41 Sun Jian joins the attack on Wancheng -V 2

41 Sun Jian joins the attack on Wancheng -V 2

In the context of the impending attack on Wancheng, Zhu Jun was suddenly met by a contingent of troops approaching from the east. At the forefront was a commanding figure, with a broad forehead, wide face, and a robust, powerful build. He hailed from Fuchun in Wu County, bearing the surname Sun, the given name Jian, and the style name Wentai. He was a descendant of Sun Tzu. At the age of seventeen, he and his father were at Qiandang when they encountered over ten pirates looting the goods of merchants on the shore. Jian said to his father, "These bandits can be captured." He then exerted himself, brandishing a knife as he went ashore, shouting loudly and feigning a commanding presence, pretending to be leading a large force of troops. The pirates, thinking that official soldiers had arrived, promptly abandoned their spoils and fled. Jian caught up with them and killed one of the pirates. As a result, he became well-known in the county and was recommended to be a captain. Later, when the rebel Xu Chang declared himself "Emperor Yangming" and gathered tens of thousands of followers, Jian and the county sergeant recruited over a thousand brave warriors, joining forces with the counties and prefectures to defeat and execute Xu Chang and his son Xu Shao. The provincial governor Zang Min submitted a memorial praising his achievements, and subsequently, Jian was appointed successively as an assistant of the magistrate in Yandu County, Xuyi County, and Xiapi County. Now, upon learning of the Yellow Turban bandits' uprising, he has gathered young men from the local villages, as well as various merchants and travelers, along with over fifteen hundred elite soldiers from the Huai River region, to come and support the imperial forces in their impending attack on Wancheng.
方欲攻打，忽见正东一彪人马到来。为首一将，生得广额阔面，虎体熊腰；吴郡富春人也，姓孙，名坚，字文台，乃孙武子之后。年十七岁时，与父至钱塘，见海贼十余人，劫取商人财物，于岸上分赃。坚谓父曰：“此贼可擒也。”遂奋力提刀上岸，扬声大叫，东西指挥，如唤人状。贼以为官兵至，尽弃财物奔走。坚赶上，杀一贼。由是郡县知名，荐为校尉。后会稽妖贼许昌造反，自称“阳明皇帝”，聚众数万；坚与郡司马招募勇士千余人，会合州郡破之，斩许昌并其子许韶。刺史臧旻上表奏其功，除坚为盐渎丞，又除盱眙丞、下邳丞。今见黄巾寇起，聚集乡中少年及诸商旅，并淮泗精兵一千五百余人，前来接应。