Liu Xun

Liu Xun ( 180s–190s), courtesy name Zitai, was a military general and minor warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Life Liu Xun was from Langya Commandery, which is around present-day Linyi, Shandong. Sometime towards the end of the Zhongping era (184–189) of Emperor Ling's reign, he served as the Chief of Jianping County (建平縣; southwest of present-day Xiayi County, Henan) in Pei State. During this time, he met and became an acquaintance of Cao Cao. Liu Xun later served as a military general under the warlord Yuan Shu. In 194, Yuan Shu ordered Sun Ce, then serving under him, to lead troops to attack Lujiang Commandery (廬江郡; around present-day Lu'an, Anhui) and seize it from its Administrator, Lu Kang. Although Yuan Shu had promised Sun Ce earlier that he would appoint him as the new Administrator, he broke his promise and appointed Liu Xun as the Administrator after Sun Ce conquered the commandery for him. In 197, Yuan Shu declared himself emperor of Zhong state (仲国) – an act seen as treason against the figurehead Emperor Xian of the Eastern Han dynasty – and soon came under attack by various warlords such as Cao Cao, Lü Bu and even his former ally Sun Ce. After Yuan Shu's downfall and death in 199, his relative Yuan Yin and other surviving members of the Yuan family fled to Wan (皖; or Wancheng 皖城; present-day Qianshan County, Anhui) in Lujiang Commandery and took shelter under Liu Xun.