Everyone in the world knows that Lu Xun is a famous general of Eastern Wu, but they don't know that a decision he made before his death became the only stain on his life. In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, Lu Xun led the troops for the first time, and defeated Guan Yu, which shocked the world. In the following decades, he made great contributions to Eastern Wu and was known as "Wu Zhiru General". However, in the last moments of his life, he recommended a young man to Sun Quan. This decision was originally out of consideration for the future of Soochow, but who would have thought that it would bury the root of the country's demise. Who is this young man? Why did he become the minister of the Eastern Wu Dynasty? Why did Lu Xun make such a choice? What are the twists and turns in this story? Let's uncover this little-known historical fog together, explore Lu Xun's inner world in his later years, and the deep reasons behind this decision.
Lu Xun, the word Boyan, is a native of Wu County, Wu County
He was born in the Lu clan of Jiangdong, and was smart and studious since he was a child, and was deeply respected by the elders in the clan. However, what really made Lu Xun stand out in Soochow was his extraordinary talent in military affairs.
In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219), Guan Yu led his army north to attack Cao Wei, all the way to Xiangyang. At this time, Eastern Wu and Cao Wei formed an alliance, and Sun Quan knew that if Guan Yu was allowed to succeed, Wu would suffer from the enemy. At this critical juncture, Lu Xun, who was only 26 years old, was appointed as the governor of the right capital and led the Wu army to the expedition.
Facing the famous Guan Yu, the young Lu Xun was not afraid. He was well aware of Guan Yu's weakness of underestimating the enemy's rash advance, so he adopted the strategy of "avoiding its edge and attacking its rear". Lu Xun ordered his subordinates to feint on Jingzhou, and he led the main force to attack Jiangling, cutting off Guan Yu's retreat. This move was unexpected and caught Guan Yu off guard. In the end, Guan Yu was defeated, his soldiers were defeated and died, and Jingzhou also fell into the hands of Eastern Wu.
This battle not only established Lu Xun's position in Soochow, but also changed the pattern of the Three Kingdoms. Sun Quan was overjoyed, personally congratulated Lu Xun on his merits, and gave him the title of "General Mingwei". Since then, Lu Xun has become the mainstay of the Eastern Wu army.
However, Lu Xun's talent is not limited to momentary bravery. In the decades that followed, he repeatedly repelled Cao Wei's attacks and made a great contribution to the stability of Eastern Wu.
In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), after Cao Pi succeeded to the throne of Wei, he immediately used troops against Eastern Wu. He sent Cao Ren to lead an army to attack the important town of Eastern Wu, Misu. Lu Xun was ordered to lead the army to meet the battle. He adopted the strategy of "waiting for work at ease", so that Cao Ren's army could not be attacked for a long time in Misu, and a large number of troops were consumed. When the time was ripe, Lu Xun led his army to launch a counterattack, defeating Cao Ren's army in one fell swoop and defending the beard.
In the first year of Huangwu (222), Cao Pi personally led a large army south, trying to destroy Wu in one fell swoop. In the face of the menacing Wei army, Lu Xun adopted the tactics of fortifying the wall and clearing the wilderness. He ordered the army and civilians to withdraw into the fortified city and burn the grain and grass outside the city, so that the Wei army could not get grain on the spot. Cao Pi's army fought in the territory of Eastern Wu for several months, but was never able to make a breakthrough, and finally had to return with a feather.
After this battle, Lu Xun was named Chaisang Governor and was in charge of military and political power. He not only made many miraculous achievements in military affairs, but also made great achievements in governance. He vigorously developed agricultural production and encouraged scholars to study, so that the national strength of Eastern Wu became stronger and stronger.
In addition to defending against foreign enemies, Lu Xun also put down the Shanyue rebellion in the territory of Eastern Wu. The Shanyue people lived in the mountainous areas of Soochow and were in constant conflict with the Han Chinese. Lu Xun adopted a policy of Huairou, on the one hand, he sent troops to exterminate the rebels, and on the other hand, he resettled the Shanyue people who had returned to Shun. This policy has achieved good results and has stabilized the territory of Soochow.
Lu Xun's series of military and political achievements made him enjoy high prestige in the Eastern Wu government and opposition. Sun Quan relied on him very much, not only did he become an official many times, but also married his daughter Sun Luban to Lu Xun's son Lu Kang. It can be said that Lu Xun has become the first hero of Soochow.
However, just as Lu Xun was becoming famous, a protracted battle for the crown prince involved this highly decorated veteran in the whirlpool of power. This turmoil not only shook the foundation of Soochow, but also laid the groundwork for Lu Xun's future fate.
In Sun Quan's later years, the Eastern Wu court was embroiled in a protracted dispute over the crown prince. This battle not only shook the foundation of Soochow, but also involved the highly decorated Lu Xun in the whirlpool of power.
The roots of the dispute between the princes can be traced back to the first year of Huanglong (229). At that time, Sun Quan had just been proclaimed emperor, and in order to consolidate his rule, he appointed his eldest son Sun Deng as the crown prince. Sun Deng was known for his talent and was deeply supported by the courtiers. However, Sun Deng died suddenly in the first year of Jianxing (252) at the age of thirty-three.
Sun Deng's death put the Eastern Wu court in a difficult situation as an heir. Sun Quan still has several sons under his knees, among which Sun He, Sun Ba, and Sun Liang are the most outstanding. Sun He is the younger brother of Sun Deng, who is older and talented; Sun Ba is Sun Quan's youngest son, smart and clever; Although Sun Liang is young, he was born to Sun Quan's favorite concubine Pan and is quite favored.
Faced with these three sons, Sun Quan hesitated. He first made Sun He the crown prince, but soon deposed him. Later, he made Sun Ba the crown prince, but he was also soon abolished. This capricious attitude not only made the people of the court panic, but also caused the supporters of various princes to fight openly and secretly, and the situation in the court became more and more turbulent.
In this dispute, Lu Xun became the object of competition from all parties because of his transcendent status. However, as an important minister of Eastern Wu, Lu Xun was well aware of the dangers of the dispute between the princes. He advised Sun Quan many times, hoping to determine the heir as soon as possible to calm people's hearts. But Sun Quan was already old and faint at this time, not only did he not listen to the advice, but he was displeased with Lu Xun's outspokenness.
The turning point of the situation came in the sixth year of Chiwu (243). This year, Sun Quan decided to appoint Sun Liang, who was only seven years old, as the crown prince. This decision aroused strong opposition from the ministers of the DPRK and China. They believe that Sun Liang is too young to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the country. Moreover, the appointment of the youngest son as the crown prince will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among other princes and may lead to civil strife.
Faced with the opposition of his ministers, Sun Quan was furious. He believed that his subordinates were questioning their decisions, and even suspected that someone had ulterior motives. In this case, Lu Xun stood up again and gently advised Sun Quan to think twice. He pointed out that the prince is related to the security of the country and should not be made rashly. At the same time, he also suggested that Sun Quan consider making Sun He the crown prince, believing that Sun He was older and virtuous, and was more suitable to inherit the unification.
However, at this time, Sun Quan was no longer the Ming Jun who could humbly accept advice. Not only did he not listen to Lu Xun's advice, but he was furious, thinking that Lu Xun was challenging his authority. Sun Quan ordered on the spot to demote Lu Xun to the rank of General of Pingyuan, stripped him of all other positions, and ordered him to return to his hometown immediately.
This decision was like a bolt from the blue, shocking the entire Soochow government and the opposition. Lu Xun went from the first hero of Eastern Wu to a prisoner overnight. He was forced to leave the imperial court and return to his fiefdom.
However, even after suffering such unfair treatment, Lu Xun still cares about the future of Soochow. He knows that what happened to him is only the tip of the iceberg of this power struggle. An even bigger crisis is threatening the foundation of the entire Soochow.
In the days when he was demoted, Lu Xun still paid close attention to the movements of the imperial court. He saw that as the dispute between the crown princes intensified, the contradictions within the Eastern Wu court became increasingly acute. Each faction does not hesitate to sacrifice the interests of the country for the sake of its own interests. Under these circumstances, Soochow's military and economic power were constantly weakening.
Lu Xun knew that if this situation continued, Eastern Wu would sooner or later be annexed by the eyeing Wei State. However, at this time, he had lost the ability to directly influence the government. In this case, Lu Xun began to think about how to leave a glimmer of life for Soochow after his death.
At this moment, a young man's name came into Lu Xun's sight. This person is Zhuge Ke, the son of Zhuge Jin, a heavy minister of Eastern Wu. Although Zhuge Ke was young and vigorous and had a proud personality, Lu Xun saw his talent and potential. At the last moment of his life, Lu Xun made a decision, which not only affected his life honor, but also changed the fate of the entire Eastern Wu.
Zhuge Ke, the character Yuan Xun, a native of Lang Evil Yang, and the son of Zhuge Jin, a famous minister of Eastern Wu
From an early age, he was brilliant and strategic, and he also had his father's political talents. However, it was such a seemingly promising young man who eventually became a key figure in the destruction of the country in Soochow.
When Zhuge Ke first entered his career, he was at the center of the storm of the dispute between the princes of Eastern Wu. His father, Zhuge Jin, as an old minister, has always remained neutral and impartial. This way of life also influenced the young Zhuge Ke. Although he was talented, he never took a stand in this power struggle, but focused on improving his own talents.
In the sixth year of Chiwu (243), Sun Quan established his youngest son Sun Liang as the crown prince, causing a shock to the government and the opposition. At this time, Zhuge Ke had already emerged and was appointed as the councilor. In the face of the disputes between the DPRK and China, he chose an attitude of self-preservation and neither openly supported nor openly opposed. This way of doing things allowed him to retreat from the turbulent situation, and even won Sun Quan's appreciation.
However, what really made Zhuge Ke famous was his military talent. In the seventh year of Chiwu (244), Wang Ling, a general of Wei, led an army to attack Jiangxia County in Eastern Wu. At this time, the interior of Soochow was in an eventful season, and the troops were stretched. At this critical juncture, Zhuge Ke took the initiative to ask Ying and led an elite army to reinforcements.
In the face of the powerful Wei army, Zhuge Ke showed extraordinary military talent. He skillfully used the advantages of the terrain to set up an ambush to lure Wang Ling's main force in. When the Wei army was heavily encircled, Zhuge Ke personally led the army to raid and defeated Wang Ling's army in one fell swoop. This victory not only saved Jiangxia, but also made Zhuge Ke's name spread all over Eastern Wu.
When Sun Quan learned of this good news, Long Yan was overjoyed. He personally summoned Zhuge Ke, praised his talent, and promoted him to the rank of partial general. This appointment made Zhuge Ke, who was only in his twenties, an important general in the Eastern Wu Army.
However, the rapid expansion of power has also caused subtle changes in Zhuge Ke's character. He began to become complacent and dismissive of the opinions of the other ministers of the court. Although this attitude caused some people's dissatisfaction, under the protection of Sun Quan, Zhuge Ke's position was still stable.
In the tenth year of Chiwu (247), Eastern Wu once again faced an attack by Wei. This time, Wei sent a famous general, Wang Chang, to lead a large army to the hinterland of Eastern Wu. Sun Quan once again handed over the responsibility to Zhuge Ke. This time, Zhuge Ke adopted a bolder tactic. He took the initiative to attack and launched a surprise attack when the Wei army was not firmly established, and routed Wang Chang's forward troops in one fell swoop.
This victory not only consolidated the defense line of Eastern Wu, but also brought Zhuge Ke's prestige to the peak. Sun Quan once again crowned him as the right general, in charge of military and political power. So far, Zhuge Ke has become the hottest young general in the Eastern Wu Dynasty.
It was at this time that the elderly Lu Xun noticed Zhuge Ke. Although Lu Xun has been demoted and lost his real power in the court, he still pays close attention to the situation in Eastern Wu. Zhuge Ke's talent and courage allowed Lu Xun to see the hope of the future of Soochow.
However, Lu Xun was also keenly aware of the flaws in Zhuge Ke's character. He is too conceited to tolerate others, which can become hidden dangers in the future. However, in the situation of internal and external troubles in Dongwu, Lu Xun believes that only a brave and resourceful young man like Zhuge Ke can lead Dongwu through difficulties.
In the first year of Jianxing (252), Sun Quan's eldest son and crown prince Sun Deng died of a sudden illness. This incident once again sparked turmoil in the DPRK and China. All forces are secretly competing in an attempt to influence the selection of the new crown prince. In this undercurrent power game, Zhuge Ke once again showed his political wisdom. On the surface, he remained neutral, but in fact secretly supported Sun Quan's decision.
This kind of wise self-preservation practice allowed Zhuge Ke to occupy an advantageous position in the new power structure. Sun Quan trusted him even more, not only relying on him militarily, but also began to consult him on political affairs.
Just as Zhuge Ke's power was growing, Lu Xun made a far-reaching decision. He decided to recommend Zhuge Ke to Sun Quan on his deathbed, hoping to leave a glimmer of life for the future of Soochow. This decision not only changed the fate of Zhuge Ke, but also became a turning point in the history of Soochow.
In the spring of the second year of Jianxing (253), the elderly Lu Xun was seriously ill and bedridden, knowing that his time was short. As a veteran minister of Soochow, he knew that every decision he made could have a profound impact on the country's future. At the last moment of his life, Lu Xun made an unexpected choice - he decided to recommend Zhuge Ke to Sun Quan.
Behind this decision is Lu Xun's deep insight into the situation in Soochow. Since the outbreak of the dispute between the crown princes, there have been many contradictions within the Eastern Wu court, and all forces have fought openly and secretly. Externally, Wei was eyeing the enemy and could attack at any time. In this situation of internal and external troubles, Soochow urgently needs a figure who can turn the tide.
Lu Xun believes that although Zhuge Ke is young, he has extraordinary talent and courage
His military achievements are obvious to all, and he repeatedly repelled the attacks of the Wei army and defended the territory of Eastern Wu. At the same time, Zhuge Ke also showed extraordinary wisdom in politics, able to protect himself in the complex court struggle, and gradually grew his power.
However, Lu Xun was also clearly aware of the flaws in Zhuge Ke's character. He is proud and complacent, and he cannot tolerate others, which may become hidden dangers in the future. But in the current situation, Lu Xun believes that only a brave and resourceful young man like Zhuge Ke can lead Soochow through the difficulties.
Lu Xun summoned his henchmen and dictated a letter. In this recital, he elaborated on his views on Zhuge Ke, affirmed his talents, and tactfully pointed out his shortcomings. Lu Xun suggested that Sun Quan should use Zhuge Ke, but also to restrain him to prevent his pride and complacency from leading to wrong decisions.
The letter was secretly sent to Sun Quan. At that time, Sun Quan was already old and faint, and his control over the government was weakening day by day. Lu Xun's letter undoubtedly gave him a new way of thinking.
Sun Quan carefully read the chapter and was deeply impressed by Lu Xun's suggestion. He decided to summon Zhuge Ke to personally inspect the young general. In the following days, Sun Quan had many long talks with Zhuge Ke to discuss national affairs. Zhuge Ke's talent and insight impressed Sun Quan.
Just when Sun Quan was considering reusing Zhuge Ke, Lu Xun's condition deteriorated sharply. In April of the second year of Jianxing (253), Lu Xun died at home at the age of sixty-one.
Lu Xun's death caused a huge shock to the government and opposition in Eastern Wu. As the chief minister and military commander of Eastern Wu, Lu Xun's departure was undoubtedly a huge loss. However, this decision before his death planted a seed for the future of Soochow.
After Lu Xun's death, Sun Quan convened a court meeting and announced an important decision. He appointed Zhuge Ke as a general and the general of the military and political power. This appointment marks that Zhuge Ke has officially become the leader of the new generation of Eastern Wu.
After Zhuge Ke took office, he immediately showed his ambition. He proposed a series of reform measures, including the reorganization of the army, the reform of the tax system, and the development of agriculture. These measures did increase the national strength of Soochow in the short term, but they also caused dissatisfaction among some old ministers.
At the same time, Zhuge Ke also began to implement his foreign policy. He advocated taking the initiative to attack, believing that he should take advantage of the internal instability of Wei to launch an offensive and regain the lost territory. This aggressive strategy is in stark contrast to the steady defense advocated by Lu Xun during his lifetime.
However, as Lu Xun foresaw, Zhuge Ke's pride and complacency also began to appear. He became increasingly intolerant of dissent and cracked down on ministers who opposed him. This practice has led to the deepening of contradictions between the DPRK and China.
In the third year of Jianxing (254), Sun Quan died and was succeeded by Sun Liang, who was only seven years old. As an auxiliary minister, Zhuge Ke's power reached its peak. He began to act arbitrarily and no longer even listened to other ministers.
At this time, Wei took advantage of the transfer of power in Eastern Wu and launched a large-scale attack. Faced with this crisis, Zhuge Ke once again showed his military talent and successfully repelled the attack of the Wei army. This victory further strengthened his position.
However, the victory also made Zhuge Ke even more proud and complacent. He began to hatch a larger plan - to counterattack Wei and seize the Central Plains. This plan not only exceeded the strength of Soochow, but also violated Lu Xun's strategic thinking during his lifetime.
Just as Zhuge Ke was preparing to implement this plan, the opposition from the DPRK and China became louder and louder. Some old ministers began to unite and try to check and balance Zhuge Ke's power. A new political storm is brewing in the court of Soochow.
In the fourth year of Jianxing (255), Zhuge Ke's power reached its peak. As the auxiliary minister of the young lord Sun Liang, he controlled the military and political power of Eastern Wu. However, the pinnacle of power often also means the beginning of danger. Zhuge Ke's arbitrary and radical policies aroused the dissatisfaction of many ministers in the DPRK and China.
In the spring of that year, Zhuge Ke put forward a bold plan: to take advantage of the civil unrest in Wei to launch a large-scale attack and seize the Central Plains. As soon as this plan was proposed, it immediately aroused heated debate between the DPRK and China. Proponents see this as a great opportunity for Soochow to turn the tide; Opponents believe that Soochow's national strength is limited, and it may be difficult to succeed in sending troops rashly.
In the face of opposition, Zhuge Ke not only did not relent, but became more tough. At the meeting, he openly accused the opposing ministers of being "cowardly and afraid," and even threatened to deal with them on charges of "obstructing military aircraft." This practice has further aggravated the contradictions between the DPRK and China.
At this critical moment, an unexpected event changed the course of the situation. In June of the fourth year of Jianxing, an official named Wang Xun publicly accused Zhuge Ke of abusing his power and oppressing Zhongliang at a court meeting. Wang Xun's rhetoric was fierce, pointing directly at Zhuge Ke's various misdeeds. This action, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirred up huge waves.
Zhuge Ke was furious and ordered Wang Xun to be arrested on the spot
However, this decision has sparked the displeasure of more ministers. Some officials, who had previously remained neutral, began to publicly express their support for Wang Xun. The contradictions within the imperial court reached a white-hot level for a while.
Faced with this situation, Zhuge Ke took more radical measures. He ordered a large-scale purge of the opposition in the DPRK and China, and many old ministers were demoted or exiled. Although this approach suppressed the opposition in the short term, it also made Zhuge Ke lose the last popular support.
Just when Zhuge thought that the situation had stabilized, an even greater crisis crept in. In August of the fourth year of Jianxing, a secret letter was secretly sent to the Queen Mother. The Empress Dowager was shocked by the contents of the letter, which detailed how Zhuge Ke abused his power, suppressed dissidents, and even secretly plotted a plan to depose the young lord Sun Liang and usurp the throne himself.
The Queen Mother handed over the letter to several respected ministers. After careful consideration, these veterans decided to take action. They secretly contacted Sun Jun, the commander of the forbidden army, and persuaded him to side with the royal family.
On the third day of September in the fourth year of Jianxing, a well-planned coup d'état quietly unfolded. In the early morning of the same day, Sun Jun led the forbidden army to surround Zhuge Ke's mansion. Zhuge Ke was caught off guard, and before he could gather his cronies, he was controlled by the forbidden army.
At the same time, the Queen Mother, in the name of the young lord Sun Liang, convened an emergency court meeting. At the court meeting, the Queen Mother read out the contents of the secret letter, and announced on the spot that Zhuge Ke would be removed from all positions and arrested for treason.
After the court meeting, Zhuge Ke was escorted to the palace hall. There, he faced the interrogation of the young lord Sun Liang and the queen mother. Faced with ironclad evidence, Zhuge Ke finally collapsed and admitted what he had done.
On the sixth day of September in the fourth year of Jianxing, Zhuge Ke was escorted to the market and executed in public. His family was not spared, and many were executed or exiled. In this way, this once powerful general lost everything in just a few days.
The fall of Zhuge Ke brought a huge shock to the government and opposition in Eastern Wu. For a time, the people of the DPRK and China were panicked and did not know what would happen next. Surprisingly, however, a new power structure was soon formed. Because of his great contribution to this coup, Sun Jun was promoted to general and grasped the military and political power.
The fall of Zhuge Ke marked a major turning point in the political situation of Eastern Wu. It not only changed the distribution of power, but also profoundly affected the national policy of Soochow. After that, Soochow gradually abandoned the aggressive foreign policy advocated by Zhuge Ke and adopted a more conservative defensive strategy.
However, the fall of Zhuge Ke did not solve the fundamental problem of Eastern Wu. The change of power was only a change of ruler, and the contradictions within the court still existed. In the years to come, Soochow will face more challenges and tests.