Liu Pi

Biography & Historical Record

Liu Pi (刘辟, Lưu Tịch) was a Yellow Turban remnant commander active in Runan (汝南, Nhữ Nam) in the late 190s–early 200s. With Gong Du (龚都, Cung Đô) he kept tens of thousands of followers in the Yu Province farmlands after the main 184 rising under Zhang Jiao (张角, Trương Giác) collapsed. During Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo)‘s 196 pacification of Runan–Yingchuan he preserved a core by melting into marshes and hills while peers such as Huang Shao (黄邵, Hoàng Thiệu) fell and He Yi (何仪, Hà Nghi) surrendered. In 200, while Cao Cao faced Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu) at Guandu, Liu Pi rose in Cao Cao’s rear; Yuan Shao sent Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) south; Liu Pi yielded his base and men to Liu Bei out of respect for a Han imperial kinsman. Historically Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân) then defeated the Runan rising. He is not Liu Pi (Yuan Shu) (刘辟, Lưu Tịch) of the Shanyang Hill / Yuan Shu arc (id 10159).

Novel climax (Ch.31): After welcoming Liu Bei, Liu Pi dies heroically shielding him from Gao Lan (高览, Cao Lãm) during the Runan rout — a Romance death; the historical record stops at Cao Ren’s pacification without that single-combat martyrdom.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapters 28–31 (Runan / Guandu rear arc): Liu Pi and Gong Du hold Runan remnant power. When Liu Bei, newly allied with Yuan Shao’s southern diversion, arrives, Liu Pi yields command and territory. Cao Cao later strikes Runan in force. In the disaster of Chapter 31, as Liu Bei flees, Gao Lan closes in; Liu Pi charges with drawn blade to buy time, fights briefly, and is slain. Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) arrives moments later and kills Gao Lan, too late to save Liu Pi — the remnant chief’s last act is framed as loyalty repaid to the imperial kinsman he had chosen.

Liu Pi (刘辟) — Historical & Literary Timeline

Homonym caution: not /liu-pi-yuan-shu/ (Yuan Shu / Shanyang capture by Dian Wei).

Key Relationships

Family

• No kin recorded in Romance scenes or standard Sanguozhi notices for this Runan remnant commander — no named father, spouse, or children in novel or history. (Do not invent family to fill the section.)

Friends

• Gong Du (龚都, Cung Đô): Fellow Runan Yellow Turban remnant leader; co-commander of the southern bands that later open to Liu Bei.
• Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): Han imperial kinsman to whom Liu Pi yields Runan command; in the novel Liu Pi dies shielding him from Gao Lan.
• Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân): Arrives immediately after Liu Pi’s novel death and slays Gao Lan — battlefield avenger, not a long prior comrade.
• Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu): Northern patron of the Guandu-era rear diversion that legitimizes Liu Pi’s rising and sends Liu Bei south.
• Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ) / Zhang Fei (张飞, Trương Phi): Liu Bei’s sworn brothers present in the broader Runan operations when Liu Pi serves the Liu camp.

Enemies

• Gao Lan (高览, Cao Lãm): Novel: slays Liu Pi in the Runan rout while pursuing Liu Bei. (Historically Gao Lan is a Yuan Shao officer who later defects — Romance reassigns him here as Cao Cao’s pursuer.)
• Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân): Historical pacifier who defeats the Runan rising after Liu Pi joins Liu Bei.
• Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Primary strategic enemy — 196 pacification and Guandu-era rear war.
• Cao Hong (曹洪, Tào Hồng): Local Cao garrison commander struck during Liu Pi’s 200 rear insurgency (campaign colour).

Other

• He Yi (何仪, Hà Nghi) / Huang Shao (黄邵, Hoàng Thiệu) / He Man (何曼, Hà Mạn): Peer Yellow Turban remnant chiefs of Runan–Yingchuan; their 196 fates (surrender / death) contrast Liu Pi’s escape into the marshes.
• Homonym — Liu Pi (Yuan Shu): Separate post at /liu-pi-yuan-shu/ (id 10159) — Ou Xing / Yuan Shu / Shanyang Hill capture by Dian Wei (Ch.12). Same 汉字 刘辟, different arc and death; never merge.
• Novel vs history on death: Romance martyrdom under Gao Lan vs historical silence beyond Cao Ren’s victory — always label both.

Gallery