Liu Min

Historical Record

Liu Min was a general of Shu Han, who rose to the offices of Protector of the Army of the Left and General Who Spreads Might. Together with Wang Ping, the General Who Guards the North, he defended Hanzhong ^c:4705.

In 244, Cao Shuang, the General-in-Chief of Cao Wei, led his army in a great invasion of Shu Han. Facing the Wei invasion, many at court held that they need only hold their walled cities fast, without going out to meet the enemy, and that the Wei army would withdraw of its own accord once short of provisions. Liu Min, however, took a different view. He held that if the enemy were allowed to drive deep into the interior, the people's fields and crops would be ravaged, which would inflict an irretrievable loss on Shu Han and might even bring about the dire consequence that "the great affair would be lost" ^c:4705.

On this judgment, Liu Min resolutely led his subordinates, together with Wang Ping, to hold Mount Xingshi. To confuse the Wei army, they employed a stratagem of false troops, spreading banners far and wide over a hundred li, creating the impression that Shu Han's forces were vast and strong. This strategy effectively slowed the Wei army's advance and bought precious time for reinforcements to follow. Before long, Fei Yi, the General-in-Chief of Shu Han, hastened to the field from Chengdu with his army. Upon learning that Shu Han's reinforcements had arrived, the Wei army judged that victory would be hard to win and withdrew of its own accord ^c:4705.

Liu Min performed outstandingly in this defensive battle, and his deep foresight and decisive action played a key part in repelling the Wei army. He was therefore enfeoffed as Marquis of Yunting for his merit ^c:4705.

In the Novel

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives Liu Min no independent or detailed literary treatment. Within the novel's narrative framework, Liu Min's role and deeds are not emphasized, and his important historical contributions are not highlighted by the novel. There is therefore no independent episode or characterization of Liu Min in the novel; he is essentially in a state of neglect. This stands in contrast to his key role in the Battle of Xingshi recorded in the sources, for the novel fails to display his strategic vision and military talent during Cao Shuang's campaign against Shu.

Key Relationships

* Shu Han: As Protector of the Army of the Left and General Who Spreads Might, Liu Min was an important military general of the Shu Han regime. He served Shu Han and played a key role in resisting foreign invasion ^c:4705.
* Wang Ping: Liu Min defended Hanzhong together with Wang Ping, the General Who Guards the North, and during Cao Shuang's campaign against Shu they fought side by side, jointly holding Mount Xingshi and resisting the Wei army ^c:4705. They were allies and partners on the battlefield.
* Fei Yi: In the Battle of Xingshi, the General-in-Chief Fei Yi led reinforcements from Chengdu, joining forces with Liu Min and Wang Ping and ultimately compelling the Wei army to withdraw ^c:4705. Fei Yi's arrival was one of the key factors in turning the tide of the campaign.
* Cao Shuang: Cao Shuang, the General-in-Chief of Cao Wei, was Liu Min's chief opponent in the Battle of Xingshi. Liu Min's strategic dispositions and steadfast defense successfully checked Cao Shuang's offensive ^c:4705.

Defining Scenes

Liu Min's most defining scene is undoubtedly his holding of Mount Xingshi in 244, when Cao Shuang, the General-in-Chief of Cao Wei, campaigned against Shu ^c:4705.

At the time, facing the Wei invasion, most at court advocated holding fast without sallying out, believing the Wei army would withdraw of its own accord. Liu Min, however, with his keen insight, foresaw that if he did not take the initiative to strike and allowed the enemy to ravage the fields, it would deal a devastating blow to Shu Han. He clearly stated: "With men and women spread across the wilds and grain ripe in the fields, if we yield to the enemy, then the great affair is lost." ^c:4705 These words deeply embody his concern for the interests of the state and the hardships of the people, as well as his sense of responsibility as a general.

He then led his troops together with Wang Ping to hold Mount Xingshi, adopting the stratagem of false troops by "spreading many banners over more than a hundred li" ^c:4705. This strategy not only effectively confused the Wei army into misjudging Shu Han's strength so that it dared not rashly drive deep, but also bought precious time for the reinforcements led by Fei Yi. In the end, after Fei Yi arrived, the Wei army indeed withdrew. Liu Min's strategic vision, decisive judgment, and excellent execution in this campaign made him a key figure in Shu Han's defensive war, and for this merit he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yunting ^c:4705. This series of events together makes up Liu Min's best-known defining scene, displaying his outstanding military talent and his loyalty to Shu Han.