Lü Qian 呂虔

Lü Qian, courtesy name Zike, was a man of Rencheng. When Cao Cao was in Yan Province he heard that Lü Qian had courage and resourcefulness, made him an Attendant Officer, and had him guard Hulu at the head of his household troops. Records, Wei 18 §41

When Jiong Mu and others, people under the jurisdiction of Du Song, Colonel of Xiangben, rebelled and made contact with Chang Xi, Cao Cao had Lü Qian replace Du Song. On arriving, Lü Qian lured Jiong Mu's ringleaders and several dozen of their partners in crime and gave them wine and food. He picked strong men and hid them at their side, and when he saw that Jiong Mu and the others were all drunk, he had the hidden soldiers kill them all. He then pacified the rest of their followers, and the bandits were at last put down. Records, Wei 18 §41–42

Cao Cao had Lü Qian also serve as Administrator of Taishan. Taishan Commandery bordered the mountains and the sea, and when the age fell into disorder many of the people hid or fled, while several dozen bands under Guo Zu, Gongsun Du and others, Generals of the Household appointed by Yuan Shao, held the mountains and raided, to the people's suffering. When Lü Qian arrived at the commandery with his household troops and showed kindness and good faith, Guo Zu's bands all surrendered, and those who had fled and hidden in the mountains all came out and settled down to their livelihoods on their own land. Lü Qian picked the strong among them to fill the ranks of his fighting men, and through this Taishan came to have elite troops whose name was foremost among the provinces and commanderies. Records, Wei 18 §42–43

When the Yellow Turbans of Jinan under Xu He and others were seizing senior officials and attacking towns everywhere, Lü Qian led his troops to join Xiahou Yuan in attacking them. Over several dozen battles they beheaded or captured several thousand men. Cao Cao had him supervise the troops of the commanderies of Qing Province to suppress Li Tiao and other bandits of Donglai, and Lü Qian achieved merit. Records, Wei 18 §43

Cao Cao issued an order saying that one who has a purpose will surely accomplish it, and that this is what heroes give their lives for. It went on to say that since Lü Qian had taken up his post in the commandery he had seized the wicked and suppressed the violent so that the people gained peace, and had braved arrows and stones in person and prevailed wherever he campaigned, and compared him to Kou Xun, who made his name in the regions of the Ru and the Ying, and Geng Yan, who drew up plans in Qing and Yan. Lü Qian was recommended as Flourishing Talent (maocai), given the added post of Chief Commandant of Cavalry, and governed the commandery as before. He was in Taishan for more than ten years, and his authority and kindness were very great. Records, Wei 18 §43–44

When Emperor Wen took the throne as king, Lü Qian was given the added title Assistant General and enfeoffed as Marquis of Yishou Village, then promoted to Inspector of Xu Province with the added title General Who Overawes the Caitiffs. He invited Wang Xiang of Langya to be his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage (biejia) and entrusted all civil affairs to him, and the people of the time praised him for his ability to entrust affairs to worthy men. He also achieved merit by suppressing rebels at Licheng, beheading and capturing them. Records, Wei 18 §46

When Emperor Ming took the throne, Lü Qian's fief was changed to Marquis of Wannian Village and his fief was increased by 200 households, making 600 households in all. When Lü Qian died his son Lü Fan succeeded him, and when Lü Fan died his son Lü Gui succeeded. The Records does not record the year of his death. Records, Wei 18 §46

In his assessment Chen Shou said that Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin and Lü Qian pacified and guarded provinces and commanderies and all showed both authority and kindness. Records, Wei 18 §92