Yu Jin
Encyclopedia
Yu Jin was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He joined Cao in the early years of the civil wars that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty. He fought in many of the campaigns that established the warlord's position as a central figure of the Three Kingdoms
.
Despite having surrendered to enemy forces at the Battle of Fancheng
, Yu was considered by Chen Shou
, author of the Records of Three Kingdoms
, to be one of the Five Elite Generals, along with Zhang Liao
, Xu Huang
, Yue Jin
, and Zhang He
.
, Shandong
), Yu first joined the Yan Province (兗州) government force against the Yellow Turban Rebellion
in the early 180s. When Cao took over Yan Province in 193, Yu became a subject of the rising warlord and was placed under the command of Wang Lang
. Wang was impressed by Yu's talent and recommended the man to Cao, who promoted him to an army commander. Yu had since played active roles in campaigns against Tao Qian in Xu Province (徐州), Lü Bu
in Puyang
, and remnants of the Yellow Turbans.
at the Battle of Wancheng
and retreated to Wuyin (northwest of present day Qinyang
, Henan
), Yu led several hundred men to hold off the pursuers, alternatively engaging the enemy and retreating to avoid a rout. As the army approached Wuyin, the enemy slowed down its pursuit, giving Yu the chance to reorganize his troops and return in the most orderly manner.
Outside Wuyin, however, Yu saw around a dozen men walking along the road, injured and naked. When asked, they replied that they had been robbed by the Qingzhou Army. The Qingzhou Army was the name given to the former Yellow Turban rebels who surrendered to Cao Cao in Qing Province (青州). The enraged Yu led his troops to attack the die-hard bandits, who quickly ran to Cao to accuse Yu of treason.
When Yu arrived in Wuyin, he did not first report to his lord but instead set up camp to guard against pursuing forces of Zhang Xiu. When others reminded him that the men from the Qingzhou Army had spoken foully of him before Cao Cao, Yu shrugged it off on account that his lord was a wise man. Furthermore, external enemies would prevail if defensive preparations failed to be made because of internal disagreements, he explained. After the entrenchment was completed, Yu finally sought audience with Cao and explained the situation to the latter, who was pleased and lauded the commander for his leadership quality.
at the Battle of Guandu
in 200, Yu was promoted to a deputy general for his valor in battle. As Yuan's heirs were eradicated, Chang Xi (昌豨), a local warlord who had previously surrendered, rebelled again. Yu was deployed with a force to quell the rebellion. As they were old friends, Chang then submitted to Yu. Many suggested that Chang should be sent to Cao Cao, but Yu admonished them, saying, "Don't you know the lord's law is that those who surrender after being besieged shall not be pardoned?" Personally meeting Chang to say his parting words in tears, Yu then had the rebel executed. When Cao heard of this, he respected Yu even more and promoted the latter to General of Tiger's Might (虎威將軍).
Henceforth, whenever Cao Cao personally led a campaign abroad, Yu would be placed in front as the vanguard commander. When the army returned, he would be placed at the back as a rear guard. When an enemy loot was plundered, Yu would reward his men handsomely, keeping nothing for himself. On the other hand, the punishment he dished out was as heavy, but just.
was besieged by Liu Bei
's general Guan Yu
at Fancheng
. Yu, then already promoted to General of the Left (左將軍), was sent to the rescue, alongside Pang De
, who had newly joined Cao Cao's force. As the autumn came, however, a long spell of heavy rainfall flooded the Han River next to the city, drowning the majority of the relief forces. Yu and Pang climbed onto a segment of yet unsubmerged dyke and made a last stand there. As Guan came round onboard a large boat, Yu surrendered but Pang, refusing to give in, was captured and executed. Cao Cao heard of this and grieved for a long time, saying, "I've known Yu Jin for three decades. How could he have shown less courage than Pang De in the face of death?"
When the warlord Sun Quan
defeated Guan Yu in the same year, he kept Yu in his territory. During his stay in Eastern Wu
, Yu was treated with respect by Sun, but at the same time, was serious ridiculed by Sun's straightforward official, Yu Fan
, on several occasions. After the death of Cao Cao in 220, Cao Pi
declared himself the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei
. Sun Quan then swore allegiance and returned Yu to Cao Wei. By this time, however, Yu was already a frail old man with a headful of white hair.
to pay his respects at Cao Cao's tomb. When Yu arrived, he found that the emperor had had artists paint on the tomb, scenes of the Battle of Fan, in which Yu was shown begging for his life to be spared and succumbing to the victorious Guan Yu, while Pang De was shown dying an honorable death. Upon seeing the mural, Yu was so filled with regret that he fell ill and soon died. He was given the posthumous title
of Marquis Li (厲侯), for people to remember him as the stony marquis.
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...
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 joined Cao in the early years of the civil wars that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty. He fought in many of the campaigns that established the warlord's position as a central figure of the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
.
Despite having surrendered to enemy forces at the Battle of Fancheng
Battle of Fancheng
The Battle of Fancheng was fought between the forces of warlords Liu Bei and Cao Cao in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, Yu was considered by Chen Shou
Chen Shou
Chen Shou was a historian during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known as the author of Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.-Biography:...
, author of the Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...
, to be one of the Five Elite Generals, along with Zhang Liao
Zhang Liao
Zhang Liao was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He participated in many campaigns, including those against Yuan Shao's clan and the Wuhuan tribes...
, Xu Huang
Xu Huang
Xu Huang was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei, founded by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, during the Three Kingdoms period...
, Yue Jin
Yue Jin
Yue Jin was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty of China. He was noted as much for his short stature as for his valor and ferocity on the battlefield...
, and Zhang He
Zhang He
Zhang He was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He continued serving the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period until his death....
.
Early life
A local of Juping (southwest of present day Tai'anTai'an
Tai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China.Centered around Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Laiwu to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to the extreme west and Jining to the south...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
), Yu first joined the Yan Province (兗州) government force against the Yellow Turban Rebellion
Yellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
in the early 180s. When Cao took over Yan Province in 193, Yu became a subject of the rising warlord and was placed under the command of Wang Lang
Wang Lang
Wang Lang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty and a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Through his granddaughter's marriage to Sima Zhao, he would become great-grandfather of Sima Yan, who later became the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty.-Early life...
. Wang was impressed by Yu's talent and recommended the man to Cao, who promoted him to an army commander. Yu had since played active roles in campaigns against Tao Qian in Xu Province (徐州), Lü Bu
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
in Puyang
Puyang
Puyang is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Henan province, China. Located on the northern shore of the Yellow River, it borders Anyang in the west, Xinxiang in the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Hebei in the east and north respectively....
, and remnants of the Yellow Turbans.
Incident after the retreat from Wancheng
In 197, after Cao Cao lost to Zhang XiuZhang Xiu
Zhang Xiu was a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He eventually surrendered to Cao Cao in 200. Having contributed greatly to the decisive Battle of Guandu and subsequent campaigns against the heirs of Yuan Shao, Zhang Xiu died en route Liucheng on a campaign to...
at the Battle of Wancheng
Battle of Wancheng
The Battle of Wancheng or Battle of Wan City was a battle fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu in 197 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
and retreated to Wuyin (northwest of present day Qinyang
Qinyang
Qinyang is a county-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. It is administered by the prefecture-level city Jiaozuo. The current population of Qinyang is estimated at 470,000...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), Yu led several hundred men to hold off the pursuers, alternatively engaging the enemy and retreating to avoid a rout. As the army approached Wuyin, the enemy slowed down its pursuit, giving Yu the chance to reorganize his troops and return in the most orderly manner.
Outside Wuyin, however, Yu saw around a dozen men walking along the road, injured and naked. When asked, they replied that they had been robbed by the Qingzhou Army. The Qingzhou Army was the name given to the former Yellow Turban rebels who surrendered to Cao Cao in Qing Province (青州). The enraged Yu led his troops to attack the die-hard bandits, who quickly ran to Cao to accuse Yu of treason.
When Yu arrived in Wuyin, he did not first report to his lord but instead set up camp to guard against pursuing forces of Zhang Xiu. When others reminded him that the men from the Qingzhou Army had spoken foully of him before Cao Cao, Yu shrugged it off on account that his lord was a wise man. Furthermore, external enemies would prevail if defensive preparations failed to be made because of internal disagreements, he explained. After the entrenchment was completed, Yu finally sought audience with Cao and explained the situation to the latter, who was pleased and lauded the commander for his leadership quality.
The incident of Chang Xi
After Cao Cao defeated rival warlord Yuan ShaoYuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
at the Battle of Guandu
Battle of Guandu
The Battle of Guandu was a military conflict between the warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in 200 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle, which concluded with victory for Cao Cao, was a turning point in the war between the two warlords...
in 200, Yu was promoted to a deputy general for his valor in battle. As Yuan's heirs were eradicated, Chang Xi (昌豨), a local warlord who had previously surrendered, rebelled again. Yu was deployed with a force to quell the rebellion. As they were old friends, Chang then submitted to Yu. Many suggested that Chang should be sent to Cao Cao, but Yu admonished them, saying, "Don't you know the lord's law is that those who surrender after being besieged shall not be pardoned?" Personally meeting Chang to say his parting words in tears, Yu then had the rebel executed. When Cao heard of this, he respected Yu even more and promoted the latter to General of Tiger's Might (虎威將軍).
Henceforth, whenever Cao Cao personally led a campaign abroad, Yu would be placed in front as the vanguard commander. When the army returned, he would be placed at the back as a rear guard. When an enemy loot was plundered, Yu would reward his men handsomely, keeping nothing for himself. On the other hand, the punishment he dished out was as heavy, but just.
Life as a captive
In 219, Cao RenCao Ren
Cao Ren was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He played a significant part in assisting Cao Cao in the civil wars leading to the end of the Han Dynasty...
was besieged by Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
's general Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
at Fancheng
Fancheng
Fancheng District is a district of Xiangfan, Hubei, China.-History:Fancheng was an ancient Chinese city in Hubei, situated on the northern side of the Han River, opposite Xiangyang on the southern side of the river...
. Yu, then already promoted to General of the Left (左將軍), was sent to the rescue, alongside Pang De
Pang De
Pang De was a military general during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served different warlords during his life-span, including the Han Dynasty imperial court under Emperor Ling; the Liang Province forces led by Han Sui and Ma Teng; the Hanzhong warlord, Zhang Lu; and the...
, who had newly joined Cao Cao's force. As the autumn came, however, a long spell of heavy rainfall flooded the Han River next to the city, drowning the majority of the relief forces. Yu and Pang climbed onto a segment of yet unsubmerged dyke and made a last stand there. As Guan came round onboard a large boat, Yu surrendered but Pang, refusing to give in, was captured and executed. Cao Cao heard of this and grieved for a long time, saying, "I've known Yu Jin for three decades. How could he have shown less courage than Pang De in the face of death?"
When the warlord 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....
defeated Guan Yu in the same year, he kept Yu in his territory. During his stay in Eastern Wu
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...
, Yu was treated with respect by Sun, but at the same time, was serious ridiculed by Sun's straightforward official, Yu Fan
Yu Fan
Yu Fan , style name Zhongxiang , was an official of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Yu was formerly a district supervisor under the warlord Wang Lang. After Sun Ce defeated Wang, Yu surrendered and pledged allegiance to the Sun clan...
, on several occasions. After the death of Cao Cao in 220, Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
declared himself the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
. Sun Quan then swore allegiance and returned Yu to Cao Wei. By this time, however, Yu was already a frail old man with a headful of white hair.
Death
Cao Pi reinstated him to the Borders-Pacifying General(安遠將軍) and intended to send him back to Eastern Wu as an envoy. Before he departed, Yu was instructed to travel to YeYe, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
to pay his respects at Cao Cao's tomb. When Yu arrived, he found that the emperor had had artists paint on the tomb, scenes of the Battle of Fan, in which Yu was shown begging for his life to be spared and succumbing to the victorious Guan Yu, while Pang De was shown dying an honorable death. Upon seeing the mural, Yu was so filled with regret that he fell ill and soon died. He was given the posthumous title
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
of Marquis Li (厲侯), for people to remember him as the stony marquis.