Early life

Lü Fan was from Xiyang County (細陽縣), Runan Commandery (汝南郡), which is around present-day Taihe County, Anhui. He married a woman from a certain Liu family. He started his career as a minor official under the warlord Yuan Shu. During this time, he met Sun Ce, a general under Yuan Shu, and became close friends with him. Since then, he had accompanied Sun Ce on the battles he fought under Yuan Shu's banner, and later in the battles that Sun Ce fought as a warlord in his own right.

It is said that Lü Fan recommended himself to Sun Ce through a game of weiqi – after Sun Ce made a bad opening move, Lü Fan capitalised on it and pointed out the mistake. Sun Ce was suitably impressed and offered Lü Fan a post. Rather than accept a high and lofty position, however, Lü Fan insisted upon remaining in a low one where he could more effectively manage troops. Sun Ce was further impressed and since then the two became inseparable. The game of weiqi in question, called the "Sun-Lü Game", is purported to be the first weiqi game to be recorded move for move, but many scholars doubt its authenticity. After this, Lü Fan was appointed as a Chief Controller.

Career under Sun Ce

At one point during the beginning of Sun Ce's career as a warlord, he sent Lü Fan to fetch his family from Guangling Commandery in Xu Province to his new base in Qu'e County. Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province, despised Sun Ce and wanted to have Lü Fan arrested as a spy and tortured, but some of his retainers freed Lü Fan and helped him escape from Guangling Commandery with Sun Ce's family. Sun Ce trusted Lü Fan so highly that he treated him like a member of the Sun family and even allowed Lü Fan to dine in the presence of his mother, Lady Wu.

Lü Fan was third only to Cheng Pu and Xu Kun in terms of merit, having followed Sun Ce in his conquests in the Jiangdong region from 194 to 199. His unit defeated and killed Yan Baihu's subordinate, Chen Mu. However, Lü Fan was concerned about the quality of Sun Ce's army. He feared that though their forces had grown, it comprised mostly untrained rabble with just a few veterans supporting them. Lü Fan believed that such an army could achieve limited success at best. As such, he requested that Sun Ce transfer him to his personal staff and make him the commander of his forces. At the time a marshal was simply a minor staff officer responsible for training and drilling the troops. As he saw that this was a demotion for Lü Fan, Sun Ce tried to talk Lü Fan out of it, but the latter insisted and managed to convince Sun Ce to agree to his request. Lü Fan thus took charge of training Sun Ce's troops. As Sun Ce was the supreme commander of the military forces in the Jiangdong region, Lü Fan's authority extended to the units under the command of Sun Ce's subordinates, effectively giving him control over the entire military administration in Jiangdong.

In 197, when Yuan Shu declared himself emperor – an act deemed treasonous against the figurehead Emperor Xian of the Han dynasty – Sun Ce broke ties with Yuan Shu and joined other warlords in a two-year-long campaign against the pretender. Chen Yu, who was sent by the warlord Cao Cao to assist Sun Ce in the campaign against Yuan Shu, secretly plotted to destroy Sun Ce from within. However, Sun Ce sensed Chen Yu's intentions and sent Lü Fan to deal with him. Lü Fan defeated Chen Yu in battle and forced him to retreat north.

Around 199, after defeating Yuan Shu's remnants, the minor warlord Liu Xun, as well as Huang Zu and Liu Biao at the Battle of Sha County, Sun Ce wrote a memorial to the Han central government to recommend Lü Fan to be the Administrator of Guiyang Commandery, among other things.

Career under Sun Quan

Following Sun Ce's death in the year 200, his younger brother Sun Quan succeeded him and took control over his territories and forces in the Jiangdong region. In 208, the warlord Cao Cao, who controlled the Han central government, led a massive army to attack his rivals, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, in southern China. Sun Quan heeded the advice of Zhou Yu and Lu Su, and decided to ally with Liu Bei against Cao Cao. Lü Fan participated in the Battle of Red Cliffs in the winter of 208–209 under Zhou Yu's command; the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's larger army in this decisive battle. After the victory at Red Cliffs, Liu Bei visited Sun Quan at his capital. While he was there, Lu Fan secretly advised Sun Quan to have Liu Bei keep as an hostage however Sun Quan refused.

Lü Fan continued serving under Sun Quan after the end of the Eastern Han dynasty in 220. Although Sun Quan initially agreed to be a vassal king under the Cao Wei state (established by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi), he broke ties with Cao Pi and declared independence in 222 as the ruler of his own Eastern Wu regime.

In 223, Lü Fan led the Wu forces during the Battle of Dongkou against Wei forces led by Cao Xiu and Zang Ba. The situation was highly unfavourable for Wu at the beginning: the Wu fleet came under heavy attack and much of the fleet was destroyed in a storm. To add on to their troubles, Sun Lang, a younger half-brother of Sun Quan, accidentally burnt down the Wu forces' supply of food and weaponry. However, due to the efforts of Lü Fan's subordinates Sun Shao and Xu Sheng, the Wu forces were able to stage a counterattack and barely win the battle.

After the Battle of Dongkou, Sun Quan appointed Lü Fan as the Governor of Yang Province. In 228, he further promoted Lü Fan to the position of Grand Marshal, but Lü Fan, who was already critically ill then, died of illness before assuming his new appointment. Sun Quan wept bitterly upon learning of Lü Fan's death and called his name repeatedly.

Appraisal

Lü Fan as a man was friendly and possessed majestic appearance. Even the men put in charge of whole province such as Lu Xun (Eastern Wu) and Quan Cong would show great reverence toward him. At the time, his depense for his house and clothes were extravagant yet he was diligent and assiduous in his duties therefore Sun Quan was pleased by his merits and wasn't bothered by his excess.

Like his brother before him, Sun Quan highly trusted Lü Fan even though they previously had some disagreements – Sun Quan, being young and foolhardy, often embezzled official funds for his personal interests and expected Lü Fan to cover up for him. Lü Fan, however, remained honest and reported Sun Quan's behaviour to Sun Ce, causing Sun Quan to dislike him. Nevertheless, as Sun Quan grew older and became more mature, he started to see Lü Fan in a different light and admired his honesty.

Family

Lü Fan had at least two sons. The elder one, whose name is not recorded in history, died early. The younger one, Lü Ju, inherited his father's marquis title and rose through the ranks to become General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍) during the reign of the second Wu emperor, Sun Liang.

生平

忠篤亮直

呂範年輕時是一名汝南郡的縣吏，容觀貌美之人。同鄉的劉氏漂亮且家財富有，呂範往求親。劉氏的母親嫌棄呂範，不打算答應，但是劉氏說：「您認為呂子衡是永遠貧窮的人嗎？」於是決定嫁予呂範。

後來呂範避難至壽春，當時在袁術麾下的孫策認為呂範與眾不同，呂範將自己的百餘名門客交由孫策指令。當時孫策的母親吳夫人身處江都，孫策派遣呂範迎吳夫人回曲阿，讓母親暫棲於舅氏吳景之處。徐州州牧陶謙認定呂範是袁術的內應，把呂範抓拿和拷問。呂範的親客和門客知情後，把呂範解救回來。

當時只有呂範和孫河經常伴隨孫策，跋涉辛苦，就算有危難也不會逃避，孫策也當呂範親戚對待，每次升堂，飲宴都在吳夫人的面前。

呂範之後跟隨孫策攻破廬江，隨軍東渡長江，向江東地區進軍。呂範率軍在橫江、當利一帶擊敗張英、于麋等眾，南下攻陷至丹楊、湖孰，受領湖孰相。孫策攻克秣陵、曲阿後，收編了笮融、劉繇的餘部，增派給呂範兵士二千及馬五十匹。此後呂範出任宛陵令，擊敗丹陽賊寇，回到吳郡後升任都督。

其時下邳陳瑀自號吳郡太守，據地自守，屯於海西，並與當地豪強嚴白虎勾結。於是孫策親自帶兵征討嚴白虎，另遣呂範與徐逸攻打陳瑀，呂範軍隊大敗敵軍，並且斬下大將陳牧的首級，陳瑀敗投袁紹。此後呂範跟隨孫策攻打在陵陽的祖郎、駐守勇里的太史慈，先後平定七個縣，拜為征虜中郎將，又出征江夏郡，回來平定了鄱陽地區。

協護脩整

200年，孫策病逝，呂範回到吳郡奔喪。此後孫策的弟弟孫權接掌東吳勢力，繼承軍隊，再征江夏，呂範奉命與重臣張昭留守根據地吳郡。

208年，赤壁之戰中，呂範跟隨周瑜破敵有功，戰後官拜裨將軍，領彭澤太守，受彭澤、柴桑、歷陽三地奉邑。

之後，劉備親自來到建業與孫氏結為姻親，呂範曾建議軟禁劉備，然而其計最終沒有實行。

後來呂範遷任平南將軍，屯軍柴桑。219年，當孫權正要背盟偷襲劉備駐守荊州的大將關羽前，曾到過呂範的家跟他說：「如果當初聽從你的建議，今天就不必勞師動眾了。如今我將逆流攻討關羽，你要幫我守衛好建業。」結果孫權成功討破關羽，之後回師遷都武昌。呂範拜為建威將軍，封宛陵侯，領丹楊太守，治理舊都建業，並監督扶州以南直至南海地區一帶的軍隊，食邑溧陽、懷安、寧國。

後來，魏將曹休、張遼、臧霸率軍進攻東吳，呂範領五軍（2~3萬人）並率領徐盛、全琮、孫韶等將領在洞口縣一帶拒敵。其時呂範受封前將軍假節，並改封南昌侯。可是當時前線遭逢大風，水軍船隻相繼傾覆，士卒亦多墮水受溺，船隊被吹到敵人岸上的軍營，受到曹休等敵人攻擊，溺死和陣亡者共損失數千人，軍需物資亦被吳宗室的孫朗誤燒，無力重整軍勢，於是撤軍還守。成功引殘餘大軍返還，呂範仍被任命為揚州牧。

永隨逝去

黃武七年（228年），呂範遷任大司馬，可是印綬尚未下發便因病逝世。孫權為其素服舉哀，並遣使者追贈印綬。在回建業的路上，孫權經過呂範墳墓，仍忍不住悲呼：「子衡！」並且淚流不止。孫權回都後，更下令以太牢之禮（豬、牛、羊三牲齊備謂之太牢，是古時天子祭祀社稷天地所用的大禮）祭祀呂範。呂範死後，其長子因已先死，故此由次子呂據襲爵。

性格特徵

州內官民如陸遜、全琮與及其它貴族公子，面對呂範時都會肅然修敬，不敢輕慢失儀。

呂範為人雖然崇尚奢華，對於居所服飾都甚講究，經常大耗財帛以追求卓越，其生活之奢靡在當時可謂無人能及。不過呂範會以公事為先，仍然做到奉公守法，工作認真，因此孫權常因其忠誠而欣賞呂範，而不會怪責其奢侈的生活態度。雖然有人向孫權進言，但是孫權用管仲逾禮的例子駁斥，認為呂範「足作軍容」，「何損于治？」。

另一方面，呂範是一個公正嚴謹的人。在他初從孫策時，孫策讓他主管財政，年幼的孫權曾想私底下向呂範多求財帛，然而呂範往往不肯答允，而且表現決絕，必定向孫策報告，從來不擅自給孫權任何便利，其守正盡責的行為在當時深得眾望。後來孫權守陽羨長，曾經挪用公帑作私人用途，功曹周谷為免被孫策得知其事，便會在財務紀錄上為孫權作偽證以飾其非，讓孫權的行為得以保密，曾經令孫權對其相當欣賞。可是當孫權長大後，繼承兄業統領大事，深通治國之道的他，認為周谷做事因私廢公，不宜信用；而呂範為人忠誠可靠，因此倍加信任。

後代

呂範的長子早逝，次子呂據繼承了呂範的職位，官至驃騎將軍、假節。太平元年（256年），呂據領軍在外時東吳政權內部再次發生權力鬥爭，他遭到權臣孫綝迫害，雖然手下都勸他歸降曹魏，但他恥作叛臣，於是自殺。死後呂氏三族被夷。

逸聞

孫策與呂範弈棋，呂範忽然向孫策說：「現在將軍（指孫策）您的事業日臻鼎盛，手下士眾數量亦與日俱增，可是就連身處遠地並未隨軍的我，亦曾聽到關於我軍士卒綱紀不整的消息。既然如此，我願意暫領都督之職，為將軍統領一部分軍隊。」孫策聽罷，便說：「子衡啊，你已經是一名士大夫了，手下亦有大軍，經常在外立功，現在又豈可屈就一個職級較低的身份，去管理軍中的瑣碎事務呢？」呂範回應說：「我不認同。我之所以捨棄我的故鄉而跟隨將軍，並不是為了養妻活兒的私情而已，而是希望藉此得以濟世救民。如今我們就像是坐在同一艘船上，正要渡過大海，若果有任何事稍為失誤，我們都會為此而失敗。因此我不只是為了將軍您而作出計劃，我也在為自己打算啊！」孫策知道呂範的好意，但只微笑，不發一言。於是呂範向孫策告辭後，便出外脫掉文官的衣物，穿著褲褶，手執馬鞭，到軍中自稱已領銜為都督，要管理軍事。孫策見狀不得已，唯有正式授權予呂範，讓其協助管治軍政。自此軍中威令謹嚴，部隊緊執軍法，紀律亦日趨嚴整。

孫權遷都建業，與文武大臣開大會時，向嚴畯說：「我以往曾經將魯子敬（即魯肅）比作鄧禹，將呂子衡比作吳漢，而你們眾人都未有作出回應，現在有甚麼結論了嗎？」嚴畯退席後便向孫權說：「臣未能解通您的暗示，如果您只是純粹讚譽魯肅與呂範的話，這兩個比喻就似乎有點言過其實。」孫權解釋說：「當年鄧禹見光武帝的時候，光武帝只是受命於更始帝，擔任大司馬撫軍於河北，尚未有成為帝王的志向。鄧禹便勸勉他鼓起復興漢業之心，因此光武立國可說是由鄧禹之論以開其端的。魯肅為人英爽，又多計略，首次跟我談論大事時，便已論及成就霸業之計，這一點與鄧禹十分相似，因此我以其為比喻。呂子衡為人忠篤亮直，雖然有崇尚奢華的毛病，但他能做到處處以公務為先，因此這並不能成為他的缺點。自從他離開袁術跟從兄長以來，吾兄作大將，他就擔任部曲，此後經常為兄長的事情憂心，更請求自為都督，協助兄長管理軍務，一直勤奮不已，這一點與吳漢十分相似，因此我又以其為比喻。這兩個比喻都有其根據，並不是純粹因我個人好惡而隨意提出的。」嚴畯聽罷方才感服。

曾經，有人向孫權告狀說呂範與賀齊二人在衣著方面過份奢華綺麗，服飾甚至有僭越王者的嫌疑，孫權回應說：「當年管仲亦曾做過逾禮的行為，但齊桓公能加以包容，結果亦不損其霸業。如今子衡（呂範）、公苗（賀齊）二人，根本沒有犯上管仲那種程度的過失，他們只是精好於器械，在舟車用物方面追求嚴整而已，這能建立出強悍的軍容，對其治軍又有何損失呢？」，聽到孫權對二人信任的回應後，狀告者再也不敢說二人是非。

三國演義

在小說《三國演義》中，呂範初登場於第十五回。其時孫策正屈處袁術軍中，鬱鬱不得志，在某次筵席之後與舊臣朱治商議獨立之時。當時作為袁術謀士的呂範，知道孫策必有所為，在聽到孫策的大計後，便提出要帶領門人跟從孫策。三人在商議過程中，孫策提及有傳國玉璽於手，呂範認定袁術得此後必肯借兵予孫策，結果果然成功借得軍隊，自此呂範便隨孫策建立基業。

在第二十九回中，孫策將要怒斬于吉，呂範為救于吉，便提出讓于吉求雨贖罪的建議。可惜儘管于吉求雨成功，孫策仍堅持要把于吉殺掉。在第四十四回中，赤壁之戰前夕，呂範與諸葛瑾態度一致，偏向投降求安。當周瑜決定開戰後，呂範與朱治共同擔任四方巡警使，催督六部官軍。

在第五十四回中，赤壁戰後，孫權與劉備表面為盟友，實則互競詭譎。其時周瑜獻美人之計，欲以孫權之妹許配劉備，讓劉備入贅為東吳女婿，當時孫權認為說媒的任務只有呂範能勝任，於是就命呂範向劉備提親。呂範便以「人不可中道而廢人倫」與及「兩家結秦晉之好」為由，說服劉備接受親事。然後呂範便一直充當女方媒人之務，參與對付劉備計劃。當劉備到甘露寺見吳國太之時，呂範更建議伏刀斧手以斬殺劉備，然而失敗告終。

在第七十六回中，孫權命呂蒙為督，偷襲荊州，追殺關羽，將其迫到麥城。孫權在正式出軍要擒關羽前，呂範要求進行卜卦，結果求得「地水師卦」，更有玄武臨應，主敵人遠奔。在次回呂範再次卜卦，知道關羽即將從麥城中突圍而出，投西北方而走，並必於亥時就擒，結果成功擒住關羽（玄武與亥時之卦，與第七十三回中關羽所作黑豬之夢有所對應，玄武對應黑色，亥時對應動物是豬，正史占卜者應為吳範）。

在第八十五回中，陸遜統領吳軍將舉國來侵的劉備擊退後，曹丕乘蜀吳交戰之時安排曹仁、曹休、曹真三路襲吳，然而吳軍早已有所準備，遣諸葛瑾引兵在南郡抵抗曹真，令朱桓引兵當住濡須以拒曹仁，呂範則受命抵禦曹休，並成功擊敗曹休等人（歷史是洞口之役的呂範被曹休等人擊敗）。

影視形象

• 中國中央電視台電視劇《三國演義》（1994年）：啜二勇

• 台灣華視電視劇《三國英雄傳之關公》（1996年）：李子英

• 中國電視劇《三國》（2010年）：張凱

評價

• 陳壽評：「朱治、呂範以舊臣任用，朱然、朱桓以勇烈著聞，呂據、朱異、施績咸有將領之才，克紹堂構。若範、桓之越隘，得以吉終，至於據、異無此之尤而反罹殃者，所遇之時殊也。」

• 孫權曰：「呂子衡忠篤亮直，性雖好奢，然以憂公為先，不足為損，避袁術自歸於兄，兄作大將，別領部曲，故憂兄事，乞為都督，協護脩整，加之恪勤，與吳漢相類，故方之。」「昔管仲逾禮，桓公優而容之，無損于霸。今子衡身無夷吾之失，但其器械精好，舟車嚴整耳，此適足作軍容，何損于治哉？」「呂子衡方吳漢。」

• 《三國志·吳志·吳主傳》：「曹公表權為討虜將軍，領會稽太守，屯吳，使丞之郡行文書事。待張昭以師傅之禮，而周瑜、程普、呂範等為將率。招延俊秀，聘求名士，魯肅、諸葛瑾等始為賓客。分部諸統，鎮撫山越，討不從命。」

• 《三國志·吳志·三嗣主傳》：「異人輻輳，猛士如林。於是張昭為師傅，周瑜、陸遜、魯肅、呂蒙之疇入為腹心，出作股肱；甘寧、凌統、程普、賀齊、朱桓、朱然之徒奮其威，韓當、潘璋、黃蓋、蔣欽、周泰之屬宣其力；風雅則諸葛瑾、張承、步騭以聲名光國，政事則顧雍、潘濬、呂範、呂岱以器任幹職，奇偉則虞翻、陸績、張溫、張惇以諷議舉正，奉使則趙咨、沈珩以敏達延譽，術數則吳範、趙達以禨祥協德，董襲、陳武殺身以衛主，駱統、劉基彊諫以補過，謀無遺算，舉不失策。」

• 傅玄《傅子》：「孫策為人明果獨斷，勇蓋天下，以父堅戰死，少而合其兵將以報讎，轉鬥千里，盡有江南之地，誅其名豪，威行鄰國。及權繼其業，有張子布以為腹心，有陸議、諸葛瑾、步騭以為股肱，有呂範、朱然以為爪牙，分任授職，乘間伺隙，兵不妄動，故戰少敗而江南安。」

• 陸機：「政事則顧雍、潘濬、呂范、呂岱以器任幹職。」

• 章如愚：「如程普、黃蓋、甘寧、徐盛、潘璋、朱然、朱桓、賀齊、凌統、全琮、呂范，皆智足以御眾，勇足以卻敵，未有不為守令之職者。」

• 郝經：「朱治、呂范以勛舊重，朱然、朱桓以膽勇稱，皆隱然敵國有古大將之風。」「天分鼎裂，鷙搏狼抗。成霸安疆，式資良將。形勢深阻，江山沉雄。勢常北向，以守為攻。舟楫是利，武騎無用。矯矯諸臣，功崇信重。」

• 李漁：「魏有管輅之卜，吳有呂范之卜，一定軍于先時，一料擒于臨事。」