Zhu Huan 朱桓

Zhu Huan, courtesy name Xiumu, was a native of Wu County in Wu Commandery. When Sun Quan became a general, Zhu Huan served in his headquarters and was then appointed Chief of Yuyao. On his arrival an epidemic was raging and grain was so scarce that prices soared; Zhu Huan assigned good officials to separate districts, personally saw to medicine and kept meals and gruel coming one after another, so that the gentry and common people were moved and held him in high regard. Records, Wu 11 §47

He was transferred to Colonel Who Sweeps Away Bandits and given 2,000 soldiers, and when he was charged with gathering the scattered people of the two commanderies of Wu and Kuaiji into units, he obtained more than 10,000 men within a year. Later, when mountain bandits rose like swarming bees in Danyang and Poyang, capturing walled towns and killing or plundering the senior officials, Zhu Huan led the various commanders on a circuit of suppression and pacified every place he went. He was gradually promoted to Lieutenant General (pi jiangjun) and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xincheng Village, and later replaced Zhou Tai as Area Commander of Ruxu. Records, Wu 11 §47–48

In the 1st year of Huangwu (222), the Wei Grand Marshal Cao Ren advanced on Ruxu with several tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry. Cao Ren meant to seize the island in the river by surprise, and first spread a false rumor that he would attack Xianxi to the east. Only after Zhu Huan had divided his troops and sent them to Xianxi did word arrive that Cao Ren had come within 70 li of Ruxu, and before the troops sent to Xianxi could be recalled, Cao Ren was upon them. With only 5,000 men left, the commanders were all afraid. Records, Wu 11 §49

Zhu Huan admonished them that when two armies meet, victory depends on the general, not on the number of soldiers. Now Cao Ren was neither wise nor brave, his soldiers were timid and worn out from marching a thousand li, whereas they themselves held a high city, overlooking the great river to the south with the hills at their backs to the north: this was a position to win a hundred battles out of a hundred. Even if Cao Pi came in person there would be nothing to fear, he said, much less Cao Ren. Records, Wu 11 §49–51

Zhu Huan lowered his banners and silenced his drums, feigning weakness to lure Cao Ren. Cao Ren indeed sent his son Cao Tai to attack the city of Ruxu, and had the general Chang Diao lead Zhuge Qian, Wang Shuang and others in oiled boats in a separate attack on Zhongzhou, where the wives and children of the troops were, while he himself stayed at Tuogao with 10,000 men as rear support. Zhu Huan divided his officers and men to seize the oiled boats and attack Chang Diao and the others, while he himself held off Cao Tai, who burned his camp and withdrew. Chang Diao was beheaded and his head displayed, Wang Shuang was captured alive and sent to Wuchang, and more than a thousand of the enemy were killed or drowned on the battlefield. Records, Wu 11 §51–52

Sun Quan, praising his achievement, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Jiaxing and transferred him to General of Vehement Might with the concurrent post of Chancellor of Pengcheng. The Biography of the Lord of Wu dates this battle to the 3rd month of the 2nd year of Huangwu (223), saying that Cao Tai pressed his attack on Zhu Huan but Zhu Huan's troops held him off, that the general Yan Gui and others were sent to defeat Chang Diao and the others, and that in that month the Wei army withdrew entirely. Records, Wu 11 §52Records, Wu 2 §49

In the 7th year of Huangwu (228), when Zhou Fang, Administrator of Poyang, lured the Wei Grand Marshal Cao Xiu with a deception, Cao Xiu arrived at Wancheng with 100,000 infantry and cavalry. Lu Xun became supreme commander, and Quan Cong and Zhu Huan became Left and Right Commanders, each leading 30,000 men against Cao Xiu. Zhu Huan submitted a plan: Cao Xiu had been appointed only because he was a kinsman and was no wise or brave famous general; if he fought he would be defeated and flee by way of Jiashi and Guache, and if those roads were blocked with 10,000 men, Cao Xiu could be captured, Shouchun taken and Huainan held, after which Xu and Luoyang could be aimed at. Sun Quan first consulted Lu Xun, but Lu Xun thought it unwise, so the plan was not carried out. Records, Wu 11 §53–54

In the 1st year of Huanglong (229) he was appointed General of the Front with the concurrent post of Governor of Qing Province and granted Provisional Credentials. In the 6th year of Jiahe (237), when Lü Xi, Registrar of Lujiang for Wei, asked that a large army be sent to meet him, offering to open the city gates and act as an inside ally, Zhu Huan led troops there together with the General of the Guards Quan Cong, but the plot was discovered and they had to turn back. When they crossed the stream outside the city, Zhu Huan personally covered the rear, and Li Ying, Administrator of Lujiang, who meant to attack when they were halfway across, saw Zhu Huan's tally and canopy at the rear and in the end dared not come out. Records, Wu 11 §55–56

At this time Quan Cong was in command, and Sun Quan had the Lieutenant General (pian jiangjun) Hu Zong convey his edicts and take part in military affairs. When Quan Cong, saying that the army had come out without gain, proposed to divide the commanders for surprise attacks, Zhu Huan, who was proud by nature and ashamed to have his units assigned by others, went to Quan Cong and argued and quarreled with him. When Quan Cong excused himself by saying that the sovereign had made Hu Zong commander and that this was Hu Zong's wish, Zhu Huan grew even angrier and summoned Hu Zong, telling his attendants that when he made his move, they should each withdraw. One man slipped out and sent Hu Zong back, whereupon Zhu Huan cut that man down and also stabbed to death his army assistant, who remonstrated with him. Records, Wu 11 §56–58

Zhu Huan pleaded that he had suffered a fit of madness and went to Jianye for treatment. Sun Quan, valuing his services and abilities, did not hold him guilty; he had his son Zhu Yi take charge of his troops in his place and sent physicians to care for him. When he sent him back to Zhongzhou a few months later, Sun Quan went out in person to see him off, saying that he intended to have him lead 50,000 men and take charge of one front, and trusted that his illness would not recur. Zhu Huan replied that since His Majesty had entrusted him with a heavy duty, his illness would cure itself. Records, Wu 11 §58–59

Zhu Huan hated to fall behind others and was ashamed to be beneath anyone, and whenever he could not direct a battle as he wished, he flew into a rage. Yet he made light of wealth and valued righteousness; he never forgot a person he had met once, even after decades, and knew by sight even the wives and children of his 10,000 troops. He cared for his officers and soldiers and looked after his kin, sharing his salary and property with them. When his illness became critical the whole camp was anxious, and when he died in the 1st year of Chiwu (238) at the age of sixty-two, officers and soldiers, men and women, all wailed aloud. As his household had no wealth left, Sun Quan granted 5,000 hu of salt to help with the funeral, and his son Zhu Yi succeeded him. Records, Wu 11 §60–61

In his assessment, Chen Shou said that Zhu Ran and Zhu Huan were renowned for valor and fortitude, and that despite faults such as Lü Fan's extravagance and Zhu Huan's narrowness, they were able to end their lives well because the times they met with were different. Records, Wu 11 §67