Shen Yin Shu

Shenyin Shu or Shenyin Xu (died 506 BC) was a general of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. He was a great-grandson of King Zhuang of Chu.

Killing of Fei Wuji Lüshi Chunqiu, a Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BC, credits Shen Yin Shu with getting rid of the corrupt official Fei Wuji. During the reign of King Ping of Chu, Fei Wuji induced the king to marry the bride of the crown prince Jian. Fearing the revenge of the prince when he became king, Fei persuaded King Ping to kill Prince Jian, his tutor Wu She, and Wu She's sons. Prince Jian managed to escape abroad, and Wu She's second son Wu Zixu also escaped to the state of Wu, but Wu She and his first son Wu Shang were executed. Fei Wuji then framed another official Xi Wan and tricked the prime minister Nang Wa (also known as Zichang) into killing him. Shen Yin Shu, who had risen to the position of Sima (chief commander of the army), pointed out Nang's mistake and persuaded him to execute the hated Fei Wuji.

Battle of Boju

Zuo Zhuan, one of the earliest Chinese works of narrative history compiled in the 4th century BC, gives a detailed account of Shen Yin Shu's words and deeds in the historic Battle of Boju.

In 506 BC, during the reign of King Zhao of Chu, King Helü of Wu led an army to invade Chu. His army, which was commanded by the military strategist Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, as well as Wu Zixu, was out to avenge the death of Helü's father and brother. The Wu army sailed up the Huai River and then left their ships and marched to the east bank of the Han River. In response, prime minister Nang Wa (Zichang) and Shen Yin Shu led the Chu army to the west bank of the Han, across the river from the invaders.

Shen Yin Shu devised a plan in which Nang Wa would take up defensive positions with the main army along the Han River, while Shen would go north to Fangcheng on Chu's northern frontier, and lead the troops stationed there to destroy the Wu ships left on the Huai River and block the three passes on the Wu army's return route. Nang Wa would then cross the Han and the two forces would simultaneously attack the Wu army from both the front and the back. Nang accepted the plan, and Shen departed for Fangcheng. Shen Yin Shu is therefore recognized as an original ancestor of both Shen and Ye clans, which are now the 49th and 42nd most common Chinese surnames, respectively.

Although the Battle of Boju is best known today as the greatest victory of Sun Tzu and Wu Zixu, two of the most famous generals in Chinese history, ancient historians portrayed Shen Yin Shu as a capable general and a worthy adversary. His deeds and especially his death have been dramatized in several historical novels.