Liu Shouwen

Liu Shouwen (劉守文) (died 910) was a warlord who ruled Yichang Circuit (義昌, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei) as its military governor (Jiedushi) late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and early during Tang's succeeding dynasty Later Liang. He was a son of Liu Rengong the military governor of the larger Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing) and followed his father's orders. After his father was overthrown and put under house arrest by his younger brother Liu Shouguang, he tried to attack Liu Shouguang, but was captured in battle and subsequently killed by his brother.

It is not known when Liu Shouwen was born. His father Liu Rengong was a Lulong Circuit officer who took over the circuit with the military support of the major warlord Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) in 895, but then turned against Li in 897 and became an independent warlord. Liu Shouwen appeared to be the oldest son, and it is known that he was older than his brother Liu Shouguang, and that he had a sister who married the Lulong officer Dan Keji (單可及). (A sister of Liu Shouwen's was later said to be the mother of the officer Wang Sitong, but it is unclear whether she was a different sister (which appeared likely) or the same sister (who might have married Wang Sitong's father after Dan's death)).

The first historical reference to Liu Shouwen's acts was in 898, at which time Liu Rengong was embroiled in a dispute over salt rights with Lu Yanwei, then the military governor of Yichang. Liu Rengong thus sent Liu Shouwen to attack Yichang's capital Cang Prefecture (滄州). Lu, unable to withstand his attack, abandoned the circuit and fled to Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan). Liu Rengong thus took over the three prefectures of Yichang (Cang, Jing (景州, in modern Cangzhou), and De (德州, in modern Dezhou, Shandong) Prefectures) and commissioned Liu Shouwen as the acting military governor. He sent a request to then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong to grant Liu Shouwen banners and rods of a military governor (i.e., to make Liu Shouwen military governor). Emperor Zhaozong initially refused. Liu Rengong, who had then become arrogant and was planning to take over the entire region north of the Yellow River, responded to Emperor Zhaozong's eunuch messenger, "I myself have banners and rods. All I want are the authentic colors from [the imperial capital] Chang'an. Why is it that I made so many petitions and still do not receive them? Tell them this!" However, Emperor Zhaozong did eventually relent and make Liu Shouwen the military governor of Yichang.

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