Zhou Yu

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Zhou Yu bigraphy, stories - General and politician serving under the Han Dynasty warlord Sun Quan

Zhou Yu : biography

175 – 210

Zhou Yu (175–210), style name Gongjin, was a military general and strategist serving under the warlord Sun Ce in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He continued serving under Sun Quan (Sun Ce’s younger brother and successor) after Sun Ce died in 200 CE. Around late 208, the northern warlord Cao Cao led his forces south with the intention of conquering the Jiangdong region (where Sun Quan’s territories were based), but was defeated by Sun’s forces under Zhou Yu’s command at the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs. Zhou Yu served as the frontline commander of Sun Quan’s forces at the Battle of Jiangling (a follow-up to Red Cliffs) and defeated Cao Cao’s forces again. Zhou Yu’s victories helped to solidify the survivability of Sun Quan’s regime, which would serve as the foundation of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period (220–280). He died in 210 at a relatively young age of 35 while preparing for a conquest of the Bashu region (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing).

Personal life

Zhou Yu was described to have a strong physique and handsome good looks.(瑜長壯有姿貌。) Sanguozhi vol. 54. When Zhou Yu became close friends with Sun Ce, Sun Ce’s mother Lady Wu told Sun Ce’s younger brother Sun Quan to treat Zhou like an elder brother. After Sun Quan succeeded Sun Ce, his subordinates did not observe the full protocol when they paid their respects to him. Zhou Yu was the only and the first person to follow all the formalities and etiquette when he paid respect to Sun Quan.(初瑜見友於策,太妃又使權以兄奉之。是時權位為將軍,諸將賔客為禮尚簡,而瑜獨先盡敬,便執臣節。) Sanguozhi vol. 54.

Zhou Yu was known to be a magnanimous and generous man who won the hearts of many people with his straightforward attitude. However, there was one person he could not get along well with — Cheng Pu.(性度恢廓,大率為得人,惟與程普不睦。) Sanguozhi vol. 54. Cheng Pu was much older than Zhou Yu, and he often insulted and belittled the latter, but Zhou tolerated him. Cheng Pu was so impressed with Zhou Yu that he eventually changed his attitude towards the latter and started treating the latter more respectfully. He even remarked, "Befriending Zhou Yu is like appreciating fine wine. You get so absorbed and intoxicated without even realising it."(江表傳曰:普頗以年長數陵侮瑜。瑜折節容下,終不與校。普後自敬服而親重之,乃告人曰:「與周公瑾交,若飲醇醪,不覺自醉。」時人以其謙讓服人如此。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 54.

Sometime early in Zhou Yu’s career, Cao Cao heard of Zhou’s talent and wanted to recruit the latter to serve under him, so he sent Jiang Gan to persuade Zhou to defect to his side. However, Zhou Yu indirectly affirmed his loyalty to the Sun family in front of Jiang Gan, and hinted to Jiang that he cannot be persuaded to switch his allegiance. When Jiang Gan later returned to Cao Cao, he told the latter that "Zhou Yu’s magnanimity was too great to be described in words".See the article on Jiang Gan for details.(初曹公聞瑜年少有美才,謂可游說動也,乃密下揚州,遣九江蔣幹往見瑜。 … 幹還,稱瑜雅量高致,非言辭所間。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 54.

Around 209, after visiting Sun Quan at Jing (京; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), Liu Bei was on his journey back to Jing Province when Sun Quan, along with Zhang Zhao, Qin Song, Lu Su and others, rushed to catch up with Liu Bei to see him off. Sun Quan then held a farewell banquet for Liu Bei. After the feast, the others left while only Liu Bei and Sun Quan remained behind. When they spoke of Zhou Yu, Liu Bei said, "Gongjin’s talents and abilities are far greater than those of thousands of others. He possesses great ambitions and he may not be willing to remain as a subordinate for long." In another incident, after his defeat at the hands of Zhou Yu at the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao remarked, "I’m not ashamed of having lost the battle." He later wrote to Sun Quan: "At the Battle of Red Cliffs, my men were affected by a plague, so I had my warships burnt and I retreated of my own accord. That resulted in Zhou Yu claiming the glory (of winning the battle)." Zhou Yu’s widespread fame incurred much jealousy towards him, which was why Cao Cao and Liu Bei attempted to slander him and sow discord between him and Sun Quan.(中州之士,亦以此多之。劉備之自京還也,權乘飛雲大船,與張昭、秦松、魯肅等十餘人共追送之,大宴會敘別。昭、肅等先出,權獨與備留語,因言次,歎瑜曰:「公瑾文武籌略,萬人之英,顧其器量廣大,恐不乆為人臣耳。」 … 瑜之破魏軍也,曹公曰:「孤不羞走。」後書與權曰:「赤壁之役,值有疾病,孤燒船自退,橫使周瑜虛獲此名。」 … 瑜威聲遠著,故曹公、劉備咸欲疑譖之。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 54.