Huang Quan

Huang Quan (died May or June 240), courtesy name Gongheng, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He previously served under the warlords Liu Zhang and Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty and in the state of Shu Han (founded by Liu Bei) during the early Three Kingdoms period before defecting to Cao Wei. Liu Bei relied heavily on Huang Quan for counsel in both domestic and foreign policy. Under the Wei government, however, Huang Quan was restricted to only internal affairs because even though the Wei emperor Cao Pi appreciated him for his talent, he doubted Huang Quan's allegiance and believed he was still secretly loyal to Liu Bei. Service under Liu Zhang Huang Quan was from Langzhong County (閬中縣), Baxi Commandery (巴西郡), which is present-day Langzhong, Sichuan. He started his career at a young age as an official in the commandery office and was later recruited to be a Registrar (主簿) under Yi Province's governor, Liu Zhang. Around 211, Zhang Song, an adviser to Liu Zhang, suggested to his lord to invite the warlord Liu Bei from Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) to assist them in countering their rival, Zhang Lu, in Hanzhong Commandery. Huang Quan strongly opposed Zhang Song's idea because he felt that Liu Bei was an ambitious person and might use the opportunity to seize control of Yi Province. Facing Liu Zhang, he said: "The General of the Left is of heroic reputation. Now if we welcome him into our land and treat him as a retainer whose role is to guard the province, then It would not satisfy him yet if we wish to offer him the courtesy of an honored guest then one state cannot hold two rulers. If a guest receive the security of the Mount Tai then the host is as feeble as a pile of eggs. All we need to do is to relied on the natural borders and await that the front line is clear." However, Liu Zhang refused to listen to Huang Quan and he heeded Zhang Song's suggestion. Huang Quan was appointed as the Chief of Guanghan County (廣漢縣; south of present-day Shehong County, Sichuan).