Zhou Yu, courtesy name Gongjin, was from Shu County in Lujiang. His grandfather Zhou Jing and his father Zhou Zhong both served as Grand Commandants during the Han Dynasty, achieving the highest ranks in office. Zhou Yi also served as the magistrate of Luoyang County.
Zhou Yu is tall and handsome. Initially, Sun Jian led troops to fight Dong Zhuo and relocated his family to Shu County. Sun Jian's son Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were the same age, and they became very close friends. Zhou Yu offered his large southern mansion for Sun Ce to stay in, and Sun Ce even visited Zhou Yu's mother at their home. They shared everything and had a deep bond. Later, Zhou Yu's uncle became the governor of Danyang, and Zhou Yu went to pay him a visit. Just as Sun Ce was preparing to cross the river to the east, he quickly sent a message to Zhou Yu in Liyang, and Zhou Yu gathered his troops to welcome Sun Ce. Sun Ce exclaimed with joy, "I am so lucky to have you!" They then launched attacks on Hengjiang and Dangli together. After crossing the Yangtze River, they besieged Moling, defeated Zuo Rong and Xue Li, and marched to Hushi and Jiangcheng, finally attacking Qu'e. Liu Yao, frightened, fled, and Sun Ce's army had swelled to tens of thousands. Sun Ce said to Zhou Yu, "With our forces, capturing Wu County and Kuaiji and pacifying the Shanyue should be sufficient. You should return to Danyang to take command." Zhou Yu went back. Some time later, Yuan Shu appointed his brother Yuan Yin as the new governor of Danyang, replacing Zhou Yu's uncle, and Zhou Yu and his uncle returned to Shouchun. Yuan Shu wanted Zhou Yu to be a general, but Zhou Yu believed Yuan Shu was unlikely to accomplish anything significant, so he requested the position of magistrate of Chao County as a pretext to return to Dong Wu, which Yuan Shu agreed to. So Zhou Yu returned to Dong Wu from Chao County. This year marked the third year of Jian'an. Sun Ce personally greeted Zhou Yu and appointed him as the Jianwei General, assigning him two thousand soldiers and fifty warhorses. At that time, Zhou Yu was only twenty-four years old, and the people of Wu affectionately called him Zhou Lang. Because Zhou Yu was very popular in Lujiang, he was dispatched to guard Niuzhu and later became the magistrate of Chungu County. Some time later, Sun Ce aimed to attack Jingzhou and appointed Zhou Yu as the Chief of Guards, and they successfully captured Wancheng. During this time, they were introduced to the two daughters of Qiao Gong, both of whom were stunning. Sun Ce wed the elder daughter, while Zhou Yu married the younger. They subsequently attacked Xunyang and defeated Liu Xun, brought Jiangxia under control, and stabilized Yuzhang and Luling, and ultimately stationed at Baqiu.
Five years after, Sun Ce died, and Sun Quan took over the affairs. Zhou Yu led his troops to pay respects, but ended up remaining in Wu territory, serving as the Central Protectorate alongside Chief Clerk Zhang Zhao, jointly handling political affairs. Several years later, in the eleventh year of Sun Quan's reign, Sun Quan dispatched Zhou Yu to quell the rebellions in Matun and Baitun. Zhou Yu killed their leaders, captured tens of thousands of prisoners, returned triumphantly to court, where he received a grand welcome. Huang Zu, the Governor of Jiangxia, sent his general Deng Long with several thousand soldiers to invade Chaisang. Zhou Yu pursued and captured Deng Long, bringing him back to Wu.
In the spring of the thirteenth year, Sun Quan intended to launch an attack on Jiangxia, appointing Zhou Yu as the vanguard commander responsible for frontline operations. In September of that year, Cao Cao seized Jingzhou, and Liu Cong surrendered along with all his troops. Cao Cao now commanded the naval forces of Jingzhou in addition to his own troops, totaling over a hundred thousand soldiers and sailors. Our soldiers were filled with fear upon hearing this news. Sun Quan called everyone together to strategize. Everyone discussed eagerly, saying, "Cao Cao is as ruthless as a jackal or a tiger, but he uses the title of Chancellor of the Han Dynasty to hold the emperor hostage and conquer in the name of the court. If we resist him now, the situation will only get worse. General, the advantage you have against Cao Cao is the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. Now that Cao Cao has taken Jingzhou and now controls the surrounding land, the water army left by Liu Biao, with thousands of armored ships and battle boats, is at his disposal. Cao Cao is using these ships to navigate along the Yangtze River, launching attacks from both land and water. He has already exploited the strategic positions along the Yangtze River, effectively sharing it with us. Moreover, the strength disparity between the two sides is stark. In my view, the best course of action is to welcome him."
Zhou Yu said, "No. Although Cao Cao uses the title of Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, he is, in fact, a traitor to the Han! General, you have great military strength, exceptional talent, and you’ve built upon the achievements of your father and elder brother, occupying Jiangdong with a territory spanning thousands of miles, a strong army, and contented citizens. You should be dominating the world and ridding it of traitors for the Han. Besides, Cao Cao is digging his own grave—how can we even consider welcoming him? Let me break it down for you, General: if the north were already pacified and Cao Cao had no worries, able to engage in long-term battles to expand his territory, would he still stand a chance against us on the river? Currently, the north is not yet pacified; Ma Chao and Han Sui are causing trouble in the west, which poses a significant threat to Cao Cao. Furthermore, relying on ships instead of cavalry to fight for territory against the Wu and Yue people isn’t something the Central Plains armies are good at. It’s winter now, and the warhorses have no fodder, and sending Central Plains soldiers on a long trek to unfamiliar rivers and lakes will surely make them sick. These four points are major no-nos in warfare, yet Cao Cao is taking these risks. You should seize this chance to take out Cao Cao now! I need 30,000 elite troops stationed at Xiakou; I guarantee I can take him down for you!"
Sun Quan said, "This old scoundrel has been wanting to overthrow the Han and crown himself king, but he only feared Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, Liu Biao, and me. Now that those heroes are gone, I’m the last one standing, and I can’t stand this old scoundrel! Your plan to attack him is just what I need; it feels like fate wants to use your strength to help me!"
Once upon a time, Liu Bei was defeated by Cao Cao and wanted to flee south across the river. He met Lu Su in Dangyang, and they discussed strategies, then stayed in Xiakou and sent Zhuge Liang to meet Sun Quan. Sun Quan sent Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and others to join forces with Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao, and the two sides clashed at Chibi. At that time, many of Cao Cao's troops were already ill. In the first battle, Cao Cao's army retreated north, while Zhou Yu and his men stayed on the south bank.
Zhou Yu's general Huang Gai said, "Now the enemy has more troops than we do; it's hard to fight a prolonged battle. But I notice that Cao Cao's ships are lined up end to end; we can burn them all!" So, he selected dozens of fire ships, filled them with straw, poured tung oil over them, covered them with curtains, raised military flags on top, and first sent someone to Cao Cao pretending to surrender. He also prepared light boats, tied them behind the larger ships, and then sailed them all together. Cao Cao's officers and soldiers all stretched their necks to watch, pointing at Huang Gai and saying he surrendered. Huang Gai released the ships and ignited them. At that time, the wind was strong, and the fire quickly spread, setting the enemy's camp ablaze on the shore. Soon, thick smoke and flames covered the sky; many soldiers and horses perished in the flames or drowned. Cao Cao's forces were utterly defeated and retreated to Nanjun. Liu Bei and Zhou Yu pursued together. Cao Cao left Cao Ren and the others to defend Jiangling City before fleeing north.
Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu launched another attack on Nanjun, facing Cao Ren across the river. Before the formal war began, Zhou Yu sent Gan Ning to occupy Yiling first. Cao Ren dispatched troops and cavalry to encircle Gan Ning. Gan Ning asked Zhou Yu for help. Zhou Yu employed Lu Meng's strategy, leaving Ling Tong to guard the rear, and went to rescue Gan Ning with Lu Meng. The siege around Gan Ning was lifted, and he crossed the river to camp on the north bank, agreeing on a time for the decisive battle. Zhou Yu personally inspected the camp on horseback and was shot in the right rib by a stray arrow, seriously injured, and he had to return. Later, upon hearing that Zhou Yu was injured and bedridden, Cao Ren deployed his troops. Zhou Yu, despite the pain, rose to inspect the army, boosted the morale of the soldiers, and Cao Ren retreated as a result.
Zhou Yu was appointed as a Major General while also serving as the Governor of Nanjun, overseeing Junxian, Hanchang County, Liuyang County, and Zhoucheng County, stationed in Jiangling. Liu Bei was appointed as the General of the Left, concurrently serving as the Governor of Jingzhou, stationed in Gong'an. When Liu Bei paid a visit to Sun Quan, Zhou Yu wrote a letter saying, "Liu Bei possesses the aura of a hero, and with fierce generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei under him, he will not stay in a subordinate position for long. I believe the best course of action is to relocate Liu Bei to Wu territory, build him a luxurious palace, provide him with many beautiful women and treasures to indulge in, then separate Guan Yu and Zhang Fei for placement. This way, people like myself can keep them in check and go on to attack the enemy, ensuring success in major endeavors. But now, you are ceding land to him and allowing him to gather with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei; it's akin to letting a dragon command the rain and clouds; they will ultimately break free!" Sun Quan, considering Cao Cao's presence in the north, should gather talented individuals, and also worried about the difficulty in controlling Liu Bei immediately, did not take Zhou Yu's advice.
At that time, Liu Zhang was the Governor of Yizhou, and Zhang Lu often came to harass. Zhou Yu went to see Sun Quan and said, "Currently, Cao Cao has just experienced a defeat and is worried about internal issues, so he cannot join forces with us for the time being. I would like to request your permission to launch an attack on the Shu region alongside General Fan Wei, capture Shu first, then capture Zhang Lu, leave General Fan Wei to guard the area, and then unite with Ma Chao. When I return, I will stay in Xiangyang with you to contain Cao Cao, so that we can make plans for the north." Sun Quan agreed. Zhou Yu returned to Jiangling to prepare for the expedition, but tragically fell ill and died at Baqiu. He was only thirty-six years old that year. Sun Quan held a solemn funeral for him while dressed in plain clothes, moving everyone present. Zhou Yu's coffin was to be transported back to Wu, and Sun Quan welcomed it in Wuhu, taking great care in making all the arrangements. Later, Sun Quan also ordered, "Regarding the late General Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu, no one is permitted to inquire." In his early years, Zhou Yu became friends with Yu Yucie, and the Empress Dowager even asked Sun Quan to treat Yu Yucie like a brother. At that time, Sun Quan was a general, and the etiquette between generals and their guests was quite straightforward, but Zhou Yu took the lead in performing the duties of a subject, demonstrating profound respect. Zhou Yu had a talent for music from an early age. Even after drinking a few cups of wine, if there were mistakes in the music performance, he could hear them and would always turn to see. So people of that time created a folk song: "If there's a mistake, Zhou Lang will look back." Zhou Yu had three children, two sons and a daughter. His daughter married the Crown Prince. One son married a princess, was appointed as a Cavalry Commander, inherited Zhou Yu's bravery but sadly passed away at a young age. His younger brother, Zhou Yin, was initially designated as the Commandant of Xingye, married an imperial princess, and led a thousand soldiers stationed in Gong'an. In the first year of Huanglong, he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Duxiang, but later faced demotion to Luling Commandery due to errors in judgment.
In the second year of the Chiwu era, Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi jointly submitted a memorial saying: "Zhou Yu's son, Zhou Yin, was granted the title of general because of his father's influence, but he failed to appreciate this privilege, did not earn any merit, and instead indulged in a life of pleasure, soon committing a crime. We privately believe that Zhou Yu was deeply trusted before his death; he was the monarch's confidant in the court and the country's right-hand man outside. He was ordered to go to war, faced danger, fulfilled his duties faithfully, and faced death fearlessly. That is why he was able to defeat Cao Cao at Wulin, defeat Cao Ren at Yingdu, enhance our country's prestige, intimidate our enemies, and even the barbarians submitted to him, not to mention the lords of the Zhou dynasty or the Xing and Bu of the Han dynasty, who could not compare to him.
Since ancient times, emperors have valued those valiant heroes. Emperor Gaozu of Han once made an oath: 'May the waters of the Yellow River be as thin as a ribbon, may the stones of Mount Tai be as sharp as a knife, may the country exist forever, may blessings extend to future generations'; he wrote down the oath in red ink, added a curse, kept it in the ancestral temple, and passed it down endlessly, hoping that the descendants of the heroes would inherit it generation after generation. This not only pertains to the immediate descendants but also to future generations, repaying kindness, showcasing merits, and working diligently. Valuing this so much is to advise future generations that those who serve their country should do so without regrets. Moreover, Zhou Yu passed away not long ago, yet his son Zhou Yin has been reduced to the status of a commoner, which is even more regrettable.
We privately believe that Your Majesty is wise and values inheriting and carrying forward the achievements of the ancestors. We hope Your Majesty can plead for Zhou Yin, pardon his remaining crimes, restore his military power and title, and let him be like a rooster that crows at dawn, able to crow once more, allowing this person who made mistakes to serve the country again."
Sun Quan replied, "Zhou Yu was my loyal old minister, who stood by me wholeheartedly, and I have always held his contributions in high regard. When Zhou Yin was young, he did not have any achievements, but he commanded elite troops and was appointed as a marquis, all because of my gratitude towards Zhou Yu's contributions. However, Zhou Yin took advantage of this favor and indulged in pleasures and ignored my warnings without repentance. My feelings for Zhou Yu are akin to the bond between a ruler and his minister; I hope for Zhou Yin to achieve something. How could I bear to see him like this?
Because of Zhou Yin's serious offenses, I can't restore his title right now. I want him to face some consequences and come to terms with his mistakes. Now, you both have repeatedly mentioned Emperor Gaozu's oath about the country and its people, and I feel ashamed. Although Zhou Yin does not deserve this favor due to his behavior, I still want to give him a chance. So, I will not agree to your request for now. With Zhou Yu's son, you both can help guide him towards reform. If he can change for the better, what is there to worry about?"
After Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi submitted their requests, Zhu Ran and Quan Cong also joined in, and Sun Quan finally agreed. Sadly, Zhou Yin passed away due to illness.
Zhou Yu's son, Zhou Jun, was appointed general in recognition of his father's contributions, leading thousands of soldiers. After Zhou Jun's death, Quan Cong recommended Zhou Jun's son, Zhou Hu, to become a general. Sun Quan said, "Our victories against Cao Cao and capturing Jingzhou were all thanks to Zhou Yu's contributions, which I have always remembered. Initially, upon hearing of Zhou Jun's death, I thought about appointing Zhou Hu. However, I later found out that Zhou Hu was a risky choice, and appointing him might bring trouble, so I abandoned the idea. How could I ever forget Zhou Yu?"
Lu Su, styled Zijing, was from Dongcheng in Huainan. His father passed away when he was young, and he lived with his grandmother. Even though Lu Su came from a wealthy family, he was known for his generosity and charity. During the turbulent times, he focused on helping the poor and making connections with like-minded individuals, making him popular in his hometown.
When Zhou Yu was the magistrate of Chao County, he was traveling with a group of hundreds and stopped by to visit Lu Su and ask him for provisions. Lu Su had two granaries at home, each filled with three thousand hu of grain. Lu Su pointed directly to one of the granaries and offered it to Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu recognized Lu Su's exceptional qualities, so the two became good friends and agreed to help each other in the future. Upon hearing of Lu Su's reputation, Yuan Shu appointed him as the magistrate of Dongcheng County. Lu Su believed Yuan Shu lacked integrity and that they couldn't work together, so he took the elderly and weak along with more than a hundred young warriors and headed south to seek refuge with Zhou Yu. As Zhou Yu crossed the Yangtze River, Lu Su accompanied him on the journey and later stayed with the An family in Qu'a. After his grandmother passed away, he returned to Dongcheng to lay her to rest.
Liu Ziyang shared a strong friendship with Lu Su and wrote to him, saying, "All the heroes in the world are rising up now. You have both talent and ability, young man. It is time for you to make great achievements. Hurry back to see your mother and don't waste any more time in Dongcheng. Recently, a guy named Zheng Bao has been making waves in Chaohu with over ten thousand followers. The land is fertile, and many people in Lujiang have joined him. What about us? Given his momentum, he’s bound to keep growing and expanding. This is a rare opportunity, so you should go quickly!" Lu Su thought it was a solid plan.
After the funeral, he returned to Qu'a and was preparing to head north. By then, Zhou Yu had already brought Su's mother to the land of Wu, and Su informed Zhou Yu about this. Sun Ce had already passed away, and Sun Quan was still in Wu. Zhou Yu remarked to Su, "In today's world, both monarchs and subjects choose each other. Our lord values talented and capable individuals, welcomes extraordinary talents, and I have heard the sages' secret predictions that the future successor to the Liu dynasty will surely emerge from the southeast. Considering the current situation, the timing is right. Ultimately, a great imperial cause will be established, in line with the will of heaven. This is an opportune moment for heroes to rally behind a wise lord and achieve greatness. I see this clearly; you don't need to worry about what Liu Ziyang said anymore."
Su listened to Zhou Yu's words. Zhou Yu also praised Su's considerable talent, stating that he should serve the current ruler and seek out talents like him to achieve great accomplishments, and should not let him leave. When Sun Quan met Zhou Yu, he felt an immediate rapport with him and they chatted happily. After the other guests left, Zhou Yu was about to take his leave, but Sun Quan insisted that he stay, and they drank and chatted together. Then Sun Quan quietly said to Zhou Yu, "The Han Dynasty is about to fall apart now; chaos is everywhere. I have inherited the foundation left by my father and brother, and I am thinking of achieving great accomplishments like Emperor Huan of Han. Since you are willing to help me, what suggestions do you have?"
Zhou Yu replied, "In the past, Liu Bang wanted to serve Emperor Yi well but couldn't do it because Xiang Yu caused trouble. Now, Cao Cao is like Xiang Yu in the past. General, how can you establish a hegemony like Emperor Huan of the Han? Personally, I believe that the Han Dynasty cannot be restored, and Cao Cao won't be easily defeated anytime soon. In my opinion, the best way for you, General, is to occupy Jiangdong and keep a close eye on the changing situation in the world. There's nothing wrong with this approach. Why? Since they're preoccupied with infighting, you can take the opportunity to eliminate Huang Zu, push all the way to the Yangtze River's end, occupy this area, then declare yourself king and plan for the world. This is the method that made Liu Bang successful back then!" Sun Quan said, "I just want to do my best to keep the land safe and hope to assist the Han Dynasty. I haven't considered your suggestions." Zhang Zhao thought Zhou Yu was lacking in humility, and his attitude was not good enough, so he criticized Zhou Yu with some dissatisfaction, saying that he was young, rude, and inexperienced, and shouldn't be given too much responsibility. Sun Quan wasn't bothered by this at all, but valued Zhou Yu even more, and bestowed numerous gifts upon Zhou Yu's mother, including clothes, tents, housing, and daily necessities, with the same generosity as before.
Liu Biao is dead. Lu Su gave Sun Quan a great idea, saying, "Jingzhou is a great location. It is adjacent to our country, the Yangtze River flows northward, surrounded by the Jianghan Plain and protected by mountains. It is like a city as solid as a fortress, with fertile land, vast expanses, a wealthy populace, and a large population. If we can take control of it, it could be our ticket to becoming emperors or kings! Now that Liu Biao has just died, his two sons don't get along, and the generals in the army all have their own agendas. More importantly, Liu Bei is a talented strategist who has a grudge against Cao Cao and is now living in Liu Biao's place. Though Liu Biao fears his talent, he hasn't dared to use him. If Liu Bei and Liu Biao's sons can unite, we should win them over and form an alliance; if there are conflicts between them, we must think of other ways to achieve our great cause. I want to go to mourn Liu Biao's two sons, comfort the important figures in the army, and urge Liu Bei to lead Liu Biao's army so we can deal with Cao Cao together. Liu Bei will definitely be thrilled to follow my advice. If we pull this off, peace will reign! If we don't go, Cao Cao may take the lead." Sun Quan immediately sent Lu Su.
Upon arriving at Xiakou, Lu Su heard that Cao Cao had already marched towards Jingzhou, so he traveled day and night. When he arrived at Nanjun, Liu Biao's son, Liu Cong, had surrendered to Cao Cao, and Liu Bei was terrified, fleeing in all directions, hoping to cross the river southward. Lu Su went directly to meet him at Dangyang Changban and delivered Sun Quan's message, emphasizing Jiangdong's strength, urging Liu Bei to team up with Sun Quan. Liu Bei was thrilled. At that time, Zhuge Liang was with Liu Bei, and Lu Su said to Zhuge Liang, "You're my son Yu's friend!" The two hit it off. Liu Bei then headed to Xiakou and sent Zhuge Liang to meet Sun Quan, and Lu Su then returned to report back.
At this time, Sun Quan heard that Cao Cao wanted to attack, so he held a discussion with his generals. Everyone advised Sun Quan to fight, except for Lu Su, who stayed silent. Sun Quan stood up to change his clothes, and Lu Su hurried after him outside. Sun Quan knew what was on his mind and grabbed Lu Su's hand, asking, "What is on your mind?" Lu Su replied, "I just observed everyone's opinions; they all want to undermine you. These people are not capable of achieving great things alongside you. Now I can go to meet Cao Cao, but you shouldn't. Why do I say this? If I go to meet Cao Cao, he will definitely send me back to my hometown and give me a position, even if it's just a low-ranking official, riding in a cart, following soldiers, interacting with scholars and notable figures, gradually rising in rank, and eventually holding a government position. If you go to meet Cao Cao, where can you go? I hope you come to a decision soon and disregard their advice!" Sun Quan sighed and said, "The suggestions these people made have truly let me down; the plan you proposed is exactly what I had in mind. It feels like heaven has sent you to me!" Zhou Yu was dispatched to Poyang, and Lu Su advised Sun Quan to call him back. Later, Sun Quan let Zhou Yu handle things and appointed Lu Su as the Colonel of Support for the Army, assisting Zhou Yu with strategy. After Cao Cao was defeated and fled, Lu Su returned first, and Sun Quan personally led his generals to welcome him. As Lu Su was about to enter to pay his respects, Sun Quan stood up to greet him, asking, "Zijing, I personally came down to greet you and lead your horse. Does that show enough respect for you?" Lu Su humbly replied, "Not quite enough yet." Everyone there was taken aback. After sitting down, Lu Su calmly took up the reins and said, "When you have conquered the world, unified the country, and achieved your imperial ambitions, then you can use a comfortable carriage to come and get me; that would really show your respect for me!" Sun Quan burst into hearty laughter at this, extremely pleased.
Later, Liu Bei went to the capital to request control of Jingzhou from Sun Quan. Only Lu Su suggested that Sun Quan lend Jingzhou to Liu Bei so they could jointly resist Cao Cao. When Cao Cao heard that Sun Quan had granted land to Liu Bei, he was so furious that he dropped his pen while writing a letter.
Zhou Yu fell seriously ill and suffered greatly. He wrote to Sun Quan, saying, "Now the world is in a period of turmoil, and I worry every night. I hope you can take precautions and take care of yourself. We are enemies with Cao Cao, and Liu Bei lives in Gong'an, very close to us. The people have not completely submitted, and they need an outstanding general to pacify them. Lu Su is very capable; please allow him to take my place. After I die, my wish will be fulfilled." So Sun Quan appointed Lu Su as the General of Fervor and Valor, replacing Zhou Yu in leading the army. The four thousand soldiers and the land of four counties that Zhou Yu commanded were placed under Lu Su's authority. Sun Quan also appointed Cheng Pu as the Administrator of Nanjun. Lu Su initially stationed in Jiangling, then moved to Lukou. He was highly esteemed and respected, and the number of soldiers increased to over ten thousand. He was later appointed as the Administrator of Hanchang and the General of the Left. In the nineteenth year, Lu Su followed Sun Quan in capturing Wancheng and was promoted to General of Hengjiang.
It is said that the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, was poorly managed with no sense of order. Zhou Yu and Gan Ning advised Sun Quan to take over the Shu region. Sun Quan told Liu Bei about this, and Liu Bei had long wanted to take action himself. He feigned a response, "Liu Zhang and I are both relatives of the Han Dynasty. I hope to uphold the Han Dynasty with the blessings of our ancestors. Now Liu Zhang has offended people around him, and I am deeply afraid. I dare not act rashly and hope you can be lenient. If you disagree, I will take my wife and children back to the countryside to farm!" After saying this, Liu Bei began to secretly plan to attack Liu Zhang. He left Guan Yu to guard the rear, which infuriated Sun Quan, who exclaimed, "This kid dares to play tricks!"
Guan Yu and Lv Meng, Sun Quan's subordinate, often clashed at the border, and their relationship was very tense. Lv Meng always treated Guan Yu kindly, wanting to ease the relationship. After Liu Bei took over Yizhou, Sun Quan requested the cession of the three counties of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang. Liu Bei did not agree, so Sun Quan dispatched Lv Meng to launch an attack. Upon hearing this, Liu Bei hurriedly withdrew his troops from Gong'an to prepare for defense and also sent Guan Yu to compete for these three counties. Lv Meng was stationed in Yiyang, in a standoff with Guan Yu. Lv Meng invited Guan Yu to meet, permitting only Guan Yu to approach alone, armed with a sword. Lv Meng chastised Guan Yu, stating, "Originally, our country lent you the land; your army suffered defeat and came here without money or provisions. Now that you have obtained Yizhou, not only do you refuse to return the land, but you also demand the three counties, disregarding our words!" Before he could finish, someone interrupted, "The ownership of land depends on who has good moral character. There is no fixed ownership!" Lv Meng loudly rebuked him, his face very serious. Guan Yu drew his knife and stood up, saying, "This is a matter of national importance, what do you know about this!" Then he asked the person to leave. Ultimately, Liu Bei established the Xiang River as the boundary, and both sides agreed to cease hostilities and make peace. Lv Meng died at the age of forty-six in the twenty-second year of Jian'an. Sun Quan personally mourned for him and went to pay respects at his grave. Zhuge Liang also paid his respects. After Sun Quan became emperor, he looked at his ministers at the altar and said, "Lu Su said these words before, showing that he was a wise man!" Lv Meng left behind a son named Lv Shu, who, when he grew up, was praised by Zhang Cheng, predicting that he would surely become a remarkable figure. During the Yong'an period, he was appointed as General of the Martial Valor, Marquis of Duting, and Inspector of Wuchang. During the Jianheng period, he was awarded a ceremonial scepter and advanced to Inspector of Xiakou. Wherever he went, he managed to govern effectively and maintain order. In the third year of Fenghuang, Lv Shu died. His son, Lv Mu, inherited his title and also commanded troops in battle.
Lü Meng, style name Ziming, was from Fubei in Runan. When he was around fifteen or sixteen, he moved south to Jiangdong and sought refuge with his sister's husband, Deng Dang. Deng Dang was a general under Sun Ce, frequently leading troops against the Shanyue. Lü Meng secretly followed Deng Dang to battle, and when Deng Dang saw him, he was shocked and scolded him, but he couldn't dissuade him. When they returned, Deng Dang told Lü Meng's mother about the incident, and she was angry and wanted to punish him. Lü Meng said, "It's not easy to live in poverty. If I accidentally achieve something, I can gain wealth and nobility. Besides, without entering the tiger's den, how can I get the tiger's cub?" His mother was sad after hearing this and ultimately decided not to punish him.
At that time, the officials under Deng Dang looked down on Lü Meng for being so young, saying, "What can this kid do? It's like throwing meat to a tiger!" One day, they encountered Lü Meng again and mocked and insulted him. Lü Meng was furious, drew his sword, killed the official, then ran away and hid at the home of Zheng Chang in the town. Later, he voluntarily turned himself in to Captain Yuan Xiong, who put in a good word for him, and Sun Ce summoned him, appreciating Lü Meng and keeping him by his side.
After a few years, Deng Dang died, and Zhang Zhao recommended Lü Meng to replace Deng Dang's position, appointing him as the Sima of a separate unit. When Sun Quan took command of military affairs, he found that some junior officers had small forces and low pay, so he wanted to merge them. Lü Meng secretly borrowed money to make red clothes and leg wraps for these soldiers. When the day came to select soldiers, these soldiers were well-equipped, well-organized, and well-trained. Sun Quan was pleased and increased their numbers. Later, while accompanying Sun Quan in the campaign against Danyang, they achieved several victories, and Lü Meng was appointed as the Commandant of Pingbei, in charge of Guangde County.
When following Sun Quan to attack Huang Zu, Huang Zu ordered his commander Chen Jiu to lead the navy into battle. Lv Meng led the vanguard and personally killed Chen Jiu. The soldiers, emboldened by their victory, pursued and attacked Huang Zu's city. Upon hearing of Chen Jiu's death, Huang Zu abandoned the city and fled, and Sun Quan's army caught up with him. Sun Quan said, "We were able to win this battle because we captured Chen Jiu first!" He then appointed Lv Meng as the General of Hengye Zhonglang and rewarded him with vast amounts of wealth.
That year, Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and I defeated Cao Cao at Wulin and besieged Cao Ren at Nangong. The Yizhou general Xi Su came to surrender with his troops, and Zhou Yu submitted a memorial stating that Xi Su's forces had bolstered our strength. Meng Sheng believed Xi Su was courageous and had come willingly, so we should accept him out of honor and not usurp his military command. Sun Quan accepted his advice and kept Xi Su's army. Zhou Yu dispatched Gan Ning to defend Yiling, but Cao Ren divided his troops to attack Gan Ning. Gan Ning was besieged and urgently sent for help. Other generals believed that the forces were insufficient to split, but Meng Sheng proposed to Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu, "Leave Ling Gongji here; I will accompany you to break the siege. The situation won't last long; I assure you Ling Gongji can hold out for ten days." He also suggested that Zhou Yu send three hundred men to the dangerous road to cut down trees and block the road, so they could capture the enemy's warhorses when they fled. Zhou Yu accepted his suggestion. The army reached Yiling and immediately clashed with the enemy, killing more than half of their forces. The enemy fled at night, encountered the blocked road, and dismounted their cavalry to escape on foot. Our army pursued them, capturing three hundred warhorses and transporting them back on flat-bottomed boats. The soldiers' morale soared; they crossed the rivers and established their positions, forcing Cao Ren to retreat. We then took control of Nangong and restored order in Jingzhou. Upon our return, I was appointed as a General and took up the position of magistrate of Xunyang.
Lu Su took over Zhou Yu's post guarding Lukou and passed by my camp. At that time, Lu Su held me in low regard. Someone said to Lu Su, "General Lu's merits and reputation are becoming more and more prominent every day. You should not deliberately neglect him; you should go visit him." So, Lu Su decided to pay me a visit. After sharing a few rounds of drinks, I asked Lu Su, "You have an important task and are neighbors with Guan Yu. What strategy do you plan to use to prepare for the unexpected?" Lu Su hurriedly replied, "I will figure it out when the time comes." I said, "Although it is nominally unified now, Guan Yu is actually as formidable as a fierce tiger. How can you not make plans in advance?" So, I laid out five strategies for Lu Su. Lu Su then stood up and walked to my side, patted me on the back and said, "Lu Ziming, I didn't expect your talent to reach this level!" Then he paid respects to my mother and left after becoming friends with me.
At that time, my army was stationed together with the armies of Cheng Dang, Song Ding, and Xu Gu. These three generals had all passed away, and their children were still young. Sun Quan wanted to merge their armies under my command. I firmly declined and wrote a letter explaining that Cheng Dang, Song Ding, Xu Gu, and others had diligently served the country. Although their children were young, they should not be abandoned. I submitted three petitions before Sun Quan finally agreed to my request. So, I chose teachers for them to mentor these children; that was the extent of my dedication.
The Wei Kingdom sent the Administrator of Lujiang, Xie Qi, to Qichun to be in charge of agriculture, stationed in Tianxiang, Wan County. He was often harassed by border bandits. Sun Quan sent someone to lure him to surrender, but Xie Qi did not agree, so Sun Quan seized the opportunity to attack him. Xie Qi had no option but to pull back, and his subordinates, including his grandson Cai and Song Hao, surrendered to Sun Quan along with their elderly, women, children, and the weak. Later, Xie Qi resisted Cao Cao at the Battle of Ruxu, proposed several clever strategies, and suggested that Sun Quan set up fortifications at the water gate to bolster defenses. As a result, Cao Cao was unable to capture it and had to retreat.
Cao Cao appointed Zhu Guang as the Prefect of Lujiang, stationed in Wan County, conducting large-scale cultivation of rice fields. He also sent people to recruit the rebel leaders in Poyang, to facilitate cooperation from within and without. Sun Quan said, "The fields in Wan County are fertile; if the harvest is good, the number of bandits will definitely increase. Sooner rather than later, we should eliminate them." So Sun Quan reported the situation in detail to his brother Sun Ce. Then Sun Quan personally led the troops to attack Wan County, gathered the generals, and inquired about the strategy of the battle. Sun Quan appointed Gan Ning as the commander responsible for the assault on the city, leading the charge. Sun Quan himself led the elite troops behind them. They launched the attack in the early morning, with Sun Quan himself beating the drums and rallying the troops. The soldiers all bravely rushed forward, quickly scaled the city walls, breaching Wan County by noon. At this time, Zhang Liao led the troops to Jia Shi, heard that Wan County had been breached, and retreated. Sun Quan was elated and immediately appointed Sun Ce as the Prefect of Lujiang, assigning him the troops that had taken Wan County, as well as six hundred soldiers and thirty officials for Sun Yang. Sun Quan returned to Xunyang, and not long after, a rebellion broke out in Luling. Other generals went to suppress it, but could not capture the rebel leader. Sun Quan said, "A hundred sparrows can't match a single eagle," and sent Sun Ce to suppress the rebellion. Sun Ce arrived in Luling, executed the ringleader of the rebellion, and released the others to return to civilian life.
At that time, Liu Bei ordered Guan Yu to guard Jingzhou, holding sole control over Jingzhou, while ordering Lu Meng to attack the three counties of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang. Lu Meng wrote letters to the Prefects of Changsha and Guiyang, and upon hearing, they surrendered obediently. Only Hao Pu, the Prefect of Lingling, stubbornly defended the city and refused to yield.
At this time, Liu Bei personally arrived from Shu to Gong'an and sent Guan Yu to attack the three commanderies. At that time, Sun Quan was stationed in Lukou and sent Lu Su with ten thousand troops to take position in Yiyang to hold off Guan Yu. He urgently messaged Lu Meng, instructing him to abandon the siege of Lingling and hurry back to support Lu Su.
Initially, after Lu Meng had captured Changsha and was preparing to attack Lingling, he passed through Ling County and brought along Deng Xuan, a Nanyang native and an old friend of Hao Pu. Lu Meng wanted him to persuade Hao Pu to surrender. When he received Sun Quan's order to return, Lu Meng kept this matter to himself and gathered his generals at night to discuss the battle plan. The next morning, they prepared to attack the city. Lu Meng looked at Deng Xuan and said, "Hao Pu is aware of loyalty and righteousness, and he aspires to be a loyal and righteous person, but he fails to recognize the right moment! General Zuo is currently besieged by Xiahou Yuan in Hanzhong; Guan Yu is in Nanzhong, and our lord is personally leading troops to support him; not long ago, the garrison at Fancheng was broken through, and the army sent to rescue Ling County was defeated by Sun Gui. These are all recent events that you have witnessed with your own eyes. They are now surrounded on all sides and cannot even protect themselves, so how can they spare the strength to save Lingling? Our soldiers are all elite warriors, eager to make achievements, and the reinforcements sent by our lord are on the way. Hao Pu is now pinning his hopes on reinforcements that will never come, like a fish falling into a cow's hoofprint hoping to survive by the waters of the Yangtze River, which is utterly futile! If Hao Pu can inspire morale, defend the city to the death, and delay for a day or two to wait for reinforcements, that might work. But now we are strong and can launch a full-scale attack. Within a day, the city will definitely fall. What good would it do him to die after the city falls? It will only bring punishment to his old mother, and that would be truly tragic. I believe his stubbornness stems from his reliance on the idea of reinforcements, so go and have a proper talk with him; make the stakes clear."
Deng Xuan met Hao Pu and conveyed Lu Meng's intentions verbatim to him. Upon hearing this, Hao Pu went pale and finally agreed to surrender. Deng Xuan returned to inform Lu Meng, and soon after, Hao Pu arrived. Lu Meng was well prepared and ordered four generals to each select one hundred men. As soon as Hao Pu left the city, they rushed in to secure the city gates. After a short while, Hao Pu emerged, and Lu Meng greeted him, leading him onto the ship. Lu Meng finished his remarks, showed him the letter, and then clapped his hands and laughed. After reading the letter, Hao Pu learned that Liu Bei was in Gong'an, Guan Yu was in Yiyang, and felt so ashamed he wished he could just disappear. Lu Meng left Sun Jiao to manage the subsequent affairs and led the troops to Yiyang that same day. Liu Bei requested an alliance with Sun Quan, who returned Hao Pu and others to Liu Bei, established the Xiang River as the boundary, returned Lingling to Liu Bei, and gave Xunyang and Yangxin to Lu Meng as his fiefdoms. When Lu Meng returned, Sun Quan led the troops to attack Hefei. However, just after the army withdrew, they walked into an ambush laid by Zhang Liao and his forces. Sun Huan and Ling Tong fought valiantly for their lives. Later, Cao Cao launched a large-scale assault on Ruxukou, and Sun Quan appointed Sun Huan as the commander to defend the fortress he had built earlier, deploying ten thousand powerful crossbows to fend off Cao Cao. Before Cao Cao's vanguard could even pitch their camp, they were defeated by Sun Huan, which forced Cao Cao to retreat. As a result, Sun Huan was promoted to Left Protector General and Tiger Might General.
After Lu Su's death, Sun Huan was sent to garrison at Lu Kou, and over ten thousand soldiers who had served under Lu Su came under Sun Huan's command. He was appointed Prefect of Hanchang, responsible for the four areas of Jun, Liuyang, Hanchang, and Zhouchang. His territory bordered that of Guan Yu, and Sun Huan knew that Guan Yu was a formidable and ambitious person who occupied a strategic position in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This situation was difficult to sustain for long. Earlier, Lu Su and others believed that Cao Cao was still powerful, the threat was just beginning, and everyone should help each other and cooperate to deal with Cao Cao, not to miss any opportunities. Sun Huan secretly proposed to Sun Quan, saying, "Have General Zhonglu defend Nanguo, Pan Zhang stationed in Baidi City, and Jiang Qin leading ten thousand infantrymen to patrol up and down the Yangtze River to be ready to respond to enemy attacks at any time, while I will occupy Xiangyang for the country. In this way, what do we have to fear from Cao Cao? Why worry about Guan Yu? Moreover, Guan Yu is arrogant in his martial prowess and strategies, fickle, and can't be trusted as an ally. The reason why Guan Yu dares not to advance eastward easily now is that the lord is wise and capable in battle, and we are still here. If we don’t take him out now while he’s strong, it’ll be tough to deal with him once he gets old or dies." Sun Quan greatly adopted his strategy.
Sun Quan also took the opportunity to discuss the matter of capturing Xuzhou with Sun Huan. Sun Huan replied, "Currently, Cao Cao is far in the north, having just defeated the brothers Yuan Shao, and is now pacifying Youzhou and Jizhou. He is currently too preoccupied to pay attention to the east. The garrison in Xuzhou poses no threat; we can certainly capture it if we launch an attack. However, Xuzhou has flat terrain, suitable for cavalry warfare. If our lord captures Xuzhou today, Cao Cao will definitely come to fight for it within ten days. Even with seventy to eighty thousand troops defending, we would still feel uneasy. It would be wiser to first capture Guan Yu and gain complete control of the Yangtze River; that way, our strength will be even greater." Sun Quan believed that Sun Huan's suggestion was very reasonable. After Sun Huan took over from Lu Su, he immediately made efforts to win Guan Yu over upon arrival at Lukou, establishing a good relationship with him.
After Zhou Yu's death, Lu Su succeeded him, and Lu Meng advised Sun Quan to attack Guan Yu. Lu Meng wrote, "Guan Yu is attacking Fancheng, but leaving behind many troops stationed in Gong'an and Nanchun. He must be worried about us attacking his rear. Recently, my health has not been good; I earnestly request to lead troops back to Jianye, saying it's for medical treatment." Sun Quan thought this was a good idea. If Guan Yu heard this news, he would definitely withdraw the troops stationed in Nanchun to Xiangyang. By then, our army could cross the river, travel day and night, and directly attack Huanglong, making it easy to take Nanchun.
Sun Quan adopted Lu Meng's plan, feigned an order for Lu Meng to return to Jianye for treatment, but secretly worked with him to formulate detailed battle plans. Guan Yu took the bait; hearing that Lu Meng was sick and returning, he gradually withdrew his forces from Nanchun, focusing on attacking Fancheng. Cao Cao sent Yu Jin to rescue Fancheng, but Guan Yu captured Yu Jin and his tens of thousands of troops. Due to a lack of food, Guan Yu took rice from Xiangguan without permission. Upon receiving this news, Sun Quan immediately set out with his troops, sending Lu Meng ahead first.
Lu Meng arrived in Xunyang, concealing his elite soldiers in the ship's cabins. The soldiers wore white clothes and disguised themselves as merchants, traveling day and night to quietly reach the sentry post set up by Guan Yu by the river. They captured all the sentries without Guan Yu being aware. Lu Meng successfully arrived in Nanjun, where the prefects Shiren and Mi Fang surrendered. After entering the city, Lu Meng controlled the families of Guan Yu and his soldiers, comforting them while strictly instructing the soldiers to refrain from harassing the common people or taking their belongings. One soldier under Lu Meng's command, who was from Runan, took a straw hat from the common people to cover the official armor. Lu Meng believed this violated military discipline and, even though he was a fellow villager, Lu Meng tearfully executed him.
This incident instilled fear throughout the entire army, and they dared not pick up anything on the road. Lu Meng sent trusted aides to care for the elderly, understand their needs, provide medical care for the sick, and distribute clothing and food to those in need. Lu Meng secured the gold and silver treasures from Guan Yu's residence, waiting for Sun Quan to arrive. After his victory over Yu Jin in Fancheng, Guan Yu withdrew to Jingzhou due to a lack of food and heard that Lu Meng had returned to Jianye to recuperate. On the way, Guan Yu sent messengers multiple times to inquire about the situation in Nanjun. Lu Meng warmly received his messengers, showing them around the city and greeting the residents, and even personally writing letters to Guan Yu's family to report their safety. When Guan Yu's family returned and exchanged news, they found that everything was safe at home, and found that Lu Meng's hospitality was even more generous than usual, so Guan Yu's subordinates had no will to fight.
Soon, Sun Quan arrived, and Guan Yu, realizing that the situation was hopeless and he had no reinforcements, escaped to Maicheng. Upon reaching Zhangxiang, his subordinates began to surrender one by one, leaving him alone. Sun Quan dispatched Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang to block Guan Yu's escape, and father and son were eventually captured. As a result, Jingzhou was pacified.
Zhuge Liang appointed Ma Su as the Prefect of Nanjun, enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Chanling, and rewarded him with one hundred million coins and five hundred jin of gold. Ma Su firmly declined these riches, but Zhuge Liang insisted. Before the title was formally conferred, Ma Su fell ill. Zhuge Liang was in Gong'an at the time and immediately had him brought to the inner palace for careful care, doing everything possible to save him. He ordered a search in the palace for someone who could cure Ma Su's illness, offering a reward of one thousand gold coins.
The doctor treating Ma Su was named Zhen Jia. Zhuge Liang was extremely worried about this and wanted to check on Ma Su's condition frequently, but was afraid of disturbing his rest, so he often peered through the walls. When he saw Ma Su could eat a little, Zhuge Liang was overjoyed and would smile while chatting with those around him; if Ma Su couldn't eat, Zhuge Liang would sigh and couldn't sleep at night. After Ma Su recovered, Zhuge Liang issued a general amnesty, and all the courtiers came to congratulate him. However, Ma Su's condition worsened later, and Zhuge Liang personally went to visit him, and even had a Taoist perform a prayer for him under the stars. Ma Su passed away in the inner hall at the age of forty-two. Zhuge Liang was deeply saddened and organized a funeral for him. Before his death, Ma Su handed over all the rewards of gold and silver treasures to the treasury, and specifically instructed his family to return these items to the treasury after he passed away and keep the funeral simple. When Zhuge Liang learned of this, he was even more heartbroken.
Ma Shu did not read much when he was young. Every time he presented important memorials, he dictated them for others to write down. He often delegated minor military matters to the Jiangxia Prefect Cai Yi to handle, without getting upset. Later, when the Yuzhang Prefect Gu Shao passed away, Zhuge Liang asked who should replace him. Ma Shu recommended Cai Yi, saying he was a good official. Zhuge Liang chuckled and said, "Are you trying to follow in Qi Xi's footsteps?" and then appointed Cai Yi. Gan Ning was rough and violent, liked killing, often did not listen to Ma Shu, and frequently disobeyed Zhuge Liang's orders, which angered Zhuge Liang. But Ma Shu always interceded, saying, "The world has not been unified yet, and fierce generals like Gan Ning are rare. We should be lenient with him." Zhuge Liang then reappointed Gan Ning, and ultimately earned his loyalty.
Ma Shu's son, Ma Ba, inherited his title, along with three hundred households to oversee his tomb and fifty acres of farmland. After Ma Ba's death, his brother Ma Cong inherited the title of marquis. After Ma Cong's death, his brother Ma Mu inherited the title.
Sun Quan discussed Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Lu Meng with Lu Xun, saying, "Zhou Yu, a truly talented strategist with extraordinary courage. He defeated Cao Cao in a single stroke and expanded the territory of Jingzhou. Such talent is indeed rare! You, young man, have now taken over his role; you really need to step up! Back in the day, Zhou Yu deliberately invited Lu Su to come to Eastern Wu and introduced him to me. We even had a wonderful discussion about the ambitions of emperors. It truly brought me joy!"
Later, Cao Cao took advantage of defeating Liu Cong and proclaimed everywhere that he would lead hundreds of thousands of troops to attack us by land and water. I quickly gathered the generals to come up with countermeasures, but no one had any solid ideas. Even Zhang Zhao and Zhuge Jin suggested sending envoys to welcome Cao Cao. Only Lu Su firmly opposed this, advising me to quickly send Zhou Yu to lead the troops to fight. This was the second thing that made me happy! Lu Su's decisions and ideas were much better than those mediocre talents! Although later he advised me to lend land to Liu Bei, which was a minor misstep, it was not enough to overshadow his previous merits. As the Duke of Zhou said, one cannot expect perfection from anyone, so I overlooked his shortcomings and valued his strengths, always comparing him to Deng Yu!
Speaking of Lu Su, when he was young, I found him decisive and courageous in handling matters; as he grew older, his knowledge and strategy became very sharp, ranking just behind Zhou Yu, only not as eloquent as Zhou Yu. As for the matter of capturing Guan Yu, Lu Meng did better than Lu Su. Lu Su replied to my letter saying, "Those who can become emperors are those who first defeat their opponents; Guan Yu is not a concern." In reality, Lu Su lacked confidence but spoke boastfully, so I let it slide and didn’t hold it against him too much. However, he kept the army and camp well-organized, with strict discipline, maintaining the military camp clean and tidy without a trace of garbage on the road, which he did very well!
Sun Quan's evaluation of Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Lu Meng, I think it's very fair. Cao Cao, relying on his status as a minister of the Han dynasty, took advantage of the emperor to command the feudal lords, and recently occupied Jingzhou, striking fear in the East and Xia. Many people were on the fence about him back then. Zhou Yu and Lu Su showed extraordinary decisiveness and foresight; he was truly a genius! Lu Meng is both brave and resourceful, with keen military insight. He deceived Hao Pu with his strategies and captured Guan Yu alive; he's truly impressive! Although he once killed someone in his youth due to recklessness, he ultimately overcame his flaws and displayed the qualities of a true hero. He was more than just an ordinary general! I think Sun Quan's assessment is spot on, and that's why I wrote it down.
