Liu Biao

Liu Biao
Traditional Chinese	劉表
Simplified Chinese	刘表
Transcriptions

Liu Biao (142 - August 208), style name Jingsheng (景升), was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors. He was good-looking and his height was said to have been over eight chi (about 1.86 m).

When the Han Dynasty became consumed with war after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Biao fought a war against the warlord, Sun Jian. One of Liu Biao's brilliant strategists, Kuai Liang, devised a plan to eliminate Sun Jian by crushing him with logs as he rode towards the main camp of Liu Biao, and succeeded. Later, Sun Jian's two elder sons, Sun Ce and Sun Quan, caused Liu Biao no end of trouble as they sought to avenge their father’s death. However, they did not cause Liu Biao's demise. Whilst Cao Cao (in the north) was gaining strength, Liu Biao chose to neither help nor hinder his conquests, in part because he had been dealt a defeat the hands of Sun Ce at the Battle of Shaxian.

Later, during Cao Cao’s decisive Battle of Guandu against Yuan Shao (203- 207 AD), Liu Biao remained neutral, despite being one of the only other warlords in a position to oppose the two powers. Liu Biao, however, eventually decided to shelter Liu Bei, an enemy of Cao Cao. This made him a target of Cao Cao’s wrath. Later, after Cao Cao's unification of the North, a large army was sent to conquer Jing Province. Along with Liu Bei, Liu Biao's forces took several early victories. After impressing the remnants of Yuan Shao's forces into his already grand army, however, Cao Cao's superior numbers eventually took toll on Liu Biao's defenses. With a decline in relations between Liu Biao and Liu Bei, as a result of the meddling of Cai Mao's family, Liu Biao's people were faced with difficulty. To make matters worse, Sun Quan's army had crushed Liu Biao's subordinate, Huang Zu, at the Battle of Xiakou.

Shortly after Cao Cao's main army began its offensive, Liu Biao died of sickness. According to the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, long before his death, sensing his own deteriorating condition, he had discussed with Liu Bei which of his two sons should succeed him. The traditional choice would be his elder son, Liu Qi, yet he predicted (correctly) that his wife would favour Liu Cong, his second son. Ultimately, he followed Liu Bei's advice and chose Liu Qi to succeed him. However, after Liu Biao's death, his wife altered his will, leaving Liu Cong with possession of much of Liu Biao's land. The weak Liu Cong immediately surrendered to Cao Cao and his elder brother, who had still retained control of one city. Due to its strategic positioning between all three warring factions during the Three Kingdoms era, many battles were fought (and lives were lost) in Jing Province over the course of the various campaigns and battles fought between Shu Han, Cao Wei and Eastern Wu.

Family

• Sons:
  • Liu Qi, oldest son. Sided with Liu Bei after his brother was appointed as successor, but died of illness.
  • Liu Cong, second son. Was appointed as his father's successor due to the interference of Cai Mao.

• Nephews:
  • Liu Pan, sent on a campaign against Sun Ce, but was defeated by Taishi Ci of Sun's forces. Later joined Liu Bei at the recommendation of Huang Zhong.
  • Liu Hu, defended against Sun Ce at Shaxian, but was defeated. His fate is unknown, but many of Liu Biao's officers who participated in that battle were slain.

Appointments and titles held

• Inspector of Jing Province (荊州刺史)
• General Who Guards the South (鎮南將軍)
• Governor of Jing Province (荊州牧)
• Marquis of Chengwu (成武侯)

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms