Lu Xun (Three Kingdoms)

Lu Xun
A Qing dynasty illustration of Lu Xun
General and Imperial Chancellor of Eastern Wu
Born	183
Died	245 (aged 62)
Names
Traditional Chinese	陸遜
Simplified Chinese	陆逊
Pinyin	Lù Xùn
Wade–Giles	Lu Hsün
Courtesy name	Boyan (Chinese: 伯言; pinyin: Bóyán; Wade–Giles: Po-yen)
Posthumous name	Marquis Zhao (Chinese: 昭侯; pinyin: Zhāo Hóu; Wade–Giles: Chao Hou)
Other names	Lu Yi (traditional Chinese: 陸議; simplified Chinese: 陆议; pinyin: Lù Yì; Wade–Giles: Lu I)

Lu Xun (183–245),courtesy name Boyan, also sometimes referred to as Lu Yi, was a military general and statesman of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. He started his career as an official under the warlord Sun Quan in the 200s CE during the late Eastern Han dynasty and steadily rising through the ranks. In 219, he assisted Sun Quan's general Lü Meng in an invasion of Jing Province, which led to the defeat and death of Liu Bei's general Guan Yu. In 222, he served as the field commander of the Wu army in the Battle of Xiaoting against Liu Bei's forces and scored a decisive victory over the enemy. Lu Xun reached the pinnacle of his career after this battle as Sun Quan regarded him more highly, promoted him to higher positions and bestowed upon him unprecedented honours. Throughout the middle and the later parts of his career, Lu Xun oversaw and managed both civil and military affairs in Wu while participating in some battles against Wu's rival state, Wei, from time to time. In his final years, Lu Xun was drawn into a succession struggle between Sun Quan's sons and fell out of Sun Quan's favour as a consequence. He managed to retain his appointment as Imperial Chancellor – an office he assumed in 244 – but died a year later in frustration. Lu Xun's role in the Wu government was likened to that of a custos morum as he believed firmly in and upheld Confucian principles and practices. On one hand, he provided constant and timely advice to Sun Quan to exercise benevolence and consider the welfare of the people. On the other hand, he vehemently objected to Sun Quan's idea of replacing his legitimate heir apparent in favour of a younger son.

Lu Xun's original given name was "Yi" (議), hence he was sometimes referred to as "Lu Yi" in older historical records. He was born in a family of high social status in Wu County, Wu Commandery (吳郡), which is in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu. His grandfather Lu Yu (陸紆) and father Lu Jun (陸駿) served as officials in the government of the Eastern Han dynasty.