Liu Mao

Historical Record

Liu Mao was the elder brother of the Governor of Yi Province Liu Zhang. During the Jian'an era, Cao Cao campaigned against Jing Province and had already pacified Hanzhong; on learning of this, Liu Zhang sent Yin Pu, a man of Henei Commandery, to pay his respects to Cao Cao. In response, Cao Cao raised Liu Zhang to General Who Spreads Might and at the same time appointed Liu Mao General Who Quells Bandits.^[1] Soon afterward, however, Liu Mao died of a fit of madness.^[1] The historical materials' record of Liu Mao is fairly brief, focused chiefly on his being raised to general by Cao Cao and his subsequent death from illness. Of his life and deeds, apart from his fraternal relationship with Liu Zhang and a brief tenure of office, there is no further detailed description. After Liu Mao's death, Liu Zhang continued to send envoys to befriend Cao Cao, and in the ensuing series of political changes gradually brought Liu Bei into Shu, ultimately leading to Yi Province changing hands. Liu Mao's death occurred in the early stage of Liu Zhang establishing ties with Cao Cao and had no significant effect on his subsequent political strategy.^[1]

In the Novel

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Liu Mao any concrete literary shaping. In the novel, Liu Mao's name is scarcely mentioned, and his life and deeds are not depicted in detail. The novel focuses chiefly on Liu Bei's entry into Shu, the conflict between Liu Zhang and Liu Bei, and the process of Yi Province ultimately passing to Liu Bei. Liu Mao is therefore a neglected figure in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms; his historical episodes of being raised to general by Cao Cao and dying of a fit of madness do not appear in the novel. The novel's depiction of Liu Zhang also centers chiefly on his weak character, his heeding of slander, and his ultimate loss of Yi Province, while the presence or absence of his elder brother Liu Mao has no bearing on the advancement of the plot. This treatment leaves Liu Mao with almost no presence in the novel, contrasting with the brief but clear record in the historical materials.

Key Relationships

Liu Mao's key relationships are reflected mainly in the following aspects:

* Liu Zhang (kin_of): Liu Mao was the elder brother of the Governor of Yi Province Liu Zhang.^[1] This blood relationship is clearly recorded in the historical materials and is the core of Liu Mao's identity. During Liu Zhang's governance of Yi Province, Liu Mao was raised by Cao Cao to General Who Quells Bandits, which to some degree also reflects the standing of the Liu Zhang clan in the political configuration of the time.
* Cao Wei (serves): Liu Mao was raised by Cao Cao to General Who Quells Bandits.^[1] This indicates that in the early stage of Liu Zhang establishing ties with Cao Cao, Liu Mao, as a member of the Liu Zhang clan, was also recognized by Cao Cao and granted office. Though this tenure was not long, it symbolizes the brief political interaction between Liu Zhang's faction and Cao Cao's regime.

Iconic Scenes

Liu Mao's iconic scenes are chiefly the following two:

* Raised to general by Cao Cao: After Cao Cao campaigned against Jing Province and pacified Hanzhong, Liu Zhang sent an envoy to pay respects to Cao Cao. In response, Cao Cao raised Liu Zhang to General Who Spreads Might and at the same time appointed Liu Mao General Who Quells Bandits.^[1] This is the only scene in the historical materials in which Liu Mao is clearly granted office, and it embodies his direct connection with the major political power of the time, Cao Cao.
* Dying of a fit of madness: Soon after being raised by Cao Cao to General Who Quells Bandits, Liu Mao died of a fit of madness.^[1] Though brief, this event is the clear record in the historical materials of the end of Liu Mao's life. His death left him absent from the subsequent major historical events such as Liu Zhang's faction and Liu Bei's entry into Shu, and also left more room for Liu Zhang's political decisions.