Chapter 13: Sun Quan Declares Himself Emperor
Under Sun Quan's rule, Eastern Wu gradually developed and grew. Sun Quan inherited the dying wishes of his father and brother, consolidated Jiangdong's foundation, and made Eastern Wu a powerful force among the Three Kingdoms.
Sun Quan demonstrated exceptional political abilities. He was good at employing people, and outstanding generals like Zhou Yu and Lu Xun were all his subordinates. He also reduced taxes and developed the economy, making Eastern Wu's economy prosperous.
Sun Quan also demonstrated wise strategies in diplomacy. He maintained an alliance with Shu Han and jointly resisted Wei. Although this alliance relationship had occasional fluctuations, overall it maintained the balance of the Three Kingdoms.
After years of preparation, Sun Quan decided to formally declare himself emperor. He established the Kingdom of Wu and called himself the Great Emperor of Wu. This meant the pattern of the Three Kingdoms standing apart was formally formed.
After declaring himself emperor, Sun Quan continued developing Eastern Wu's national strength. He strengthened military power, expanded territory, and made Eastern Wu a regional hegemon. During his reign, Eastern Wu reached its peak.
However, Sun Quan's later years were not satisfactory. He became suspicious and jealous of his subordinates, killing many loyal officials. This tyrannical behavior caused cracks to appear within Eastern Wu.