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▶ SUN CE, THE LITTLE CONQUEROR
INFO
name: sun ce ( 孫策 ); "sun" is the surname
canon: dynasty warriors age: 26 (25 by western reckoning)
birthday: exact date unknown; born in 175 AD
gender: male
canon: dynasty warriors age: 26 (25 by western reckoning)
birthday: exact date unknown; born in 175 AD
gender: male
TRAITS
BACKGROUND
Sun Ce was born in the Jiangdong (southeastern) region of China as the eldest son of Sun Jian, a descendant of Sun Tzu and military official during the Later Han Dynasty. Sun Jian, despite his ancestry, came from a humble background and was a man who was loyal to the Han government. Only a few years after Sun Ce's birth, the Han was wracked with rebellions, natural disasters, and corruption, leading to an era of widespread civil war. Even from a young age, Sun Ce trained to follow in his father's footsteps as a warrior and commander, demonstrating promising skill at it. While his father was on a campaign against the tyrannical minister Dong Zhuo, Sun Ce was tasked with looking after his family, as he was just a teenager. It was during this time that Sun Ce became friends with a young man his age named Zhou Yu, who came from an influential family and whose family hosted the Sun family during this time. The two even became sworn brothers during this time.
After the end of the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Sun Ce joined his father on campaign against Liu Biao, a warlord in Jing Province (southern China). With Sun Ce leading the attack, Sun Jian's army dealt Liu Biao numerous setbacks, but just when victory was within sight, tragedy struck. Sun Jian was lured into an ambush by Huang Zu, Liu Biao's commander, and was killed in battle. At just the age of seventeen, Sun Ce found himself the leader of a broken army.
With no other choice, Sun Ce withdrew his father's forces and took refuge with Yuan Shu, a warlord who had held a complicated relationship with Sun Jian. Yuan Shu was a greedy man and regarded the promising young Sun Ce as an asset; during the few years that Sun Ce served him, Yuan Shu would frequently promise him promotions as a reward for victory, only to renege on his promise time and time again. Bitter and frustrated, Sun Ce sought a way to break free and make a name for himself, and he would soon have his chance.
The Jiangdong region, at this time, was controlled by disparate groups of warlords, including bandit kings, and there was considerable strife in the region. It's unclear how Sun Ce convinced Yuan Shu to grant him his father's former soldiers and leave to lead a campaign to Jiangdong; some sources say that Sun Ce offered Yuan Shu the legendary Imperial Seal, a treasure his father had found while campaigning against Dong Zhuo, while others say that Yuan Shu simply expected him to fail the campaign and saw it as an opportunity to humble his ambitious vassal. Whatever the case, though, Sun Ce took charge of a small army, and he quickly began to gather additional followers, including his childhood friend, Zhou Yu, who joined him as his strategist.
Over the next several years, the young Sun Ce scored victory after victory, and both his forces and reputation grew. Much like his father before him, Sun Ce fought on the front lines during every battle, personally dueling and besting multiple enemy generals and uniting the vast majority of Jiangdong. Meanwhile, his old master Yuan Shu had been dealt setback after setback, and expecting Sun Ce to support him, he committed an unforgivable crime: he used the Imperial Seal in his possession as justification to declare himself the emperor of a new dynasty.
As it turned out, this action only led Sun Ce to completely sever his ties with Yuan Shu, and he joined with the warlords Cao Cao and Liu Bei in fighting Yuan Shu, leading to the downfall of the pretender's new dynasty. In the aftermath that followed, Sun Ce made further gains and even dealt a crushing defeat to the forces of Liu Biao and Huang Zu, hoping to avenge his father's death. But to the north, it became clear that his most dangerous rival would be Cao Cao, who had taken custody of the Han Emperor and was claiming to act in his name. With momentum on his side, Sun Ce began planning a campaign to retrieve the Han Emperor from Cao Cao's custody, an ambitious plan that would swing the balance of power and help Sun Ce fulfill his father's dream of restoring the Han Dynasty...
After the end of the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Sun Ce joined his father on campaign against Liu Biao, a warlord in Jing Province (southern China). With Sun Ce leading the attack, Sun Jian's army dealt Liu Biao numerous setbacks, but just when victory was within sight, tragedy struck. Sun Jian was lured into an ambush by Huang Zu, Liu Biao's commander, and was killed in battle. At just the age of seventeen, Sun Ce found himself the leader of a broken army.
With no other choice, Sun Ce withdrew his father's forces and took refuge with Yuan Shu, a warlord who had held a complicated relationship with Sun Jian. Yuan Shu was a greedy man and regarded the promising young Sun Ce as an asset; during the few years that Sun Ce served him, Yuan Shu would frequently promise him promotions as a reward for victory, only to renege on his promise time and time again. Bitter and frustrated, Sun Ce sought a way to break free and make a name for himself, and he would soon have his chance.
The Jiangdong region, at this time, was controlled by disparate groups of warlords, including bandit kings, and there was considerable strife in the region. It's unclear how Sun Ce convinced Yuan Shu to grant him his father's former soldiers and leave to lead a campaign to Jiangdong; some sources say that Sun Ce offered Yuan Shu the legendary Imperial Seal, a treasure his father had found while campaigning against Dong Zhuo, while others say that Yuan Shu simply expected him to fail the campaign and saw it as an opportunity to humble his ambitious vassal. Whatever the case, though, Sun Ce took charge of a small army, and he quickly began to gather additional followers, including his childhood friend, Zhou Yu, who joined him as his strategist.
Over the next several years, the young Sun Ce scored victory after victory, and both his forces and reputation grew. Much like his father before him, Sun Ce fought on the front lines during every battle, personally dueling and besting multiple enemy generals and uniting the vast majority of Jiangdong. Meanwhile, his old master Yuan Shu had been dealt setback after setback, and expecting Sun Ce to support him, he committed an unforgivable crime: he used the Imperial Seal in his possession as justification to declare himself the emperor of a new dynasty.
As it turned out, this action only led Sun Ce to completely sever his ties with Yuan Shu, and he joined with the warlords Cao Cao and Liu Bei in fighting Yuan Shu, leading to the downfall of the pretender's new dynasty. In the aftermath that followed, Sun Ce made further gains and even dealt a crushing defeat to the forces of Liu Biao and Huang Zu, hoping to avenge his father's death. But to the north, it became clear that his most dangerous rival would be Cao Cao, who had taken custody of the Han Emperor and was claiming to act in his name. With momentum on his side, Sun Ce began planning a campaign to retrieve the Han Emperor from Cao Cao's custody, an ambitious plan that would swing the balance of power and help Sun Ce fulfill his father's dream of restoring the Han Dynasty...
ABILITIES
Sun Ce is one of the most skilled military commanders and fighters of his era, and the soldiers and officers under his command are unflinchingly loyal. Different entries in the Dynasty Warriors series have portrayed Sun Ce as using different weapons, including tonfas, spears, gauntlets, and a large sickle blade. Overall, his fighting style seems to be one based on fast, aggressive attacks, which matches his personality and approach to combat.
Although he tends to rely on Zhou Yu and others for the finer points of strategy, Sun Ce also demonstrates a proficiency for it when he puts his mind to it. For example, on one occasion, he successfully tricked an enemy general into thinking he had been killed in order to lure the enemy into an ambush.
Although he tends to rely on Zhou Yu and others for the finer points of strategy, Sun Ce also demonstrates a proficiency for it when he puts his mind to it. For example, on one occasion, he successfully tricked an enemy general into thinking he had been killed in order to lure the enemy into an ambush.
RELATIONSHIPS
PERSONALITY
Sun Ce is a charismatic and outgoing young man. Despite his warlike demeanor, he's friendly and compassionate, and he tends to treat his vanquished enemies with respect and generosity. He demonstrates this by loosening the enemy general Taishi Ci's bonds after capturing him, and while one could argue he gained a valuable asset in the process, he also took in the family of Yuan Shu after Yuan Shu's death, which didn't provide any strategic benefit whatsoever. He also extends this treatment to the common people, and in historical records, it's said that he kept strict order in his army and didn't allow any pillaging or harassment of the peasantry. Despite his passion for battle, he doesn't use it lightly; he prefers to show mercy.
Sun Ce is restless and impulsive at times, a trait that can cause him to charge headlong into danger. He recognizes this as a flaw, but it goes against his nature to ask other people to risk their lives for him if isn't fighting right there alongside them. This is a trait that endears him to his soldiers, but it also worries his advisers and family members.
Sun Ce is restless and impulsive at times, a trait that can cause him to charge headlong into danger. He recognizes this as a flaw, but it goes against his nature to ask other people to risk their lives for him if isn't fighting right there alongside them. This is a trait that endears him to his soldiers, but it also worries his advisers and family members.
