Zhou Yu (Zhou Gongjin)

Zhou Yu (175–210 AD), courtesy name Gongjin, titled 'Handsome Zhou' (Mei Zhou Lang), was the brilliant grand commander of the naval armed forces of Sun Quan during the Three Kingdoms era. A cultured patrician of exceptional looks, musical genius, and aristocratic grace, Zhou Yu formed an unbreakable friendship with Sun Ce, helping him conquer the Jiangdong region to lay the foundations of Eastern Wu.

When Cao Cao marched south in 208 AD with a colossal fleet of 200,000 men demanding submission, Zhou Yu fiercely advocated resistance. Serving as commander-in-chief of the allied southern forces, Zhou Yu adopted Huang Gai's plan for a feigned surrender. Deploying fire ships driven by favorable southeast winds, Zhou Yu incinerated Cao Cao's chained armada at the Battle of Red Cliffs (Chibi), saving southern China from northern conquest and permanently establishing the Three Kingdoms balance of power.