Lü Qian 呂虔

Lü Qian 呂虔, courtesy name Zike 子恪, was a military officer of the early Wei period 曹魏 (220-265).

He hailed from Rencheng 任城 (today's Jining 濟寧, Shandong) and served the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 when he came to the province of Yanzhou 兖州 (approx. modern Shandong). Impressed by his martial spirit, Cao Cao made him governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Tai'an 泰安. Together with Xiahou Yuan 夏侯淵, Lü Qian suppressed the local groups of the Yellow Turban rebellion 黃巾起義. He was recommended as a talented person and given the title of commandant of cavalry (jiduwei 騎都尉), but remained a local commander.

When Cao Cao's son Cao Pi 曹丕 (known as Emperor Wen 魏文帝, r. 220-226) adopted the title of emperor, Lü Qian was given the title of assistant general (pi jiangjun 裨將軍) and was given the title of Neighbourhood Marquis of Yishou 益壽亭侯. He rose to the office of regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of Xuzhou 徐州 and was given the title of General Threatening the Enemy (weilu jiangjun 威虜將軍). With the support of competent advisors like Wang Chan 王禪, Lü Qian was able to administer his home region in a benevolent and fruitful way. Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226－239 CE) therefore promoted him by grating the title of Neighbourhood Marquis of Wannian 萬年亭侯.