Liu Ba

Historical Record

Liu Ba, courtesy name Zichu, was a man of Zhengyang in Lingling. He was already known in his youth; his grandfather Liu Yao had served as Administrator of Cangwu, and his father Liu Xiang as Administrator of Jiangxia and General Who Suppresses Bandits. When Sun Jian chastised Dong Zhuo, Liu Xiang, because the Administrator of Nanyang, Zhang Zi, would not supply army provisions, killed him; Liu Xiang, being of one mind with Zhang Zi, was later attacked and killed by the gentry and people of Nanyang. Liu Biao had never been fond of Liu Xiang, and once detained the young Liu Ba, intending to kill him, but Liu Ba remained steadfast and unyielding, and in the end Liu Biao could not carry it out.^[1]

Liu Biao repeatedly recruited Liu Ba and recommended him as a Cultivated Talent, but Liu Ba would not take up any of the posts. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 CE), Liu Biao died, and Cao Cao campaigned south against Jing Province. Liu Bei fled south of the Yangtze, and many of the gentry of Jing and Chu followed him, but Liu Ba went north to join Cao Cao. Cao Cao recruited him as a subordinate official and dispatched him to win over the three commanderies of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang. Liu Bei, however, took the chance to seize these three commanderies, so that Liu Ba was unable to complete his task and could only go far off to Jiaozhi.^[1]

During his time in Jiaozhi, Liu Ba once took the alias Zhang, and later, disagreeing with the Administrator of Jiaozhi, Shi Xie, made his way into Shu by the Zangke road. While in Yizhou Commandery, he was once detained by the Administrator and nearly killed, but was fortunately rescued by the chief clerk, who sent him to the Governor of Yi Province, Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang's father, Liu Yan, had once been recommended as Filial and Incorrupt by Liu Ba's father, Liu Xiang; therefore, when Liu Zhang met Liu Ba he was very pleased, and often consulted him on great matters. Liu Ba once strongly remonstrated with Liu Zhang, pointing out that Liu Bei was a "man of valor" and that his entry into Shu would surely become a calamity, and that he must not be received. When Liu Bei attacked Chengdu, Liu Ba shut his door and feigned illness. After Liu Bei took Chengdu, he specially issued an order in the army that "whoever harms Liu Ba shall be punished to the third degree of kindred," and was very glad to have obtained Liu Ba.^[2]

Zhuge Liang repeatedly praised Liu Ba's talent to Liu Bei, and Liu Bei thereupon recruited him as Western Bureau Aide to the General of the Left. Liu Ba was pure and frugal in conduct, and did not manage any property. Reckoning that his attachment to Liu Bei had not been from his own will, and fearing he might be suspected, he kept respectfully silent and still, withdrawing from private friendships and speaking only on official business. After Liu Bei took Chengdu, the soldiers vied to plunder the wealth of the treasuries, so that military supplies fell short. Liu Bei was worried over this, and Liu Ba offered the plan of casting the "hundred-cash coin," to stabilize prices, and had officials take charge of market administration; within a few months the treasuries were thereby filled.^[2]

In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219 CE), Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong, and Liu Ba was appointed Master of Writing, later succeeding Fa Zheng as Prefect of the Masters of Writing. In the first year of Zhangwu (221 CE), Liu Bei proclaimed himself Emperor, and his proclamations to Imperial Heaven and the August Lord on High, to the Sovereign Earth and the spirits, and all his documents and edicts of appointment, all issued from Liu Ba's hand. In the second year of Zhangwu (222 CE), Liu Ba died. After his death, the Wei Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, Chen Qun, once wrote to the Chancellor Zhuge Liang inquiring about Liu Ba, calling him "Master Liu Zichu" and expressing great respect.^[3]

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Ba is shaped into a strategist opposed to Liu Bei's faction, his appearances mostly connected with the decisions of Liu Zhang's faction. He first appears in Chapter 62, when Liu Bei entered Shu and sought aid from Liu Zhang. Liu Ba, together with Yang Huai, Gao Pei, and others, remonstrated with Liu Zhang, pointing out that Liu Bei was a "fierce hero" and that to keep him long in Shu without sending him off would be no different from "letting a tiger into the house," and still less should he be aided with troops, horses, money, and grain, for that would be "adding wings to a tiger."^[4] After hearing this, Liu Zhang hesitated, and in the end allotted only four thousand old and weak troops and ten thousand hu of rice.

In Chapter 65, Liu Bei besieged Chengdu, and Liu Zhang wished to surrender. Qiao Zhou used "celestial signs" and "children's rhymes" to persuade Liu Zhang to comply with Heaven's will and surrender to Liu Bei. At this, Liu Ba and Huang Quan were both enraged and wished to behead Qiao Zhou, but were stopped by Liu Zhang.^[5] This accords with the historical record of Liu Ba's strong remonstrance against Liu Zhang receiving Liu Bei, but the Romance depicts it more radically and emotionally.

In the Romance, after Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, he rewarded the civil and military officials who had surrendered. Liu Ba was appointed General of the Left.^[6] This differs from the historical record of Liu Ba being recruited as Western Bureau Aide to the General of the Left, and later serving as Master of Writing and Prefect of the Masters of Writing; the Romance directly grants the office of "General of the Left" and makes no mention of his later important civil posts in the Shu Han regime.

The Romance's depiction of Liu Ba's character, especially in his interaction with Zhang Fei, has parallels with the historical record. The historical sources record that Zhang Fei once lodged at Liu Ba's, but Liu Ba would not speak with him, and Zhang Fei was angered; Liu Ba even said bluntly, "When a great man lives in the world, he should associate with the heroes of the four seas—how can I converse with a common soldier?"^[2] Although the Romance does not directly depict this scene, Liu Ba's hostile attitude toward Liu Bei's faction within Liu Zhang's group, and his stance alongside Huang Quan and others, indirectly reflect his character of being "lofty and aloof by nature," not easily befriending others, and especially not consorting with those he did not approve of.

Key Relationships

* Liu Biao's faction (defected_from): Liu Ba was repeatedly recruited by Liu Biao and recommended as a Cultivated Talent, but would take none of the posts. After Liu Biao's death, Liu Ba chose to go north to join Cao Cao rather than follow Liu Bei.^[1]
* Cao Wei (serves): After Liu Biao's death, Liu Ba joined Cao Cao, who recruited him as a subordinate official and charged him with winning over the three commanderies of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang.^[1]
* Liu Zhang's faction (serves): After wandering through Jiaozhi and entering Shu, Liu Ba was given important office by Liu Zhang, and repeatedly remonstrated with Liu Zhang, opposing the reception and employment of Liu Bei.^[2]
* Shu Han (serves): After Liu Bei took Yi Province, Liu Ba went over to Liu Bei. On Zhuge Liang's repeated recommendation, Liu Bei recruited him as Western Bureau Aide to the General of the Left, and he later served as Master of Writing and Prefect of the Masters of Writing, in charge of drafting important documents.^[2]
* Liu Bei's faction (serves): Liu Ba ultimately served Shu Han, becoming an important strategist and official of Liu Bei, contributing outstandingly especially in finance and documents.^[2]
* Zhuge Liang: Zhuge Liang repeatedly praised Liu Ba's talent and recommended him to Liu Bei. After Liu Ba's death, Zhuge Liang also mentioned Liu Ba in his correspondence with the Wei Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, Chen Qun, showing his respect for him.^[2]
* Zhang Fei: The history records that Zhang Fei once lodged at Liu Ba's, but Liu Ba would not converse with him, angering Zhang Fei. Liu Ba even said bluntly that he disdained to converse with a "common soldier," showing his haughty character.^[2]

Signature Scenes

* Refusing Liu Biao's recruitment and going north to join Cao Cao: Liu Ba repeatedly refused Liu Biao's recruitment, and after Liu Biao's death, instead of following Liu Bei south, went north to join Cao Cao, showing his distinctive political choice and foresight.^[1]
* Strongly remonstrating with Liu Zhang against receiving Liu Bei: Both before and after Liu Bei's entry into Shu, Liu Ba repeatedly remonstrated with Liu Zhang, pointing out Liu Bei's threat and urging Liu Zhang not to receive and employ Liu Bei, displaying his profound insight into the situation.^[2]
* Offering the plan to cast coinage and fill the treasuries after the fall of Chengdu: After Liu Bei took Chengdu, with military supplies short, Liu Ba offered the plan of casting the "hundred-cash coin" to stabilize prices, filling the treasuries within a few months and resolving Liu Bei's urgent crisis, displaying his outstanding economic talent.^[2]
* Drafting Liu Bei's proclamation of emperorship: When Liu Bei proclaimed himself Emperor, all proclamations to Imperial Heaven and the August Lord on High, to the Sovereign Earth and the spirits, and all documents and edicts of appointment were drafted by Liu Ba, reflecting his important standing and literary talent in the Shu Han regime.^[3]
* Remonstrating with Liu Zhang against aiding Liu Bei in the Romance: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Ba, together with Yang Huai, Gao Pei, and others, remonstrated with Liu Zhang, pointing out that Liu Bei was a "fierce hero" who should not be aided with troops, horses, money, and grain, lest it be "adding wings to a tiger"^[4] (Romance only).