Zhou Yu
Commander at the Battle of Red Cliffs, where the few defeated the many and crushed Cao Cao.
Life
Childhood friend
Zhou Yu came from a gentry family of Lujiang. He was the same age as Sun Ce and his close friend from childhood. When Sun Ce crossed the Yangtze, Zhou Yu brought troops to help and took part in pacifying Jiangdong. After Sun Ce's death, he and Zhang Zhao jointly served Sun Quan.
Urged resistance to Cao Cao
In 208, when Cao Cao led a great army south, many at Sun Quan's court favored surrender. Zhou Yu argued forcefully that Cao's troops were weary from a long march and unused to fighting on water, and firmly insisted on war. With Liu Bei's allied forces at Red Cliffs, he used Huang Gai's feigned surrender and a fire attack to crush Cao's army.
Unfulfilled ambition
He then took Jiangling and planned to seize Yi Province in the west, but in 210, while preparing for the campaign, he died of illness at Baqiu, aged only 36.
Legacy
Zhou Yu was the true commander at the Battle of Red Cliffs, which established the tripartite division of the Three Kingdoms.
Major works & achievements
- Crushed Cao Cao's army at the Battle of Red Cliffs
- Captured Jiangling
Did you know? He was a master of music, and people at the time said, "If the tune has a mistake, Young Master Zhou will turn his head."
Key dates
- 194Crossed the Yangtze with Sun Ce
- 200Served Sun Quan
- 208Routed Cao Cao at the Battle of Red Cliffs
- 209Captured Jiangling
- 210Died of illness