Liu Biao (simplified: 刘表, traditional: 劉表, pinyin: Liú Biǎo), courtesy name Jingsheng (景升 Jǐngshēng), was Governor of Jing Province from 190 to 208. He was from Gaoping in Shanyang and was famed as one of the “Eight Eminent” (八俊); he had been in the North Army when Sun Jian killed the previous Governor Wang Rui (190). The court sent him as Governor but the province was in chaos; he went alone to Yicheng and with Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, and Cai Mao lured and killed dozens of clan bandit chiefs and persuaded Zhang Hu and Chen Sheng to surrender. He then garrisoned Xiangyang. Yuan Shu sent Sun Jian against him; Sun Jian was killed (191–192; accounts differ: ambush in the hills or by Lü Gong on the heights). Li Jue and Guo Si in Chang’an named him General Who Guards the South, Governor of Jing Province, Marquis of Chengwu, with staff (192). He cut Yuan Shu’s supply line (193), took in Zhang Ji’s troops under Zhang Xiu (196), and put down Zhang Xian’s rebellion in Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang (198+), extending his control south. He remained neutral at Guandu (200); when Han Song returned from Xu praising Cao Cao and advised sending a hostage, Liu Biao imprisoned him. He received Liu Bei at Xinye (201) but did not give him major authority. In his last years his wife Lady Cai and Cai Mao favoured Liu Cong over the eldest Liu Qi; Liu Qi went to Jiangxia. When Liu Biao died of a back abscess (208), Liu Cong succeeded and soon surrendered to Cao Cao. Liu Biao had fostered the Jingzhou school (五经章句, 荆州星占) and kept the province relatively stable for nearly twenty years.
Biography
Taking Jing Province
Liu Biao was from Gaoping in Shanyang, descended from the Han imperial clan (Lu Gongwang line). He was tall and cultured; in his youth he was known as one of the “Eight Eminent” and was caught up in the Partisan Prohibitions. In 190 Sun Jian killed the Governor of Jing Province Wang Rui; Dong卓 had the court appoint Liu Biao to replace him. The province was divided among strongmen (Yuan Shu at Nanyang, Su Dai in Changsha, Bei Yu in Huarong, etc.). Liu Biao went alone to Yicheng and consulted Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao. Kuai Yue proposed luring the clan bandit chiefs (宗贼) by promise of benefit, then killing them and absorbing their men. Liu Biao had over fifty (or fifteen) chiefs killed and persuaded Zhang Hu and Chen Sheng at Xiangyang to surrender. Most commandery and county heads fled at his reputation. He garrisoned Xiangyang and observed the times.
Sun Jian’s death and imperial recognition
Yuan Shu allied with Sun Jian against Liu Biao. Sun Jian besieged Xiangyang. According to different accounts, Huang Zu was sent out and defeated; Sun Jian pursued into the hills and was killed by ambush; or Huang Zu’s men shot him; or Lü Gong (吕公) on the heights killed him with stones and arrows. With Sun Jian dead, Liu Biao secured Jing Province. In 192 Li Jue and Guo Si had the court appoint him General Who Guards the South, Governor of Jing Province, Marquis of Chengwu, with staff, and he was allowed a full secretariat. In 193 he cut Yuan Shu’s supply route from Nanyang, forcing Yuan Shu east. When Zhang Ji died attacking Rang, Liu Biao refused to accept congratulations (“the guest came in distress and I was no host; I receive condolence, not congratulations”) and took in Zhang Ji’s troops under Zhang Xiu, who garrisoned Wancheng as his northern screen.
South and centre
Liu Biao sent envoys to the court and kept ties with Yuan Shao; his aide Deng Xi objected and left. Zhang Xian (Changsha) rebelled (198) with Lingling and Guiyang; Liu Biao attacked for years. When Zhang Xian died his son Zhang Yi held out; Liu Biao eventually took the south and extended his domain (“south to Lingling and Guiyang, north to the Han, thousands of li, over 100,000 armoured troops”). He established schools and had scholars compile the “Later Determination” of the Five Classics (五经章句). Refugees and scholars from the Guanzhong and Central Plain areas came in large numbers.
Neutrality and Liu Bei
At Guandu (200) Yuan Shao asked for help; Liu Biao promised but sent no troops and did not aid Cao Cao. Han Song and Liu Xian advised him to submit to Cao Cao and send a son as hostage; he sent Han Song to Xu to observe. When Han Song returned praising the court and Cao Cao and again advised a hostage, Liu Biao suspected him of defection and threatened to execute him; his wife Lady Cai interceded and he was only imprisoned. In 201 Liu Bei, defeated in Runan, came to Jing Province; Liu Biao received him well but stationed him at Xinye as a northern screen and did not give him major authority. Liu Bei later urged a strike on Xu when Cao Cao was at Liucheng; Liu Biao did not act and later regretted it.
Succession and death
Liu Biao had first favoured his eldest son Liu Qi (who resembled him). After Liu Cong married a niece of his second wife Lady Cai, Lady Cai and her brother Cai Mao favoured Liu Cong and slandered Liu Qi. Liu Qi asked to replace the slain Huang Zu as Administrator of Jiangxia and left. When Liu Biao was critically ill (208) Liu Qi returned to see him; Cai Mao and Zhang Yun blocked him (“your father sent you to Jiangxia; leaving your post will anger him”). Liu Qi left in tears. Liu Biao died in the eighth month of 208. Liu Cong succeeded; when Cao Cao advanced, the majority favoured surrender and Liu Cong surrendered in the ninth month. Liu Bei did not attack Xiangyang but called for Liu Cong and paid respects at Liu Biao’s tomb before leaving.
Personality and legacy
Liu Biao was a Confucian scholar, dignified and in appearance gentle, but the SGZ notes he was inwardly suspicious (e.g. his treatment of Han Song). He was criticised for sitting on the sidelines (“a talker, not a doer”—Guo Jia; “could not see change, doubted and could not decide”—Jia Xu) and for favouring his younger son. He is remembered for pacifying Jing Province, killing Sun Jian, patronising the Jingzhou school and the compilation of the Five Classics and荆州星占, and for the disputed succession that led to Liu Cong’s surrender. His tomb was identified at Xiangyang in the 1990s.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 142 | Born in Gaoping, Shanyang |
| 179–190 | North Army Central Commander |
| 190 | Sun Jian killed Wang Rui; Liu Biao appointed Governor of Jing Province; took Yicheng with Kuai and Cai, killed clan bandit chiefs |
| 191–192 | Sun Jian killed (siege of Xiangyang); Liu Biao secured province |
| 192 | Li Jue made him General Who Guards the South, Governor of Jing Province, Marquis of Chengwu, with staff |
| 193 | Cut Yuan Shu’s supply line |
| 196 | Received Zhang Xiu (Zhang Ji’s troops) at Wancheng |
| 198+ | Zhang Xian rebelled; after years and Zhang Xian’s death, took south (Lingling, Guiyang) |
| 200 | Guandu: promised Yuan Shao but sent no troops; Han Song imprisoned |
| 201 | Liu Bei came, stationed at Xinye |
| 208 | Ill; Liu Qi blocked from seeing him; died (8th month); Liu Cong succeeded, surrendered to Cao Cao (9th month) |