English Version
When people think of powerful generals from Wei in the Three Kingdoms era, names like Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Xiahou Dun, and Cao Ren usually come up first. Yue Jin is not always the first name people mention.
But in the historical records, Yue Jin was considered one of Wei’s most formidable commanders. Because the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms focuses more on dramatic storytelling, Yue Jin does not receive many major scenes there. In Cao Cao’s army, however, some accounts place him extremely high among the generals—second only to Zhang Liao.
Here is the lesser-known story of Yue Jin’s achievements in the real Three Kingdoms history.
From Record Keeper to Battlefield Commander
Yue Jin left behind so many accomplishments that, if we compared his life to a Japanese warlord, he has a little in common with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The major difference is that Yue Jin never tried to become a ruler himself.
Yue Jin joined Cao Cao’s forces very early, around the time troops were being recruited for the coalition against Dong Zhuo. However, Yue Jin was naturally small in build, and he was not accepted as a regular soldier. Instead, he was hired as a record keeper for the army.
In other words, he had hoped to stand on the battlefield, but at first he was not even allowed to fight.
Later, Yue Jin returned to his hometown. When he came back to Cao Cao, he brought 1,000 soldiers with him. From that point on, Cao Cao began to trust him, and Yue Jin started his career as a military commander.
Yue Jin Charges First Against Lü Bu’s Forces
Even in the official history, Lü Bu was one of the most difficult opponents faced by both Liu Bei and Cao Cao. He is often called the strongest warrior of the Three Kingdoms, and Cao Cao himself suffered defeats in the struggle against him. Dealing with Lü Bu became an urgent priority.
The first major confrontation between Lü Bu and Cao Cao took place at Puyang. There, Yue Jin quickly distinguished himself by being among the first to charge into battle.
He then earned similar honors in three consecutive campaigns: against Zhang Chao, the Administrator of Guangling who supported Lü Bu; against Qiao Rui, a general serving Yuan Shu; and in further fighting linked to Lü Bu’s side.
Thanks to these achievements, Yue Jin rose rapidly. He went from having no military standing at all—a mere clerk—to becoming a titled general.
In 198, during the siege of Lü Bu at Xiapi, Yue Jin defeated an enemy commander. The following year, he took part in the attack on Liu Bei at Xiaopei. Still undefeated, he was promoted to the military rank of Commandant.
Yue Jin at the Battle of Guandu
The Battle of Guandu was one of the great turning points of the Three Kingdoms period. It was a historic showdown between Yuan Shao, who controlled the most powerful force in the north, and Cao Cao, who held the emperor under his protection in the central plains of China.
For readers familiar with Japanese history, it is sometimes compared in importance to the Battle of Sekigahara.
At this time, Liu Bei—the main hero of Romance of the Three Kingdoms—had fled and joined Yuan Shao’s side. Guan Yu, meanwhile, had temporarily surrendered and was serving under Cao Cao.
In the famous stories, many people remember the powerful Yuan Shao generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou being cut down rather quickly by Guan Yu. But in the historical record, Yue Jin and Yu Jin were among the commanders who played major roles.
Yue Jin and Yu Jin each led 5,000 troops in attacks against Yuan Shao’s main camp. They also helped strike Wuchao, the crucial supply base where Yuan Shao’s army stored food.
Of course, many other generals fought hard in this decisive battle. Even so, it is sometimes said that Yue Jin and Yu Jin were the ones who hit Yuan Shao’s vital weak points at Guandu.
After the Battle of Guandu, Yue Jin also took part in campaigns against Yuan Shao’s sons.
A General Present at Every Major Crisis
Guandu was a massive battle, but it was not the end of the fighting. One especially important campaign was Cao Cao’s struggle against the Wuhuan tribes, who were causing repeated trouble from the direction of Mongolia while China was still consumed by internal war.
Cao Cao needed to suppress them. During this period, Gao Gan, who had been under Cao Cao’s side, saw an opportunity and rebelled. Yue Jin was the one who helped put down that rebellion.
Yue Jin also fought pirates, making him more and more indispensable in major campaigns.
After Cao Cao’s army suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Red Cliffs, his forces withdrew from Jing Province. Even so, Yue Jin was stationed at Xiangyang, a key defensive point.
Yue Jin Even Forced Guan Yu to Withdraw
After the defeat at Red Cliffs in 208, Yue Jin remained at Xiangyang. When Guan Yu pursued Cao Cao’s forces, Yue Jin forced him to withdraw.
Many of the commanders Liu Bei had placed in various locations were also defeated by Yue Jin. This shows that Yue Jin was not only an aggressive attacker but also an excellent defensive commander.
In the Biography of the Former Lord, Liu Bei is said to have told Liu Zhang in 212:
“Guan Yu is facing Yue Jin at Qingni. If I do not go to his aid, Yue Jin will win a great victory and become a greater threat than Zhang Lu.”
Whether taken as political language or genuine concern, the statement shows how seriously Liu Bei regarded Yue Jin.
In 215, during the Battle of Hefei, Yue Jin remained in Hefei Castle as rear support while Zhang Liao and Li Dian launched their famous attack. His role helped the defenders survive a dangerous crisis.
After piling up achievement after achievement, Yue Jin rose alongside Yu Jin to the rank of Right General. He died in 218.
Yue Jin began as nothing more than a record keeper, but through repeated service in crucial battles, he became one of Cao Cao’s great commanders.
Japanese Language
皆さんは三国志の 魏の武将で「強い！」とイメージする人物 はいるでしょうか？。張遼や徐晃、夏侯惇、曹仁などなど、思いつく武将を数えればきりがありませんが、 すぐに楽進の名前を出す人は少ないかも知れません。。実は史実の 魏の武将で非常に強かったとされる人物には楽進 が挙げられます。物語性を重視した結果、三国志演義ではあまり活躍する場面の少ない楽進ですが、曹操の配下にいた数多くの将軍たちの中での序列はなんと張遼に次ぐ第2位です。今回は、あまり知られていない 魏の楽進の功績 について紹介していきます。
あまりにも多くの功績を残した楽進。。楽進の人生を日本の武将に例えて言うと、少し豊臣秀吉と似ているところがあります。違いは亡くなるまで自分が領主になろうとはしなかった所でしょうか（笑）。楽進が曹操軍に参加したのはかなり初期の頃で、反董卓連合の兵を募集している時でした。しかし、生来小柄な体躯だった楽進は兵士として採用されずに 軍の記録係として採用 されます。楽進は兵士として参加するはずが、戦場に立つことさえも許されなかったのです。。その後、一度故郷に帰った楽進は1000人の兵士を連れて曹操の元へ戻りました。
これを機に曹操から信頼を得て武将として活躍することになります。呂布軍相手に一番乗りで切り込む楽進。正史の三国志であっても、劉備や曹操がもっとも手こずった相手が、三国志最強の武将と呼ばれる呂布でした。実際に、曹操も対呂布戦においては敗戦経験もあり、とにかくこの呂布を何とかすることが先決事項になっていました。最初に呂布と曹操が対峙したのは濮陽戦でしたが、ここですぐに一番乗りでの功績をあげます。続いて呂布を担いだ広陵太守の 張超戦、袁術の配下の武将であった 橋ズイ戦の3連戦において、全て1番乗りの功績をあげます。
これらの功績が認められて、楽進は何もなかった書記係から一気に爵位を持つ将軍になりました。また、下邳の呂布包囲戦でも敵将を破ったのが198年、翌年の小沛にいた劉備への攻撃にも従軍して負け知らずのまま武官の称号である校尉に取り立てられます。官渡の戦いでも暴れまわった楽進。。画像引用元： 官渡の戦い 。官渡の戦いは、当時最大の勢力を有していた北部の袁紹と霊帝を庇護して中国の中心地にいた曹操との歴史的な決戦の1つです。日本史で言えば、ある意味「関ヶ原合戦」に近いところがあります。
それほどまでに大きな転機をもたらした歴史的な戦いの1つでした。ちなみに・・・三国志演義の主人公である劉備は、この時落ち延びて袁紹軍に、関羽は一時的に投降して曹操軍にいました。逸話として残っているものは袁紹軍の強力な武将であった顔良と文醜があっけなく関羽に倒されたというイメージですが、 史実では楽進、そして楽進と並んで讃えられた于禁が大活躍した戦い です。楽進と于禁はそれぞれが5000の兵力を率いて袁紹の本陣を襲い、さらに袁紹軍の食料基地であった烏巣を攻略します。
もちろん、他の将軍も奮戦した大決戦でしたが 、官渡の戦いにおいて急所を突いたのは楽進と于禁だとも言われている のです。また、官渡の戦いが終わった後には、袁紹の息子達も討伐してしまいます。重要な戦いでは全部活躍してきた楽進。官渡の戦いは非常に大きな戦いでしたが、これ以降にも大きな戦は起こっています。特に顕著なものは、曹操が非常に苦戦していた異民族である鳥丸族の討伐戦です。中国内部の争いをしながらモンゴル方面からは鳥丸族が度々反乱を興していたため、曹操はこれを制圧する必要があったのです。
この時、魏の配下であった 高幹がスキを見て反乱をしますが、これを抑えたのも楽進でした。。さらにさらに楽進は海賊とも戦っており、もはや重要な戦には欠かせない存在となっていました。この後、赤壁の戦いで大敗北をした魏軍は荊州から撤退するものの、楽進を襄陽に置いて守備の要とします。関羽にも勝った楽進。208年に起こった赤壁の戦いでの敗北の後、 襄陽に残った楽進は追撃してきた関羽を撤退させています。。また、この時劉備の軍が各地に置いた武将も多くが楽進に破られており、攻めだけではなく守備にも優れた武将であったことが分かっています。
三国志の先主伝に語られている所では。212年に劉備が劉璋に告げたとされる言葉に。「関羽は青泥で楽進と対峙しており、自らが救援にいかねば楽進が大勝し、 張魯 を上回る脅威になる」 。引用元： 楽進 。上記のような言葉があります。如何に 劉備が楽進を恐れていた のかが分かる言葉です。さらに215年、合肥の戦いにおいても突撃する張遼と李典の後詰めとして合肥城に残り、窮地を脱しています。多くの功績を残した楽進は、于禁と並んで右将軍に登りつめて、218年に亡くなりました。
最初はただの書記係であった楽進でしたが、数多くの功績を積み重ねた結果、最後には大将軍となったのです
