Liao Hua

From Freepedia

Liao Hua (廖化; ? - 263 CE), courtesy name Yuanjian (元儉), a military and political figure in ancient Chinese history. He was a former Yellow Turban rebel who proved himself a capable general on multiple occasions.

He was Secretary to the great Shu general Guan Yu. When Guan Yu was defeated, Liao Hua was taken into the Wu kingdom. However, he desired to return to the former ruler Liu Bei, and thus he staged his own death. He then took his mother and escaped westward, traveling night and day. At the same time Liu Bei was marching eastward, and the two met up at Zigui. Liu Bei was greatly pleased, and made Liao Hua grand administrator of Yidu.

After Liu Bei died, Liao Hua became a military advisor of sorts to the Shu Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, and then became controller of the Guangwu region. Later, he was promoted to the position of General of the Chariots and Cavalry of the Right, made designated inspector of Bing Province, and granted the title of Marquis of Zhongxiang. He was famous for his determination and prowess and featured in most of Shu's important campaigns against the kingdoms of Wei and Wu.

After the defeat of Shu Liao Hua was relocated to Luoyang, but he died on the way.

He lived to see the birth of the kingdom of Shu to its demise in 263 (whereupon he died). In his career, Liao Hua reached the second-highest general's rank, proving himself in battle several times. This was, according to some, the most telling reflection of the ill fortunes which plagued Shu. After all, many of her greatest generals such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong met untimely deaths and could not live to see the later prosperities of Shu.