After Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Wang Yun and Lü Bu, his former generals—Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou—stationed in Shan County east of Chang’an, were on the verge of collapse. It was Jia Xu who advised them to unite and strike back, warning that surrender would mean certain death.
The rise of the Liangzhou warlords
Following his counsel, the warlords launched a successful campaign, defeating Li Su and Lü Bu, and capturing Chang’an with the help of internal traitors. Lü Bu fled, and Wang Yun was executed.
All four—Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou—were native to Liang Province and had served under Dong Zhuo for years. Now, in the wake of his death, they seized control of the Han court, placing Emperor Xian under their authority and dominating imperial politics.
Consolidating power through diplomacy
To stabilize their rule, Li Jue and Guo Si adopted Jia Xu’s strategy of political appeasement:
- They summoned Zhu Jun to court with the title of Grand Minister of the Household (Taifu), luring him away from Tao Qian’s Second Coalition and causing its collapse.
- They extended overtures to warlords in the east, easing tensions with regional governors.
- Even Ma Teng and Han Sui, powerful warlords in the western frontier, came to express their goodwill, seeking to avoid conflict.
Through these maneuvers, the Liangzhou faction temporarily secured its grip on the imperial court.
The descent into tyranny
With external threats neutralized, Li Jue and Guo Si grew increasingly arrogant and tyrannical, mirroring the very behavior of their former lord, Dong Zhuo.
They controlled the emperor, manipulated state affairs, and indulged in unchecked power—soon turning on each other.
The rift begins: Ma Teng’s rebellion and the seeds of distrust
In 194 AD, Ma Teng approached Li Jue with a personal request. When Li Jue refused, Ma Teng, enraged, formed an alliance with several court officials and marched on Chang’an.
Han Sui arrived under the pretense of mediating, but soon joined Ma Teng in battle against Li Jue.
Li Jue dispatched Guo Si, Fan Chou, and his nephew Li Li to confront the rebels.
In March 194, the two armies clashed at Changping Guan. Ma Teng and Han Sui suffered a crushing defeat and were forced to retreat.
During the battle, Li Li performed poorly. Fan Chou, furious, rebuked him:
“Enemies are coming to cut off your uncle’s head, and you dare to slacken? Do you think I cannot execute you?”
This public humiliation sowed the first seeds of betrayal.
Fan Chou spares Han Sui
After the victory, Fan Chou pursued Han Sui. As he closed in, Han Sui sent a message:
“The world is ever-changing and unpredictable. We are fellow provincials. Though we have had a minor quarrel today, who knows if we may stand together again? I would speak with you.”
The two rode side by side and conversed at length. Moved by their shared roots and the uncertainty of war, Fan Chou abandoned the pursuit and let Han Sui and his army escape.
This act of mercy, however, would be twisted into treason.
Whispers of treason: Li Li’s revenge
Back in Chang’an, Li Li, still bitter over Fan Chou’s public reprimand, reported to Li Jue:
“Fan Chou and Han Sui rode together, laughing and whispering—no one knows what they said, but they looked like close allies.”
Li Jue, already jealous of Fan Chou’s bravery and popularity among the troops, began to suspect betrayal.
Over time, distrust festered. The bond between the two former comrades deteriorated beyond repair.
The banquet of betrayal: The murder of Fan Chou
In early 195 AD, Fan Chou, sensing the growing hostility, decided to lead his forces out through Hangu Pass, seeking autonomy.
He asked Li Jue for reinforcements. But Li Jue, now convinced Fan Chou would defect, saw his request as a threat.
Li Jue considered launching an attack against Fan Chou, but Jia Xu dissuaded him. Instead, Jia Xu proposed setting a trap akin to the Hongmen Banquet to eliminate Fan Chou with minimal cost. Under the guise of a farewell banquet, Li Jue invited Fan Chou, Li Meng, and other generals, to dine.
Once Fan Chou was drunk, Li Jue gave a signal. His nephew Hu Feng drew his sword and killed both Fan Chou and Li Meng on the spot.
Li Jue then absorbed their troops, eliminating a rival and seizing greater power.
Note:
- In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Li Meng was killed by Ma Chao. However, other historical records state that Li Meng and Fan Chou were both executed by Li Jue.
- Historically, there is no record of Jia Xu devising a plot to kill Guo Si. The claim that Jia Xu directly advised inviting Guo Si to a banquet and assassinating him is likely a fictionalized account in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
The collapse of trust
Though Fan Chou was dead, the consequences of his murder were far-reaching.
The other generals under Li Jue—Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and even Li Li—began to fear for their own lives.
If Fan Chou, a loyal and victorious commander, could be killed without cause, then no one was safe.
The unity of the Liangzhou faction shattered. Paranoia replaced loyalty, and the stage was set for further bloodshed.
The inevitable fall of tyrants
The murder of Fan Chou marks a turning point in the decline of Li Jue’s regime.
What began as a strategic alliance to survive Dong Zhuo’s fall devolved into internal betrayal, driven by jealousy, pride, and fear.
Just as Dong Zhuo’s tyranny led to his downfall, so too would Li Jue’s treachery sow the seeds of his own destruction.
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the fate of Li Jue and Fan Chou serves as a grim reminder:
When power is built on violence and suspicion, even allies become enemies—and the end is never far behind.
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