Qian Zhao 牽招

Qian Zhao 牽招, courtesy name Zijing 子經, was an official of the Wei dynasty 曹魏 (220-265) during the Three Kingdoms period 三國 (220-280).

He hailed from Guanjin 觀津 in the commandery of Anping 安平 (today's Wuyi 武邑, Hebei) and was aide in military affairs (dujun congshi 督軍從事) of the regional governor (mu 牧) of the province Jizhou 冀州, Yuan Shao 袁紹. Qian commanded a body of cavalry from the Wuhuan 烏丸 tribe. When the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 defeated Yuan Shao, Qian became an adherent of the former. Based on his military experience in the region, Qian Zhao was Cao Cao's clerk in the military planning section of the Counsellor-in-chief (chengxiang junmou yuan 丞相軍謀掾), with the duty to ward off surprise attacks by the Wuhuan. In this function he had the title of Commander protecting the Wuhuan 護烏丸校尉.

Qian Zhao took part in Cao Cao's conquest of the region of Hanzhong 漢中, and was then ordered to guard the region as army supervisor (zhonghujun 中護軍). He was then transferred to Cao's residence in Yecheng 鄴城, where he was given the title of Commander Pacifying the Barbarians (pinglu xiaowei 平虜校尉), and sent out to the east as military supervisor over the provinces of Qingzhou 青州 (approx. Shandong) and Xuzhou 徐州 (northern Jiangsu). Emperor Wen 魏文帝 (r. 220-226) made him Commander protecting the Xianbei 鮮卑 tribes with special warrant (chijie hu Xianbei xiaowei 持節護鮮卑校尉), with residence in Changping 昌平. Qian was then promoted to right leader of the court gentlemen (you zhonglangjiang 右中郎將) and appointed governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Yanmen 雁門 at the northern border. Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226－239 CE) rewarded him with the title of a Marquis within the Passes (guanneihou 關內侯). He remained governor of the borderland for more than twenty years.