Background
In 190, the warlord Dong Zhuo entered the Han Dynasty's capital Luoyang, taking control of the imperial court. Cao Cao saw this as a significant threat, and, together with other warlords, formed a new coalition with Yuan Shao as their leader. Yuan Shao ordered his cousin Yuan Shu to manage the supplies for the coalition, and appointed Sun Jian as the vanguard to take Sishui Pass, one of several mountain passes leading to Luoyang.
Dong Zhuo was deeply worried by this news, but Lü Bu, his foster son, assured him and said he shall personally go meet the enemy and hang their severed heads at the gate. Hearing that, another general Hua Xiong stepped out and said, "Why use a butcher knife to kill a chicken? There is no need for Lü Bu to go personally, I can go cut each of their heads, it'll be as easy as taking from a sack!" Happily, Dong Zhuo appointed him as Colonel of Resolute Cavalry (驍騎校尉) and sent him to guard Sishui Pass with 50,000 men along with Li Su, Hu Zhen, and Zhao Cen.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Sishui Pass
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