Liu Fang 劉放 Ziyi 子棄

Contents

Biography

Early life

Liu Fang was from Fangcheng, Zhuo Commandery (in present-day Hebei). His courtesy name was Ziyi. During the Jian’an era, he served under Wang Song, Administrator of Shanggu. When Yuan Shao attacked Wang Song, Liu Fang wrote a letter to Cao Cao on Wang Song’s behalf, and Cao Cao summoned him. Later, when Liu Fang was in Yecheng, Cao Cao had him serve as a clerk.

Director of the Palace Secretariat with Sun Zi

In 220, when Cao Pi became King of Wei, the Secretariat (中書) was created. Liu Fang became Director of the Palace Secretariat (中書監) and Sun Zi Director of the Secretariat (中書令), each with the addition of Gentleman in Attendance (給事中). They controlled confidential business. Liu Fang was enfeoffed as Marquis Within the Passes and Sun Zi as Marquis Within the Passes (Guanzhong). In 222 Liu Fang was advanced to Marquis of Weishou and Sun Zi to Marquis Within the Passes. When Cao Rui succeeded, both were favoured and given the addition of Cavalier Attendant in Regular Attendance; Liu Fang was advanced to Marquis of Xiangxiang and Sun Zi to Marquis of Leyang.

Advice on military strategy

Liu Fang and Sun Zi often advised Cao Rui on military matters. In 228, when Zhuge Liang moved to Hanzhong to prepare a northern campaign, Cao Rui consulted his officials and considered marching to Nanzheng to attack Shu. Sun Zi advised a defensive strategy, which Cao Rui followed.

Liaodong and Cao Rui’s deathbed

In 238, for his part in planning the Liaodong campaign against Gongsun Yuan, Liu Fang was advanced to Marquis of Fangcheng (county marquis). That year Cao Rui fell seriously ill and wanted Cao Yu, King of Yan, as Grand General with Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang to assist. Cao Yu was modest and firmly declined. Cao Rui summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi and asked why Cao Yu was so. They said Cao Yu knew he was not equal to the task. Cao Rui asked if Cao Shuang could take his place; both agreed. They also urged that Sima Yi be recalled to support the house. Cao Rui agreed, but Cao Zhao and others later blocked the recall. Cao Rui summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi again and said he had tried to recall Sima Yi but Cao Zhao and the rest had almost ruined it. He then dismissed Cao Yu, Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang from their posts. Sima Yi was summoned and received the mandate; Cao Rui then died. The Wei Jin shiyu suggests that Xiahou Xian and Cao Zhao had long been hostile to Liu Fang and Sun Zi, so the two acted to remove their rivals. Pei Songzhi commented that by praising Cao Shuang and urging the recall of Sima Yi, Liu Fang and Sun Zi laid the foundation for the fall of the Wei house.

Under Cao Fang and retirement

When Cao Fang became Emperor, Liu Fang continued to serve. In 249 he was made Specially Advanced and retired to private life. In 250 he was granted the title General of Agile Cavalry. He died soon after.

Character and relationships

Liu Fang worked closely with Sun Zi for decades, controlling confidential state business. Chen Shou wrote that Liu Fang was superior in talent and strategy but Sun Zi was better at self-cultivation; that both “pleased the ruler and rarely spoke of gains and losses openly,” and that they “restrained Xin Pi and helped Wang Si,” for which they were criticised, though they sometimes supported remonstrance and secretly stated pros and cons rather than only flattering.

Liu Fang’s son Liu Xi, together with Sun Zi’s son Sun Mi and Wei Zhen’s son Wei Lie, were known as the “Three Yu” (三豫) and held office due to their fathers’ positions.

Historical evaluations

Chen Shou: “Liu Fang was superior in talent and strategy, but Sun Zi was better at self-cultivation. Both pleased the ruler and rarely spoke of gains and losses openly. They restrained Xin Pi and helped Wang Si, for which they were criticised. However, they sometimes supported remonstrance and secretly stated pros and cons rather than only flattering.”
Pei Songzhi: “Praising Cao Shuang and urging the recall of the Xuan King—the downfall of the Wei house was rooted here.”

References

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 14, Biography of Liu Fang and Sun Zi