Zhu Ran

Zhu Ran (182 – 249) was a military general of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Despite being a childhood friend of the first emperor of Eastern Wu, Sun Quan, he was never tasked with important position nor assignment before Lü Meng's invasion of southern Jing Province in 219, wherein he assisted in capturing the enemy commander Guan Yu. Following the Battle of Xiaoting, the Cao Wei state launched a three-pronged strike on Eastern Wu's northwestern, middle, and eastern borders. Zhu was sent to the northwestern border, where he defended the city of Jiangling with only 5,000 troops against an enemy force about ten times greater. He rose to fame and became feared throughout Cao Wei. He then participated in a series of military operations against Cao Wei, during which he defeated several enemy units, but the overall objectives had never been met. Before his death, Zhu was granted authority to oversee matters within the army.