15 Facts About Huang Hao

Huang Hao gained the favour of Liu Shan and became highly influential.

Huang Hao entered the Shu imperial palace sometime in the 220s as a eunuch attending to the Shu emperor Liu Shan, who favoured him because he was shrewd and full of flattering words.

Whenever Huang Hao attempted to interfere in state affairs, Dong Yun, then the head of government, warned Liu Shan about the dangers of flattery and admonished Huang Hao for misleading the emperor.

When Chen Zhi died in 258, Huang Hao became the most influential figure in the Shu central government based in Chengdu.

Huang Hao abused his power by promoting officials who were his supporters and demoting those who stood up to him.

When Luo Xian refused to work with him, Huang Hao had Luo Xian sent away from Chengdu to serve as the Administrator of Badong Commandery.

Yan Yu, a close friend of Huang Hao who served as Area Commander of Badong rereassigned Luo Xian as his deputy since he thought highly of him.

Huang Hao disliked Xi Zheng, an inner office official who was familiar with Huang Hao's dealings for about 30 years.

Liu Yong, a younger brother of Liu Shan, hated Huang Hao and was never on good terms with him.

However, Liu Shan refused, said that Huang Hao was merely a servant running errands for him, and told Jiang Wei not to be so upset with Huang Hao.

Jiang Wei knew that Huang Hao had many supporters in the imperial court and was concerned that he might have fallen out of favour with the emperor when he asked Liu Shan to execute Huang Hao.

Huang Hao then wrote to Liu Shan, requesting permission to set up defences against the impending invasion.

Huang Hao, who believed in sorcery, got a witch doctor to predict the future.

Huang Hao then told Liu Shan that the witch doctor predicted that the Wei forces would not attack Shu, so there was no need to follow Jiang Wei's plan.

In Chapter 119 of the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Huang Hao is publicly executed at the order of the Wei regent Sima Zhao when he followed Liu Shan to the Wei capital Luoyang.