Fa Zheng

Historical Record

Fa Zheng, styled Xiaozhi, was a native of Mei in Youfufeng. His grandfather Fa Zhen was renowned for his pure conduct and lofty reputation, and his father Fa Yan once served as an aide to the Minister over the Masses and as Left Supervisor of the Court of Judicial Review.^[1] In the early Jian'an years, when famine struck the realm, Fa Zheng and his fellow commandery native Meng Da together entered Shu to take refuge with Liu Zhang. At first, Fa Zheng served as magistrate of Xindu, and was later summoned to the post of Colonel of Army Counsel; but he was not given important responsibility, and because of his status as a sojourning guest he suffered slander from his fellow commandery natives, so that his ambitions were hard to fulfill.^[1]

Zhang Song, the Aide-de-camp of Yi Province, was on good terms with Fa Zheng, and both believed that Liu Zhang was inadequate to accomplish great things, often sighing together in private. After Zhang Song returned from visiting Cao Cao in Jingzhou, he persuaded Liu Zhang to break off relations with Cao Cao and instead ally with Liu Bei. When Liu Zhang asked who could serve as envoy, Zhang Song recommended Fa Zheng. Unable to decline, Fa Zheng at last went to Jingzhou. Upon his return, he praised Liu Bei to Zhang Song as a man of heroic talent and grand strategy; the two secretly conferred, hoping together to assist Liu Bei, but were vexed by the lack of opportunity.^[1]

Later, Liu Zhang heard that Cao Cao intended to dispatch generals to campaign against Zhang Lu, and was fearful at heart. Zhang Song seized the chance to persuade Liu Zhang that he should welcome Liu Bei into Shu to attack Zhang Lu, and again dispatched Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng went on his mission and privately offered Liu Bei a strategy: "With your, illustrious general's, heroic talent, exploit the weakness of Liu Zhang; Zhang Song is a pillar minister of Yi Province who can respond from within; then, relying on the riches of Yi Province and resting upon the natural defenses of this Land of Abundance, to accomplish the great enterprise in this way is as easy as turning over one's hand." Liu Bei adopted this plan, ascended the river, and met Liu Zhang at Fucheng. Afterward, Liu Bei went north to Jiameng and then turned south to attack Liu Zhang.^[1]

While Liu Bei was besieging Luocheng, Liu Zhang's registrar Huang Quan and his attendant officer Wang Lei had remonstrated against bringing Liu Bei into Shu, but Liu Zhang heeded none of it.^[2] Zheng Du offered Liu Zhang a plan, advising that the populace of Baxi and Zitong be moved west of the Fu River, that all granaries and field grain be burned, and that high ramparts and deep moats be built to wait until Liu Bei's army ran out of provisions and withdrew. Hearing of this plan, Liu Bei was worried and consulted Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng held that Liu Zhang would in the end not adopt it, so there was no need to worry. Sure enough, Liu Zhang dismissed Zheng Du and did not use his plan, on the grounds that "I have heard of resisting the enemy to bring peace to the people, but never of disturbing the people to avoid the enemy."^[3]

After Liu Bei took Luocheng, he advanced to besiege Chengdu. Liu Zhang at last came out and surrendered. After Liu Bei took control of Yi Province, he appointed Zhuge Liang as his pillar, Fa Zheng as his chief strategist, and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Ma Chao as his fangs and claws. Fa Zheng was appointed Administrator of Shu Commandery and General Who Displays Martial Might; outwardly he governed the capital region, and inwardly he served as Liu Bei's chief strategist.^[4] Fa Zheng was a man of clear-cut gratitude and grudges, with the character that "for a single meal's kindness, or a glare's grudge, there was nothing he would not repay," and he even killed and wounded several people on his own authority. Someone complained to Zhuge Liang, holding that Fa Zheng was too unrestrained and that his power and favor should be curbed. But Zhuge Liang said: "When our lord was at Gong'an, to the north he feared the strength of Cao Cao, to the east he dreaded the pressure of Sun Quan, and close at hand he feared that Lady Sun might cause trouble at his very elbow; at such a time, advancing and retreating he was in dire straits, and Fa Xiaozhi was his wing and support, enabling him to soar aloft and no longer be restrained—how then can we forbid Fa Zheng and prevent him from acting as he wishes!"^[3]

In the twenty-second year of Jian'an, Fa Zheng offered Liu Bei a strategy, pointing out that after Cao Cao had subdued Zhang Lu and pacified Hanzhong, he had failed to press the advantage to seize Bashu, but instead left Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to garrison it while he himself hurried back north—this was not from a deficiency of his wisdom and strategy, but because internal troubles pressed upon him. Fa Zheng held that the talent and strategy of Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He were inferior to the generals of the state, and that if an army were raised to attack, it could surely overcome them. Once Hanzhong was taken, grain could be amassed and the moment awaited for action: at best, one could overturn Cao Wei and honor the royal house; in the middle case, one could encroach upon Yong and Liang and expand the territory; at worst, one could hold the strategic points firmly as a plan for the long term. Liu Bei adopted Fa Zheng's advice and led his generals to advance into Hanzhong, with Fa Zheng accompanying him. In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, Liu Bei built fortified camps at Dingjun Mountain and Xingshi Mountain. Xiahou Yuan led troops to contest them, and Fa Zheng judged, "Now we may strike." Liu Bei ordered Huang Zhong to take the heights, beat the drums and shout, and attack, utterly crushing Xiahou Yuan's army and beheading Xiahou Yuan. When Cao Cao campaigned in the west and heard of Fa Zheng's strategy, he lamented: "I always knew Xuande could not have managed this himself—surely he was taught by someone."^[5]

After Liu Bei was established as King of Hanzhong, he appointed Fa Zheng as Prefect of the Masters of Writing and General Who Protects the Army. The following year, Fa Zheng died, aged forty-five. Liu Bei wept for several days over this and posthumously honored him with the title Marquis Yi. He granted his son Fa Miao the rank of Marquis Within the Passes, who rose to be Commandant of the Imperial Equipage and Administrator of Hanyang. Although Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng differed in their tastes and inclinations, they treated each other with public-spirited fairness, and Zhuge Liang often praised Fa Zheng's wisdom and strategy. After Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor, he wished to campaign eastward against Sun Quan to avenge Guan Yu; many of his ministers remonstrated, but Liu Bei did not heed them. In the second year of Zhangwu, the great army was defeated, and Liu Bei withdrew to Baidicheng. Zhuge Liang sighed: "If Fa Xiaozhi were alive, he could have restrained our lord and prevented him from going east; and even had he gone east, he surely would not have come to such ruin."^[6]

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Fa Zheng's entrance is closely tied to Zhang Song's presenting of the map and his persuading of Liu Zhang to welcome Liu Bei into Shu. After Zhang Song met Liu Bei in Jingzhou, he returned to Yi Province and spoke to Fa Zheng of Liu Bei's abundant virtue, revealing his intention to give Yi Province over to Liu Bei and hoping to scheme together with Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng said he had long foreseen Liu Zhang's incompetence and had long harbored the intent to submit to Liu Bei, being of one mind with Zhang Song.^[7] Meng Da then also joined their secret scheme.^[7]

Zhang Song recommended Fa Zheng and Meng Da to Liu Zhang as envoys to go to Jingzhou and make friends with Liu Bei. Liu Zhang complied, sending Fa Zheng as envoy and having Meng Da lead five thousand elite troops to welcome Liu Bei into Shu.^[8] After Fa Zheng arrived in Jingzhou, he presented Liu Zhang's letter to Liu Bei. Liu Bei held a banquet to entertain Fa Zheng and privately asked his intentions. Fa Zheng frankly said that Yi Province was a Land of Abundance, that Liu Zhang could not employ the worthy and that it would sooner or later belong to another, urging Liu Bei not to miss the good opportunity, and declaring himself willing to serve Liu Bei to the death.^[9]

When Liu Bei and Liu Zhang met at Fucheng, Pang Tong and Fa Zheng had secretly schemed to advise Liu Bei to strike down and kill Liu Zhang at the banquet, so as to seize Xichuan swiftly. However, Liu Bei refused, on the grounds that "having just entered Shu, my kindness and trust are not yet established."^[10] The next day, at another banquet, Pang Tong and Fa Zheng again conferred, holding that "matters have come to this; it is no longer up to our lord," and so had Wei Yan perform a sword dance, intending to seize the chance to assassinate Liu Zhang. But Liu Zhang's subordinate Zhang Ren also drew his sword and danced opposite Wei Yan, so that their plan failed.^[10]

Before Liu Bei attacked Luocheng, Fa Zheng described to Liu Bei the geographic terrain around Luocheng and pointed out two routes of advance, north and south.^[11] After Luocheng was taken, Fa Zheng advised Liu Bei to halt his advance for a time and first write to persuade Liu Zhang to surrender, so as to win over the multitude through benevolence and righteousness. Zhuge Liang concurred.^[12] When Liu Zhang did not heed Zheng Du's plan to burn the field grain and fortify the defenses while clearing the countryside, Fa Zheng assured Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang that Liu Zhang would surely not use this plan, putting Liu Bei's mind at ease.^[13]

After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, Fa Zheng was appointed Administrator of Shu Commandery. The novel especially emphasizes Fa Zheng's character that "for a single meal's kindness, or a glare's grudge, there was nothing he would not repay." When someone complained to Zhuge Liang that Fa Zheng was "too unrestrained," Zhuge Liang declined to pursue the matter, citing Fa Zheng's meritorious assistance to Liu Bei during his time in Jingzhou, and upon hearing of this Fa Zheng "restrained himself."^[14]

Fa Zheng also, after Liu Bei was proclaimed King of Hanzhong, advised Liu Bei to take Wu Yi's sister as his royal consort, reasoning, "As for the closeness of the kinship, how does this differ from Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying?" Liu Bei ultimately adopted this.^[15]

Key Relationships

* Liu Zhang's faction: Fa Zheng at first took refuge with Liu Zhang, serving as magistrate of Xindu and Colonel of Army Counsel, but was not given important responsibility and suffered slander because of his status as a sojourning guest.^[1] He secretly schemed with Zhang Song and ultimately betrayed Liu Zhang, helping bring about Liu Bei's entry into Shu to seize power.^[1]
* Liu Bei: Fa Zheng was an important chief strategist for Liu Bei's entry into Shu to seize Yi Province and his advance into Hanzhong. He offered Liu Bei the strategy to take Yi Province and, during the Battle of Hanzhong, advised attacking Xiahou Yuan, helping Liu Bei achieve victory.^[1],^[5] Liu Bei trusted and esteemed Fa Zheng greatly; after his death Liu Bei wept for several days and posthumously honored him as Marquis Yi.^[6]
* Zhang Song: Fa Zheng was on good terms with Zhang Song, both believing Liu Zhang inadequate to accomplish things, and together they secretly schemed to assist Liu Bei. Zhang Song recommended Fa Zheng to Liu Zhang as envoy, bringing about Fa Zheng's contact with Liu Bei.^[1],^[16]
* Meng Da: Fa Zheng and Meng Da were from the same commandery; they entered Shu together to take refuge with Liu Zhang, and were together recommended by Zhang Song as envoys to go to Jingzhou and welcome Liu Bei.^[1],^[8]
* Zhuge Liang: The histories record that although Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng differed in their tastes, they took each other on grounds of public righteousness, and Zhuge Liang always marveled at Fa Zheng's wisdom and strategy.^[6] Zhuge Liang adopted a tolerant attitude toward Fa Zheng's unrestrained conduct, holding that his merits outweighed his faults.^[3] In the novel, Zhuge Liang likewise agreed with Fa Zheng's advice, such as the strategy of persuading Liu Zhang to surrender.^[12]
* Liu Bei's faction: After submitting to Liu Bei, Fa Zheng became one of his core strategists, ranked alongside Zhuge Liang as a chief strategist.^[4]

Iconic Scenes

* Offering the strategy to take Yi Province: Fa Zheng, on Liu Zhang's orders to welcome Liu Bei into Shu, privately offered Liu Bei a detailed strategy for seizing Yi Province, pointing out that Liu Zhang was weak and that Yi Province was rich and defensible, so that accomplishing the great enterprise would be as easy as turning over one's hand.^[1] This strategy became the key turning point of Liu Bei's entry into Shu.
* Advising Liu Bei to strike down and kill Liu Zhang (unique to the novel): In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Fa Zheng and Pang Tong repeatedly urged Liu Bei to strike down and kill Liu Zhang at a banquet, so as to seize Yi Province swiftly, but Liu Bei refused on grounds of benevolence and righteousness.^[10]
* Firmly advocating the Battle of Hanzhong: Fa Zheng analyzed for Liu Bei the weaknesses of Cao Cao's garrison left to hold Hanzhong and forcefully urged Liu Bei to attack Hanzhong. In the Battle of Dingjun Mountain, he advised Huang Zhong to use the advantage of the terrain and await the weary at ease, ultimately beheading Xiahou Yuan and rendering great merit in Liu Bei's seizure of Hanzhong.^[5]
* Zhuge Liang defends him: While Fa Zheng served as Administrator of Shu Commandery, because of his clear-cut character of gratitude and grudges he killed and wounded several who had injured him on his own authority, and was charged with being too unrestrained. Yet Zhuge Liang defended him, pointing out Fa Zheng's meritorious assistance in Liu Bei's time of crisis, holding that he should not be restrained in his conduct—reflecting the special trust Liu Bei's faction placed in Fa Zheng and Zhuge Liang's broad strategic outlook.^[3]
* Liu Bei weeps for him: After Fa Zheng's death, Liu Bei wept for several days and posthumously honored him as Marquis Yi, fully showing his important place in Liu Bei's heart.^[6]
* Zhuge Liang sighs that if Fa Zheng were alive: After Liu Bei's defeat in the eastern campaign against Sun Quan, Zhuge Liang sighed that had Fa Zheng been alive, he could surely have dissuaded Liu Bei from going east, and even had he gone east, he would not have suffered so disastrous a defeat—showing Fa Zheng's enormous influence over Liu Bei's decisions.^[6]
* Advising Liu Bei to take Lady Wu as royal consort: Fa Zheng, using the example of Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying, persuaded Liu Bei to take Wu Yi's sister as his royal consort, resolving the matter of Liu Bei's harem and contributing to the stability of Liu Bei's faction.^[17],^[15]