Zhu Xu (Jin dynasty)
Zhu Xu (died 392), courtesy name Cilun, was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was most famous for his involvement in the crucial Battle of Fei River in 383, in which his ruse caused the devastating retreat of the Former Qin army. Prior to that, he was a subordinate of Huan Wen who after his death continued to serve Jin and for a short while under Former Qin. After Fei River, he returned to Jin where he would remain until his death in 392.
Zhu Xu | |
|---|---|
朱序 | |
| Interior Minister of Langye (琅邪內史) | |
| In office 383 – 392 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Xiaowu of Jin |
| Succeeded by | Wang Xu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 392 |
| Relations | Zhu Xiuzhi (grandson) |
| Children | Zhu Lüe Zhu Chen |
| Mother | Lady Han |
| Father | Zhu Tao |
| Courtesy name | Cilun (次倫) |
Prior the Battle of Fei River
Zhu Xu came from a family line general in Yiyang Commandary (義陽郡, around present-day Zaoyang, Hubei) and his father, Zhu Tao (朱燾) once served as Colonel of the Western Rong and Governor of Yizhou. Zhu Xu began his career in 365 amidst the rebellion of Sima Xun in Liangzhou. Jin's Grand Marshal Huan Wen entrusted him to lead troops to save Chengdu from falling. Zhu Xu quickly put down the rebellion the following year, and sent Sima Xun's head to Jiankang.[1]
In 369, Zhu Xu followed Huan Wen in his ill-fated northern expedition against Former Yan. Though ultimately a failure, Zhu Xu did distinguish himself by defeating Yan's general Fu Yan at Linzhu (林渚, around present-day Xinzheng, Henan) together with Deng Xia.[2] Years ahead in 376, Zhu Xu would be called up by Huan Chong to defend Liangzhou from invading Qin forces but the defense was cancelled as the province swiftly fell before they could react.[3] The following year, he would be appointed Inspector of Liangzhou and stationed at Xiangyang.
In 378, Fu Jian would host a huge siege on Xiangyang. Zhu Xu initially did not worry as he noticed that Qin did not bring any boats. What alerted him, however, was when Qin's general Shi Yue swam across the Han river with his cavalries, catching him by surprise. Shi Yue would capture boats on Zhu Xu's side for Fu Jian and the others to use. As Qin forces approached, Zhu Xu's mother, Lady Han (韓氏), personally inspected the Xiangyang's defense and noticed that the northwest corner was weak. She led hundreds of women in the city to construct a new wall behind the old one. When Qin forces arrived, the old wall fell but the defenders mounted behind the one that the women built. The wall was dubbed "The Wives' Wall (夫人城)" and can still be seen today in Xiangyang.[4]
Zhu Xu would hold out for a year, sending his soldiers out to fight skirmishes, but these proved ineffective as the Qin soldiers would simply back out to incite them away from the city, so Zhu Xu stopped doing so. Eventually, the Protector of Xiangyang, Li Bohu (李伯護) betrayed Zhu Xu and provided Qin an entrance. Zhu Xu was captured and sent to the capital. Fu Jian was impressed with Zhu Xu's loyalty and appointed him Logistical Director of the Masters of Writing. Meanwhile, Li Bohu was executed for his betrayal against Jin.[5]
Despite Fu Jian's flattery, Zhu Xu was determined to return to Jin. He fled to his hometown in Yiyang, where he hid in the home of his friend Xia Kui (夏揆). However, Fu Jian soon became suspicious of Xia Kui, so Zhu Xu decided to give himself up to Fu Hui (苻晖). Fu Jian admired Zhu Xu's actions, and further appointed him as Master of Writing.[6]
Battle of Fei River
In 383, Zhu Xu accompanied Fu Jian in one of his campaigns against Jin, which also happened to be his last. Fu Jian's army faced off Jin's led by Xie Xuan at Fei River. With an overwhelming number by his side, Fu Jian sent Zhu Xu to convince Jin to surrender. However, Zhu Xu instead leaked information about the Qin army to Xie Shi, pointing out the lack of unity among the soldiers. Zhu Xu then returned to Fu Jian, who had not know what Zhu had done.[7]
As the battle was about to begin, Xie Xuan persuaded Fu Jian to move his army slightly back away from the river to allow the Jin troops to cross. Fu Jian and his brother Fu Rong agreed and did so but just as they moved, Zhu Xu, who was serving in the rear, shouted, "The Qin army has been defeated!" Many of the Qin soldiers were conscripts, not willing to fight, and with Zhu Xu's words they began to panic and flee from the battlefield disorderly. Xie Xuan quickly crossed the river and attacked the Qin forces, decisively routing them. Fu Rong was killed and Fu Jian barely made it out alive but his northern empire would soon fall because of this defeat, leading to his eventual death in 385. As for Zhu Xu, he managed to escape back to Jin together with another Jin general Zhou Xiao and the abdicated ruler of Former Liang, Zhang Tianxi.[8]
Final years
After his return to Jin, Zhu Xu was appointed Interior Minister of Langye. In 387, Zhu Xu was entrusted with Inspector of Qingzhou and Yanzhou and was stationed in Pengcheng to replace Xie Xuan, although he asked to be move to Huaiyin, so that he would be closer to the capital and away from Later Yan's borders. When the Dingling general Zhai Zhao attacked Chenliu and Yingchuan commanderies, Zhu Xu successfully drove him back.[9]
Zhu Xu's offices were replaced with Commander of military affairs in Sizhou, Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and Qinzhou, and as Inspector of Yongzhou as his old ones were given to Sima Tian (司馬恬) the following year. He also changed his station to Luoyang. In 390, the Western Yan Emperor, Murong Yong, invaded Luoyang, so Zhu Xu crossed the Yellow River and defeated him while giving chase. Meanwhile, Zhai Wei's Heavenly King, Zhai Liao took advantage of his absence and attacked Luoyang but Zhu Xu turned around and also repelled him.[10]
Zhu Xu retired of old age in 392 and his positions were given to Chi Hui (郗恢). He would pass away not long after his retirement.[11]
References
- (朱序攻司馬勳于成都，衆潰，執勳，斬之。) Book of Jin, Volume 8
- (前鋒鄧遐、朱序敗燕將傅顏於林渚。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 102
- (桓沖聞秦攻涼州，遣兗州刺史朱序、江州刺史桓石秀與荊州督護桓羆遊軍沔、漢，為涼州聲援；又遣豫州刺史桓伊帥眾向壽陽，淮南太守劉波泛舟淮、泗，欲橈秦以救涼。聞涼州敗沒，皆罷兵。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 104
- (序母韓氏聞秦兵將至，自登城履行，至西北隅，以為不固，帥百餘婢及城中女丁築邪城於其內。及秦兵至，西北隅果潰，眾移守新城，襄陽人謂之夫人城。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 104
- (詔冠軍將軍南郡相劉波帥眾八千救襄陽，波畏秦，不敢進。朱序屢出戰，破秦兵，引退稍遠，序不設備。二月，襄陽督護李伯護密遣其子送款於秦，請為內應；長樂公丕命諸軍進攻之。戊午，克襄陽，執朱序，送長安。秦王堅以序能守節，拜度支尚書；以李伯護為不忠，斬之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 104
- (序欲逃歸，潛至宜陽，藏夏揆家。堅疑揆，收之，序乃詣苻暉自首，堅嘉而不問，以為尚書。) Book of Jin, Volume 81
- (遣尚書朱序來說謝石等以「強弱異勢，不如速降。」序私謂石等曰：「若秦百萬之眾盡至，誠難與為敵。今乘諸軍未集，宜速擊之；若敗其前鋒，則彼已奪氣，可遂破也。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 105
- (初，秦兵小卻，朱序在陳後呼曰：「秦兵敗矣！」眾遂大奔。序因與張天錫、徐元喜皆來奔。獲秦王堅所乘雲母車。復取壽陽，執其淮南太守郭褒。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 105
- (翟遼遣其子釗寇陳、潁，朱序遣將軍秦膺擊走之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 107
- (西燕主永引兵向洛陽，朱序自河陰北濟河，擊敗之。序追至白水，會翟遼謀向洛陽，序乃引兵還，擊走之；留鷹揚將軍朱黨戍石門，使其子略督護洛陽，以參軍趙蕃佐之，身還襄陽。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 107
- (雍州刺史朱序以老病求解職；詔以太子右衞率郗恢爲雍州刺史，代序鎭襄陽。恢，曇之子也。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 108
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.