Dong Xi
Encyclopedia
Dong Xi was a military general serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He hailed from Yuyao
county, Kuaiji commandery (present-day Yuyao city, Zhejiang
), and entered Sun Ce
's camp when the later pacified Jiangdong. Since Dong Xi's height and martial skill were extraordinary, he was relied by the Sun family from time to time. Despite being adept in elocution, he was a cussed man in core, and his obdurate nature would eventually cost his life on the battlefield.
barbarians. Both Shanye leaders, Huang Longluo (黃龍羅) and Zhou Bo (周勃), were slew by Dong in the midst of battles, such warrior skill earned Dong several ranks and a thousand more soldiers under command.
After Sun Ce was assassinated in 200, Lady Wu
(mother of Sun Ce and Sun Quan) was worried that his successor Sun Quan
would be too young to handle the precarious situation in Jiangdong. She consulted Dong about her incertitude, and Dong Xi emboldened the former by saying, "The lands east of the Yangzi enjoy natural barriers from mountains and rivers, while the good government and virtue of Sun Ce have already attracted the people, lord Sun Quan can build on these foundations, so that great and small may follow his commands. Zhang Zhao
can look after affairs of government, while others like me can act as "claw and teeth (militiamen)". With both geographic advantage and popular support, there is certainly nothing to worry about.". His sanguine speech was applauded by many.
Still, there were people who deemed Sun Quan as ineligible to be their new lord, Peng Hu (彭虎) was one of them, and he led the bandits of Poyang
to rebel. Sun then ordered Dong Xi with Ling Tong
, Jiang Qin
and Bu Zhi
to suppress the riot army which had numbered to tens of thousands. Fearing Dong Xi's prowess, the traitors fled whenever Dong went, and the rebellion was dealt with in ten days.
In 208, Sun Quan led a punitive expedition
against Huang Zu
. Zhou Yu
, Ling Tong, Lu Meng
, and Dong were dispatched for the campaign. After lossing his vanguard general to Ling, Huang set two ships covered with ox-hide to guard the channel across Miankou (沔口), and he had a great rope of coir-palm fibre, with stones attached as anchors. Above all these were 1,000 crossbow men to give covering fire. The arrows poured down like rain and the army could not get forward. Dong Xi along with Ling Tong were together in the van, each in command of 100 volunteers in double armour. They boarded a great barge, charged the covered ships, and fought a harsh battle with numerical disadvantage of 1 to 10 before Dong cut the two ropes with his sword, clearing the blockade. The main body of the army then resumed advance. Huang escaped through a gate but was pursued and beheaded by a rider. At a great gathering the next day, Sun Quan raised his goblet to Dong saying, “Today’s gathering is to celebrate the achievement of the one who cut the two ropes!”
against Cao Cao
's serried army of 400,000, Sun Quan sent Dong Xi to command the “five-storied ship” and station at the mouth of Ruxu. One night, a cyclone stormed the bay, and imperiled the “five-storied ship” to capsize. His subordinates evacuated the warship, and pleaded for Dong Xi to come out, but the loyal, yet stubborn Dong replied sternly, “As a general who have received responsibility to get ready to face the rebels, how can I leave my post? Anyone who dares utter this again will be beheaded!” He then stayed on the ship alone, while the pusillanimous others awaited him to change his mind from a distance. However, Dong tabled to abandon the defunct ship. When the ship eventually foundered, Dong went down with it. His subordinates who fled the ship earlier marvelled at the scence and reported to Sun about how loyal the general was. Therefore, Sun mourned for his brave aide, and supported Dong's family handsomely.
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He hailed from Yuyao
Yuyao
Yuyao is a city in Zhejiang province, China, capital of Yuyao County, Ningbo. Administratively Yuyao is under the direct jurisdiction of Ningbo....
county, Kuaiji commandery (present-day Yuyao city, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
), and entered Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
's camp when the later pacified Jiangdong. Since Dong Xi's height and martial skill were extraordinary, he was relied by the Sun family from time to time. Despite being adept in elocution, he was a cussed man in core, and his obdurate nature would eventually cost his life on the battlefield.
Service under the Sun family
Dong Xi entered Sun Ce's service around the time Sun was pacifying northern Yang Province (or Jiangdong), but he would distinguish himself later when he was ordered to quell the rapacious ShanyueShanyue
Shanyue was a tribe that was resided in the Yue area of ancient China during Han Dynasty. Since the Southern part of China was not yet controlled by the Han ethnicity , the Shanyue people would performe regular raids against Han citizens to gather living essentials...
barbarians. Both Shanye leaders, Huang Longluo (黃龍羅) and Zhou Bo (周勃), were slew by Dong in the midst of battles, such warrior skill earned Dong several ranks and a thousand more soldiers under command.
After Sun Ce was assassinated in 200, Lady Wu
Lady Wu
Lady Wu was the wife of the warlord Sun Jian, who lived during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. She had five children: four sons, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Sun Yi, Sun Kuang, and a daughter, Lady Sun...
(mother of Sun Ce and Sun Quan) was worried that his successor Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
would be too young to handle the precarious situation in Jiangdong. She consulted Dong about her incertitude, and Dong Xi emboldened the former by saying, "The lands east of the Yangzi enjoy natural barriers from mountains and rivers, while the good government and virtue of Sun Ce have already attracted the people, lord Sun Quan can build on these foundations, so that great and small may follow his commands. Zhang Zhao
Zhang Zhao
Zhang Zhao was an official of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China.-Biography:Zhang was born in present-day Jiangsu. A brilliant scholar, he devoted his life mainly to the study of Chinese classic texts...
can look after affairs of government, while others like me can act as "claw and teeth (militiamen)". With both geographic advantage and popular support, there is certainly nothing to worry about.". His sanguine speech was applauded by many.
Still, there were people who deemed Sun Quan as ineligible to be their new lord, Peng Hu (彭虎) was one of them, and he led the bandits of Poyang
Poyang
Poyang may refer to:*Lake Poyang, a lake in Jiangxi, China*Poyang County, a county in China...
to rebel. Sun then ordered Dong Xi with Ling Tong
Ling Tong
Ling Tong was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his service to the Sun family since his childhood, and throughout his entire life, he had been contributing to the foundation and solidification of Eastern Wu...
, Jiang Qin
Jiang Qin
Jiang Qin , style name Gongyi , was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Qin was a pirate at the time he joined Sun Quan's predecessor, Sun Ce...
and Bu Zhi
Bu Zhi
Bu Zhi was an official of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a scholar from the Wu region and served as an advisor to the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty before the founding of Eastern Wu. He held several military posts from time to time, and was...
to suppress the riot army which had numbered to tens of thousands. Fearing Dong Xi's prowess, the traitors fled whenever Dong went, and the rebellion was dealt with in ten days.
In 208, Sun Quan led a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
against Huang Zu
Huang Zu
Huang Zu was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Biao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was an experienced naval commander, and was most famous for having skillful warriors like Sun Jian and Ling Cao killed in battle.-Background:Huang was born in an influential...
. Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu was a military general and strategist who served his close friend, the warlord Sun Ce, during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
, Ling Tong, Lu Meng
Lü Meng
Lü Meng was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served as the commanding general in the invasion of Jing Province that led to the death of Guan Yu.-Early life:Lü Meng was born in Fupo, Runan Commandery in 178...
, and Dong were dispatched for the campaign. After lossing his vanguard general to Ling, Huang set two ships covered with ox-hide to guard the channel across Miankou (沔口), and he had a great rope of coir-palm fibre, with stones attached as anchors. Above all these were 1,000 crossbow men to give covering fire. The arrows poured down like rain and the army could not get forward. Dong Xi along with Ling Tong were together in the van, each in command of 100 volunteers in double armour. They boarded a great barge, charged the covered ships, and fought a harsh battle with numerical disadvantage of 1 to 10 before Dong cut the two ropes with his sword, clearing the blockade. The main body of the army then resumed advance. Huang escaped through a gate but was pursued and beheaded by a rider. At a great gathering the next day, Sun Quan raised his goblet to Dong saying, “Today’s gathering is to celebrate the achievement of the one who cut the two ropes!”
Incident in Ruxu and death
At the Battle of RuxukouBattle of Ruxukou
The Battle of Ruxukou, also known as the Battle of Ruxu, was fought between the warlords Sun Quan and Cao Cao in 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Two years earlier, Sun Quan attempted to take control of Hefei fortress, but failed due to a sudden plague and the...
against Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's serried army of 400,000, Sun Quan sent Dong Xi to command the “five-storied ship” and station at the mouth of Ruxu. One night, a cyclone stormed the bay, and imperiled the “five-storied ship” to capsize. His subordinates evacuated the warship, and pleaded for Dong Xi to come out, but the loyal, yet stubborn Dong replied sternly, “As a general who have received responsibility to get ready to face the rebels, how can I leave my post? Anyone who dares utter this again will be beheaded!” He then stayed on the ship alone, while the pusillanimous others awaited him to change his mind from a distance. However, Dong tabled to abandon the defunct ship. When the ship eventually foundered, Dong went down with it. His subordinates who fled the ship earlier marvelled at the scence and reported to Sun about how loyal the general was. Therefore, Sun mourned for his brave aide, and supported Dong's family handsomely.
Appointments and titles held
- Senior Major (別部司馬)
- Commandant Who Spreads Martial Might (揚武都尉)
- Colonel Who Awes the Yue (威越校尉)
- Lieutenant General (偏將軍)