Historical Record
Shao Ti, courtesy name Yuanbo, was a native of Yangping. In the later period of the state of Wei, he served as an Attached Officer of the Western Bureau. When the Prince of Wen, Sima Zhao, planned to dispatch Zhong Hui to lead an army to conquer Shu, Shao Ti remonstrated with Sima Zhao. He held that Zhong Hui, being unmarried and without weighty obligations, was not fit to lead troops alone, and advised sending another to go along with him. c:14903 Sima Zhao, however, merely laughed off the suggestion and did not adopt it. Later, when Zhong Hui falsely accused Deng Ai of rebellion and Sima Zhao prepared to campaign west in person, Shao Ti again raised an objection. He pointed out that the forces under Zhong Hui's command were five or six times those of Deng Ai, and argued that it would suffice merely to order Zhong Hui to arrest Deng Ai, so that Sima Zhao need not go in person. c:14904 Sima Zhao countered by asking whether Shao Ti had forgotten his earlier worry that Zhong Hui might rebel, and said that this journey was made out of trust in Zhong Hui—while hinting that he already had a plan in mind. In the end, when Sima Zhao's army reached Chang'an, Zhong Hui had indeed already perished, just as Sima Zhao had foreseen. c:14904
In the Novel
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Shao Ti is cast as an adviser of Sima Zhao, his main scenes concentrated on the conquest of Shu and the rebellion of Zhong Hui. In the fourth year of Jingyuan, as Zhong Hui set out to conquer Shu, Shao Ti privately admonished Sima Zhao, holding that Zhong Hui was "great in ambition and lofty in heart, and must not be allowed to hold sole command of great power." c:3860 Sima Zhao replied, "How could I not know this?" and with a few words dispelled Shao Ti's doubts, so that "his suspicions were at once relieved." c:3860 Thereafter Sima Zhao set forth to Shao Ti his deeper considerations in conquering Shu, pointing out that even if Zhong Hui harbored treacherous intent, the people of Shu would not aid him and the Wei officers and soldiers would surely not follow him in rebellion, and emphasizing that these words "are known only to you and me—on no account let them leak out." c:3861 Hearing this, Shao Ti "bowed in submission," c:3861 showing his admiration for Sima Zhao's planning. When Sima Zhao prepared to campaign in person to deal with Zhong Hui's arrest of Deng Ai and the upheaval it might cause, Shao Ti again remonstrated, holding that Zhong Hui's forces far exceeded Deng Ai's and that Sima Zhao need not go himself. c:3862 Sima Zhao smilingly reminded Shao Ti that this journey was not on account of Deng Ai but truly on account of Zhong Hui, confirming Shao Ti's earlier prediction that Zhong Hui might rebel. Shao Ti expressed his understanding of this and advised Sima Zhao to "by all means keep it secret and let nothing leak out." c:3862
Key Relationships
* Sima Zhao (advises_in): Shao Ti was one of Sima Zhao's important advisers, repeatedly offering counsel at crucial moments. In both the historical record and the novel's portrayal, Shao Ti displayed loyalty and reverence toward Sima Zhao. In history, he raised objections regarding Zhong Hui's conquest of Shu and Sima Zhao's personal campaign. [c:14903, c:14904] In the novel, he was moreover a witness to and one who understood Sima Zhao's deep foresight, "bowing in submission" to his planning. c:3861
* Zhong Hui (advises_in): Shao Ti was wary of Zhong Hui's ability and ambition. In the historical sources, he advised Sima Zhao not to let Zhong Hui lead the conquest of Shu alone. c:14903 In the novel, this wariness is even more pronounced; he explicitly pointed out that Zhong Hui was "great in ambition and lofty in heart, and must not be allowed to hold sole command of great power," c:3860 and predicted that he might rebel (unique to the novel).
* Deng Ai (advises_in): Shao Ti's view of Deng Ai is reflected mainly in his analysis comparing his forces with Zhong Hui's. He held that Zhong Hui's forces far exceeded Deng Ai's, enough to deal with Deng Ai on his own, so that Sima Zhao need not campaign in person. [c:14904, c:3862]
Iconic Scenes
* Remonstrating against Zhong Hui holding sole command of the conquest of Shu: Shao Ti remonstrated with Sima Zhao, holding that Zhong Hui should not lead the conquest of Shu alone, and advising that another be sent along. c:14903 This scene is reinforced in the novel, where Shao Ti explicitly pointed out that Zhong Hui was "great in ambition" and must not be allowed to "hold sole command of great power," c:3860 displaying his insight into the latent threat posed by Zhong Hui.
* The dialogue before Sima Zhao's personal campaign: When Sima Zhao prepared to campaign west to deal with Zhong Hui's false accusation of Deng Ai, Shao Ti again remonstrated, holding that Zhong Hui's forces were sufficient and Sima Zhao need not go himself. c:14904 Sima Zhao seized this occasion to reveal to Shao Ti his own forecast that Zhong Hui might rebel, and asked in return whether Shao Ti had forgotten his earlier worry. [c:14904, c:3862] This dialogue displays both Sima Zhao's deep foresight and Shao Ti's standing as Sima Zhao's trusted adviser, as well as his "submission" to Sima Zhao's planning. c:3861
* Understanding and keeping secret Sima Zhao's stratagem: In the novel, after Sima Zhao revealed to Shao Ti his forecast of Zhong Hui's rebellion, Shao Ti not only understood but also advised Sima Zhao to "by all means keep it secret and let nothing leak out." c:3862 This reflects Shao Ti's trust and loyalty toward Sima Zhao and his sensitivity to political secrets (unique to the novel).
Relationships
2 relationships
Lord & vassal1
Other1
Quotes
6 recorded lines · 3 featured
「今主公遣鍾會領十萬兵伐蜀，愚料會志大心高，不可使獨掌大權。」
This line foretells that Zhong Hui is over-ambitious and too talented to be entrusted with sole authority, showing Shao Ti's far-sighted discernment.
「鍾會之兵，多鄧艾六倍，當今會收艾足矣，何必明公自行耶？」
This line advises Sima Zhao that a personal expedition is unnecessary, pointing out Zhong Hui's superiority in troops, and forms the crux of his remonstrance.
「鍾會所統，五六倍於鄧艾，但可敕會取艾，不足自行。」
This line, similar to the novel's version, stresses that Zhong Hui's forces far outmatch Deng Ai's and are enough to settle matters on their own.
Chapters4 回 ▸
- 史ch.28
- 演ch.115ch.116ch.118
Relationship timeline3 条 ▸
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- My name is Shao Ti, my courtesy name Yuanbo, and I am from Yangping. I served Wei as an official in the Western Bureau.