Liu Zhang (simplified: 刘璋, traditional: 劉璋, pinyin: Liú Zhāng), courtesy name Jiyu (季玉 Jìyù), was Governor of Yi Province (益州牧) from c. 194 to 214. He was the youngest son of Liu Yan; his brothers Liu Fan and Liu Dan were killed in Chang’an (194), and the court and Yi Province officials (Zhao Wei, Wang Shang) had him succeed his father. He was mild and indecisive; the “Eastern Province” troops (refugees settled by Liu Yan) bullied the locals and he could not control them. Zhao Wei rebelled (200) and was put down with Dongzhou troops; Zhang Lu in Hanzhong defied him and he killed Zhang Lu’s mother and brother, making them enemies. Under pressure from the threat of Cao Cao and from advisers Zhang Song and Fa Zheng, he invited Liu Bei into Yi Province (211) to help against Zhang Lu. When Zhang Song’s secret collusion with Liu Bei was exposed (212), Liu Zhang had Zhang Song executed and ordered the passes closed. Liu Bei turned on him; after about two years of war and the fall of Luocheng (Liu Xun held out ~1 year), Liu Bei surrounded Chengdu. Liu Zhang had ample troops and grain but said he had given the people no kindness in twenty years and could not bear more fighting; he surrendered (214). Liu Bei moved him to Gong’an and left him the title General Who Inspires Awe. After Sun Quan took Jing Province, Liu Zhang went to Wu and was given the nominal title Governor of Yi Province at Zigui; he died there (220).
Biography
Succession and early reign
Liu Zhang was from Jingling in Jiangxia. His father Liu Yan became Governor of Yi Province (188); Liu Zhang remained in the capital and served as Commandant of Chariots and Cavalry. He was sent to Yi Province to convey an edict to Liu Yan and stayed. In 194 Liu Fan and Liu Dan were killed after a plot with Ma Teng against Li Jue; Pang Yi protected Liu Yan’s grandsons and sent them to Yi Province. Liu Yan died of grief and a back abscess after a fire at Mianzhu. Zhao Wei and others, wanting someone pliant, had Liu Zhang made Governor of Yi Province (court also appointed him). Shen Mi, Lou Fa, and Gan Ning rebelled and fled to Jing Province. Liu Zhang sent Zhao Wei to guard against Liu Biao. Zhang Lu in Hanzhong grew defiant; Liu Zhang killed Zhang Lu’s mother and brother and sent Pang Xi against Zhang Lu, who was defeated. Liu Zhang split Ba Commandery into three (e.g. Ba, Yongning, Guling; later “Three Ba”). In 200 Zhao Wei rebelled with support in Shu, Guanghan, and Jianwei; Liu Zhang fell back to Chengdu. The Dongzhou troops fought desperately for him; Zhao Wei was defeated and killed at Jiangzhou by his own officers (Pang Le, Li Yi).
Inviting Liu Bei and surrender
Liu Zhang sent envoys to Cao Cao (208); after Chi Bi he had Fa Zheng and Meng Da send troops to aid Liu Bei. In 211, fearing Cao Cao would take Hanzhong then Yi Province, he followed Zhang Song’s advice and invited Liu Bei in to attack Zhang Lu. Huang Quan and Wang Lei opposed; Liu Zhang had Fa Zheng lead 4,000 men to welcome Liu Bei. Liu Bei met him at Fu with great ceremony; Liu Zhang gave him troops and supplies and had him supervise the army at Baishui. Liu Bei stayed at Jiameng and built support. In 212 Liu Bei asked to go east to aid Sun Quan; Liu Zhang gave only part of the troops and supplies. Zhang Song’s plot was reported by his brother Zhang Su; Liu Zhang executed Zhang Song and ordered the passes closed. Liu Bei killed Yang Huai and Gao Pei and took Fu. Zheng Du proposed clearing the population and burning the granaries; Liu Zhang refused. Liu Bei took Mianzhu (Li Yan, Fei Guan surrendered); Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun entered from Jing Province. Liu Xun held Luocheng for about a year (Pang Tong died there). In 214 Liu Bei besieged Chengdu; Ma Chao joined the siege. Chengdu had 30,000 troops and a year’s grain; officials and people wanted to fight. Liu Zhang said: “My father and I have been in the province over twenty years with no kindness to the people. For three years they have fought and many have died in the wilds because of me—how can I rest?” He surrendered with Jian Yong; the city wept. Liu Bei moved him to Gong’an and returned his possessions and the seal of General Who Inspires Awe. After Sun Quan took Jing Province (219), Liu Zhang went to Wu; Sun Quan made him Governor of Yi Province and stationed him at Zigui. He died during the period of Liu Bei’s eastern campaign (220 or 221).
Personality and evaluation
Sources describe him as weak, indecisive, and unable to control the Dongzhou troops or to trust his officials firmly. Wang Can (Yingxiong ji) said he was tolerant and soft, lacked authority and strategy, and that the Dongzhou people oppressed the old population. Zhuge Liang later told Liu Bei that Yi Province was rich and Liu Zhang did not cherish the people, so the wise sought a true lord. Chen Shou wrote that his talent was not that of a hero and that holding the land in a chaotic age led naturally to being robbed of it—“his being taken was not misfortune.” The Yizhou qiujiu zhuan called him weak and suspicious.
Family and legacy
His eldest son Liu Xun held Luocheng against Liu Bei; after surrender Liu Xun served in Shu (奉车中郎将) on Pang Xi’s recommendation. His second son Liu Chan went with him to Jing Province and later served Wu (nominal 益州刺史, then 御史中丞). A daughter married Fei Guan. A great-grandson Liu Chang was a recluse and was killed by Luo Shang (Jin). Liu Zhang appears in SGZ Shu 1 (Liu Er mu) and in the Romance as the ruler who “invited the wolf into the house” by welcoming Liu Bei.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Before 194 | Commandant of Chariots and Cavalry; sent to Yi Province, remained |
| 194 | Liu Fan, Liu Dan killed; Liu Yan died; Liu Zhang made Governor of Yi Province |
| 200 | Zhao Wei rebelled; Dongzhou troops defeated him; Zhao Wei killed at Jiangzhou |
| 208 | Sent envoys to Cao Cao; after Chi Bi, Fa Zheng sent to ally with Liu Bei |
| 211 | Invited Liu Bei into Yi Province; Fa Zheng welcomed him at Fu |
| 212 | Zhang Song executed; Liu Bei attacked; took Fu, Mianzhu |
| 213–214 | Liu Xun held Luocheng ~1 year; Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun entered |
| 214 | Surrendered at Chengdu; moved to Gong’an; General Who Inspires Awe |
| 219–220 | After loss of Jing Province, to Wu; nominal 益州牧 at Zigui; died |