Among the various playable faction leaders in Total War: Three Kingdoms, there are two whose fate can result in very swift and premature ends. One is Dong Zhuo, who is doomed to assassination at the hands of Lu Bu unless the player intercedes in the game’s early stages. The other is Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong. If Sun Jian does die, his faction falls to his eldest son, Sun Ce, the man known as ‘The Little Conqueror.’
Total War: Three Kingdoms Heroes – Sun Ce
“Meet Sun Ce, eldest child of warlord Sun Jian and brother of Sun Quan and Sun Ren,” says Creative Assembly; “Although relatively young, he has proven himself a fearless warrior, talented commander, and ambitious general. Famed for his military victories in Jiangdong that laid the foundation for the Kingdom of Wu, he’s very much earned his nickname the ‘Little Conqueror.'”
Sun Ce is a Vanguard-class hero, emphasising his role as a frontline commander. Vanguards boast high Instinct and excel at cleaving through enemy soldiers. Although they aren’t necessarily the best duellists, there are few heroes better to lead a cavalry charge. Indeed, the God of War himself, Lu Bu, is a Vanguard. This class also gets easier access to shock cavalry units, and they can reduce unit recruitment costs in their armies. All of this certainly makes sense for Sun Ce, a heroic figure despite his young age who quickly made a name for himself on the battlefield.
Sun Ce’s Role and Special Abilities
When Total War: Three Kingdoms begins, players who are playing as Sun Jian have Sun Ce and several other of his children in their faction. However, they aren’t yet available, as they won’t have come of age. Fortunately, they won’t have to wait too long. If the game does mirror history (as indeed, it may well do if Sun Jian is controlled by the AI), then Sun Jian is slain in battle with Huang Zu, a vassal of Liu Biao. With his death, leadership of his faction falls to his heir, Sun Ce. Indeed, players who want to play a game with Sun Ce as their faction leader should simply follow the steps to Sun Jian’s historical death. Of course, Sun Ce also met something of an untimely end, so players should be careful to keep him alive too (unless they’re aiming to get Sun Quan as their leader).
Four of Sun Ce’s abilities are revealed on the character poster produced by Creative Assembly. The first of these is The Little Conqueror; “Sun Ce has been likened to the warrior-kings of old, with an aptitude for military leadership that belies his youth”. The remaining abilities are as follows:
- Blood Fury: “As Sun Ce’s strength rises, his grip on rationality weakens…”
- Devastating Roar: “The roar of fury crushes enemy morale!”
- Flames of the Phoenix: “The fury of the victorious warrior is fearful to behold!”
The Short Reign of the Little Conqueror
When Sun Jian was killed at the Battle of Xiangyang, Sun Ce was only 16 years old. However, with the help of other generals loyal to the Sun family, he eventually broke with Yuan Shu and continued on the path set by his father; establishing the state of Eastern Wu. Unfortunately, this goal would not be reached during his lifetime. Rather, it would be completed by his younger brother, Sun Quan. Sun Jian died in the year 191, just one year after the start of Total War: Three Kingdoms. Sun Ce, on the other hand, died just nine years later, in the year 200.
When Sun Jian died, he had been in the service of Yuan Shu; a role which Sun Ce continued after his father’s death. However, twice Yuan Shu broke his word, promising to make Sun Ce a provincial governor only to give the post to somebody else. As a result, Sun Ce began to consider leaving his service. Knowing that this was the case, Yuan Shu sent Sun Ce with a meagre force to attack Liu Yao; a battle he didn’t believe that he could win.
The twenty-year-old general raised more troops at Liyang and quickly defeated Ze Rong, one of Liu Yao’s subordinates. After several more victories, he was hit by an arrow in the thigh. Seizing the opportunity, he spread a false rumour that he had been killed and baited Ze Rong’s forces into a devastating ambush. His leadership and discipline quickly won him the support of the local populace, as well as numerous skilled officers, allowing him to win further victories and conquer an entire region.
The Execution of Xu Gong
In 197, Yuan Shu declared himself emperor, an act of treason against the Han Empire. Sun Ce broke all ties with the warlord, who died of sickness just two years later. Following his death, Sun Ce captured some of his former territory. He also recruited some 30,000 of Yuan Shu’s troops into his army; giving him the strength to expand his territory and consolidate his control of southern China. However, he was not well-loved by all. A former commandery administrator named Xu Gong sent a letter to Emperor Xian (who was under the control of Cao Cao), arguing that Sun Ce was too much of a danger to be permitted to hold territory. Sun Ce’s followers intercepted the letter and the Little Conqueror had Xu Gong executed. This would prove to be Sun Ce’s undoing.
Shortly after, in the year 200, Sun Ce was preparing to mount an attack against the capital city of Xuchang, where Cao Cao was holding Emperor Xian. However, while he was out hunting, he was attacked by three men who had formerly served Xu Gong. He died of his injuries shortly after. Although he had one son, he chose to leave the leadership of his territory to his brother, Sun Quan. It was Sun Quan who would go on to found the kingdom of Eastern Wu, one of the Three Kingdoms.