Liu Biao

Historical Record

Liu Biao, courtesy name Jingsheng, was a man of Gaoping in Shanyang. In his youth he was already renowned as a man of distinction, hailed as one of the "Eight Paragons"^[1]. He stood over eight chi tall, of imposing bearing, and had served as an Aide to the General-in-Chief and as Captain of the Northern Army. After the death of Emperor Ling, Liu Biao succeeded Wang Rui as Inspector of Jing Province. At the time, war was raging east of the mountains, and Liu Biao too assembled his forces to garrison Xiangyang^[1].

When he first arrived in Jing Province, the powerful clan-bandits of the Jiangnan region were strong; Yuan Shu was entrenched at Luyang and controlled the Nanyang area. The Wu men Su Dai and Ju Yu served as Administrator of Changsha and Chief of Huarong respectively, each holding troops and stirring revolt. Liu Biao rode alone into Yicheng and conferred with Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, and others on a plan to pacify Jing Province. Adopting Kuai Yue's scheme, Liu Biao lured and killed fifty-five chiefs of the clan-bandits and absorbed their followers. He then sent Kuai Yue and Pang Ji to ride alone and persuade Zhang Hu and Chen Sheng of Jiangxia to surrender, so that the Jiangnan region was pacified^[1].

Yuan Shu once allied with Sun Jian in an attempt to seize Jing Province, sending Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao. Sun Jian was struck and killed by a stray arrow in battle, and Yuan Shu's army was thereby defeated, failing to overcome Liu Biao. After Dong Zhuo's former subordinates Li Jue and Guo Si occupied Chang'an, in their search for reinforcements they appointed Liu Biao General Who Guards the South and Governor of Jing Province, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Chengwu, and granted him the staff of authority. After Emperor Xian of Han moved the capital to Xu County, Liu Biao, though he sent envoys bearing tribute, privately allied with Yuan Shao. The Attendant Clerk Deng Xi once remonstrated with Liu Biao, but Liu Biao would not listen; Deng Xi therefore resigned and lived in retirement until Liu Biao's death^[2].

Zhang Ji led troops into the territory of Jing Province and attacked Rangcheng, but was struck and killed by a stray arrow. The officials of Jing Province all came to congratulate Liu Biao, but Liu Biao said: "Zhang Ji came in extremity; as his host I treated him without courtesy, so that it came to battle. This was not my intent. I will accept condolences, not congratulations." He sent men to take in Zhang Ji's followers, who, on hearing this, were greatly pleased and submitted to Liu Biao^[2].

Zhang Xian, Administrator of Changsha, once rebelled against Liu Biao, and Liu Biao besieged him for years without success. After Zhang Xian died of illness, his son Zhang Yi succeeded him; Liu Biao then attacked and annexed Zhang Yi, recovering Lingling and Guiyang to the south and holding the Han River region to the north, so that Jing Province extended several thousand li and held over a hundred thousand troops^[2].

Liu Bei once came to take refuge with Liu Biao; Liu Biao treated him generously but failed to employ him to advantage^[3]. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao campaigned against Liu Biao, but before he arrived, Liu Biao died of illness^[3].

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Biao is depicted as a kinsman of the Han house who in his youth loved to associate with men of distinction, and was reckoned with seven other notables as the "Eight Paragons of Jiangxia"^[4]. His image is refined, but his character suspicious and jealous. In the novel, at Yuan Shao's instigation, Liu Biao once sent Kuai Yue and Cai Mao to lead troops to intercept Sun Jian, accusing him of secretly hiding the Imperial Hereditary Seal, which led to battle between the two sides^[4].

Liu Biao joined forces with Zhang Xiu at Anzhong County to oppose Cao Cao jointly, but was defeated by Cao Cao's stratagem^[5]. Jia Xu once urged Zhang Xiu to pursue Cao Cao; Liu Biao at first did not believe it, but on Jia Xu's insistence, Zhang Xiu pursued again and greatly defeated Cao Cao, at which Liu Biao was deeply impressed^[6].

Mi Heng once came to Jing Province and heaped much ridicule on Liu Biao, but Liu Biao, well aware that Cao Cao wished to use his hand to kill Mi Heng, sent him on to Jiangxia to see Huang Zu, thereby showing his own discernment of men^[7]. Han Song once urged Liu Biao to submit to Cao Cao; Liu Biao in great anger wished to behead him, but later pardoned him at Kuai Liang's persuasion^[8].

After Liu Bei was defeated at Runan, Sun Qian was sent to Jing Province to persuade Liu Biao to take Liu Bei in. Cai Mao once slandered him, urging Liu Biao to behead Sun Qian and present him to Cao Cao, but Liu Biao rebuked Cai Mao and personally went thirty li out of the city to welcome Liu Bei^[9]. During his time in Jing Province, Liu Bei once volunteered to pacify the revolt of Zhang Wu and Chen Sun in Jiangxia, and successfully recovered Jiangxia^[10].

In the novel, Liu Biao's trust in Liu Bei was gradually shaken by Lady Cai and Cai Mao. Lady Cai suspected that Liu Bei's long stay in Jing Province would cause trouble, while Cai Mao used the notion that the "Dilu" horse harmed its master to persuade Liu Biao to transfer Liu Bei to Xinye^[11]. Liu Bei once urged Liu Biao to seize Xuchang by surprise while Cao Cao was campaigning in the north, but Liu Biao refused on the grounds that "to sit and hold Jing Province is enough; how can I plan otherwise?"^[12].

When Liu Biao was gravely ill, he once wished to entrust Jing Province to Liu Bei, but Liu Bei declined. Lady Cai and Cai Mao seized the chance to forge a will, establishing Liu Cong as lord of Jing Province and preventing Liu Qi and Liu Bei from coming in to see Liu Biao^[13]. This differs from the historical record that, when Liu Biao was critically ill, Liu Bei urged him not to worry, and that historians held there was no reason for Liu Biao to entrust Jing Province to Liu Bei^[14].

Key Relationships

* Liu Biao's faction (lord_of): Liu Biao was Governor of Jing Province, commanding the military and civil power of Jing Province, with strategists and generals such as Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao under his command^[1].
* Yuan Shao (friend_of): Liu Biao once allied with Yuan Shao to oppose Cao Cao jointly^[2].
* Zhang Xian (enemy_of): Zhang Xian, Administrator of Changsha, once rebelled against Liu Biao, and was later pacified by Liu Biao^[2].
* Liu Bei (friend_of): Liu Bei once took refuge with Liu Biao, who treated him generously but failed to employ him^[3]. In the novel, Liu Biao once wished to entrust Jing Province to Liu Bei, but was thwarted by Lady Cai and Cai Mao^[15] (unique to the novel).
* Sun Jian (enemy_of): Yuan Shu once conspired with Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao, and Sun Jian was struck and killed by a stray arrow in battle^[2].
* Cao Cao (enemy_of): Liu Biao allied with Yuan Shao to oppose Cao Cao, and Cao Cao once campaigned against Liu Biao^[3].
* Zhang Xiu (friend_of): In the novel, Zhang Xiu once joined forces with Liu Biao to oppose Cao Cao^[16] (unique to the novel).
* Mi Heng (associate_of): In the novel, Mi Heng once came to Jing Province and ridiculed Liu Biao in his speech, and was later sent by Liu Biao to Huang Zu^[7] (unique to the novel).
* Liu Qi (son_of): Liu Biao's eldest son; in the novel, Liu Biao once hesitated over whether to establish his eldest son Liu Qi or his younger son Liu Cong^[17] (unique to the novel).
* Liu Cong (son_of): Liu Biao's younger son; in the novel, Lady Cai and Cai Mao forged a will to establish Liu Cong as lord of Jing Province^[18] (unique to the novel).

Iconic Scenes

* Riding alone into Yicheng to pacify the clan-bandits: When Liu Biao first arrived in Jing Province, facing a situation of clan-bandits holding separate sway, he adopted Kuai Yue's scheme, lured and killed the chiefs of the clan-bandits, absorbed their followers, and pacified Jing Province^[1]. This event displays a decisive and resourceful side of Liu Biao in an age of chaos.
* Not heeding Liu Bei's advice to attack Xu: Liu Bei once urged Liu Biao to seize Xuchang by surprise while Cao Cao was campaigning against the Wuhuan in the north, but Liu Biao failed to adopt it. After Cao Cao returned, Liu Biao bitterly regretted it^[3]. This reflects the conservative and irresolute side of Liu Biao's character and his missing of a chance to expand his power.
* Refusing Zhang Ji's congratulations: After Zhang Ji was killed by a stray arrow attacking Rangcheng, the officials of Jing Province all came to congratulate, but Liu Biao declared that he would accept condolences, not congratulations, and took in Zhang Ji's followers^[2]. This act displays Liu Biao's benevolent, righteous, and generous character, and his refusal to take advantage of another's peril.
* The Dilu horse harming its master: In the novel, Liu Bei gave the Dilu horse to Liu Biao, but Kuai Yue pointed out that this horse would harm its master and urged Liu Biao not to ride it. Liu Biao therefore transferred Liu Bei to Xinye^[19] (unique to the novel). This episode reflects Liu Biao's credulous superstition and his suspicion of Liu Bei.
* The lament over the flesh regrowing on his thighs: In the novel, while drinking with Liu Biao, Liu Bei lamented that, with the flesh regrowing on his thighs, he had achieved nothing; on hearing this, Liu Biao fell silent^[20] (unique to the novel). This scene hints at the contrast between Liu Bei's lofty ambition and Liu Biao's contentment with the status quo.
* The deathbed entrustment to Liu Bei: In the novel, when Liu Biao was gravely ill, he once wished to entrust Jing Province to Liu Bei, but Liu Bei declined and expressed his willingness to assist Liu Qi. In the end, Lady Cai and Cai Mao forged a will and established Liu Cong as lord of Jing Province^[15] (unique to the novel). This episode is an important part of the novel's shaping of Liu Biao, highlighting Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness and the internal conflicts of Liu Biao's faction.