Yu Quan

Historical Record（史载）

Yu Quan has no clear record in the official history, the Records of the Three Kingdoms, or its related historical sources. Concerning his life, native place, official posts, and specific deeds during the Three Kingdoms period, the historical sources make no mention. It is therefore impossible to construct his historical image or to verify his actual existence from historical and biographical materials.^[1] His image was shaped and transmitted chiefly through literary works.

In the Novel（演中）

In Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yu Quan appears as an Eastern Wu general, his image centering chiefly on his loyalty, righteousness, and martial valor. He first appears in chapter 111, when, with the Eastern Wu Chancellor Sun Chen assisting the government, Zhuge Dan, dissatisfied that Sima Zhao had deposed his lord and abused power, sought aid from Eastern Wu. Sun Chen thereupon dispatched the great generals Quan Yi and Quan Duan as chief commanders, Yu Quan as rearguard, Zhu Yi and Tang Zi as vanguard, and Wen Qin as guide, leading an army of seventy thousand to Shouchun to support Zhuge Dan.^[1] Here Yu Quan is positioned as one of the important generals of the Wu army.

In chapter 112, the Wu army was stationed at Anfeng, and Zhu Yi, having failed to lift the siege of Shouchun, was rebuked by Sun Chen. At this critical moment Yu Quan stepped forth and offered Zhu Yi a plan: "Now the south gate of Shouchun is not besieged; I am willing to lead a force in through the south gate to help Zhuge Dan defend the city. You, general, challenge the Wei troops to battle, and I will then sally out from within the city, attacking from both sides, and the Wei troops can be broken."^[2] This stratagem was adopted by Zhu Yi, and Yu Quan thereupon, together with Quan Yi, Quan Duan, Wen Qin, and other generals, led ten thousand troops and successfully entered the city through the south gate of Shouchun. However, the Wei commander Sima Zhao saw through the Wu army's intention of attacking from within and without, and sent Wang Ji and Chen Qian to cut off Zhu Yi's line of retreat, leading to a great defeat of the Wu army, and Zhu Yi was beheaded by Sun Chen.^[2] Although the Wu army met with setback, Yu Quan's action in entering the city to provide support displayed his boldness and his judgment of the battle situation.

With Shouchun besieged for a long time, the hearts of the people within wavered. When the Wei army assaulted the city, the defending general Ceng Xuan offered up the north gate, and the Wei troops were able to enter the city. Zhuge Dan, breaking out, was beheaded by Hu Zun. At this point Wang Ji led troops in a charge to the west gate and met head-on with the Wu general Yu Quan. Wang Ji urged him to surrender, but Yu Quan displayed great loyalty, righteousness, and unyielding resolve. He angrily denounced him, saying, "To go forth on command, to rescue others in distress, and then, being unable to rescue them, to surrender to another—this is something that righteousness will not do!"^[3] He then flung his helmet to the ground and cried aloud, "To be born into this world and to win death on the battlefield—this is good fortune!" and, brandishing his blade, fought to the death with the Wei troops for over thirty bouts, until at last, his men exhausted and his horse worn out, he was killed by the swarming soldiers.^[3] Through this scene the Romance shapes him into a tragic hero, unyielding to the death and loyally fearless.

Key Relationships

* Eastern Wu (serves): As a general of Eastern Wu, Yu Quan was commanded to take part in the military operation to relieve Shouchun. He was loyal to the Eastern Wu regime, and even when the situation was unfavorable, he held to his duty and did not begrudge giving his life to repay the state.^[3]
* Sun Chen (superior): Sun Chen, as the Eastern Wu Chancellor at the time, was Yu Quan's direct superior, who dispatched Yu Quan to take part in the military operation to relieve Zhuge Dan.^[1]
* Zhu Yi (colleague/superior): Yu Quan fought alongside Zhu Yi in the Battle of Shouchun and offered Zhu Yi the plan to enter the city in support.^[2]
* Zhuge Dan (the one being relieved): Yu Quan was commanded to go to Shouchun to relieve Zhuge Dan, and successfully entered the city to join up with Zhuge Dan and defend it together.^[2]
* Wang Ji (enemy general): When Shouchun fell, Yu Quan met the Wei general Wang Ji, refused Wang Ji's call to surrender, and in the end died at the hands of the Wei troops led by Wang Ji.^[3]

Signature Scenes

* Vanguard of the Shouchun Relief Force (unique to the Romance): As an important general of the Eastern Wu relief army, Yu Quan, on Sun Chen's orders, together with Quan Yi, Quan Duan, Zhu Yi, Tang Zi, Wen Qin, and others, led an army of seventy thousand to Shouchun to support Zhuge Dan.^[1]
* Offering the Plan to Enter the City (unique to the Romance): At the stalemate of the Shouchun campaign, Yu Quan offered Zhu Yi a plan, proposing to enter the city through the south gate of Shouchun and form a pincer with Zhuge Dan within. He personally led ten thousand troops and successfully entered Shouchun through the south gate, displaying his military strategy and execution.^[2]
* Choosing Death over Surrender, Nobly Giving His Life (unique to the Romance): When Shouchun fell and the Wei army entered the city, and the Wei general Wang Ji called on him to surrender, Yu Quan refused with stern righteousness, declaring, "To go forth on command, to rescue others in distress, and then, being unable to rescue them, to surrender to another—this is something that righteousness will not do!" He flung his helmet to the ground and cried aloud, "To be born into this world and to win death on the battlefield—this is good fortune!", and then, brandishing his blade, fought to the death with the Wei troops for over thirty bouts, until at last he fell with his strength spent. This scene fully displays Yu Quan's heroic spirit of loyalty, righteousness, and unyielding resolve, and is his most signature scene in the Romance.^[3]