好谋善断 — “Resourceful in planning and decisive in action”

During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Quan was skilled at attracting talented individuals and treated wise men with respect. He heavily relied on anyone who possessed talent and was willing to serve him. Lu Su and Zhuge Jin, among others, came under his command and received his appreciation and significant responsibilities.

In 208 AD, Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province, passed away. Lu Su suggested that Sun Quan send him to Jing Province, ostensibly to express condolences, but actually to ally with Liu Bei, who was then dependent on Liu Biao, to jointly resist Cao Cao. After meeting with Liu Bei, Liu Bei agreed and dispatched Zhuge Liang to accompany Lu Su to meet Sun Quan.

At the time, Sun Quan was still wavering. When Zhuge Liang met Sun Quan, he told him that with Cao Cao's vast army pressing down, failing to take proactive measures would lead to disaster. He further pointed out that Cao Cao's southern campaign had exhausted his troops, and they were unaccustomed to naval warfare. He asserted that a united force of Sun Quan and Liu Bei would surely defeat Cao Cao. Sun Quan, convinced by this analysis, grew more confident in uniting with Liu Bei to oppose Cao Cao.

He convened his subordinates for deliberation. Zhou Yu, after analyzing Cao Cao's weaknesses, concluded that Cao Cao had committed a grave tactical error. He proposed that if Sun Quan gave him tens of thousands of elite soldiers, he guaranteed a complete victory. Zhou Yu's words further solidified Sun Quan's determination to resist Cao Cao.

That year, Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu as the Left Chief Commander, Lu Su as the Assistant Military Commandant, and Cheng Pu as the Right Chief Commander. He led thirty thousand elite troops up the Yangtze River to rendezvous with Liu Bei's army and confront Cao Cao's forces. In the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao's army suffered a crushing defeat, thus establishing the tripartite division of power (Three Kingdoms).

After Sun Quan established the Kingdom of Wu, it grew increasingly powerful because of his ability to employ talent well and his skill in making sound judgments.