Lu Su's Couch-Side Plan 榻上策

Lu Su was a man of Dongcheng County in Linhuai Commandery; when the realm fell into turmoil he gave away his wealth on a large scale and sold his fields to relieve the needy and make friends among men of quality. When Zhou Yu, Chief of Juchao, called on him with several hundred men and asked for supplies and grain, Lu Su pointed to one of his granaries, holding three thousand hu of rice, and gave it to him, and the two became close friends. Yuan Shu appointed him Chief of Dongcheng, but Lu Su judged that Yuan Shu had no discipline and went with a hundred or so men to join Zhou Yu at Juchao, and when Zhou Yu crossed the river eastward, he went along and settled his family at Qu'e. Records, Wu 9 §32–33

After Lu Su had buried his grandmother, his friend Liu Ziyang wrote to him, inviting him to go together to a man at Chao Lake who commanded a following of more than ten thousand. Lu Su thought the plan sound and returned to Qu'e intending to go north, but Zhou Yu had already moved Lu Su's mother to Wu. By this time Sun Ce had died and Sun Quan was at Wu. Citing Ma Yuan's words to Emperor Guangwu, "In the present age it is not only the ruler who chooses his subjects; subjects also choose their ruler," Zhou Yu kept him from leaving, and recommended him to Sun Quan, saying that Lu Su's talent was fit to aid the times and he must not be allowed to go. The Biography of the Lord of Wu records that in the 5th year of Jian'an (200) Sun Ce, on his death, entrusted affairs to Sun Quan, and that when Sun Quan invited men of talent, Lu Su, Zhuge Jin and others first became his guests at this time. Records, Wu 9 §34–36Records, Wu 2 §3 · 5

Sun Quan talked with Lu Su and was greatly pleased. When the guests had withdrawn and Lu Su too had taken his leave, Sun Quan called him back alone, and with their couches drawn together they sat facing each other drinking, and he asked him privately: the Han house was tottering and in peril, and he, having inherited the work of his father and elder brother, wished to achieve deeds like those of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin—how would Lu Su help him? Lu Su answered that Emperor Gao had failed in his wish to honor and serve Emperor Yi because Xiang Yu did him harm, and that since today's Cao Cao was like Xiang Yu of old, there was no way to become a Duke Huan or a Duke Wen. Records, Wu 9 §37–38

Lu Su went on to say that the Han house could not be revived and Cao Cao could not be removed quickly, so Sun Quan could only hold firm in Jiangdong like one leg of a tripod and watch for an opening in the realm. Taking advantage of the many troubles in the north, he should destroy Huang Zu, go on to campaign against Liu Biao and take everything to the farthest reach of the Yangtze, and then proclaim himself emperor and aim at the whole realm—this was the achievement of Emperor Gao. Sun Quan answered, "I exert all my strength now only in the hope of supporting the Han; those words are beyond me." Records, Wu 9 §38–39

Zhang Zhao, faulting Lu Su for lacking humility, often disparaged him, saying he was young, rough and careless, and not yet fit for use. Sun Quan paid no heed and valued Lu Su all the more, bestowing on Lu Su's mother clothes, curtains and various household goods, so that her wealth matched what it had been before. Records, Wu 9 §39

In the spring of the 13th year of Jian'an (208) Sun Quan again attacked Huang Zu and massacred his city, and Huang Zu, who fled, was beheaded by the pursuing horseman Feng Ze. When Liu Biao died, Lu Su, saying that holding the land of Jing and Chu would be the foundation of an emperor, asked to go under the pretext of offering condolences and persuade Liu Bei to join in attacking Cao Cao. On the day Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor and ascended the altar, he looked round at the high ministers and said, "Lu Zijing once spoke of this long ago; he can be called clear-sighted about the course of events," and later he recalled to Lu Xun that when Zhou Yu had Lu Su brought to him and they feasted and talked, they at once came to the grand strategy of an imperial enterprise, and that this was the first great delight. Records, Wu 2 §11Records, Wu 9 §40–41 · 53 · 90