Seven years after the battle of Guan Du, Liu Bei avoided war against Cao Cao by seeking refuge to Liu Biao in Jing Zhou.
In an attempt to repay Liu Biao’s kindness, Liu Bei agreed to suppress a rebellion in Jiang Xia on his behalf. Jing Zhou was a very prosperous place in South China. During the battle, Liu Bei successfully got a horse from one of the general killed by Zhao Yun.

This horse called “Di Lu” (Hex Mark). The horse feet were white and it has a white spot on his head, which was believed this horse will bring bad luck to its rider. However, Liu Bei did not believe it.

After Liu Bei helped Liu Biao in suppressing the Jiang Xia rebellion, Liu Biao puts even more trust to Liu Bei. However, Zhang Lu of Han Zhong and Sun Quan of Wu keep harassing Liu Biao. Therefore, Liu Bei voluntary offered to ask his general to guard the border for Liu Biao. When this news reached Cai Mao (Liu Biao’s brother in law), he felt his power was under pressure and unsecured. That night Cai Mao went to see his sister (Liu Biao’s wife) to discuss about this news.

After she got the news from Cai Mao, immediately she went to persuade Liu Biao not to give this authority to Liu Bei. However, Liu Biao insisted to do that. Liu Biao was afraid of the opposition of his clansmen. Thus, he bade Liu Bei to guard Xin Ye, a town near Jing Zhou, instead.

Not long after Liu Bei and company move to Xin Ye, Xiang Lan (Liu Bei’s wife) gave birth to a boy. Though Liu Bei now has no land of his own, his anguish was somewhat alleviated with the birth of the child. Xiang Lan dreamt about the Polaris (Dou Xing) during the labour, thus she named the boy Ah Dou.

Liu Biao had a son with his late wife, Liu Qi and another son with his current wife, Liu Zong. He was not sure which one he should appoint as his successor. Liu Qi was not very healthy at that time. However, Liu Bei suggested, if he forsake the eldest son, he forsake the age-old tradition. He afraid that would cause an uproar in his people.

When Liu Biao’s wife heard about this, she was very angry and she planned with Cai Mao to killed Liu Bei quietly. However, Liu Bei managed to run away with the help of Liu Biao’s honorary guest, Yi Ji.

When Cai Mao failed to kill Liu Bei, he came out with a trick by witting a false poem on behalf of Liu Bei, to show that Liu Bei has a rebellious intention.

At the same time tried to persuade Liu Biao send the troops to Xin Ye. However, Liu Biao knew that it was a trick attempted to sow enmity between he and Liu Bei. So he refused to send troops.

Liu Biao’s wife then came out another plan to lure Liu Bei out from Xin Ye. When the annual harvest celebration came, Liu Biao asked Cai Mao to invite all officers come. And at the same time, Cai Mao took this opportunity to suggest, invite Liu Bei to act as the host. Therefore, Liu Bei would have no excuse of not attending it. If Liu Bei refused to become a host, it would draw Liu Biao’s suspicion. Thus, Liu Bei asked Zhao Yun and 300 men to accompany Liu Bei attending this invitation.

Jing Zhou’s annual harvest celebration is celebrated by all people. That time, all officers in Jing Zhou, either civil or military, were there to celebrate it. Three gates of the city have been guarded real tight by Cao Mao’s men except the west gate.

Because it leads to Tan river. Therefore, they thought Liu Bei might not escape that way. In order to distract Zhao Yun’s attention to guard Liu Bei, Cai Mao asked his men to lure Zhao Yun out for a drink.

Again this time Cao Mao’s tactic was alerted by Yi Ji.

He asked Liu Bei to flee from the west gate. Liu Bei then immediately rode his Di Lu Horse and fled from the west gate. Liu Bei was unable to move when he reached Tan river when Cai Mao’s men chasing from behind.

Everyone was shocked when the Di Lu horse suddenly performed a leap to cross over the river. Liu Bei finally safe by his so called “unfortunate” Di Lu Horse.

Liu Bei felt very lonely now as he just escaped from an imminent danger. However, upon escaping the danger, he hesitate on where he should go to hide. At last, Liu Bei arrived to an unexpected place. He came into the dwelling of Master Shui Jing. Master Shui Jing let Liu Bei know about the presence of a military advisor, nick name “The Sleeping Dragon” and “The Fledgling Phoenix”. If he get one of them into his service, the whole world is within his grasp.