Liao Li

On one occasion, when Zhuge Liang's assistants Li Shao and Jiang Wan came to discuss something with him, he told them:

"The army is about to embark on a campaign in distant lands. You, gentlemen, are experts in planning and strategy. In the past, the Late Emperor chose to fight with Wu for control over three southern commanderies instead of conquering Hanzhong. In the end, he still lost the three commanderies to Wu. It was a huge waste of the time and efforts of our troops. When Hanzhong fell, he allowed Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to intrude into Yi Province and nearly lost control of the entire province. Even after he conquered Hanzhong, he failed to retrieve Marquis Guan's remains, and lost Shangyong to the enemy. Guan Yu thought too highly of himself despite being an incompetent military leader; he was also too headstrong and reckless. That was why we lost battles and entire armies. People like Xiang Lang and Wen Gong are of a mediocre class. Wen Gong is clueless about his role as a staff officer. In the past, Xiang Lang admired Ma Liang and his brothers so much that he compared them to sages. Now that he has become Chief Clerk, all he does is try to smooth things over between people. Guo Yanchang blindly follows others. He doesn't have what it takes to do great things, yet he became a Palace Attendant. Now that Shu is in decline, I don't think it is appropriate to allow these three persons to hold such important responsibilities. Wang Lian is low-class, greedy and corrupt. If he gains power, he will bring much suffering to the people. That is how we ended up in this situation."[11]

Li Shao and Jiang Wan reported Liao Li to Zhuge Liang, who then wrote a memorial to the emperor Liu Shan as follows:

"Changshui Colonel Liao Li is egoistic and arrogant. He made negative criticisms of key officials and openly accused the State of putting mediocre persons instead of wise and talented persons in important positions. He also said that our military leaders are little brats. He has defamed the Late Emperor and slandered our officials. When someone said that our army is well-trained and its units are clearly defined, Liao Li, with a haughty expression on his face, angrily replied: 'That is not worthy of mention!' That was not the only time he said something like this. If even a single sheep can cause its flock to go astray, how can we be sure that a person like Liao Li, who occupies a high government office, will not mislead and confuse the rest of society?"[12]

Zhuge Liang also wrote:

"When Liao Li was serving the Late Emperor, he was neither loyal nor filial. When he was supposed to be guarding Changsha, he left its gates open to the enemy. When he was serving in Ba Commandery, he engaged in suspicious activities. When he was serving under the General-in-Chief, he slandered and defamed people. When he was keeping vigil at the Late Emperor's funeral, he beheaded someone near the Late Emperor's casket. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, you appointed officials to key positions in the government. When Liao Li learnt that he had been given a military appointment, he told me: 'How am I a good fit for the military? Why am I given a position among the Five Colonels instead of the Ministers?' I told him: 'You hold an important position as a deputy to a General. As to why you aren't made a Minister, look at Li Yan. He also didn't get appointed as a Minister. You are a good fit for the Five Colonels.' Liao Li became very resentful and dissatisfied from then on."[13]