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Liu Zhang, courtesy name Jiyu, was a native of Jingling, Jiangxia.

He was a member of the Han imperial family and the youngest son of Liu Yan, the governor of Yi Province during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He succeeded Liu Yan as governor of Yi Province and ruled over a region. However, due to his weakness and incompetence, Liu Bei seized Yi Province from him.

In the first year of Xingping, Liu Yan died, and Liu Zhang succeeded him as the governor of Yizhou. At that time, his subordinate, Zhang Lu, the military commander of Yizhou, became increasingly arrogant in Hanzhong and refused to obey Liu Zhang.

Liu Zhang killed Zhang Lu's mother and younger brother, and repeatedly sent Pang Xi and others to attack Zhang Lu, but they were defeated many times.

In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), Liu Zhang heard that Cao Cao was conquering Jingzhou in the south, so he sent an envoy to pay tribute to Cao Cao and awarded him the title of Zhenwei General.

Soon after, Liu Zhang sent his advisor Zhang Song to pay a visit to Cao Cao, but Zhang Song was not received with courtesy. Zhang Song returned to Yizhou, deliberately slandering Cao Cao, and then, along with Fa Zheng, advised Liu Zhang to welcome Liu Bei, the governor of Yuzhou, into Sichuan.

Liu Zhang's subordinates Huang Quan and Wang Lei tried their best to dissuade him, but he refused to listen.

In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211 AD), Liu Bei led his army to Fu County (present-day Mianyang, Sichuan). Liu Zhang led his troops to welcome him and held a banquet for one hundred days.

Liu Bei feigned leading troops to attack Zhang Lu, arriving at Jiameng County (now within Zhaohua County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province). The following year, he launched a southern attack on Liu Zhang, advancing with unstoppable momentum.

In 214 AD, Liu Bei's army besieged Chengdu, and Liu Zhang surrendered. Liu Bei then occupied Yizhou and settled Liu Zhang in Gong'an County, Nan Commandery.

In the 24th year of Jian'an (219 AD), Sun Quan attacked and killed Guan Yu, occupied Jingzhou, and appointed Liu Zhang as the governor of Yizhou, stationed in Zigui County. Not long after, Liu Zhang died of illness.

Liu Zhang was not highly regarded by his contemporaries. Zhuge Liang and Peng Yang both bluntly stated that "Liu Zhang was weak and incompetent." Jin Dynasty historians Chen Shou and Chang Qu also believed that Liu Zhang was mediocre and incapable of defending the territory and ensuring the safety of the people.

However, Zhang Fan, a historian of the Jin Dynasty, and Ye Shi, a scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, believed that although Liu Zhang was weak and mediocre, he was not an incompetent ruler. He governed Yizhou and made the country prosperous and the people wealthy, thus benefiting the people.

Liu Zhang was the youngest son of Liu Yan, the governor of Yi Province. In his early years, he served as the Commandant of the Imperial Carriage in Chang'an under Emperor Xian of Han.

Liu Yan plotted to seize control of Yizhou. Emperor Xian of Han sent Liu Zhang to Yizhou to advise Liu Yan to be mindful of his duties. Unexpectedly, Liu Yan simply left Liu Zhang in Yizhou.

In the first year of Xingping (194 AD), Liu Yan died. His subordinates, including Sima Zhao Wei and Zhizhong Congshi Wang Shang, favored Liu Zhang's gentleness and benevolence, so they jointly petitioned the court to recommend Liu Zhang to succeed his father.

At that time, the capital was in great turmoil and no replacement officials could be sent. Therefore, the court issued an edict appointing Liu Zhang as military supervisor and concurrently as governor of Yizhou, and Zhao Wei as general in charge of the eastern expedition, ordering them to send troops to attack Liu Biao, governor of Jingzhou.

After Liu Zhang succeeded as the governor of Yizhou, his generals Shen Mi, Lou Fa, and Gan Ning rose in rebellion and attacked Liu Zhang together with Liu He, the governor of Jingzhou. After their defeat, they fled to Jingzhou.

Zhang Lu, who held Hanzhong, became increasingly arrogant and disobedient to Liu Zhang's orders. Zhang Lu attacked and killed Zhang Xiu, a separate commander, and annexed his troops.
Enraged, Liu Zhang killed Zhang Lu's mother and younger brother, turning the two families into bitter enemies. Liu Zhang repeatedly sent his generals, including Pang Xi, to attack Zhang Lu, but they were repeatedly defeated by Zhang Lu.

Following Jian Yin's advice, Liu Zhang renamed the original Ba Commandery as Baxi Commandery, Yongning Commandery as Ba Commandery, and Guling Commandery as Badong Commandery, thus creating the "Three Bas".

Zhang Lu's subordinates were mostly from Ba County, so Liu Zhang appointed Pang Xi as the governor of Ba County to lead troops to resist Zhang Lu.

Pang Xi and Liu Zhang were old friends. When Liu Zhang's two elder brothers rebelled in Chang'an and were executed, Pang Xi saved Liu Zhang's son. Therefore, Liu Zhang trusted Pang Xi a lot.

However, after Pang Xi became the governor of Bazhou, someone framed him to Liu Zhang, which caused a rift in their relationship. Pang Xi repeatedly tried to advise Liu Zhang but failed, and he also harbored resentment.

At that time, the Dongzhou soldiers encroached on the land of the local people of Yizhou, and Liu Zhang was unable to stop them. As a result, the laws and regulations were neglected, and the gentry and common people of Yizhou harbored resentment.

Zhao Wei was deeply popular, and Liu Zhang appointed him to appease the people of Yizhou. In the fifth year of Jian'an (200 AD), Zhao Wei secretly contacted Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, and conspired to incite powerful clans in Yizhou to rebel and attack Liu Zhang.

Liu Zhang held Chengdu, and the Dongzhou soldiers, fearing Zhao Wei, united to help Liu Zhang. They fought desperately and finally defeated the rebel army, and Zhao Wei was defeated and killed.

The incidents involving Pang Xi and Zhao Wei were caused by Liu Zhang's weakness, lack of judgment, and susceptibility to slander.

In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), Liu Zhang heard that Cao Cao had sent troops to attack Jingzhou, so he sent Yin Pu, a native of Henan, as an envoy to pay tribute to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao appointed Liu Zhang as General Zhenwei and Liu Zhang's elder brother Liu Mao as General Pingkou. Not long after, Liu Mao died of madness.

Liu Zhang then dispatched Zhang Su, an official in charge of military affairs, as an envoy to Cao Cao, bringing with him 300 Shu soldiers and other tribute. Cao Cao then appointed Zhang Su as the governor of Guanghan Commandery.

At the end of the same year, Liu Zhang sent Zhang Song, an official under Liu Bei, as an envoy to pay a visit to Cao Cao. Cao Cao had already pacified Jingzhou and driven away Liu Bei. In his triumph, he neither rewarded nor valued Zhang Song, which made Zhang Song very resentful.

Just as Cao Cao was defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhang Song returned to Yizhou and slandered Cao Cao in front of Liu Zhang, advising him to sever ties with Cao Cao.

Zhang Song suggested that since Liu Bei, the governor of Yu Province, was also a member of the Han imperial family, it would be better to befriend him and use his strength to resist Cao Cao.

Liu Zhang readily agreed and dispatched Fa Zheng as an envoy to establish contact with Liu Bei. He also instructed Fa Zheng and Meng Da to send several thousand soldiers to assist Liu Bei in guarding his garrison.

In 211 AD, Cao Cao dispatched his general Zhong Yao to lead troops to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Liu Zhang was terrified upon hearing this.

Zhang Song once again advised Liu Zhang that the generals leading troops in Yizhou, such as Pang Xi and Li Yi, were becoming arrogant and unruly because of their merits.
Cao Cao's army is strong and powerful, and he is invincible. If he conquers Hanzhong and then marches south to attack Yizhou, no one can resist him. The best course of action now is to welcome Liu Bei to Yizhou to help resist Cao Cao's army.

Liu Zhang, heeding Zhang Song's advice, sent Military Advisor Fa Zheng to invite Liu Bei to Sichuan.

Fa Zheng secretly offered a plan to Liu Bei: Liu Zhang is weak, and if Zhang Song is used as an inside agent, it would be easy to take over Yizhou.

Liu Bei was overjoyed, so he left Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu and others to guard Jingzhou, and led more than 10,000 men westward up the river to Yizhou.

Upon hearing this, the chief clerk Huang Quan tried his best to dissuade Liu Zhang, while Wang Lei, an official, even hung himself upside down in front of the prefectural government gate, risking his life to remonstrate with Liu Zhang.

Liu Zhang ignored all orders and even commanded local officials along the way to welcome Liu Bei's army, making Liu Bei feel at home upon entering Yizhou.

Liu Bei's army reached the north of Jiangzhou, then traveled by water through Dianjiang County to Fu County (present-day Mianyang, Sichuan). Fu County is 360 li north of Chengdu. Liu Zhang personally led more than 30,000 infantry and cavalry to Fu City to meet Liu Bei. Zhang Song secretly instructed Fa Zheng to inform Liu Bei that Liu Zhang's arrival was a good opportunity to capture him and seize Yizhou without losing a single soldier.

Liu Bei believed that since he had just entered Yizhou and the balance of power was still uncertain, it was not advisable to act rashly. Liu Zhang then petitioned the court to recommend Liu Bei as Grand Marshal and concurrently as Commandant of the Capital Region.

Liu Bei also petitioned the court to recommend Liu Zhang as General Who Guards the West and concurrently as Governor of Yi Province. Liu Zhang arrived at Fu County, and the two armies met and celebrated for a hundred days.

Liu Zhang provided Liu Bei with provisions, armor, and troops, and then ordered him to lead an army to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. After that, he bid farewell to Liu Bei and returned to Chengdu.

In the seventeenth year of Jian'an (212 AD), Liu Bei's army was stationed in Jiameng County (now within Zhaohua County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province), where he won over the hearts of the people.

When Cao Cao launched his southern campaign against Sun Quan, Sun Quan sought help from Liu Bei. Liu Bei requested Liu Zhang to send 10,000 troops and provide provisions, but Liu Zhang only agreed to send 4,000 troops and halved the provisions.

Just then, Zhang Song wrote a letter to Fa Zheng, advising Liu Bei not to leave. Zhang Su, Liu Bei's elder brother, learned of Zhang Song's plot and, fearing he would be implicated, informed Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang then executed Zhang Song and ordered all passes in Yizhou to prevent Liu Bei's army from passing through.

On the advice of his strategist Pang Tong, Liu Bei lured and killed Liu Zhang's generals Yang Huai and Gao Pei, and then led his troops to attack Liu Zhang and occupied Fucheng (present-day Mianyang, Sichuan).

In the eighteenth year of Jian'an (213 AD), Liu Zhang sent his generals Zhang Ren and Wu Yi to lead troops to Fucheng to intercept Liu Bei. They were all defeated and retreated to Mianzhu. Wu Yi led his troops to surrender to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei led his army to attack Mianzhu, and Liu Zhang sent his generals Li Yan and Fei Guan to intercept them. Li Yan and Fei Guan led their troops to surrender to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei's army advanced with unstoppable momentum, besieging Liu Zhang's son, Liu Xun, in Luocheng (present-day Guanghan City, Sichuan Province).

In the nineteenth year of Jian'an (214 AD), Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and others sailed up the Yangtze River and captured Ba Commandery. In the summer of the same year, Liu Bei captured Luocheng and joined forces with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and others to besiege Chengdu.

Fa Zheng wrote a letter to Liu Zhang, analyzing the situation and urging him to surrender, but Liu Zhang did not reply. Just then, General Ma Chao led his troops from Hanzhong to join Liu Bei, who was overjoyed and ordered Ma Chao's army to be stationed north of the city.

When Liu Zhang learned of this, he was terrified. Xu Jing, the governor of Shu Commandery, planned to surrender, but the plan was exposed. Liu Zhang did not execute him.

Liu Bei besieged Chengdu for dozens of days. At that time, there were still 30,000 elite troops in the city, and enough food to last for two years. All the generals and soldiers planned to hold their ground and fight hard.

Liu Zhang, however, felt uneasy because he and his father had governed Yizhou for more than 20 years without bringing any real benefits to the people. Instead, they had caused the people to suffer three years of war.

Liu Zhang then sent an envoy to meet Liu Bei, who in turn sent his aide Jian Yong into the city to persuade Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang had always respected Jian Yong, so he opened the city gates and surrendered the city.

After Liu Bei gained control of Yizhou, he settled Liu Zhang in Gong'an County of Nan Commandery and returned his family property, as well as the seal and ribbon of the Zhenwei General, to Liu Zhang.

In the 24th year of Jian'an (219 AD), Sun Quan attacked and killed Guan Yu, occupied Jingzhou, and appointed Liu Zhang as the governor of Yizhou, stationed in Zigui County (present-day Yichang, Hubei).

Soon after, Liu Zhang died. After Liu Zhang's death, Yong Kai, a powerful figure in the Nanzhong region, seized Yizhou Commandery and rebelled against Liu Bei, eventually surrendering to Sun Wu. Sun Quan then appointed Liu Zhang's son, Liu Chan, as the governor of Yizhou, stationed at the border between Jiaozhou and Yizhou.

Later, Liu Chan joined Sun Wu and rose to the position of Imperial Censor. Liu Zhang's other son, Liu Xun, was left in Chengdu by Liu Bei and served as General of the Imperial Carriage.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos, and heroes rose up everywhere. Liu Zhang, a member of the imperial family, possessed the land of Yizhou, but unlike Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Sun Ce and others who vied for the Central Plains and made great achievements, he did not fight everywhere like Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang who later occupied Yizhou, plotting to restore the Han Dynasty and unify the world.

Liu Zhang was known throughout the land for his lack of ambition. Zhuge Liang, who lived in seclusion in Longzhong, described Liu Zhang as "weak and incompetent," saying that "the people are prosperous and the country is rich, yet he does not know how to cherish and care for them. Intelligent people yearn for a wise ruler," and advised Liu Bei to take action as soon as possible.

Compared to a powerful figure like Liu Bei, Liu Zhang may have been weaker, but to say that he was indifferent to the plight of the people is a slander by Zhuge Liang.

In fact, Liu Bei's ability to seize control of Yizhou was due to both Liu Zhang's weakness and his concern for the people.

It could also be said that it was precisely because he cared about the people that he was considered "weak and incompetent" by people like Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei.

In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211 AD), Liu Zhang learned that Cao Cao was going to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Fearing that the disaster would affect Yizhou, he was terrified. So, disregarding the advice of others, he invited Liu Bei to Shu to help him defend the northern border of Yizhou.

Liu Zhang's move can be described as inviting a wolf into the house. Zhuge Liang had already advised Liu Bei to seize Yizhou as a base during the Longzhong Plan.

Now that the opportunity had presented itself, Liu Bei naturally wouldn't let it slip by. He "led tens of thousands of infantrymen into Yizhou," meaning that Liu Bei personally led tens of thousands of troops into Yizhou.

Liu Zhang was overjoyed and treated Liu Bei like a brother, providing his army with huge amounts of supplies, "giving gifts worth hundreds of millions," which made Liu Bei feel "at home" when he entered the country.

At this time, the relationship between Liu Zhang and Liu Bei was similar to that of a boss and a mercenary. At this time, Liu Bei had "more than 30,000 troops, and his chariots, armor, weapons, and supplies were very abundant."

However, this did not happen. Liu Bei stopped at Jiameng Pass on his northward journey. There, he "broadly cultivated virtue and benevolence to win the hearts of the people." In other words, Liu Bei used the financial aid given to him by Liu Zhang to buy people's hearts, rather than fulfilling his agreement with Liu Zhang to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong and act as a bulwark for Yizhou. It can be said that Liu Bei had already broken his promise.

In 212 AD, the seventeenth year of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao launched a southern campaign against Sun Quan. Sun Quan sought help from Liu Bei. Liu Bei then wrote to Liu Zhang, saying that Sun Quan and he were as close as lips and teeth, that Guan Yu in Jingzhou was weak and alone, and that Zhang Lu was merely a self-serving bandit and not worth worrying about. Therefore, he asked Liu Zhang to give him another 10,000 troops and a large amount of military supplies so that he could return to Jingzhou to rescue Sun Quan.

Although Liu Zhang was weak and incompetent, he was not stupid. He had doubts about Liu Bei's actions at Jiameng Pass, and now that he heard that Liu Bei was going back to Jingzhou to support Sun Quan, he was even more furious. So he only agreed to give him 4,000 soldiers and cut the rest in half.

Even if Liu Zhang offered nothing and demanded that Liu Bei immediately leave Jingzhou, it would be perfectly reasonable. Moreover, Liu Zhang had discovered that Liu Bei was secretly colluding with his strategist Zhang Song, plotting to usurp his position.

At this point, Liu Bei's true colors were finally revealed, because what he wanted from the beginning was the entire Yi Province, and all his previous actions were just to deceive Liu Zhang.

Surprisingly, Liu Bei's pretext for waging war against Liu Zhang was that he was "fighting a powerful enemy for the sake of Yizhou," while Liu Zhang was "stingy with rewards." In other words, Liu Bei accused Liu Zhang of being petty, claiming that he had worked hard and made great contributions but had not received the rewards he deserved.

At this point, Liu Zhang finally learned Liu Bei's true nature as a ruthless and ambitious man. Not only did he lose his chance to win back his losses, but he also ended up being bitten in return.

Although Liu Zhang felt the world's deep malice towards him, he consistently upheld moral principles and showed compassion for the people throughout the ensuing war with Liu Bei, even at a great cost to himself. (End of Chapter)