Liu Fu
Encyclopedia
Liu Fu style name
Yuanying (元穎), was a politician of the Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He served as the Inspector of Yang Province. Liu Fu became known for having turned Hefei
into a stronghold for enacting colonization, irrigation, and the building of schools.
). During the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he fled to Yang Province (揚州) to escape the chaos. In early 196 he persuaded the warlord Yuan Shu
's generals Qi Ji (戚寄) and Qin Yi (秦翊) to defect to another warlord Cao Cao
, who held the post of Excellency over the Masses (司徒) then. Cao Cao was pleased and employed Liu Fu as an assistant official.
In 200, the warlord Sun Ce
sent Li Shu (李述), Administrator of Lujiang (廬江), to kill Yan Xiang, the Inspector (刺史) of Yang Province. Mei Qian (梅乾), Lei Xu (雷緒) and Chen Lan amassed thousands of men in the Huai River
region. At that time, Cao Cao was busy fighting his rival Yuan Shao
at the Battle of Guandu
and could not find time to pacify the area. Cao Cao heard that Liu Fu could stabilize the southeast (referring to the Huai River
and Jiangdong
regions) so he appointed Liu as the Inspector of Yang Province.
Upon taking office, Liu Fu ordered the construction of Hefei
fortress (合肥城) to serve as the administrative center of Yang Province (previous administrative center was at Liyang 歷陽). Concurrently, he pacified Mei Qian, Lei Xu and Chen Lan, bringing them under control and making use of them to help him stabilize the area. Liu Fu governed the area well and many people who previously fled from the area during the period of chaos now returned. With an increase in population, Liu Fu had more schools built and promoted agriculture and irrigation. He also constructed defensive infrastructure and stored up military supplies for defense purposes.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, before the Battle of Red Cliffs
, Cao Cao wrote a poem, Short Song Style, to express his feelings at that time. Liu Fu commented that the following lines in the poem were considered inauspicious:
Cao Cao, who was drunk then, was enraged and he stabbed Liu Fu with his spear and killed him. He regretted his action later when he became sober.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Yuanying (元穎), was a politician of the 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...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He served as the Inspector of Yang Province. Liu Fu became known for having turned Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
into a stronghold for enacting colonization, irrigation, and the building of schools.
Biography
Liu Fu's ancestral home was in Xiang County, Pei (northwest of present-day Suixi County, AnhuiAnhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
). During the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he fled to Yang Province (揚州) to escape the chaos. In early 196 he persuaded the warlord Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the imperial court in 189. He was said to be a younger cousin of the warlord Yuan Shao, but was actually Yuan Shao's younger half-brother...
's generals Qi Ji (戚寄) and Qin Yi (秦翊) to defect to another warlord 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...
, who held the post of Excellency over the Masses (司徒) then. Cao Cao was pleased and employed Liu Fu as an assistant official.
In 200, the warlord Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
sent Li Shu (李述), Administrator of Lujiang (廬江), to kill Yan Xiang, the Inspector (刺史) of Yang Province. Mei Qian (梅乾), Lei Xu (雷緒) and Chen Lan amassed thousands of men in the Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
region. At that time, Cao Cao was busy fighting his rival Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
at the Battle of Guandu
Battle of Guandu
The Battle of Guandu was a military conflict between the warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in 200 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle, which concluded with victory for Cao Cao, was a turning point in the war between the two warlords...
and could not find time to pacify the area. Cao Cao heard that Liu Fu could stabilize the southeast (referring to the Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
and Jiangdong
Jiangnan
Jiangnan or Jiang Nan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of the Yangtze Delta...
regions) so he appointed Liu as the Inspector of Yang Province.
Upon taking office, Liu Fu ordered the construction of Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
fortress (合肥城) to serve as the administrative center of Yang Province (previous administrative center was at Liyang 歷陽). Concurrently, he pacified Mei Qian, Lei Xu and Chen Lan, bringing them under control and making use of them to help him stabilize the area. Liu Fu governed the area well and many people who previously fled from the area during the period of chaos now returned. With an increase in population, Liu Fu had more schools built and promoted agriculture and irrigation. He also constructed defensive infrastructure and stored up military supplies for defense purposes.
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo 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...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance 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...
, before the Battle of Red Cliffs
Battle of Red Cliffs
The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. It was fought in the winter of 208/9 AD between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan...
, Cao Cao wrote a poem, Short Song Style, to express his feelings at that time. Liu Fu commented that the following lines in the poem were considered inauspicious:
月明星稀，烏鵲南飛， |
Stars around the moons are few, southward the crows flew. |
繞樹三匝，何枝可依？ |
Flying with no rest, where shall they nest? |
Cao Cao, who was drunk then, was enraged and he stabbed Liu Fu with his spear and killed him. He regretted his action later when he became sober.
Family
- Son: Liu Jing (劉靖), served in the Eastern Han Dynasty and the state of Cao WeiCao WeiCao 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...
. His highest appointment during service was General who Guards the North (鎮北將軍). He was granted the title of Marquis of Jiancheng (成鄉侯).
- Grandsons:
- Liu Xi (劉熙), Liu Jing's son, inherited his father's marquis title
- Liu Hong (劉弘), Liu Xi's younger brother. During the Western Jin Dynasty, he served as Senior General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎大將軍), Inspector of Jing Province (荊州刺史), and was granted the title of Duke of Xincheng Commandery (新城郡公).
- Great grandson: Liu Fan (劉璠), Liu Hong's son, served as North General of the Household (北中郎將) during the Eastern Jin Dynasty