Background
Lian Po was a general of the state of Zhao during the Warring States period (5th cent-221 BCE). Under the reign of King Huiwen he successfully made a raid on territory of the state of Qi. He was promoted to the position of senior minister (shangqing). He created himself the name of a stubborn and brave enemy at Changping (modern Gaoping, Shanxi), where he was able to resist the intruding powerful army of Qin for more than three years. After the death of king Huiwen spies of Qin managed to have him demoted and replaced with Zhao Kuo, a less able military leader that could not keep on the success of Lian Po. The armies of Zhao were smashed, and only then Lian Po could reenter governmental service. In 251 he crushed an army of Yan, was appointed Counselor-in-chief and enfeoffed as Lord of Xinping . Years later he again lost the confidence of the court, left Zhao and served Wei and finally Chu, were he died.