Zhu Xu

Zhu Xu (died 393), courtesy name Cilun, was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was most famous for his involvement in the crucial Battle of Fei River in 383, in which he set up a ruse that caused the disastrous retreat of the Former Qin army. Prior to Fei River, Zhu put down the rebellion of Sima Xun and defended Xiangyang from Qin for more than a year before he was captured and served a brief stint under Qin. After Fei River, Zhu Xu returned to Jin and continued to serve the state. He guarded the northern borders and fought against the states of Zhai Wei and Western Yan before retiring in 392. Background Zhu Xu came from a family line of generals in Yiyang Commandery (義陽郡, around present-day Zaoyang, Hubei). His father, Zhu Tao (朱燾) once served as Colonel of the Western Rong and Governor of Yizhou. Zhu Xu would continue the family trend, and by 365, he was already serving as General of Hawkish Display and Chancellor of Jiangxia. Prior to the Battle of Fei River Sima Xun's Rebellion That same year, the Inspector of Liangzhou, Sima Xun, rebelled in his province and placed the Inspector of Yizhou, Zhou Chu (周楚), under siege at Chengdu. The Grand Marshal of Jin, Huan Wen appointed Zhu Xu to be Commander-Protector of the Expeditionary Force tasked in saving Chengdu. The following year, Zhu Xu attacked Sima Xun at Chengdu together with Zhou Chu. Sima Xun's soldiers scattered during the fight. Zhu Xu soon captured Sima Xun and his subordinates before sending them to Huan Wen, who had them all executed. Zhu Xu was awarded the office of General Who Attacks Barbarians and the title of Viscount of Xiangping (襄平子).