Liu Xian

Historical Record

Liu Xian, styled Shizong, was a native of Lingling, renowned for his broad learning and strong memory, especially well-versed in the studies of Huang-Lao and deeply learned in the institutions and statutes of the Han dynasty ^c:4633. He first served as Aide under Liu Biao. During the standoff between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao at Guandu, Yuan Shao sent men to seek aid from Liu Biao; yet though Liu Biao verbally agreed, he sent no troops to help, nor did he aid Cao Cao, intending to watch the trend of the realm so as to preserve the Yangtze-Han region ^c:4632.

At this critical juncture, Liu Xian, together with the Attendant Officer of the Household Han Song, jointly advised Liu Biao. They pointed out that the heroes of the realm were rising together and the two great powers of Cao and Yuan were contending; as the lord of a great stronghold, Liu Biao, if he meant to act, should seize this chance to do something, and if he had no such intention, should choose to attach himself to one side. Liu Xian and the others stressed that Liu Biao, commanding a hundred thousand troops, was sitting idly watching; neither aiding the worthy nor agreeing to negotiate, he would surely incur the resentment of both Cao and Yuan, making it impossible for him to remain neutral ^c:4632. They further analyzed that Cao Cao was wise and that the realm's worthy talents all submitted to him, so he was bound to defeat Yuan Shao and then march south to attack the Yangtze-Han region, at which point Liu Biao would scarcely be able to resist. Therefore Liu Xian and the others offered Liu Biao the strategy of taking Jing Province to attach himself to Cao Cao, for then Cao Cao would surely esteem Liu Biao's virtue, allowing him to enjoy lasting fortune and bless his descendants—this was a plan of perfect security ^c:4632.

However, Liu Biao was suspicious by nature and failed to adopt the advice of Liu Xian and the others. He sent Han Song to Cao Cao to spy out the truth. When Han Song returned, he greatly praised Cao Cao's might and virtue and urged Liu Biao to send a son to Xu as a hostage. Liu Biao therefore suspected that Han Song had been won over by Cao Cao and, in great anger, wished to kill him; only after the remonstrance of his wife, Lady Cai, did he refrain from executing Han Song, instead imprisoning him ^c:4632.

In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), Cao Cao marched south on Jing Province, and Liu Cong surrendered. Cao Cao appointed Liu Cong as Inspector of Qing Province and enfeoffed him as a full marquis. After Cao Cao pacified Jing Province, Liu Xian was appointed Director of the Masters of Writing ^c:4633. The histories record that Liu Xian once bore a memorial to Xu to have audience with Cao Cao. On one occasion when guests had gathered in number, Cao Cao asked Liu Xian: "Why did Governor Liu (meaning Liu Biao) perform the suburban sacrifice to Heaven?" Liu Xian replied: "Governor Liu, being kin of the Han house and holding the office of a governor-marquis, found the kingly way unpacified and a host of villains blocking the roads; though he wished to present jade and silk he had no one to whom to present them, and though he composed memorials he could not reach the imperial ear—therefore he sacrificed to Heaven and Earth at the suburbs, to make known his sincere heart." Cao Cao pressed: "Who are these villains?" Liu Xian said frankly: "They are everywhere you look." Cao Cao said again: "Now I have warriors fierce as bears, a hundred thousand foot and horse, who at the imperial command chastise the guilty—who would dare not submit?" Liu Xian then answered: "The way of Han is in decline, and the living are wasted away; with no loyal and righteous men to assist the Son of Heaven and pacify the realm so that the myriad states return in virtue—and now there are those who block the way with troops and rest content in cruelty, fancying themselves invincible under Heaven—this is Chi You and Zhi Bo come again in our age." Cao Cao fell silent on hearing this ^c:4633.

Liu Xian's talent and insight won Cao Cao's recognition. After Jing Province was pacified, he first served as a Master of Writing of the Han, and later was appointed Director of the Masters of Writing of the state of Wei ^c:4633.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Xian's image differs from the historical record, appearing mainly during the power transition in Jing Province after Liu Biao's death and when Cao Cao marched south on Jing Province ^c:4634. In the novel, Liu Xian is portrayed as an important aide within Liu Biao's faction, but his influence is shown more in administrative affairs after Liu Cong's succession.

After Liu Biao died of illness, his wife Lady Cai and her nephew Cai Mao and others secretly plotted to set aside the elder son and install the younger, supporting the second son Liu Cong as lord of Jing Province. In this process, the staff officer Li Gui strongly urged welcoming back the eldest son Liu Qi and inviting Liu Bei to manage affairs jointly, so as to resist Cao Cao and Sun Quan, but was rebuked by Cai Mao and executed ^c:4634. Cai Mao then installed Liu Cong as lord, with the Cai clan dividing up the military power of Jing Province, and ordered the Administrative Aide Deng Yi and the Aide Liu Xian to jointly garrison and hold Jing Province ^c:4634. This episode has no clear basis in the histories; it is a literary creation of the novel to highlight the usurpation of power by Cai Mao and others and the internal discord within Liu Biao's faction.

When Cao Cao's great army marched south on Jing Province, Liu Bei, fearing the loss of Jiangling, led troops there. After Cao Cao repelled Guan Yu's interception, he too sped day and night toward Jiangling ^c:4635. At this point the Administrative Aide Deng Yi and the Aide Liu Xian of Jing Province had already learned of Xiangyang's surrender to Cao Cao, and knowing they could not withstand Cao Cao's great army, they led the soldiers and people of Jing Province out of the city to surrender ^c:4635. In the novel, Liu Xian during this period plays more the role of one who goes along with the times and surrenders with the tide; his image in the histories—forthright in admonition and far-sighted—is downplayed in the novel, becoming instead an official passively accepting arrangements amid the power struggle.

Key Relationships

* Liu Biao's faction (senior_official): Liu Xian served under Liu Biao as Aide, Attendant Officer of the Household, and in other posts ^c:4632, being one of Liu Biao's important advisers; he once joined Han Song in advising Liu Biao, analyzing the trend of the realm and urging him to attach himself to Cao Cao ^c:4632. In the novel, after Liu Biao's death, Liu Xian was appointed by Cai Mao as a defending official of Jing Province, assisting Liu Cong ^c:4634.
* Cao Wei (defected_to): After Liu Cong surrendered to Cao Cao, Liu Xian submitted to Cao Wei. The histories record that he was first a Master of Writing of the Han and later Director of the Masters of Writing of the state of Wei ^c:4633. He once had audience with Cao Cao and frankly pointed out the ills of the time, displaying his exceptional courage and insight ^c:4633.
* Han Song: Liu Xian and Han Song were colleagues who jointly admonished Liu Biao, the two taking the same stance in urging Liu Biao to attach himself to Cao Cao ^c:4632.
* Liu Cong: In the novel, after Liu Biao's death, Liu Xian was appointed by Cai Mao, together with Deng Yi, to garrison and hold Jing Province, assisting Liu Cong ^c:4634.
* Cai Mao: In the novel, Cai Mao was the key figure in installing Liu Cong and appointed Liu Xian as a defending official of Jing Province ^c:4634 (unique to the novel).

Iconic Scenes

* Admonishing Liu Biao to attach himself to Cao Cao: During the Battle of Guandu, Liu Xian, together with Han Song, jointly advised Liu Biao, analyzing the trend of the realm and pointing out that if Liu Biao took no action he would be beset on two sides, and urging him to take Jing Province and attach himself to Cao Cao as a plan of perfect security ^c:4632. This scene displays Liu Xian's far-reaching strategic vision and his precise judgment of the situation.
* Admonishing Cao Cao to his face: After submitting to Cao Cao, Liu Xian once had audience with him. Faced with Cao Cao's questions, he frankly pointed out that "villains block the roads" and "they are everywhere you look," and criticized those who block the way with troops and rest content in cruelty, fancying themselves right, as being like "Chi You and Zhi Bo come again in our age" ^c:4633. This scene fully embodies Liu Xian's courage and integrity—daring to state his own views and not fearing power even before the all-powerful Cao Cao.
* Surrendering to Cao Cao together with Deng Yi: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Cao Cao's great army marched south, the Administrative Aide Deng Yi and the Aide Liu Xian of Jing Province, knowing they could not resist, led the soldiers and people of Jing Province out of the city to surrender ^c:4635 (unique to the novel). This scene depicts Liu Xian's choice under overwhelming military pressure, reflecting his image in the novel as a local official going along with the prevailing trend.