How a fake retreat and a deserted city defeated a massive imperial army
In 222, the Wei empire launched a three-pronged invasion of Wu. At the fortress of Ruxu, the defender Zhu Huan faced overwhelming odds. By feigning weakness and hiding his troops, he lured the enemy into a lethal trap, turning a desperate siege into a humiliating defeat for the invaders.
The Battle of Ruxu, occurring between 222 and 223, was a pivotal clash during the Three Kingdoms period. It followed the collapse of an alliance between Cao Pi of Wei and Sun Quan of Wu. Tensions boiled over when Cao Pi demanded Sun Quan send his eldest son, Sun Deng, as a hostage, prompting Sun Quan to declare his independence. In response, Cao Pi orchestrated a coordinated three-way assault along the Yangtze River, with Cao Ren tasked specifically with capturing the strategic position at Ruxu.
Cao Ren initially gained the upper hand through deception. He spread false rumors of an attack on Xianxi, tricking the defender Zhu Huan into dispatching the bulk of his forces away from the city. With the city seemingly undefended, Cao Ren launched his assault, destroying Zhu Huan's field armies. However, Zhu Huan executed a brilliant counter-ploy. He hid his remaining soldiers within civilian homes and silenced his drums, creating the illusion of a deserted, vulnerable city to bait the Wei forces into a reckless advance.
The trap worked perfectly. As Cao Ren’s son, Cao Tai, moved to seize the city, Zhu Huan’s hidden troops ambushed him, forcing a retreat. Simultaneously, a separate naval force sent to capture an island housing the families of Wu officers was decimated, resulting in the death of commander Chang Diao and the capture of Wang Shuang. Although Cao Ren eventually took personal command of the siege, the combination of heavy losses and a spreading disease forced Cao Pi to order a full retreat after months of fighting. Cao Ren died shortly after the campaign concluded in 223.
This battle stands out as the only one of three major conflicts at Ruxu—the others occurring in 213 and 217—that took place during the Three Kingdoms era. The victory cemented Zhu Huan’s reputation, while Cao Ren, despite his military stature, met his end following the failed campaign, later receiving the posthumous title of Marquis Zhong.
Source: Battle of Ruxu (222–223)
