Biography
Zhu served as a county clerk in his early career and was noted for his filial piety and modesty. He was soon made a prefecture official and followed Sun Jian on his rise to power. In 188 he was promoted to the rank of Major (司马) and led an army to attack rival armies in Changsha, Lingling, Guiyang (all in present-day Hunan). Zhu was a skilled and successful tactician, and was promoted to the rank of Commandant (都尉) by Sun Jian because of his victories. Zhu assisted in Sun Jian's defeat of Dong Zhuo in the Battle of Yangren, and upon the army's entrance into Luoyang was promoted to the rank of Colonel (校尉), with special command to lead a regiment of cavalry to Xu Province and reinforce its governor, Tao Qian, in the fight against the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
Following Sun Jian's death in 191, Zhu continued to serve under Jian's successor Sun Ce, who at the time was loyal to the northern warlord Yuan Shu. Upon learning that Shu was not a man of integrity or administrative ability, Zhu advised Sun Ce to return to their territory in Wu and operate independently. Around this time Grand Tutor Ma Midi gave Zhu bureaucrat status and promoted him to Commandant of Wu Commandery. Zhu displayed ability and talent in all his missions, including an instance of protecting Sun Ce's family members, and was widely lauded as Sun Ce conquered the entire lower Yangtze region.
Sun Ce was assassinated by a servant of Xu Gong in 200 for reasons that have long been debated. Zhu stayed in Wu and, along with the renowned tactician Zhou Yu, served Ce's successor Sun Quan. In 202, Sun appointed Zhu as Governor of Wu Commandery and promoted him to the rank of "Righteousness-Supporting" General (扶義將軍). Sun gave Zhu feudal land holdings in Gelou, Youzhang, Wuyi, and Piling, allowed Zhu to enter semi-retirement.
Zhu continued to serve the Wu government: He participated in attacks against the Baiyue south and east of the Han Chinese-controlled territory of Wu, and 208 talked Sun Quan's younger brother Sun Ben (whose daughter was a wife of Cao Cao) out of sending his son as a hostage to Cao Cao in an attempt to improve diplomatic relations. Zhu was loved and respected by Sun Quan, who after declaring himself King of Wu would always greet Zhu in person when he visited the capital, bestowing gifts upon him and holding banquets in his honor.
In 222 Zhu was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Piling (毗陵侯). Sun Quan bestowed kingly gifts on Zhu (such as a golden seal) and extended Zhu's domain to encompass four counties, but Zhu was unwilling to assume greater holdings or positions. He retired to his home village of Guzhang for several years, and later died in 224.
Zhu Zhi had five sons: Zhu Ran (adopted), Zhu Cai, Zhu Ji, Zhu Wei, and Zhu Wan.
Read more about this topic: Zhu Zhi
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