The land of Jing in present-day central and southern China is inhabited by the native Chu people.

The early Chu state had been ruled by an aristocracy with close affinity to the Zhou kings, with its capital at Danyang.

Prior to the dissolution of Zhou's power, the territory had been transferred by authority of the King Cheng of Zhou of Eastern Zhou to Xiong Yi.

Chu, a successful expansionist and militaristic state, had developed a reputation for coercing and absorbing its allies, growing from a small, dependent state into a large empire worthy of contention, even attaining the traditional title of one of "The Five Overlord States of the Spring and Autumn Period".

Chu had first consolidated its power by absorbing the lesser states within its immediate vicinity in Hubei; then, it expanded into the north towards the North China Plain.

The threat from Chu has resulted in multiple northern alliances against Chu and its allies.

The Battle of Chengpu, a conflict between the states of Jin against Chu and its allies, could be viewed as the first great battle in the protracted conflict between the states of the Yellow River valley, and the states of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) valley.

The location of the battle remains obscure: two inconclusive possibilities are the vicinity of Chenliu County, Henan and the southwest area of Juan County, Shandong.

After returning to the north, Duke Wen had been recognized by the King of Zhou as first among the feudal lords.

A multi-state conference at Jiantu in 631 BCE headed by Duke Wen had confirmed their support for the Zhou royal family and sworn a covenant of alliance.

The Jin victory had confirmed the hegemony of Duke Wen and checked Chu ambitions in the north for at least a generation.

…force Chu to surrender by 223 BCE.

Sun Ce now appoints his relatives and a trusted subject to govern Danyang and Yuzhang, from which he divides a new prefecture named Luling.

His campaign, from the occupation of Niuzhu to the conquest of the entire region southeast of the Long River, has taken less than a year.

He then defeats and receives the services of Zu Lang, the Chief of Danyang, and Taishi Ci, the leader of the remnants of Liu Yao's forces; he then urges the surrender of Hua Xin, another one of the remnants of Liu Yao's forces.

Thus, with the exception of the scattered but still numerous army of Yan Baihu, the lands south of the Yangtze are mostly pacified.

The barbarians of the Shanyue tribe, however, are not easily dealt with.

To counter the frequent rebellions of the Shanyue (who will continue to rebel for many years), Sun Ce appoints a certain He Qi to a military rank with orders to subdue the Shanyue.

He Qi will go on to become a highly successful general; his appointment by Sun Ce is the first important step to Wu's eventual subjugation of the Shanyue.