Liu Yao (warlord)

Liu Yao
Warlord
Born	154
Died	195 (aged 41)
Names
Traditional Chinese	劉繇
Simplified Chinese	刘繇
Pinyin	Liú Yáo
Wade–Giles	Liu Yao
Courtesy name	Zhengli (traditional Chinese: 正禮; simplified Chinese: 正礼; pinyin: Zhènglǐ; Wade–Giles: Cheng-li)

Liu Yao (154–195), courtesy name Zhengli, was a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He controlled a portion of the lands in Jiangdong (southeastern China) before another warlord, Sun Ce, invaded and conquered his territories.

Liu Yao was an administrative official greatly respected by all, including his superiors and subordinates, as well as ordinary civilians. Liu Yao came from an aristocrat family, and he was the younger brother of Liu Dai, who was equally famous for his capability. Liu Yao's elder uncle Liu Chong (刘宠) was famed for his uncorrupted conducts, and his father Liu Yu (刘舆) was the governor of Shanyang (山阳). Liu Yao became instantly famous when he was just 19, after he rescued one of his uncle kidnapped by bandits. Liu Yao excelled in his study like his older brother Liu Dai, and became a maocai (茂才), the outstanding candidate recommended to the imperial court from the state. Each year, only a single maocai (茂才) could be recommended by a state, and the governor of the state where Liu Yao's family resided was complaining that Liu Dai was selected the previous year and if Liu Yao was selected this year, it would appear his family had monopolized the system, but people countered that the Liu brothers were recommended because they were indeed outstanding, and Liu Yao was selected.

Unfortunately, Liu Yao was not a good military commander despite being a good administrator. When Sun Ce attacked him, many his advisors correctly suggested to him that he should name Taishi Ci as the commander-in-chief of his force to defend themselves against Sun Ce, but Liu Yao refused, fearing that Taishi Ci was a fugitive who had just joined him, and his reputation would be tarnished for favoritism, since he was very good friend with Taishi Ci. The mistake proved to be fatal for Liu Yao and his defeat was generally the same as described in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Liu Yao soon died after fleeing to Dantu (丹徒). Afterwards, Taishi Ci surrendered to Sun Ce and was sent to ask for the surrender of Liu Yao's remaining force, Liu Yao's son agreed and more than ten thousands begun their service to Sun Ce, with Liu Yao's son eventually rose in ranks in later eras under Sun Quan.

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