Huan Fan was an official of Cao Wei. Chinese Wikipedia gives his courtesy name as Yuanze, says he was from the state of Pei, calls him the 'bag of wisdom', and says he rose to minister of agriculture. Wikidata gives the labels 桓范 (traditional form 桓範) and Huan Fan and records his death in the tenth year of Zhengshi (249), so the title stays as his personal name.[2][1]
Career
At the end of Jian'an he held a post in the chancellor's office, and in the Yankang era he was left supervisor of the feathered forest. After Cao Pi took the throne he compiled the Huanglan with Wang Xiang, Liu Shao and others. Under Emperor Ming he was commander of the central army and palace secretary, then General Who Conquers the Caitiffs and Eastern Palace Colonel, with credentials over military affairs in Qing and Xu. There he quarrelled over a house with Zheng Qi, inspector of Xu Province, and tried to use his credentials to have Zheng Qi executed; Zheng Qi reported him and he lost his post. He later served as inspector of Yan Province without satisfaction, and when he was to become governor of Ji Province he pleaded illness because General Lü Zhao, who had entered office later, now ranked above him. Chinese Wikipedia adds that he vented his anger on his pregnant wife Zhongchang, striking her belly with the ring of his sabre, and that she miscarried and died soon after.[2]
In the Zhengshi era he was minister of agriculture, known for being honest and frugal. The regent Cao Shuang treated him with special courtesy because they came from the same place, though they were not close. Cao Shuang indulged in pleasure and went out with his brothers; Huan Fan tried to restrain him, but Cao Shuang never listened.[2]
The Gaoping Tomb coup
In 249 Sima Yi staged a coup while Cao Shuang and his brothers were with Cao Fang at the Gaoping Tomb. He closed the gates of Luoyang and, with an edict from the empress dowager, had Huan Fan take charge of the central army and Cao Xi's troops. Huan Fan was about to obey, but his son urged him to join Cao Shuang, and he changed his mind. At the Pingchang Gate he falsely told Sima Fan, a gate captain he had recommended, that an edict summoned him, and so left the city, saying that the grand tutor was a traitor. When he met Cao Shuang and his brothers he urged them to take the emperor to Xuchang and call on the rest of the army in the emperor's name against Sima Yi, vouching with his seal as minister of agriculture that grain would not run short. The brothers could not decide, and after a night Cao Shuang chose to give up office and surrender, believing he could keep a marquis's comfortable life. Huan Fan wept and called the brothers mere calves, saying he would be wiped out with his clan because of them.[2]
Back in Luoyang, Sima Fan reported that Huan Fan had called Sima Yi a traitor, and Huan Fan was dealt with under the rule that a false accuser bears the penalty. He was sent to the commandant of justice, counted with Cao Shuang's faction, and executed with the extinction of his three clans. He also condensed passages from the Book of Han and added his own revisions and comments in a work called Shiyao lun.[2]
Basic facts
- Name: Huan Fan[1]
- Courtesy name: Yuanze[2]
- Origin: state of Pei; the birthplace linked on this entry is Suixi County[1]
- Death recorded on this entry: tenth year of Zhengshi in Wei (249)[1]
- Realm: Cao Wei[1]
- Occupation recorded on this entry: political figure[1]
- Portrayal: Huan Fan (a character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms)