Zheng Du

Historical Record

Zheng Du, a native of Guanghan, once served as a Department Head (congshi) of Yi Province. When Liu Bei led his troops to attack Yi Province and besieged Luocheng, Zheng Du presented a strategy to Liu Zhang, advising a scorched-earth approach. He pointed out that Liu Bei's army had come from afar, numbered fewer than ten thousand, that its soldiers had not yet fully submitted, and that it lacked baggage trains, relying mainly on foraging from the open country for provisions. Zheng Du therefore proposed relocating all the people of Baxi and Zitong to the west of the Fu River, burning all granaries and field grain along the way, then digging deep trenches and raising high ramparts to await the arrival of Liu Bei's army. He held that once Liu Bei's army arrived, they should refuse its challenges, leaving it without supplies over the long term. Zheng Du judged that within a hundred days Liu Bei's army would inevitably withdraw of its own accord for want of food, at which point sending out troops in pursuit would let them be captured ^c:3864.

However, Liu Zhang did not adopt Zheng Du's plan. He retorted: "I have heard that one resists the enemy in order to bring peace to the people; I have never heard of moving the people in order to avoid the enemy." Liu Zhang thus dismissed Zheng Du and did not use his advice. Later, when Liu Bei's army besieged Luocheng, Fa Zheng wrote a letter to Liu Zhang in which he mentioned that Liu Zhang had failed to follow Zheng Du's plan—indirectly confirming the historical fact of Zheng Du's counsel ^c:3864.

In the Novel

In the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Zheng Du's image largely accords with the historical record: he appears mainly as a strategist of Liu Zhang and presents the scorched-earth plan. After the fall of Luocheng, Liu Zhang gathered his officials to discuss countermeasures, and Zheng Du again put forward the same strategy as in the histories. He analyzed that Liu Bei's army was small in number, its soldiers not yet attached, that it lacked baggage trains and relied on foraging from the open country. He therefore advised relocating the people of Baxi and Zitong to the west of the Fu River, burning all granaries and field grain, and holding fast behind deep trenches and high ramparts without giving battle. He predicted that within a hundred days Liu Bei's army would inevitably withdraw for want of food, at which point sending out troops in pursuit could capture Liu Bei ^c:14906.

As in the histories, Liu Zhang in the novel also rejected Zheng Du's advice, saying: "I have heard that one resists the enemy in order to bring peace to the people; I have never heard of moving the people in order to guard against the enemy. This is no plan for preservation." ^c:14906 The novel further depicts the effect of this episode on Liu Bei's side. When Fa Zheng's messenger reported back to Liu Bei, mentioning Zheng Du's plan urging Liu Zhang to burn the field grain and relocate the people, both Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were greatly alarmed, thinking, "If this advice were used, our position would be perilous!" ^c:3865 Fa Zheng, however, confidently stated that Liu Zhang would certainly not adopt the plan. Sure enough, before long came word that Liu Zhang was unwilling to move the people and would not heed Zheng Du's words, whereupon Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were set at ease ^c:3865. Through the reactions of Liu Bei and Kongming, this episode obliquely underscores the deadly effectiveness of Zheng Du's plan, while also highlighting Liu Zhang's benevolence—or pedantry—which ultimately led to his defeat.

Key Relationships

* Liu Zhang (advises_in): Zheng Du was a Department Head under Liu Zhang and once presented him the scorched-earth plan, intending to thwart Liu Bei's advance. However, because Liu Zhang could not bear to relocate the people, the plan was not adopted, ultimately leading to the loss of Yi Province ^{c:3864 c:14906}.
* Liu Bei: Zheng Du's plan was aimed at countering Liu Bei's invasion. Had it been adopted, it would have caused Liu Bei's army great difficulty and might even have forced its withdrawal ^{c:3864 c:3865}.
* Zhuge Liang: In the novel, both Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei believed that, once carried out, Zheng Du's plan would pose a grave threat to them ^c:3865 (novel-only).
* Fa Zheng: Fa Zheng had a clear understanding of Zheng Du's plan, but knowing Liu Zhang's character well, he foresaw that Liu Zhang would not adopt Zheng Du's advice, thereby reassuring Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang ^{c:3864 c:3865}.

Iconic Scenes

* Presenting the scorched-earth plan: This is the scene for which Zheng Du is best known. At the critical moment of Liu Bei's attack on Yi Province, Zheng Du presented to Liu Zhang the strategy of relocating the people, burning the provisions, and then holding fast without giving battle. Had this plan succeeded, it would have effectively checked Liu Bei's offensive and might even have forced his withdrawal ^{c:3864 c:14906}.
* Liu Zhang's refusal: On the grounds of "resisting the enemy to bring peace to the people, not having heard of moving the people to avoid the enemy," Liu Zhang rejected Zheng Du's plan and dismissed him. This decision was not only a turning point in Zheng Du's fate but also directly affected the course of the war in Yi Province ^{c:3864 c:14906}.
* Liu Bei and Kongming changing color at the plan: In the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, when Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang learned of Zheng Du's plan, both were greatly alarmed, believing that if it were adopted, they would fall into peril. This episode highlights the effectiveness and deadliness of Zheng Du's plan ^c:3865 (novel-only).