Liu Quan, courtesy name Shilue, was from Feng County in Pengcheng. His grandfather, Liu Gui, served as the governor of Luozhou in the state of Qi. When Liu Quan was young, he had a strong sense of righteousness, kept his word, and was known for his integrity. Even when sheltering fugitives, officials dared not come to arrest them. Later, he changed his ways, studied hard, and followed the rules. He started as the chief of a county, served as an official in the state of Qi, and later rose to the position of a court official and a department officer. After the fall of Qi, Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty appointed him as the acting governor of Huaizhou. Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, declared himself emperor and appointed him as a chariot cavalry general in charge of leading local troops. Later, he followed Prince Jin Yang Guang in pacifying the Chen Dynasty. For his military achievements, he was appointed as a governor with the rank of "Three Excellencies" and was rewarded with three thousand bolts of cloth. Duke He Ruobi held him in high regard. In the twelfth year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the governor of Suzhou and was granted the title of Duke of Zongcheng County. At that time, Jiangnan had just been pacified, and the people were still unsettled. Liu Quan used kindness and trustworthiness to win over the people and won their hearts. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed Liu Quan as the Minister of Defense, and later promoted him to the rank of Grand Gentleman of the Household. In the fifth year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui launched a campaign against the Tuyuhun, and Liu Quan led his troops from Yiwu Road and encountered the Tuyuhun army, defeating them. He pursued them to Qinghai, captured over a thousand captives, and attacked Fusi City. Emperor Yang of Sui then ordered Liu Quan to establish He Yuan County and Jishi Town through Mantou and Chishui, vigorously promote military agriculture, and have him guard the western border. He stayed in the border areas for five years, all the tribes submitted, paid tribute every year, and the remnants of the Tuyuhun fled to distant places, with clear and open roads. He was later summoned back to the court and appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, and then promoted to the rank of Grand Gentleman of the Household. Shortly after, he was appointed as the governor of Nanhai.
On his way to the South China Sea, upon arriving at Poyang, he found himself unable to advance due to a local uprising of bandits. The court ordered him to raise troops to quell the uprising. Liu Quan led the army to confront the bandits, but instead of choosing to fight, he first went alone to the bandits' camp by boat, reasoned with them, and appealed to their emotions by explaining the pros and cons. The bandits were moved by his words and surrendered one after another. Emperor Yang of Sui heard about this and held him in high regard. After arriving in the South China Sea, Liu Quan made significant political achievements. Several years later, when bandits repeatedly attacked the county town, many powerful figures were willing to support him as their leader, but he consistently did his utmost to defend against external threats. His son, Liu Shiche, secretly sent someone to deliver a letter to him, stating that the world was in chaos, heroes were emerging, and he must seize the moment, urging him to rebel. Liu Quan gathered his subordinates and executed the messenger on the spot, showing no intention of rebellion, ultimately sacrificing his life in defense of the court. When he died, he was seventy-seven years old.
His son Liu Shiche was bold and unrestrained, greatly admired by his contemporaries. In the late years of the Sui Dynasty, numerous warlords emerged, and wherever Liu Shiche went, he instilled fear. He was captured several times, eventually killed by the bandit leader Xu Yuanlang in Yanzhou.
Liu Quan was quite powerful and was referred to as "Zijiang" (son general), handsome and capable, reaching the high official position of Eagle-Soaring General. His son, Liu Dewei, was also quite renowned.
In historical records, it is said that Liu Dewei is indeed very capable, diligent and quick-witted, courageously taking action for justice, making quick decisions when it matters most, defending the entire city, truly hardworking and accomplished! When Yang Liang revolted, Shi Xiang single-handedly secured victory; when bandits attacked, Liu Dewei won three battles, and these events became well-known and have been passed down through generations. When Yuanshou presented his memorial, he aimed to uphold traditional values, but when it comes to contributions and achievements, Liu Dewei clearly outshines him. The posthumous title he received was already quite prestigious; isn't that enough? Wen Sheng successfully broke the siege in the eastern capital, which can be seen as an achievement, but he got his position in the western capital through bribery, which is truly despicable and hardly worth mentioning! Liu Quan hails from an old family in the Huai-Chu region, known for a long time. During the chaos in the world, he stayed in the region of Yutuo (modern-day Guangzhou, Guangdong), successfully thwarting the plots of rebel forces without giving in to temptation. Even though he didn’t respond to the court’s call for help, he can still be seen as a loyal and principled patriot.
