Sun Quan: Lord of Jiangdong in Romance of the Three Kingdoms and a Key Figure in the Tripartite Confrontation

Brief Introduction

Sun Quan (182–252), courtesy name Zhongmou, was from Fuchun, Wu Commandery (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He was the founder of the Eastern Wu state during the Three Kingdoms period. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he is depicted as the second son of Sun Jian and the younger brother of Sun Ce. After Sun Ce was assassinated, Sun Quan succeeded to the lordship of Jiangdong, becoming an indispensable hegemon in the tripartite balance of power. The image of Sun Quan in the novel combines the political strategy of a statesman with the decisiveness of a military leader. He is the core figure maintaining the foundation of Wu, and his lifelong decisions directly influenced the course of Three Kingdoms history.

Core Knowledge Points

* Young Succession, Stabilizing Jiangdong: Sun Quan succeeded to power at the young age of nineteen. Facing internal dissent from powerful warlords and external threats from Cao Cao, he heavily relied on key ministers like Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu. He quickly stabilized the Jiangdong regime, demonstrating political maturity beyond his years.
* Alliance with Liu Against Cao, Establishing Dominance at Red Cliffs: When Cao Cao's massive army marched south, Sun Quan overcame strong opposition and adopted Zhou Yu's advice. He formed an alliance with Liu Bei and achieved a great victory over Cao Cao's forces at the Battle of Red Cliffs. This laid the foundation for the division of the empire and was a key turning point in forming the tripartite confrontation.
* Struggle for Jingzhou, Breaking the Alliance and Killing Guan Yu: To expand territory, Sun Quan's relationship with Liu Bei deteriorated in his later years. He sent Lu Meng to cross the river in white robes, capturing and killing Guan Yu, and seizing Jingzhou. This led to the rupture of the Sun-Liu alliance and triggered the Battle of Yiling.
* Knowing and Employing Talent, Gathering Star Generals: Sun Quan was skilled at managing talent. In the early period, he relied on Zhou Yu and Lu Su; in the later period, he heavily utilized Lu Meng and Lu Xun. This made Wu a state abundant with talent, and its reign lasted the longest among the three kingdoms.

Connection to the Book's Content

In the narrative structure of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun Quan is a key character who drives plot twists, with his related episodes贯穿 (running through) the latter half of the book:

1. Death of Sun Ce and Succession: In Chapter 34 of the novel, Sun Ce is assassinated. Sun Quan succeeds to the position with the assistance of Zhang Zhao, demonstrating his steady political acumen and avoiding internal chaos in Jiangdong.
2. Decision Maker at Red Cliffs: When Cao Cao's army pressed upon the borders, Sun Quan drew his sword and cut the table, symbolizing his determination to resist Cao Cao. This was the political prerequisite for the great victory at Red Cliffs, reflecting his courage and insight.
3. Behind the Scenes of Guan Yu's Death: In Chapter 76, Sun Quan approved Lu Meng's plan to surprise attack Jingzhou. This directly led to Guan Yu's defeat and retreat to Maicheng, triggering Liu Bei's campaign against Wu and altering the relationship between Shu and Wu.
4. Victor of the Battle of Yiling: Facing Liu Bei's army of revenge, Sun Quan appointed Lu Xun as Grand Commander. Lu Xun burned the connected camps over 700 li, preserving Wu's safety and consolidating its territory.
5. Ascension to Emperor and Later Years: At the end of the novel, Sun Quan declared himself emperor and established the state title of Wu. In his later years, court politics became turbulent due to issues regarding the deposition and installation of the crown prince. He eventually passed the throne to Sun Hao, leading Wu towards decline.

Summary

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun Quan is not merely Sun Ce's brother but also one of the final shapers of the tripartite confrontation landscape. His political wisdom and military decisions profoundly influenced the course of Three Kingdoms history, making him a key figure for understanding the situation in the later period of the Three Kingdoms.