Liao Li

Historical Record

Liao Li, courtesy name Gongyuan, was a man of Linyuan in Wuling. He displayed his talent early on; during the period when Liu Bei was Governor of Jing Province, he was recruited as a Department Official, and before he was thirty he was promoted to Grand Administrator of Changsha^[1]. After Liu Bei entered Shu, Zhuge Liang guarded Jing Province; Sun Quan once sent an envoy to establish friendly relations with Zhuge Liang and asked which of the Jing Province gentlemen were fit for great use. Zhuge Liang at that time recommended Pang Tong and Liao Li, calling them "fine talents of Chu, who ought to assist in raising up the work of the age"^[1].

In the twentieth year of Jian'an (215 CE), Sun Quan sent Lü Meng to make a surprise attack on the three southern commanderies, and Liao Li was forced to extricate himself and return to Liu Bei. Liu Bei had always esteemed him and did not deeply blame him for this; instead he appointed him Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery^[1]. In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219 CE), when Liu Bei established himself as King of Hanzhong, he summoned Liao Li to be a Palace Attendant. After Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Liao Li was transferred to be Colonel of the Changshui^[1].

However, Liao Li was haughty by nature and presumed upon his own talent, often passing judgment on court affairs and his colleagues. According to Zhuge Liang's memorial, Liao Li "set himself up as exalted and great, judged the various gentlemen, openly said that the state did not employ the worthy and able but employed common clerks, and again said that the leaders of ten thousand men were all small fellows; he slandered the late emperor and disparaged the host of ministers"^[2]. He even sneered at the crack training of the state's troops and the strict discipline of its ranks, saying, "What is there to speak of!"^[2]. Zhuge Liang considered Liao Li's words and conduct to be like "a sheep that throws the flock into disorder," doing great harm, and that, holding a high position, he posed a challenge to the judgment of the middle and lower officials. In his memorial Zhuge Liang also mentioned that Liao Li had once been discontented with his own office, holding that he should not be ranked with the various generals but should be presented as a Minister, even ranked above the Five Colonels^[2].

In view of Liao Li's arrogant words and conduct, Zhuge Liang submitted a memorial requesting his dismissal. Liu Shan decreed: "When the San Miao threw governance into disorder, Yu Shun showed leniency in exile. Liao Li is wild and deluded; I cannot bear to punish him, so let him be hastily removed to a barren land."^[2] And so Liao Li was reduced to commoner status and banished to Wenshan Commandery. During his banishment, Liao Li personally led his wife and children in farming to support themselves. When he heard the news of Zhuge Liang's death, he could not help weeping and sighing: "I shall end my days with my robe lapped on the left!"^[2] This shows that he still held Zhuge Liang in reverence and recognized that Zhuge Liang was the only one who could tolerate and rein him in. Later, when the Army Supervisor Jiang Wei passed through Wenshan with a detached force and visited Liao Li, he found that his "spirit was undiminished and his discourse self-possessed"^[2]. Liao Li finally died in his place of banishment, and only then were his wife and children allowed to return to the land of Shu.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms depicts Liao Li relatively briefly, concentrating mainly on the reasons for his dismissal and his reaction to Zhuge Liang's death. In the novel, Liao Li appears in his capacity as Colonel of the Changshui and is fashioned as a figure who "considered that his talent and reputation should make him Kongming's deputy"^[3]. Discontented because his post was an idle one, he often "fretted with grievance and grumbled without end"^[3]. This accords with the historical character trait of his "setting himself up as exalted and great and judging the various gentlemen," but the novel lays more stress on the grievances arising from his personal ambitions being unfulfilled. The novel does not develop in detail Liao Li's specific deeds while holding office in Jing Province and Ba Commandery, nor does it mention Zhuge Liang's high praise of him before Sun Quan, which differs from the historical biographical materials.

In the novel, it was precisely because of Liao Li's grumbling and slander that Zhuge Liang reduced him to commoner status and banished him to Wenshan^[3]. When the news of Zhuge Liang's death came, Liao Li "thereupon wept and said: 'I shall end my days with my robe lapped on the left!'"^[3]. This scene fully accords with the historical record, highlighting Liao Li's despair over his own prospects after Zhuge Liang's death and indirectly corroborating Zhuge Liang's central position within the Shu Han regime and his ability to rein in talent. The novel also mentions that Li Yan, hearing of Zhuge Liang's death, likewise wept bitterly and died of illness, and explains that Li Yan had hoped Kongming would take him back into use, but that after Kongming's death no one could employ him^[3], juxtaposing the fates of Liao Li and Li Yan to jointly set off Zhuge Liang's importance.

Key Relationships

* Shu Han: Liao Li served Shu Han, holding successively the posts of Department Official, Grand Administrator of Changsha, Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery, Palace Attendant, and Colonel of the Changshui^[1]. He had been a young man of talent much esteemed within the Shu Han regime, but in the end was dismissed because of his arrogant character and his slander of court affairs.
* Zhuge Liang: Zhuge Liang was an important sponsor of Liao Li's career and ultimately the one who passed judgment on him. Early on, Zhuge Liang had highly praised Liao Li as a "fine talent of Chu, who ought to assist in raising up the work of the age"^[1]. However, in the later period Liao Li, because of his "presuming upon his talent and reputation" and his "fondness for slandering the late emperor and disparaging the host of ministers," was dismissed on Zhuge Liang's memorial^[2]. After Zhuge Liang's death, Liao Li lamented, "I shall end my days with my robe lapped on the left!", showing both his awe of Zhuge Liang and his recognition that Zhuge Liang was the only one who could tolerate and rein him in^[2][3].
* Liu Bei: Liu Bei showed Liao Li the grace of recognition. After Liao Li's failure as Grand Administrator of Changsha, Liu Bei "had always known and treated him well and did not deeply blame him, making him Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery"^[1], showing Liu Bei's trust in and tolerance of Liao Li.
* Liu Shan: After Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Liao Li was transferred to Colonel of the Changshui^[1]. In the end, Liu Shan adopted Zhuge Liang's recommendation and reduced Liao Li to commoner status and banished him^[2].
* Jiang Wei: During Liao Li's banishment to Wenshan, Jiang Wei once went to visit him and praised Liao Li as having "spirit undiminished and discourse self-possessed"^[2]. This shows that even in adversity Liao Li's talent and integrity were not entirely worn away.

Signature Scenes

* Zhuge Liang's recommendation to Sun Quan: While Zhuge Liang was in Jing Province, Sun Quan sent an envoy to ask about Shu Han's talents, and Zhuge Liang replied: "Pang Tong and Liao Li, fine talents of Chu, ought to assist in raising up the work of the age."^[1] This embodies that Liao Li already enjoyed great fame in his youth and won Zhuge Liang's high praise, foreshadowing the bright future he ought to have had.
* Dismissal and banishment: Because of words and conduct such as "setting himself up as exalted and great, judging the various gentlemen" and "slandering the late emperor and disparaging the host of ministers," Liao Li was, on Zhuge Liang's memorial, ultimately reduced to commoner status and banished to Wenshan Commandery^[2]. This was a major turning point in Liao Li's life's course, marking the end of his political career and reflecting the way Shu Han handled dissidents in its later years.
* Weeping on hearing of Zhuge Liang's death: After learning in his place of banishment of Zhuge Liang's death, Liao Li wept and sighed: "I shall end my days with my robe lapped on the left!"^[2][3] This scene profoundly reveals Liao Li's complex state of mind. He may have felt despair at losing the one who could both restrain him and had once appreciated him, and may also have realized that his own arrogance had finally brought about an irretrievable end, with no day of recovery ever again. This single line became a classic footnote to Liao Li's character and indirectly affirmed Zhuge Liang's unique position within the Shu Han regime and his tolerance and command of talent.
* Jiang Wei's visit: After Liao Li's banishment, the Army Supervisor Jiang Wei once went to visit him and found that his "spirit was undiminished and his discourse self-possessed"^[2]. This shows that, although Liao Li was in adversity, his talent and pride had not been entirely worn away, displaying his resilient side. (novel only)