Liu Yao (warlord)
Encyclopedia
Liu Yao style name
Zhengli, was a warlord in the Jiangdong region during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He ruled for a brief period of time before Sun Ce
invaded and conquered his territories.
, who was equally famous for his capability. Liu Yao's elder uncle Liu Chong (刘宠) was famed for his uncorrupted conducts, and his father Liu Yu (刘舆) was the governor of Shanyang (山阳). Liu Yao became instantly famous when he was just 19, after he rescued one of his uncle kidnapped by bandits. Liu Yao excelled in his study like his older brother Liu Dai, and became a maocai (茂才), the outstanding candidate recommended to the imperial court from the state. Each year, only a single maocai (茂才) could be recommended by a state, and the governor of the state where Liu Yao's family resided was complaining that Liu Dai was selected the previous year and if Liu Yao was selected this year, it would appear his family had monopolized the system, but people countered that the Liu brothers were recommended because they were indeed outstanding, and Liu Yao was selected.
Unfortunately, Liu Yao was not a good military commander despite being a good administrator. When Sun Ce
attacked him, many his advisors correctly suggested to him that he should name Taishi Ci
as the commander-in-chief of his force to defend themselves against Sun Ce, but Liu Yao refused, fearing that Taishi Ci was a fugitive who had just joined him, and his reputation would be tarnished for favoritism, since he was very good friend with Taishi Ci. The mistake proved to be fatal for Liu Yao and his defeat was generally the same as described in Romance of Three Kingdoms, and Liu Yao soon died at the age of 42 after fled to Dantu (丹徒). After Taishi Ci surrendered to Sun Ce and sent to ask the surrender of Liu Yao's remaining force, Liu Yao's son agreed and more than ten thousands begun their service to Sun Ce, with Liu Yao's son eventually rose in ranks in later eras under Sun Quan
.
's historical novel Romance of Three Kingdoms, Liu Yao was depicted as an incompetent warlord and was only given a short description as follows:
Sun Ce (eldest son of the "Tiger of Jiangdong", Sun Jian
) was rapidly expanding his forces and reclaiming lands he perceived as the rightful property of the Sun family. Alongside his father's already impressive army, Sun Ce invaded the lands of Eastern Wu
, which were under the protection and rule of Liu Yao at the time. Forming an alliance with Wang Lang
(governor of Kuaiji (present day Shaoxing
) and Yan Baihu
(bandit leader and so-called "Virtuous King of Eastern Wu"), Liu Yao's forces clashed with Sun Ce's invading army, leading to many deaths in both camps. Yan Baihu was quickly defeated and slain by Sun Ce's newly recruited officer, Dong Xi
, while Wang Lang's forces were eventually destroyed, forcing him to surrender Guiji to the Sun family. Liu Yao was now faced with the task of defending the lands of Wu single handedly, while Sun Ce had gained a tremendous advantage through the capture of a local city which he could now use to rally and support his army. Liu Yao was eventually defeated by Sun Ce in battle.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Zhengli, was a warlord in the Jiangdong region during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He ruled for a brief period of time before Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
invaded and conquered his territories.
Biography
Liu Yao was an administrative official greatly respected by all, including his superiors and subordinates, as well as ordinary civilians. Liu Yao came from an aristocrat family, and he was the younger brother of Liu DaiLiu Dai
Liu Dai , style name Gongshan , was an official of the late Eastern Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. His ancestral home was in Mouping County , Donglai Commandery ....
, who was equally famous for his capability. Liu Yao's elder uncle Liu Chong (刘宠) was famed for his uncorrupted conducts, and his father Liu Yu (刘舆) was the governor of Shanyang (山阳). Liu Yao became instantly famous when he was just 19, after he rescued one of his uncle kidnapped by bandits. Liu Yao excelled in his study like his older brother Liu Dai, and became a maocai (茂才), the outstanding candidate recommended to the imperial court from the state. Each year, only a single maocai (茂才) could be recommended by a state, and the governor of the state where Liu Yao's family resided was complaining that Liu Dai was selected the previous year and if Liu Yao was selected this year, it would appear his family had monopolized the system, but people countered that the Liu brothers were recommended because they were indeed outstanding, and Liu Yao was selected.
Unfortunately, Liu Yao was not a good military commander despite being a good administrator. When Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
attacked him, many his advisors correctly suggested to him that he should name Taishi Ci
Taishi Ci
Taishi Ci was a military general during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served several warlords, including Kong Rong, Liu Yao, and Sun Ce.-Early life:...
as the commander-in-chief of his force to defend themselves against Sun Ce, but Liu Yao refused, fearing that Taishi Ci was a fugitive who had just joined him, and his reputation would be tarnished for favoritism, since he was very good friend with Taishi Ci. The mistake proved to be fatal for Liu Yao and his defeat was generally the same as described in Romance of Three Kingdoms, and Liu Yao soon died at the age of 42 after fled to Dantu (丹徒). After Taishi Ci surrendered to Sun Ce and sent to ask the surrender of Liu Yao's remaining force, Liu Yao's son agreed and more than ten thousands begun their service to Sun Ce, with Liu Yao's son eventually rose in ranks in later eras under Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
.
Appointments and titles held
- Filial and IncorruptXiaolianXiaolian , was the standard of nominating civil officers started by Emperor Wu of Han in 134 BC. It lasted until its replacement by the imperial examination system during the Sui Dynasty....
(孝廉) - nominated candidate to be a Gentleman Cadet (郎) - Gentleman (郎中)
- Chief of Xiayi (下邑長)
- Maocai (茂才)
- Assistant to the Excellency of Works (司空掾)
- Imperial Clerk (侍御史)
- Inspector of Yang Province (揚州刺史)
- Governor of Yang Province (揚州牧)
- General Who Inspires Martial Might (振武將軍)
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of Three Kingdoms, Liu Yao was depicted as an incompetent warlord and was only given a short description as follows:
Sun Ce (eldest son of the "Tiger of Jiangdong", Sun Jian
Sun Jian
Sun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo, a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power...
) was rapidly expanding his forces and reclaiming lands he perceived as the rightful property of the Sun family. Alongside his father's already impressive army, Sun Ce invaded the lands of Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
, which were under the protection and rule of Liu Yao at the time. Forming an alliance with Wang Lang
Wang Lang
Wang Lang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty and a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Through his granddaughter's marriage to Sima Zhao, he would become great-grandfather of Sima Yan, who later became the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty.-Early life...
(governor of Kuaiji (present day Shaoxing
Shaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
) and Yan Baihu
Yan Baihu
Yan Baihu was a bandit leader active in the Wu region during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.-The White Tiger among bandits:Baihu was not Yan's real name, but a nickname given to him due to his physical prowess or skin color; thus his name should be translated to "White Tiger Yan"...
(bandit leader and so-called "Virtuous King of Eastern Wu"), Liu Yao's forces clashed with Sun Ce's invading army, leading to many deaths in both camps. Yan Baihu was quickly defeated and slain by Sun Ce's newly recruited officer, Dong Xi
Dong Xi
Dong Xi was a military general serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He hailed from Yuyao county, Kuaiji commandery , and entered Sun Ce's camp when the later pacified Jiangdong...
, while Wang Lang's forces were eventually destroyed, forcing him to surrender Guiji to the Sun family. Liu Yao was now faced with the task of defending the lands of Wu single handedly, while Sun Ce had gained a tremendous advantage through the capture of a local city which he could now use to rally and support his army. Liu Yao was eventually defeated by Sun Ce in battle.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms