Sun Jiao 孫皎

Sun Jiao's courtesy name was Shulang. His father Sun Jing was the youngest younger brother of Sun Jian and had five sons: Sun Hao (孫暠), Sun Yu, Sun Jiao, Sun Huan and Sun Qian (孫謙). Sun Jiao was first appointed Commandant Protector of the Army and led more than 2,000 men. At this time Lord Cao repeatedly came out to Ruxu, and each time Sun Jiao hurried to resist him, earning a reputation as an elite force. Records, Wu 6 §2 · 4 · 10

He was transferred to Protector-General and General Who Conquers Caitiffs and replaced Cheng Pu in overseeing Xiakou. When Huang Gai and his elder brother Sun Yu died, he took over their troops as well. He was granted Shaxian, Yundu, Nanxinshi and Jingling as fief towns and appointed his own senior officials. Records, Wu 6 §10

Sun Jiao thought little of wealth, gave generously, was good at making friends and was on very close terms with Zhuge Jin. He entrusted Liu Jing of Lujiang with weighing gains and losses, Li Yun of Jiangxia with general affairs, and Wu Shuo of Guangling and Zhang Liang of Henan with military matters, and treated them with wholehearted intimacy, so that all of them gave their utmost. Records, Wu 6 §10–11

Once, when Sun Jiao sent soldiers out to scout, they captured a beautiful woman of a Wei frontier official and presented her to him. Sun Jiao had her clothes changed, sent her back, and issued an order: 'The ones we are now punishing are the Cao clan; what crime have their people committed? From now on, do not attack the old and the weak.' Because of this, many people between the Yangtze and the Huai came over to him. Records, Wu 6 §11

After Liu Bei took Yi Province and a dispute arose over Jing Province, Lü Meng gained the three commanderies of Changsha, Lingling and Guiyang, then led his army back and, together with Sun Jiao, Pan Zhang and Lu Su's army, resisted Guan Yu at Yiyang. Before they fought, Lord Cao entered Hanzhong and Liu Bei asked for peace; Jing Province was divided and the alliance was renewed. Records, Wu 2 §19–21

Sun Jiao once quarreled angrily with Gan Ning over a trifling matter. When someone remonstrated with Gan Ning, he said that all subjects were alike, that even though the General Who Conquers Caitiffs was a son of the ruling house he could not insult others at will, and that he could not bend to follow common ways. When Sun Quan heard of this he sent Sun Jiao a letter, saying that when they first faced the north Sun Jiao had been young but was now nearly thirty, and that giving him elite troops and a great charge to act as Protector-General over the generals a thousand li away was meant to make him spread awe on the northern frontier, not to let him indulge his private wishes. Records, Wu 6 §12–13

Sun Quan went on to say that Sun Jiao, while drinking with Gan Xingba, had flown into a drunken rage and slighted and insulted him, so that the man asked to be placed under Lü Meng's command, and that although he was rough, he was on the whole a true man. He also admonished him that only by being respectful and acting with simplicity could one govern the people, and only by loving others and being tolerant could one win the multitude; saying that what is valuable is knowing how to correct one's faults, he told him to reproach himself deeply, and had Zhuge Ziyu convey his intent once more. Sun Jiao received the letter, submitted a memorial of apology, and in the end became close friends with Gan Ning. Records, Wu 6 §13–16

Later, when Lü Meng was about to make his surprise attack on Nan Commandery, Sun Quan wanted to make Sun Jiao and Lü Meng Grand Commanders of the Left and Right Divisions. Lü Meng said that if the General Who Conquers Caitiffs was capable, Sun Quan should use him, and if Lü Meng was capable, he should use Lü Meng; formerly, when Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu were commanders of the Left and Right Divisions and attacked Jiangling together, Cheng Pu prided himself on being a veteran general and both of them were commanders, so they never got along and the affairs of the state were nearly ruined. Sun Quan understood, made Lü Meng Grand Commander, and had Sun Jiao follow up behind him. Records, Wu 6 §16–17

Sun Jiao contributed to the capture of Guan Yu and the pacification of Jing Province. He died in the 24th year of Jian'an (219). Recalling his merits, Sun Quan enfeoffed his son Sun Yin as Marquis of Danyang. When Sun Yin died without a son, his younger brother Sun Xi succeeded him, but while commanding troops Sun Xi committed a crime and killed himself, and the fief was abolished. Sun Xi's younger brothers Sun Zi (孫咨), Sun Mi and Sun Yi (孫儀) all became generals and were enfeoffed as marquises; Sun Zi was killed by Teng Yin, and Sun Yi was murdered by Sun Jun. Records, Wu 6 §17

In the assessment of the Biographies of the Ruling House, Chen Shou said that the bond of affection among kin is a constant principle of past and present, and that 'the sons of the clan are its city walls' is what the poet praised. He went on to say that he had recorded the various Suns in detail because they either helped lay the first foundations of the state or guarded the frontiers, proved equal to their duties and did not disgrace their honor. Records, Wu 6 §52