Sun Jiao

Sun Jiao (died 219), style name Shulang (叔朗), 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 under Sun Ce, and subsequently Sun Quan. After defending Ruxu (濡須) in 213, his leadership skills were highly praised by all with whom he served.

In reward for his deeds at Ruxu, he was chosen to succeed Cheng Pu as commander of Xiakou when Cheng was promoted to a higher position. In addition, he was given commands of two prominent Wu generals who had died: his elder brother Sun Yu and Huang Gai.

Sun Jiao's biography in Chen Shou's Records of Three Kingdoms stated that once, while drinking with fellow commander Gan Ning, Sun Jiao made a comment under the influence of alcohol that deeply offended Gan, who sent a letter to Sun Quan requesting a transfer from Sun Jiao's command to Lü Meng's. As his advisor Zhuge Jin was Sun Jiao's closest friend, Sun Quan sent him to admonish Sun Jiao for offending Gan. Thus reprimanded, Sun Jiao personally apologized to Gan Ning, and the two became close friends.

Sun Jiao earned merits in the 215 campaign on Jing Province, in which Eastern Wu forces overran several of Liu Bei's commanderies in the province. In 219, Sun participated in a second invasion of Liu Bei's holdings in Jing Province. When preparing for the battle, Sun Quan intended for Sun Jiao and Lü Meng to hold joint command over the military, much as his generals Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu had during the Battle of Red Cliffs. Lü Meng, however, advised Sun Quan against this arrangement, as it could lead to dissension in the ranks, and asked him to choose whomever he saw fit for the position. In the end, Lü was chosen, and Sun Jiao participated under his command. There is no record of Sun Jiao feeling slighted by this arrangement.

The campaign was a resounding success, with Liu Bei's trusted associate and prized general, Guan Yu, being captured and executed. Sun Jiao himself earned numerous merits in the campaign, but not long after Guan Yu's execution, he himself died of sudden illness.