Huan Fan 桓範

After Emperor Ming took the throne, the Central Commander of the Army Huan Fan recommended the Master of Writing Xu Xuan. He said that when emperors and kings employ men, they put strategy first in times of contention and take loyalty and righteousness as foremost once the division of power is settled, citing how Duke Wen of Jin followed Jiu Fan's plan yet rewarded Yong Ji's words, and how Emperor Gaozu of Han used Chen Ping's wisdom yet entrusted what came after him to Zhou Bo. Xu Xuan, he said, was loyal, honest and upright, with the integrity to guard the altars of the state; the post of Supervisor was vacant and Xu Xuan was acting in charge of its affairs, so there was no one better suited to be trusted as a confidant with a heavy charge. Emperor Ming at length made Xu Xuan Left Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat. Records, Wei 22 §72–73

When the General-in-Chief Cao Shuang monopolized power and employed He Yan, Deng Yang and others, the Minister of Ceremonies Wang Su, while discussing the government of the day with the Grand Commandant Jiang Ji and the Minister of Agriculture Huan Fan, said with a stern expression, 'These men are of the same sort as Hong Gong and Shi Xian.' Hearing of this, Cao Shuang told He Yan and the others that the high ministers were already likening them to the wicked men of former ages, and that they must all be careful together. Records, Wei 13 §91–92

In the 1st month of the 1st year of Jiaping (249), when the Son of Heaven's carriage went to pay respects at the Gaoping Mausoleum and Cao Shuang and his brothers all went with it, the Grand Tutor Sima Xuanwang (Sima Yi) put his troops in order, first seized the arsenal, then went out and stationed himself at the floating bridge over the Luo River, and memorialized that the officials and troops of Cao Shuang and his brothers be dismissed and that they return to their residences as marquises. Cao Shuang received the memorial but did not pass it on to the Son of Heaven, and, driven into a corner, did not know what to do. Records, Wei 4 §28Records, Wei 9 §80 · 83–84

The Grand Minister of Agriculture Huan Fan, a native of Pei, heard that troops had risen; without answering the Empress Dowager's summons, he forged an edict to have the Pingchang Gate opened, seized swords and halberds, forced the gate officer to come with him, and fled south to Cao Shuang. Sima Xuanwang, learning of it, said, 'Huan Fan will lay out a plan, but Cao Shuang will surely be unable to use Huan Fan's plan.' Records, Wei 9 §84

Huan Fan urged Cao Shuang to move the Son of Heaven's carriage to Xuchang and summon troops from outside. When Cao Shuang and his brothers hesitated and could not decide, Huan Fan said again to Cao Xi, 'At a time like today, even if your family sought to become poor and humble, could it still be had?' He went on to say that even a common man holding a single hostage still hopes to live, and that now they were with the Son of Heaven, so if they issued commands to the realm, who would dare not respond? Cao Xi still could not accept it. Records, Wei 9 §84–85

When the Palace Attendant Xu Yun and the Master of Writing Chen Tai urged Cao Shuang to admit his guilt early, Cao Shuang sent the two to Sima Xuanwang to admit his guilt and beg for death, and only then passed the memorial on to the Son of Heaven. Cao Shuang and his brothers were dismissed from office and returned to their residences as marquises. Records, Wei 9 §85

Earlier, when the eunuch of the Yellow Gate Zhang Dang had been arrested and tried for privately giving Cao Shuang Talented Ladies he had selected, Zhang Dang testified that Cao Shuang had secretly plotted rebellion with He Yan and the others, had even drilled troops in advance, and intended to rise within the 3rd month. The high ministers and court officials deliberated at court and held that Cao Shuang, together with He Yan, Deng Yang, Zhang Dang and others, had coveted the sacred vessel of the throne, and that Huan Fan had sided with the guilty, so that all were guilty of great treason and impiety. Records, Wei 9 §87Records, Wei 4 §28

Thereupon Cao Shuang, Cao Xi, Cao Xun, He Yan, Deng Yang, Ding Mi, Bi Gui, Li Sheng, Huan Fan, Zhang Dang and the others were all executed and their clans exterminated to the third degree. The Annals of the Three Young Emperors records that the Masters of Writing Ding Mi, Deng Yang and He Yan, the Colonel-Director of Retainers Bi Gui, the Inspector of Jing Province Li Sheng and the Grand Minister of Agriculture Huan Fan had all been party to Cao Shuang's treacherous plots, and so their clans were exterminated to the third degree. Records, Wei 9 §88Records, Wei 4 §28