Lou Xuan


Lou Xuan, courtesy name Chengxian, was an official of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Life

Lou Xuan was from Qi County, Pei Commandery, which is around present-day Suzhou, Anhui. He served as an Imperial Clerk Supervising Agriculture during the reign of the third Wu emperor Sun Xiu.
After Sun Hao came to the throne in 264, he appointed Lou Xuan as a Central Regular Mounted Attendant alongside Wang Fan, Guo Chuo and Wan Yu. Lou Xuan later rose through the ranks and served as the Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery and then as Minister of Finance. He was also appointed as a Captain of the Imperial Guards in 270 and was in charge of the security of the imperial palace.
Lou Xuan was known for being just and fair, outspoken and critical of Sun Hao's outrageous behaviour. After someone accused Lou Xuan and He Shao of criticising Sun Hao's policies, the emperor so enraged that he removed Lou Xuan from office and exiled him to the remote Guang Province. After the official Hua He spoke up in defence of Lou Xuan, Sun Hao changed his mind and exiled Lou Xuan and his son Lou Ju to Jiaozhi Commandery.
Sun Hao had secretly ordered Zhang Yi, a military officer stationed in Jiaozhi Commandery, to kill Lou Xuan. However, Zhang Yi could not bear to kill Lou Xuan after seeing the latter's courageous behaviour in a battle against bandit forces. After Zhang Yi died, Lou Xuan collected his belongings and saw the secret order he received from Sun Hao and realised that Zhang Yi had defied the emperor's order and let him live. Lou Xuan then committed suicide.