Zhu Xu (Jin dynasty)
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Zhu Xu | |
|---|---|
| 朱序 | |
| Inspector of Yongzhou (雍州刺史) | |
| In office 388 – 392 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Xiaowu of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 393 |
| Relations | Zhu Xiuzhi (grandson) |
| Children | Zhu Lüe Zhu Chen |
| Parents |
|
| Courtesy name | Cilun (次倫) |
| Peerage | Viscount of Xiangping (襄平子) |
Zhu Xu (died 393), 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 he set up a ruse that caused the disastrous retreat of the Former Qin army. Prior to Fei River, Zhu put down the rebellion of Sima Xun and defended Xiangyang from Qin for more than a year before he was captured and served a brief stint under Qin. After Fei River, Zhu Xu returned to Jin and continued to serve the state. He guarded the northern borders and fought against the states of Zhai Wei and Western Yan before retiring in 392.
Zhu Xu came from a family line of generals in Yiyang Commandery (義陽郡, around present-day Zaoyang, Hubei). His father, Zhu Tao (朱燾) once served as Colonel of the Western Rong and Governor of Yizhou. Zhu Xu would continue the family trend, and by 365, he was already serving as General of Hawkish Display and Chancellor of Jiangxia.
Prior to the Battle of Fei River
Sima Xun's Rebellion
That same year, the Inspector of Liangzhou, Sima Xun, rebelled in his province and placed the Inspector of Yizhou, Zhou Chu (周楚), under siege at Chengdu. The Grand Marshal of Jin, Huan Wen appointed Zhu Xu to be Commander-Protector of the Expeditionary Force tasked in saving Chengdu. The following year, Zhu Xu attacked Sima Xun at Chengdu together with Zhou Chu. Sima Xun's soldiers scattered during the fight. Zhu Xu soon captured Sima Xun and his subordinates before sending them to Huan Wen, who had them all executed. Zhu Xu was awarded the office of General Who Attacks Barbarians and the title of Viscount of Xiangping (襄平子).[1]
Huan Wen's 3rd Northern Expedition
In 369, Zhu Xu participated in Huan Wen's third northern expedition against Former Yan. During the expedition, Zhu Xu and Deng Xia defeated Yan's general, Fu Yan at Linzhu (林渚, around present-day Xinzheng, Henan). The campaign ended in failure for Huan Wen as he was decisively routed by Murong Chui at the Battle of Fangtou.[2]
Qian Hong's Revolt
In 374, Zhu Xu was appointed Inspector of Yanzhou. Around the same time, a native of Changcheng County (長城; present-day Changxing County, Zhejiang), Qian Hong (錢弘), gathered more than a hundred people under his wing and revolted, hiding out in Mount Yuanxiang (原鄉山). The court issued Zhu Xu to campaign against the rebels after appointing him Marshal of the Centre Army and Administrator of Wuxing. Zhu Xu sent his army out and pacified the rebellion after reprimanding Qian Hong and the others. Following this, Zhu Xu returned to his position as Inspector of Yanzhou.[3]
Siege of Xiangyang
In 376, Zhu Xu was called up by Huan Chong to defend Liangzhou from invading Former Qin forces. However, the province swiftly fell before they could arrive, so Zhu Xu and the others stopped advancing and returned.[4] The following year, Huan Huo appointed him Inspector of Liangzhou and stationed him at Xiangyang.
In 378, Fu Jian ordered Fu Pi to lead a large-scale siege on Xiangyang. When Qin forces arrived at the Han River, Zhu Xu initially did not think much of them as they did not have any boats with them. He was only alerted after Qin's general, Shi Yue, swam across the Han River with his cavalries and caught him by surprise. Shi Yue captured the 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 defence 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 new one that the women built. The wall was dubbed "The Wives' Wall (夫人城)" and can still be seen today in Xiangyang.[5]
The following year, Zhu was expected to receive reinforcements from Liu Bo (劉波). However, Liu Bo feared the Qin army's strength and refused to approach them. Meanwhile, Zhu sent his men out to fight skirmishes with the Qin soldiers, but Qin only reacted by pulling back and refusing to give fight. This gave Zhu Xu the false impression that Qin was planning a retreat, so he did not prepare proper defence for what was to come. Without Zhu's knowledge, the Protector of Xiangyang, Li Bohu (李伯護), made contact with Qin, promising them to provide them an entry to the city. Fu Pi attacked Xiangyang again in February or March 379, this time capturing the city and Zhu Xu.[6]
Escape attempt from Qin
After being sent to the capital, Fu Jian was impressed by Zhu Xu's loyalty and appointed him Logistical Director of the Masters of Writing. Meanwhile, Li Bohu was executed for his betrayal against Jin.[7] 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 became suspicious of Xia Kui and arrested him, so Zhu Xu decided to give himself up to Fu Hui (苻晖). This only made Fu Jian further admire Zhu Xu for his integrity, and Zhu was appointed as a Master of Writing.[8]