The conquest of Wu by Jin was a military campaign launched by the Jin dynasty against the state of Wu from late 279 to mid 280 at the end of the Three Kingdoms period of China. The campaign,which started in December 279 or January 280,[lower-alpha 1] concluded with complete victory for the Jin dynasty on 1 May 280[lower-alpha 2] when the Wu emperor Sun Hao surrendered. After the campaign,the Jin emperor Sima Yan (Emperor Wu) changed the era name of his reign from "Xianning" to "Taikang",hence the campaign has also been referred to as the Taikang campaign.[lower-alpha 3]
The campaign is significant in pre-1911 Chinese military history as it not only ended the chaos of the Three Kingdoms period and reunified China under the Jin dynasty,but was also the first successful large-scale military operation in Chinese history that involved a massive invasion force crossing the Yangtze. Among other aspects,its multi-directional approach,invasions by both land and water,and the sending of a naval fleet downstream along the Yangtze,have had strong influences on subsequent battles in Chinese military history.
Background
The Three Kingdoms
Map of China divided between the Jin dynasty (blue) and Eastern Wu (red) in the year 266.
Following the end of the Eastern Han dynasty in 220,[6] three contending states emerged in China and fought for control over the territories of the former Han Empire. Among the three,Wei was the most powerful one in terms of military prowess,economic resources,manpower and geographical size. The other two,Shu and Wu,reestablished their alliance against Wei in 223.[7]
Rise of the Jin dynasty
From as early as 262,the Wei regent Sima Zhao had already started planning for the conquests of Wei's two rival states. He decided to attack Shu first because an invasion of Wu required costly and labour-intensive preparations such as constructing naval vessels and opening up waterways for the vessels. He also pointed out that if Wei managed to conquer Shu,they could make use of Shu's geographical advantage by sending a naval fleet downstream from Shu to attack Wu.[8] In the winter of 262,as the Wei government mobilised troops from the various provinces for the Shu invasion,they also put Tang Zi in charge of overseeing the construction of warships in preparation for a future invasion of Wu.[9]
In early 266,about two years after the surrender and end of Shu,Sima Zhao's son and successor Sima Yan usurped the throne from the last Wei emperor Cao Huan and established the Jin dynasty to replace Wei.[10] During this time,Sima Yan heeded his advisers' suggestions to win over the Shu people's hearts by showing benevolence and generosity,as well as to induce Wu subjects to defect to Jin by tempting them with rewards and incentives. Among other things,he made the former Shu emperor Liu Shan a duke,and awarded peerages,titles and appointments to numerous former Shu subjects and their descendants,including Luo Xian,Chen Shou,Zhuge Jing,LüYa,Fei Gong and Chen Yu.[11][12][10]
On 29 April 269,Sima Yan ordered Yang Hu to station at Xiangyang and supervise military affairs in the Jin-controlled territories in Jing Province.[10]
Decline of Wu
In 264,following the Wu emperor Sun Xiu's death,his nephew Sun Hao came to the throne.[13] In the same year,the Wei regent Sima Zhao sent two former Wu officers Xu Shao (徐紹) and Sun Yu (孫彧),who defected to Wei during the Shouchun rebellion,to deliver a letter to Sun Hao.[14] In the letter,Sima Zhao pointed out that Wu stood no chance against a Wei invasion and told Sun Hao that he would be treated generously if he surrendered.[15]
Around April 265,Sun Hao sent Ji Zhi (紀陟) and Hong Qiu (弘璆) as his emissaries to meet Sima Zhao,and express his desire for Wei and Wu to coexist peacefully.[16] Ji Zhi and Hong Qiu accomplished their diplomatic mission well and even impressed Sima Zhao with their replies to questions from various Wei officials.[17]
Sima Zhao died in September 265. In February 266,after Sima Zhao's eldest son Sima Yan usurped the Wei throne and established the Jin dynasty,[10] Sun Hao sent Zhang Yan (張儼) and Ding Zhong (丁忠) as his representatives to attend a memorial service for Sima Zhao.[18] After Ding Zhong returned,he advised Sun Hao to launch an attack on the Jin-controlled Yiyang Commandery (弋陽郡;around present-day Xinyang,Henan) because it was poorly guarded. When Sun Hao consulted his subjects,Lu Kai and Liu Zuan opposed and supported launching the attack respectively. Sun Hao secretly desired to heed Ding Zhong's suggestion but ultimately dropped the idea after considering the recent fall of Wu's ally state Shu.[19]
In comparison with Wei and the subsequent Jin dynasty,Wu experienced greater problems of its own:the succession from the third Wu emperor,Sun Xiu,was marred with bloodshed and internal conflict. Sun Xiu's successor,Sun Hao,was a tyrant who made little effort to prepare for the imminent invasion by the Jin dynasty. Sun Hao's rule was more harsh as compared to the later part of the reign of Sun Quan,Wu's founding emperor. This caused a continuous wave of peasant uprisings and military mutinies,which mainly took place in present-day Zhejiang and Guangdong. Not only did Sun Hao refuse to accept advice to strengthen Wu's defences and reduce the burden on its people,he also executed around four dozen high-ranking officials who provided good counsel on governance. As a result,the Wu government had already lost the popular support of the people,and many regional commanders stationed at the border defected to the Jin dynasty.
At the same time,Sima Yan sent envoys to Wu to cease hostilities between the two states,in order to buy time for making preparations. The Wu emperor emperor Sun Hao,in turn,viewed such actions as a sign of weakness of the Jin dynasty,and further let down his guard.
Jin preparations
Sima Yan had long harboured the ambition of conquering Wu. On 29 April 269,he designated three locations as bases for staging the invasion,and gave assignments to three generals as follows:
During his tenure in Jing Province,Yang Hu governed the region well and not only gained the locals' trust and respect,but also attracted many defectors from the Wu side. He also reduced the number of troops assigned to patrol and guard the Jin–Wu border,and reassigned them to work in agricultural colonies covering an area of over 800 qing. When he first came to Jing Province,his troops had less than 100 days' worth of food supplies. However,by the end of his third year in Jing Province,his troops had produced and stockpiled sufficient food supplies to last them for about ten years.[21]
Construction of a navy in Yi Province
In 272,Yang Hu pointed out to Sima Yan that their forces could take advantage of their position in Yi Province and send a naval fleet downstream along the Yangtze to attack Wu. He secretly recommended to the emperor to appoint Wang Jun,who previously served as an army adviser under him,to serve as the Inspector of Yi Province (益州刺史) and oversee the construction of a naval fleet. Shortly after he was appointed as the Inspector of Yi Province,Wang Jun was also commissioned as Prancing Dragon General (龍驤將軍) and put in charge of supervising military affairs in Yi and Liang provinces.[22]
Wang Jun reassigned his troops from farming in the agricultural colonies to start building vessels for the upcoming naval invasion of Wu. During this time,Wang Jun's assistant He Pan pointed out that they needed to recruit at least 10,000 labourers from every commandery in Yi Province for the project,which could be completed within a year. He Pan also advised Wang Jun to notify the central government after they had started the project because the central government might reject their idea of recruiting 10,000 labourers from every commandery. Wang Jun heeded He Pan's advice.[23]
To make up for the Jin navy's lack of experience in naval warfare in comparison to the Wu navy,Wang Jun constructed many large vessels equipped with ram bows.[citation needed] The largest of these vessels were 120 bu long and capable of carrying up to 2,000 troops on board. These vessels also had viewing towers and three-storey-tall[citation needed] fortifications made of strong wood. In addition,the vessels had doors on all four sides to allow troops to board and get off easily. Horses could even run freely on board.[24] It took Wang Jun a total of seven years to build the naval fleet and the only thing left to do was to train his troops in naval warfare.[citation needed]
Yang Hu's role
In November or December 276,[25]Yang Hu wrote a memorial to Sima Yan to outline a plan for the conquest of Wu as follows:Jin forces in Yi Province to attack Wu from the west on both land and water;Jin forces in Jing Province to attack Jiangling;Jin forces in Yu Province to attack Xiakou;and Jin forces in Xu,Yang,Qing and Yan provinces to attack Moling. He explained that the idea of invading Wu from multiple directions was to confuse the Wu forces and demoralise the Wu forces by creating the impression of an overwhelming invasion. He further pointed out Wu's only strategic advantage was the Yangtze,which served as a natural barrier. However,once the Jin forces break through the Wu defences along the Yangtze,the Wu forces would retreat to behind their walled cities and fortresses. By then,the Jin forces,which were more adept in land-based warfare,would gain the upper hand over their adversaries. He also noted that Sun Hao was a highly unpopular ruler among his people and that a Jin invasion would provide a long-awaited opportunity for many Wu subjects to defect to the Jin side.[26]
Sima Yan strongly agreed with Yang Hu's views and wanted to implement the plan. When Yang Hu's plan was put up for discussion in the Jin imperial court,many officials,including Jia Chong,Xun Xu and Feng Dan,argued that it was not time to attack Wu yet because they had to deal with the Xianbei rebels in Yong and Liang provinces. Only Du Yu and Zhang Hua supported Yang Hu's proposal.[27]
In July or August 278,due to poor health,Yang Hu left his post at Xiangyang and moved to Luoyang to recuperate. When Sima Yan sent Zhang Hua to visit him,Yang Hu told Zhang Hua that they should seize the opportunity to conquer Wu while Sun Hao was still in power since Sun Hao's tyranny had already caused him to lose popular support from the Wu people. He also recommended Du Yu to replace him as the general overseeing military affairs in Jing Province.[28] He died on 27 December 278.[25]
Other preparations
In October 276,the preparation was roughly completed and Yang Hu suggested to Sima Yan to launch the attack. Yang Hu's suggestion was initially accepted but then delayed due to Jia Chong's objection,because northwestern China was still in the midst of a tribal rebellion. In July 277,additional assignments were given in order to prepare for the campaign against Eastern Wu:
Hu Fen (胡奮) was put in charge of military affairs along the northern shore of the Yangtze River
After Yang Hu's death,Du Yu succeeded him and was appointed Senior General Who Conquers the South (征南大將軍) to take charge of military affairs in Jing Province from November 278.
Wu preparations
In February 270,the Wu general Ding Feng led an attack Jin's southern border at Wokou (渦口;northeast of present-day Huaiyuan County,Anhui) but was driven back by Jin forces under Qian Hong.[10] In May of that year,following Shi Ji's death,the Wu emperor Sun Hao put his general Lu Kang in charge of military affairs in an area covering present-day Yichang and Gong'an in western and southern Hubei.[10]
Before Lu Kang died in 274,he foresaw that Xiling (西陵;around present-day Yichang,Hubei) was a crucial location along Wu's western border so he advised Sun Hao to pay closer attention to the Wu defences in that area. After Lu Kang's death,Sun Hao split Lu Kang's command among his five sons:Lu Yan (陸晏),Lu Jing,Lu Xuan (陸玄),Lu Ji and Lu Yun (陸雲).[25]
In the meantime,the wood shavings and other waste products from Wang Jun's naval construction project in Yi Province floated downstream along the river and entered Wu territory. The Wu officer Wu Yan,who was stationed at Jianping Commandery (建平郡;around present-day Zigui County,Hubei),picked up the wood shavings and realised that the Jin dynasty was building a naval fleet to attack Wu. He then sent the wood shavings to Sun Hao as evidence of an impending Jin invasion,and advised the emperor to send more troops to guard Jianping. When Sun Hao ignored him,Wu Yan ordered his troops to use heavy iron chains to set up a blockade along the river and prevent enemy vessels from passing through.[29][10]
Previous battles between Jin and Wu
In 272,a battle broke out between Wu and Jin at in Xiling (西陵;around present-day Yichang,Hubei). After the Wu general Bu Chan started a rebellion against Wu,the Jin dynasty sent reinforcements to Xiling to support him. The Wu general Lu Kang led his troops to defeat the Jin reinforcements and recapture Xiling.[10][lower-alpha 4]
Overview of battles between Jin and Wu during Sun Hao's reign
The administrators of the Wu-controlled commanderies south of the Yuan and Xiang rivers, extending into Jiao and Guang provinces, voluntarily surrender to the Jin dynasty.
Jin forces led by Zhou Jun, Xue Sheng, Jiang Ban and Zhang Qiao defeat Wu forces in battle at Yanghe. Zhang Ti, Shen Ying and Sun Zhen are killed in battle.
Wang Jun leads his forces from Wuchang to attack Jianye. Sun Hao orders Zhang Xiang to lead a 10,000-strong naval force to resist Wang Jun. Zhang Xiang surrenders to Wang Jun.
Sun Hao heeds Xue Ying and Hu Chong's advice to surrender to Jin. He sends emissaries to separately meet Wang Hun, Wang Jun and Sima Zhou and convey his desire to surrender.
Wang Jun leads 80,000 troops and hundreds of vessels to Shitou to receive Sun Hao's surrender.
Sometime between 21 December 279 and 18 January 280,[lower-alpha 1] Jin deployed a total of over 200,000 troops from its regular 500,000-strong armed forces[citation needed] for the invasion of Wu. By that time, the Jin navy was also at least on par with the Wu navy in terms of strength.[citation needed] However, the Jin invasion forces did not enjoy numerical superiority because it faced the entire Wu armed forces consisting of about 230,000 troops and over 5,000 vessels.[citation needed] Nevertheless, the Jin invaders had a much higher morale compared to the Wu defenders. Moreover, the Wu forces were scattered along the Jin–Wu border over a distance of several thousand li, thus making it easier for the Jin forces to concentrate their attacks on isolated pockets of Wu resistance. Based on this principle, Jin launched the invasion of Wu along the Yangtze in five routes to support the naval fleet setting out from Yi Province and advancing downstream towards Wu's eastern border.[citation needed] The Jin invasion forces came from six directions as follows:
Sima Zhou to lead an army from Xiapi (下邳; around present-day Pizhou, Jiangsu) to attack Tuzhong (塗中; around present-day Chuzhou, Anhui);
Wang Hun to lead an army from Shouchun (壽春; present-day Shou County, Anhui) to attack Jiangxi (江西; a region north of the Yangtze covering parts of present-day Jiangsu and Anhui);[lower-alpha 5]
To better coordinate the six groups' movements, the Jin emperor Sima Yan ordered Wang Jun and his naval fleet to take orders from Du Yu after capturing Jianping Commandery (建平郡; around present-day Zigui County, Hubei), and take orders from Wang Hun after reaching Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu).[31]
Sima Yan granted Jia Chong acting imperial authority and ordered him to serve as Grand Chief Controller (大都督) to oversee the campaign and coordinate the movements of the six groups from Xiangyang. He also appointed Yang Ji as Jia Chong's deputy. When Jia Chong initially gave the excuse that he was already old and expressed reluctance in taking up this responsibility, Sima Yan told him that he would personally direct the campaign if Jia Chong refused to do so. Jia Chong then relented and accepted his appointment.[32] Sima Yan also appointed Zhang Hua as Secretary of Fiscal Revenue (度支尚書) to oversee supplies and logistics for the campaign.[33]
Wu strategy
Since the Wu emperor Sun Hao did not believe that the Jin dynasty was capable of taking Wu and the overconfidence in the Yangtze River as the natural defensive barrier, barely anything was done to prepare for the incoming campaign. However, Wu did reinforce its defences by deploying iron awls linked together by iron chains in the Three Gorges to prevent ships from passing, but Sun Hao and his followers were so overconfident about this additional measure that not a single soldier was deployed to guard the region.
Wang Jun and Tang Bin's route
Between 19 January and 17 March 280, Wang Jun set out from Chengdu, the capital of Yi Province, and rendezvoused with his deputy Tang Bin at Badong Commandery (巴東郡; present-day Chongqing). From there, they led the Jin naval fleet, comprising 50,000 or 70,000 troops, as it sailed downstream along the Yangtze to attack Wu's eastern border.[lower-alpha 6] At Jianping Commandery (建平郡; around present-day Zigui County, Hubei), they encountered strong resistance led by the Wu officer Wu Yan and failed to capture Jianping,[36] so they took a detour and advanced further east towards Danyang (丹楊; east of present-day Zigui County, Hubei). On 18 March 280, they conquered Danyang and captured its defending officer, Sheng Ji (盛紀).[37]
Destruction of the blockade at Xiling Gorge
After conquering Danyang, the Jin naval fleet continued its journey downstream and arrived at Xiling Gorge, where they encountered the blockade set up earlier by Wu Yan. Wu Yan had ordered his troops to connect an array of iron awls, each measuring more than one zhang, with heavy iron chains and put them into the water to block enemy vessels from passing through.[38] However, the Jin naval fleet knew about the blockade through intelligence gathered earlier by Yang Hu from captured Wu spies, so they were prepared to deal with the situation.[39]
Wang Jun ordered his men to build a dozen large rafts, each over 100 bu wide, and place straw dummies on them. He also ordered large torches, each measuring over ten zhang in length and over ten wei in circumference, to be placed in front of every raft and drenched in oil. He then deployed the rafts ahead of his fleet towards the blockade. When the rafts became stuck in the blockade, Wang Jun ordered his men to set the rafts on fire. After burning for several hours, the iron awls and chains melted and cleared the way for the Jin naval fleet to pass through.[40]
Fall of Xiling, Jingmen and Yidao
On 20 March 280, Wang Jun and his forces conquered Xiling (西陵; around present-day Yichang, Hubei) and killed the Wu officers Liu Xian (留憲), Cheng Ju (成據) and Yu Zhong.[41] Two days later, they seized control of Jingmen and Yidao (夷道; present-day Yidu, Hubei) and killed the Wu officer Lu Yan.[42]
When Wang Jun conquered Xiling, Du Yu wrote to him to give him the green light to advance further east along the Yangtze and conquer Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), the Wu capital. Wang Jun was so pleased after reading Du Yu's letter that he sent it to the Jin emperor Sima Yan.[43]
Du Yu and Hu Fen's routes
Between 18 February and 17 March 280, the Jin army led by Du Yu broke through all the Wu defences along the Jin–Wu border as they advanced towards Jiangling County.[44] Upon reaching their destination, Du Yu ordered his troops to besiege Jiangling County while sending his subordinates Fan Xian (樊顯), Yin Lin (尹林), Deng Gui (鄧圭) and Zhou Qi (周奇) to lead a separate detachment to clear a path along the Yangtze for Wang Jun's naval fleet approaching from the west. They managed to capture all the Wu territories along the way within ten days.[45]
Fall of Lexiang
Du Yu also sent Zhou Zhi (周旨), Wu Chao (伍巢) and Guan Ding (管定) to lead 800 soldiers to cross the Yangtze at night and prepare for an attack on Lexiang (樂鄉; east of present-day Songzi, Hubei). When they reached Mount Ba (巴山; southwest of present-day Songzi, Hubei), they started many fires and planted many flags around the area to mislead the Wu defenders into thinking that the Jin army was larger than it actually was. At the same time, they raided key locations around Lexiang to confuse and strike fear in the enemy. Sun Xin, the Wu officer guarding Lexiang, felt so shocked and terrified that he wrote to Wu Yan (伍延), the Wu officer defending Jiangling County, as follows: "The armies coming from the north must have flown across the river."[46]
Zhou Zhi, Wu Chao and Guan Ding led their 800 men to lay in ambush outside Lexiang. In the meantime, as Wang Jun's naval fleet was approaching Lexiang from the west along the Yangtze, Sun Xin sent troops out of Lexiang to drive back the enemy but they failed. When Sun Xin's defeated troops returned to Lexiang, the three Jin officers and their 800 men used the opportunity to infiltrate the city without being detected. They swiftly seized control of Lexiang, captured Sun Xin in his own camp, and sent him as a captive to Du Yu.[47]
On 25 March 280, the Jin forces occupied Lexiang and killed the Wu naval officer Lu Jing. Shi Hong (施洪), a Wu general, surrendered to them.[48]
Fall of Jiangling and Jiang'an
When Du Yu ordered his troops to increase the intensity of their attacks on Jiangling County, Wu Yan pretended to surrender to Du Yu while instructing his men to stand on guard at the top of the city walls. On 3 April 280, Du Yu managed to break through Wu Yan's defences and conquer Jiangling County. Wu Yan was killed in battle.[49]
Around the same time, the Jin army led by Hu Fen also conquered Jiang'an (江安; present-day Gong'an County, Hubei).[50]
Redeployment of Jin forces on 4 April 280
On 4 April 280, Sima Yan issued an imperial edict to promote Wang Jun to the position of General Who Pacifies the East (平東將軍), grant him acting imperial authority, and put him in charge of overseeing military affairs in Yi Province.[51] He also issued another imperial edict to redeploy the six groups as follows:
Wang Jun and Tang Bin to advance further east along the river and conquer Baqiu (巴丘; present-day Yueyang, Hunan). They would then assist Hu Fen and Wang Rong in their respective missions, and advance downstream along the river towards the Wu capital, Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu).
Hu Fen to attack Xiakou with support from Wang Jun and Tang Bin. After conquering Xiakou, Hu Fen would transfer 7,000 troops from his command to Wang Jun.
Wang Rong to attack Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei) with support from Wang Jun and Tang Bin. After conquering Wuchang, Wang Rong would transfer 6,000 troops from his command to Tang Bin.
Du Yu to seize control of three commanderies in southern Jing Province: Lingling (零陵; around present-day Yongzhou, Hunan), Guiyang (桂陽; present-day Chenzhou, Hunan), and Hengyang (衡陽; west of present-day Xiangtan, Hunan). Once southern Jing Province had been pacified, Du Yu would transfer 10,000 troops and 7,000 troops from his command to Wang Jun and Tang Bin respectively.
Jia Chong, the overall commander of the campaign, received orders to move to Xiang County (項縣; present-day Shenqiu County, Henan) to coordinate the movements of the six groups.[52]
Surrenders of Jiao and Guang provinces
After the fall of Jiangling County, the administrators of the Wu-controlled commanderies located south of the Yuan and Xiang rivers, extending into Jiao and Guang provinces, voluntarily surrendered to the Jin forces led by Du Yu. After receiving the administrators' official seals, Du Yu used the acting imperial authority granted to him by the Jin government to accept the administrators' surrenders and pacify them. At the point in time, Du Yu's army had killed or captured 14 enemy area commanders and army supervisors, and more than 120 enemy officers and commandery administrators. Du Yu also appointed officials to govern the newly conquered Wu territories in Nan Commandery (南郡; around present-day Jiangling County, Hubei) and restored peace and stability in Jing Province. Many Wu citizens defected to the Jin dynasty on their own accord.[53]
Hu Fen and Wang Rong's routes
From the redeployment on 4 April until 16 April 280, the Jin naval fleet led by Wang Jun and Tang Bin carried out their mission by assisting Hu Fen and Wang Rong's armies in attacking and capturing Xiakou and Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei) respectively.[54]
At Wuchang, Wang Rong ordered his subordinates Luo Shang and Liu Qiao to lead his army's vanguard force to attack the city. The Wu officers Yang Yong (楊雍) and Sun Shu (孫述), along with Jiangxia Commandery's administrator Liu Lang (劉朗), led their followers to surrender to Wang Rong.[55]
After conquering Wuchang, Wang Rong and his army advanced further south and reached the northern banks of the Yangtze. During this time, a Wu officer Meng Tai (孟泰) managed to persuade the Wu defenders at Qichun County and Zhu County (邾縣; present-day Huanggang, Hubei) to surrender to Wang Rong; the two counties thus came under Jin control.[56]
Wang Hun's route
On 13 March 280, the Jin army led by Wang Hun advanced towards Hengjiang (橫江; an area located southeast of present-day He County, Anhui on the northern bank of the Yangtze facing the Caishiji Scenic Resort on the southern bank) and broke through the Wu defences. Wang Hun also sent his subordinates Chen Shen (陳慎) and Zhang Qiao (張喬) to lead a detachment of troops to attack Xunyang (尋陽; southwest of present-day Huangmei County, Hubei) and Laixiang (瀨鄉; east of present-day Luyi County, Henan). They succeeded in their missions, defeated Wu forces under Kong Zhong (孔忠), and captured Zhou Xing (周興) and four other Wu officers in battle.[57][58]
Wang Hun and his army advanced further, defeated Wu forces led by Li Chun (李純) and Yu Gong (俞恭), and captured or killed many Wu soldiers. Two Wu generals, Chen Dai (陳代) and Zhu Ming (朱明), became so fearful that they voluntarily surrendered to Wang Hun.[59]
Battle of Ban Bridge
Between 17 and 30 April 280, the Wu emperor Sun Hao ordered his chancellorZhang Ti and the generals Shen Ying (沈瑩), Zhuge Jing and Sun Zhen to lead an army of 30,000 from Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) and cross the Yangtze to attack the Jin invaders.[60] When they reached Niuzhu (牛渚; in present-day Ma'anshan, Anhui), Shen Ying predicted that the Jin naval fleet would eventually break through the Wu defences in Jing Province, so he advised Zhang Ti to adopt a defensive stance by holding their positions at the lower reaches of the Yangtze and prepare to make a final stand when the Jin naval fleet showed up.[61] Zhang Ti, however, argued that the Wu army's morale would collapse if the Jin naval fleet managed to make its way to Moling, so they should strike back at the Jin invaders. From his point of view, if the Wu army succeeded in driving back the Jin invaders or at least preventing them from advancing further, they could then join forces with the remaining Wu forces in Jing Province and strengthen their defences.[62]
In mid-April 280, Zhang Ti led the Wu forces to attack the Jin officer Zhang Qiao (張喬), who had 7,000 troops with him, near Yanghe Bridge (楊荷橋; southeast of present-day He County, Anhui). After Zhang Qiao surrendered,[63] Zhuge Jing urged Zhang Ti to execute all the captives because he believed that they were pretending to surrender. He also warned Zhang Ti that the surrendered Jin soldiers could potentially pose a threat to them later. Zhang Ti refused to heed Zhuge Jing's suggestion as he thought that it was unwise to execute enemy soldiers who surrendered.[64]
When Wang Hun learnt of the Wu attack at Yanghe Bridge, he ordered his subordinates Zhang Han (張翰), Sun Chou (孫疇) and Zhou Jun[65] to lead troops to resist the Wu army.[66] At Ban Bridge (版橋; north of present-day Hanshan County, Anhui), both sides got into their battle formations and prepared to fight. During the battle, Shen Ying led 5,000 members of the Wu army's elite "Danyang Corps" (丹陽兵) and charged into the Jin formation several times but the Jin forces managed to hold their ground. The rest of the Wu army felt demoralised upon seeing the failure of the "Danyang Corps" to break the Jin formation so they became chaotic and disorganised when their commanders called for a retreat. Two Jin officers, Xue Sheng (薛勝) and Jiang Ban (蔣班), seized the opportunity to lead their units to launch a fierce counterattack on the enemy. The Wu army fell apart as the soldiers scattered and fled in different directions while their commanders failed to stop them from deserting. At the same time, the Jin officer Zhang Qiao and his men, who had surrendered to the Wu army earlier, capitalised on the momentum to turn against their captors and attack them from the rear. The Wu generals Sun Zhen and Shen Ying, along with 7,000 to 8,000 Wu soldiers, perished in the battle.[67][68][69]
The Wu general Zhuge Jing, who managed to flee the battlefield with 500 to 600 men, encountered Zhang Ti along the way and asked him to join them in retreating back to Moling. When Zhang Ti declined, Zhuge Jing held him and told him there was no need to seek death. However, Zhang Ti firmly refused to flee to because he wanted to fulfil his allegiance to Wu. Zhuge Jing had no choice but to tearfully let him go. After Zhuge Jing retreated further by about 100 bu (paces), the pursuing Jin soldiers caught up with Zhang Ti and killed him.[70]
Shortly after the Battle of Ban Bridge, the Wu minister He Zhi (also Sun Hao's maternal uncle) and general Sun Yan (孫晏) surrendered to the Jin army under Wang Hun.[71]
Wang Hun's refusal to attack Moling
After the Jin victory at Ban Bridge, Zhou Jun's subordinate He Yun advised him to lead their troops across the Yangtze and besiege the Wu capital Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) so as to pressure the Wu emperor Sun Hao into voluntarily surrendering.[72] Zhou Jun agreed with He Yun and wanted to propose this idea to his superior, Wang Hun. However, He Yun predicted that Wang Hun would not agree because he was not authorised by the Jin emperor Sima Yan to attack Moling.[73] He Yun was proven right later; Wang Hun stubbornly refused to launch an attack on Moling even after Zhou Jun and He Yun urged him to.[74]
Sima Zhou's route
Sima Zhou led his army towards Tuzhong (塗中; around present-day Chuzhou, Anhui), where he ordered his deputy Liu Hong (劉弘) to lead the troops to the northern bank of the Yangtze facing the Wu capital Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) on the opposite side. Later, after the Jin victory at the Battle of Ban Bridge, Sima Zhou ordered his chief clerk Wang Heng (王恆) to lead the troops across the Yangtze to attack the Wu positions along the river. In the ensuing battle, they captured Cai Ji (蔡機), the Wu officer supervising the defences along the river. Between 50,000 and 60,000 Wu soldiers either lost their lives in the battle or surrendered to the Jin forces. The Wu general Zhuge Jing, who fled after the Battle of Ban Bridge, brought along his colleague Sun Yi (孫奕) to surrender to Sima Zhou.[75]
Wu's last-ditch efforts
Between 17 and 30 April 280, after assisting Hu Fen and Wang Rong's army groups in conquering Xiakou and Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei), the Jin naval fleet led by Wang Jun and Tang Bin continued its journey downstream along the Yangtze towards the Wu capital, Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). Since the fleet set out from Chengdu in early 280, they had been successful in conquering all the Wu territories along the way without suffering much losses as the Wu defences in Jing Province fell easily.[76] By the time the fleet was heading towards Moling, its strength had increased from its initial 50,000 or 70,000 to about 80,000 or 100,000[lower-alpha 6] after receiving 30,000 more troops from three other Jin army groups: 7,000 from Hu Fen's army group, 6,000 from Wang Rong's army group, and 17,000 from Du Yu's army group.[52]
When the Jin naval fleet reached Sanshan (三山; southwest of present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), the Wu emperor Sun Hao ordered his general Zhang Xiang (張象) to lead 10,000 troops to resist the enemy. Zhang Xiang, knowing that he stood no chance against the enemy, surrendered to Wang Jun without putting up a fight.[77]
Around the time, the Wu officer Tao Jun, who had just returned to Moling from Wuchang, went to meet Sun Hao. When the Wu emperor enquired the status of the Wu navy, Tao Jun said: "The enemy vessels constructed in Shu are all so small. If we have 20,000 troops and our larger vessels, it will be enough to defeat them." Sun Hao then hastily assembled another naval fleet and put Tao Jun in command. However, most of the Wu soldiers deserted on the night before they were due to set out to attack the Jin fleet.[78]
Sun Hao's surrender
Remains of a stone wall at the Stone City (Shitou) in present-day Nanjing where Sun Hao surrendered to Wang Jun on 1 May 280.
By 30 April 280, Sun Hao had grown fearful when he heard that Wang Jun's naval fleet and Sima Zhou and Wang Hun's army groups were already outside the gates of Moling (秣陵; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). He became more terrified when he learnt that Wang Jun's fleet was so massive that all their flags, banners, weapons and armour could easily cover the river surface. Feeling as though any sort of resistance would be futile, and after all of the options at his disposal had been exhausted, Sun Hao finally heeded the words of his advisors, Xue Ying and Hu Chong, and formally surrendered to the Jin forces. He wrote a surrender document and separately sent copies of it to Wang Jun, Sima Zhou and Wang Hun.[79][80][81] The surrender document read:
"Sun Hao of Wu Commanderykowtows and pleads for his life. In the past, the Han dynasty collapsed and the Nine Provinces became disunited. My predecessors managed to gain control of Jiangnan and its mountains and rivers, and established an independent regime to compete with Wei. The great Jin dynasty rose up and spread its virtuous rule throughout the empire. I am weak, incompetent and cowardly, and I failed to submit to Heaven's will. Today, I have to trouble the six armies to traverse the lands, line the paths, and travel such long distances along the river to reach me. Everyone in my State trembles at their might, and realises that our doom is upon us. I muster my courage to beg the Imperial Court to forgive and accept us. I humbly send my Minister of Ceremonies Zhang Kui and others to present my Imperial Seal and silk ribbon. I entrust my life to you in the hope of being spared. I also sincerely hope that you will trust me and accept my surrender, so that the people will be saved."[82][83]
On the very next day, 1 May 280,[lower-alpha 2] Sun Hao issued his final imperial edict, asking his people not to feel upset about the end of Wu, but to prepare themselves to become subjects of the Jin dynasty.[84] He then stripped off all of the clothing on his upper body and tied himself up (a way of presenting prisoners-of-war to the victors of a battle), brought along a coffin, and travelled to Shitou (in present-day western Nanjing, Jiangsu) to surrender to Wang Jun, formally ending the Eastern Wu kingdom.[85] Wang Jun used the acting imperial authority granted to him by the Jin emperor Sima Yan to accept Sun Hao's surrender, free him from his bonds, and burn the coffin. He then sent Sun Hao as a prisoner-of-war to the Jin capital Luoyang to be presented to Sima Yan.[86]
At the time of Wu's fall, according to the official maps and documents collected by Wang Jun, Wu's territories covered a total of four provinces, 43 commanderies and 313 counties. It had a population of 2.3 million people and 523,000 households, as well as 32,000 officials and 230,000 troops.[4]
Aftermath
The fall of Jianye and Sun Hao's surrender marked the end of both the kingdom of Eastern Wu and the Three Kingdoms period, and after nearly 100 years of power struggles, fighting and unnecessary bloodshed, China was at long last reunified under the Western Jin dynasty. The Jin commanders who participated in the campaign were handsomely rewarded, and ironically, Jia Chong, the overall commander who had opposed the campaign received the largest reward, the tax income of 8,000 households. Wang Hun was furious upon learning the news of Wang Jun taking Jianye, and angrily proclaimed to his subordinates that he had watched Sun Hao for nearly a hundred days, but Wang Jun took the advantage at last. Wang Hun wrote to the imperial court to complain, claiming that Wang Jun disobeyed orders and embezzled the spoils of war. Wang Jun also wrote to the imperial court to defend himself, claiming that what Wang Hun had said was slander. However, Wang Hun was much more powerful and influential in the Jin court, thus had gained an upper hand, with his followers suggesting that Wang Jun be jailed. In the end, Sima Yan put an end to the conflict by rewarding Wang Jun handsomely.
In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the task of building a navy for the Jin dynasty was credited to Zhong Hui before the fall of Shu, when Zhong Hui recommended to Sima Zhao that constructing a large navy to attack Wu was a diversion to trick Shu into letting down its guard, and when it was time to truly attack Wu after the conquest of Shu, the navy would be ready. In reality, however, the idea of constructing a large navy originated from Wang Jun and Sima Yan, and the plan was set into motion only after the fall of Shu.
In the novel, the last event before the campaign ended was described to be Zhang Xiang's surrender when he led a 10,000 strong navy to engage Jin forces. Since the Wu imperial court had not received news of Zhang Xiang's surrender yet, Wang Jun ordered Zhang Xiang to return to the Wu capital Jianye to trick the Wu defenders into opening the city gates. Zhang Xiang followed as instructed and Jin forces swiftly conquered Jianye. The Wu emperor Sun Hao surrendered and that marked the end of Wu. In history, however, before Sun Hao's surrender, there was one last battle at Sanshan (三山), just southeast of Jianye, between Wang Jun's army and a smaller force led by Wu general Tao Jun (陶濬).
Notes
1 2 3 The Zizhi Tongjian recorded that the Jin dynasty launched the invasion of Eastern Wu in the 11th month of the 5th year of the Xianning era of Sima Yan's reign.[1] This month corresponds to 21 December 279 to 18 January 280 in the Gregorian calendar.
1 2 3 The Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Sun Hao surrendered on the renyin day of the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Taikang era of Sima Yan's reign.[2] This date corresponds to 1 May 280 in the Gregorian calendar.
↑ Lu Ji referred to the campaign as the "Taikang campaign" in his essay "Bian Wang Lun" (辯亡論), which discussed the reasons for Wu's fall.[5]
1 2 The Huayang Guo Zhi recorded that Wang Jun set out from Chengdu with a 70,000 strong army in the 12th month of the 5th year of the Xianning era;[34] this month corresponds to 19 January to 17 February 280 in the Gregorian calendar. The Jin Shu recorded that Wang Jun reported that he had 80,000 troops (after the redeployment on 4 April 280), and that he set out from Chengdu in the 1st month of the 1st year of the Taikang era;[35] this month corresponds to 18 February to 17 March 280 in the Gregorian calendar.
↑ Wang Jun was promoted to General Who Pacifies the East (平東將軍) on 4 April 280.[51]
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↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 2: "景元[四年]夏，帝將伐蜀，乃謀眾曰：「自定壽春已來，息役六年，治兵繕甲，以擬二虜。略計取吳，作戰船，通水道，當用千餘萬功，此十萬人百數十日事也。又南土下濕，必生疾疫。今宜先取蜀，三年之後，在巴蜀順流之勢，水陸並進，此滅虞定虢，吞韓並魏之勢也。」"
↑ Chen and Pei 429, 28: "景元三年冬，以會為鎮西將軍、假節都督關中諸軍事。文王勑青、徐、兖、豫、荊、揚諸州，並使作船，又令唐咨作浮海大船，外為將伐吳者。"
↑ Xi Zuochi, Han–Jin Chunqiu: "晉文王與皓書曰：「聖人稱有君臣然後有上下禮義， ...夫料力忖勢，度資量險，遠考古昔廢興之理，近鑒西蜀安危之効，隆德保祚，去危即順，屈己以寧四海者，仁哲之高致也；履危偷安，隕德覆祚，而不稱於後世者，非智者之所居也。今朝廷遣徐紹、孫彧獻書喻懷，若書御於前，必少留意，回慮革筭，結歡弭兵，共為一家，惠矜吳會，施及中土，豈不泰哉！此昭心之大願也，敢不承受。若不獲命，則普天率土，期於大同，雖重干戈，固不獲已也。」" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
↑ Chen and Pei 429, 48: "甘露元年三月，皓遣使隨紹、彧報書曰：「知以高世之才，處宰輔之任，漸導之功，勤亦至矣。孤以不德，階承統緒，思與賢良共濟世道，而以壅隔未有所緣，嘉意允著，深用依依。今遣光祿大夫紀陟、五官中郎將弘璆宣明至懷。」"
↑ Gan Bao, Jin Ji, "陟、璆奉使如魏，入境而問諱，入國而問俗。 ...文王善之，厚為之禮。" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 34: "至是上疏曰：祜上疏請伐吳曰：「先帝順天應時， ...今若引梁益之兵水陸俱下，荊楚之眾進臨江陵，平南、豫州，直指夏口，徐、揚、青、兗並向秣陵，鼓旆以疑之，多方以誤之，以一隅之吳，當天下之眾，勢分形散，所備皆急，巴漢奇兵出其空虛，一處傾壞，則上下震盪。吳緣江為國，無有內外，東西數千里，以籓籬自持，所敵者大，無有寧息。孫皓孫恣情任意，與下多忌，名臣重將不復自信，是以孫秀之徒皆畏逼而至。將疑於朝，士困於野，無有保世之計，一定之心。平常之日，猶懷去就，兵臨之際，必有應者，終不能齊力致死，已可知也。其俗急速，不能持久，弓弩戟盾不如中國，唯有水戰是其所便。一入其境，則長江非復所固，還保城池，則去長入短。而官軍懸進，人有致節之志，吳人戰於其內，有憑城之心。如此，軍不逾時，克可必矣。」"
↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 34: "祜寢疾，求入朝。既至洛陽， ...及侍坐，面陳伐吳之計。帝以其病，不宜常入，遣中書令張華問其籌策。祜曰：「今主上有禪代之美，而功德未著。吳人虐政已甚，可不戰而克。混一六合，以興文教，則主齊堯舜，臣同稷契，為百代之盛軌。如舍之，若孫皓不幸而沒，吳人更立令主，雖百萬之眾，長江未可而越也，將為後患乎！」華深贊成其計。 ...疾漸篤，乃舉杜預自代。"
↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 57: "稍遷建平太守。時王濬將伐吳，造船於蜀，彥覺之，請增兵為備，皓不從，彥乃輒為鐵鎖，橫斷江路。"
1 2 3 Book of Jin 648, vol. 40: "伐吳之役，詔充為使持節、假黃鉞、大都督，總統六師，給羽葆、鼓吹、緹幢、兵萬人、騎二千，置左右長史、司馬、從事中郎，增參軍、騎司馬各十人，帳下司馬二十人，大車、官騎各三十人。充慮大功不捷，表陳「西有昆夷之患，北有幽并之戍，天下勞擾，年穀不登，興軍致討，懼非其時。又臣老邁，非所克堪。」詔曰：「君不行，吾便自出。」充不得已，乃受節鉞，將中軍，為諸軍節度，以冠軍將軍楊濟為副，南屯襄陽。"
1 2 Book of Jin 648, vol. 3: "[太康元年二月]乙亥，以濬爲都督益、梁二州諸軍事，復下詔曰：「濬、彬東下，掃除巴丘，與胡奮、王戎共平夏口、武昌，順流長騖，直造秣陵，與奮、戎審量其宜。杜預當鎮靜零、桂，懷輯衡陽。大兵既過，荊州南境固當傳檄而定，預當分萬人給濬，七千給彬。夏口既平，奮宜以七千人給濬。武昌既了，戎當以六千人增彬。太尉充移屯項，總督諸方。」"
↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 34: "既平上流，於是沅湘以南，至於交廣，吳之州郡皆望風歸命，奉送印綬，預仗節稱詔而綏撫之。凡所斬及生獲吳都督、監軍十四，牙門、郡守百二十餘人。又因兵威，徙將士屯戍之家以實江北，南郡故地各樹之長吏，荊土肅然，吳人赴者如歸矣。"
↑ Xiangyang Ji: "晉來伐吳，皓使悌督沈瑩、諸葛靚，率衆三萬渡江逆之。" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
↑ Xiangyang Ji: "至牛渚，沈瑩曰：「晉治水軍於蜀乆矣，今傾國大舉，萬里齊力，必悉益州之衆浮江而下。我上流諸軍，無有戒備，名將皆死，幼少當任，恐邊江諸城，盡莫能禦也。晉之水軍，必至於此矣！宜畜衆力，待來一戰。若勝之日，江西自清，上方雖壞，可還取之。今渡江逆戰，勝不可保，若或摧喪，則大事去矣。」" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
↑ Xiangyang Ji: "悌曰：「吳之將亡，賢愚所知，非今日也。吾恐蜀兵來至此，衆心必駭懼，不可復整。今宜渡江，可用決戰力爭。若其敗喪，則同死社稷，無所復恨。若其克勝，則北敵奔走，兵勢萬倍，便當乘威南上，逆之中道，不憂不破也。若如子計，恐行散盡，相與坐待敵到，君臣俱降，無復一人死難者，不亦辱乎！」" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
1 2 3 4 5 Gan Bao, Jin Ji: "吳丞相軍師張悌、護軍孫震、丹楊太守沈瑩帥衆三萬濟江，圍成陽都尉張喬於楊荷橋，衆才七千，閉柵自守，舉白接告降。" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
↑ Gan Bao, Jin Ji: "吳副軍師諸葛靚欲屠之，悌曰：「彊敵在前，不宜先事其小；且殺降不祥。」靚曰：「此等以救兵未至而力少，故且僞降以緩我，非來伏也。因其無戰心而盡阬之，可以成三軍之氣。若舍之而前，必爲後患。」悌不從，撫之而進。" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 61: "隨王渾伐吳，攻破江西屯戍，與孫皓中軍大戰，斬偽丞相張悌等首級數千，俘馘萬計，進軍屯於橫江。"
↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 61: "浚固使白之，渾果曰：「受詔但令江北抗衡吳軍，不使輕進。貴州雖武，豈能獨平江東！今者違命，勝不足多；若其不勝，為罪已重。且詔令龍驤受我節度，但當具君舟楫，一時俱濟耳。」惲曰：「龍驤克萬里之寇，以既濟之功來受節度，未之聞也。且握兵之要，可則奪之，所謂受命不受辭也。今渡江必全克獲，將有何慮？若疑於不濟，不可謂智；知而不行，不可謂忠，實鄙州上下所以恨恨也。」渾執不聽。"
1 2 3 4 5 6 Book of Jin 648, vol. 38: "平吳之役，率眾數萬出塗中，孫皓奉箋送璽綬，詣伷請降，詔曰：「琅邪王伷督率所統，連據塗中，使賊不得相救。又使琅邪相劉弘等進軍逼江，賊震懼，遣使奉偽璽綬。又使長史王恆率諸軍渡江，破賊邊守，獲督蔡機，斬道降附五六萬計，諸葛靚、孫奕皆歸命請死，功勳茂著。」"
1 2 Book of Jin 648, vol. 42: "送降文於濬曰：「吳郡孫皓叩頭死罪。昔漢室失禦，九州幅裂，先人因時略有江南，遂阻山河，與魏乖隔。大晉龍興，德覆四海，暗劣偷安，未喻天命。至於今者，猥煩六軍，衡蓋露次，還臨江渚。舉國震惶，假息漏刻，敢緣天朝，含弘光大。謹遣私署太常張夔等奉所佩璽綬，委質請命。」"
↑ Chen and Pei 429, 48: "分遣使奉書於濬、伷、渾曰：「昔漢室失統，九州分裂，先人因時，略有江南，遂分阻山川，與魏乖隔。今大晉龍興，德覆四海。闇劣偷安，未喻天命。至於今者，猥煩六軍，衡蓋路次，遠臨江渚，舉國震惶，假息漏刻。敢緣天朝含弘光大，謹遣私署太常張夔等奉所佩印綬，委質請命，惟垂信納，以濟元元。」"
↑ Yu Pu, Jiangbiao zhuan: "皓又遺羣臣書曰：「孤以不德， ...投筆而已！」" Cited in Chen and Pei 429, 48.
↑ Book of Jin 648, vol. 3: "[太康元年]三月壬寅，王濬以舟師至於建鄴之石頭，孫皓大懼，面縳輿櫬，降于軍門。"
Haywood, John (1998). Historical Atlas of the Classical World 500 BC - AD 600. London: Andromeda Oxford. ISBN0-7607-1973-X.
Killigrew, John H. (2001), "A Case Study of Chinese Civil Warfare: The Cao-Wei Conquest of Shu-Han in AD 263", Civil Wars, 4 (4): 95–114, doi:10.1080/13698240108402489
Luo Guanzhong (2007). Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel: Volume IV. Translated by Roberts, Moss. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press. ISBN978-7-119-00590-4.
Pan Mei (潘眉) (1889). Sanguozhi Kaozheng三國志考證[Research on the Records of the Three Kingdoms]. Vol.4.
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