Liu Ye (Three Kingdoms)
Encyclopedia
Liu Ye was an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao
during the late Han Dynasty
, and a politician of the Cao Wei
state during the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. He was a direct descendant of Emperor Guangwu
, and was noted as a member of the royal clan of the Han Dynasty.
Liu already had a great reputation when he was in early twenties. During this time, some local tyrants, rich landowners, who had a private army, wanted to force people living in Huainan to move to another prefecture, and take all of Huainan for themselves. They wanted to take advantage of Liu's reputation, so the leader of the army, Zhen Bao, came to Liu's house with hundreds of soldiers and tried to make Liu join them by using threats. Liu Ye pretended to agree and entertained Zhen with food. During the feast, he killed Zhen when toasting and threatened the others to go back by bluffing. After the feast, Liu went to the local tyrants' military camp with several servants. He talked the whole army into surrendering by promising the soldiers a future where farming lands would be distributed, and he gave these thousands of surrendered soldiers to the local governor, Liu Xun. Since then, Liu Ye became the counselor of Liu Xun.
, another warlord, because Liu Xun did not heed Liu Ye's advice. After the battle, Liu Ye became an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao. Cao was the chancellor of the Han Dynasty government back then. He was more powerful than the emperor because he owned the army. He also wanted to replace the royal family and make his own family the ruler of China. According to the history book, Fu Zi, Liu Ye was trusted by Cao Cao very much. According to the book, Cao Cao treated Liu Ye as one of most trusted subalterns. Every time Cao had a doubt, he will ask Ye directly for nights or even tens of nights. The fictional story Records of Three Kingdoms
portrays Liu Ye as not being trusted much by the Cao family, as he was one of the old royals.
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...
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...
, and a politician of the 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...
state during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
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 was a direct descendant of Emperor Guangwu
Emperor Guangwu of Han
Emperor Guangwu , born Liu Xiu, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han...
, and was noted as a member of the royal clan of the Han Dynasty.
Early life
Liu's mother died when he was seven and told him to kill a dangerous and treacherous servant when Liu got older. Liu killed the servant six years later. His father was angry and asked why Liu did this. Liu said he just followed his mother's last wish and ready to take punishment. His father think he is brave and responsible, so he forgave Liu.Liu already had a great reputation when he was in early twenties. During this time, some local tyrants, rich landowners, who had a private army, wanted to force people living in Huainan to move to another prefecture, and take all of Huainan for themselves. They wanted to take advantage of Liu's reputation, so the leader of the army, Zhen Bao, came to Liu's house with hundreds of soldiers and tried to make Liu join them by using threats. Liu Ye pretended to agree and entertained Zhen with food. During the feast, he killed Zhen when toasting and threatened the others to go back by bluffing. After the feast, Liu went to the local tyrants' military camp with several servants. He talked the whole army into surrendering by promising the soldiers a future where farming lands would be distributed, and he gave these thousands of surrendered soldiers to the local governor, Liu Xun. Since then, Liu Ye became the counselor of Liu Xun.
Serving Cao Cao
Liu Xun and his army was soon destroyed by Sun CeSun 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...
, another warlord, because Liu Xun did not heed Liu Ye's advice. After the battle, Liu Ye became an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao. Cao was the chancellor of the Han Dynasty government back then. He was more powerful than the emperor because he owned the army. He also wanted to replace the royal family and make his own family the ruler of China. According to the history book, Fu Zi, Liu Ye was trusted by Cao Cao very much. According to the book, Cao Cao treated Liu Ye as one of most trusted subalterns. Every time Cao had a doubt, he will ask Ye directly for nights or even tens of nights. The fictional story Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...
portrays Liu Ye as not being trusted much by the Cao family, as he was one of the old royals.
Appointments and titles held
- Assistant to the Excellency of Works (司空倉曹掾)
- Registrar (主簿)
- Chief Clerk (長史)
- Palace Attendant (侍中)
- Marquis of Guannei (關內侯)
- Marquis of Dong (東亭侯)
- Palace Counsellor (太中大夫)
- Minister Herald (大鴻臚)
- Marquis Jing (景侯) - granted to Liu Ye posthumously