Xing Zhen

Historical Record

Xing Zhen appears in the histories of the Three Kingdoms period chiefly as an envoy of Cao Wei. His life and deeds are little recorded in the official histories, but he played a key role in an important diplomatic event during the reign of the Wei emperor Cao Pi. In autumn, the eighth month of the first year of Huangchu (220 CE), Sun Quan sent an envoy to present a memorial and returned the previously captured Yu Jin and others, declaring himself a subject of Cao Wei. In response, the Wei emperor Cao Pi dispatched the Chamberlain for Ceremonials Xing Zhen, bearing the staff of authority, to go to the Southland to appoint Sun Quan as General-in-Chief and to invest him as King of Wu, at the same time granting him the Nine Bestowments.^[1]

This investiture was an important node in the developing relations between Cao Wei and Eastern Wu. When Xing Zhen arrived in the Southland, Sun Quan personally came out to the postal pavilion to receive him, as a mark of respect. However, Xing Zhen, as an envoy of a superior state, displayed a certain air of arrogance. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Zhao was very angered by this, and Xu Sheng was even more agitated, saying to his colleagues, "We who cannot bestir ourselves and risk our lives to annex Xu and Luo for the state and swallow up Ba and Shu, and instead make our lord swear an oath with Xing Zhen—is this not a disgrace!" As he spoke, tears streamed down his face. Hearing this, Xing Zhen sighed to his attendants, "With generals and ministers such as these, the Southland will not long remain subordinate to others."^[2] This remark reflected not only Xing Zhen's recognition of the talents of the Southland but also hinted indirectly that the Eastern Wu regime did not intend to submit for long. Thereafter Xing Zhen is rarely mentioned in the histories, and the details of his personal life cannot be verified; yet as a witness to and executor of a turning point in Wei-Wu relations, he left a brief but profound mark on history.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xing Zhen's image and deeds largely accord with the official record, but with added literary color and dialogue to highlight character and dramatic conflict. In Chapter 82, after Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, Sun Quan, fearing the military might of Liu Bei's campaign against Wu, dispatched Zhao Zi to Cao Wei to request submission. Cao Pi adopted Liu Ye's advice and decided to exploit the strife between Wu and Shu, so he issued a decree commanding the Chamberlain for Ceremonials Xing Zhen to bear the patent investing Sun Quan as King of Wu, with the addition of the Nine Bestowments.^[3]

In the novel, Xing Zhen went to Eastern Wu together with Zhao Zi. When Sun Quan led his hundred officials out of the city to receive him, Xing Zhen, presuming on his status as the envoy of a superior state, "entered the gate without alighting from his carriage."^[4] This detail is unique to the novel and serves to reinforce Xing Zhen's arrogant image. Zhang Zhao was greatly angered by this and rebuked Xing Zhen's disrespectful conduct in a stern voice, forcing him to hastily dismount. Thereupon Xu Sheng wept aloud behind the carriage, voicing his sense of humiliation at Sun Quan's accepting investiture, his words similar to those in the historical record. Hearing this, Xing Zhen likewise sighed, "With generals and ministers such as these in the Southland, they will surely not long remain beneath others!"^[4]

Through these details, Romance of the Three Kingdoms not only recreates the historical facts but, through the words and conduct of the characters, vividly portrays the states of mind of both Wei and Wu in this diplomatic event: the scheming of Cao Wei, the arrogance of Xing Zhen, the forbearance of Eastern Wu, and the loyalty, valor, and unyielding spirit of the Southland's officers. Though the novel's depiction of Xing Zhen is brief, through his role as envoy it successfully sets off the complex political situation and the emotions of the figures of the time.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Xing Zhen was the Chamberlain for Ceremonials of Cao Wei, dispatched by the Wei emperor Cao Pi, bearing the staff of authority, to go to the Southland to invest Sun Quan as King of Wu with the addition of the Nine Bestowments.^[1] He was the executor of Cao Wei's foreign policy, representing the authority and intentions of Cao Wei.
* Sun Quan (the one invested): The main task of Xing Zhen's mission was to invest Sun Quan. His interaction with Sun Quan reflected the nominal lord-subject relationship between Wei and Wu at the time and Sun Quan's temporary submission to Cao Wei out of strategic calculation.^[3]
* Zhang Zhao, Xu Sheng (objects of conflict): During Xing Zhen's mission to the Southland, Zhang Zhao voiced displeasure at Xing Zhen's arrogance, while Xu Sheng felt humiliated by Sun Quan's accepting investiture and wept in public. These interactions reveal the differing attitudes within the Southland camp toward accepting a Wei title and their defense of national dignity.^[2]

Iconic Scenes

* Bearing the staff to invest the King of Wu: As an envoy of Cao Wei, Xing Zhen bore the staff of authority to the Southland to appoint Sun Quan as General-in-Chief and King of Wu, with the addition of the Nine Bestowments. This is his most central historical event, marking the establishment of a brief "lord-subject" relationship between Cao Wei and Eastern Wu.^[1]
* The dispute over dismounting at the postal pavilion (unique to the novel): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Xing Zhen arrived in the Southland, presuming on his status as the envoy of a superior state, he entered the gate without alighting from his carriage, provoking Zhang Zhao's strong displeasure and rebuke and forcing him at last to dismount. This scene highlights Xing Zhen's arrogance and Zhang Zhao's fierce resolve.^[4]
* Sighing on hearing Xu Sheng weep: In both history and the novel, after hearing Xu Sheng weep bitterly over Sun Quan's accepting investiture and sighing, "With generals and ministers such as these, the Southland will not long remain subordinate to others," Xing Zhen voiced a similar lament to his attendants. This was not only Xing Zhen's recognition of the Southland's talents but also foreshadowed that the Eastern Wu regime would not long remain a subject of Cao Wei.^[2] This scene profoundly displays the complex and subtle political situation and the psychology of the figures of the time.