Luo Xian
From Three Kingdoms Online Community
Luo Xian, stylename Lingze. His father, Luo Meng, entered Shu to avoid the chaos and was made Governor (taishou) of Guanghan. When Luo Xian was young, he was well known to be talented and well learned.
At the age of thirteen, he was able enough to join the government. When the Latter Sovereign (Liu Shan) appointed his crown prince, Luo Xian was made a patron, then later a bodyguard (shuzi), and Gentleman of the Masters of Writing (shangshu libu lang). As Colonel of Xuanxin (xuanxin xiaowei), he was sent as emissary to Wu and the people of Wu thought he had admirable attributes. At the time when Huang Hao dominated politics, many had gone to attach to Huang Hao but Luo Xian, alone, refused to do the same. Huang Hao became angry and shifted him to Badong to act as Governor. At the time when the General of the Right, Yan Yu, was in control of the troops at Badong, the Latter Sovereign instated Luo Xian as Yan Yu’s deputy.
When Wei attacked Shu, Yan Yu was ordered to return to the west, leaving behind two thousand troops. Luo Xian was ordered to guard Yongan. Reports came that Chengdu had fallen and people in the city [of Yongan] became unsettled with many officials from the counties near the Jiang river fleeing away. Luo Xian beheaded the person who reported it and the people were became more settled. When word had come that the Latter Sovereign had surrendered, Luo Xian personally led the officials of the villages to mourn for three days. Wu heard that Shu had fallen and so mobilized its troops in the West, on the pretense of assisting Shu, but the real motive was to capture it. Luo Xian said, “Our dynasty has fallen. Wu are as close to us as lips are with teeth. Rather than coming to assist us when we are in such difficult times, they come merely for their own interests. This is a violation of the alliance. Moreover, the Han has perished, how long can Wu hope to keep us captive?”
Luo Xian’s defensive position overlooked the Jiang river. Being unable to repel the Wu troops from there, he dispatched the Advisor to the Army (canjun), Yang Zong, to make a dash out through the north to inform the General Who Gives Tranquility to the East (andong jiangjun), Chen Qian, as well as deliver his civil and military seals to the Prince of Jin (Sima Zhao). [Bu] Xie attacked the city and Luo Xian came out to offer battle, heavily defeating Bu Xie’s army.
Sun Xiu became angry and sent Lu Kang with an additional thirty thousand troops to increase the siege. Luo Xian was besieged for about six months but still no reinforcements had come and half of the city was suffering from disease. When persuaded a plan to flee, Luo Xian replied, “A ruler is one who is looked up to by the common people. Being unable to relieve them of danger while abandoning them is not something a gentleman would do. My fate will be determined here.”
Chen Qian told the Prince of Jin the situation, and so the Inspector (cishi) of Jingzhou, Hu Lie, was dispatched to help Luo Xian. And so Lu Kang and the others withdrew. The Prince of Jin immediately entrusted him with his previous responsibility, and recommended him as General Who Rides the Jiang (lingjiang jiangjun) as well as Marquis of Wannian village (wannian tinghou). He went to the Si country in Wuling to incite the people to rebel against Wu, and so he was instated as Governor (taishou) of Wuling as well as supervising the troops at Badong.
In the first year of Taishi [AD 265], Luo Xian was conferred as Marquis of Xie county (xiexian hou). Luo Xian sent his wife to reside in Luoyang. The Martial Emperor (Sima Yan) made Luo Xian’s son, Luo Xi, a Palace Attendant (shizhong).
In the third year [AD 267], winter, Luo Xian arrived at Court and was promoted as General of the Crown Army (guanjun jiangjun).
In the fourth year [AD 268], third month, the Emperor together with Luo Xian feasted in the Hualin garden. An imperial order was issued to the ministers who came from Shu, asking them to recommend competent people. Luo Xian recommended Chang Ji, Du Zhen, and Shou Liang, all from the Shu prefecture; as well as Chen Shou of Badong, Gao Gui of Nanjun, Lu Ya and Xu Guo of Nanyang, Fei Gong of Jiangxia, Zhuge Jing of Langxie (Langya?), and Chen Yu of Runan. Immediately these people were employed and all of them became very prominent in their time. When Luo Xian returned, he presented a plan to attack Wu and subsequently made a surprise attack on Wucheng. Luo Xian’s methods were very strict, tirelessly working with his troops. Luo Xian himself was very generous and distributed his money as rewards.
In the sixth year [AD 270], he died and posthumously promoted as General Who Brings Tranquility to the South as well as conferred as Marquis (liehou). His son, Luo Xi, was made General Who Rides the Jiang (lingjiang jiangjun) and supervising an army division, died early, and posthumously promoted as Governor (taishou) of Guangling. Luo Xi’s son, Luo Hui, worked as an imperial historian.
In the fifth year of Yongjia [AD 311], he was killed by Wang Ru.
