Zhu Yi (Three Kingdoms) - Biography

Biography

Zhu Yi gained his first military appointment upon the death of his father in 238. His first field assignment was in 241 when he followed Zhu Ran in the latter's assault on Fancheng, but it would be his victory over Cao Wei's Wen Qin that cemented his reputation as a capable commander. Zhu Yi personally led two thousand troops to destroy all seven of Wen Qin's encampments, decapitating several hundred men in the process, and earning him a promotion to full general. Eastern Wu Emperor Sun Quan remarked afterward that Zhu Yi was even braver and sturdier than he had heard.

In 252 Zhu Yi thwarted an invasion by Cao Wei, when he led a naval force to attack and destroy the floating bridges Wei generals Hu Zun (胡遵) and Zhuge Dan were building to cross into Wu territory.

When Zhuge Dan revolted against the increasing power of the Sima clan, Eastern Wu regent Sun Chen dispatched an army of 30,000 to aid Zhuge Dan in Shouchun, and dispatched another 30,000 led by Zhu Yi to a city just south of Shouchun to act as rearguard. Zhu Yi's force was defeated and pursued by Zhou Tai (州泰), with over two thousand casualties. Sun Chen then ordered another fifty thousand men, commanded in part by Zhu Yi, to attack the Wei forces. Leaving his baggage train and the bulk of his forces at Dulu (都陸), he travelled upstream and made a night crossing on floating bridges with six thousand of his bravest fighters, but his forces were detected and defeated by Zhou Tai and Shi Bao (石苞). Zhu Yi regrouped but was again driven back. Moreover, Wei officer Hu Lie (胡烈) led five thousand men in a sneak attack on Zhu Yi's baggage train, burning his supplies and grain.

Sun Chen sent another thirty thousand men to assist Zhu Yi and fight the Wei forces to the death, if necessary, but Zhu Yi was unwilling to fight without supplies or food, and Sun Chen, enraged, had him beheaded in his camp.