Li Miao (died late 234), courtesy name Hannan, was an official of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He previously served under the warlord Liu Zhang and later Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Life Li Miao was from Qi County (郪縣), Guanghan Commandery (廣漢郡), which is in present-day Santai County, Sichuan.([李]永南名邵，廣漢郪人也。) Sanguozhi vol. 45. He initially served as the Chief of Niubei County (牛鞞縣; present-day Jianyang, Sichuan) under Liu Zhang, the Governor of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing).(華陽國志曰：[李]邵兄邈，字漢南，劉璋時為牛鞞長。) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45.

In 214, after the warlord Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang and became the new Governor, he appointed Li Miao as an assistant officer (從事) in his office. In the following year, on the first day of the lunar new year, when Li Miao came to greet Liu Bei, he used the opportunity to tell Liu Bei:(先主領牧，為從事，正旦命行酒，得進見， ...) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45. Liu Bei then asked him: "Since you believe it is improper of me to do so, then why don't you help (Liu Zhang)?"(先主曰：「知其不宜，何以不助之？」) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45. Li Miao replied: "It's not because I don't want to help him. It's because I don't have the ability to."(邈曰：「匪不敢也，力不足耳。」) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45. When Liu Bei's subordinates urged their lord to execute Li Miao for his audacity, Zhuge Liang stepped in and managed to convince Liu Bei to spare Li Miao.(有司將殺之，諸葛亮為請，得免。) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45.

After the fall of the Eastern Han dynasty in 220, Li Miao went on to serve in the state Shu, founded by Liu Bei in 221, during the Three Kingdoms period. He consecutively held the positions of Administrator of Qianwei (犍為太守), Army Adviser under the Imperial Chancellor (丞相參軍), and General Who Pacifies Han (安漢將軍).(乆之，為犍為太守、丞相參軍、安漢將軍。) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45.

In 228, after Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su for his failure at the Battle of Jieting,(建興六年，亮西征。馬謖在前敗績，亮將殺之， ...) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45. Li Miao told Zhuge Liang: As a result, Li Miao fell out of Zhuge Liang's favour and was sent back from the frontline to the Shu capital Chengdu.(... 失亮意，還蜀。) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45.

After Zhuge Liang died in 234, the Shu emperor Liu Shan declared a three-day mourning period.([建興]十二年，亮卒，後主素服發哀三日， ...) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45. During this time, Li Miao wrote a memorial to Liu Shan as follows: Liu Shan turned furious after reading Li Miao's memorial and ordered his execution.(後主怒，下獄誅之。) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45.

Family Li Miao had three brothers: Li Chao (李朝), Li Shao (李邵), and an unnamed younger brother.

Li Chao (李朝), whose courtesy name was Weinan (偉南), started his career as an Officer of Merit (功曹) in his native Guanghan Commandery before he was nominated as a xiaolian (civil service candidate) for higher positions. He later served as the Prefect of Linqiong County (臨邛縣; present-day Qionglai, Sichuan) and as an aide-de-camp under Liu Bei. In 219, when Liu Bei declared himself "King of Hanzhong" following his victory in the Hanzhong Campaign, Li Chao was the one who wrote the declaration for him.(華陽國志曰：羣下上先主為漢中王；其文，朝所造也。) Huayang Guo Zhi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45. Li Chao participated in the Battle of Xiaoting against Wu and died in 222 in Yong'an (永安; present-day Fengjie County, Chongqing) after the battle.([李]偉南名朝，永南兄。郡功曹，舉孝廉，臨邛令，入為別駕從事。隨先主東征吳，章武二年卒於永安。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.

Li Shao (李邵), whose courtesy name was Yongnan (永南), served as a scribe and assistant officer under Liu Bei after the latter seized control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang in 214. During the Jianxing era (223–237) of Liu Shan's reign, Li Shao became an assistant official under Zhuge Liang. In 225, when Zhuge Liang went on his southern campaign in the Nanzhong region, he left Li Shao behind in Chengdu to serve as an assistant officer in the headquarters office (治中從事). Li Shao died in the same year.([李]永南名邵，廣漢郪人也。先主定蜀後，為州書佐部從事。建興元年，丞相亮辟為西曹掾。亮南征，留邵為治中從事，是歲卒。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.

Li Miao had an unnamed younger brother who was as famous as his brothers for his talent. However, he died at a relatively young age. Li Miao's three brothers were collectively nicknamed the "Three Dragons of the Li Family" (李氏三龍).(益部耆舊雜記曰：朝又有一弟，早亡，各有才望，時人號之李氏三龍。) Yi Bu Qijiu Zaji annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45. Pei Songzhi noted that Li Miao himself was not considered one of the "Dragons of the Li Family", probably because of his offensive and rude behaviour.(臣松之案耆舊所記，以朝、邵及早亡者為三龍。邈之狂直，不得在此數。) Pei Songzhi's annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45.

See also Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

Notes

References

Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).

Chang Qu (4th century). Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi). Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).