In the ancient history of China, many legendary figures' stories have been handed down to this day, among which Zhou Yu, the general of the Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, is one of them. His talents and handsome image are often praised by later generations, but there are many guesses and legends about his death. Today, we will explore a core issue: What is the truth about Zhou Yu's death in official history?

Zhou Yu, styled Gongjin, was an important general under Sun Quan at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and one of the most famous militarists in the Three Kingdoms period. He was known for his wisdom and bravery, especially for commanding the Battle of Red Cliff, which won him great military achievements for the Eastern Wu. However, at the peak of his career, Zhou Yu died young.

According to the "Records of the Three Kingdoms", Zhou Yu died of illness in 210 AD. Regarding his illness, the historical records describe it as "suffering from a disease while traveling, dying a few days later", which means that he suddenly fell ill while on the march and died a few days later. Although the records are brief, historians generally believe that Zhou Yu's death was related to his illness, which may have been caused by long-term exhaustion and tense military activities.

However, in folk legends and some non-official historical records, there are more dramatic versions of Zhou Yu's death. For example, there is a saying that Zhou Yu was killed by Zhu Geliang because he was jealous of Zhu Geliang's talents and felt depressed, which ultimately led to his early death. Although this statement is dramatic, there is no corresponding evidence in official history.

In addition to the above statements, there are some other guesses about Zhou Yu's death, such as some people believing that he died of war wounds or recurring old injuries from battles. However, these speculations also lack conclusive historical evidence.

Based on the comprehensive official historical data, the most likely cause of Zhou Yu's death is illness. Long-term war exhaustion, combined with possible war wounds or disease infection, may have been the reasons for his death. Although there is no exact pathological record, medical conditions were limited at that time, and even experienced generals were difficult to survive once they contracted serious illnesses.

In summary, although there is no detailed record of the cause of Zhou Yu's death in official history, by analyzing historical materials such as the "Records of the Three Kingdoms", we can infer that his death was likely caused by illness. Although folk legends and later novels provide us with more colorful explanations, we should be cautious about these non-official historical claims in the absence of direct evidence. As an outstanding figure during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhou Yu's life and death are still worthy of further research and discussion, in order to better understand that magnificent historical era.

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