Sun Jian

Template:Infobox Ruler Biography
**Sun Jian** (c. 155 – December 24th 222), courtesy name **Wentai** formerly known as **Emperor Gaozu of Wu** was a military general and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han Dynasty who founded the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period and is known as one of the Three Heroes along with his rivals Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

Sun Jian allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo, a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power. Although he originally controlled neither many troops nor much land, Sun Jian has been known to be a brilliant general strategist and tactician and his bravery resourcefulness and strategic mind were feared by Dong Zhuo, who placed him among Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Liu Biao as the most influential men at that time. After the coalition disbanded in the next year, China fell into massive civil war. After an offensive campaign against Liu Biao. Sun Jian then broke away from his overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to the Jiangdong region in southern China to establish his own power base there. With the help of several people, such as Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu,

Sun Jian popularly well known to charisma leadership and gather a number of capable follower to his cause and such as Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao who help him stabilizing his control over Jiangdong and also skilled in governing He was also a respectful and receptive man who employed people according to their abilities and govern with patients and careful consideration. In winter of that year, the northern warlord Cao Cao led an army of some 830,000 to conquer the south to complete the reunification of China. Two distinct factions emerged at his court on how to handle the situation. One, led by Zhang Zhao, urged surrender whilst the other, led by Zhou Yu Gongye Jin Lu Su and Xue Guan, opposed capitulation. Eventually, Sun Jian decided to oppose Cao Cao in the middle Yangtze with his superior riverine forces. He Allied with Liu Bei and employing the combined strategies of Zhou Yu and Huang Gai, Sun Jian defeated Cao Cao decisively at the Battle of Red Cliffs.

## Early Life

Born in the Fuchun Prefecture of the Wu Commandery (吳郡富春, present-day Fuyang, Zhejiang), Sun Jian was said to be a descendant of the renowned military strategist Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War and a descendant of Sun Zhu who served as a strategist for the founding emperor of Han Dynasty Liu Bang. No more immediate records survive, indicating his family probably played a very small part during the Han dynasty since the end of the Western Han Dynasty. Even his father's name is unrecorded, although a folk tradition gives it as Sun Zhong (孫鍾).

## Early Career

Sun Jian was a civil officer in his prefecture during his youth. When he was sixteen, Sun Jian traveled with his father to Qiantang (錢唐, present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang), where they came upon a band of pirates dividing up their spoils on land. Sun Jian jumped on shore with a saber in hand and pointed in different directions as if commanding a detachment of soldiers to surround the pirates. Seeing this, the pirates were deceived and fled. Sun Jian pursued, and only after taking the head of every pirate did he return (or just the leader's according to some accounts). His name henceforth spread

In 184, the Yellow Turban Rebellion led by Zhang Jiao broke out across the country. Sun Jian joined the general Zhu Jun to quell the rebellion in Yuzhou (豫州, present-day southern Henan and northern Anhui) area. The soldiers fought hard, forcing the rebels to retreat to Wancheng (宛城, present-day Nanyang, Henan). Sun Jian placed himself at the forefront and climbed onto the city walls alone. The rest then swarmed in and defeated the rebels.

Around this time, Bian Zhang and Han Sui colluded with the Qiang tribes and rebelled in Liang Province (涼州, present-day western Gansu). After Dong Zhuo failed to put down the rebellion, the central government sent in his place the Minister of Works Zhang Wen, who invited Sun Jian along as an advisor. When Zhang Wen summoned Dong Zhuo to the encampment at Chang'an, Dong Zhuo procrastinated and took a long time to arrive. When he did, he showed little respect for Zhang Wen. Sun Jian then advised Zhang Wen to execute Dong Zhuo, but Zhang Wen declined as Dong Zhuo held a high reputation in the west.

Hearing that a mass army had arrived, the rebels promptly surrendered. When Zhang Wen and the rest returned to the capital Luoyang, however, the court held that the army did not engage the enemy and thus no honor was accorded. Meanwhile, another local-scale rebellion broke out near Changsha and the rebels besieged the city. Sun Jian was then made administrator of Changsha. Within a month upon taking up office, Sun Jian had quelled the rebellion. Meanwhile, rebellions also broke out in the neighboring commanderies of Lingling (零陵, present-day Yongzhou, Hunan) and Guiyang (桂陽). Both were put down by Sun Jian, who was then enfeoffed as Marquis of Wucheng (烏程侯).

## Coalition against Dong Zhuo

In 189, Emperor Ling died, leaving his young son in the care of regents Empress Dowager He and General-in-Chief He Jin. He Jin then summoned Dong Zhuo to lead troops into the capital to assist in a plot to eliminate the powerful eunuch faction. Before Dong Zhuo arrived, however, He Jin was assassinated by the eunuchs and Luoyang fell into chaos following a clash between supporters of both sides. Dong Zhuo then seized military control of the capital and deposed the young emperor for the puppet Emperor Xian. However, his tyrannical ways incurred the wrath of many and in the following year, warlords from eastern China formed a coalition against him.

Sun Jian also raised an army with ten-thousands of troops and joined Yuan Shu, one of the leaders of the coalition at Luyang (魯陽, present-day Lushan County, Henan). Yuan Shu made Sun Jian the General Who Quells Rebels (破虜將軍) and governor of Yuzhou. Sun Jian then began training and preparing his troops at Luyang. A force sent by Dong Zhuo was so impressed with the strict discipline of Sun Jian's troops that they gave up the plan to attack Luyang. When Sun Jian moved out to Liangdong (梁東, east of present-day Linru County, Henan), he was outnumbered by Dong Zhuo's forces. With several dozen horsemen, Sun Jian broke out of the encirclement. He took off the red felt scarf he had always been wearing and handed it to his trusted aide Zu Mao (祖茂), whom Dong Zhuo's soldiers then chased after while Sun Jian escaped. Unable to shake off his pursuers, Zu Mao then dismounted, hanged the scarf onto a half-burnt pillar, and hid in the tall grasses nearby. The enemies surrounded the pillar and approached cautiously till they realized they had been fooled, whereupon they retreated.

After regrouping his troops, Sun Jian pressed forward against the capital and engaged in a battle against Dong Zhuo's forces at Yangren (陽人, northwest of Linru County). He scored a brilliant victory and killed the enemy commander-in-chief, Hua Xiong, in battle. (In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Hua Xiong was said to be killed by Guan Yu.) At this time, someone told Yuan Shu that if Sun Jian defeated Dong Zhuo and took over the capital, he would not be controllable anymore. The doubtful Yuan Shu then ceased the food supply to Sun Jian. Sun Jian rode the hundred-odd li from Yangren to Luyang in the night to see Yuan Shu, whereupon he said to the latter, "I put myself to danger in battle, first to remove the rebel (Dong Zhuo) for the country and second to avenge the deaths of your family (Yuan Shu's family members in Luoyang had all been killed by Dong Zhuo). I have no personal grudge against Dong Zhuo. Yet you could believe slanderous talks and suspect me!" The words put Yuan Shu to shame and he immediately ordered the food supply to be delivered.

Fearing Sun Jian, Dong Zhuo then sent his general Li Jue as an emissary to seek peace and propose a marriage to cement the alliance. However, Sun Jian rejected the proposals with harsh words and carried on his campaign towards Luoyang. In late 190, his force was merely ninety li away from the capital when Dong Zhuo retreated west to Chang'an after burning Luoyang to the ground. Entering Luoyang, Sun Jian ordered his men to reseal the tombs of former emperors that were excavated by Dong Zhuo, after which he returned to Luyang. It was said in the Book of Wu (吳書) by Wei Zhao that Sun Jian found one of the emperor's jade seals in a well south of Luoyang and kept it. Later, when Yuan Shu declared himself emperor, he held Sun Jian's wife Lady Wu hostage in exchange for the seal.

## Attack against Liu Biao

In 191, Yuan Shu sent Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao in Jing Province (荆州; present-day Hubei and Hunan). The defense force led by Liu Biao's subject Huang Zu was defeated by Sun Jian, who pursued the enemy across the Han River to Xiangyang. During a solo ride on the Xian Hill (峴山), Sun Jian was ambushed by Huang Zu's troops, Sun Jian was rescued by Zhu Yuan save him and Slain Huang Subordinate Lu Gong and retreat while Sun Jian's Elder Brother Sun Qiang was killed in Action since then Sun Jian has feuded with Liu Biao ever since.

## Conquest of Wu

In 192, Sun Jian went to meet with Yuan Shu demanded him return him controlled his troop and requested permission from Yuan Shu to assist Wu Jing in fighting Liu Yao. Though Yuan Shu knew Sun Jian intended to leave, he believed the latter would not be able to defeat Liu Yao. Thus he deployed the Sun Jian off with merely a thousand troops and a tiny cavalry force. Along with a few hundred more willing followers, Sun Jian proceeded to Liyang, where he boosted his strength to more than 5,000. He then dispatched his son Sun Ce to launched an offensive across the Yangtze River and successfully occupied the strategic position of Niuzhu (牛渚; southwest of present-day Ma'anshan, Anhui) in 193.

### Campaign against Liu Yao

Two of Liu Yao's allies then came south from Pengcheng and Xiapi respectively to aid him. Sun Jian chose to first attack one of them, Ze Rong, who made camp south of Moling. After suffering initial defeat in the hands of the aggressor, Ze Rong fell back in defense and refused to engage in battle. Sun Jian then marched further north and attacked Xue Li in Moling. Although Xue Li soon gave up the city and escaped, Liu Yao's subordinate Fan Neng and others had regrouped their forces and launched a renewed attack on Niuzhu. Turning back, Sun Jian defeated Fan Neng and secured Niuzhu. He then began a second offensive against Ze Rong. However, he was struck by a stray arrow in the thigh. Returning to Niuzhu, he sent out false words that he was killed in battle. The exalted Ze Rong then sent a force to attack. Sun Jian led the enemies into an ambush and annihilated them. When Ze Rong heard that Sun Jian was still alive, he further reinforced his defenses.

Sun Jian then temporarily gave up attacking Ze Rong and focused his forces on Qu'e. After all the surrounding areas were taken over by Sun Jian, Liu Yao gave up the city and escaped south to Yuzhang (豫章; present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi), where he died later. As Sun Jian implemented strict discipline among his troops, he won the instant support of the local people and gathered many talented men, such as Chen Wu, Zhou Tai, Jiang Qin, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, Qin Song, and Lü Fan.

### Campaign against Wang Lang

As Sun Jian pushed his force deeper into Yang Province initially Sun Jian's subordinates advised him to attack Yan Baihu, but Sun Jian said, "Yan Baihu and his bandits do not have great aspirations. I'll capture them later eventually."

Sun Jian then led his troops on a detour, bypassing Yan Baihu's position at the south of Wu Commandery, and proceeded to attack Wang Lang, the Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery along the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay. Yu Fan, an officer under Wang Lang, advised his lord to avoid Sun Jian since they were weaker in terms of military strength. As Sun Jian advanced towards Kuaiji Commandery, Wang Lang moved to defend his territory on the line of the Qiantang estuary at the head of Hangzhou Bay. During his march through Wu Commandery, Sun Jian used the opportunity to rally support from his connections in the region. Sun Jian's yonger brother, Sun Jing, responded and joined him at Qiantang.

Wang Lang's army was stationed at Guling, where Sun Jian attempted several times to force his way through but failed. Sun Jian then heeded Sun Jing's suggestion and arranged for Sun Jing to lead a detachment south to a river crossing at Zhadu County (southwest of present-day Xiaoshan District, Zhejiang). From there, Sun Jing headed back to attack Wang Lang's forces at Gaoqian County (northwest of present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). That night, Sun Jian then ordered his remaining troops to light the usual number of campfires even though they had less troops, so as to create an illusion that his army's strength was still the same. While Wang Lang was taken by surprise, Sun Jian's forces quickly established a position across the river.

Initially, Wang Lang attempted to organise a retreat and regroup his troops, so he sent Zhou Xin to hold the line against Sun Jian's forces. However Sun Jian's son Sun Ce defeated and killed Zhou Xin, forcing Wang Lang to abandon his territories and escape south to Dongye by sailing along the coast. Wang Lang later surrendered to Sun Jian and spent two years in the region before returning to the Han central government in Xuchang.

### Campaign against Yan Baihu and the Shanyue

After defeated Wang Lang Sun Jian made Kuaiji his base city and struck out at the wandering bandit army led by Yan Baihu. Yan Baihu sent his younger brother Yan Yu (嚴輿) to offer Sun Jian a position alongside Yan Baihu, but Sun Jian showed no mercy and personally slew the emissary. As Yan Yu was known among Yan Baihu's men as a fierce warrior, his death struck fear into their hearts and they were soon defeated. Sun Jian then appointed his relatives and a trusted subject to govern Danyang and Yuzhang, from which he divided a new commandery named Luling (廬陵). His campaign, from the occupation of Niuzhu to the conquest of the entire region southeast of the Long River, took less than a year. He then defeated and received the services of Zu Lang (祖郎), the Chief of Danyang, and Taishi Ci, the leader of the remnants of Liu Yao's forces; he then urged the surrender of Hua Xin, another one of the remnants of Liu Yao's forces. Thus, with the exception of the scattered but still numerous army of Yan Baihu, the lands south of the Yangtze were mostly pacified.

The barbarians of Shanyue tribe, however, were not easily dealt with. To counter the frequent rebellions of the Shanyue (who would continue to rebel for many years), Sun Jian appointed He Qi to a military rank with orders to subdue the Shanyue. He Qi became a highly successful general later; truly, his appointment by Sun Jian was the first important step to Wu's eventual subjugation of the Shanyue.

By 196 Sun Jian successfully conquer more than half of the land in Jiangdong established a strong foothold in the region. Later that year, the Han central government promoted Sun Jian to General Who Attacks Rebels (討逆將軍) and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Wu (吳侯). In addition, Sun Jian's younger son Sun Kuang married Cao Cao's niece, while Cao Cao's son Cao Zhang married the daughter of Sun Ben (Sun Jian's nephew).

## Campaign against Yuan Shu and Lu Bu

### Battle of Shouchun

In 197, Yuan Shu was making plans to become emperor. Despite having been in the Huai River region (in present-day Anhui) for years, Yuan Shu did not make any great achievements. Instead, he oppressed the people and disrupted agricultural production with his policies. Although he did not have a good record of successes in battles against rival warlords, he still insisted on becoming emperor against the advice of his followers

When Sun Jian heard that Yuan Shu was about to declare himself emperor, he wrote a letter to warn Yuan Shu about the potential harms of committing treason. Yuan Shu ignored Sun Jian and in the following Yuan Shu declared himself emperor – an act deemed treasonous against the Han dynasty. Afterward Sun Jian denounced the move and officially broke ties with the former. In an effort to garner support from Sun Jian Cao Cao a warlord who controlled the Han central government issued imperial edicts to the warlords Lü Bu and Sun Jian and ordered them to lead their forces to eliminate Yuan Shu's regime.

### Battle of Xiapi

Sun Jian decide that Lu Bu would pose a threat so he mobilizes his army to aid Liu Bei sending Zhu Yuan with an army to reinforce Liu Bei, but they were still defeated by Gao Shun Sun Jian later partake the Battle of Xiapi with the combined forces of Cao Cao Liu Bei and Sun Jian Lu Bu was defeated and capture and was executed.

## Solidify controlled over Jiangdong

By 199, Cao Cao enjoyed a strong political advantage over his rivals because he had Emperor Xian and the Han central government firmly under his control. During this time, Sun Jian participated in a conspiracy with Dong Cheng along with Liu Bei and others to assassinate Cao Cao, after Dong Cheng alleged that he had received a secret edict from Emperor Xian to kill Cao Cao. However, at the same time, Sun Jian was anxious to leave Xuchang and be free of Cao Cao's control return to to his headquarter at Wu Commandery.

Thus, upon hearing news that Yuan Shu was on his way to join Yuan Shao after his defeat, Sun Jian requested permission from Cao Cao to lead an army to stop Yuan Shu. Cao Cao agreed and sent Sun Jian Liu Bei and Zhu Ling to lead an army to block Yuan Shu, who retreated back to his base in Shouchun (present-day Shou County, Anhui) and died there later that year. While Zhu Ling returned to Xu, Liu Bei remained in command of the army while Sun Jian return to back to Jiangdong with his own forces

In 200 The former governor of Wu Commandery (吳郡; south of present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) Xu Gong, had long opposed Sun Jian. Xu Gong wrote to Emperor Xian, recommending the emperor to summon Sun Jian and his son Sun Ce to the capital as he deemed Sun Jian comparable to Ji Cheng and his son Sun Ce to be a hero comparable to Xiang Yu and too dangerous to be allowed to occupy a territory. However, unluckily for Xu Gong, Sun Jian's men intercepted his messenger, found the letter and gave it to Sun Jian. Sun Jian then came to confront Xu Gong about the letter. When Xu Gong denied writing the letter, Sun Jian ordered Xu Gong to be tortured eventually Xu Gong admit write the letter and later Sun Jian have Xu Gong executed.

### Conquest of Lujiang

When Yuan Shu's cousin Yuan Yin (袁胤) feared Cao Cao and gave up Shouchun. Bringing along Yuan Shu's coffin and his former troops, he headed to Wan County (皖縣; present-day Qianshan County, Anhui) to seek refuge under Liu Xun (劉勳). As Liu Xun had insufficient food supplies in his realm to support the additional troops, he led a force south to pillage Haihun (海昏; east of present-day Yongxiu County, Jiangxi).

Yuan Shu's former subordinates, Yang Hong (楊弘) and Zhang Xun (張勳), planned to surrender to Sun Jian, along with their followers and Yuan Shu's family. However, Liu Xun, the Administrator of Lujiang Commandery, attacked them, took them captive and looted their possessions. When Sun Jian heard about the incident, he pretended to ally with Liu Xun by sending Liu Xun expensive gifts and showering him with praises.

Sun Jian then sought help from Liu Xun in attacking Shangliao County (in present-day Jiangxi), which Liu Xun had already been eyeing for some time. Liu Xun's adviser Liu Ye attempted to dissuade him from attacking Shangliao County, but Liu Xun ignored him. After Liu Xun's army left, Sun Jian split his army into two groups to attack Lujiang Commandery: Sun Xian and Sun Ben led a contingent to Pengze County to cut off Liu Xun's return route; Sun Jian then sent Sun Ce and Zhou Yu to lead 20,000 troops to assault Lujiang Commandery's capital, Wancheng (皖城; present-day Qianshan County, Anhui), conquered it quickly, and captured Liu Xun's family and subordinates and rescued Yuan Shu's family. Sun Ce then relocated the residents of Lujiang Commandery back to his territories across the Yangtze River. After leaving Li Shu (李術) behind with a garrison of soldiers to guard Lujiang Commandery, Sun Jian returned to join his cousin Sun Xian and nephew Sun Ben at Pengze County.

Liu Xun attempted to take Haihun by surprise but the people were forewarned about his attack and he was unsuccessful. When Liu Xun learned of Sun Jian's attack on Wancheng, he wanted to head back but was cut off by Sun Ben's army at Pengze County and forced to head further west up the Yangtze River. Liu Xun then halted to fortify defensive positions near Mount Xisai, where he requested reinforcements from Liu Biao and Huang Zu. Huang Zu's son, Huang She (黃射), led 5,000 men and a fleet of ships from Jiangxia Commandery (west of present-day Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei) to help Liu Xun. Sun Jian defeated the combined forces and captured more than 2,000 enemy troops and 1,000 ships. Liu Xun fled north to join Cao Cao after his defeat. The battle against Huang Zu had been wildly successful for Sun Ce, and he had slain two of Liu Biao's officers while capturing many of Huang Zu's family members and followers.

### Conquest of Yuzhang

Following his victory, Sun Jian moved west to attack Jiangxia Commandery and defeated Huang Zu at Shaxian County (in present-day Wuhan, Hubei). Many enemy soldiers were either killed or drowned. Sun Jian also captured Huang Zu's family and obtained 6,000 vessels. He then turned south to attack Yuzhang Commandery (around present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi) and sent Yu Fan to persuade Hua Xin, the Administrator of Yuzhang Commandery, to surrender. After the elderly Hua Xin surrendered, Sun Jian treated him respectfully like an honoured guest.

### Sun Ce's death

In the year 200, Cao Cao engaged in the decisive Battle of Guandu with Yuan Shao along the shores of the Yellow River, leaving the capital and his base city Xuchang poorly guarded. Sun Jian plotted to attack Xuchang under the banner of rescuing Emperor Xian, who was a figurehead held under Cao Cao's control. While Sun Jian Preparations were underway for the military excursion Sun Jian and Sun Ce went to a hunting trip Sun Jian and Sun Ce ran into three servants of Xu Gong. One of them managed to plant an arrow into Sun Ce's cheek before Cheng Pu and Zhu Yuan arrived the slew the assassin and have his men return soon Sun Ce died on his deathbead Sun Jian felt grief mourn his Eldest Son he order Cheng Pu and Huang Gai capture all accomplices of Xu Gong and had them executed

### Pacifying the Shanyue

For the next several years, Sun Jian focus his effort to expand his domain and focus against the Shanyue, hill tribes which controlled the most southern part of China and outside the reach of the Han government, in order to ensure his realm. Sun Jian launched numerous campaigns against the Shanyue. In 206, he conquered the fortress of Shanyue in Matun and Baodun and captured more than 10,000 men.

## Battles in Jing Province

### Battle of Xiakou

Two years later, Sun Jian suppressed a rebellion by Li Shu and merged Li's 30,000 troops into his own army. By 203, Sun Jian had achieved a stable control over his territories in Jiangdong, so he set into motion a strategy proposed by his advisor Gongye Jin and Lu Su. According to the plan, Sun Jian would take Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan), governed by Liu Biao, and take control of all the lands in southern China, then use the Yangtze River as a natural barrier to defend against invading forces from the north. The first obstacle on Sun Jian's path to dominating Jing Province was Jiangxia Commandery, which served as the eastern gateway to Jing Province along the Yangtze. In addition, Sun Jian had a personal stake in the campaign on Jiangxia, because Huang Zu, Liu Biao's appointed Administrator of Jiangxia, was responsible for causing the death of his brother, Sun Qiang, at the Battle of Xiangyang 12 years ago.

### Battle of The Red Cliff

After Liu Biao's death, a succession struggle for his domain came into being, between his sons Liu Qi and younger son Liu Cong, whom Liu Biao's second wife Lady Cai favored (because he had married her niece). After Huang Zu's death, Liu Qi was therefore given Huang's post as the governor of Jiangxia Commandery (in present-day Huanggang, Hubei). Liu Cong, therefore, succeeded Liu Biao after his death, and Liu Qi was displeased and considered but did not carry out, an attack against his brother. Nevertheless, Liu Cong, in fear of having to fight Cao Cao and his brother on two fronts, surrendered to Cao Cao against the advice of Liu Biao's key ally Liu Bei. Liu Bei, unwilling to submit to Cao Cao, fled south. Cao caught up to him and crushed his forces, but Liu Bei escaped with his life; he fled to Dangyang (當陽, in present-day Yichang, Hubei). Cao Cao took over most of Jing Province and appeared set on finally unifying the empire.

Sun Jian was well aware of Cao Cao's intentions, and he quickly entered into an alliance with Liu Bei and Liu Qi to prepare for an attack by Cao. Cao Cao wrote Sun Jian with a letter intending to intimidate, and in face of Cao's overwhelming force (estimated to be about 220,000 men, although Cao claimed 800,000, against Sun's 30,000 and the Lius' combined force of 10,000), many of Sun's subordinates, including Zhang Zhao, advocated surrender. Sun Jian refused, under advice from Zhou Yu Gongye Jin and Lu Su Fu Gong Xue Guan (that Cao Cao would surely not tolerate him even if he surrendered another fact is that Sun Jian once conspired to assassinated Cao Cao and would be Unlikely that Cao Cao would forgive him as such).Sun Jian convince other officials who advocated surrender to willing support him against Cao Cao

Sun Jian put Zhou Yu in charge of his 30,000 men, largely stationed on naval ships, and Zhou set up in a defense position in conjunction with Liu Bei, whose army was stationed on land. About this time, there was a plague developing in Cao Cao's forces which significantly weakened it. Zhou Yu set up a trap where he pretended to be punishing his subordinate Huang Gai, and Huang pretended to surrender to Cao Cao in fear. Zhou Yu then sent ships under Huang Gai's command to pretend to surrender and, as Huang's ships approached Cao Cao's fleet, they were set aflame to assault Cao's fleet, and Cao's fleet was largely destroyed by fire. Cao Cao led his forces to escape on land, but much of the force was destroyed by Sun Jian and Liu Bei's land forces.

## Uneasy alliance with Liu Bei

Immediately, after Cao Cao withdrew, Sun Jian took over the northern half of Jing Province. Liu Bei marched south and took over the southern half. The Sun-Liu alliance was further cemented by a marriage of Sun Jian's Daughter, Lady Sun, to Liu Bei. Zhou Yu was suspicious of Liu Bei's intentions, however, and suggested to Sun Jian that Liu be seized and put under house arrest (albeit be very well-treated) and his forces are merged into Sun's; however Gongye Jin object to this and told Sun Jian that, Liu Bei's forces would mostly likely rebel if he did that and Cao Cao is still a threat from the north would possibly take advantage of the situation so Sun Jian reject Zhou Yu's proposal. Sun Jian did agree to Zhou Yu's plans to consider attacking Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu (who controlled the modern southern Shaanxi) to try to take over their territories, but Zhou Yu soon fell ill and died and after Zhou Yu death in 210, the plans were abandoned. He then yielded northern Jing Province to Liu Bei as well, agreeing with Liu that the south was insufficient to supply his troops.

### Sun Jian's Campaign in Jiao Province

In 210 Sun Jian began bordering in Jiao Province appointed his subordinate Bu Zhi as the Inspector of Jiao Province to replace Lai Gong who was driven by Wu Ju. Shi Xie led his followers to submit to Sun Jian and manage to persuade the warlords in present-day Guangdong, Guangxi, and northern Vietnam to submit to him, and they became part of his domain to supported him prepared for a possible attack from Cao Cao.

In 211 several local warlords in Jiao Province including Shi Xie rebelled against Sun Jian in Jiaozhi so Sun Jian led his forces to Jiaozhi to pacify them and sent Lu Dai to aid Bu Zhi. Lu Dai managed to defeat several rebel forces and manage forced them into submission eventually Shi Xie and other warlord surrender and pledged allegiance to Sun Jian.

### Battle of Ruxukou

Later in 211, Sun Jian moves his headquarters from Dantu to the city of Moling, and in the next year, he rebuilt the walls and renamed the city Jianye. This new location gave him better control of the Yangtze River and better communications with his various other commanders. He also constructed fortresses at Ruxu, since Lü Meng anticipated an invasion there from Cao Cao.

The invasion Lü Meng expected came at the start of 213. Sun Jian personally led the army there to resist Cao Cao and relied heavily on the fortresses Lü Meng built to give his soldiers strong positions from which to defend. At one point, Cao Cao tried to send his navy across the river to break Sun Jian's lines, but Sun Jian's own ships surrounded them and destroyed them. Ultimately, Lü Meng's defences held and when the spring rains came a month later, Cao Cao had to pull back.

After Cao Cao's defeat at Ruxu, many people along the Yangtze River fled south to join Sun Jian. With the exception of Wan County and the immediate area, the region became abandoned. In 214, Cao Cao sent a man named Zhu Guang to Wan County with orders to revitalise the region and bring it under Cao Cao's control. Zhu Guang began extensive agricultural projects, and he also stirred up bandits and malcontents into rebellion in Sun Quan's territory. Lü Meng feared that if Zhu Guang's programmes were successful, it would make Cao Cao's hold in the area unbreakable and urged for a campaign against Huan. Sun Quan followed Lü Meng's strategy and used the seasonal flooding to travel to the city by boat, which allowed them to attack unexpectedly. Rather than a lengthy siege, Lü Meng, Gan Ning, and Ling Tong led a quick strike and broke Zhu Guang's defences, capturing the city.

### Sun-Liu Territorial Dispute

After Liu Bei's conquest of Yi Province, he was able to supply his troops on his own, so Sun Jian sent Lu Su as an emissary to demand for the return of Jing Province, but Liu Bei refused. Sun Jian launch against campaign Liu Bei then sent Lü Meng and Ling Tong to lead 20,000 men to attack southern Jing Province and they succeeded in capturing Changsha, Guiyang, and Lingling commanderies. Meantime, Lu Su and Gan Ning advanced to Yiyang (益陽) with 10,000 men (to block Guan Yu) and took over command of the army at Lukou (陸口). Liu Bei personally went to Gong'an and Guan Yu led 30,000 men to Yiyang. When an all-out war was about to break out, the news that Cao Cao planned to attack Hanzhong was received by Liu Bei, and he requested for a border treaty with Sun Jian as he became worried about Cao Cao seizing Hanzhong. Liu Bei asked Sun Jian to give him back the Lingling commandery and create a diversion for Cao Cao by attacking Hefei; in return, Liu Bei ceded Changsha and Guiyang commanderies to Sun Jian, setting the new border along the Xiang River.

## Breaking of alliance with Liu Bei

In 219, Guan Yu advanced north, attacking Fancheng, scoring a major victory over Cao Ren. While Fancheng did not fall at this time, Guan Yu put it under siege, and the situation was severe enough that Cao Cao considered moving the capital away from Xu. However, Sun Jian, resentful of Guan Yu's prior constant instigation of hostilities (including seizing Sun's food supplies to use for his campaign north), took the opportunity to attack Guan from the rear, and Guan's forces collapsed. Guan Yu was captured by forces under general Lü Meng; Guan Yu was executed, Jing Province came under Sun's control, and the Sun-Liu alliance ended. Sun Jian nominally submitted to Cao Cao and urged him to take the throne but Cao refused.

## Becoming a Emperor

After Cao Cao's death in 220, Cao Ang forced Emperor Xian to yield the throne to him, ending the Han Dynasty and establishing the state of Cao Wei. Sun Jian did not immediately submit to Wei or declare independence after Cao Ang's enthronement, after few months Sun Jian headed Gongye Jin advice to declare independent; Sun Jian decides to declare himself Emperor of Wu after the fall of the Han Dynasty and establish the state of Eastern Wu contrast, in early 221, Liu Bei declared himself emperor, establishing the state of Shu Han. Immediately, Liu Bei planned a campaign against Sun Jian to avenge Guan Yu.

In 222, at the Battle of Xiaoting, Sun Jian dealt Liu Bei a major defeat, stopping the Shu offensive with the assistant of his General Lu Xun who he places in charge in the Army. Shu would not again pose a threat to Sun Jian from that point on. Later that year.

## Death

After Sun Jian's victory at Xiaoting, Sun Jian fell greatly ill and delegated most responsibilities to Gongye Jin and Lu Xun while on his death bed Sun Jian appoint Gongye Jin as Chancellor and advise his son Sun Quan consult Zhang Zhao and Zhuge Jin on Infernal matter while consulting external affairs to Fu Gong and Lu Xun and consult both matters to Gongye Jin and Sun Jian died at Jianye December 24 222 after his death he was succeeded by Sun Quan as Emperor of Wu Sun Quan posthumously honored his Father as Emperor Gaozu of Wu the Litany Mean the High Founder of Wu

## Anecdotes

### Attempt on Sun Jian's life

Through his most his life Sun Jian has almost lost his life three times and was saved by others at the cost of their own lives. The First was during the Battle of Xiangyang where Sun Jian was an ambush by Huang Zu but was saved by his Elder Brother Sun Qiang and Sun Jian escaped but Sun Qiang was killed by Huang Zu's forces

The second time was when Xu Gong Opposed Sun Jian and had Xu Gong executed servant of Xu Gong made an assassination attempt on his life but was thwarted by Sun Jian's Eldest Son Sun Ce but wounded as result and later died causing Sun Jian to grieve by his Son passing

The Third time was During Battle of Xiaoyao Ford where the Enemy General Zhang Liao ambushes him and made attempt on Sun Jian but was saved by his general Taishi Ci and escaped but Taishi Ci was killed in action as a resulted and Sun Jian mourn his death.