Du Yu 杜預

In Chapter 120 of the Romance, in the 11th month of the 4th year of Xianning (278), Yang Hu, now critically ill, recommends Du Yu, General of the Right, to Sima Yan, who has come to visit him, saying that Du Yu is fit to carry on his purpose and must be used if Wu is to be attacked. Following Yang Hu's advice, the ruler of Jin makes Du Yu Grand General Who Guards the South in charge of the affairs of Jing Province. The Romance says that Du Yu was seasoned and experienced in affairs and never tired of learning, and that he loved Zuo Qiuming's Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals above all, keeping it beside him whether sitting or lying down and having someone carry the Zuo Commentary in front of his horse whenever he went in or out, so that people of the time called him 'the Zuo Commentary addict'. At Xiangyang Du Yu cares for the people, trains his troops and prepares to attack Wu. Romance, Ch. 120 §22 · 24 · 28

When Wang Jun petitions for an attack on Wu but the ruler of Jin, following Wang Hun's advice, halts the troops, Du Yu submits a memorial. He argues that it was because Yang Hu had not consulted widely with the court officials that there had been so many differing views, and that the advantages of this undertaking are eight or nine in ten, while the harm would go no further than a lack of success. If they stop now, he says, Sun Hao will take fright, move his capital to Wuchang and repair the cities south of the Yangtze, so that even next year's plans will come to nothing. When Zhang Hua too pushes aside the go board and backs him, the ruler of Jin makes Du Yu Grand Commander and sends him to advance on Jiangling with 100,000 troops, and has Sima Zhou, Wang Hun, Wang Rong and Hu Fen each lead 50,000 troops, all following Du Yu's command. Romance, Ch. 120 §29–33

Having advanced on Jiangling, Du Yu gives his subordinate general Zhou Zhi eight hundred boatmen to cross the river secretly in small boats and make a surprise attack on Lexiang, and has many banners set up in the hills and woods, with cannon fired and drums beaten by day and fires lit everywhere by night. At the first clash with Sun Xin, who arrives first, Du Yu at once falls back, then, when the Wu troops land and pursue him, he falls on them with troops from all sides and routs them. Sun Xin, fleeing close to the city, is cut down by Zhou Zhi, who has slipped in among his men, and when a great banner reading 'Jin's Grand General Who Guards the South, Du Yu' flutters above Mount Ba, Lu Jing tries to escape ashore but is cut down by the Jin general Zhang Shang. Romance, Ch. 120 §38–40

Wu Yan, seeing all the armies defeated, abandons the city and flees, but is captured by troops lying in ambush and brought before Du Yu, who, saying 'There is no use in keeping him alive,' has him beheaded and thus gains Jiangling. When the local officials from the region of the Yuan and Xiang rivers as far as the commanderies of Guang Province come bringing their seals and ribbons to surrender, Du Yu sends men bearing tallies to pacify the people and does not take so much as a hair from them. Wuchang too surrenders. Romance, Ch. 120 §41–42

When Hu Fen proposes waiting for next spring because the spring waters are rising, Du Yu replies that long ago Yue Yi annexed the powerful state of Qi in a single battle west of the Ji, and that now the army's momentum is like that of splitting bamboo: once a few joints have been split, the rest will part of their own accord as they meet the blade. He then sends out dispatches to have the generals attack Jianye together. When Jia Chong proposes recalling the army and Zhang Hua opposes him, Du Yu's memorial arrives saying that they must advance quickly, and the ruler of Jin orders the advance. After Sun Hao has surrendered to Wang Jun, Du Yu too arrives, feasts all three armies lavishly and opens the granaries to relieve the people of Wu. Romance, Ch. 120 §42–43 · 49–50 · 55 · 57