Battle of Red Cliffs
Sometime before the Battle of Red Cliffs (208–209), Liu Du returned to government service and served as the Administrator () of Lingling Commandery (零陵郡; around present-day Yongzhou, Hunan) under Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Liu Du nominated Liu Biao's eldest son, Liu Qi, to be the Inspector of Jing Province.