In the chaotic landscape of the late Eastern Han dynasty, survival often depended not on wealth alone, but on strategic foresight and timely alliances. Few episodes illustrate this better than the famous encounter between Lu Su and Zhou Yu, immortalized in both historical records like the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) and dramatized in Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
When Lu Su gifted Zhou Yu 3,000 hu (approximately 240,000 liters) of grain, it appeared to be an act of extraordinary generosity—but in truth, it was a masterstroke of political calculus that would alter the course of his life and shape the future of Eastern Wu.
A meeting forged by necessity, Not chance
According to the Sanguozhi, Lu Su came from a prominent gentry family in Huai-Si region (modern Anhui), whose wealth stemmed from generations of grain trading and landholding. He was no ordinary merchant: Chen Shou describes him as “possessing lofty ambitions from youth, fond of extraordinary strategies, and skilled in both civil and military affairs.”
At the time of their meeting, Sun Ce was conquering territories in the Jiangdong region, Zhou Yu—already a celebrated general under Sun Ce—commanded the elite navy of Jiangdong and enjoyed immense influence. When his troops passed through Lu Su’s territory and requested provisions, the request carried an unspoken threat: this was not a plea, but a requisition backed by armed force.
Lu Su understood the stakes instantly. Refusal could provoke military reprisal; compliance, however, opened a door to power.
From coercion to opportunity: The logic behind the gift
To modern eyes, surrendering 3,000 hu of grain might seem excessive. But for Lu Su—a man with “thousands of acres of fertile land”—it was a calculated investment, not a loss. As a local magnate, he possessed private retainers, but they stood no chance against a professional army.
Rather than risk destruction, Lu Su chose proactive diplomacy. His gift achieved three critical objectives:
- Avoided violent confrontation with a rising warlord faction;
- Earned Zhou Yu’s personal gratitude and trust;
- Positioned himself as a valuable ally to the Sun Ce regime at its formative stage.
This mirrors other strategic gestures in the era—such as Liu Bei’s courteous farewell to Zhang Song, which ultimately led to the latter revealing the maps of Yi Province (namely Yizhou or Shu). In both cases, apparent benevolence masked shrewd statecraft.
Lu Su’s ambition and vision
Crucially, Lu Su was never content to remain a regional landlord. The Sanguozhi emphasizes his early desire to “establish merit and serve the realm.” Recognizing Zhou Yu not just as a commander but as a gateway to national influence, Lu Su made a deliberate choice: cooperation over resistance.
Given the context—where warlords routinely confiscated supplies and executed defiant elites—Lu Su’s “generosity” was also an act of prudent self-preservation. Had he refused, he might have lost everything; by giving willingly, he gained a future.
From grain donor to grand commander
The consequences of this decision were profound. Zhou Yu, deeply impressed, soon recommended Lu Su to Sun Quan. Their partnership flourished, and after Zhou Yu’s untimely death, Lu Su seamlessly succeeded him as chief military strategist—a testament to the trust built during that initial exchange.
Sun Quan said, “My brother’s last words were, ‘Trust internal matters to Zhang Zhao, external ones to Zhou Yu.’”
Zhou Yu replied, ” Zhang Zhao is a worthy and accomplished scholar, fit for great tasks. But I am not, and I hesitate to shoulder the burden consigned to me. Let me recommend a man to assist you, General—Lu Su (styled Zijing) from Dongchuan in Linhuai. He is a mine of strategies, a storehouse of machinations. Early in life he lost his father and has served his mother since with utter devotion. Lu Su’s family is extremely wealthy, and he is known for his generosity to the poor. When I was a precinct leader in Juchao, I was taking several hundred men through Linhuai when we ran short of grain. People told us that the Lu family had two granaries, each holding three thousand bushels. At our urgent request Lu Su put one of the granaries at our disposal. That’s an example of his largess. In addition, he has a strong interest in swordsmanship and horseback archery. His home is in Qu’e, but he has returned to Dongcheng for his grandmother’s funeral. A friend of his, Liu Ziyang, is trying to get him to go to Chaohu and join Zheng Bao, but Lu Su has not yet reached a decision. My lord, call him to you without delay.”
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 29
Without that pivotal moment of grain-giving, Lu Su might have faded into obscurity as a wealthy but politically irrelevant landowner. Instead, he became one of the “Four Outstanding Commanders of Eastern Wu,” instrumental in shaping its grand strategy—including his advocacy for the Sun-Liu alliance against Cao Cao.
The art of turning weakness into power
Lu Su’s story exemplifies a core truth of the Three Kingdoms era: in times of upheaval, the wise do not merely endure—they reframe constraints as opportunities. What looked like capitulation was, in fact, a bold bid for relevance. His 3,000 hu of grain bought more than goodwill—it purchased a seat at the table of empire.
In the end, it wasn’t the quantity of grain that mattered, but the quality of judgment behind it. And that, perhaps, is the real legacy of Lu Su’s legendary gift.
Leave a Reply