Lu Kang

Who was Lu Kang?

Lu Kang, style name Youjie, was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period. He was the second son of Lu Xun, who oversaw and managed civil and military affairs in Wu throughout the reign of Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan and served briefly as Chancellor for a year before his death. Lu Kang inherited the mantle of his father but was less involved in politics as he served mainly in the Wu military, and he rose to prominence during the reign of the fourth and last Wu emperor, Sun Hao. In 272, he successfully suppressed a rebellion by Bu Chan and fended off invading forces from Wu's rival, the Jin Dynasty. Following the battle, he actively pursued a policy of détente with the Jin general Yang Hu at the Wu-Jin border. At the same time, he constantly submitted memorials to Sun Hao, urging the tyrant to change his ways and govern with benevolence, but his advice fell on deaf ears. Lu Kang died in 274. In 280, about six years after his death, Jin launched a campaign against Wu and conquered Wu within a year. Two of Lu Kang's sons were killed in action in the defence of Wu.