25 Facts About Fa Zheng

Fa Zheng, courtesy name Xiaozhi, was a key adviser to the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Between 211 and 214, Fa Zheng assisted Liu Bei in overcoming Liu Zhang and seizing control of Yi Province, and became one of Liu Bei's most trusted advisers.

Fa Zheng's ancestor was Tian Fazhang, who is historically known as King Xiang of the Qi state in the Warring States period.

Fa Zheng's grandfather, Fa Zhen, was a reclusive scholar known for his lofty character; despite being a learned scholar, he led a humble life and repeatedly rejected offers to serve in the government.

Fa Zheng maintained a close friendship with his colleague Zhang Song, who shared the same views as him about Liu Zhang being an incompetent and incapable governor.

When Zhang Song recommended Fa Zheng to be Liu Zhang's representative to meet Liu Bei, Fa initially refused to accept the task but eventually relented.

When Fa Zheng returned from his mission, he told Zhang Song that Liu Bei had grand ambitions and persuaded Zhang to follow him to serve Liu Bei.

Fa Zheng suggested that Liu Zhang adopt a scorched earth policy against Liu Bei by forcing the residents of Baxi and Zitong commanderies to relocate elsewhere and destroy all the granaries and supply depots in the commanderies, and then fortify their defences while avoiding direct conflict with Liu Bei.

Fa Zheng claimed that if this strategy was implemented, Liu Bei would run out of supplies within 100 days and retreat, and then Liu Zhang could attack him while he was retreating.

Fa Zheng predicted that Liu Zhang would not heed Zheng Du's suggestion and was proven right: In response to Zheng Du's plan, Liu Zhang not only rejected it on the grounds that it would cause disturbance to the people, but dismissed Zheng from office.

In 214, when Liu Bei's army surrounded Luocheng, one of Liu Zhang's strongholds, Fa Zheng wrote a long letter to his former lord, pointing out that Liu Zhang was already in a highly disadvantageous position and urging him to give up resistance and surrender to Liu Bei.

Fa Zheng eventually surrendered and relinquished his control of Yi Province to Liu Bei.

Fa Zheng oversaw administrative affairs in the vicinity of Yi Province's capital Chengdu.

Fa Zheng was in such a difficult situation at the time that he could neither advance nor retreat.

Fa Zheng felt that no subject should be above the law, regardless of how great his past contributions were.

In 217, Fa Zheng urged Liu Bei to attack Hanzhong Commandery, which was originally under Zhang Lu's control but was conquered by Cao Cao in 215.

Fa Zheng pointed out Hanzhong's strategic importance and said that it was an opportune moment for Liu Bei to seize Hanzhong from Cao Cao's generals Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He.

Fa Zheng felt that a lord acting on his adviser's suggestion should not be interpreted as a sign that the lord was not wise enough to make his own judgment.

Fa Zheng pointed out that Cao Cao himself followed the advice of his adviser Guo Jia.

Fa Zheng died in the following year at the age of 45.

Liu Bei cried for days when Fa Zheng died and awarded Fa the posthumous title "Marquis Yi", which literally means "marquis of the flank".

Zhuge Liang might be right about Fa Zheng, as inferred from an incident during the Hanzhong Campaign.

Fa Zheng rushed forth and stood in front of Liu Bei when Cao Cao's forces rained arrows on their camp.

Liu Bei told Fa Zheng to stay under cover to avoid the arrows, but Fa insisted on braving the arrows with his lord.

Fa Zheng became a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends.