Eastern Wu - Civil Matters

Civil Matters

Personages with clerical or scholarly abilities had roles to play within the state, but the policies were more determined by those of military command and nobility. Every Wu army was in need of administrative support. According to Rafe de Crespigny:

Recognised as practical counsellors, regardless of their fighting prowess or their ability to command troops in the field.

Under the reign of Sun Quan, he needed a strong role of advisors and secretaries in order to keep his link of power in a maintained level. Sun Quan's prestige in dealing with hostiles and friendly relations called for the establishment of a controlled form of an imperial government for the empire of Wu. Sun Quan also created the opportunity for people residing within Wu to gain prestige and influence throughout the empire and the surrounding establishments with the duty of being an envoy.

Following the death of the Wei emperor Cao Pi in 226, Sun Quan strongly promoted his kingdom to focus on agriculture because the threat from Wei was lifted. However, Lu Xun suggested to Sun Quan that military commanders should become involved in the colonization of land. Sun Quan quickly accepted and he, along with his sons would execute the memorial presented by Lu Xun. However, around the years surrounding 240, Wu was under a severe famine phase and Sun Quan restrained Lu Xun's idea and refocused on agricultural works. In 234, when Zhuge Ke was in control of affairs in the south, he strongly ignored the colonization order and viciously ordered the agriculture factor, often starving enemies such as the Shanyue into submission.