With a single imperial decree, Jizhou suddenly became a place of swords drawn and bows bent. But this was not a decisive battle between two feudal lords; it was a clash between two great military blocs.
Although Liu Bei was rather unwilling, warfare was an extension of politics. However much he disliked Gongsun Zan's conduct, he had to stand with Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shu. That was politics: sometimes, one could not act according to personal preferences.
After receiving the Lü Clan's investment, Liu Bei obtained what he had always lacked most: large numbers of lower-level officials.
This truly transformed him from a wandering warlord into the ruler of a region. If one disregarded Zhang Yan, the General Who Guards the East, he was the lord of Qingzhou.
It had to be said that Qingzhou was Liu Bei's blessed land. The various kingdoms scattered throughout the province showed how many Liu Clan kin lived there, and among them were many accomplished figures.
As his power continued to rise, these Liu Clan kin would gradually become a tremendous source of support for him.
Liu Bei's teacher, a great Confucian scholar, was also a renowned man of Qingzhou, and many of his fellow disciples came to help him. Clan ties, maternal relatives, teachers and fellow students-he had gained them all in Qingzhou.
However, perhaps because disasters had been so frequent there since ancient times, Qingzhou's people were fierce and bold, and an enormous number had taken to the wilds as bandits.
The histories recorded: "Examining their old customs, the people were fierce, hardy, impetuous, and swift, while their scholars prized chivalry and integrity, and favored entertaining guests and traveling. This was surely the legacy of Luo Chu's influence. Broadly speaking, Xuzhou and Yanzhou shared these customs."
After the Great Peace Uprising broke