In the turbulent spring of 200 AD, as Cao Cao and Yuan Shao locked horns at Guandu, a bold plan was unfolding in the southeast. Sun Ce, the “Little Conqueror” who had unified the six commanderies of Jiangdong in just a few years, saw an opportunity: with Cao Cao’s rear defenses weakened, he aimed to launch a surprise strike on Xuchang and “welcome” Emperor Xian to his domain—a move that would have dramatically shifted the balance of power in the empire.
Yet fate intervened not on the battlefield, but in a quiet forest near Dantu—where ambition met vengeance, and a rising star was extinguished at just 26 years of age.
Sun Ce’s Ambition
Having secured control over Wu, Kuaiji, Danyang, Yuzhang, Lujiang, and Kuaiji, Sun Ce had transformed Jiangdong into a stable and formidable base. Confident in his military prowess and sensing Cao Cao’s vulnerability during the Guandu campaign, he began secretly assembling troops and stockpiling grain, preparing for a daring raid on the imperial capital.
This plan, if executed, could have upended Cao Cao’s “hold the emperor to command the lords” strategy and positioned Sun Ce as the true restorer of Han authority—or its new master.
But before he could march, destiny struck from an unexpected quarter.
Chaos in Yangzhou and the Rise of Liu Fu
While Sun Ce plotted, unrest brewed in Yangzhou, a region nominally under Cao Cao’s control. Li Shu, the Administrator of Lujiang appointed by Sun Ce, clashed violently with Yan Xiang, Cao Cao’s Inspector of Yangzhou. Li Shu launched a preemptive attack and killed Yan Xiang, creating a dangerous power vacuum.
With Cao Cao fully committed at Guandu, he could not send troops—but he could send a man.
He turned to Liu Fu, a native of Pei State in Yuzhou who had fled south during the chaos of war. After Yuan Shu’s collapse, Liu Fu had successfully persuaded Yuan’s former generals Qi Ji and Qin Yi to defect to Cao Cao—a feat that demonstrated both diplomatic skill and local influence.
Recognizing Liu Fu’s experience in the region and his proven ability to pacify rebels, Cao Cao recommended him as the new Inspector of Yangzhou. Liu Fu expelled Li Shu.
Historical sources like the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) confirm that this appointment proved wise. Liu Fu moved the administrative seat from Shouchun to Hefei, then little more than a deserted outpost. Through diligent governance, he rebuilt Hefei into a thriving garrison city and pacified local warlords such as Mei Gan, Lei Xu, and Chen Lan, who soon submitted and began paying tribute to the court.
Thus, while Sun Ce looked northward, Cao Cao quietly stabilized his southern flank—not with armies, but with capable men like Liu Fu.
The Hunt and the Assassins: Vengeance in the Forest
One day, during a lull in his preparations, Sun Ce went hunting near Dantu, accompanied only by a few bodyguards. Riding swiftly on horseback, he outpaced his retinue and found himself alone deep in the woods.
There, he encountered three men—retainers of Xu Gong, the former Administrator of Wu Commandery.
Years earlier, Xu Gong had warned the Han court that Sun Ce was “brave and fierce, like Xiang Yu,” and urged the emperor to summon him to the capital to prevent future rebellion. Sun Ce intercepted the letter, executed Xu Gong, and forced his family and followers into hiding.
Now, those very retainers had waited years for revenge.
In the ensuing skirmish, Sun Ce fought valiantly and, with the help of his arriving guards, killed all three assassins. But not before one loosed an arrow that struck Sun Ce in the face.
Despite medical attention, the wound festered. Within days, Sun Ce died, leaving behind a legacy of lightning conquests and unfulfilled potential.
“A hero who subdued six commanderies in five years—cut down not by a rival warlord, but by a forgotten grudge in the woods.”
His death at age 26 sent shockwaves through Jiangdong.
The boy who would rule: Sun Quan takes the helm
With Sun Ce gone, leadership of the Sun clan and the Jiangdong territories passed to his 18-year-old brother, Sun Quan.
Though young and untested, Sun Quan would prove remarkably capable—guided by advisors like Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao, and shaped by the sudden burden of power. Under his rule, Jiangdong would not only survive but thrive, eventually becoming the foundation of the state of Eastern Wu.
Sun Ce’s dream of seizing the emperor may have died with him—but his brother would ensure that Jiangdong remained a pillar of resistance against Cao Cao’s dominance.
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