Chen Zhen

Template:Infobox Ruler Biography
**Chen Zhen** (c. 175–243), courtesy name **Xiaoqi** was a politician and regent of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He started his career in the late Eastern Han dynasty as an adviser to the warlord Yuan Shao he later came to serve under Liu Bei (who founded the state of Shu Han) while the latter was taken refuge under Yuan Shao.

Chen Zhen was commonly described by historians for his cold, cruel and calculative nature but a loyal and courageous individual and brilliant strategist and one of Chen Zhen's major contribution were helping Liu Bei seizing controlled Yi Province and solidified his control over Yi Province and reforming the Alliance between Shu and Wu and was widely well regarded by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

Chen Zhen succeeded Zhuge Liang as Regent and continue aggressive foreign policy set by his predecessor until his death in 243 and was succeeded by Jiang Wan as Regent.

## Early Life

Chen Zhen was from Nanyang Commandery, which is around present-day Nanyang, Henan. A member of Chen Zhen's family committed a capital offense, as a result, they move to Ye which is located in what is now Linzhang County, Handan, Hebei province, and neighboring Anyang, Henan province.

## Service under Yuan Shao

Chen Zhen came to serve under the warlord Yuan Shao after Han Fu relinquished his governorship of Ji Province to Yuan Shao.

In 195, when Emperor Xian was in Luoyang, Chen Zhen and Ju Shou advised Yuan Shao to welcome the emperor to Ye city, the capital of Ji Province, and use him as a "trump card" against rival warlords. Just when Yuan Shao was about to follow Ju Shou and Chen Zhen's advice, some of his other advisers (e.g. Guo Tu) argued that the emperor would be a "burden" rather than a "trump card" because they would have to directly take orders from him and have less autonomy. Yuan Shao thus decided not to bring Emperor Xian to Ji Province. In the following year, Yuan Shao's rival Cao Cao brought Emperor Xian to his base in Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan) and established the new imperial capital there.

In the late 197, Yuan Shao wanted to divide his territories among his three sons by putting each son in charge of one province and assess their capabilities. However, Chen Zhen strongly objected to this idea and argued that it would sow the seeds for internal conflict later. Yuan Shao ignored him and went ahead by putting his eldest son Yuan Tan in charge of Qing Province, his second son Yuan Xi in charge of You Province, his maternal nephew Gao Gan in charge of Bing Province, while his third son Yuan Shang would succeed him as the Governor of Ji Province. Chen Zhen's prediction came true as conflict broke out between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang almost immediately after Yuan Shao's death in 202.

## Service under Liu Bei

In early 200, after Liu Bei lost his base in Xu Province (covering parts of present-day Jiangsu and southeastern Shandong) to his rival Cao Cao, he fled north across the Yellow River and sought refuge under Yuan Shao, Cao Cao's rival. Chen Zhen met with Liu Bei and desire to leave Yuan Shao for Liu Bei.

In 208, following Liu Biao's death, Cao Cao launched a military campaign aimed at wiping out opposing forces in Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) and the Jiangdong (or Wu) region. In the meantime, Liu Bei evacuated Xinye County and led his followers towards Xiakou (夏口; in present-day Wuhan, Hubei), which was controlled by Liu Biao's elder son, Liu Qi.

### Liu Bei Conquest of Yi Province

Around the early 210s, Chen Zhen and Pang Tong convinced Liu Bei to seize Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) and use its resources to compete with his rival Cao Cao for supremacy over China. Liu Bei heeded Chen Zhen and Pang Tong's suggestion.

### Hanzhong Campaign

In 217, Chen Zhen advised Liu Bei to attack Hanzhong Commandery, which was originally under Zhang Lu's control but was conquered by Cao Cao in 215. He pointed out Hanzhong's strategic importance and said that it was an opportune moment for Liu Bei to seize Hanzhong from Cao Cao's generals Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He. Liu Bei accepted his plan and started the Hanzhong Campaign.

## Service under Liu Shan

In 223, Liu Shan became the emperor of the state of Shu following the death of his father Liu Bei. As Liu Shan was still underage at the time, Zhuge Liang, the Imperial Chancellor of Shu, Jian Yong and Chen Zhen served as the regents

### Reestablish the Sun Liu Alliance

Zhuge Liang first sent Chen Zhen to reestablish the Alliance between Wu and Shu to opposed Wei.

### Zhuge Liang Northern Expedion

In 227, Zhuge Liang mobilised military forces from throughout Shu in preparation for a large-scale campaign against Shu's rival state Wei in the following year. He then moved to the staging area in Hanzhong Commandery.

## Death

Chen Zhen health greatly deteriorated and died in 243 Liu Shan honored him with the posthumous title "Marquis Gong" (恭侯; literally "respectful marquis").

## Family

Chen Zhen had a son name Chen Ji who inherit position and title after his Father Death Chen Zhen had another son name Chen Yan who commit an offense and was exiled Chen Ji had two son name Chen Lu and Chen Chu