Zhou Wenyu (509–19 July 559), courtesy name Jingde, né Xiang Mengnu, was a military general of the Liang and Chen dynasties during the Northern and Southern dynasties period. He was one of Chen Baxian's earliest followers who participated in his suppression of Hou Jing's rebellion. Following Chen's assassination of Wang Sengbian in 555, Zhou helped Chen in stamping out remnants of Wang's army and most notably defeated the Inspector of Guang province, Xiao Bo. After Chen Baxian established the Chen dynasty, he continued to serve as a general before he was assassinated by a peer in 559.
Background Zhou Wenyu, originally known as Xiang Mengnu, was born into a poor family in Shouchang County, Xin'an Commandery (新安, roughly modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang) and orphaned at a young age after the death of his father. At the age of 11, he was already described as physically strong, being able to swim several miles and jump a great height. A local garrison commander, Zhou Hui (周薈) of Yixing Commandery, eventually discovered him and adopted him as his son.
Accompanying his adoptive father back to the capital, Jiankang, he was then introduced to the minister, Zhou She (周舍), who gave him the personal name of "Wenyu" and the courtesy name of "Jingde". Zhou She also instructed his nephew, Zhou Hongrang (周弘讓) to teach Zhou Wenyu how to read and write. However, Wenyu showed little interest in his studies, stating "Those who can learn can only achieve wealth and honour with a large spear." Impressed by his words, Hongrang taught him horse riding and archery instead.Book of Chen, vol.8
Early career under the Liang dynasty
Baishui tribes rebellion Zhou Hui later served in the staff of the Inspector of Si province, Chen Qingzhi. He was commissioned to comfort the Baishui tribes (白水蠻) in Xuanhu (懸瓠; in present-day Runan County, Henan), and brought along Zhou Wenyu and 500 soldiers with him. However, the tribes were planning to rebel and apprehend Zhou Hui to surrender to the Northern Wei, but the plot was leaked. Heavy fighting ensued between the two sides, and Zhou Hui was killed in battle. Zhou Wenyu fought hard to retrieve his father's body and was wounded nine times, but the tribes were soon intimidated by his ferocity as he charged into their ranks, so they did not dare approach him. The battle turned into a stalemate that lasted until dark, after which the tribes dispersed. Zhou recovered from his injuries and handed in his resignation to Chen Qingzhi so that he can carry out his father's burial in his hometown. Chen permitted him and sent him off with generous gifts.History of the Southern Dynasties, vol.66
Mutiny in Jiao province After burying his father, Zhou Wenyu entered the service of the Inspector of Southern Jiang province, Lu Anxing (盧安興) to Guang province. Distinguishing himself against the Liliao people, Zhou was appointed the Magistrate of Nanhai County. Following Lu Anxing's death, his son, Lu Zixiong (盧子雄) participated in the campaign against the rebel Lý Bôn in Jiao province. The campaign ended in failure, as the Liang soldiers were not adapt to the hot and humid climate of the province, but the Inspector of Jiao, Xiao Zi (蕭諮), accused Lu of colluding with the rebels and executed him under false charges.
Angered by his unjust death, Zhou Wenyu, Du Tianhe (杜天合) and Du Sengming launched a mutiny with Lu's brother, Lu Zilue (盧子略) as their leader. They marched on to Guang province, planning to kill Xiao Zi and the Inspector of Guang province, Xiao Ying (蕭映) as they forces swelled to the tens of thousands within a day. They then besieged the provincial capital of Guang, surrounding the city from all sides. The Administrator of Gaoyao, Chen Baxian brought 3,000 elite troops to fight against the rebels and defeated them at the foot of the city. Du Tianhe was killed by a stray arrow, while Zhou Wenyu and Du Sengming were captured.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 158
Chen released the two men, recruiting Du into his staff while Zhou went to join the new Inspector of Guang province, Wang Mai (王勱), who entrusted Zhou as an important high-ranking official. When Wang was recalled to the north, Zhou initially followed him as well. According to the Book of Chen, when Zhou reached the Dayu Mountains, he consulted a diviner, who told him, "If you go north, you will only become magistrate; if you remain in the south, you will become a duke or marquis". Zhou replied, "The money is enough. Why should I aspire for dukedom?" The diviner said, "You will soon suddenly acquire two thousand taels of silver. If you do not believe my reading, then take this as proof." That evening, Zhou stayed at an inn, where he was asked by a merchant to gamble. Zhou won, and he received a winning of two thousand taels of silver. The following day, Zhou bid farewell to Wang Mai, and after explaining his reasoning, Wang allowed him to leave.
When Chen Baxian heard of his return in Gaoyao (高要, roughly modern Zhaoqing, Guangdong), he was elated and sent his men to welcome him. He showered Zhou with gifts and assigned him to one of his subordinates. Zhou and Du Sengming later followed Chen in his campaign against Lý Bôn, driving him and his forces into hiding.
Service under Chen Baxian
The Hou Jing Disturbance As the rebellion in Jiao appeared to die down, Hou Jing, an Eastern Wei general who defected to Liang, rebelled and captured Jiankang in 549. Chen Baxian marched north to suppress the rebellion, and along the way, he defeated the Inspector of Guang, Yuan Jingzhong (元景仲) and the former Inspector of Gao province, Lan Yu (蘭裕). Both Zhou Wenyu and Du Sengming served as the vanguard and made many military achievements against Yuan and Lan.
In 550, as he continued his way to the capital, Chen's path was blocked by the Nankang warlord, Cai Luyang (蔡路養), and they fought a bloody battle at Nanye (南野; south of present-day Nankang, Jiangxi). During the battle, Zhou Wenyu was surrounded and shot at with arrows and stones. Despite his horse dying, he was able to break through the encirclement and join forces with Du Sengming, eventually defeating Cai Luyang. Chen then occupied Nankang and appointed Zhou as a Marshal.
At the time, the Inspector of Gao province, Li Qianshi (李遷仕) occupied Dagao (大皋; south of present-day Ji'an, Jiangxi) and sent his general, Du Pinglu (杜平虜) with an army to Ganshi (灨石, located between Ganxian and Wan'an County in Jiangxi) to build a fort at Yuliang (魚梁城; south of Wan'an County, Jiangxi). Zhou Wenyu attacked Yuliang and forced Du to flee his fort. Li then brought his main force to face Zhou, but while they initially fought to a stalemate, Du Sengming arrived with reinforcements and defeated Li. The Prince of Xiangdong, Xiao Yi appointed Zhou as Faithful Hero General and Inspector of Yi province. Li Qianshi fled to Ningdu, and with the support of the local warlord, Liu Xiaoshang (劉孝尚), he attacked Chen Baxian. Chen ordered Zhou, Du and others to defend Baikou, where they fought with Li for more than a hundred days before capturing and killing him. In 551, Chen Baxian set out from Nankang and marched north along the Gan river, sending Zhou Wenyu ahead to open up the river routes. He captured Yuzhang (豫章郡; around present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi) and defeated the general, Wang Bochou (王伯醜), for which he was promoted to General of the Mobile Cavalry and Regular Mounted Attendant and bestowed the title of Marquis of Dongqian.
In 552, Chen Baxian finally arrived at Baimaowan (白茅灣; northeast of present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) to join forces with the Liang commander, Wang Sengbian and face Hou Jing in battle. He placed Zhou Wenyu and Du Sengming in charge of the vanguard, and together they successively captured Nanling, Quetou (鵲頭; in present-day Tongling, Anhui), Gusu (姑孰; in present-day Dangtu County, Anhui) and others before reaching Jiankang. Hou Jing was unable to stop their advance and fled, during which he was killed by his own subordinate. With the rebellion quelled, Xiao Yi proclaimed himself as emperor at Jiangling, posthumously known as Emperor Yuan. For his meritorious deeds, Zhou Wenyu was appointed Communications Regular Mounted Attendant and Administrator of Xinyi, as well as granted the title of Marquis of Nanyi County. Later, he was promoted to Regular Mounted Attendant and General of Martial Wisdom. He also served as Administrator for the three commanderies of Southern Danyang, Lanling and Jinling.
Campaign against Wang Sengbian's remnants In 554, after Emperor Yuan was captured and killed by Western Wei forces at Jiangling, Wang Sengbian and Chen Baxian intended to install his son, Xiao Fangzhi to the throne at Jiankang. However, relations between Wang and Chen broke then when the former caved in to pressure by the Northern Qi to install a pro-Qi ruler, Xiao Yuanming to the throne instead in 555. Furious, Chen brought his generals, including Zhou Wenyu, to discuss a surprise attack on Wang at Jiankang from their base in Jingkou. In September or October, they killed Wang and his sons before forcing Xiao Yuanming to pass the throne to Xiao Fangzhi, posthumously known as Emperor Jing.Book of Chen, vol. 1
In response to Wang's death, his son-in-law, Du Kan rebelled in Wuxing Commandery (吳興, roughly modern Huzhou, Zhejiang). The Administrator of Yixing, Wei Zai (韋載) also raised his troops in support. Chen dispatched Zhou Wenyu to attack Wei Zai, but his city was well-fortified and Zhou was locked in a stalemate. Chen personally led his army to help Zhou, breaking the water barrier outside the city and persuading Wei Zai to surrender with the emperor's edict. Zhou then linked up with Chen's nephew, Chen Qian at Changcheng (長城; in present-day Changxing County, Zhejiang) to attack Du Kan at Wuxing. In 556, Du was defeated, and after his surrender, he was killed.
The Inspector of Eastern Yang province, Zhang Biao (張彪) was a close friend of Wang Sengbian and attacked Linhai Commandery to oppose Chen Baxian. Zhou Wenyu and Chen Qian carried out a surprise attack on Kuaiji, forcing the defending general, Shen Tai (沈泰), to surrender. Chen Qian then occupied Kuaiji and stationed Zhou at Xiangyan Temple (香巖寺) north of the city. However, Zhang attacked Kuaiji overnight and recaptured the commandery city. Chen Qian fled to Zhou's camp and set up his defence against Zhang. Zhou fought hard in the battle, enticing the general Shen Jin (申縉) to surrender before finally defeating Zhang. The enemy forces in the eastern Zhenjiang region was thus wiped out.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 166
Subsequently, Chen Baxian appointed Zhou Wenyu the Chief Controller of military affairs of Southern Yu province, General of Military Might and Inspector of Southern Yu province. Zhou was then commissioned to attack Pengcheng and suppress the Inspector of Jiang province, Hou Tian. As he campaigned against Hou Tian, however, Xu Sihui once again allied with Northern Qi to march south and captured Wuhu. Chen hurriedly recalled Zhou from Pengcheng to defend Jiankang. Xu deployed warships from Qingdun (青墩; southwest of present-day Dangtu County, Anhui) to Qiji (七矶; northwest of present-day Wuhu, Anhui) to cut off Zhou's retreat. That evening, Zhou launched an attack with drums beating, and Xu was unable to stop him. At daybreak, Zhou carried out a counterattack. Xu's general, Bao Peng (鮑砰) was leading the rearguard in a ship. Zhou, commandeering a small boat, leap aboard Bao Peng's ship, killed him and seized the ship before returning. The rebels were terrified by Zhou's feat and abandoned their warships at Wuhu to flee to Jiankang.