Battle of Ruxukou
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Ruxukou, also known as the Battle of Ruxu, was fought between the warlords Sun Quan
and Cao Cao
in 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. Two years earlier, Sun Quan attempted to take control
of Hefei
fortress, but failed due to a sudden plague and the staunch resistance put up by Cao Cao's forces under Zhang Liao
. Since then, Cao Cao had been making preparations for a counterattack on Sun Quan, and he personally led his navy to Ruxukou to fight a decisive battle.
This battle is not to be confused with another earlier battle (Battle of Ruxu (213)) that also took place at Ruxukou in 213, where Cao Cao defeated Sun Quan.
, had already started to strengthen the defense of Ruxu fort, and Dong Xi
had the riverbank secured, leaving the transportation and retreat route open for Sun.
On the other hand, Cao Cao had his Hefei fortress operated as a front-line base, where he and Zhang Liao station their troops; in addition, Cao Cao ordered Zang Ba
and Sun Guan to mobilize their "Qingzhou Corps" to the battlefield.
When Cao Cao pressed on Ruxu fort, Sun sent out Ling Tong
, Xu Sheng
and the likes to do battle. During the ensuing engagement, Sun Guan was killed in action, and Cao Cao temporarily waived the attack. The development was not as optimistic as Cao had expected, so he set up numerous camps across a river, and gestured a long-term war. Cao ordered Xiahou Dun
to lead his "29 armies" from Juchao to the frontline; Xiahou Yuan
was responsible for the supply to the "29 armies".
One night, a storm hit Ruxu bay, and Dong Xi drowned when he refused to abandon his ship, which sank to the bottom of the river. Not only was Dong Xi's death discouraging, natural disasters were regarded as bad omens in ancient China, so the morale of Sun Quan's army dropped. Facing the growing number of Cao Cao's troops, Sun Quan ordered his generals to maintain a line of defense, which Cao was never able to break.
The tide of battle turned heavily in Sun Quan's favor when Gan Ning
led 100 men into Cao Cao's main camp under cover of nightfall and laid waste to the camp, throwing Cao's armies into confusion. Gan Ning and his unit left without any casualties, and the demoralized armies of Cao Cao withdrew from the battle.
.
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
and Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
in 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. Two years earlier, Sun Quan attempted to take control
Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
The Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, also known as the Battle of Leisure Ford, Battle of Hefei, and Hefei Campaign, was fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Sun Quan between 215 and 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history over the control of Hefei...
of Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
fortress, but failed due to a sudden plague and the staunch resistance put up by Cao Cao's forces under Zhang Liao
Zhang Liao
Zhang Liao was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He participated in many campaigns, including those against Yuan Shao's clan and the Wuhuan tribes...
. Since then, Cao Cao had been making preparations for a counterattack on Sun Quan, and he personally led his navy to Ruxukou to fight a decisive battle.
This battle is not to be confused with another earlier battle (Battle of Ruxu (213)) that also took place at Ruxukou in 213, where Cao Cao defeated Sun Quan.
The battle
Before Cao Cao's massive army arrived at the battlefield, Sun Quan's second-in-command, Lü MengLü Meng
Lü Meng was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served as the commanding general in the invasion of Jing Province that led to the death of Guan Yu.-Early life:Lü Meng was born in Fupo, Runan Commandery in 178...
, had already started to strengthen the defense of Ruxu fort, and Dong Xi
Dong Xi
Dong Xi was a military general serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He hailed from Yuyao county, Kuaiji commandery , and entered Sun Ce's camp when the later pacified Jiangdong...
had the riverbank secured, leaving the transportation and retreat route open for Sun.
On the other hand, Cao Cao had his Hefei fortress operated as a front-line base, where he and Zhang Liao station their troops; in addition, Cao Cao ordered Zang Ba
Zang Ba
Zang Ba was a general during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He served the warlord Tao Qian initially, followed by Lü Bu and finally Cao Cao and his successors, but for the most part of his career, he remained semi-autonomous over his troops and eastern China...
and Sun Guan to mobilize their "Qingzhou Corps" to the battlefield.
When Cao Cao pressed on Ruxu fort, Sun sent out Ling Tong
Ling Tong
Ling Tong was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his service to the Sun family since his childhood, and throughout his entire life, he had been contributing to the foundation and solidification of Eastern Wu...
, Xu Sheng
Xu Sheng
Xu Sheng , style name Wenxiang , was a military general of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He fought in at least 5 wars for the southern regime during his lifetime...
and the likes to do battle. During the ensuing engagement, Sun Guan was killed in action, and Cao Cao temporarily waived the attack. The development was not as optimistic as Cao had expected, so he set up numerous camps across a river, and gestured a long-term war. Cao ordered Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Cao Cao's original family name was Xiahou, but his father Cao Song was the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng, so Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao share blood relations...
to lead his "29 armies" from Juchao to the frontline; Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...
was responsible for the supply to the "29 armies".
One night, a storm hit Ruxu bay, and Dong Xi drowned when he refused to abandon his ship, which sank to the bottom of the river. Not only was Dong Xi's death discouraging, natural disasters were regarded as bad omens in ancient China, so the morale of Sun Quan's army dropped. Facing the growing number of Cao Cao's troops, Sun Quan ordered his generals to maintain a line of defense, which Cao was never able to break.
The tide of battle turned heavily in Sun Quan's favor when Gan Ning
Gan Ning
Gan Ning was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was born in Linjiang, Ba Commandery .-Early life as a pirate:...
led 100 men into Cao Cao's main camp under cover of nightfall and laid waste to the camp, throwing Cao's armies into confusion. Gan Ning and his unit left without any casualties, and the demoralized armies of Cao Cao withdrew from the battle.
Sun Quan forces
- Sun QuanSun QuanSun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
- Lü MengLü MengLü Meng was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served as the commanding general in the invasion of Jing Province that led to the death of Guan Yu.-Early life:Lü Meng was born in Fupo, Runan Commandery in 178...
- Han DangHan DangHan Dang was a military general of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
- Gu LiGu Li (general)Gu Li was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was involved in the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford in 217 against Cao Cao's forces.-Biography:...
- Jiang QinJiang QinJiang Qin , style name Gongyi , was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Qin was a pirate at the time he joined Sun Quan's predecessor, Sun Ce...
- Xu ShengXu ShengXu Sheng , style name Wenxiang , was a military general of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He fought in at least 5 wars for the southern regime during his lifetime...
- Zhou TaiZhou TaiZhou Tai , style name Youping , was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early life and career:...
- Gan NingGan NingGan Ning was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was born in Linjiang, Ba Commandery .-Early life as a pirate:...
- Sun JiaoSun JiaoSun Jiao , style name Shulang , was the third son of Sun Jing, younger brother of the warlord Sun Jian during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Along with the rest of his family, Sun Jiao served Eastern Wu as a military general. He was also the younger brother of Sun Yu. He served...
- Ling TongLing TongLing Tong was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his service to the Sun family since his childhood, and throughout his entire life, he had been contributing to the foundation and solidification of Eastern Wu...
- Dong XiDong XiDong Xi was a military general serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He hailed from Yuyao county, Kuaiji commandery , and entered Sun Ce's camp when the later pacified Jiangdong...
, drowned - Xu Xiong
Modern references
The battle is featured as a playable stage in Koei's video game Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends. If the player is playing on Sun Quan's side, he can use Gan Ning's night raids to win the battle. In earlier versions of the game, this battle is merged with the Battle of He FeiBattle of Xiaoyao Ford
The Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, also known as the Battle of Leisure Ford, Battle of Hefei, and Hefei Campaign, was fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Sun Quan between 215 and 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history over the control of Hefei...
.