Liu Yan (Shu Han)

Liu Yan (died 234), courtesy name Weishuo, was a military general serving in the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms of China. He previously served under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty. Liu Yan succeeded Huang Zhong as General of the Rear in 223 and was reappointed every year until 231 where he was promoted to General of the Chariots and Cavalry. Liu was given these high ranks not for his merits but for his long service and relation to the imperial clan as well as being handsome and well spoken. He served Liu Bei since 194 in Xu province and until his general-ships served in mid-level civil and administrator posts to an average performance at best. Some military generals including Wei Yan didn't respect him , which led to their quarrel in 232. Even as a high ranked General, Liu probably never led troops into battle and Zhuge Liang may have relied on the later for advice on various topics. Liu Yan's downfall and execution led to a reform of many court policies for the Shu Han.^{[3] [2]}

Early career under Liu Bei[]

Liu Yan was born during the late Eastern Han dynasty in the Lu State (魯國), a princedom around present-day Qufu, Shandong.^[4] He was also a member of the Liu clan, the ruling house of the Han dynasty. When the warlord Liu Bei was the nominal governor of Yu Province during the early 190s, he met Liu Yan and recruited him as an assistant officer (從事). A charming and eloquent man with ties to the imperial clan, Liu Yan gained Liu Bei's favour and had accompanied the warlord on his exploits since then.^[5]

In 214, after Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) from the warlord Liu Zhang,^[6] he appointed Liu Yan as the Administrator of Guling Commandery (固陵郡; a.k.a. Badong Commandery 巴東郡; covering parts of present-day Chongqing).^[7]

Service under Liu Shan[]

In 223,^[8] after Liu Bei's son and successor Liu Shan became emperor of Shu, he enfeoffed Liu Yan as a Marquis of a Chief District (都鄉侯) and accorded him honours and privileges second to those accorded to Li Yan. He also appointed Liu Yan as Minister of the Guards (衛尉), Central Military Adviser (中軍師), and General of the Rear (後將軍). Liu Yan was later promoted to the position of General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍).^[9]

Despite holding an important position and having 1,000 troops under his personal command, Liu Yan was not actively involved in state and military affairs. His participation was limited to only speaking to Zhuge Liang, the Imperial Chancellor, on miscellaneous issues.^[10] Outside the workplace, he led an extravagant and pretentious lifestyle. He also had dozens of maids to attend to him; many of them could also sing and play music. He even taught them to recite the "Lu Ling Guang Dian Fu" (魯靈光殿賦), a rhapsody by .^[11]

In 232, Liu Yan got into a quarrel with the Shu general Wei Yan and made baseless accusations against him. After Zhuge Liang reprimanded him for his behaviour,^[12] Liu Yan wrote an apology to Zhuge Liang as follows:

"I am naturally inclined towards pretensions and affectations. I have never been mindful of my behaviour. To make things worse, I tend to talk nonsense when I am drunk. Since I started following the Late Emperor, I have said many absurd things that were detrimental to the State's fortunes. I am grateful to you, Sir, for recognising that I am faithful and loyal to the State, for forgiving me for my many flaws, for providing me much support, and allowing me to get to the high position that I am in today. I got addicted to alcohol and failed to watch my tongue. You are kind and generous enough to forgive me for my transgression and not pursue the matter, thus allowing me to preserve my life. I will definitely perform my duties more carefully, motivate myself to do better, and correct my mistakes. I swear to the gods that I will do this. If I cannot serve the State with my life, then I will feel so ashamed to continue living."^[13]

Zhuge Liang then sent Liu Yan back to Chengdu, the Shu capital, and restored him to his former position.^[14]

Downfall and execution[]

Despite his promise to Zhuge Liang that he would improve his behaviour, Liu Yan became more disheartened and absent-minded after his quarrel with Wei Yan. In February or March 234, Liu Yan's wife, Lady Hu (胡氏), entered the palace to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Wu. For reasons unknown, the empress dowager ordered Lady Hu to remain in the palace. Lady Hu returned home after living in the palace for a month.^[15]

As Lady Hu had a beautiful appearance, Liu Yan suspected that she had a secret affair with the emperor Liu Shan during that one month she stayed in the palace. He ordered 500 of his soldiers to beat her up, slapped her in the face with a shoe, and then divorced her and sent her back to her maiden family.^[16]

Lady Hu reported Liu Yan to the authorities for his abusive behaviour. As a result, Liu Yan was arrested and thrown into prison.^[17] During this time, an official commented on the incident as follows: "Soldiers aren't meant to help someone beat up his wife. Shoes aren't meant to be used to hit someone in the face."^[18] Liu Yan was then executed and his body was abandoned in the streets; he was in his mid-fifties. After the scandal, the Shu government put an end to the practice of allowing officials' wives and mothers to enter the palace to pay their respects to the imperial family.^[19]

See also[]

• Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

References[]

• Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
• de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23-220 AD. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004156050.
• Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).
• Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.