Biography
Early life
Lü Qian was born in Rencheng, Yanzhou (present-day southeast of Jining, Shandong).
His courtesy name was Zike.
Service under Cao Cao
In 192 CE, the third year of Chuping, when Cao Cao was Acting Inspector of Yanzhou, he heard that Lü Qian had courage and strategy.
He appointed him Attendant and had him lead his private troops to guard Hulu.
Suppressing the rebellion of Jingmu
At that time, Jingmu and others, generals under Du Song, Commandant of Xiangling, rebelled and communicated with Chang Xi.
Cao Cao therefore ordered Lü Qian to replace Du Song.
After Lü Qian arrived and took office, he lured Jingmu and other leaders and several tens of evil men and gave them wine and food.
On the other hand, he selected strong men and had them lie in ambush on the side.
When Lü Qian saw that Jingmu and others were all drunk, he ordered the ambushing troops to kill them all.
He pacified the remaining masses and pacified the rebellion.
Cao Cao therefore ordered Lü Qian to serve as Administrator of Taishan.
Pacifying Taishan Commandery
At that time, Taishan Commandery connected mountains and sea.
Because the world was in turmoil, many people hid or fled.
Guo Zu, General of the Household appointed by Yuan Shao, a northern hero, Gongsun Du, and several tens of others occupied the mountains as bandits.
The people suffered greatly.
Lü Qian led his private troops to the commandery.
He widely opened kindness and trust.
Guo Zu and others all surrendered.
People who hid in the mountains came down from the mountains.
They were settled and engaged in agriculture.
Lü Qian selected some strong men among them to supplement the army.
Taishan therefore became famous for its elite troops, ranking first among the various commanderies and provinces.
Campaign against Yellow Turban rebels
At that time, Xu He and others, Yellow Turban rebels of Jinan Commandery, kidnapped the chief officials in the cities and attacked cities and towns.
Lü Qian led troops and joined forces with Xiahou Yuan.
Together, they attacked them.
They fought several tens of battles before and after.
They beheaded and captured several thousand people.
Cao Cao therefore sent Lü Qian to supervise the troops of the various commanderies of Qing Province to campaign against Li Tiao and other bandits in Donglai.
He achieved merit in several battles.
Cao Cao’s praise
Cao Cao issued an order: “If one has ambition, one will certainly achieve one’s affairs. This is what martyrs pursue. Since you have been in the commandery, you have captured the treacherous and campaigned against the violent. The people have obtained peace. You have personally stepped on arrows and stones. Every campaign has been victorious. In the past, Kou Xun established a name in Ru and Ying. Geng Yan established achievements in Qing and Yan. From ancient times to the present, it is the same.”
Lü Qian was recommended as a Maocai and promoted to Commandant of Cavalry.
He continued to manage the various commanderies.
Long service in Taishan
Lü Qian served in Taishan for more than ten years and had much authority and kindness.
Service under Cao Pi
In 220 CE, the first year of Yankang, Cao Pi, Cao Cao’s son, succeeded to the throne as King of Wei.
Lü Qian was promoted to General of the Rear and enfeoffed as Marquis of Yishou.
Later, he was promoted to Inspector of Xu Province and promoted to General Who Inspires Awe in Barbarians.
Appointing Wang Xiang
Lü Qian recruited Wang Xiang, nephew of Wang Rui, former Inspector of Jing Province, as Chief Clerk.
He entrusted all civil affairs and government matters to him.
The capable and virtuous of the time were mostly those he appointed and dismissed.
The story of Lü Qian’s sword
Lü Qian had a sword.
A craftsman said that this sword could only be possessed by someone who would reach the rank of the Three Excellencies.
Lü Qian gave this sword to Wang Xiang.
Wang Xiang indeed reached the rank of the Three Excellencies at the end of Wei and beginning of Jin.
The Langye Wang family passed this sword down through generations.
Campaign against Tang Zi
Later, Lü Qian campaigned against Tang Zi’s rebel army in Licheng Commandery.
He achieved merit in beheading and capturing.
Service under Cao Rui
After Cao Rui, Emperor Ming of Wei, succeeded to the throne, Lü Qian was transferred to Marquis of Wannian.
His fief was increased by two hundred households.
Together with the previous fief, it totalled six hundred households.
Death
Later, Lü Qian died of illness.
His son Lü Fan succeeded to the marquis title.
Personality
Lü Qian was described as having “courage and strategy.”
He was known for his authority and kindness.
He served in Taishan for more than ten years and had much authority and kindness.
Military achievements
Suppressing rebellions
Lü Qian successfully suppressed the rebellion of Jingmu and others.
He pacified Taishan Commandery and made it famous for its elite troops.
Campaign against Yellow Turban rebels
Lü Qian successfully campaigned against Xu He and other Yellow Turban rebels.
He fought several tens of battles and beheaded and captured several thousand people.
Campaign against bandits
Lü Qian successfully campaigned against Li Tiao and other bandits in Donglai.
He achieved merit in several battles.
Campaign against Tang Zi
Lü Qian successfully campaigned against Tang Zi’s rebel army in Licheng Commandery.
Relationships
With Cao Cao
Lü Qian served under Cao Cao and was praised by him.
Cao Cao compared him to Kou Xun and Geng Yan.
With Wang Xiang
Lü Qian recruited Wang Xiang as Chief Clerk and entrusted all civil affairs to him.
He gave his famous sword to Wang Xiang.
With Xiahou Yuan
Lü Qian joined forces with Xiahou Yuan to campaign against Yellow Turban rebels.
Anecdotes
Suppressing the rebellion
Lü Qian lured Jingmu and others with wine and food and had them killed when they were drunk.
Pacifying Taishan
Lü Qian pacified Taishan Commandery by opening kindness and trust.
People who hid in the mountains came down and were settled.
He selected strong men to supplement the army, making Taishan famous for its elite troops.
The story of the sword
Lü Qian gave his famous sword to Wang Xiang, saying that only someone who would reach the rank of the Three Excellencies could possess it.
Wang Xiang indeed reached the rank of the Three Excellencies.
Achievements
- Successfully suppressed the rebellion of Jingmu and others
- Successfully pacified Taishan Commandery
- Successfully campaigned against Yellow Turban rebels
- Successfully campaigned against various bandits
- Known for authority and kindness; served in Taishan for more than ten years
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Lü Qian’s biography appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, grouped with Li Dian, Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin, Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Pang De, Pang Yu, and Yan Wen.
Long service
Lü Qian’s long service in Taishan shows the importance of stable commandership in local administration.
The story of the sword
The story of Lü Qian’s sword shows his ability to recognize talent and Wang Xiang’s eventual rise to the Three Excellencies.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary
Cao Cao said: “If one has ambition, one will certainly achieve one’s affairs. This is what martyrs pursue. Since you have been in the commandery, you have captured the treacherous and campaigned against the violent. The people have obtained peace. You have personally stepped on arrows and stones. Every campaign has been victorious. In the past, Kou Xun established a name in Ru and Ying. Geng Yan established achievements in Qing and Yan. From ancient times to the present, it is the same.”
Later historians
Chen Shou wrote: “Lü Qian had courage and strategy. Lü Qian served in Taishan for more than ten years and had much authority and kindness. Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin, and Lü Qian defended commanderies and provinces. All were known for their authority and kindness.”
Lu Bi wrote: “Wen Pin served in Jiangxia for several tens of years. Du Xi served in Hedong for ten years and in Bing and Ji Provinces for more than twenty years. Lü Qian served in Taishan for more than ten years. All served long terms. At that time, they trusted commandery administrators and inspectors so much.”
Legacy
Lü Qian is remembered as a capable administrator who successfully pacified Taishan Commandery and served there for more than ten years.
His authority and kindness are praised.
His story of giving his sword to Wang Xiang shows his ability to recognize talent.
Timeline
- ?: Born in Rencheng, Yanzhou
- 192 CE: Appointed Attendant by Cao Cao; led private troops to guard Hulu; replaced Du Song; suppressed rebellion of Jingmu and others; appointed Administrator of Taishan
- 205 CE: Pacified Taishan Commandery; made it famous for elite troops
- ?: Joined forces with Xiahou Yuan to campaign against Yellow Turban rebels; fought several tens of battles; beheaded and captured several thousand people; campaigned against Li Tiao and other bandits; recommended as Maocai; promoted to Commandant of Cavalry
- 220 CE: Promoted to General of the Rear; enfeoffed as Marquis of Yishou; promoted to Inspector of Xu Province; promoted to General Who Inspires Awe in Barbarians; recruited Wang Xiang as Chief Clerk; gave sword to Wang Xiang
- ?: Campaigned against Tang Zi’s rebel army in Licheng Commandery
- 227 CE: Transferred to Marquis of Wannian; fief increased to six hundred households
- ?: Died of illness
See also
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 18, Biography of Li, Li, Zang, Wen, Lü, Xu, Dian, Er Pang, Yan.
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, various chapters.