance, Ch. 22 §41–46
Liu Bei unties Liu Dai's bonds with his own hands, says that killing Che Zhou was unavoidable and asks them to speak well of him to Cao Cao, then sends the two men back together with their troops and horses. Guan Yu restrains Zhang Fei, who blocks the road and bellows at them, and on Sun Qian's advice Guan Yu guards Xiapi while Liu Bei and Zhang Fei hold Xiaopei. When the two men return and report that Liu Bei has not rebelled, Cao Cao in his anger orders them beheaded. Romance, Ch. 22 §47–52
Where the Romance differs
The outcome of the fight: In Chapter 22 of the Romance Guan Yu and Zhang Fei capture Wang Zhong and Liu Dai in turn, and Liu Bei sends the two men back with their troops and horses. The Annals of Emperor Wu and the Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records say only that Liu Dai and Wang Zhong, sent by Cao Cao, attacked Liu Bei but could not prevail. Romance, Ch. 22 §38–48Records, Wei 1 §56Records, Shu 2 §16
Who Liu Dai was: Chapter 22 of the Romance portrays Liu Dai as a former Inspector of Yan Province and one of the lords who commanded a camp when Dong Zhuo was attacked at Hulao Pass. In the Annals of Emperor Wu of the Records, Liu Dai, Inspector of Yan Province, ignored Bao Xin's advice against it, fought the Yellow Turbans of Qing Province and was killed in the 3rd year of Chuping (192). Romance, Ch. 22 §31 · 41Records, Wei 1 §22–23
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.