English Edition | C#65 權謀與人心 |《呂布與貂蟬》 I’d like to share a fascinating story with you. This story features one of the strongest warriors of his time, Lü Bu, and one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China, Diaochan. The world back then was in chaos. A cruel warlord named Dong Zhuo had taken control of the imperial court. People were angry—but too afraid to speak up. And yet, the turning point of this entire situation came from something unexpected: A complicated relationship between Lü Bu and Diaochan. Let’s go back to that turbulent time and see how this story unfolds. A tyrant in a broken worldThis story takes place at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The empire was falling apart, and Dong Zhuo rose to power. He controlled the emperor and ruled with brutality. Officials and common people lived in constant fear. So why didn’t anyone stop him? Because of one man. The unmatched warrior: Lü BuDong Zhuo had an adopted son—Lü Bu. Lü Bu was known as the strongest warrior in the land. People described him as tall, handsome, and unbeatable in battle. He rode a legendary red horse—said to be the fastest in the world—and carried a powerful weapon. At the time, people would say: “If you want to see the greatest warrior, look at Lü Bu. If you want to see the finest horse, look at Lü Bu’s mount.” With Lü Bu by his side, no one dared to get close to Dong Zhuo. A plan is bornWhen everyone felt helpless, an official named Wang Yun kept thinking, “How can we get rid of Dong Zhuo?” One night, while walking in his garden, he saw a young woman from his household—Diaochan—praying quietly under the moon. Diaochan had noticed Wang Yun’s heavy heart. She guessed it was because of the chaos in the court—especially Dong Zhuo’s cruelty. So she prayed for justice and hoped she could help. Wang Yun was deeply moved. He realized that Diaochan was not only beautiful, but also kind and loyal. And suddenly, an idea came to him: If force cannot defeat Lü Bu… maybe strategy can break the bond between him and Dong Zhuo. This became the famous “Beauty Trap” (連環計). Step 1: Promise her to Lü BuWang Yun invited Lü Bu to a banquet. During the dinner, Diaochan appeared—pouring wine, dancing gracefully. Lü Bu was instantly captivated. Seeing this, Wang Yun said: “If you like her, I will let her marry you.” Lü Bu was overjoyed. He felt deeply grateful. Step 2: Offer her to Dong ZhuoA few days later, Wang Yun invited Dong Zhuo—this time when Lü Bu was not around. Once again, Diaochan appeared. And just as expected, Dong Zhuo was completely mesmerized. But this time, Wang Yun said something different: “She is a gift for you, my lord.” Dong Zhuo laughed and took Diaochan home that very night. The breaking pointWhen Lü Bu heard what happened, he was furious. He went to confront Wang Yun—but Wang Yun pretended to be innocent: “Oh, you misunderstood! Your father said he would take her back to prepare for your wedding. I thought he already told you!” Lü Bu hesitated. But when he later found out the truth—that Dong Zhuo had taken Diaochan for himself—his anger grew. Still, he didn’t dare openly oppose Dong Zhuo. Until one day. Lü Bu secretly met Diaochan in the garden. She cried and told him she never wanted to be with Dong Zhuo. As Lü Bu tried to comfort her—Dong Zhuo suddenly returned and saw them together. Father and son turn against each otherDong Zhuo was furious. He threw his weapon at Lü Bu, trying to kill him. Lü Bu dodged—but something inside him broke. “You are my father… You took the woman I love… and now you want to kill me?” Their relationship shattered completely. The final moveWang Yun saw his chance. He approached Lü Bu and pushed him further: “If he truly cared about you, would he try to kill you over a woman?” Driven by anger, pride, and emotion, Lü Bu made his decision. Soon after, Wang Yun and Lü Bu set a trap. They lured Dong Zhuo into the palace with a false message—that the emperor would pass power to him. Excited, Dong Zhuo walked in without suspicion. And in that moment— Lü Bu stepped forward and killed him. What this story really shows usThis story teaches us something powerful: Even the strongest warrior can be defeated by a well-designed strategy. And even the closest relationships—like father and son—can fall apart because of desire, pride, and emotion. In this story, everyone has their own reason:
But it leaves us with a deeper question: Was there ever real love in this story? Or were they all just players in a game of power? Was Lü Bu angry because he lost the woman he loved or because his pride as a man was hurt? In the next episode, I’d love to explore this further— Human nature, power, and the choices we make in extreme situations. Let’s look at this classic story again—through a modern perspective. Stay tuned! Phrase of the Week反目成仇 (fǎn mù chéng chóu)Meaning: To turn against each other and become enemies. This phrase describes a relationship that breaks down completely, often due to conflict, betrayal, or emotional tension. Sample Sentences: 1. 因為誤會，他們多年好友反目成仇。
2. 因為誤會，他們多年好友反目成仇。
3. 利益衝突常常讓人反目成仇。
4. 這段關係從信任走向反目成仇，令人惋惜。
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