Lü Bu's Halberd Shooting Platform

Lü Bu's Halberd Shooting Platform

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the country was in great turmoil, with warlords rising one after another and each holding their own territory. Yuan Shu, who occupied Huainan, sought to expand his domain by first attacking Liu Bei stationed in Xiaopei, and then targeting Lü Bu, who had a strong hold over Xuzhou. To defeat them one by one, Yuan Shu secretly sent Lü Bu a large supply of grain and provisions to keep Xuzhou stable. At the same time, he dispatched his general Ji Ling to lead thirty thousand troops to attack Xiaopei. Liu Bei quickly turned to Lü Bu for help. Realizing Yuan Shu’s scheme, Lü Bu resolutely led one thousand soldiers to camp and hold a banquet southwest of ancient Pei (Xiaopei), inviting both Ji Ling and Liu Bei to drink together. He persuaded both sides to cease hostilities. Then, he asked someone to bring out a painted halberd and said, "Gentlemen, watch as I shoot at the small branch of this halberd. If I hit it with the first arrow, you shall all withdraw your forces; if I miss, you may stay and decide the conflict by battle." With that, Lü Bu drew his bow and let the arrow fly, striking the small branch of the halberd dead center. The surrounding officers and soldiers cried in awe, "Such divine might displayed by the General!" The next day, as promised, both sides withdrew their armies.

Later generations built this platform on the very spot where Lü Bu shot the halberd, naming it the Halberd Shooting Platform. Originally located outside the southern gate of the old city of Pei County, it was relocated in 1984 to the premises of the Pei County Cultural Center.