Liu Zhang governs Yi Province, inheriting authority from his father Liu Yan. His reign begins with stability but falters under his reluctance to pursue territorial ambitions, sparking unrest among his advisors. As Cao Cao’s influence grows, Liu Zhang heeds officials Zhang Song and Fa Zheng—who secretly conspire to install Liu Bei as ruler—and allies with this distant relative to counter external threats. The fragile pact shatters when Liu Zhang uncovers their treachery, executing Zhang Song and clashing militarily with Liu Bei. Though loyal commanders like Zhang Ren resist fiercely, Liu Bei’s strategic victories erode Liu Zhang’s hold. Confronted with siege and imminent loss, Liu Zhang capitulates to spare his populace further bloodshed, ceding Yi Province. Exiled to Jing Province with his son Liu Xun, he is later absorbed into Sun Quan’s domain after Lü Meng’s conquest of Jing. Sun Quan symbolically restores Liu Zhang’s former title, but his tenure under Wu proves brief; he dies in 219, fading from political relevance. The chronicle portrays a leader torn between compassion for his subjects and vulnerability to court intrigues, his downfall illustrating the perils of idealism amid rival warlords’ ruthless stratagems. His legacy contrasts starkly with the calculated ambitions of Liu Bei and Cao Cao, framing an era where survival demanded either unyielding pragmatism or sacrificial concession.