General Lu Feng Xian: Complaints Poured out in the Feng Yi Ting Pavilion

This is a story about Diao Chan, one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China. Unlike the other three beauties, she does not appear in existing historical writings, and is quite possibly a fictional character. According to historical records, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D. 25-220), a general named Lu Bu did have relations with a maid of the then-ruler General Dong Zhuo; however, there is no evidence that this person's name was Diao Chan.

Dong Zhuo is the de facto ruler of the country, since the Han Emperor is still a child. He is a ruthless leader, eliminating his political rivals without mercy. His adopted son Lu Bu is head of Dong Zhuo's security force, and has excellent martial arts skills. Many plots to assassinate Dong Zhuo fail, due to Lu Bu's devotion to duty.

Wang Yun is a loyal high-ranking official in the imperial court, and wants to overthrow Dong Zhuo. He adopts a singer named Diao Chan as his stepdaughter, and they form a plan to use her beauty as a means of eliminating Dong Zhao.

After promising to marry Lu Bu, Diao Chan is presented to Dong Zhuo as an entertainer in his mansion. This sows the seeds of discord between Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu, who has already fallen in love with the girl. The two men become avowed enemies after Dong Zhuo discovers that Lu Bu has tried to meet with Diao Chan when he is away. Wang Yun seizes this opportunity to prod Lu Bu towards killing Dong Zhuo.

Diao Chan uses her charms to manipulate the two generals, and their jealousy grows. One day, in the Feng Yi Ting Pavilion, she tells Lu Bu that being with Dong Zhuo makes her unhappy, and she wishes to commit suicide. Lu Bu starts to comfort her, when Dong Zhuo suddenly rushes in, having been told of their meeting in the pavilion. The two men fight and, during the dispute, Dong Zhuo throws a sword at Lu Bu, trying to kill him. Lu Bu is outraged and goes to Wang Yun to plot Dong Zhuo's death.

(For another version of this story, please see the entry for Mr. Wang Yun and Miss Diao Chan in the Badger Game in this collection.)