Sun Zi

Historical Record

Sun Zi, styled Yanlong, displayed exceptional cleverness from childhood. Orphaned of both parents at the age of three, he was raised by his elder brother and sister-in-law. He studied at the Imperial Academy and read widely; when Wang Yun, of the same commandery, first met him, he marveled at his talent. When Cao Cao was Minister of Works, he summoned Sun Zi to office, but because Sun Zi's elder brother had been murdered by a fellow villager and Sun Zi avenged him with his own hand, he then took his family into seclusion in Hedong and did not answer the summons. Afterward his home commandery again summoned him, and he declined on grounds of illness. His friend Jia Kui of Hedong urged Sun Zi, holding that he possessed surpassing talent, and that in such an age of disorder, with the lord earnestly seeking worthies, he ought not to dwell long in the countryside and defy his lord's command. Moved by Jia Kui's words, Sun Zi answered the summons and served as Officer of Merit, and was recommended as an accounting clerk. When the Director of the Secretariat Xun Yu saw Sun Zi, he sighed: "The provinces and commanderies of the north have long endured calamity and disorder; I had thought the worthy and wise scattered and lost, yet today I again see Clerk Sun!" and memorialized to retain him as a Gentleman of the Secretariat. Sun Zi declined on grounds of troubles at home and was able to return to Hedong^[1].

After the state of Wei was established, Sun Zi served together with Sun Zi of Taiyuan (this is a textual error in the original; it should refer to Sun Zi himself) as Gentleman of the Imperial Library. Earlier, Sun Zi had also served as a county magistrate and had taken part in the Chancellor's military affairs. When Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, fell gravely ill, he and Liu Fang were summoned into the bedchamber. Cao Rui had originally wished to make Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, Grand General and, together with Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao, Qin Lang, and others, to share in the regency. But Cao Yu was respectful and cautious by nature and firmly declined. Cao Rui then asked Liu Fang and Sun Zi: "Why does the Prince of Yan act thus?" The two answered: "The Prince of Yan truly knows himself unequal to the great charge." Cao Rui asked again: "Can Cao Shuang replace Cao Yu?" Liu Fang and Sun Zi seized the chance to approve, and strongly urged that the Grand Commandant Sima Yi be recalled at once to stabilize the imperial house. Cao Rui adopted their advice and on the spot, with yellow paper, instructed Liu Fang to draft the edict. After Liu Fang and Sun Zi left the palace, Cao Rui changed his mind again and issued an order to stop Sima Yi from coming. Then Cao Rui again summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi, saying: "I had meant to summon the Grand Commandant, but Cao Zhao and the others had me stop him—they nearly ruined my great affair!" and ordered them to redraft the edict. Cao Rui summoned Cao Shuang alone, who together with Liu Fang and Sun Zi received the edict, and forthwith dismissed Cao Yu, Xiahou Xian, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang from office. The Grand Commandant Sima Yi also arrived in time and received the edict at the bedside, after which Cao Rui passed away^[2].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun Zi's image is shown mainly in his role as a strategist and court minister. He first appears when Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, wished to campaign against Shu. At that time Sun Zi offered Cao Rui a plan, holding that when Cao Cao had attacked Zhang Lu in earlier days, he had called the land of Nanzheng "truly a heavenly prison," and that the Middle Xie Valley Road was a stone cavern of five hundred li, no place to wage war. He advised Cao Rui not to raise the whole realm's troops to attack Shu, lest Eastern Wu exploit the opening, but rather to divide his forces to hold the strategic passes and to nurture his strength. He predicted that after several years, with the Central Plains growing daily stronger, the two states of Wu and Shu would inevitably destroy each other, and that to plan against them only then would be the way to victory. Cao Rui asked Sima Yi what he thought of this argument, and Sima Yi too said Sun Zi's words were entirely right. Cao Rui adopted Sun Zi's advice, ordering Sima Yi to assign generals to guard the strategic passes and to leave Guo Huai and Zhang He to hold Chang'an^[3].

Sun Zi's other important appearance in the novel is when Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, fell gravely ill. At that time Cao Rui, terrified at night by the vengeful ghost of Empress Mingdao demanding his life, grew daily more gravely ill. He ordered the Palace Attendant and Imperial Household Grandee Liu Fang and Sun Zi to take charge of all the affairs of the Privy Council, and summoned Emperor Wen's son Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, to be Grand General and to assist the heir apparent Cao Fang in the regency. But Cao Yu, respectful, frugal, and mild by nature, would not take on this heavy charge and firmly declined. Cao Rui then summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi to ask who among the imperial clansmen might serve. Liu Fang and Sun Zi, having earlier received the favor of Cao Zhen, recommended Cao Zhen's son Cao Shuang. Cao Rui adopted their advice. The two further memorialized Cao Rui that, if Cao Shuang was to be given heavy employment, the Prince of Yan should be sent back to his fief. Cao Rui heeded their advice and issued an edict, with Liu Fang and Sun Zi going out of the palace to instruct the Prince of Yan to return to his fief that very day and not to enter court without an edict. The Prince of Yan, Cao Yu, departed in tears. Thereupon Cao Shuang was enfeoffed as Grand General and took overall charge of the government^[4]. Here the novel ascribes Liu Fang and Sun Zi's motive in recommending Cao Shuang clearly to their "long having received Cao Zhen's favor," which is not clearly mentioned in the histories and is a literary supplement.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Sun Zi served the Cao Wei regime all his life, from being summoned to office in Cao Cao's time to holding important posts such as Gentleman of the Imperial Library and Palace Attendant and Imperial Household Grandee under Emperor Ming, Cao Rui, taking part in major state and military affairs and deeply esteemed^[1].
* Sima Yi (advises_in): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun Zi's stratagem won the approval and support of Sima Yi, the two together influencing Emperor Ming's decisions^[3]. In history, when Cao Rui was gravely ill, Sun Zi together with Liu Fang strongly urged Cao Rui to recall Sima Yi to assist in the regency, playing a key part in raising Sima Yi's political standing^[2].
* Liu Fang (co-conspirator/colleague): Sun Zi was close to Liu Fang. When Emperor Ming, Cao Rui, was gravely ill, the two jointly advised him, swaying Cao Rui's choice of regents, and together drafted the edict, exerting a profound influence on the political situation of the time^[2].
* Cao Rui (served): Sun Zi was an important strategist and close minister of Cao Rui, and when Cao Rui was gravely ill he was entrusted with heavy responsibility, taking part in deciding the great affairs of state^[2].
* Cao Shuang (promoted_by): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun Zi together with Liu Fang recommended Cao Shuang as Grand General, enabling him to take overall charge of the government^[4]. In history, the two likewise approved Cao Shuang's replacing Cao Yu in the regency and brought about Sima Yi's return, indirectly creating the situation in which Cao Shuang and Sima Yi shared the regency^[2].

Iconic Scenes

* Dissuading the Campaign Against Shu (novel only): When Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, wished to campaign against Shu, Sun Zi argued against the consensus and proposed the strategy of "nurturing one's strength and waiting for Wu and Shu to destroy each other." This plan won Sima Yi's agreement and was ultimately adopted by Cao Rui, sparing Wei from launching a large-scale war at an unsuitable time. This scene displays Sun Zi's far-sighted character^[3].
* Settling the Succession at the Bedside (history and novel combined): When Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, fell gravely ill, Sun Zi together with Liu Fang entered the palace, and at Cao Rui's bedside urged him to abandon Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, and instead install Cao Shuang as regent, and strongly advocated recalling Sima Yi. This decision profoundly shaped the political course of the later Cao Wei period and laid the groundwork for the rise of the Sima family. This scene highlights Sun Zi's political influence and decisiveness at the critical moment^[2][4].
* Slaying His Enemy with His Own Hand (history): Sun Zi's elder brother was murdered by a fellow villager, and Sun Zi avenged him with his own hand, displaying his fierce and resolute side. This event also led him to withdraw for a time into seclusion in Hedong and fail to answer the summons to office in time^[1].
* Jia Kui Urging Him to Serve (history): When Sun Zi declined office on account of family troubles, his friend Jia Kui urged him to come forth with the words, "You harbor surpassing talent; at a time when the old realm has collapsed, the lord earnestly seeks you, and from a thousand li he cranes his neck in longing," and in the end Sun Zi was moved by his words and answered the summons. This reflects that, though Sun Zi had a heart inclined to seclusion, he ultimately gave priority to the great cause of the realm^[1].