Translated & Authored by Jonathan
Wu
Place of Birth: Fuchun County, Wu Jun (Presently Fuyang,
Zhejiang Province)
Lifespan: 182 – 252 (70 years)
Titles: Lord of Nanchang, Duke of Wu, Emperor of Wu, Great Emperor
Sun Quan was the second son of Sun Jian and younger brother
of Sun Ce. In the fifth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (200 A.D.), Sun Ce died
and passed over the seal of rule to his younger brother Quan. Cao Cao gave
him the rank of General who Annihilates Barbarians and Governor of Kuai Ji.
Together with talented men such as Zhou Yu, Lu Su and Zhang
Zhao, Sun Quan effectively ruled the land of Jiang Dong and turned it into
a wealthy and safe area. Sun Quan received much praised from others and attracted
many scholars and warriors to his land.
In the seventh year of Rebuilt Tranquility (202 A.D.), after
Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao and controlled the north, he sent a letter to Sun
Quan, demanding him to send a son to serve the Emperor. After thinking about
it for a long time, Sun Quan refused the demand as it was seen as an attempt
to control Wu from Xu Chang.
During a period of five years (203 – 208 A.D.), Sun
Quan launched three campaigns against Huang Zu, and eventually killed him
for participating in the murder of Sun Jian.
In the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (208 A.D.),
Sun Quan allied with Liu Bei in an attempt to deter Cao Cao from the Southlands.
Though Cao Mengde commanded an army of eight hundred thirty thousand troops,
he suffered heavy casualties at the hand of Zhou Yu and Sun Quan’s armies.
In 214 A.D., Sun Quan fought over Jing Zhou with Liu Bei,
but with the threat of Cao Cao’s armies in Northern Jing Zhou, Sun Quan
realized the importance of allying with Shu temporarily.
In the twenty-fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (219 A.D.),
Sun Quan approved of Lü Meng’s plan to capture Jing Zhou and in
the process had Guan Yu and his son, Guan Ping, killed (1).
In recognition of Lü Meng’s actions, Sun Quan was given the title
Lord of Nancheng by Cao Mengde.
A year later, Cao Pi succeeded Cao Cao as ruler of Wei and
declared himself Emperor. In an act of revenge, Liu Bei led his army against
Wu in that same year, threatening Wu’s position. Sun Quan accepted the
Nine Dignities of Cao Pi’s rule and officially approved with the removal
of the Han and the Wei Empire (2). When Shu’s invasion came with some seven
hundred thousand troops, Wu’s Lu Xun successfully repelled them and
sent Liu Bei back to Yi Zhou.
In 229 A.D., Sun Quan proclaimed himself Emperor at Wuchang
and made an alliance with the Shu Empire. He also honored the accomplishments
of his family by bestowing Sun Ce with the posthumous title of King of Chang
Sha, and Sun Jian was revered as Martially Glorious Emperor. Zhongmou died
in the year 252 A.D. at the age of seventy. He was buried at Jiang Ling. He
received the title of Great Emperor, posthumously.
(1) Sun Quan was historically not responsible for the execution
of Guan Yu and Guan Ping. Lü Meng made that decision while Sun Quan had
not even been informed of his victory. <return>
(2) Sun Quan accepted Cao Pi as the legitimate authority after
Emperor Xian first handed the seal of rule to Cao Cao, and later abdicating
in favor of Cao Pi. Before declaring himself Emperor, Cao Pi installed Sun
Quan as the legitimate Duke of Wu, similar to how Emperor Xian made Cao Cao
Duke of Wei. <return>
© Copyright Jonathan
Wu 2002
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