Sima Jun (prince)
Sima Jun, courtesy name Zizang, posthumously known as Prince Wu of Fufeng, was the youngest son of Sima Yi and his concubine Lady Fu, and a younger half-brother of Sima Shi and Sima Zhao. Sima Yi, Sima Shi and Sima Zhao eventually became regents of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms era. Besides his heritage, Sima Jun was best known for his involvement in the pacification of Tufa Shujineng's Rebellion during the reign of his nephew, Emperor Wu of Jin.
Life under Cao Wei
Sima Jun was born in 232 during the reign of Cao Rui, as the youngest son of Sima Yi and his concubine Lady Fu; his elder full brothers were Sima Liang, Sima Zhou and Sima Jing. A precocious child, Sima Jun could write court submissions and quote the classics fluently when he was four or five years old, surprising those who witnessed such acts.In February 249, when Sima Jun was about 17 years old, his father, uncle, and eldest half-brother took part in a coup against the Cao Wei regent Cao Shuang; the success of the coup meant that from then on, the Sima clan was in control over Cao Wei, and this control increased further during Sima Shi's and Sima Zhao's tenures as regent.
Life during the Jin era
In February 266, Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan accepted Cao Huan's abdication and founded the Jin dynasty. Sima Jun was then made Prince of Ruyin on 9 February, with a fiefdom of 10000 households.In December 268 or January 269, Eastern Wu forces led by Ding Feng and Zhuge Jing attacked Hefei. As General Who Pacifies the East, Sima Jun was able to fend them off.
On 27 August 270, Sima Jun was appointed Grand General Who Guards The West and Chief Controller of Yong, Liang and the other western provinces, and he was tasked in protecting Guanzhong, replacing his elder brother Sima Liang.
After the initial failed attempts of the Jin court at quelling Tufa Shujineng's rebellion, Sima Jun focused his soldiers on agriculture in Guanzhong. In September or October 274, rebels from Liang attacked Jincheng again, but Sima Jun defeated them and killed one of their leaders, Qiwenni. In 275, he campaigned against Shujineng and defeated his forces, killing 3,000 rebels.
Later that year, when Sima Jun was ordered to lead 7,000 soldiers to strengthen the garrison in Liang, Shujineng, Houdanbo and their followers planned to raid the military-agricultural colonies in Guanzhong in his absence. However, his subordinate, Wen Yang, led a combined force from Liang, Qin and Yong to threaten the rebels. Shujineng sent Houdanbo and twenty tribesmen to submit to Jin, each sending their sons as hostages. Wen Yang also received the surrender of 200,000 tribal people from Anding, Beidi and Jincheng including the chieftains Jikeluo, Houjinduo and Rejiong. In June 276, Sima Jun campaigned against the northern "Hu" and killed one of their leaders, Tudun. About six months later, in December, Sima Jun was promoted to Senior General Who Attacks the West.