Liu Feng
Encyclopedia
Liu Feng was an adopted son of the warlord Liu Bei
, and served as a general in Liu Bei's army during the late Han Dynasty
of China
.
, was born later.
and Zhang Fei when Liu Bei was fighting against Liu Zhang
in Yi Province (covering the Sichuan Basin
). He was in his 20s at this stage, and was described as being strong and possessing good martial skill. Upon the pacification of Shu, he was appointed Vice General of the Household (副軍中郎將).
In 219, Liu Feng was sent from the Mian River (沔水) (Han River) to oversee Meng Da
, who Liu Bei did not fully trust, to capture Shangyong (上庸). Shen Dan (申耽), Administer of Shangyong, quickly surrendered. Liu Feng and Meng Da were tasked with guarding the region after the campaign. Later in the same year, Guan Yu
, while fighting against Cao Cao
's forces in the Battle of Fancheng
, repeatedly requested troops from Liu Feng to help take the fortress. Liu refused those requests on the basis that their area had only been recently conquered, and hence troops could not be sent. Guan Yu's death at the hands of Sun Quan
's forces and the loss of Jing Province afterwards resulted in Liu Bei resenting Liu Feng and Meng Da for their failure to send reinforcements.
At the same time, the two men also had a falling out, and Meng Da defected to the rival state of Cao Wei
. The Wei emperor, Cao Pi
, then ordered Meng Da to take Shangyong with Xu Huang
and Xiahou Shang
. Meng Da wrote Liu Feng a letter persuading him to surrender to Wei, warning him that his position was more tenuous now that Liu Bei had biological sons, and promising that the Wei government would give him the succession to the Kou family fief. However, Liu Feng turned down the offer. Liu's subordinate and younger brother of Shan Dan, Shen Yi (申儀), then betrayed Liu Feng and defeated him, forcing him to return to Chengdu.
by Luo Guanzhong
, Liu Feng was adopted after Liu Shan was born, which proved controversial, as Liu Bei already had a legitimate son at the time who was far younger than Liu Feng. Guan Yu in particular voiced his opposition, citing the family feud between Liu Biao
's sons. However, Liu Feng showed his worth in battle and proved to be a valuable asset to the army.
In 219, when Guan Yu was being surrounded by Sun Quan's forces in Maicheng (麥城), Liu Feng refused to provide reinforcements partly because Meng Da reminded Liu Feng of Guan Yu's disapproval. When the general Liao Hua
told Liu Bei that Guan Yu died because Liu Feng and Meng Da did not send reinforcements, Liu Bei began to resent the two and even plotted their arrest. Meng Da became afraid and defected to Wei, and sent Liu Feng a message urging him to defect as well. Angrily, Liu Feng executed the messenger and went to battle Meng Da, who was now aided by Xu Huang and Xiahou Shang. As Liu Feng was out of the city, the defender Shen Dan surrendered to Wei and shot arrows at Liu Feng's men. Defeated, Liu Feng returned to Chengdu with only a few more than a hundred horsemen.
Liu Feng sought an interview with Liu Bei, but he gained scant sympathy, for in response to his petition Liu Bei bade the executioners expel Liu Feng and put him to death. Liu Bei felt some regret later when he heard of Liu Feng's staunch rejection of Meng Da's enticement. This, adding to the recent death of Guan Yu, made Liu Bei grieve until he fell ill.
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, and served as a general in Liu Bei's army 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...
of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Early life
Born with the surname of Kou (寇), he was connected to the royal Liu family in Changsha by marriage. Liu Feng was adopted by Liu Bei while the latter was in the Jing province (荊州) as he had no son at the time. Liu Bei's eventual successor, his biological son Liu ShanLiu Shan
Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...
, was born later.
Service under Liu Bei
Liu Feng was sent as reinforcements alongside Zhuge LiangZhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
and Zhang Fei when Liu Bei was fighting against Liu Zhang
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
in Yi Province (covering the Sichuan Basin
Sichuan basin
The Sichuan Basin is a lowland region in southwestern China. Despite its historical name, it is not only synonymous to Sichuan province, comprising its central and eastern portions as well as part of Chongqing Municipality...
). He was in his 20s at this stage, and was described as being strong and possessing good martial skill. Upon the pacification of Shu, he was appointed Vice General of the Household (副軍中郎將).
In 219, Liu Feng was sent from the Mian River (沔水) (Han River) to oversee Meng Da
Meng Da
Meng Da was a military general who served under Liu Zhang, Liu Bei, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Takeover of Yi Province:...
, who Liu Bei did not fully trust, to capture Shangyong (上庸). Shen Dan (申耽), Administer of Shangyong, quickly surrendered. Liu Feng and Meng Da were tasked with guarding the region after the campaign. Later in the same year, Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
, while fighting against Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's forces in the Battle of Fancheng
Battle of Fancheng
The Battle of Fancheng was fought between the forces of warlords Liu Bei and Cao Cao in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, repeatedly requested troops from Liu Feng to help take the fortress. Liu refused those requests on the basis that their area had only been recently conquered, and hence troops could not be sent. Guan Yu's death at the hands of 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....
's forces and the loss of Jing Province afterwards resulted in Liu Bei resenting Liu Feng and Meng Da for their failure to send reinforcements.
At the same time, the two men also had a falling out, and Meng Da defected to the rival state of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
. The Wei emperor, Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
, then ordered Meng Da to take Shangyong with Xu Huang
Xu Huang
Xu Huang was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei, founded by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, during the Three Kingdoms period...
and Xiahou Shang
Xiahou Shang
Xiahou Shang was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a distant nephew of Xiahou Yuan and father of Xiahou Xuan and Lady Xiahou Hui.-Biography:...
. Meng Da wrote Liu Feng a letter persuading him to surrender to Wei, warning him that his position was more tenuous now that Liu Bei had biological sons, and promising that the Wei government would give him the succession to the Kou family fief. However, Liu Feng turned down the offer. Liu's subordinate and younger brother of Shan Dan, Shen Yi (申儀), then betrayed Liu Feng and defeated him, forcing him to return to Chengdu.
Death
In Chengdu, Liu Bei was angered at Liu Feng's part in Guan Yu's death and failure to prevent Meng Da's defection. At the same time, the advisor Zhuge Liang was concerned that Liu Feng might not obey the state after the heir Liu Shan takes the throne, and so suggested that Liu Feng should be gotten rid of. Liu Bei then forced him to commit suicide, before which Liu Feng sighed: "I regret not to have listened to Meng Ziqing (Meng Da)!" Liu Bei wept for him afterwards.In fiction
In the historical novel Romance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
by Luo Guanzhong
Luo 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...
, Liu Feng was adopted after Liu Shan was born, which proved controversial, as Liu Bei already had a legitimate son at the time who was far younger than Liu Feng. Guan Yu in particular voiced his opposition, citing the family feud between Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
's sons. However, Liu Feng showed his worth in battle and proved to be a valuable asset to the army.
In 219, when Guan Yu was being surrounded by Sun Quan's forces in Maicheng (麥城), Liu Feng refused to provide reinforcements partly because Meng Da reminded Liu Feng of Guan Yu's disapproval. When the general Liao Hua
Liao Hua
Liao Hua , originally named Liao Chun , style name Yuanjian , was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
told Liu Bei that Guan Yu died because Liu Feng and Meng Da did not send reinforcements, Liu Bei began to resent the two and even plotted their arrest. Meng Da became afraid and defected to Wei, and sent Liu Feng a message urging him to defect as well. Angrily, Liu Feng executed the messenger and went to battle Meng Da, who was now aided by Xu Huang and Xiahou Shang. As Liu Feng was out of the city, the defender Shen Dan surrendered to Wei and shot arrows at Liu Feng's men. Defeated, Liu Feng returned to Chengdu with only a few more than a hundred horsemen.
Liu Feng sought an interview with Liu Bei, but he gained scant sympathy, for in response to his petition Liu Bei bade the executioners expel Liu Feng and put him to death. Liu Bei felt some regret later when he heard of Liu Feng's staunch rejection of Meng Da's enticement. This, adding to the recent death of Guan Yu, made Liu Bei grieve until he fell ill.
Appointments and titles held
- Vice General of the Household (副軍中郎將)
- The following appointments and titles were offered to Liu Feng by the Wei emperor Cao PiCao PiCao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
- Attendant of Scattered Cavalry (散騎常侍)
- General Who Builds Martial Might (建武將軍)
- Marquis of Pingyang (平陽亭侯)