12 Facts About Huan Fan

Huan Fan, courtesy name Yuanze, was an official and military general of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Huan Fan was from Pei State, which is around present-day Suixi County, Anhui.

Huan Fan started his career in the late Eastern Han dynasty as a minor official in the office of the Imperial Chancellor, the position held by Cao Cao, the warlord who controlled the central government and the figurehead Emperor Xian at the time.

Huan Fan attempted to abuse his powers by executing Zheng Qi, but the latter reported him to the imperial court first, resulting in Huan Fan being dismissed from office.

However, Huan Fan was recalled to serve in the Wei government, first as the Inspector of Yan Province and later as the Governor of Ji Province.

Huan Fan gained a reputation for being an honest and thrifty official, and was even referred to as "a bag of wisdom".

Huan Fan tried to advise them to be more mindful but they ignored him.

Huan Fan ordered all the gates of Luoyang to be shut and then issued an order to Huan Fan in Empress Dowager Guo's name, ordering him to take command of the troops under Cao Xi, Cao Shuang's brother.

Just as Huan Fan was about to follow the order, his son urged him to side with Cao Shuang instead since Cao Shuang had a political advantage over Sima Yi because the emperor Cao Fang was with him.

Huan Fan agreed and headed to Gaoping Tombs, against the advice of his subordinates.

Huan Fan managed to leave Luoyang through the Changping Gate because Si Fan, the officer guarding the gate, used to serve under him and trusted him when he said he had authorisation to leave.

Huan Fan reassured the Cao brothers that they would not run out of food supplies because he, as the Minister of Finance, had full control over the distribution of food supplies.