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2023

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Liu Biao, courtesy name Jingsheng, was a Han Dynasty official and warlord who governed Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) from 190 to 208 CE, during the late Eastern Han dynasty period featured in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He was a descendant of the Han imperial family, giving him a degree of legitimacy in a time of chaos.

Appointed as the Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao faced a challenging environment plagued by bandits and internal unrest. He successfully pacified the region, attracting many talented individuals to his service. Though he possessed administrative skills and maintained relative peace in Jing Province, he was often criticized for lacking ambition and decisive leadership on the broader political stage.

During the lead up to the Battle of Chi Bi, Liu Biao's indecision regarding his successor and his eventual death left Jing Province vulnerable. After his death, his son, Liu Cong, surrendered the province to Cao Cao, setting the stage for a power struggle involving Liu Bei, Sun Quan, and Cao Cao, which played a significant role in the lead up to the Three Kingdoms period.