Sun Qian

Recommended to Liu Bei by the dying Tao Qian himself - 'Sun Qian from Beihai could be appointed to some post' - and made an Adviser alongside Mi Zhu when Liu Bei takes office.

Sun Qian; serves in Xuzhou's administration.

Reads the position after Lü Bu rejects the peace offer: the one man who hates Lü Bu most is Cao Cao - abandon Xiaopei and borrow his strength. The advice that carries Liu Bei to Xuchang.

Proposes the appeal to Cao Cao and holds Xiaopei's north gate.

Sun Qian; with Liu Bei.

Pays the courtesy call on Che Zhou with Mi Zhu when Liu Bei reoccupies Xuzhou.

Sun Qian; carries the secret letter back from Zheng Xuan / Yuan Shao announcing the alliance.

Carries the appeal north through Tian Feng's introduction, hears Yuan Shao plead his son's scabies, and brings back the empty promise; he is then left holding Xiaopei during the doomed night raid.

Caught as a 'spy' outside Guan Yu's Runan camp - deliberately: he tells Guan Yu that Liu Bei lives at Yuan Shao's court, arranges the rebels' feigned defeat, and goes ahead to scout whether the slayer of Yan Liang and Wen Chou dare show his face in the north.

Intercepts Guan Yu beyond the river with the vital redirection: Yuan Shao's court has rotted - Tian Feng gaoled, Ju Shou degraded - and Liu Bei has slipped away to Liu Pi at Runan. The party wheels south.

The tireless go-between of the reunion: into Gucheng to announce Guan Yu, to Runan to find Liu Bei already gone, into Jizhou to plan the escape, and back across the border to fetch Guan Yu to the farm where the brothers finally clasp hands.

Proposes Jingzhou at the Han River feast and goes ahead as envoy: his speech on Liu Bei's ideals sits unmoved through Cai Mao's demand for his head - 'I am not afraid of death' - and wins Liu Biao's welcome. The embassy that ends the flight.

Reads his lord's worry before the festival invitation - 'something untoward happened at Jingzhou; consider well before you accept' - the caution Guan Yu talks Liu Bei past.

Bears Liu Bei's letter to Jingzhou, lays out Cai Mao's machinations and the Tan Torrent leap - then saves the condemned Cai Mao with a statesman's caution: execute him, and Liu Bei can no longer stay in Jingzhou.

Offers the ruthless option: keep Xu Shu at all costs - Cao Cao will kill the mother, and the son will fight on burning for revenge. Liu Bei refuses to buy service with a mother's life.

Directs the boat-lift that empties Xinye - every inhabitant, none excepted - across to Fancheng ahead of the fire.

Proclaims the evacuation of Fancheng to the people, then rides with Guan Yu's five hundred to beg Liu Qi's relief at Jiangxia.

Sun Qian; with Liu Bei.

Sun Qian; with Liu Bei.

Carries Liu Bei's congratulations and gifts to Zhou Yu's victory camp - the visit that tips Zhou Yu off to the camp at Youkou and its meaning.

Sent back with Lu Fan to ratify the betrothal, warns his master out of the banquet with a look, and counsels marrying at once 'so that no further complications could arise.'

Sent to Jingzhou with the news of the wedding - the errand that keeps Zhuge Liang's timetable synchronized with the palace idyll.

Sent as Zhang Fei's coadjutor for tact - and supplies it, staying the summary dismissal: 'Pang Tong is a man of great ability; let us inquire into it.'

Sun Qian; with Liu Bei.