Liao Li 廖立

Liao Li 廖立, courtesy name Gongyuan 公淵, was a military commander of the state of Shu-Han 蜀漢 (221-263), one of the Three Empires 三國 (220~280 CE).

He hailed from Linyuan 臨沅 in the commandery of Wuling 武陵. When Liu Bei 劉備 (161-222) was regional governor (mu 牧) of the province of Jingzhou 荊州, Liao was made governor (taishou 太守) of Changsha 長沙. Lü Meng 呂蒙 (178-219) of the empire of Wu 吳 (222/229-280) in the southeast attacked central China, forcing Liu Bei to retreat to the west. Liao Li gave up his post and accompanied Liu Bei in the conquest of the Sichuan Basin. For his support, Liao was appointed governor of the commandery of Bajun 巴郡.

With the foundation of the kingdom of Shu, Liao Li was made xxx 侍中. The second emperor, Liu Shan 劉禪 (r. 223-263 CE), made him xxx 長水校尉. In the beginning, Liao was still highly valued by chief minister Zhuge Liang 諸葛亮 (181-234), who called him "a good talent of Chu" (Chu zhi liang cai 楚之良材”). However, Liao was proud of his talent and harboured grievances against the court. He was therefore impeached for the crime of "insulting the late Emperor and slandering his ministers", and was demoted to the status of a commoner and sentenced to penal servitude in exile (tu 徒). Liao settled down as a farmer in the region of Mt. Wenshan 汶山, where he died.