Sun–Liu territorial dispute
The Sun–Liu territorial dispute was a military conflict between the warlords Sun Quan and Liu Bei in 215 during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
In 210, Liu Bei travelled to Jing (京; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) to meet Sun Quan and request to govern Nan Commandery.
Sun Quan approved and put Lu Su in charge of the troops and territories which used to be led and governed by Zhou Yu.
Around July 215, Sun Quan asked Liu Bei to "return" three commanderies in southern Jing Province – Changsha, Lingling (零陵; around present-day Yongzhou, Hunan) and Guiyang (桂陽; around present-day Chenzhou, Hunan) – since the latter already had a new base in Yi Province.
He stationed himself at Lukou (陸口; at Lushui Lake near present-day Chibi, Hubei) while ordering Lü Meng, Ling Tong and Lü Dai[11] to lead troops to attack the three commanderies, and Lu Su to lead 10,000 troops to Yiyang to block Guan Yu.
In the meantime, upon learning of Sun Quan's advances, Liu Bei returned from Yi Province to Gong'an County and ordered Guan Yu to lead troops to stop Lü Meng and take back the three commanderies.
[13][1] When Lü Meng pacified Changsha, he passed by Ling County (酃縣; east of present-day Hengyang, Hunan) and met Deng Xuanzhi (鄧玄之), an old friend of Hao Pu.
Hao Pu became afraid when he heard that he had been isolated, so he agreed to surrender and asked Deng Xuanzhi to lead him to Lü Meng.
Hao Pu became wrecked with guilt when he learnt that both Liu Bei and Guan Yu were actually free to reinforce Lingling but it was too late.
At the time, Gan Ning, who had only 300 men under him, told Lu Su: "If you give me another 500 troops, I will go to confront Guan Yu.
As Gan Ning expected, Guan Yu did not cross the shallows and instead ordered his men to make camp there.
During the negotiations, both sides stationed their soldiers more than 100 paces away from the meeting area, while the officers present at the talks were each armed with nothing more than a sword or blade weapon.
When we ask for only three commanderies, you still refuse..."[17] Before Lu Su could finish what he was saying, an unnamed person interrupted him: "Whoever has the ability to govern the land shall have control over it.
Lu Su then met Guan Yu, who told him: "My lord was actively involved in the Battle of Red Cliffs and he didn't rest well during that time.
He previously lacked a good sense of judgment when he handled issues, but after receiving some moral education, he became more responsible and started striving harder.
Liu Bei and Sun Quan then withdrew their forces after agreeing to divide the territories in southern Jing Province between their respective domains along the Xiang River: Liu Bei would keep Nan, Lingling and Wuling commanderies in the west, while Sun Quan would take Changsha, Jiangxia and Guiyang commanderies in the east.
Lü Meng and his army succeeded in their mission and conquered all of Liu Bei's territories without Guan Yu knowing.
Guan Yu was subsequently captured in an ambush and executed by Sun Quan's forces after refusing to surrender.
In the novel, the meeting is actually a mask for an attempt by Lu Su and his subordinates to force Guan Yu to hand over Liu Bei's territories in Jing Province to Sun Quan's side.
Their plan is as follows: Lu Su will pretend to invite Guan Yu to attend a meeting and demand that he "return" the territories.
Guan Yu knows that it is a trap but he still arms himself with only his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and attends the meeting.
