Zhou Yu (175 - 210) 周瑜, also spelled Tcheou Yu (system EFEO), had for social Prénom Gongjin (公瑾). It was a Chinese military strategist of the end of the Han dynasty and beginning of the period of the Three Kingdoms. He was the brother in arms of Sun This, founder of the Royaume of Wu, and served then the brother of this one, Sun Quan. He is regarded as the principal craftsman of the victory of the Bataille of Red Cliff (208) which opposed the coalition Shu/Wu to CAD CAD and which will oblige this last to give up unifying China. Its character was immortalisé in the novel Histoire of the Three Kingdoms and in many operas. One knows it in Japan under the name of Shūyu Kōkin.

The historical character

The principal historical reference of the time is Sanguo Zhi (Chroniques of the Three Kingdoms) which is the source of the following biography:

Zhou Yu was born the 4th year from Xi Ping (175) in the prefecture of Shu. At the time of the 1 year of Chu Ping (190), Sun Jian share to join the other war leaders in alliance against Dong Zhuo and moves its family in the prefecture of Shu. Thus his/her son, Sun This, become acquainted there with Zhou Yu. Both having almost the same age bind friendship quickly.

The uncle de Zhou Yu, Zhou Shang, was the Large Administrator of daN Yang. A few years later, at the time of the 1st year of Xin Ping (194), one day that Zhou Yu left to visit him, it crosses Sun coincidentally This. This last was making cross the Yangze river to an army in order to go to Li Yang and to begin the reconquest of the grounds of his/her father. Sun This sent a letter to Zhou Yu which in return lent to Sun This part of its own troops and decided to join it, with the great rapture of Sun It. The duet captures then Heng Jiang and Dang Li, and attack Mo Ling where they beat Ze Rong and Xue Li. They push then until the south towards Hu Shu, Jiang Cheng and go on qu Ah, forcing Liu Yao to escape.

The army of Sun It is strong at this time several tens of thousands and Sun This regard capacity to push until conquering the prefectures of Wu and Han Ji, subjecting at the same time the tribes of Shan Yue. He then asks Zhou Yu to return to defend daN Yang.

A little later Yuan Shu orders in his/her cousin, Yuan Yin, to replace Zhou Shang as a large administrator of daN Yang, kind Zhou Yu and its uncle from to go away towards Shou Chun. Yuan Shu plans to take Zhou Yu with its service, but this last refuses, probably because it had considered the future defeat of this one. It aspires to nevertheless the post of magistrate of Juchao, city located close to Yangze, which would have given the opportunity to him to return in Jiang Dong to join Sun It in the event of problem. Being unaware of the true intentions of Zhou Yu, Yuan Shu grants the station to him.

In the 3rd year of Jian Year (198), Sun This accommodates Zhou Yu in person and the title of 建威中郎将 offers to him, jian wei zhong general-in-chief Lang jiang “who establishes the power” and offers 2000 troops and 50 knights under his command to him. Zhou Yu, which did not have whereas 24 years, was commonly called “Zhou Lang” (周郎 - Zhou, the young gentleman). Its charitable and honest character was recognized in the Lu Jiang area. One asks him to defend the area of Niu Zhu, and in reward one offers to him the post of magistrate of Chun Gu. When Sun This decides to attack Jing Zhou, it offers to Zhou Yu the post of large administrator of Jiang Xia and General title of 中护军 zhong hu jun the “which protects the center”. Both capture then the town of Wan.

The following year, Sun This and Zhou Yu marry each one one of the two girls of Qiao Gong. The history did not retain their names (one knows just that Zhou Yu married young person: Xiao Qiao, xiao meaning “benjamine”), but mentions their great beauty. They attack then Xun Yang, thus beating Liu Xun. They attack then the prefecture of Jiang Xia and divert their armies in order to impress Yu Zhang and Lu Ling. Zhou Yu receives then the order to defend Ba Qiu.

At the time of the 5th year of Jian Year, Sun This dies and his/her young brother Sun Quan takes his succession. Zhou Yu goes to the funeral. Of return to the prefecture of Wu, Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu share the management of the businesses of State.

At the time of the 11th year of Jian Year, Zhou Yu and Sun Yu attack My Tun and Bao Tun, make decapitate the chiefs and make 10  000 prisoners. The large administrator of Jiang Xia dispatches Long Deng then with an army of a few thousands of soldiers to attack Chai Blood. Zhou Yu counteracts and captures alive Long Deng.

At the time of the spring of the 13th year of Jian Year, Sun Quan attacks Jiang Xia and names Zhou Yu ordering of the face. At the time of this year, CAD CAD invades Jing Zhou and Liu Zong must make him tender, adding tens of thousands of men to the troops of CAD CAD as well as the naval forces of Jing Zhou. CAD CAD sent a letter proposing to Sun Quan to peacefully subject itself. This worried Sun Quan which gathered its generals to have their opinion on the policy to follow. Number of them proposed to be subjected to CAD CAD, by advancing the following arguments:

  • the reputation of CAD CAD was already well established and its military exploits forced the respect;
  • since CAD CAD held Jing Zhou in its control, the kingdom of Wu could not count any more on its geographical advantage (it was necessary to cross the river Yang Ze to attack them and CAD CAD held the easiest way to reach them)
  • CAD CAD also had just acquired of the naval fleet of Liu Biao, adding approximately thousand vessels to its fleet. This allowed him if necessary to launch an invasion of great scale via Jiang Dong.
  • finally, the army of CAD CAD was much more important cuts some than that of the kingdom of Wu.

Zhou Yu however gave a different opinion and exposed the weak points of the forwarding of CAD CAD towards the south:

  • CAD CAD could be regarded as a traitor with the emperor because it maintained this one in captivity while benefitting from its position of Prime Minister.
  • the areas that CAD CAD had conquered in north were not stabilized yet and it remained in its back the threat of My Chao and Han Sui in Guan Xi.
  • the armies of CAD CAD, although highly skilled, were unaware of all the art of the naval actions, which was not the case of the inhabitants of the south.
  • the season being the winter, there were strong probabilities so that the army of CAD CAD becomes exhausted on long walks in north.
  • finally, the army of CAD CAD was not accustomed to the climate of the south and risked many diseases and epidemics.

Zhou Yu was thus convinced that the situation was not only far from being in their discredit, but was even undoubtedly the best occasion to capture CAD CAD. He thus asked 30  000 men with Sun Quan to station them in Xia Kou and announced unquestionable being to him to be able to overcome CAD CAD. Liu EIB then had been just made beat by CAD CAD and went to Dang Yang to see Known Lu (an adviser of Zhou Yu). Each one considered plans of alliance to beat CAD CAD and Liu EIB decided poster its troops with Xia Kou and to send Zhuge Liang to Sun Quan like emissary.

Sun Quan dispatched Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu and other generals with the meeting of Liu EIB in order to reinforce their positions against CAD CAD. The meeting between the alliance formed by Sun Quan and Liu EIB took place with the Bataille of red Cliff. The army of CAD CAD was weakened and sick and beat a retreat very quickly in spite of its great numerical superiority in order to join the northern coast of the river Yang Ze. That could make it possible to establish a camp, to rest and recover while hoping to be able soon to take again the hostilities. Considering the army of CAD CAD too many, Huang Gai did not find possible to be able to resist to him well a long time, but pointed out that the ships of CAD CAD had been attached together. It suggested in Zhou Yu setting fire to the opposing fleet.

The established trick was the following one: Zhou Yu copiously made bastonner Huang Gai in public by pretexting that this one had defied it by defending rendering, so giving the exchange to the spies of CAD CAD. A little later a letter was sent to CAD CAD, announcing the rendering of Huang Gai and giving a date on its arrival. Falling into the trap, the soldiers of CAD CAD awaited the arrival of Huang Gai on the boats. Merry Huang while arriving, boutta fire with its own ship, and the strong winds spread soon the fire through all the fleet of CAD CAD, all the more easily as the boats were connected between them. Fire is propagated even with the camps on the coast, inflicting heavy losses with the army of CAD CAD. This last is constrained to beat a retreat. Liu EIB and Zhou Yu launch their troops to his continuation, but do not manage to capture it. This one was nevertheless to forget its hopes to unify all China of sound living and will manage never again to cross Yangze.

In the 14th year of Jian Year (209), Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu attack the prefecture of Nan, defended by CAD Ren. Attackers and defenders then camped each one on a side of the river. Before the attack, Zhou Yu sends Gan Ning and settles in Yi Ling. CAD Ren then decides to divide its forces and to attack Gan Ning. Zhou Yu accepted a call to the assistance, and, on the councils of Lu Meng, entrusts to Ling Tong the backs and leaves to the rescue Gan Ning. Zhou Yu carries out then its troops to cross the river in person and to tackle CAD Ren. At the time of the battle, it receives an arrow with the chest at the right-sided, obliging it to beat a retreat. CAD Ren wants to benefit from the wound of Zhou Yu to attack it, but in spite of its state, Zhou Yu will make a speech with its troops to inflate their moral. It was with the turn of CAD Ren to beat a retreat.

Sun Quan named Zhou Yu 偏将军 pian jiang jun “general honest” and large administrator of the prefecture of Nan. It reçoi the order to station its troops with Jiang Ling. Liu EIB leaves to settle in Jing Zhou as a governor, and when it will return a visit in Sun Quan in the town of Jing Kou, Zhou Yu requires of Sun Quan to be defied some. It wished to separate Liu EIB from Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, his/her brothers in arms, and to install it in the prefecture of Wu, where in indolence, it would not represent any more one political risk. Zhou Yu thus hopes to rejoin with him Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and their talents. However, Sun Quan wishes to exploit all the talents because of the threat imposed by CAD CAD and not to make of Liu EIB an exception. Moreover, Sun Quan does not think of being able to control Liu EIB also easily and disallows the proposal of Zhou Yu.

This moment, Liu Zhang was the governor of Yi Zhou and was to deal with Zhang Lu. Zhou Yu returns visit in Sun Quan in Jing Kou and its plan exposes to him to capture the territories of CAD CAD in north. Its intention was to carry out with Sun Yu an army to capture the territories of Shu (grounds of Liu EIB), then to be combined with Zhang Lu, to install Sun Yu in Shu, and to buckle the territories with that of My Chao. Zhou Yu could thus have returned in Jing Zhou and have launched with Sun Quan the attack on CAD CAD in direction of Xiang Yang. Sun Quan approved the plan and Zhou Yu returned in Jiang Ling to make the preparations. Zhou Yu was unfortunately to die of disease while going to Ba Qiu, in the 15th year of Jian (210), only 35 years old.

In addition to its military engineering, the history will retain of him its great beauty, its charisma, its musical genius, its friendly relations with Sun This but also the love which its close relations dedicated to him. Cheng Pu would have said of him, always according to Sanguo Zhi: “To be with Zhou Gongjin, it is as of drinking cold wine not cut off the water (the Chinese drank it something hot and half-compartment): one is drunk before realizing it. ” As for Lady Wu, the mother of Sun This and Sun Quan, she would have affirmed: “Gongjin is like a son for me” A saying of the time said: “曲有誤, 周郎顧” (if there is an error in the song, Zhou will be occupied some), because one said it able being, even after having drunk many wine cuts, to locate any error of rate/rhythm or wrong note. It is also sometimes mentioned its talents of poet, but no poem reached us to date.

The character of the popular tradition: a brilliant but jealous strategist

Beyond the historical facts, many portraits of Zhou Yu were drawn up in China, through many operas and novels. It was celebrated besides in poems of the Tang dynasty. It is that drawn up in the novel Histoire of the Three Kingdoms , one of the novels most read in China writes under the Ming dynasty, which is retained the most by the Chinese.

This one is somewhat mitigated: Zhou Yu appears certainly there among the best and more the crafty ones strategists of the time. It is on its strategies and councils that Sun This (of which he is the brother sworn in the novel) posed the bases of the kingdom of Wu. He, moreover, was very liked his men and of Sun Quan which regretted its death a long time. He is also refers of his musical talent in the scene where he makes a dance of the saber by singing a poem of his composition. The novel does not disavow either its talent to invent tricks: little before the battle Chibi, CAD CAD sends one of his/her former friends, Jiang Gan to him, to try to rejoin it with him. But Zhou Yu arrives in fact in return to convraincre CAD CAD to make carry out Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, the two only generals who had experience of the naval action.

On the other hand, one retains especially to him his intolerance and his disproportionate pride vis-a-vis the genius of Zhuge Liang, the strategist of the Shu kingdom, however his ally. The popular novel of the “Three Kingdoms”, indeed wished to propose the legitimacy of the kingdom of Shu and was to thus show the superiority of the talent of Zhuge Liang. This is why, although the historical sources never retained particular relation between them, the authors wished nevertheless to put Zhuge Liang in competition with Zhou Yu. To oppose Zhuge Liang to Zhou Yu, however a strategist of very first order, and by showing how it could turn it into ridiculous without being tired too much, which was used to illustrate its divine talent.

The character of Zhou Yu, eclipsed with the profit of Zhuge Liang is thus very often associated with the démeusurée jealousy and the frustration which can feel those which do not manage to exceed their rivals despite everything their efforts. There although shining, it can be solved to remain lower than Zhuge Liang and seeks to plot in the shade to cut down it without never being able to arrive.

Their competition starts as of their first meeting: vis-a-vis the threat posed by CAD CAD, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu understood very quickly that it was necessary to be combined to face there. But for reasons symbolic systems, each one refused to require of the first the assistance of the other. Also at the time of their first meeting, Zhou Yu made mine intend to want to subject itself to CAD CAD, wanting to lead Zhuge Liang to be opposed to the idea and to make the first proposals. However it was Zhuge Liang which was most subtle: he congratulated Zhou Yu for the idea and revealed to him, the air of nothing, that CAD CAD would be satisfied altogether with a tribute of two women. Zhou Yu required of him which, Zhuge Liang answered him that they were the Qiao sisters, famous for their great beauty. He added that CAD Zhi, the son of CAD CAD, had composed at the request of his/her father a poem speaking in praise of their great beauty and its will to seize them for its harem.

To the listening of the recitation of the poem, Zhou Yu entered a black anger: not only one of the Qiao sisters was the woman of her sworn brother deceased, but the other was also his own wife! Zhuge Liang made the innocent one, not claiming nothing to know of this irrefutable fact. Zhou Yu the Jura to oppose the plans of CAD CAD and was thus the first to ask for the assistance of Zhuge Liang. But with time, seeing the subtlety of the operations of its new ally, it ends up including/understanding how it had been floué and its jealousy did not make whereas to increase.

Although in historical reality it would seem that it is Zhou Yu the craftsman of the victory of the battle of Chibi, in the novel, its role is less creditable: Zhuge Liang creates the strategies, but leaves some in Zhou Yu all glory in order to attract the lightnings of CAD CAD in its opposition.

Initially, Zhou Yu wanted to rejoin Zhuge Liang with its service but did not reach that point. Also preferred he to make it assassinate at the time when Shu was still weak, before this one cannot be reached and becomes a frightening adversary. Zhou Yu will try to harm Zhuge Liang by three times, but not only this one will draw, but turn over from them the plans of Zhou Yu against him in a humiliating way and will cause him in return three great furies.

Zhou Yu gave to Zhuge Liang the task to obtain 100  000 arrows in less than 10 days in the hope that this one, while failing, provides him a pretext to draw aside it. But Zhuge Liang was satisfied to go narguer the archers of CAD CAD and to recover the arrows that those will draw to him. Zhou Yu felt that it was absolutely to get rid of the kingdom of Shu if this one were to have such a strategist. In fact the repeated failures caused the “three great furies”:

  • after the battle of red Cliff, the kingdom of Shu and that of Wu were interested both in the town of Jingzhou. Zhou Yu was persuaded to be able to conquer it easily, but was seriously wounded by a poisoned arrow drawn by CAD Ren. After many battles which were expensive to him, Zhou Yu finally managed to beat CAD Ren. But meanwhile, Zhuge Liang made a false letter in the name of CAD CAD which made it possible Zhang Fei to enter the city and to take it without any effort. Zhou Yu was so furious that he howled with dead and its wound opened.

  • the second time, feeling that Liu EIB was likely to become a dangerous neighbor in the future, it wanted to attract it with the kingdom of Wu under the pretext of a marriage with the sister of Sun Quan. Zhuge Liang included/understood the trick and… the population of the marriage informs. Zhou Yu changed a little the plan into trying to keep Liu EIB in the kingdom of Wu, while making him build a splendid de luxe hotel. The idea was that in the absence of their Master, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang would not manage to keep the control of the kingdom and their army would end up dispersing. But before even as the plan is not put at execution, Liu EIB flees with its new wife. Zhou Yu tried to send men to assassinate it, but was beaten with punt seams. Zhou Yu, already in anger, became truly insane of fury by entandant the soldiers of Liu EIB who shouted to him in the unison since the ships on the order with Zhuge Liang: “The plan of the conquest of China of Sieur Zhou Yu is completed by the loss of Sun Lady and its troops. ” Its wound was reopened again and it perda knowledge.

  • these repeated failures had pushed Zhou Yu with end. He proposed a plan: to attack and conquer Xichuan for the account of Liu EIB, in the condition that this one returns from Jingzhou. It was not acted in fact that of one pretext in makes make mine attack Xichuan and makes some attack Jingzhou by surprise when Liu EIB would come to accommodate them. But while arriving, Liu EIB did not appear and Zhao Yun announced in Zhou Yu top walls that Zhuge Liang had perfectly included/understood its small horse-gear. Zhou Yu wanted to give the exchange by carrying out its troops towards Xichuan. But in way, it accepted a mail mocker of Zhuge Liang, which explained to him as one explains to a child, than to conduct an attack against Xichuan, whereas CAD CAD does not burn to be avenged for the defeat of the battle of Chi Bi and would benefit from the least occasion to attack the kingdom of Wu, would be ridiculous. And the top of the hill, he sees Zhuge Liang comfortably installed which laughs at its failure. Humiliated, Zhou Yu entered for a third and last time in a black fury and its wound was reopened for last once, leaving it dying.

Right before expiring, he pronounced the following words against the Sky: “既生瑜, 何生亮?” (Ji sheng Yu, He sheng Liang: “After me, Yu, would have been born, why to have also given birth to Liang? ”).

Ironically, Zhuge Liang made use of dead of Zhou Yu to its advantage while going to make its apology on its skin at the time of taken care funerary, thus attracting itself sympathies of the kingdom of Wu. As for Pang Tong, the only sufficiently intelligent person to include/understand the insult which Zhuge Liang with the kingdom of Wu with such a behavior made, Zhuge Liang manages to convince it to enlist in her camp Ainsi, even dead, Zhou Yu had never remained but the puppet of Zhuge Liang, incompetent to escape her influence and not having never succeeded in exceeding it…

See too

Sources

Related articles

External bonds

  • http://www.guoxue.com/shibu/24shi/sangzz/sgzz_054.htm, the official biography of Zhou Yu of Sanguo Zhi (Chinese simplified)

Zh-classical: 周瑜 Zh-yue: 周瑜

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