Early life and career

Liu Hong was from Pei State, Xiang Commandery (相郡), which is around present-day Suixi County, Anhui. His grandfather was Liu Fu, an official under the late Han dynasty warlord Cao Cao and his father was Liu Jing, a minister in the Cao Wei dynasty. During his youth, Liu Hong resided in Luoyang, where he was classmates with the future Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan; the pair were also born in the same year. In February 266, Sima Yan usurped the Wei throne and established the Jin dynasty. Due to their past acquaintanceship, Sima Yan appointed Liu Hong Grandee at the Gate of the Heir Apparent as a token of friendship.

The Book of Jin describes Liu Hong as someone who excelled at strategy and statecraft. He served in a series of offices and was even an Army Advisor to the general Yang Hu at one point. Eventually, Liu Hong caught the attention of the prominent minister, Zhang Hua. Zhang Hua recommended Liu Hong to serve in the northern borders of Yuzhou as General Who Guards The Northern Frontier. In the north, Liu Hong asserted his authority, and reportedly, bandit activities in the region were near to none under him. For his conduct, the people and officials praised Liu Hong, and the court awarded him the title of "Duke of Xuancheng".

Zhang Changs rebellion

In 303, a powerful revolt led by Zhang Chang broke out in Jingzhou. The Chief Controller of Jingzhou, Sima Xin (司馬歆; son of Sima Jun, Prince Wu of Fufeng), requested the court for reinforcements to help against the rebels. The court appointed Liu Hong as Inspector of Jingzhou and sent him, among others, to aid Sima Xin. Liu Hong and his fellow generals camped at Wancheng, but not long after, the rebels killed Sima Xin at Fancheng in June. The court chose Liu Hong to be Sima Xin's replacement, granting him the offices of General Who Guards The South and Chief Controller of Jingzhou. Liu Hong marched to the provincial capital of Xiangyang, but when Zhang Chang took the city of Wancheng, he retreated to camp at Liang County (梁縣; in present-day Ruzhou, Henan).

Later in the year, Zhang Chang's rebellion spread to Jiangzhou, Xuzhou, Yangzhou and Yuzhou. Liu Hong sent a group of generals, including Tao Kan, to attack Zhang Chang at Jingling while sending another group consisting of Li Yang (李楊) to capture Jiangxia. Tao Kan's group defeated Zhang Chang numerous times, and after a decisive victory, they forced Zhang Chang into hiding while his army surrendered to the Jin forces. Tao Kan distinguished himself in quelling the rebellion, which made him highly regarded by Liu Hong.

While Liu Hong was away, a general, Zhang Yi (張奕), was appointed by Jin to govern Xiangyang in his absence. With Zhang Chang no longer a threat, Liu Hong decided to return to Xiangyang and take control of Jingzhou. However, Zhang Yi refused to give up his position and began rallying his troops against Liu Hong. Liu Hong quickly marched to Xiangyang and beheaded Zhang Yi. He then reported the incident to the court, and the court ruled to exempt him from punishment. Liu Hong would only capture Zhang Chang in the spring of 304, after which he executed him and sent his head to the capital.

Administration of Jingzhou

Policies and reforms

One of the first problems faced by Liu Hong upon retaking Xiangyang was a shortage of officials in the local government. To rectify this issue, Liu Hong asked and received the court's consent to personally hand out appointments so he could fill the vacant offices. Liu Hong reputedly appointed his candidates based on their merits and virtue. One case was his appointment of Pi Chu (皮初). Liu Hong wanted Pi Chu to be the Administrator of Xiangyang due to his merits, but the court, noting Pi Chu's lack of influence, opted for Liu Hong's son-in-law, Xiahou Zhi (夏侯陟). Liu Hong rhetorically asked, "There are ten commanderies in Jingzhou. If it is necessary that who I appoint must be married into my family, must I have ten son-in-laws before I could govern Jingzhou?" He sent a petition to the court asking Pi Chu to be justly rewarded while also pointing out that, as per tradition, he and a promoted relative by marriage cannot have mutual supervision over one another. The court agreed and gave the appointment to Pi Chu.

Liu Hong carried out several effective policies to improve the standard of living in Jingzhou. He allowed the people to fish at the lakes of Mount Xian (峴山; in present-day Xiangyang, Hubei) and Mount Fang (方山; in present-day Chibi, Hubei), which an ancient law had previously prohibited. Then, Liu Hong abolished the categorization of alcohol into qizhong liquor (齊中酒; for religious purposes), tingshi liquor (聽事酒; for officials) and wei liquor (猥酒; for peasants), permitting everyone to consume any sorts of alcohol as they please. Liu Hong heavily encouraged farming and sericulture to the people. He also lightened the severity of punishments and reduced taxes. These policies made Liu Hong a beloved figure in Jingzhou.

Assisting Luo Shang and refugees

In 304, the rebel leader, Li Xiong, ousted the Jin Inspector of Yizhou, Luo Shang, out from Chengdu. Luo Shang relocated himself to Jiangyang, where he requested food supply from Liu Hong. Liu Hong's account-keepers advised Liu Hong to give Luo Shang only 5,000 hú (斛) of rice, citing the long distance between the two governors and the food shortages in Jingzhou. However, Liu Hong wanted to ensure that Luo Shang would secure Jingzhou's western borders. Instead, he sent 30,000 hú of rice to Luo Shang and ordered his general, He Song (何松), to camp at Badong and serve as Luo Shang's reserve force.

At the same time, refugees were coming into Jingzhou to escape the wars and rebellions happening throughout China. These refugees often had to resort to banditry due to poverty. However, Liu Hong curbed this issue by distributing fields and seeds to the refugees. He also sought out talents among the refugees and appointed them to offices based on their capabilities. Due to his broad influence, an official of Liu Hong, Xin Ran (辛冉), recommended that he attempt to break away from Jin, but Liu Hong, in anger, had him executed.

Among those who fled to Jingzhou were performers of the imperial music bureau. Liu Hong's subordinates suggested that they invite the performers to play music for them. However, Liu Hong refused and alluded to the story of Du Kui and Liu Biao, believing that it would be inappropriate for him as a minister to have imperial music performed in his own court especially during a time of crisis. He comforted the performers by allowing them to settle in the commanderies and counties and returned them once the situation in the imperial court was stable.

War of the Eight Princes

In 305, the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, initiated a coalition to overthrow Emperor Hui of Jin's regent, the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong. The Inspector of Yuzhou, Liu Qiao, joined the war on the side of Sima Yong, so the court published an edict calling for generals, including Liu Hong, to aid Liu Qiao against the coalition. Liu Hong was worried that the war would undermine the imperial family, so he wrote letters to Sima Yue and Liu Qiao, persuading them to stop, but neither side accepted his proposal. He then wrote a petition to the Jin court to convince Sima Yong to seek peace with Sima Yue. However, Sima Yong also dismissed him. With war being inevitable, Liu Hong decided to side with Sima Yue as he was appalled by Sima Yong's controversial marshal, Zhang Fang and believed Zhang Fang would bring about Sima Yong's downfall. Thus, Liu Hong sent an envoy to Sima Yue to convey his allegiance to him.

Chen Mins rebellion

At the end of 305, the Chancellor of Guangling, Chen Min, rebelled against Jin in the Jiangnan region. Liu Hong responded by sending Tao Kan and the Administrator of Wuling, Miao Guang (苗光), to camp at Xiaokou. However, there were suspicions about Tao Kan, as he was from the same commandery as Chen Min, and the two became officials around the same time. The Interior Minister of Sui, Hu Huai (扈懷), brought this matter to Liu Hong, but Liu Hong did not believe him. When Tao Kan heard about the allegations, he sent his son, Tao Hong (陶洪), and his nephew, Tao Zhen (陶臻), to explain his position. After asking the two for military advice, Liu Hong sent Tao Hong and Tao Zhen back with gifts, expressing his earnest trust in Tao Kan. When Chen Min invaded Jingzhou, Tao Kan joined with the other Jin generals in repelling him. In the end, the Jin forces thwarted Chen Min's ambitions to conquer Jingzhou.

As Chen Min's forces withdrew, the Administrator of Nanyang, Wei Zhan (衞展), advised Liu Hong to kill the general Zhang Guang, who, although had helped in defending Jingzhou, was friends with Sima Yong. Wei Zhan believed that killing Zhang Guang would show Liu Hong's loyalty to Sima Yue, but Liu Hong dismissed the suggestion. Instead, he sent a petition to the court asking them to promote Zhang Guang for his contributions.

Death and posthumous events

In 306, Liu Hong intercepted the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, from escaping to his fiefdom after Sima Yue's forces defeated him. Later, Sima Yue took Chang'an from Sima Yong and moved Emperor Hui to Luoyang. Liu Hong sent Liu Pan (劉盤) with troops to welcome the emperor back to the emperor. After Liu Pan returned from his commission, Liu Hong considered retiring due to his old age and wrote a letter to the court asking to divide his offices among his subordinates. However, before he could retire, Liu Hong died in Xiangyang. The people and officials of Jingzhou mourned Liu Hong's death as if they had lost a parent.

Soon after his death, Liu Hong's former marshal, Guo Mai (郭勱), rebelled and intended to make Sima Ying the leader. However, Liu Hong's son Liu Fan (劉璠) and general Guo Shu (郭舒) campaigned against Guo Mai and killed him. Liu Hong and Liu Fan's loyalty pleased Sima Yue, who wrote a letter of gratitude to Liu Fan. The court posthumously named him "Duke of Xincheng" and "Yuan" (元).

The Prince of Gaomi and younger brother of Sima Yue, Sima Lue, succeeded Liu Hong as Inspector of Jingzhou, but Lue was not as capable as Liu Hong, and Jingzhou saw a rise in dissidents and bandits. To appease the people, the court appointed Liu Fan as the Interior Minister of Shunyang (順陽; south of present-day Xichuan County, Henan). Liu Fan was just as beloved as his father, so the people living between the Han and Yangzi rivers began moving to live under Liu Fan. However, after Sima Lue died, his successor, Shan Jian, fearful that Liu Fan would use his popularity to rebel, requested the court to move Liu Fan to Luoyang. Shan Jian was a neglectful administrator, and his decision against Liu Fan proved unpopular with the people. Eventually, uprisings sprang up in the south, the most notable being the one led by Du Tao. As the situation in the south deteriorated, the people reportedly longed for Liu Hong's governance.

Liu Hongs tomb

In March 1991, Liu Hong's tomb was discovered in Anxiang County, Hunan. Two gold seals with tortoise-shaped knobs, one titled "Seal of the General Who Guards the South" (鎮南將軍章) and another titled "Seal of the Duke of Xuancheng" (宣成公章), were among the artefacts excavated from the tomb.

File:宣成公章.jpg|link=|Golden Seal of Duke of Xuancheng

File:镇南将军章.jpg|link=|Golden Seal of the General Who Guards the South

生平

劉弘父祖都在漢末曹操及曹魏任官，而他自己都有才幹和謀略，有處理政事的才幹。年輕時家住洛陽，他與司馬炎同年，亦同住在永安里，故此二人都一同學習。後來，司馬炎篡魏，登位為帝，劉弘就憑著舊日恩情而當上太子門大夫，轉太子率更令，終當上太宰長史。劉弘得張華器重，並讓他當上寧朔將軍、假節、監幽州諸軍事，領烏丸校尉。在幽州劉弘對人甚有威信及恩德，故盜匪都不在境內出沒，當地人都稱許他。朝廷嘉許他的功動，封宣城公。

出平荊州

太安二年（303年），張昌在荊州起事，朝廷以劉弘為使持節、南蠻校尉、荊州刺史，鎮宛，率領前將軍趙驤等討伐張昌。劉弘軍自方城攻至宛及新野，兵鋒所向都能成功平定當地變亂。同年，都督荊州諸軍事新野王司馬歆在討伐張昌時戰死，朝廷就進劉弘為鎮南將軍，加都督荊州諸軍事，主導討伐戰事。劉弘以南蠻長史陶侃為大督護，參軍蒯恆當義軍都護及牙門將皮初當都戰帥，領兵進兵襄陽。當時張昌圍攻宛，擊敗了趙驤，逼使劉弘退守梁，但陶侃等軍卻在隨後連連報捷，前後殺了萬多人；其中陶侃在竟陵與張昌苦戰數日後大敗對方，降服了數以萬計的張昌部眾。張昌見此逃走到下儁山，荊州亂事平息。在劉弘敗退至梁時，范陽王司馬虓派了長水校尉張奕代領荊州，而劉弘隨著張昌被平定而進至治所江陵，張奕卻不肯將荊州交予劉弘，反出兵抵抗。劉弘於是出兵討伐張奕，將他殺死。劉弘及後上奏朝廷解釋討殺張奕的原委，亦得朝廷下詔安撫及表示支持。次年（304年），張昌被捕處死，劉弘將之傳首京師。

荊州良政

劉弘眼見荊州很多郡縣守宰職位都懸空，於是請求朝廷補選官員，得允後就依據人們的功勳及德行捕授官員，很得議論者稱許。劉弘在上表中舉薦了一系列的人物擔尚荊州中郡守及縣令，其中包括參與討平張昌的皮初。朝廷答詔中依從了劉弘的所有推薦，惟以襄陽郡的名氣，拒絕了皮初任襄陽太守的推薦，改以劉弘女婿夏侯陟擔當。劉弘卻和屬下說：「統領天下的人，應當和天下同心；治理一國的人，就應當信任整個國家。若果肯定要姻親才可以任用，荊州有十郡，難道要有十個女婿才可以治理荊州！」於是表稱「夏侯陟是姻親，昔日制度上姻親間不能相統領。而皮初的功勳應當得到報酬。」朝廷遂順從他的推薦。

劉弘又在荊州鼓勵農事及養蠶，寛大處刑並減省租賦，遂令公私豐足，百姓愛戴。劉弘又廢止峴方二山禁止百姓前往捕魚的舊令。其時益州刺史羅尚屢遭成漢主李雄所敗，被逼棄守治所成都，並派使者到荊州告急，請求運糧。當時州府僚佐認為路途遙遠，人手不足下只建議從零陵郡運五千斛米到益州；不過劉弘為給了羅尚讓他穩住形勢，荊州就無西顧之憂，決定從零陵郡運三萬斛米出援益州，羅尚隨後亦果然得以移鎮巴郡，穩住情勢。劉弘又以荊州聚集了十多萬戶避亂流民，並因他們貧乏而多淪為盜賊，於是分將田地、種子和食物分配給他們讓他們得以自足，又從他們中選取賢德有才之士擔任官職。

朝廷追論他討平張昌之功，打算封他的次子為縣侯，但劉疏堅決辭讓。後又進侍中、鎮南大將軍、開府儀同三司。

永興元年（304年）十一月，河間王司馬顒部將張方從洛陽劫奪晉惠帝到長安，東海王司馬越為首的東方諸王起兵討伐河間王，司馬顒遂於永興二年（305年）下詔劉弘支援豫州刺史劉喬對抗諸軍。劉弘試圖勸說東西雙方回歸和平，於是分別寫書予劉喬以及東海王越，又上表勸說司馬顒，但都失敗。劉弘見張方殘暴，知司馬顒必敗，於是遣使投向司馬越，表示受其節度。

永興二年（305年）十二月，劉喬敗予司馬越等東軍，但江東卻有陳敏起事，並派軍西上。劉弘於是自解南蠻校尉，改授給蔣超，讓他率領江夏太守陶侃及武陵太守苗光到夏口防禦；又加應詹寧遠將軍，督三郡水軍跟在蔣超大軍後方作支援。另命治中何松領建平宜都襄陽三郡兵力出屯巴東，作為羅尚後援。當時有隨郡內史扈懷等人以陶侃與陳敏同住廬江郡，且同年開始做官之事去離間劉弘和陶侃。陶侃聞訊就派了兒子陶洪及侄兒陶臻當質子送到劉弘處，但劉弘根本不懷疑陶侃的忠誠，都將他們送回去，並加陶侃為前鋒督護，讓他出抗來襲的陳恢。最終陳恢屢遭陶侃擊敗，陳敏亦再不敢窺視荊州。

永興三年（306年），朝廷進劉弘車騎將軍。同年司馬越等軍迎惠帝回洛陽，劉弘派了參軍劉盤當督護，率軍加入迎帝還京的部隊。事後劉弘以老病請求解職，但上表尚未送呈，他就於襄陽去世了。荊州人民知劉弘去世感傷心悲痛，如親人去世一様。後來荊州先後由高密王司馬略及山簡主政，山簡上任後以劉弘子劉璠得眾心，為免民眾推其為主作亂就上表令其被徵召入朝，但此後荊州卻大亂，民眾都追念劉弘。

早前，屬河間王顒一方的成都王司馬穎被顒解皇太弟，令遣還國，然而途中卻為劉弘派人所阻。而劉弘死後，成都王穎尚在關洛一帶，劉弘司馬郭勱卻打算擁其為主，弘子劉璠出兵討伐郭勱，將他消滅。一直都對劉弘有所懷疑的司馬越至此終於知劉弘之心，於是親手寫信給劉璠讚美他們，並表贈劉弘新城郡公，諡元。

性格特徵

• 有一次劉弘夜間起來，聽到城上有一個守夜士兵在傷心歎息，於是召他見面。劉弘於是知道他已年過六十，老病而衣衫單薄，於是責罰他的上司，並送了衣物給他。又當時藏酒室中分開了齊中酒、聽事酒及猥酒三級，它們釀造時都用一樣的麴米，但就按最終品質分成了這三級。劉弘認為既然與士兵對飲就當與他們同甘同苦，不准再為酒分等級。而劉弘每當有人事變更都會親手寫信給相關守相，親密囑咐，這令人人都很感動，都爭相到荊州，說：「得劉公一紙書，賢於十部從事。」

• 陳敏於江東起事，司馬顒派了張光當順陽太守，領兵討伐陳敏。當時南陽太守衞展就以先前劉弘將平南將軍、彭城王司馬釋驅離宛城，已讓彭城王在東軍處說過對劉弘不利的話，建議劉弘殺害司馬顒心腹張光以明心意。然而劉弘一直敬重張光，表示宰輔失政罪不及張光，以君子不會危害人別人以換取自身安穩而拒絕加害。

• 劉弘主政荊州三年間，北方正處於八王之亂的戰亂中，而劉弘的聲威已經遍布南方。前廣漢太守辛冉竟建議劉弘作悖逆國家之事，劉弘遂大怒，斬了他。而期間又有太樂伶人來到荊州避亂，有人說可以請他們來奏樂，然而劉弘表示想起昔日劉表會杜夔作禮樂的故事，認為現在他無力支援國家危難，即使家有伎人都不應該演奏，何況天子用的禮樂。於是命郡縣安慰他們，待朝廷安定才送回本署。

• 劉弘有文集三卷傳世。

家庭成員

祖父

• 劉馥，東漢末官員，曾任揚州刺史。

父

• 劉靖，歷東漢和曹魏兩朝，官至鎮北將軍、假節都督河北諸軍事。封建成鄉侯。

子

• 劉璠，東晉北中郎將。

劉弘墓

1991年3月在湖南省安鄉縣發現一座磚室墓，經考古工作者根據出土印章確定，墓主人為西晉鎮南將軍劉弘。出土兩枚代表墓主人生前官職和爵位的金印，分別為龜紐金印「鎮南將軍章」和「宣成公章」以及眾多的隨葬品。其中兩枚西晉時期的高官金印極為罕見。此外還有代表墓主人身份的銅印「劉弘」和「劉和季」。

File:宣成公章.jpg|link=|宣成公章，龜紐金印

File:鎮南將軍章.jpg|link=|鎮南將軍章，龜紐金印

File:神獸紋玉樽, 2018-09-28.jpg|東漢神獸紋玉樽

評價

• 王夫之：「晉保江東以存中國之統，劉弘之力也。」

延伸閱讀