In the official history, Sun Quan finally chose to contend with Cao Cao, not simply because of Zhuge Liang's admonition, but after a lot of consideration, the final decision was made.

Among them, Lu Su, Zhou Yu and others played a very big role, and they were also the most determined main battle faction in the Soochow Group.

【Lu Su and Anti-Cao】

According to the "Jiangbiao Biography", at that time, Cao Cao wrote to Sun Quan and said: "Recently, I was ordered by the Son of Heaven to crusade against the guilty rebellion, the military flag pointed to the south, and Liu Cong surrendered. Now, I am in command of 800,000 sailors, and I will hunt with the general in Wu Land. ”

Sun Quan showed this letter to his subordinates, and they were all frightened. Everyone then persuaded Sun Quan to greet Cao Cao, but Lu Su did not say a word. Sun Quan got up and went to the toilet, Lu Su chased him under the eaves, Sun Quan knew what he meant, held his hand and said, "What do you want to say?" ”

Lu Su replied: "I just observed the discussion of the people, but I just wanted to delay the general, and it was not enough to conspire with them. Today, I can meet Cao Cao in Lusu, but not for generals. Why? Now that I have surrendered to Cao Cao, Cao Cao should send me back to my hometown, evaluate my reputation and status, and always be a petty official, ride an ox cart, have an entourage, make friends with a doctor, and slowly rise up, and it is indispensable to be a state and county governor. And general, when you surrender to Cao Cao, how will you be placed? I hope you will make a big plan early and don't listen to everyone's opinions. ”

Sun Quan sighed and said: "The propositions of these people have deeply disappointed me, and now you have clarified the long-term plan, which is in line with my thoughts, this is what God has given you to me!" ”

At that time, Zhou Yu accepted the mission to go to Poyang, and Lu Su persuaded Sun Quan to quickly summon Zhou Yu to return. So Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu as the acter and Lu Su as the captain of the Zan Military Academy to assist in planning the battle plan.

According to the "Book of Wei" and "Spring and Autumn in Kyushu", when Cao Cao went south to conquer Jingzhou, Sun Quan was very afraid, and Lu Su was ready to persuade Sun Quan to confront Cao Cao, so the general said: "The current Cao Gong is really our great enemy, he has just annexed the original Yuan Shao's forces, and the army is strong, taking advantage of the momentum of the victory just now, the crusade against Jingzhou, which has lost its master, will inevitably succeed." In this way, we might as well send troops to help Cao Cao, and send the general's family to Yecheng; Otherwise, we will be in danger. ”

Sun Quan was furious when he heard this, and was about to behead Lu Su, but Lu Su said: "Now that the matter is so critical, since you have other plans, why don't you send troops to help Liu Bei, but prepare to kill me." Only then did Sun Quan know Lu Su's thoughts, so he sent Zhou Yu out to help Liu Bei.

However, this account is somewhat contradictory, because Sun Quan sent Zhou Yu to support Liu Bei after the fall of Jingzhou, and Lu Su's words show that Jingzhou had not been lost at that time.

【Zhou Yu and Anti-Cao】

In September of the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), Cao Cao invaded Jingzhou, Liu Cong led the people to surrender, Cao Cao got Liu Cong's water army, and the water and infantry armies grew to hundreds of thousands, and the soldiers of Eastern Wu were very frightened when they heard the news.

Sun Quan summoned his subordinates to consult countermeasures. Everyone discussed: "Cao Cao is a jackal and tiger man, but in the name of the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, he coerced the Son of Heaven to conquer the world, and often said that it was the will of the imperial court, and now he wants to resist him, and things are even more unsmooth." Besides, General, the situation you are in, what can resist Cao Cao is the Yangtze River Natural Danger. Now Cao Cao occupies all of Jingzhou, plus Liu Biao's originally trained naval army, large ships and warships, and even thousands, Cao Cao has all of them along the river, and has infantry, both land and water to advance together, the so-called Yangtze River natural danger, has become Cao Cao and our share. In terms of strength, the disparity between the enemy and the enemy is extremely large, and it cannot be compared. Therefore the best strategy is to surrender to him. ”

Zhou Yu said: "No! Although Cao Cao is called Han Xiang, he is actually a Han thief! General, with the mighty talents of the gods and the great deeds of your father and brother, you have seized Jiangdong, covering an area of thousands of miles, with enough soldiers and food, and heroes are happy to work, just when you are rampant in the world and eradicate the evil scourge for the Han family. What's more, now that Cao Cao himself has come to send him to death, how can he surrender to him? Let me analyze and calculate for you: if the situation in the north is completely stable now, Cao Cao has no worries, and of course he can fight with us for territory for a long time. But will you be able to compete with us in a water war? At present, the situation in the north has not been stabilized, and Ma Chao and Han Sui are in the west of Hangu Pass, which has become a problem for Cao Cao's rear. Moreover, it is not their strong point to abandon the advantage of cavalry and rely on the captured warships to compete with the army of our Wuyue land in a water battle. Now it is the cold season, and the lack of forage for the military horses drives the soldiers of the Central Plains to the rivers and lakes in the south. The above four points are all taboos in the use of soldiers, and Cao Cao completely ignored them and went against the grain. The general wants to capture Cao Cao, and now is the best time. I ask to lead 30,000 elite soldiers to Xiakou and guarantee to defeat Cao Cao for you. ”

Sun Quan said: "Cao Cao's old thief tried to abolish the Han family and establish himself as the emperor, and he has been planning for a long time, but he is just afraid of Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, Lu Bu, Liu Biao and me. Now that several of them have been annihilated, I am the only one who survives, and I am inseparable from the old thief. What you said should fight against him is exactly the same as what I thought, God sent you to help me! ”

At that time, Liu Bei was defeated by Cao Cao, tried to retreat south across the Yangtze River, and met Lu Su in Dangyang, so they discussed the plan to resist Cao. Liu Bei also stationed in Xiakou and appointed Zhuge Liang to pay homage to Sun Quan, and Sun Quan and Zhuge Liang talked and strengthened their determination to fight against Cao Cao.

Judging from the relevant records in the "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", when Zhuge Liang and Sun Quan talked, Sun Quan probably had made up his mind to fight against Cao Cao, so although Zhuge Liang's method of agitation strengthened Sun Quan's determination to resist Cao, it was not the main factor for Sun Quan to resist Cao.

Sun Quan finally chose to fight against Cao Cao, not only because of the persuasion of Lu Su, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang, but also because Sun Quan himself was inclined to the main battle, which can be seen in the fact that Sun Quan did not send his son to Xuchang as a hostage, as one of the masters of that era, Sun Quan had his own ambitions and ideals, and he would not casually succumb to others, even if that person was Cao Cao.

Sun Quan is not Liu Cong, he has his own persistence like Liu Biao, but he is luckier than Liu Biao, Sun Quan still has Zhou Yu and Lu Su by his side, and Liu Biao is surrounded by Kuai Yue and Han Song, but then again, even if Zhou Yu and Lu Su are by Liu Biao's side, Liu Biao may not be able to stay.