The assassination of Sun Ce, the “Little Conqueror” of Jiangdong, is often attributed to a simple act of vengeance: his killing of Xu Gong, the former Administrator of Wu Commandery, led to retaliation by Xu’s loyal retainers.
But the real story—buried beneath layers of historical record, political maneuvering, and strategic deception—is far more complex. Drawing on the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), Pei Songzhi’s annotations, and contextual analysis of late Eastern Han power dynamics, this article reveals that Sun Ce’s execution of Xu Gong was not about treason at all—it was a calculated purge disguised as justice, driven by Sun Ce’s need to consolidate power, deflect suspicion from his secret alliance with Cao Cao, and eliminate a popular local figure who threatened his fragile authority.
Who was Xu Gong?
Xu Gong began his career as a low-ranking official. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he sought refuge under Sheng Xian, the then-Administrator of Wu Commandery (modern-day Suzhou). Sheng Xian treated him kindly, eventually promoting him to Commandant (Duwei)—the military head of the commandery.
When Yuan Shu seized control of Yang Province without resistance after Governor Chen Yu fled, Sheng Xian submitted to Yuan Shu’s authority. However, the Han court soon appointed Liu Yao as the legitimate Inspector of Yang Province. Unable to enter the provincial capital (held by Yuan Shu), Liu Yao established his base south of the Yangtze River and began contesting Yuan Shu’s control.
Seeing an opportunity, Xu Gong secretly allied with Liu Yao. With Liu’s backing, he pressured Sheng Xian to resign—reportedly by feigning illness—and took over as Administrator of Wu Commandery. To win local support, Xu Gong appointed Zhu Zhi, a respected local figure, as his new Commandant. Though his rise involved intrigue, Xu governed well and earned deep affection from the people of Wu Commandery.
Sun Ce’s conquest and Xu Gong’s surrender
Years later, Sun Ce, sent by Yuan Shu to attack Liu Yao, swept through Jiangdong with astonishing speed. When Sun Ce reached Wu Commandery, Zhu Zhi—who had once served Sun Ce’s father, Sun Jian—immediately defected to Sun Ce’s side. Abandoned by his top general, Xu Gong had no choice but to surrender.
Initially, Sun Ce spared him. His general Cheng Pu urged execution, warning that Xu Gong’s popularity posed a latent threat. But Sun Ce refused, reasoning that killing a surrendered, well-liked official would alienate the populace and harden resistance elsewhere. Instead, he kept Xu Gong under nominal service—a pragmatic move to stabilize his newly conquered territory.
At this point, the matter seemed settled.
The sudden accusation: A forged letter and political theater
Yet shortly after Sun Ce fully secured Jiangdong, he summoned Xu Gong and accused him of secretly writing to Cao Cao, urging the Han court to recall Sun Ce to the capital, calling him “more brutal than Xiang Yu.”
Sun Ce produced a letter as evidence and executed Xu Gong for treason.
But this charge collapses under scrutiny:
- By this time, Emperor Xian was a puppet; no warlord obeyed imperial decrees unless it served their interest.
- Cao Cao had no reason to collaborate with Xu Gong, a powerless ex-official with no army or territory.
- If Cao Cao wanted to weaken Sun Ce, he could have supported Yuan Shu—but instead, Cao Cao was quietly encouraging Sun Ce’s independence to keep Yuan Shu distracted.
In short: the letter was almost certainly forged.
The real motive: Sun Ce’s secret alliance with Cao Cao
The truth lies in Sun Ce’s precarious position. Though sent by Yuan Shu to conquer Jiangdong, Sun Ce had no intention of returning. He aimed to establish his own domain—but feared Yuan Shu’s wrath if he openly rebelled too soon.
To buy time, Sun Ce secretly reached out to Cao Cao, proposing an informal alliance:
- Cao Cao would recognize Sun Ce’s control of Jiangdong;
- In return, Sun Ce would tie down Yuan Shu in the south, preventing Cao Cao from being caught between Yuan Shao in the north and Yuan Shu in the south.
This arrangement benefited both sides—but it was highly sensitive. If Yuan Shu discovered Sun Ce’s collusion with Cao Cao, war would erupt before Sun Ce was ready.
Unfortunately, news of the secret talks leaked. To deflect blame, Sun Ce needed a scapegoat. Enter Xu Gong—a convenient target.
By framing Xu Gong as a traitor conspiring with Cao Cao, Sun Ce achieved two goals at once:
- Diverted suspicion from his own dealings with Cao Cao;
- Eliminated a popular local leader whose grassroots influence rivaled his own.
It was a classic “kill two birds with one stone” maneuver—disguised as patriotic justice.
The irony of Karma: Retribution from the shadows
But Sun Ce underestimated the loyalty Xu Gong inspired. His three former retainers, outraged by their master’s unjust death, ambushed Sun Ce during a hunt and mortally wounded him with a poisoned arrow.
In a tragic twist of fate, Sun Ce’s attempt to secure his rule through deception and violence directly led to his downfall. As the ancient saying goes: “As you sow, so shall you reap.” His ruthless pragmatism created the very enemies who ended his life at just 25 years old.
A cautionary tale of power and paranoia
Sun Ce’s execution of Xu Gong was not a response to real treason, but a preemptive strike cloaked in legalistic pretense. It reflected the brutal logic of warlord politics—where legitimacy is manufactured, enemies are invented, and popular figures are eliminated not for what they do, but for what they represent.
Had Sun Ce chosen reconciliation over elimination—had he embraced Xu Gong’s local legitimacy as Sun Quan later did with the Jiangdong gentry—his reign might have lasted longer, and Eastern Wu’s foundation might have been even stronger.
Instead, his impulsive blend of ambition and insecurity sealed his fate—and left a legacy not just of conquest, but of caution.
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