Sun Quan
Sun Quan (182 – 252AD), also known as Zhongmou, was born in Fuchun of Wu Territory (present day Fuyang of Zhejiang). His father, Sun Jian, was said to be a descendant of the renowned military strategist Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War. He was a prefecture chief of Changsha, and was given the title of General Polu. Sun Quan’s brother was Sun Ce, the General of Taoni, and Marquis Wu. At the age of 15, Sun Quan was recommended as Xiaolian and Xiucai. He was appointed magistrate of Yangxian, and the commandant of Fengyi on his behalf. When Sun Ce was assassinated in 200, Sun Quan inherited the lands southeast of the Yangtze River from his brother. Cao Cao recommended him as the General Taolu, and the prefecture chief of Kuaiji. In 203 and 205, he assailed the Shanyue twice and conquered it, stabilizing the six territories of the southeast of the Yangtze River. In 208, he led the troops to attack Huangzu, and win back Jiangling. Combining with Liu Bei, he won the Battle of the Red Cliffs. In 211, he relocated the capital to Moling, and changed its name to Jianye (present day Nanjing). In 211, to avenge Guan Yu, Liu Bei led his troops to attack Wu. Sun appointed Lu Xun Commander-in-Chief to fight against Liu’s army. At the same time, he served as a vassal for Cao Pi, and was appointed as King of Wu. The following March, the Shu force was defeated. In 229, after the death of Cao Pi, Sun Quan formally declared himself emperor, and founded the Kingdom of Wu with the capital of Jianye. He died in 252.
Huang Gai
Huang Gai, also known as Gongfu, born in Quanling County, Lingling Precinct (now Yongzhou in Hunan province), was a military general for the Kingdom of Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. He served three Sun Family lords throughout his life: Sun Jian, his eldest son Sun Ce, and his second son Sun Quan. At the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208, Huang Gai sent word to Cao Cao claiming that he wished to defect, and seize the chance to attack Cao Cao’s troops with fire. He was one of the heroes of the battle, and stories of his bravery were passed down through the generations to this day. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, his skill at Ku Rong Ji (a trick of having oneself tortured to win the confidence of the enemy) was depicted in lurid detail.
Content Provider: Wei Jia
Translated by Zhang Min
Editor: Shi Liwei
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