Snapshot: General Du Yu

General Du Yu 大將軍杜預 (one of Du Fu's 杜甫 ancestors)

Since many of Sima Yan's generals advised against an attack on Wu in 280, Sima hesitated. Eastern Wu seemed strong, led by able and ferocious leaders, and treacherous to approach via the Yang-tze. But General Du Yu persuaded Sima Yan that an attack could be successful. He had a very different estimate of Wu's strength: They will "fall apart like cracked bamboo" 勢如破竹, he said.