Zhu Huan Zhu Huan ( 177 – 238 ) , Xiumu , was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period . Although joining the southern warlord , Sun Quan , early on , Zhu Huan was not assigned important tasks until Sun had solidified his influence after the Battle of Jiangling in 209 . Henceforth , Zhu Huan was tasked with local defences and successfully quelled some riots . When the emperor of the rival state of Cao Wei , Cao Pi , launched his three - pronged campaign against Sun Quan , Zhu Huan was appointed by the latter as a commander ; he resisted the invaders , and was credited for defeating the Wei general Cao Ren outside Ruxu fortress . Early life . Zhu Huan hailed from Wu Commandery ( 吳郡 ; present - day Suzhou , Jiangsu ) . He entered Sun Quan ' s government as a consultant to the latter ' s office , and was appointed as Prefect of Yuyao ( 餘姚長 ) . When a plague broke out in Yuyao , provision prices skyrocketed , in response , Zhu Huan opened the granaries to the public , and ordered his civil officers to give medicine to those affected by the plague . As such , Zhu Huan gained recognition among the local population , and was promoted by Sun Quan to a Colonel to lead 2 , 000 men to gather the scattered citizens who fled to avoid the natural disaster . As a result , nearly 10 , 000 people resettled in the area of Wu and Kuaiji commanderies after several years of Zhu Huan ' s effort . Middle career . However , when Sun Quan sent out his elite generals to do battle with the dominant northern warlord , Cao Cao , Zhu Huan was not given any order to go to the frontlines , rather , he stayed behind and remained obscure for some time until the bandits of Danyang and Poyang revolted openly . Since other generals were garrisoned in the northern or western borders , Zhu Huan was granted command to lead some troops to deal with the rebellious gangsters . To reward his subordinate ' s success in quelling the rebellion , Sun Quan granted Zhu Huan the title of " Marquis of Xincheng Village " ( 新城亭候 ) , and promoted him to be a Major - General ( 裨將軍 ) . As a commissioner at Ruxu . In 222 , Zhu Huan succeeded Zhou Tai as the area commander of Ruxu . The emperor of Wei , Cao Pi , initiated a three - pronged attack against Sun Quan , and ordered his Grand Marshal , Cao Ren , to personally take Ruxu fortress . Cao Ren purposefully leaked the news that he would attack Xianxi ( 羨溪 ) with the intention to dilute the defensive forces inside the fortress . Zhu Huan fell victim to Cao Ren ' s strategy and indeed sent his main forces eastward to strengthen Xianxi . At the time , Cao Ren led his several tens of thousands men to Ruxu , Zhu Huan only had 5 , 000 troops remained inside the city walls . The defenders were scared because they were outnumbered , so Zhu Huan said to them , " whenever two armies fight , the outcome is determined by the commanders but not the size of forces . You have heard of Cao Ren ' s military reputation , how is his ability compared to mine ? The military doctrine says an invading force should be double than a defending force when they fight on a plain . The condition mentioned is that the defenders do not have a fortress and the morale for both sides is equal . Now Cao Ren is not wise nor brave , his soldiers are faint - hearted , and they have travelled a thousand " li " , exhausting both horses and men . On the other hand , we occupy a high - walled fortress , which sits to the north of a river and south to a mountain . This is a situation that we have the leisure to prevail over the tired invaders . We will win a hundred battles if situation like this recur one hundred times . We should have no anxiety even Cao Pi comes here in person , why should we worry about the likes of Cao Ren ? " Then , Zhu Huan ordered his subordinates to hide the flags and drums to generate an illusion they were weak , in order to lure Cao Ren to attack . Cao Ren sent his son , Cao Tai , to lead the main forces to approach the fortress , and ordered general Chang Diao and Wang Shuang to sneak - attack Middle Island , where defenders ' families resided . Zhu Huan sent Yan Gui ( 嚴圭 ) to Middle Island and lay traps there , while he led the remaining troops out to battle Cao Tai . Chang Diao and Wang Shuang were ambushed , when they went back to the shore , their ships had already been taken and they could not return . Chang Diao was killed in action and Wang Shang was captured in battle . 1 , 000 Wei soldiers were drowned when they attempted to flee the battlefield , and the rest of the detachment had their retreat route sealed . Outside Ruxu fortress , Zhu Huan repelled Cao Tai ' s attack , and managed to infiltrate the enemy and burned their camps . For his accomplishment , Zhu Huan was promoted to General Who Uplifts Military Might ( 奮武將軍 ) , granted the title of Marquis of Jiaxing ( 嘉興侯 ) , and he assumed the position of Chancellor of Pang . Battle of Shiting . Six years later , Zhu Huan participated in the Battle of Shiting , where he acted as a subordinate general under Grand Marshal of Eastern Wu , Lu Xun . Zhu Huan once presented a proposal to Lu Xun , stating that they could easily capture the enemy commander - in - chief , Cao Xiu , by blocking the latter ' s retreat route with 10 , 000 under his command . Zhu Huan ' s plan was rejected , but he was assigned with 30 , 000 men to attack the enemy ' s flank . When Cao Xiu led 100 , 000 troops and arrived at Shiting ( 石亭 ) , Zhu Huan and general Quan Cong charged Cao ' s left and right flanks while Lu Xun attacked after the enemy was disorganised . Cao Xiu ' s army was disintegrated , and the casualty numbered tens of thousands . Death . After Zhu Huan ' s death in 238 at the age of 62 ( by East Asian age reckoning ) , his family did not have much savings because he used to take care of his subordinates ' families to the sixth degree , so Sun Quan financially aided Zhu Huan ' s family to carry out the funeral . Zhu Huan ' s son , Zhu Yi , inherited his marquis title and served Wu as a Colonel of Cavalry .