生平

吴郡士族

陆逊出自吴郡陆氏，东汉光和六年（183年）出生，少孤，儿时随其从祖父庐江太守陆康，后军阀袁术自九江遣孙策谋攻庐江，陆康与之战于庐江达两年，因缺粮致陆氏宗族损耗大半。为避战祸，陆康令人携幼子陆绩及从孙陆逊返回吴郡。陆逊长于从父陆绩数岁，帮助他纲纪门户。

当时，陆绩及其外甥顾邵以博览书传齐名，陆逊、张敦、卜静次之。

仕于孙吴

东汉建安八年（203年），陆逊21岁，投入孙权旗下，历任东西曹令史，后在海昌担任屯田都尉，行县长之职务。当时县里连年旱灾，陆逊开仓分谷于贫民，并监督县里的农业发展，深深得到当地百姓的信赖。当时吴郡、会稽郡、丹杨郡多有山越盗贼潜匿，陆逊上疏陈述平定山越的利益，请求由他去征讨。这其中尤其是会稽山贼大帅潘临，危祸当地多年。陆逊率军平乱，所到之处皆顺服之，此时其部曲已有二千馀人。建安二十一年（216年）鄱阳贼帅尤突作乱，陆逊同贺齐多次讨之，拜定威校尉，军屯于利浦。

议见兵势

孙权将孙策之女许配予陆逊，并多次拜访论天下时务。陆逊建议孙权：「现今群雄如弈棋，贪残之人窥望伺探，欲战胜敌人，平定祸乱（指孙权领地内的山越），大家得要同舟共济。当今山越贼寇仍然在地方作乱，我们若要拓展更多的领地必进处处受阻、困难重重。如无法安定内部问题，对外开拓难有所作为。吾建议应扩大兵源，并从中取其精锐。」孙权纳其良策，拜陆逊为其帐下之右部督，统领宿卫兵，又授给陆逊棨戟，让他都督会稽、鄱阳、丹阳三郡。

当时丹杨贼帅费栈接受曹操的印绶，煽动山越作为内应，孙权便遣陆逊讨伐。陆逊知道费栈部众多于他所率兵马，便巧施计谋，布署其军旗和鼓于四周，潜军在黑夜中的山谷中，时机一到便击鼓而前进攻，敌军顿时胆怯，以为四面八方皆是官兵，费栈与其部众登时分崩离析。陆逊之后挥军平定扬州东部三郡的贼寇，经此役得到精兵数万人，将其中健强体扩者补充兵员，羸弱者纳入充实户口，抒解当时吴国人口与兵力不足的问题，后回军屯兵于芜湖。

当时会稽太守淳于式上表告陆逊违法徵用民众。陆逊返回知道此事后，反为淳于式说好话，孙权为陆逊的长者风范甚为佩服。

初露锋芒

东汉建安二十四年（219年），关羽讨魏将曹仁于樊城，留兵将守备公安、南郡。吴都督吕蒙意欲用计偷袭荆州，便称病前往建业。时年37岁的陆逊前往见之。谓曰：「羽矜其骁气，陵轹于人。始有大功，意骄志逸，但务北进，未嫌于我，有相闻病，必益无备。今出其不意，自可禽制。」（关羽凭藉其骁勇，目中无人。立了大功便骄矜自大，他只专注于北进，未对我国有所戒心，听闻将军称病，必定更削除对我军的防备，之后出其不意攻之，便可擒拿关羽。）吕蒙为不泄露军情，假意称关羽是无法图谋的，不过吕蒙回到建业，便推荐以「意思深长，才堪负重」、但「未有远名」的陆逊，孙权便拜陆逊为偏将军右部督，替代吕蒙的位置。

陆逊于陆口到任后，便写信向关羽示弱，使其对吴失去戒心。关羽不虞有诈，调荆州守军北攻襄樊，削弱荆州守备。建安二十四年十一月（219年末），孙权乃潜军奇袭，使陆逊与吕蒙为前部，立即攻克了公安、南郡，陆逊领宜都太守，拜抚边将军，封华亭侯。吕蒙追杀关羽的同时，陆逊由别路进军，攻破房陵、南乡等处，刘备手下的宜都郡守樊友、房陵太守邓辅、南乡太守郭睦、秭归大姓文布、邓凯或败或逃，诸城长吏及蛮夷君长皆降，使得关羽经由三峡退入益州及刘备发兵救援的道路断绝。时荆州士人初降服，仕路不通，陆逊便上疏孙权曰：「今荆州始定，人物未达，臣愚慺慺，乞普加覆载抽拔之恩。令并获自进，然后四海延颈，思归大化。」此一举措成功拉拢部分荆州人士的归附，拢络了荆州人心，已经逃到刘备阵营为将的文布在陆逊诱导下率众投降。这也间接造成日后刘备征吴时难以成功策动荆州各势力响应蜀军的原因之一。孙权后封陆逊为右护军、镇西将军，进封娄侯，官职已位于吕蒙之上。

孙权想要彰显陆逊的功德，虽然陆逊已经是将军，获得封爵，依然想让他担任扬州举人，于是令扬州牧吕范徵辟陆逊为别驾从事，举茂才。

彝陵扬名

汉章武元年、魏黄初二年（221年），刘备为夺回荆州并报关羽被杀之仇，亲率大军伐吴。孙权遣使求和不成，只得向魏国称臣，表明愿意修好，以免魏国趁机偷袭，同时命陆逊为大都督，整军应战。

次年二月，蜀汉大军进军至彝陵、秭归一带（今湖北宜昌），连营数百里，并得武陵五溪蛮土著部族的支援，声势浩大。蜀军频繁挑战，吴军手下将领皆亟欲出战，但陆逊坚守不出，陆逊深知蜀军锐气正盛，同时长江三峡地段陆路崎岖、水路惊险，又是下游作战，地形对东吴的防御和后勤供应较为不利，于是陆逊决心实施战略后撤，便先令吴军退至彝陵、猇亭（今湖北宜都北）一带，据守有利地形，堵住三峡河口。吴军退出三峡后，后勤运输大为改善，于平地扎营，吴军持续坚守不战，静观其变，再寻机决战。两军相持达半年之久，直至六月气候正值酷暑，蜀军疲惫、斗志松懈，又因暑热，移入密林结营，陆逊才开始反击。

陆逊利用火攻，火烧连营，并封锁江面，扼守彝陵道，全线出击，克营40馀座，汉军「舟船、器械，水、步军资，一时略尽，尸骸塞江而下」。冯习、张南、傅肜、马良、王甫、蛮将沙摩柯等将皆被吴军斩杀，驻守江北的黄权因退路被断，无法回到蜀地，不得已只好率麾下部队投降魏国。刘备遭到惨败后，连夜率馀部退至白帝城。

吴国众将见机不可失，向陆逊请求继续追击，但陆逊认为「曹丕集结大军到此。假借帮助吴王征讨刘备，实在怀有奸心，我决定回军江陵。」果然过不了多久，魏帝曹丕便假借合攻汉军之名，向东吴入侵，但见吴军早有准备，便自行退兵。刘备当时听到曹丕兵分三路攻东吴，便写信给陆逊问道：「如今曹丕已开拔进军至江陵，若我再次向孙权用兵，将军（指陆逊）将如何应付呢？」陆逊回信，曰：「汉军刚刚才打了败仗，元气大伤，应当遣使求和，切勿穷兵黩武。若不这么做的话，恐怕会招来另一个灭顶之灾，若是执迷不悟跑来送死，这次就不再客气了。」战后孙权加封逊为辅国将军，改封江陵侯，镇守西陵。

言听计从

刘备不久后去世，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮秉政，再度积极谋合孙刘联盟，使孙刘消除之间的敌对关系。之后凡吴、蜀关系处理，孙权都先徵求陆逊意见；给蜀的文书，也先给陆逊看，有意见陆逊可代改后再发出。孙权还专门刻了他的大印，交给陆逊，供他日常处理吴、蜀间的事物所用。

黄武五年（226年），陆逊因驻守的地方缺粮，上表命令诸将广开农田。孙权回覆说：「主意很好！即日起我父子亲自领受一份农田，用给我驾车的八条牛分拉四犁耕作，虽然比不上古圣贤所作，也可以与大家一样同等劳动。」陆逊上表劝孙权广施恩德、减轻刑罚，放宽田赋的徵收，停止户税的收稽。孙权表示二人情义特别不同，荣辱与共。于是孙权命令有关主管官员写好全部的法令条款，派郎中褚逢送给陆逊和诸葛瑾过目，让他们如果觉得有什么不妥当之处，就手增削修改。

石亭御魏

吴黄武七年（228年），魏大司马曹休大举进攻吴国，鄱阳太守周鲂到曹营诈降，曹休中计，以十万步骑朝向皖城接应。孙权赐给陆逊假黄钺，亲自执鞭扶他上马，百官朝他下跪，于是派遣陆逊迎击。这就如同古时候的贤王在派遣将军出战时，跪在将军的车前，手扶车轮说：「城内由我来治理；城外就只能靠将军治理了。」

曹休既知受骗，自恃兵马精多，遂交战。陆逊自为中部，令朱桓、全琮为左右翼，三路进军，双方决战于石亭，大败曹休，一举击溃魏国十万兵马，斩获万余，获车乘万辆，魏军军资器械略尽。曹休幸得逃脱，然而不久后就愤恨而死。

陆逊回军，受到孙权极大荣宠，赠送自己的车盖给他，命左右覆盖陆逊，脱下钩络带亲自给陆逊戴上，赠给陆逊缯彩、丹漆。孙权为群僚召开酒宴，酒酣，让陆逊跳舞，又脱下所穿的白鼯子裘赠给他，并与陆逊对舞。等到陆逊回西陵，又赠给他御船。

教导皇子

吴黄龙元年（229年），孙权称帝，在大将军之上又设置上大将军，地位高于三公。陆逊被拜为上大将军、右都护。同年孙权东巡建业，留太子孙登、皇子及尚书九官等在武昌，让陆逊辅佐太子，并掌管荆州及扬州豫章等三郡事务，主持吴军国大事。

孙权令陆逊教育诸位皇子公子。当时孙权次子孙虑喜好斗鸭，陆逊严肃地说：「君侯应当勤读经典，增加自己的新知，玩弄这些东西有什么用？」孙虑当即就拆毁了斗鸭栏。射声校尉孙松是孙权弟弟孙翊的儿子，在公子中最亲近孙权，他不整军纪，放纵士兵，陆逊当著他的面将他的手下罚以剃光头发。孙松曾有小过失，陆逊当面斥责他，孙松脸色看起来不服气，陆逊看到他脸色稍缓和，问：「你不因我粗鄙，多次来访，以明过失，我便顺从你的来意进尽忠言，为什么你却脸变色？」孙松笑答：「我只是也为自己的过失而生气，哪里敢有抱怨？」太子孙登的宾客南阳人谢景称赞刘廙先刑后礼的理论，陆逊呵斥谢景说：「礼治优于刑治，久为历史所证明，刘讷以琐屑的狡辩来歪曲先圣的教诲，完全是错误的。您如今在东宫侍奉，应当遵奉仁义以显扬善言，像刘廙之谈不必讲了。」

智变规虑

吴嘉禾三年（234年）孙权北征，派右都督陆逊与中司马诸葛瑾攻襄阳。陆逊派亲戚韩扁怀揣奏疏上报朝廷，返回途中，在途中遇到敌人，抓获了韩扁。诸葛瑾听后，十分恐慌，写信给陆逊说：「大驾已还，敌人得到韩扁，将我们的虚实全部打听清楚了。而且河水快乾了，最好是赶快离去。」陆逊接报后并未作答覆，却催促人种葑豆，与众将领下棋射箭游戏，一如平常。诸葛瑾知道后说：「陆伯言足智多谋，他这样做一定自有考虑。」于是亲自来见陆逊。陆逊说：「敌人知道大驾已还，再不用为此筹谋，便专心对付我们。如今敌人已经守卫了要害之处，兵将已经出动，我们自己应当首先镇定自如以稳住部队，然后再巧施计谋，退出此地。如果今天就向敌人表明我们要走，敌人会以为我们害怕了，必然会来威逼我们，那就是必败之势了。」于是二人秘密定计，令诸葛瑾坐镇舟船，陆逊率领全部兵马向襄阳进发。敌人素来惧怕陆逊，见陆逊要攻襄阳，立即退回城中。诸葛瑾便引船而出，陆逊慢慢整顿好队伍，大张旗鼓地走上船。敌人不知究竟，反而不敢追击，于是陆逊全军安然退出。陆逊撤军到白围，偷偷派遣周峻、张梁等攻打江夏郡的新市、安陆、石阳，周峻等率兵进攻石阳时，恰逢大量石阳百姓在城外集市进行交易，周峻等人突然到来，吓得百姓纷纷入城，城门过于拥挤无法关闭，守卫只能杀死堵在城门的百姓，强行关闭城门。周峻等斩杀以及俘虏关在城门外的百姓，共计千馀人。

太子之争

吴赤乌七年（244年），顾雍死后，陆逊被委任为丞相，主持三公的事务，并继续担任荆州牧右都护等职务领武昌事。但不久陆逊参与到太子孙和与鲁王孙霸间的皇储派系争夺。全琮子全寄与鲁王交好，陆逊因而写信给全琮，劝全琮学习金日磾杀掉全寄以免为家门招祸，全琮不听，引发两人间的间隙。

据《吴录》记载，孙权私下召见杨竺，杨竺支持鲁王，认为鲁王有文武英才，应为嫡嗣。于是孙权打算立鲁王，废太子。当时有给使藏于孙权的床下偷听，将此时告知了孙和；孙和害怕被废，与正要去武昌的御使陆胤（陆逊族子）密议，欲请陆逊上疏表谏，不久陆逊上疏陈述：「太子正统，宜有磐石之固，鲁王藩臣，当使宠秩有差，彼此得所，上下获安。」

陆逊上表了三四次，又请求至建业面见皇帝，欲口述嫡庶之分，但不被允许。孙权追查密议泄露一事，先后将杨竺、陆胤收押审问。而陆逊外甥顾谭、顾承、姚信，都因为亲附太子被流放，太子太傅吾粲因数次和陆逊书信来往，下狱死。

孙权很愤怒，多次遣中使批评陆逊。陆逊一气之下，于吴赤乌八年（245年）去世，享年63岁，死后家里没有多馀的财产。

陆逊之子陆抗被孙权任命为建武校尉，领父兵五千人。陆抗葬父后，还都谢恩，孙权令中使以杨竺告陆逊的二十条罪状责问陆抗，陆抗一一回答，孙权渐渐消除对陆逊的愤怒。

太元元年（251年），孙权认识到自己的错误，在陆抗去建业治病时，流著泪对他认错。

特徵

• 陆逊性格忠诚耿直，出言无私，在朝为官恭敬肃穆。孟宗曾违法弃官奔丧，虽与陆逊无关但仍为其请求减刑。

• 陆逊有较为浓厚的儒家思想(未有相关文献指出)，他在上书中多次劝说放宽徭役，育养士民。他批评谢景赞同曹魏刘廙先刑后礼的法家思想，主张礼治优于刑治。

• 陆逊对后辈较为严厉，并不因他人出生高贵而改变态度。孙松为吴国宗室不整军纪，陆逊仍然将其亲信处以髡刑甚至当面斥责。孙虑贵为皇子，在陆逊的严厉要求下戒掉了斗鸭的爱好。

• 陆逊掌握孙权的印玺负责对蜀外交，又教导孙权诸子，这在中国历史上是罕见的，可见孙权对其十分信赖。其后陆逊虽因派系斗争激怒孙权，但去世后得到了孙权的道歉。其孙陆机亦为孙权写过诔文。

历任军衔

东曹令史→西曹令史→海昌县令・屯田都尉→定威校尉→帐下右部督→偏将军右都督→宜都太守・抚辺将军・华亭侯→右护军・镇西将军・娄侯→（上将军・列侯→别驾従事・茂才）→大都督→辅国将军・荆州牧・江陵郡侯→上大将军・右都护→丞相

家族

祖辈

• 陆纡，字叔盘，东汉城门校尉，敏淑有思学。

父

• 陆骏，字季才，官至九江都尉。淳懿信厚，为邦族所怀。

妻

• 孙策之女，生陆抗。

弟

• 陆瑁，东吴大臣。

　• 陆喜，瑁次子。

　• 陆英，瑁三子。

姐妹

• 陆氏，嫁顾邵，生顾谭、顾承。

• 陆氏，嫁姚敷，生姚信。

子

• 陆延，长子，早卒。

• 陆抗，次子，大司马、荆州牧。在父亲死后继承其爵位，为东吴后期著名的大臣和将领。

孙

• 陆晏，抗长子，裨将军，280年于晋灭吴一战中阵亡。

• 陆景，抗次子，偏将军，280年于晋灭吴一战中阵亡。

• 陆玄，抗三子，早卒无记载。

• 陆机，抗四子，西晋时为大将军司马颖的右司马，被司马颖灭族。

• 陆云，抗五子，西晋时为清河内史，被司马颖灭族。

• 陆耽，抗六子，西晋时为平东祭酒，被司马颖灭族。

亲戚

• 陆凯，族子，东吴左丞相。子陆禕。

• 陆胤，凯弟。子陆式。

• 陆康，陆逊从祖，东汉卢江太守。

　• 陆绩，陆康的幼子，是陆逊的长辈。有「怀橘陆郎」之典故，后官至东吴郁林太守。

　　• 陆宏，陆绩长子，官至会稽南部都尉。

　　• 陆睿，陆绩次子，官至长水校尉。

　　• 陆郁生，陆绩之女，于郁林所生，所以名为郁生。

　• 陆尚，陆康之孙，徐琨把女儿嫁给陆尚。陆尚早逝，他的妻子徐氏改嫁孙权。

评价

• 孙权：「此诚长者之事，顾人不能为耳。」（《三国志·吴书·陆逊传第十三》）「公瑾雄烈，胆略兼人，遂破孟德，开拓荆州，邈焉难继，君今继之。」（《三国志·吴书·周瑜鲁肃吕蒙传》）、「昔伊尹隆汤，吕尚翼周，内外之任，君实兼之。」「孤与君分义特异，荣戚实同，来表云不敢随众容身苟免，此实甘心所望于君也。」（《三国志·吴书·吴主传》）、「伯言常长于计校，恐此一事小短也。」

• 吕蒙：「陆逊意思深长，才堪负重，观其规虑，终可大任。而未有远名，非羽所忌，无复是过。」（《三国志·吴书·陆逊传第十三》）

• 陈寿：「刘备天下称雄，一世所惮，陆逊春秋方壮，威名未著，摧而克之，罔不如志。予既奇逊之谋略，又叹权之识才，所以济大事也。及逊忠诚恳至，忧国亡身，庶几社稷之臣矣。抗贞亮筹干，咸有父风，奕世载美，具体而微，可谓克构者哉！」（《三国志·吴书·陆逊传第十三》）「逊虽身在外，乃心于国。」（《三国志·吴书·陆逊传》）「邵字孝则，博览书传，好乐人伦。少与舅陆绩齐名，而陆逊、张敦、卜静等皆亚焉。」（《三国志·吴书·张顾诸葛步传》）「权嘉逊功德，欲殊显之，虽为上将军列侯，犹欲令历本州举命，乃使扬州牧吕范就辟别驾从事，举茂才。」（《三国志·吴书》）

• 刘备：「吾乃为逊所折辱，岂非天邪！」

• 贾诩：「孙权识虚实，陆议见兵势。」（《三国志·魏书·贾诩传》）

• 孙桓：「前实怨不见救，定至今日，乃知调度自有方耳。」（《三国志·吴书·陆逊传》）

• 诸葛瑾：「伯言多智略，其当有以。」（《三国志·吴书·陆逊传》）

• 孙登：「陆逊忠勤于时，出身忧国，謇謇在公，有匪躬之节。」（《三国志·吴书·吴书五子传》）

• 曹丕：「彼有人焉，未可图也。」（《三国志·吴书·吴主传》）

• 步骘：「丞相顾雍、上大将军陆逊、太常潘浚，忧深责重，志在谒诚，夙夜兢兢，寝食不宁，念欲安国利民，建久长之计，可谓心膂股肱，社稷之臣矣。」（《三国志·吴书·张顾诸葛步传》）

• 傅玄：「及权继其业，有张子布以为腹心，有陆议、诸葛瑾、步骘以为股肱，有吕范、朱然以为爪牙，分任授职，乘间伺隙，兵不妄动，故战少败而江南安。」

• 徐众评：「雍不以吕壹见毁之故，而和颜悦色，诚长者矣。然开引其意，问所欲道，此非也。壹奸险乱法，毁伤忠贤，吴国寒心，自太子登、陆逊已下，切谏不能得，是以潘浚欲因会手剑之，以除国患，疾恶忠主，义形于色，而今乃发起令言。若壹称枉邪，不申理，则非录狱本旨；若承辞而奏之，吴主傥以敬丞相所言，而复原宥，伯言、承明不当悲慨哉！」（《三国志·吴书·张顾诸葛步传》）

• 陆机：「我大皇帝，以奇踪袭于逸轨，睿心发乎令图，从政咨于故实，播宪稽乎遗风，而加之以笃固，申之以节俭，畴咨俊茂，好谋善断，东帛旅于丘园，旌命交于涂巷。故豪彦寻声而响臻，志士希光而影骛，异人辐辏，猛士如林。于是张昭为师傅，周瑜、陆公、鲁肃、吕蒙之畴入为腹心，出作股肱。」；「汉王亦冯帝王之号，率巴、汉之民，乘危骋变，结垒千里，志报关羽之败，图收湘西之地。而我陆公亦挫之西陵，覆师败绩，困而后济，绝命永安。续以灞须之寇，临川摧锐，蓬笼之战，孑轮不反。由是二邦之将，丧气摧锋，势衄财匮，而吴藐然坐乘其弊，故魏人请好，汉氏乞盟，遂跻天号，鼎峙而立。西屠庸蜀之郊，北裂淮汉之涘，东苞百越之地，南括群蛮之表。于是讲八代之礼，蒐三王之乐，告类上帝，拱揖群后。虎臣毅卒，循江而守，长戟劲铩，望飙而奋。庶尹尽规于上，四民展业于下，化协殊裔，风衍遐圻。乃俾一介行人，抚巡外域，臣象逸骏，扰于外闲，明珠玮宝，辉于内府，珍瑰重迹而至，奇玩应响而赴，輶轩骋于南荒，冲輣息于朔野，齐民免干戈之患，戎马无晨服之虞，而帝业固矣。」；「吴蜀唇齿之国，蜀灭则吴亡，理则然矣，夫蜀盖籓援之与国，而非吴人之存亡也。何则？其郊境之接，重山积险，陆无长毂之径；川厄流迅，水有惊波之艰。虽有锐师百万，启行不过千夫；轴舻千里，前驱不过百舰。故刘氏之伐，陆公喻之长蛇，其势然也。」（《辩亡论》）

• 桓温：「东都郊庙日将曛，江左英风最出群。吴将雄韬重运火，汉皇骁骑枉屯云。两州似共龙盘国，一世原尊鸟喙君。家德幸传羊陆话，厥孙华彩续氤氲。」（《王臣八章》之三）

• 裴松之：「逊虑孙权以退，魏得专力于己，既能张拓形势，使敌不敢犯，方舟顺流，无复怵惕矣，何为复潜遣诸将，奄袭小县，致令市人骇奔，自相伤害？俘馘千人，未足损魏，徒使无辜之民横罹荼酷，与诸葛渭滨之师，何其殊哉！用兵之道既违，失律之凶宜应，其祚无三世，及孙而灭，岂此之馀殃哉！」

• 袁宏：「伯言蹇蹇，以道佐世，出能勤功，入能献替。谋宁社稷，解纷挫锐，正以招疑，忠而获戾。」（《三国名臣序赞》）

• 萧子显：「柳世隆势居中夏，年浅位轻，首抗全师，孤城挑攻，临埤授策，曾无汗马，勍寇乖沮，力屈于高墉，乱辙争先，降奔郢路，陆逊之破玄德，不是过也。」

• 许嵩：「性忠梗，出言无私，立朝肃如也。」「为人素俭知足。」（《建康实录·卷二》）

• 王维：「夜火人归富春郭，秋风鹤唳石头城。周郎陆弟为俦侣，对舞前溪歌白紵。」

• 高适：「隐隐摧锋势，光光弄印荣。鲁连真义士，陆逊岂书生。」

• 刘禹锡：「三千三百西江水，自古如今要路津。月夜歌谣有渔父，风天气色属商人。沙村好处多逢寺，山叶红时觉胜春。行到南朝征战地，古来名将尽为神。」

• 项安世：「周瑜方奏凯，陆逊遂成名。一觉华胥梦，千年战国情。」

• 苏轼：「陆逊之于孙权，高熲之于隋文，言听计从，致君于五伯矣。」（《苕溪渔隐丛话·东坡五》）

• 苏辙：「至于长洲之滨，故城之墟，曹孟德、孙仲谋之所睥睨，周瑜、陆逊之所骋骛，其流风遗迹，亦足以称快世俗。」（《黄州快哉亭记》）

• 张耒：「周瑜陆逊久寂寞，千年北客嘲吴语。莫徒彩笔云锦张，要是宝剑蛟龙舞。」（次韵答天启）

• 洪迈：「孙吴奄有江左，亢衡中州，固本于策、权之雄略，然一时英杰，如周瑜、鲁肃、吕蒙、陆逊四人者，真所谓社稷心膂，与国为存亡之臣也。」

• 陈亮：「又二百馀年，遂为三国交据之地，诸葛亮由此起辅先主，荆楚之士从之如云，而汉氏赖以复存于蜀；周瑜、鲁肃、吕蒙、陆逊、陆抗、邓艾、羊祜皆以其地显名。」

• 林光朝：「当时称之为长才无或异辞者，吴有周瑜、鲁肃、吕蒙、陆逊，蜀有诸葛孔明，是皆一方隽才也。」（《艾轩集·卷四》）

• 萧常：「逊工于制胜，而谬于谋国；知袭关羽以取荆州，而不知佐汉以定中原，才有馀而知不足故也。」（《萧氏续后汉书》）

• 郝经：「云长万人之敌而吕蒙袭取，昭烈一世之雄而陆逊摧破，汉之义师不复东征，祗保梁益，吴遂蹈跨荆扬。操不可图，丕乃禅代，曹氏遂有中国，而天下三分，殆非人谋，亦天意也。蒙好谋能断，军旅之间，折节问学，终于文武备足，有国士之风。逊一旦为大帅，能昭果毅，使诸将听服，独当一面，遂成隽功。非有过人之材能若是乎？至于忠诚恳至，忧国忘身，庶几社稷之臣。逊死而蒙嗣遂废，贻祸于后，防责赍恨，不瞑九泉，权真负逊也哉！」「子明识断，駸駸遒敏，学问略奇，足继公瑾。伯言静鸷，却敌安疆，虎卧国门，威深大江。」（《续后汉书》）

• 陈元靓：「伯言佐吴，功名光代。作相江东，护军关外。 出入殿门，曾张御盖。今遇圣朝，图形斯在。」（《事林广记·后集·卷四》）

• 任昂：「蜀祀秦守李冰，附以汉守文翁、宋守张咏。密县祀太傅卓茂。钧州祀丞相黄霸。彭泽祀丞相狄仁杰，皆遗爱在民。李龙迁祀于隆州，谢夷甫祀于福州，皆为民捍患。吴丞相陆逊以劳定国，宜祀于吴，以子抗、从子凯配。元总管李黼立祀江州，元帅余阙立庙安庆，皆以死勤事。从阙守皖，佥家殉义者，有万户李宗可，宜配享阙庙。」

• 冯梦龙：「陆逊多沉虑，筹无不中。」「长者之言。」

• 王义山：「某仰惟某官学通六艺，忠贯三精，其谋略则荀攸、贾诩之密，其经济则周瑜、鲁肃之英，其吟啸则谢安、庾亮之雅，其牧御则羊祜、陆逊之仁。」（《稼村类稿》）

• 罗贯中：「坐帐谈兵按六韬，安排香饵钓鲸鳌。三分自是多英俊，又显江南陆逊高。」「陆逊运良筹，能分吴国忧。挥毫关将堕，焚铠蜀王羞。功业昭千载，声名播九州。至今巫峡地，草木尚添愁。」「持矛举火破连营，玄德穷奔白帝城。一旦威名惊蜀魏，吴王宁不敬书生。」（《三国演义》）

• 王世贞：「陆伯言一少年书生，受脤而据诸将之上，挥麈扬策，破天下之所惮服以为英雄。如昭烈者，若拉枯朽。然后胜北兵、奠南服、国无亡镞、算不遗筹、其孔明之流亚欤。」（《王弇州崇论卷之四》）

• 陈子龙：「自汉以后，文武渐分，然犹有虞诩、诸葛亮、周瑜、陆逊、司马懿、羊祜、杜预、温峤、谢玄、韦睿、崔浩、李靖、裴行俭、郭元振、裴度、李德裕、韩琦、李纲、虞允文之徒奋策儒素建功阃外，为时宗臣。彼岂必有抟虎之力，射雕之技哉？不过深明古今之事，能决机宜之便耳。」（《安雅堂稿·卷四》）

• 《通鉴辑览》：「孙吴人才，周瑜而后，当推陆逊。白围之战，持以镇静，实不可及。若瑾之举措惊皇，适足偾事耳。」（《钦定四库全书荟要》）

• 成海应：「陆逊猇亭之绩, 殆周瑜之于赤壁也. 凭荆州上流之势而临之, 三吴将沦矣. 是以悉力防御, 卒能克之, 然吴魏方划江而守之. 魏不能越江而取吴, 吴不能越江而取魏者, 谅彼材有所限, 只可相保境而已, 不可以进取也. 伯言身兼将相之任, 其指陈于其君者, 皆任贤去谗, 安固国本诸事, 卒以此愤恚致命, 可谓有忠贞之节, 不徒一将之材也.」（『硏经斋全集续集』 10册, 史论, 陆逊）

总评

• 陆逊是继周瑜、鲁肃、吕蒙之后又一个声望颇高、功绩卓著的将领。他智勇兼备，武能安邦，文能治国，并且品质高尚。孙权把他比做成汤之伊尹和周初之姜尚。

• 军事才能主要表现在他足智多谋善于用兵。在讨伐山越暴乱时，他巧设疑兵，多建部队番号，乘夜进入山谷，到处鸣起军号鼓角之声，造成有干军万马的声势，从心理上瓦解了叛军。然后一鼓作气勇猛进击，终于用很少的兵力平息了几万人的山越暴乱。

• 巧夺荆州一战，利用关羽骄傲自大的弱点，以卑下的言辞写信吹捧关羽。使关羽完全丧失警惕，全力对付曹操。这样，吕蒙才得以兵不血刃轻取荆州。

• 夷陵之战是中国历史上后发制人、疲敌制胜的著名战例。作为吴军主帅的陆逊统观两军主客观态势，确定诱敌深入，集中兵力，后发制人，相机破敌的战略。并充分利用地势及天候等有利条件，巧施火攻，一举击败蜀军。大获全胜后，又适时停止追击，使曹魏无隙可乘，战略全局运筹周密，堪称用兵奇略。又根据敌强我弱的实际情况，采取了诱敌深入、疲敌师志的战略方针。刘备十万之众来势凶猛。陆逊则主动放弃大片土地和战略要地，把五、六百里的山区让给蜀军。待蜀军锐气顿减之时，陆逊巧用火攻大获胜利。从指挥艺术上说，作为一军之帅，陆逊的确是善于审时度势，做到了知己知彼，能准确捕捉战机，出奇制胜。

• 虽置身行伍，却还有一套治国安民的谋略。他任海昌屯田都尉时，政绩明显，深受百姓拥戴。他从当地土地贫瘠且连年乾旱的实际出发，一方面开仓赈济贫民，一方面「劝课农桑，鼓励生产」，「百姓蒙赖」，称他为「神君」。他还曾上书孙权，对国家的严法苛刑提出批评，指出：「峻法严刑，非常王之隆业，有罚无恕，非怀远之弘规」。他建议孙权要像西汉刘邦那样轻刑便民，用黄老之法治理国家，要尽量少动干戈，务以养本保民为要，只有与民休息轻徭薄赋才能富国强兵，统一天下。这些主张说明陆逊并非一介武夫，而是一个文武兼备的政治家、军事家。

艺术形象

动漫游戏

• 真三国无双系列 / 无双OROCHI系列（光荣公司开发，野岛健儿配音）

• 三国志

• 三国演义

• 《苍天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火凤燎原》（陈某）:设定于官渡之战篇时登场，当时已是陆家总纲，舍弃陆康被杀之仇来扶助孙策，救出在徐州被袁方刺客追杀的司马懿，派手下潜伏于太平道，并里应外合生擒私通黄祖的许贡

• 《神魔之塔》

影视

• 《诸葛亮》（1985年）：由关伟伦饰演

• 《三国演义》（1992年，中国中央电视台电视剧集）：由高飞饰演

• 《三国英雄传之关公》（1996年，中华电视公司电视剧）：由杨仲恩饰演

• 《武圣关公》（2004年，中国中央电视台电视剧）：由夏阳阳饰演

• 《三国》（2010年，高希希导演）：由邵峰饰演

• 《军师联盟》（2017年，中国电视剧）：由卢星宇饰演

后世地位

• 宋代欧阳修、宋祁等撰写的《新唐书·卷十五·志第五·礼乐五·吉礼五》中提到，唐代时礼仪使颜真卿曾经向皇室建议，追封古代名将六十四人，并为他们设庙享奠，当中就包括「吴丞相娄侯陆逊」。同时代被列入庙享名单的只有关羽、张飞、张辽、周瑜、吕蒙、邓艾、陆抗而已。

• 同样，元代脱脱等撰写的《宋史·卷一零五·志第五十八·礼八·吉礼八》提及宋代宣和五年时，皇室依照唐代惯例，为古代名将设庙，七十二位名将中亦包括陆逊。

注释

Family background

Lu Xun's original given name was "Yi" (议), hence he was sometimes referred to as "Lu Yi" in older historical records. He was born in a family of high social status in Wu County, Wu Commandery, which is present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu. His grandfather Lu Yu (陆纡) and father Lu Jun (陆骏) served as officials in the government of the Eastern Han dynasty. The Lu clan, which he was from, was one of the four most influential clans in Wu Commandery and also in the Jiangdong region at the time.

As he was orphaned at a young age, Lu Xun was raised by his granduncle, Lu Kang, who served as the Administrator (太守) of Lujiang Commandery (庐江郡) under the Han government. Lu Kang was originally on friendly terms with the warlord Yuan Shu, but relations between them soured after Lu Kang broke ties with Yuan Shu when the latter declared himself emperor – an act deemed treasonous against the Han emperor. When Lu Kang heard that Yuan Shu was planning to attack Lujiang Commandery, he immediately sent Lu Xun and his relatives back to Wu Commandery for their safety. After Lu Kang died from illness during the siege of Lujiang, Lu Xun became the new head of the Lu family because he was older than Lu Ji (Lu Kang's son) in terms of age, even though Lu Ji was one generation older than him.

Early career

As a county-level official

In the early 200s, when Lu Xun was 20 years old, he came to serve the warlord Sun Quan, who was nominally a subject of the Han emperor, but had full autonomy in governing the territories in Jiangdong he inherited from his elder brother, Sun Ce. Lu Xun started his career as a minor officer in Sun Quan's office. He later became a Foreman Clerk in the East and West Bureaus and the Tuntian Commandant of Haichang (海昌屯田都尉; jurisdiction in present-day Haining, Zhejiang), before he was appointed as a county-level official. When the county was plagued by consecutive years of drought, Lu Xun opened up the granaries and distributed food supplies to the people, and promoted agriculture. The people benefited from his policies. At the time, there were many households in Wu, Kuaiji, and Danyang commanderies who were hiding from the government because they wanted to evade taxes and conscription. Lu Xun had them tracked down, registered and resettled. Some able-bodied young men were drafted for military service while others were recruited for agricultural labour.

Eliminating bandit forces

Early in his career, Lu Xun joined Sun Quan's forces in eliminating bandits in the Jiangdong territories who had been terrorising the region for years and posed serious threats to Sun Quan's administration. He organised a militia to attack the bandits led by Pan Lin (潘临) in Kuaiji Commandery, passing through treacherous territory and pacifying those who stood in his way. The number of troops under his command increased to over 2,000. When another bandit chief, You Tu (尤突), caused trouble in Poyang County, Lu Xun led an army to attack the bandits and achieved success. He was commissioned as Colonel Who Establishes Might (定威校尉) and ordered to garrison at Lipu County.

Lu Xun once advised Sun Quan to eliminate local bandit forces in Jiangdong first because they would hinder him in his aims to achieve supremacy over China. Sun Quan heeded Lu Xun's words and appointed him as a Commandant of the Right Section (右部督) under him. Fei Zhan (费栈), a bandit chief in Danyang Commandery, had received an official appointment from Cao Cao, a leading warlord who was also the de facto head of the Han government. Cao Cao had secretly instructed Fei Zhan to instigate the Shanyue tribes in Jiangdong to cause trouble for Sun Quan. In response, Sun Quan sent Lu Xun to attack Fei Zhan. Lu Xun had a much smaller army as compared to Fei Zhan, but he deceived the enemy into thinking that he had more troops. He prepared more flags and banners, spread out his war drums, ordered his men to sneak into the valleys at night and beat the drums loudly, so as to create an illusion of an overwhelming army. He emerged victorious over Fei Zhan.

Lu Xun sent his troops into the three commanderies in eastern Jiangdong, where he drafted many able-bodied young men for military service while the less physically fit ones were recruited for agricultural labour. He drafted tens of thousands of soldiers in total. He also cleared the region of opposing forces before returning to a garrison at Wuhu.

Conflict with Chunyu Shi

Chunyu Shi (淳于式), the Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery, once accused Lu Xun of oppressing and disturbing the common people. When Lu Xun travelled to Wu Commandery to meet Sun Quan and explain himself, he praised Chunyu Shi for being an excellent civil official. Sun Quan was puzzled so he asked Lu Xun, "Chunyu Shi made accusations against you, yet you praise him. Why?" Lu Xun replied, "Chunyu Shi was concerned about the people's welfare when he made accusations against me. If I rebuked him, I'll be violating my principles. This is something I won't do." Sun Quan said, "This is something a person with good morals will do and something which ordinary people aren't capable of doing."

Invasion of Jing Province

Planning for the invasion

Around 215, about six years after the Battle of Red Cliffs, Sun Quan had territorial disputes with his ally, Liu Bei, over southern Jing Province. Tensions between them nearly escalated to the point of armed conflict. However, after tense negotiations between Lu Su (Sun Quan's representative) and Guan Yu (Liu Bei's representative), both sides eventually agreed to divide southern Jing Province between their respective domains along the Xiang River. Guan Yu guarded Liu Bei's territories in southern Jing Province while Lü Meng was in charge of Sun Quan's.

In 219, Lü Meng came up with a plan to help Sun Quan seize control of Liu Bei's territories in Jing Province. He pretended to be sick and asked for permission to return to Jianye to seek medical treatment. Sun Quan played along by pretending to approve his request. Lu Xun went to visit Lü Meng and said, "Guan Yu is near the border. How can we remain far behind the border and not worry about having to guard against him?" Lü Meng replied, "What you've said is true, but I'm seriously ill now." Lu Xun then said, "Guan Yu is proud of his own valour and he scorns others. He may have made great achievements, but he's overly conceited. Besides, he's heading north and he has never seen us a threat. When he knows you're sick, he'll definitely lower his defences. If we attack him when he lowers his guard, we can capture him. I came here to discuss with you a plan to attack him." Lü Meng replied, "Guan Yu is known for his bravery and ferocity in battle, and he's a formidable foe. Besides, he's in control of Jing Province. He governs with virtue and has made great accomplishments, while the morale of his army is at its peak. It won't be easy to defeat him."

Succeeding Lü Meng

When Lü Meng arrived in Jianye, Sun Quan asked him, "Who can replace you?" Lü Meng responded, "Lu Xun is careful and thoughtful. He has the ability to shoulder this important responsibility. Based on my observations of him, I believe he's capable of taking up greater responsibilities in the future. Besides, he's relatively unknown, so Guan Yu won't be wary of him. This can't be better. If he's appointed, our enemies will be unaware of our intentions, while we can assess our strengths better and seek an opportunity to launch the attack." Sun Quan followed Lü Meng's suggestion and commissioned Lu Xun as a Lieutenant-General and Inspector of the Right Section (右部督) to replace Lü Meng in Jing Province.

When Lu Xun arrived at Lukou (陆口; at Lushui Lake near present-day Chibi, Hubei) to assume his new office, he wrote to Guan Yu to flatter him:

Later, after Guan Yu defeated Yu Jin at the Battle of Fancheng, Lu Xun wrote a letter to Guan again to flatter him and put him off guard:

Invasion and pacification of Jing Province

Upon receiving the letters, Guan Yu saw that Lu Xun showed humility and expressed his desire to rely on him, so he felt at ease and lowered his guard. When Lu Xun heard about it, he wrote a report to Sun Quan and provided crucial details on how to defeat Guan Yu. Sun Quan secretly sent an army to invade Jing Province, with Lü Meng and Lu Xun leading the vanguard force. Lü Meng employed infiltration tactics to disable the watchtowers set up by Guan Yu along the Yangtze River, rendering them unable to warn Guan Yu about Sun Quan's advances, and then swiftly conquered Guan Yu's key bases in Jing Province – Gong'an County and Nan Commandery (南郡; around present-day Jiangling County, Hubei). For his contributions to the successful conquest of Jing Province, Lu Xun was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Yidu Commandery (宜都郡; around present-day Yidu, Hubei), promoted to General Who Pacifies the Border, and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Hua Village. Fan You (樊友), the previous Administrator of Yidu Commandery under Guan Yu, abandoned his post and fled, while the officials and tribal chiefs in the commandery surrendered to Lu Xun. Lu Xun ordered official seals to be carved from gold, silver or bronze, and presented to these officials and tribal chiefs. This took place in around January 220.

Even after Sun Quan's forces successfully conquered southern Jing Province, there were still some areas which were still controlled by Liu Bei's forces or other hostile forces, so Lu Xun had to pacify those regions. He sent his subordinates Li Yi (李异), Xie Jing and others to lead 3,000 troops to attack Liu Bei's officers Zhan Yan (詹晏) and Chen Feng. Li Yi led the naval forces while Xie Jing commanded the land army. They sealed the critical routes and defeated Zhan Yan and captured Chen Feng. They then attacked Deng Fu (邓辅) and Guo Mu (郭睦), the Administrators of Fangling Commandery (房陵郡) and Nanxiang County respectively, and defeated the enemy. Wen Bu (文布) and Deng Kai (邓凯), two influential men in Zigui County, rallied thousands of local tribesmen to form an army to attack Lu Xun in the west. In response, Lu Xun sent Xie Jing to attack them. Wen Bu and Deng Kai were defeated and they fled west to the state of Shu Han (founded by Liu Bei in 221). Lu Xun successfully induced Wen Bu into defecting to Sun Quan's side.

Aftermath

Throughout these campaigns in Jing Province, Lu Xun had killed, captured or recruited tens of thousands of enemies. In recognition of Lu Xun's efforts, Sun Quan promoted him to Right Protector-General, General Who Guards the West, and promoted him from a village marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Lou" (娄侯). Sun Quan was very pleased with Lu Xun and wanted to specially honour him. However, even though Lu Xun already held the rank of a general and a marquis title, he still had to go through the standard protocol of receiving a recommendation from the chief administrating officer in his home province. Hence, Sun Quan ordered Lü Fan, the Governor of Yang Province, to "backdate" Lu Xun's service record by stating that he had previously employed Lu Xun as an aide-de-camp and recommended him as a maocai (茂才).

At the time, there were many educated men in Jing Province who had either obtained positions in the civil service or were unemployed, so Lu Xun wrote a proposal to Sun Quan: Sun Quan accepted Lu Xun's proposal.

Battle of Xiaoting

Historical background

In late 220, Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate the throne in his favour and ended the Han dynasty. He declared himself emperor and established the state of Cao Wei to replace the Han dynasty, marking the start of the Three Kingdoms period. Two years later, Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor and established the state of Shu Han as a successor to the Han dynasty and to challenge Cao Pi's legitimacy. Sun Quan agreed to submit to Cao Pi's rule and received the title of a vassal king, King of Wu" (吴王). However, in late 222, he declared independence from the Cao Wei regime but retained his title "King of Wu".

Early stages

In early 222, Liu Bei personally led the Shu army to attack Sun Quan and retake his lost territories in southern Jing Province. Sun Quan appointed Lu Xun as Grand Chief Controller (大都督) and put him in command of 50,000 troops to resist the enemy, with Zhu Ran, Pan Zhang, Song Qian, Han Dang, Xu Sheng, Xianyu Dan (鲜于丹), Sun Huan and others serving as his subordinates. The Shu army passed through Wu Gorge (巫峡), Jianping (建平) and Lianping (连平) until they arrived on the outskirts of Yiling (夷陵; present-day Yichang, Hubei), where they laid siege and built several camps. Liu Bei bribed the local tribes in Yiling with gold and silk to support him. He appointed Feng Xi as his Chief Controller, Zhang Nan as the vanguard, and Fu Kuang (辅匡), Zhao Rong, Liao Chun (廖淳) and Fu Rong as the controllers of the various divisions. He also sent Wu Ban to lead a few thousand men to construct camps on flat ground and provoke the Wu forces into attacking them.

When the Wu generals wanted to respond to the enemy's taunts, Lu Xun said, "This must be a trick. We should observe first." Earlier on, when the Shu army first arrived at Yiling, the Wu generals wanted to attack the enemy, but Lu Xun objected and said, "Liu Bei is leading an army east to attack us and his army's morale is very high. Besides, his forces are based in high and mountainous terrain, so it's difficult for us to attack them. Even if we manage to win, we cannot completely defeat them. If we suffer any setback, our morale will be greatly affected and this isn't a small issue. Now, we should raise our troops' morale and make plans while waiting for changes in the situation. If we're on plains and flat ground, we should be worrying about sustaining heavy losses in skirmishes and charges. However, since the enemy is on mountainous terrain, they can't carry out an all-out assault because they're sandwiched between wood and rocks. We should take advantage of this weakness of theirs." The Wu generals did not understand Lu Xun's reasoning and thought that he feared the enemy so they were very disgruntled with him.

When Liu Bei realised that his plan to lure Wu forces into attacking him had failed, he led the 8,000 troops out of the valley, where they had been waiting in ambush earlier. When Lu Xun heard about it, he told his subordinates, "The reason why I didn't follow your suggestions to attack the enemy is because I suspected there was something fishy about it." He then wrote a report to Sun Quan:

Burning of the Shu camps

The Wu generals said, "We should have attacked Liu Bei in the initial stages. Now, he has advanced further in by 500-600 li and we have been locked in a stalemate for seven to eight months. He has reinforced all his crucial positions, so even if we attack them it will yield nothing." Lu Xun replied, "Liu Bei is cunning and experienced. In the initial stage, his army was very focused and its morale was very high, so we couldn't defeat them then. Now, however, since it has been quite some time, they are already weary, low on morale, and out of ideas. Now is the time for us to launch a multi-pronged assault on them."

Lu Xun then targeted one enemy camp and attacked it but failed to capture it. The Wu officers complained, "We're sacrificing our soldiers' lives for nothing." Lu Xun replied, "I have devised a strategy for defeating the enemy." He then ordered his men to carry a pile of straw each and launch a fire attack on the enemy. Upon the commencement of the fire attack, Lu Xun led all the Wu units on an all-out assault on the Shu forces. The Shu generals Zhang Nan and Feng Xi, and the tribal king Shamoke (Liu Bei's ally) were killed in battle, while the Wu forces destroyed over 40 Shu camps.

The Shu officers Du Lu (杜路), Liu Ning and others surrendered when they saw they had no chance of escaping. Liu Bei and his remaining troops retreated to the Ma'an Hills, where they continued to be fiercely assaulted by Wu forces from all directions. At the same time, landslides occurred at the Ma'an Hills and caused the Shu forces to suffer thousands of casualties. Liu Bei fled at night and ordered his men to pile up their armour and set them on fire to create barriers for the pursuing enemy. By the time Liu Bei reached the safety of Baidicheng, all his boats, military equipment and supplies had been captured by Wu forces. The dead bodies of Shu soldiers floated in the river and obstructed its flow. Liu Bei was extremely upset and furious with his defeat. He exclaimed, "Is it not the will of Heaven that I must be humiliated by Lu Xun?"

Incidents during the battle

During the preliminary stages of the Battle of Xiaoting, Sun Huan had led a separate force to attack the Shu vanguard force at Yidao (夷道) but ended up being besieged by the enemy. He requested for reinforcements from Lu Xun but was denied. The other Wu officers said, "General Sun is a relative of our lord. He's under siege, so shouldn't we help him?" Lu Xun replied, "He has the support of his men, his base is well defended, and he has sufficient supplies. There's nothing to worry about. When my plans are set in motion, even if we don't go to his aid, the siege on him will automatically be lifted." After the Wu victory, Sun Huan came to see Lu Xun and said, "Earlier on, I was indeed very resentful when you refused to help me. But now, after the victory, I see you have your own way of doing things."

Many of the Wu officers who participated in the battle had either served in Wu since Sun Ce's time or were relatives of the Sun family, so they viewed themselves highly and were unwilling to follow Lu Xun's orders. Lu Xun placed his sword on the desk and said, The Wu officers began to show greater respect towards Lu Xun after the Wu victory, which was largely due to his strategies.

When Sun Quan heard about this incident, he asked Lu Xun, "Why didn't you report to me about the generals refusing to follow your orders?" Lu Xun replied, Sun Quan laughed and praised Lu Xun. Lu Xun was promoted to General Who Assists the State, appointed as Governor (牧) of Jing Province, and had his marquis title changed to "Marquis of Jiangling" (江陵侯).

Aftermath

After Liu Bei had retreated to Baidicheng, Xu Sheng, Pan Zhang, Song Qian and other Wu generals suggested to attack Baidicheng and capture Liu Bei. When Sun Quan asked Lu Xun for his opinion, Lu, along with Zhu Ran and Luo Tong, said that when Cao Pi amassed his forces and seemed like he was going to help Wu attack Shu, he was actually harbouring sinister intentions, so they should be cautious, abandon their pursuit of Liu Bei, and return to Wu. Not long later, Cao Pi led the Wei armies to invade Wu from three directions.

When Liu Bei heard of the Wei invasion of Wu, he still had his armies and scouts on and around the border, Zhuge Liang, Li Yan, Liu Yan, Zhao Yun and many other Han officials, even those who agreed with the campaign to reclaim Jing insisted on renewing the alliance of Wu. With both Zhuge Jin and Lu Xun offering peace in letters because of the threat of a Wei invasion with Sun Quan's refusal to send his son as a hostage, Liu finally agreed and wrote to Lu to not only renew the alliance but coordinate an attack against Wei: "The enemy (Wei) is at Jiangling now. If I launch another attack again, in your opinion, do you think I will succeed?" Lu Xun replied:

Liu Bei died in 223 and was succeeded by his son, Liu Shan, as the emperor of Shu. Zhuge Liang became Shu's head of government and he made peace with Wu and reestablished the Wu–Shu alliance against Wei. Sun Quan granted permission to Lu Xun to reply to Zhuge Liang on his behalf, and had a duplicate of his own official seal made and sent to Lu's office. Whenever Sun Quan wrote to Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang, he would allow Lu Xun to read the letters, make the appropriate modifications, stamp his official seal on them and have them delivered to Shu.

Battle of Shiting

In 228, Sun Quan instructed Zhou Fang, the Administrator (太守) of Poyang Commandery (鄱阳郡), to pretend to defect to Cao Xiu, the Grand Marshal of Wei, and lure Wei forces to attack Wu. Cao Xiu fell for the ruse and led his armies to attack the Wu garrison at Wan County (皖县; present-day Qianshan County, Anhui). Sun Quan granted Lu Xun a yellow ceremonial axe, appointed him as Grand Chief Controller (大都督) again, and put him in command of six Wu armies and the imperial guards to resist the Wei invaders. Lu Xun thus had the authority to act on Sun Quan's behalf. Sun Quan even waved a ceremonial whip and ordered all his subjects to pay their respects to Lu Xun.

When Cao Xiu realised he had been deceived by Zhou Fang, he felt humiliated but decided to continue the campaign anyway because he had superiority in numbers and his troops were well-trained. During the Battle of Shiting, Lu Xun remained in the central command, with Zhu Huan and Quan Cong leading the armies on his left and right flanks respectively. Their three armies advanced together and defeated Cao Xiu's forces lying in ambush and drove them further northward until Jiashi (夹石). They killed and captured thousands of enemies and obtained much of the enemy's livestock, equipment and supplies. Cao Xiu died of illness after returning to Wei. Lu Xun and the victorious Wu forces returned to Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei), where Sun Quan held a grand reception for them. Sun Quan instructed his servants to shield Lu Xun with his imperial parasol when he entered or left the palace, and rewarded Lu Xun with many gifts. The honours Lu Xun received were unprecedented in his time. He moved to Xiling County (西陵县; present-day Xiling District, Yichang, Hubei) after that.

Mid career

In 229, after Sun Quan declared himself emperor and established the state of Eastern Wu in Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei), he appointed Lu Xun as Senior General-in-Chief and Right Protector-General (右都护). That year, Sun Quan embarked on an inspection tour of Jianye in the east, leaving behind his crown prince Sun Deng, his other sons, and some high-ranking officials in charge of Wuchang. Lu Xun was instructed to assist Sun Deng and oversee all civil and military affairs in Jing Province and three other commanderies.

Treatment of Sun Lü and Sun Song, and criticism of Liu Yi

At the time, Sun Quan's second son Sun Lü, the Marquis of Jianchang, enjoyed watching duck fights so he had a small shed built in front of the main hall of his residence to stage duck fights. When Lu Xun heard about it, he reprimanded Sun Lü sternly, "Marquis, you should be spending time reading the classics and enriching yourself with knowledge. Why are you doing this?" Sun Lü immediately had the shed torn down. Sun Song (孙松; Sun Yi's son), the Colonel of Trainee Archers (射声校尉), who was one of Sun Quan's favourite relatives, allowed his men to fool around in camp and did not maintain good military discipline. Lu Xun punished Sun Song's subordinates by having their heads shaved.

Xie Jing admired Liu Yi's discourse on punishment before civility. Lu Xun chided Xie Jing, "The idea of civility before punishment has been long promulgated and espoused. Liu Yi is wrong when he distorted the teachings of ancient sages through his sly manipulation of words. You're serving in the Crown Prince's residence, so you should advocate the principles of benevolence and righteousness in order to promote moral virtues. Ideas (like Liu Yi's) should never be discussed again."

Memorial on current affairs

Even though Lu Xun was stationed far away from the Wu capital, he was still very concerned about his state. He once wrote a memorial on current affairs to Sun Quan:

Advising Sun Quan against the Yizhou and Zhuya campaigns

When Sun Quan was planning to send armies to conquer Yizhou (夷州; present-day Taiwan) and Zhuya (朱崖; present-day Hainan), he asked Lu Xun for his opinion. Lu Xun wrote a memorial to Sun Quan, advising him against the campaigns: Sun Quan ignored Lu Xun's advice and launched the campaigns. Lu Xun's predictions were right as the losses incurred by Wu in the conquests outweighed the gains.

Advising Sun Quan against the Liaodong campaign

In 237, the Liaodong warlord Gongsun Yuan rebelled against Wu's rival state Wei and allied with Wu, but broke the alliance later. Sun Quan was angered and he wanted to personally lead an army to attack Liaodong. Lu Xun wrote another memorial to dissuade Sun Quan from the campaign: Sun Quan heeded his advice.

Xiangyang campaign

In 234, when Sun Quan led a 100,000 strong army to attack the Wei fortress of Xincheng at Hefei, he ordered Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin to lead another 10,000 troops to attack the Wei city of Xiangyang. Lu Xun sent a close aide, Han Bian, to deliver a report to Sun Quan. On the journey back, Han Bian was captured by a Wei patrol. When Zhuge Jin received news of Han Bian's capture, he became fearful so he wrote to Lu Xun: "His Majesty has withdrawn his forces. The enemy has captured Han Bian and they know our situation. The rivers have dried up so we should make a hasty retreat." Lu Xun did not respond, and he instructed his men to plant turnips and peas, while he played weiqi and other games with his officers as though nothing had happened. Zhuge Jin said, "Boyan possesses intelligence and strategy, he knows what he's doing." He came to see Lu Xun, who told him, "The enemy knows that His Majesty has withdrawn his forces, so they have no worries and will concentrate their attacks on us. Besides, they have already stationed troops at critical positions and are poised to strike. Hence, we should remain composed and calm our men, after which we will have a change of plans and prepare to withdraw. If we display signs of retreat now, the enemy will think that we are afraid and will definitely attack us, resulting in defeat for us."

Lu Xun then secretly conveyed his plan to Zhuge Jin and ordered him to supervise the fleet of vessels on which they would sail back to Wu, while he gathered his troops and headed towards Xiangyang. The Wei forces had been wary of Lu Xun all this while so they immediately retreated back into the city when they saw Lu Xun's army approaching. Lu Xun organised his men in an orderly manner and instructed them to pretend to prepare for an attack on Xiangyang. By then, Zhuge Jin and the fleet had shown up, so Lu Xun and his forces progressively retreated to the vessels and left. The Wei forces in Xiangyang did not dare to make any move.

Raid in Shiyang

On their journey back to Wu, the fleet passed by Baiwei (白围), where Lu Xun announced that they would be getting off their vessels to go ashore for a hunting expedition. However, he actually gave secret orders to his subordinates Zhou Jun (周峻) and Zhang Liang to lead their men to attack Xinshi (新市), Anlu (安陆) and Shiyang (石阳) counties in Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡). Outside Shiyang County, the common people were going about their daily activities in the marketplace when Zhou Jun and his men showed up. The people immediately packed up everything and attempted to rush to safety behind the city walls. The Wei soldiers in Shiyang wanted to close the city gates but the civilians were blocking the way, so they killed some people and forced the gates to be shut. Zhou Jun and his men killed and captured over 1,000 civilians in Shiyang. The captives were resettled in Wu. Lu Xun gave orders to his men, forbidding them from harassing the people. Those captives who had their families with them were given due attention and care while those who lost their loved ones during the raid were provided with food and clothing and treated well before they were sent home. Many people were so touched by Lu Xun's acts of kindness that they decided to move to Wu territory. When news of Lu Xun's kindness spread to the neighbouring regions, two Wei officers, Zhao Zhuo and Fei Sheng (斐生), and a tribal king, Meiyi (梅颐), led their followers to join Lu Xun. Lu Xun generously distributed rewards to them.

Criticism

The historian Pei Songzhi, who annotated Lu Xun's biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, condemned the raid on Shiyang County and said it was totally uncalled for. He commented:

In response to Lu Xun's "acts of kindness" after the raid, Pei Songzhi remarked:

Later career

Eliminating Lu Shi

Lu Shi (逯式), the Administrator (太守) of the Wei-controlled Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡), often led his men to cause trouble at the border between Wu and Wei. When Lu Xun heard that Lu Shi could not get along with Wen Xiu (文休), a son of the veteran Wei general Wen Ping, he came up with a plan to stop Lu Shi. He pretended to have received a letter from Lu Shi and wrote a "reply" as such: "I can sense your sincerity and sorrow when you told me you have disagreements with Wen Xiu. You said both of you cannot exist together and you intend to defect to my side. I have delivered your letter to my lord and will gather my men to welcome you. You should make preparations soon and inform us of the date of your defection." He then left the "reply" letter at the border, where it was picked up by Lu Shi's men. When Lu Shi heard about it, he became afraid and immediately sent his family to the Wei capital Luoyang. His subordinates became distrustful of him and eventually he was dismissed from office.

Criticism

Commenting on this incident, the historian Pei Songzhi wrote:

Suppressing rebellions in Wu

In 237, Zhou Zhi (周祗), a General of the Household (中郎将), wanted to recruit soldiers from Poyang Commandery (鄱阳郡) so he sought Lu Xun's opinion. Lu Xun believed that the people in Poyang were very restless and should not be recruited for military service because they might rebel. Zhou Zhi ignored Lu Xun's advice and persisted. As Lu Xun predicted, the people in Poyang started a rebellion under the leadership of Wu Ju and they killed Zhou Zhi and seized control of many counties. The people in the nearby Yuzhang (豫章) and Luling (庐陵) commanderies had a history of being rebellious, so they responded to Wu Ju's call and joined the revolt. Lu Xun led his forces to suppress the rebellion and succeeded in forcing Wu Ju and the rebels to surrender. He recruited over 8,000 men into his army and pacified the three commanderies.

Incident of Lü Yi

At the time, Lü Yi, the supervisor of the audit bureau, was abusing his powers. Lu Xun and the Minister of Ceremonies (太常), Pan Jun, expressed their worries about Lü Yi's behaviour to Sun Quan, to the point of shedding tears. After Lü Yi's crimes were exposed later, Sun Quan had him executed and deeply regretted not listening to Lu Xun and Pan Jun.

Advice to Sun Quan on governance

Xie Yuan and Xie Gong, proposed implementing changes to policies to increase government revenue, so Sun Quan sought Lu Xun's opinion on this issue. Lu Xun argued,

Chancellorship

Sometime between 27 January and 25 February 244, Lu Xun succeeded Gu Yong as the Imperial Chancellor (丞相) of Wu. Sun Quan's imperial edict read:

Role in the succession struggle

There were vacancies in the appointments available in the estates (or offices) of two of Sun Quan's sons: Sun He, the Crown Prince and Sun Ba, the Prince of Lu. Many officials nominated their relatives to fill up these positions in the hope of building connections with the princes. When Quan Cong told Lu Xun about this, Lu Xun said that many of the nominated candidates were actually not up to standard. He argued that those officials were actually promoting nepotism and pursuing their own interests. He also worried that if those officials' relatives turned out to be incompetent, it could lead to serious problems in the administration. Lu Xun also foresaw that conflict was bound to break out between the two princes because they were equally influential and had their own factions supporting them. He believed that a power struggle between the princes would be detrimental to Eastern Wu's prosperity and stability. Quan Cong's son, Quan Ji (全寄), became a close aide to Sun Ba and helped him in his fight against Sun He. Lu Xun wrote to Quan Cong to warn him: "If you don't learn from Ma Midi and choose to let (Quan) Ji have his way, you'll bring disaster upon yourself and your family." Quan Cong ignored Lu Xun's advice and their relationship became strained.

When there were rumours that Sun He could no longer secure his position as Crown Prince, Lu Xun wrote a memorial to Sun Quan: "The Crown Prince is the legitimate heir apparent so he should have a foundation as solid as hard rock. The Prince of Lu is a vassal and a subject of the state, so he should receive less favours than the Crown Prince. If both of them know their places, Your Majesty and all your subjects will have peace. I humbly kowtow and beg Your Majesty, to the point of bleeding (from my forehead), to (re)consider this issue carefully." He wrote several memorials to Sun Quan and even requested to leave Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei) and go to the capital to speak up on this problem. Sun Quan denied him permission. Lu Xun's maternal nephews Gu Tan, Gu Cheng (顾承) and Yao Xin (姚信), who supported Sun He during the succession struggle, were sent into exile. Wu Can, the Crown Prince's Tutor (太子太傅), who had been exchanging letters with Lu Xun, was imprisoned and later executed.

Death and aftermath

Sun Quan repeatedly sent emissaries to Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei) to reprimand Lu Xun for interfering with the succession. Lu Xun died on 19 March 245 in anger and frustration at the age of 63 (by East Asian age reckoning). Lu Xun was a thrifty man. When he died, he left behind little or no wealth for his family. Sometime between 258 and 264, Sun Xiu, the third Wu emperor, awarded Lu Xun the posthumous title "Marquis Zhao" (昭侯; literally "illustrious marquis").

The succession struggle concluded in 250 – five years after Lu Xun's death – with Sun Quan deposing Sun He and replacing him with Sun Liang, and forcing Sun Ba to commit suicide. Many officials who were involved in the conflict (i.e., supported either Sun He or Sun Ba) met with unhappy ends.

In the winter of 251, about half a year before his death, Sun Quan regretted what he did to Lu Xun. When he was sending off Lu Xun's son Lu Kang back to Chaisang (柴桑), with tears in his eyes he told Lu Kang, "Previously, I believed slanderous rumours and failed to understand your father's well-meaning advice. I've let you down. I've burnt all the documents containing the allegations against your father so that nobody can ever see them."

Appraisal

When Ji Yan proposed introducing drastic reforms in the Wu administration (which included the dismissal of many officials he deemed incompetent), Lu Xun cautioned Sun Quan against that and accurately predicted that it would lead to problems. Lu Xun once told Zhuge Ke, "I respect those who are superior to me in status; I assist those who are subordinate to me. I see you behave arrogantly in front of those superior to you, and you belittle those subordinate to you. This isn't the way to build a stable career." In another incident, Yang Zhu became famous in his youth, but Lu Xun predicted that he was doomed to failure, so he advised Yang Zhu's elder brother, Yang Mu, to break ties with Yang Zhu. Lu Xun's prediction came true as Yang Zhu later got into trouble during the Sun He-Sun Ba succession struggle.

The historian Chen Shou, who wrote Lu Xun's biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, commented on Lu Xun as such: "Liu Bei was a hero of his time and many people feared him. Lu Xun, then in his prime years and relatively unknown, managed to defeat Liu Bei. Lu Xun's brilliant strategies, when combined with Sun Quan's recognition of his talent, resulted in the accomplishment of a great task. Lu Xun was loyal, honest and sincere. He died worrying about his state's future, and was perhaps an important pillar of his state."

Family and relatives

Sometime after 216, when Lu Xun was commissioned as Colonel Who Establishes Might (定威校尉). Under Sun Quan's arrangement, Lu Xun married the eldest daughter of Sun Quan's elder brother and predecessor Sun Ce.

Lu Xun's eldest son, Lu Yan (陆延), died at a young age. Lu Xun's marquis title was inherited by his second son, Lu Kang (陆抗), who became a prominent general in Eastern Wu during the reign of the last Wu emperor Sun Hao. Lu Kang had six sons: Lu Yan (陆晏), Lu Jing (陆景), Lu Xuan (陆玄), Lu Ji (陆机), Lu Yun (陆云) and Lu Dan (陆耽).

Lu Xun's younger brother, Lu Mao, also served as an official in Eastern Wu.

Lu Ji, a son of Lu Xun's granduncle Lu Kang (陆康), was one of the 24 Filial Exemplars and served as an official under Sun Quan.

Lu Kai, a relative of Lu Xun, served as the ninth Imperial Chancellor of Eastern Wu.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Lu Xun appeared as a character in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. His most significant moment in the novel, apart from his role in the Battle of Xiaoting, is a fictional encounter he had after the battle.

In popular culture

Lu Xun is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series, as well as Warriors Orochi, a crossover between Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors. He also appears in Koei's strategy game series Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

In the trading card game Magic: The Gathering, there is a card called "Lu Xun, Scholar General" in the Portal Three Kingdoms set.

He was played by the actor Shao Feng in the 2010 Chinese television series Three Kingdoms.