Liu Yu

劉虞

From Koei's ROTK 11

**Liu Yu**, courtesy name **Bo'an**.

## Biography

Liu Yu's father was named Liu Shu, the Grand Administrator of Danyang. His grandfather was Liu Jia, who was a Superintendent of the Imperial Court. They were both descendants of Liu Qiang, the Prince of Donghai. He was well-educated in the Five Classics.

Liu Yu was nominated as filial and incorrupt and became the Inspector of Youzhou not long after. As Liu Yu was extremely, extremely, extremely virtuous and benevolent, the local barbaric tribes like the Xianbei, Wuhuan, Fuyu, and the Huimo held him in great esteem and even paid tribute to him (or the court, Fan Ye doesn't specify). They all decided to stop raiding the borders of Youzhou making the citizens there live in peace.

When the Yellow Turbans rebelled, Liu Yu was made the Chancellor of Ganling where a famine was happening. Liu Yu told his subordinates to be frugal and modest but no further details are recorded afterwards.

### Major Rebellion

Problems were to arise for Liu Yu, as a guy named Zhang Chun, former chancellor of Zhongshan, along with another Zhang named Zhang Ju, former Grand Administrator of Shanyang, decided to rebel, basically stating that the Wuhuan were being raidy because Liu Yu was gone (he left to assume the titles in the above paragraph), everything was in chaos, Liangzhou had its own rebellion, the imperial court was weak and ineffective, something about Luoyang, the authority of Emperor Ling had already withered away, and that there were many warlords doing their own ambitious things. They then stated that they would rebel with the Wuhuan for their own great cause: control the world (they phrased it as 'stabilizing'). Their rebellion started in 187, numbering over 100,000, and allied with the Wuhuan, they took Jixia (and then burned it) and took the people there as prisoners. They also killed some people named Ji Chou, Liu Zheng, and Yang Zhong. They had their homebase in Feiru.

#### Zhang Ju declares himself Emperor

Zhang Ju decided to add something in the mix. He declared himself **Emperor**. Zhang Chun also declared himself as General who Mends Heaven and the King of Anding. They quickly notified various provinces and commanderies that they would replace the Han and told Emperor Ling to abdicate in their favor. This scared some local officials so they surrendered. They now led 50,000 infantry and cavalry and entered Qingzhou and Yizhou. They took control of Qinghe and Pingyuan. They also decided to kill many officials and people. However, the imperial court was not dumb and decided to send Liu Yu, who was known for his high prestige and kindness in the North, to Youzhou in 188. This time, Liu Yu would be Provincial Governor of Youzhou. He garrisoned at Jicheng and told the Wuhuan and others that the court would deal with them leniently. He also promised rewards for Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun. Liu Yu was still remembered fondly and soon, many people deserted from them. Zhang Chun was also soon killed and his head sent to Liu Yu. Emperor Ling couldn't be any happier and made Liu Yu Grand Commandant and Marquis of Rongqiu.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 劉虞字伯安，東海郯人也。
Fan Ye, Houhanshu, Volume 73 (Liu Yu)
2. ↑ 謝承書曰：「虞父舒，丹陽太守。虞通五經，東海恭之後。」
Xie Cheng
3. ↑ 祖父嘉，光祿勳。
Fan Ye, Houhanshu, Volume 73 (Liu Yu)
4. ↑ 虞初舉孝廉，稍遷幽州刺史，民夷感其德化，自鮮卑、烏桓、夫余、穢貊之輩，皆隨時朝貢，無敢擾邊者，百姓歌悅之。公事去官。
Fan Ye, Houhanshu, Volume 73 (Liu Yu)
5. ↑ 中平初，黃巾作亂，攻破冀州諸郡，拜虞甘陵相，綏撫荒余，以蔬儉率下。遷宗正。
Fan Ye, Houhanshu, Volume 73 (Liu Yu)
6. ↑ 前中山相張純私謂前太山太守張舉曰：「今烏桓既畔，皆願為亂，涼州賊起，朝廷不能禁。又洛陽人妻生子兩頭，此漢祚衰盡，天下有兩主之征也。子若與吾共率烏桓之觿以起兵，庶幾可定大業。」舉因然之。四年，純等遂與烏桓大人共連盟，攻薊下，燔燒城郭，虜略百姓，殺護烏桓校尉箕稠、右北平太守劉政、遼東太守陽終等，觿至十余萬，屯肥如。
Fan Ye, Houhanshu, Volume 73 (Liu Yu)
7. ↑ 舉稱「天子」，純稱「彌天將軍安定王」，移書州郡，雲舉當代漢，告天子避位，□公卿奉迎。純又使烏桓峭王等步騎五萬，入青冀二州，攻破清河、平原，殺害吏民。朝廷以虞威信素著，恩積北方，明年，復拜幽州牧。虞到薊，罷省屯兵，務廣恩信。遣使告峭王等以朝恩寬弘，開許善路。又設賞購舉、純。舉、純走出塞，余皆降散。純為其客王政所殺，送首詣虞。靈帝遣使者就拜太尉，封容丘侯。
Fan Ye, Houhanshu, Volume 73 (Liu Yu)