In 214, after the warlord Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang and became the new Governor, he appointed Li Miao as an assistant officer (從事) in his office. In the following year, on the first day of the lunar new year, when Li Miao came to greet Liu Bei, he used the opportunity to tell Liu Bei: Liu Bei then asked him: "Since you believe it is improper of me to do so, then why don't you help (Liu Zhang)?" Li Miao replied: "It's not because I don't want to help him. It's because I don't have the ability to." When Liu Bei's subordinates urged their lord to execute Li Miao for his audacity, Zhuge Liang stepped in and managed to convince Liu Bei to spare Li Miao.