Yu Fan

Historical Record

Yu Fan, styled Zhongxiang, was a man of Yuyao in Kuaiji. From childhood he was fond of learning and possessed of a lofty spirit. In his youth, he once cleverly returned a slight from a retainer who disdained him with a letter, showing his early brilliance and uncommon character. The Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, Wang Lang, once appointed him Merit Officer ^c:3263. When Sun Ce campaigned against Kuaiji, Yu Fan was in mourning for his father, yet he still went to the gate of the office in mourning garb to urge Wang Lang to avoid battle, but Wang Lang could not adopt his counsel. After the defeat, Wang Lang fled, and Yu Fan followed and protected him the whole way, as far as Houguan in the east. The magistrate of Houguan shut the city and would not admit them; Yu Fan went and persuaded him, and only then were they allowed in. Wang Lang, moved by his loyalty and righteousness, urged him to return home on account of his aged mother. After Yu Fan returned home, Sun Ce on the contrary appointed him Merit Officer, treated him with the courtesy of a friend, and even personally called on him at his home ^c:3263.

Sun Ce was by nature fond of galloping and hunting; Yu Fan once frankly remonstrated, pointing out the dangers of his venturing out lightly and in disguise, and urging that as a lord he should value his dignity and bearing. Although Sun Ce agreed with his words, at times, when troubled and restless, he would still go out. Once, while Sun Ce was campaigning against the Shanyue, he walked alone in the mountains with Yu Fan; Yu Fan, alert to the danger, urged Sun Ce to dismount and go on foot, and volunteered to lead the way in front, displaying his valor and loyalty ^c:3265. When Sun Ce wished to take Yuzhang, he specially sent Yu Fan to persuade the Grand Administrator Hua Xin to surrender. Yu Fan argued forcefully and ultimately brought Hua Xin to open the city and submit. Sun Ce once admired Yu Fan's broad learning and wished to send him to Xu to mingle with the gentry of the Central Plains, in order to refute the Central Plains' talk of a "wild-talking boy"; but Yu Fan modestly declined, calling himself Sun Ce's "household treasure" whom he was unwilling to show to others. Sun Ce accepted his words with a laugh and ordered him to remain and guard Kuaiji ^c:3265.

After Sun Ce died, the various senior officials all wished to leave the city to attend the funeral, but Yu Fan dissuaded them, pointing out that the mountain folk of neighboring counties might take the chance to revolt, and advising them to stay and guard the city walls against the unexpected. On his advice, all the counties followed suit and remained at peace ^c:3266. Thereafter, Yu Fan was recommended by the province as a Flourishing Talent; the Han court summoned him as Attendant Imperial Clerk, and Cao Cao too summoned him for the office of Excellency of Works, but he took up none of them, and even showed disdain at Cao Cao's summons ^c:3266.

After Sun Quan succeeded to power, he appointed Yu Fan Commandant of Cavalry. However, Yu Fan was by nature blunt and forthright, repeatedly remonstrating to his lord's face, and Sun Quan therefore grew displeased with him. Moreover, his nature did not accord with common custom, and he suffered much slander, until at last he was banished to Jingxian in Danyang ^c:3268. When Lü Meng plotted to seize Guan Yu, he claimed illness and returned to Jianye, and, on the pretext that Yu Fan was also versed in medicine, requested that he accompany him—in truth hoping to use the chance to have Yu Fan pardoned. After Lü Meng took Nan Commandery, Mi Fang opened the city and surrendered. Lü Meng was making music outside the city, but Yu Fan warned him that there might still be ambush schemes within the city and advised him to enter quickly and take control; Lü Meng adopted his advice and avoided potential danger. After Guan Yu's defeat and death, Sun Quan ordered Yu Fan to divine, and Yu Fan accurately predicted that Guan Yu would be beheaded within two days, to Sun Quan's astonishment ^c:3268.

The Wei general Yu Jin was captured by Guan Yu and later released by Sun Quan. Once, when Sun Quan rode side by side with Yu Jin, Yu Fan rebuked Yu Jin as a surrendered captive unworthy to ride abreast of the lord, and even wished to strike him with a whip, but was stopped by Sun Quan. On another occasion, when Sun Quan feasted his ministers and Yu Jin wept on hearing the music, Yu Fan again mocked him for seeking to escape blame through pretense. Sun Quan was thereby rather displeased with Yu Fan ^c:3271. After Sun Quan declared himself King of Wu, at one banquet Sun Quan personally offered a toast, but Yu Fan feigned drunkenness and would not accept the wine. Sun Quan flew into a rage and wished to strike him with his sword; only because the Grand Minister of Agriculture Liu Ji embraced Sun Quan and bitterly remonstrated was Yu Fan spared death. Sun Quan thereupon ordered that henceforth, anyone who spoke of killing while drunk should not be killed ^c:3272.

Yu Fan once met Mi Fang while traveling by boat; Mi Fang's boat carried many men and wished Yu Fan to give way. Yu Fan sternly rebuked Mi Fang for failing in loyalty and faith and being unworthy of the title of general, and Mi Fang, hearing this, shut his door and gave way. Later, when Yu Fan passed by Mi Fang's camp by carriage, the camp officers shut the gate and would not let him through; Yu Fan again angrily rebuked them, saying "what should be shut you open, what should be open you shut," and Mi Fang, hearing of it, was abashed. Yu Fan was blunt and forthright by nature, and repeatedly misspoke through drink. Sun Quan once discussed the matter of immortals with Zhang Zhao, but Yu Fan pointed at Zhang Zhao and said: "These are all dead men, yet they speak of immortals—how could there be immortals in the world!" Sun Quan's accumulated anger at last led him to banish Yu Fan to Jiaozhou. Even in his place of exile, Yu Fan lectured tirelessly, his disciples often numbering several hundred. He also composed annotations on the Laozi, the Analects, and the Discourses of the States, all of which were handed down to the world ^c:3273.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yu Fan's image, building on the historical record, is given more dramatic color. He first appears when Sun Ce attacks Kuaiji, at which time he is already a clerk of Kuaiji Commandery. When the Grand Administrator Wang Lang wished to lead troops to rescue Baihu, Yu Fan frankly said it should not be done, pointing out that Sun Ce was a benevolent and righteous army while Baihu was a brutal mob, and that Baihu should be captured and presented to Sun Ce ^c:3275. Although this differs from the historical account of his urging Wang Lang to avoid battle, both reflect his clear understanding of the situation.

After Sun Ce took Kuaiji, because Dong Xi mentioned that Yu Fan had once recommended a divine physician, Sun Ce learned of his worthy reputation and specially sent Zhang Zhao and Dong Xi to invite him. Yu Fan came at the invitation and recommended to Sun Ce Hua Tuo, "the divine physician of the age" ^c:3276. This episode has no basis in the histories and is a creation of the novel to enrich the relationships and plot of the characters.

After Sun Ce seized the Jiangdong region, the novel relates that Sun Ce sent Yu Fan to dispatch a proclamation to Yuzhang, prompting the Grand Administrator of Yuzhang, Hua Xin, to surrender ^c:6222. This accords with the historical episode of Yu Fan personally going to persuade Hua Xin to surrender, but the novel simplifies it to "dispatching a proclamation," omitting the details.

On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Yu Fan played one of the roles of the Jiangdong ministers questioning Zhuge Liang in the "Debate with the Scholars of Jiangdong." He loudly questioned Zhuge Liang about the threat of Cao Cao's million-strong army and mocked Liu Bei: "Defeated at Dangyang, at his wits' end at Xiakou, abjectly begging others for rescue, and yet still saying he is unafraid—this is truly grand talk deceiving people!" ^c:3277 Zhuge Liang rebutted him with the argument that Liu Bei was a benevolent and righteous army withdrawing to bide his time, finally leaving Yu Fan with nothing to say. This episode is a fiction of the novel to highlight Zhuge Liang's resourcefulness; in the histories there is no record of Yu Fan taking part in the "Debate with the Scholars of Jiangdong."

After Guan Yu carelessly lost Jing Province, Sun Quan wished to recover Gong'an and Nan Commandery. Yu Fan volunteered, saying that he had an old friendship with the Gong'an defending general Shi Ren and was willing to use his "three-inch tongue" to persuade him to surrender ^c:3278. Sun Quan was delighted and sent Yu Fan accordingly. This episode likewise has no basis in the histories and is a creation of the novel to display Yu Fan's eloquence and his loyalty to Wu.

Key Relationships

* Wang Lang (serves): Yu Fan once served as Wang Lang's Merit Officer, and when Wang Lang was defeated and fled, Yu Fan, heedless of his own safety, followed and protected him the whole way, displaying his loyal and righteous integrity ^c:3263.
* Sun Ce (friend_of/serves): Sun Ce treated Yu Fan with the courtesy of a friend and made important use of him as Merit Officer. Yu Fan repeatedly remonstrated frankly with Sun Ce and protected him at moments of peril, being an important strategist and friend to Sun Ce ^c:3265.
* Sun Quan's Faction (serves): After Sun Ce died, Yu Fan continued to serve Sun Quan as Commandant of Cavalry. He repeatedly remonstrated to his lord's face; though he thereby offended Sun Quan, his loyalty was unwavering, and he contributed to the stability and development of the Sun-Wu regime ^c:3268.
* Cao Cao (rival_of): Cao Cao once summoned Yu Fan for the office of Excellency of Works, but Yu Fan would not take it and showed disdain, regarding him as a "Robber Zhi" ^c:3266. In the novel, Yu Fan also questioned Zhuge Liang's slighting of Cao Cao, indirectly reflecting his wariness of Cao Cao ^c:3277 (novel only).
* Hua Xin (rival_of): Yu Fan once, on Sun Ce's order, went to persuade the Grand Administrator of Yuzhang Hua Xin to surrender, arguing forcefully and bringing Hua Xin to submit ^c:3265.
* Lü Meng (friend_of): Lü Meng, on the pretext that Yu Fan was also versed in medicine, requested that he accompany him—in truth hoping to use the chance to have Yu Fan pardoned. Yu Fan also warned Lü Meng to enter the city and take control quickly, avoiding potential danger ^c:3268.
* Yu Jin (rival_of): Yu Fan repeatedly rebuked Yu Jin as a surrendered captive, disdaining him and even wishing to strike him with a whip, displaying his loathing for a traitor general ^c:3271.
* Mi Fang (rival_of): Yu Fan sternly rebuked Mi Fang for failing in loyalty and faith and being unworthy of the title of general, and repeatedly raged at his conduct, displaying his contempt for the disloyal ^c:3273.
* Zhuge Liang (rival_of): In the novel, Yu Fan was one of the participants in the "Debate with the Scholars of Jiangdong," questioning Zhuge Liang's judgment of Cao Cao, but was ultimately refuted by Zhuge Liang ^c:3277 (novel only).

Signature Scenes

* Remonstrating with Wang Lang to avoid battle and following to protect his lord: When Sun Ce attacked Kuaiji, Yu Fan, in mourning garb, remonstrated with Wang Lang to avoid battle; after Wang Lang's defeat, Yu Fan still did not abandon him but followed and protected him as far as Houguan, displaying his loyalty, righteousness, and daring ^c:3263.
* Protecting Sun Ce in the mountains: While Sun Ce was campaigning against the Shanyue, he walked alone in the mountains with Yu Fan; Yu Fan, alert to the danger, urged Sun Ce to dismount and go on foot, and volunteered to lead the way in front, protecting Sun Ce's safety ^c:3265.
* Out-arguing Hua Xin with wit: On Sun Ce's order, Yu Fan went to Yuzhang to persuade the Grand Administrator Hua Xin to surrender. He argued forcefully and ultimately brought Hua Xin to open the city and submit, displaying his outstanding eloquence and wits ^c:3265.
* Predicting Guan Yu's death: After Guan Yu's defeat and death, Sun Quan ordered Yu Fan to divine, and Yu Fan accurately predicted that Guan Yu would be beheaded within two days, displaying his insight and powers of prophecy ^c:3268.
* Spared death while drunk: After Sun Quan declared himself King of Wu, at one banquet Yu Fan feigned drunkenness and would not accept Sun Quan's toast, enraging Sun Quan, who wished to kill him. Only because Liu Ji bitterly remonstrated was he spared; this event also led Sun Quan to order that no one be killed for words spoken while drunk ^c:3272.
* Angrily rebuking Mi Fang: Yu Fan repeatedly rebuked Mi Fang for failing in loyalty and faith and being unworthy of the title of general, displaying his blunt, upright nature and his hatred of evil ^c:3273.
* Debate with the Scholars of Jiangdong (novel only): Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Yu Fan, as one of the Jiangdong ministers, questioned Zhuge Liang's judgment of Cao Cao, but was ultimately refuted by Zhuge Liang, highlighting Zhuge Liang's resourcefulness ^c:3277.
* Persuading Shi Ren to surrender (novel only): In the novel, Yu Fan volunteered to use his old friendship to persuade the Gong'an defending general Shi Ren to surrender, displaying his eloquence and his loyalty to Wu ^c:3278.