Zhu Huan 朱桓 Xiumu 休穆

Contents

Introduction

Zhu Huan (朱桓), courtesy name Xiumu (休穆), was an Eastern Wu general from Wu County in Wu Commandery. When Sun Quan had just taken Jiangdong and was made General Who Attacks the Caitiffs, Zhu Huan entered his service. He was Magistrate of Yuyao (where in a plague he had officials tend the sick and distribute food), then Chief Commandant Who Pacifies the Caitiffs with two thousand troops; he recruited scattered soldiers in Wu and Kuaiji and within a year had over ten thousand. He led the attack on bandits in Danyang and Poyang and was made Associate General and Marquis of Xincheng. He succeeded Zhou Tai as Commander of Ruxu. In 222/223 Cao Ren feinted toward Xianxi; Zhu Huan sent half his force there, then had to face Cao Ren with only five thousand. He lowered flags and stilled drums to look weak, then repelled Cao Ren’s son Cao Tai, sent Yan Gui and others against Chang Diao (who had attacked the central isle), killed Chang Diao and Zhuge Qian, captured Wang Shuang, and drove Cao Ren back—over a thousand Wei troops were killed or drowned. He was enfeoffed Marquis of Jiaxing and made General Who Rouses Martial Might and Chancellor of Pengcheng. In 228 he was one of three commanders under Lu Xun at Shiting against Cao Xiu; he proposed blocking Jia Shi and Gua Ju to capture Cao Xiu and take Huainan but Lu Xun did not adopt it. In 229 he was made General of the Vanguard, nominal Governor of Qing Province, and given a staff and节. He was “protective of his precedence and ashamed to be under others”; when under another’s command he could grow angry; he was also “light on wealth and valued duty” and had a strong memory—he never forgot a face and knew all his soldiers’ wives and children. In 237 he went with Quan Cong to Lujiang; the operation failed and when Quan Cong wanted to assign troops for raids, Zhu Huan resented being subordinate, killed a subordinate and his adjutant, and feigned madness to go to Jianye for treatment; Sun Quan did not punish him for his past merit. He died in 238, aged sixty-two; his family had no surplus and Sun Quan gave five thousand hu of salt for the funeral. His son Zhu Yi succeeded. Chen Shou wrote that he was “known for courage and fierceness” and “protective of his precedence, ashamed to be under others.”

Biography

Yuyao and pacification of bandits

Zhu Huan was from Wu County (吳縣), Wu Commandery. When Sun Quan had just taken Jiangdong and was appointed General Who Attacks the Caitiffs (討虜將軍), Zhu Huan entered his service and was made Magistrate of Yuyao (餘姚長). When plague struck and grain prices rose, he sent officials to tend the sick and distribute food; the people were grateful. He was then made Chief Commandant Who Pacifies the Caitiffs (蕩寇校尉) and given two thousand troops; he was to recruit scattered soldiers in Wu and Kuaiji and within a year had over ten thousand. Bandits in Danyang and Poyang then rose, attacked cities, and killed officials. Zhu Huan led the generals to suppress them and pacified every stronghold. He was made Associate General (裨將軍) and enfeoffed Marquis of Xincheng (新城亭侯).

Ruxu: defeating Cao Ren with five thousand (222/223)

Zhu Huan later succeeded Zhou Tai as Commander of Ruxu (濡須督). In Huangwu 1 (222), Cao Ren led tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry against Ruxu. He pretended to attack Xianxi (羨溪) in the east; Zhu Huan sent five thousand men to Xianxi. After they had left, he learned that Cao Ren was advancing on Ruxu and was only seventy li away. He sent a messenger to recall the Xianxi force but they had not returned when Cao Ren arrived. Zhu Huan then had only five thousand men. He rallied them: “In battle, victory depends on the commander, not on numbers. How can Cao Ren’s generalship compare with mine? The rule that half can hold off many applies on open ground without walls, where outcome depends on courage and unity. Cao Ren has no skill and no courage, his men are timid, and they have marched far and are tired. We hold high walls, the river to the south and hills to the north—we rest while they labour, we are host and they guest. This is a situation for a hundred victories. Even if Cao Pi came in person I would not worry; what of Cao Ren?” He lowered the flags and stilled the drums so the city looked weak and lured Cao Ren. Cao Ren sent his son Cao Tai to attack Ruxu and sent the general Chang Diao (常雕) with Zhuge Qian (諸葛虔) and Wang Shuang (王雙) on oil-boats to attack the central isle (中洲), where the families of Zhu Huan’s troops were. Cao Ren himself stayed at Tuogao with ten thousand as reserve. Zhu Huan led troops to attack the oil-boats and sent Yan Gui (嚴圭) and others against Chang Diao. He personally resisted Cao Tai, set fire to the enemy camp, and Cao Ren and Cao Tai withdrew. Chang Diao was cut off; Zhu Huan turned and with Yan Gui and Luo Tong (駱統) attacked him, killed Chang Diao and Zhuge Qian, captured Wang Shuang (sent to Wuchang), and killed or drowned over a thousand. Sun Quan enfeoffed Zhu Huan as Marquis of Jiaxing (嘉興侯), made him General Who Rouses Martial Might (奮武將軍), and gave him the nominal post of Chancellor of Pengcheng (彭城相).

Shiting (228) and proposal to block Cao Xiu

In Huangwu 7 (228), the Poyang administrator Zhou Fang feigned surrender to lure Cao Xiu. Cao Xiu led a hundred thousand to Wan. Lu Xun was overall commander; Zhu Huan and Quan Cong each commanded thirty thousand. Zhu Huan proposed: “Cao Xiu was appointed for his kinship, not for wisdom or courage. He will be defeated and will flee; flight will take him through Jia Shi (夾石) and Gua Ju (掛車), both narrow. If we block them with ten thousand men we can wipe out the enemy and capture Cao Xiu. Then we can press on to Shouchan, take Huainan, and look toward Xu and Luo—this is the chance of a thousand years.” Sun Quan asked Lu Xun; Lu Xun thought it not feasible and did not use the plan. The three armies attacked Cao Xiu, killed over ten thousand, and captured wagons and equipment. Cao Xiu retreated.

General of the Vanguard and Lujiang (237)

In Huanglong 1 (229), Zhu Huan was made General of the Vanguard (前將軍), nominal Governor of Qing Province (青州牧), and given a staff and节 (假節). In Jiahe 6 (237), the Wei Lujiang registrar Lü Xi (呂習) asked Wu to send troops and offered to open the gates. Quan Cong led a large force and Zhu Huan went with him. The plot was exposed and they withdrew. They had to cross a stream; the Wei Lujiang administrator Li Ying (李膺) prepared to attack when they were midstream but, seeing Zhu Huan’s standard in the rear, did not dare. Sun Quan had sent Hu Zong (胡綜) to participate in the campaign. Quan Cong wanted to split the army for raids so they could return with some gains. Zhu Huan “was proud and ashamed to be under others”; when he heard Quan Cong’s plan he was angry. Quan Cong said it was Hu Zong’s suggestion. Zhu Huan had Hu Zong summoned; when a subordinate intercepted Hu Zong and Zhu Huan found out, he killed that subordinate and then his adjutant who remonstrated. He then pretended to be mad and went to Jianye for treatment. Sun Quan valued his merit and did not punish him; he had Zhu Huan’s son Zhu Yi (朱異) lead Zhu Huan’s troops and sent doctors to care for Zhu Huan. When Zhu Huan was sent back to the front, Sun Quan saw him off and said he wished to give Zhu Huan fifty thousand to act independently; Zhu Huan replied that with a sage lord and good ministers his illness would heal. He died in Chiwu 1 (238), aged sixty-two. His household had no surplus; Sun Quan gave five thousand hu of salt for the funeral. Zhu Yi succeeded to his rank and troops.

Personality and traits

Zhu Huan was “known for courage and fierceness” (以勇烈聞). He was “protective of his precedence and ashamed to be under others; when he could not act freely under someone else’s command he grew angry. But he was light on wealth and valued duty, and had a strong memory—once he met someone he did not forget for decades.” He knew the names and faces of all his soldiers’ wives and children (over ten thousand). He cared for his officers and shared his salary and property with them; when he was gravely ill the whole camp worried, and when he died men and women wept.

Political achievements

Under Sun Quan: Magistrate of Yuyao (plague relief); Chief Commandant Who Pacifies the Caitiffs (recruited 10,000+ in Wu and Kuaiji); pacification of Danyang and Poyang bandits; Associate General, Marquis of Xincheng; Commander of Ruxu; 222/223 defeated Cao Ren with 5,000 (killed Chang Diao, Zhuge Qian, captured Wang Shuang); Marquis of Jiaxing, General Who Rouses Martial Might, Chancellor of Pengcheng; 228 Shiting (with Lu Xun and Quan Cong, proposal to block Jia Shi and Gua Ju not adopted); 229 General of the Vanguard, Governor of Qing Province, staff and节; 237 Lujiang with Quan Cong (plot exposed, withdrew; killed subordinate and adjutant, feigned madness); died 238.

Relationships

Lu Xun

At Shiting (228), Zhu Huan served under Lu Xun. He proposed blocking Jia Shi and Gua Ju to capture Cao Xiu; Lu Xun did not adopt the plan.

Quan Cong

In 237 Zhu Huan and Quan Cong went to Lujiang. When Quan Cong wanted to assign troops for raids, Zhu Huan resented being under him; Quan Cong blamed Hu Zong. Zhu Huan’s rage led to the killing of his subordinate and adjutant.

Sun Quan

Sun Quan employed Zhu Huan from early on, made him Ruxu commander, rewarded him after the Cao Ren battle, and after the 237 incident did not punish him for his merit. He gave salt for Zhu Huan’s funeral.

Anecdotes and allusions

“Even Cao Pi in person would not worry me”

At Ruxu with only five thousand against Cao Ren, Zhu Huan told his men that with strong walls, the river, and the hills, “even if Cao Pi came in person I would not worry—what of Cao Ren?”

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical

Stroking the tiger’s whiskers

When Sun Quan saw Zhu Huan off from Jianye, Zhu Huan raised his cup and said: “I am about to leave Your Majesty; if I could stroke Your Majesty’s whiskers I would have no regrets.” Sun Quan leaned forward; Zhu Huan stroked his whiskers and said: “Today I have truly stroked the tiger’s whiskers.” Sun Quan laughed. The phrase “stroke the tiger’s whiskers” (捋虎鬚) became an idiom for daring to provoke a powerful person.

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms (or later anecdotal tradition)
Type: Historical / anecdotal

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Zhu Huan appears in chapter 38 and prominently in 85 (against Cao Ren at Ruxu—he kills Chang Diao and defeats Cao Ren) and 96 (with Lu Xun and Zhou Fang against Cao Xiu; he proposes blocking the roads at Jia Shi and Gua Ju; the novel says Jia Xu had the same worry).

Sou shen ji (搜神記)

The Sou shen ji has a tale of a “fly-head” servant girl whose head could leave her body at night; Zhu Huan at first thought her a demon and sent her away, then learned it was a trait of her kind.

Achievements

Documented achievements include: Yuyao (plague relief); recruitment of 10,000+; pacification of Danyang and Poyang bandits; Associate General, Marquis of Xincheng; Ruxu command; 222/223 defeat of Cao Ren (Chang Diao, Zhuge Qian killed, Wang Shuang captured); Marquis of Jiaxing, General Who Rouses Martial Might; 228 Shiting; 229 General of the Vanguard, Governor of Qing Province; 237 Lujiang (withdrawal, then incident with Quan Cong).

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

Zhu Huan’s biography is in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志), “Biographies of Zhu Zhi, Zhu Ran, Lü Fan, and Zhu Huan” (吳書·朱治朱然呂范朱桓傳), scroll 56. His cousin Zhu Ju (朱據) was Sworn General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍) and Marquis of Yunyang (雲陽侯). Chen Shou: “Zhu Huan was known for courage and fierceness.” “He was protective of his precedence and ashamed to be under others; when he could not act freely under someone else’s command he grew angry. But he was light on wealth and valued duty, and had a strong memory—once he met someone he did not forget for decades.”

Historical evaluations

Chen Shou

“桓性護前，恥為人下，節度不得自由而憤激。然輕財貴義，兼以強識。與人一面，數十年不忘。” “朱桓以勇烈著聞。”

Lu Ji (陸機), Discourse on the Fall of Wu

Lists Zhu Huan with Gan Ning, Ling Tong, Cheng Pu, He Qi, and Zhu Ran as those who “displayed their might.”

Legacy

Zhu Huan is remembered as the general who with five thousand men defeated Cao Ren at Ruxu, killed Chang Diao and captured Wang Shuang, and who was “light on wealth and valued duty” and had an extraordinary memory, but also “protective of his precedence” and prone to anger when under another’s command.

References

Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Zhu Zhi, Zhu Ran, Lü Fan, and Zhu Huan” (吳書·朱治朱然呂范朱桓傳).
Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), chapters 38, 85, 96.
Gan Bao. Sou shen ji (搜神記), on “fly-head” and Zhu Huan.