Maybe you’ve heard of the stories of Red Hare, the mighty horse who could run a thousand leagues in a single day. About at the same time as Red Hare lived, a cursed horse by the name of Dilu lived in Othard as well.

A Xaela bandit leader by the name of Zhang Wu rode a beautiful white horse named Dilu, that had brown spots right below the eyes. Zhang Wu had pillaged and looted enough to attract the attention of the local authorities so a local warlord named Liu Bei, also a Xaela, was sent to eliminate his gang.

When Liu Bei’s troops managed to catch up with the bandits, Zhang Wu challenged them to send an officer for a duel. A fine elezen warrior by the name of Zhao Zilong asked Liu Bei, “my lord, let me go and rid the world of this villain.”

“Very well, I’m counting on you,” answered Liu Bei.

Zhao Zilong rode quickly to meet Zhang Wu and in one Raiden Thrust, pierced the heart of the bandit. Their leader killed, the rest of the ruffians dispersed.

Zhao Zilong noticed the fine horse and thought it would make a suitable present to his lord. Zhao Zilong presented the horse to Liu Bei, “My lord, this powerful and beautiful steed cannot be given to just anyone. Only you here is fit to ride such a great mount.”

But Liu Bei had another idea in mind for the horse. You see, Liu Bei had no home base and was currently a guest of Liu Biao, the local governor who had sent him to destroy the bandits. When Liu Bei and his troops came back, Liu Bei offered the horse as a gift to the governor who gladly accepted the horse.

However, one of Liu Biao’s advisors, a mean and bitter Raen named Kuai Yue thought otherwise and told him so when they were in private. “Governor, see these brown spots below the eyes, these are cursed. It will bring bad luck, anyone riding this horse will surely meet a violent death just like its previous rider.”

“Hmm, thought the governor, I had better give it back then.”

So the governor went back to Liu Bei and said, “You kindly presented me with a horse lately, and I am most grateful. But you may need it on some of your expeditions and, if you do not mind, I would like to return it.”.

One of Liu Bei’s advisors, a wise and well learned Hyur named Yi Ji told him, “the governor is returning the horse because it is cursed. You should not ride the horse as it brings bad luck and its riders are all doomed to die violently just like Zhang Wu.”

“Nonsense,” replied Liu Bei, “all men have their appointed time, that’s something no horse can change.”

So Liu Bei took to riding this excellent horse, thinking no more of curse or ill-fate.

A few weeks later, Liu Bei was attending a banquet when the advisor came to him and whispered, “my lord, our host means to murder you right now, there are armed soldiers coming here right now, you have to flee.”

Taking the advice, Liu Bei quickly fetched his horse and fled. The soldiers found him just as he was leaving the city and gave chase. Liu Bei didn’t know the area very well and soon found himself trapped between a river and his pursuers. The river didn’t look that deep, so Liu Bei opted to press his luck.

And so horse and rider started wading in the waters in a brave attempt to cross the river. Before long, the horse lost its footing. Both of them sinking, Liu Bei belabored, “Dilu, Dilu, why do you betray me? A jinxed horse indeed! Today you brought me misfortune.”

On the shore, soldiers were laughing at Liu Bei’s predicament.

All seemed lost with Dilu entirely submerged and Liu Bei almost submerged in the raging river but the horse reared and, making thirty span with every thrust, gained the opposite shore.

Truly, this was a dragon-steed.

Liu Bei later regrouped with his forces and would travel West in the hope of establishing himself. On the way West, one of Liu Bei’s advisors, a very clever Xaela named Pang Tong had difficulties with his mount. Liu Bei, being a much more experienced rider than Pang Tong offered to trade horses.

A bit later, Liu Bei and his troops came to a fork in the road with both ways going into very narrow passes. Liu Bei and Pang Tong agreed to split the troops to travel faster and regroup further. What neither of them knew was that bandits looking to avenge Zhang Wu were waiting for them in ambush on the South road which was the one Pang Tong took.

When the bandits saw the troops approaching, their leader saw the white horse and yelled, “the man on the white horse is Liu Bei, kill him,” and all the bandits shot arrows toward the white horse.

Being taken completely by surprise, both Pang Tong and Dilu were wounded by many arrows, fell and died. Just before dying, Pang Tong looked at the fallen Dilu and said, “what a fine white horse.”

And so it was that the cursed horse would kill or save no other rider.

As for Liu Bei, he would live quite a bit longer, but that’s a story for another time.

Notes and thoughts

Those of you who are fans of the Tecmo Koei ‘Dynasty Warriors’ or ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ games quite possibly know Dilu as “Hex Mark”. It appears that Dilu is also present in the Total War Three Kingdoms game under the name of Dilu.

There is a horse on the MogStation named Red Hare. It’s description says “This horse is said to be a direct descendant of the awe-inspiring stallion. Probably.” I’m still waiting for Dilu, but given the difference of notoriety between the two horses, that’s probably not going to happen.

This is one of the very first stories I adapted to FF XIV lore and concerns over the length made me cut the part where misunderstandings lead to growing suspicions between Liu Bei and Liu Biao. In the novel, that murder attempt does not come out of nowhere. There, the reader knows the banquet is just that and Liu Bei very much suspects the plot too but feels he has to go for political reasons and as a matter of appearances. He ends up forced to cross the Tan river. In any case, I wanted this to be the story of Dilu, not that of Liu Bei.

There’s been a few adaptations of varying quality of the Three Kingdoms for TV. You can the “crossing of the Tan river” here in all low budget glory (https://youtu.be/wiJVUASVfw0?t=359). That video features no Au Ra though…