Sun Quan inherits control of Jiangdong after the death of his elder brother Sun Ce in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Young but politically alert, he retains experienced civil and military officers and judges between competing advice. His blue eyes and purple beard are repeatedly used as distinguishing features, while his strength lies in choosing and sustaining commanders rather than seeking personal duels.
When Cao Cao advances south, many advisers urge surrender. Lu Su and Zhou Yu persuade Sun Quan to resist; he cuts the corner from his desk as a warning against further capitulation talk and authorizes the alliance with Liu Bei that wins at Red Cliffs. He later moves his seat to Jianye and builds defenses at Ruxu, maintaining an independent southern state through alternating war and diplomacy.
The alliance with Liu Bei deteriorates over Jing Province. Sun Quan supports Lü Meng’s seizure of the region and Guan Yu’s capture, then maneuvers between Wei and Shu as the balance changes. He eventually takes the imperial title of Eastern Wu. Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Lü Meng, Gan Ning, and the rivalry with Cao Cao and Liu Bei define a ruler whose principal weapon is the ability to employ very different talents.
