Sun Jian (155-192 C.E.): Governor of Changsha
Sun Jian (155-192 C.E.): Governor of Changsha
Sun Ce (174): "Little Prince,"conqueror of the South Lands
Sun Quan (181): Emperor of Wu
Sun Jian was a descendant of the famous strategist Sun Zi. He became the governor of Changsha after helping to fight the Yellow Scarves. He later joined the confederacy to oust Dong Zhuo, even though he had no personal hatred towards Dong Zhuo. Yuan Shu refused to deliver food at a critical moment which made Sun Jian feel very bitter about the confederacy. After Liu Bei and his brothers defeated Lu Bu, Yuan Shao ordered Sun Jian to advance to the burned ruin of Loyang. In a well he found the Imperial Hereditary Seal, which was lost after Cao Cao and Yuan Shao purged the government of the eunuchs. He took this as a portend of great things, so he kept it. Yuan Shao discovered this and demanded it, but Sun Jian refused to yield it and he left the confederacy. This act greatly demoralized the confederacy members, and so one by one each member withdrew. Angrily, Yuan Shao induced Liu Biao of Jing Zhou to attack Sun Jian. Sun Jian was then killed fighting Liu Biao.
Sun Ce succeeded his unfortunate father. He was a favorite of Yuan Shu, and later Sun Ce asked for a loan of troops to reunify the South Lands. Yuan Shu agreed in return for being allowed to hold the Hereditary Seal as a pledge. He recruited his friend Zhou Yu and a wise man named Zhang Zhao. Sun Ce drove away Liu Yao and went on to defeat the White Tiger Yan Baihu and his ally Wang Lang. Thus the South Land was conquered, and Sun Ce then asked for the Hereditary Seal but Yuan Shu refused to return it. Sun Ce later helped Cao Cao fight him by contributing his powerful fleet. Sun Ce was grievously wounded in an assassination attempt, and he died after unjustly killing a Taoist monk. He was succeeded by his brother Sun Quan.
Sun Quan had a square jaw, green eyes, and a dark brown beard, which indicates that he might have had European ancestry. He assumed power at the young age of twenty, and he sent far and wide for the most gifted and talented men. Early in his rule he heavily depended on his military leaders and strategists, and he was overcome with indecision when Cao Cao demanded his submission after Wei captured Jing Zhou from Liu Bei. He was convinced by Zhou Yu to attack Wei, and Wu kept its independence. Of the three rulers of Wu, Sun Quan was the most intelligent, and after Lu Meng captured Guan Yu, Sun Quan put him to death, knowing he could never recruit the great warrior. Sun Quan outlived both Cao Cao and Liu Bei and he is most successful for keeping Wu independent from Wei or Shu.
Taishi Ci (169): Wu's champion
Taishi Ci joined Kong Rong at a young age to act as a messenger to Liu Bei to help fight Yellow Scarves. He and the three brothers saved Kong Rong in a great fight. Later he joined Liu Yao and together they faced Sun Ce. Taishi Ci and Sun Ce fought single combat. The two warriors were closely matched, but Sun Ce eventually had to flee from Taishi Ci's prowess. However, Sun Ce's army defeated Liu Yao and Taishi Ci was captured. Sun Ce was nice to him so Taishi Ci enlisted in Sun Ce's army as his champion. Taishi Ci served Sun Ce and later Sun Quan as the greatest warrior of Wu until he was killed fighting Zhang Liao's counter-offensive against Wu.
Zhou Yu (174-210 C.E.): First Commander-in-Chief of Wu's military
Zhou Yu was the same age as Sun Ce, and they grew up together. When Sun Ce began gathering an army to subdue the South Land, Zhou Yu was the first to join him. A great warrior, he was an even greater strategist and was probably the greatest naval tactician of the era. After Sun Ce's death, Zhou Yu was appointed to be in charge of "external affairs" within Wu. He was struck with indecision when Cao Cao first invaded Wu, and at first he decided to side with Zhang Zhao and convince Sun Quan to surrender. Then Zhuge Liang provoked him by describing how Cao Cao would take his wife after the surrender. Zhou Yu changed his mind and convinced Sun Quan to fight Wei. He worked with Zhuge Liang to defeat Cao Cao at the Red Hills, but Zhou Yu was very jealous of the great strategist and tried to find various ways to eliminate him. Zhuge Liang did not reciprocate the bad feelings, and after Zhou Yu died from a constantly reopened wound, Zhuge Liang attended his funeral and he was the most saddened by his death. Lu Su then took his post as Commander-in-Chief.
Lu Meng (177): Third Commander-in-Chief of Wu's military
Lu Meng succeeded Lu Su as Wu's top general. He was neutral regarding the original debate on whether Wu should assist Shu in fighting Wei, but once Sun Quan decided to fight Wei he served greatly as a field general. He was defeated by Zhang Liao early in his career, but he had the ability to learn from his mistakes. After Liu Bei conquered Han Zhou and still did not give Jing Zhou to Wu, Lu Meng led the assault against Shu. Guan Yu was defending Jing Zhou, and Lu Meng knew that he had no hope of facing the great warrior-general in direct combat. Instead, he captured some land by surprise and was very kind to the soldiers' families living there. Many men deserted to Wu and Guan Yu was eventually captured and executed. At a feast after the victory, Lu Meng was possessed by Guan Yu's ghost and subsequently died.
Zhang Zhao (164): Chief Civil Officer of Wu
Zhang Zhao was recommended by Zhou Yu to Sun Ce. He was very loyal to the Sun family and to Wu. He advised Sun Ce to avoid taking action against Yuan Shu until they got the support of Cao Cao. A great scholar, he unsuccessfully debated against Zhuge Liang when the latter came to enlist Wu's help in fighting Wei. He was always very wary of Liu Bei, and he constantly pointed out to Sun Quan that Liu Bei was not delivering Jing Zhou as promised. Sun Quan initially did not heed his advice because he was only a civil officer, but he realized that Zhang Zhao was correct about Liu Bei. Zhang Zhao served Wu until his death.
Lu Su (172): Second Commander-in-Chief of Wu's military
Lu Su was an honest and intelligent man who once helped Zhou Yu in a moment of need. After Sun Ce's death, Zhou Yu advised Sun Quan to recruit him. Unlike Zhang Zhao, he felt that Wei was the true threat to Wu and he was most in favor of making an alliance with Shu. He respected Zhuge Liang a lot and he helped him to make an alliance with Wu. Lu Su also helped to defend Zhuge Liang from Zhou Yu's plots to kill him. Lu Su trusted Liu Bei a great deal and personally vouched for him to Sun Quan. After Zhou Yu's death, Lu Su was made Commander-in-Chief of Wu's military. He was a good leader, but he died early, and his job was then taken by Lu Meng.
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