Fa Zheng
Encyclopedia
Fa Zheng style name
Xiaozhi (孝直), was an advisor to the warlord Liu Bei
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
.
Originally, Fa Zheng and his friend Meng Da
went to work for Liu Zhang
in Yi Province, but Liu Zhang was not a good judge of character and Fa Zheng felt unappreciated. Fa Zheng held the post as Prefect of Xindu, and then became Military Consultant Colonel. Fa Zheng then was defamed by someone else, he felt disparaged. His friend Zhang Song
also felt Liu Zhang was not a good leader. With Zhang Song's advice, Fa Zheng became the envoy to Liu Bei to ask him to bring his army into Yi province to defeat Zhang Lu's invading army. Upon talking with Liu Bei, Fa Zheng thought Liu Bei was a wise leader and so he secretly planned to subvert Liu Zhang's territory to give to Liu Bei instead. He then helped with Liu Bei's invasion of the region that would become known as Shu Han.
After the death of Pang Tong
, Fa Zheng was arguably the greatest tactician in Shu Han and was the most reliable vassals for Liu Bei. At Liu Bei's invasion of Hanzhong
, he acted as military advisor for Liu Bei, then, successfully defeated Cao Cao
's army and seized Hanzhong. When he died in 220 at the age of 44 because of an illness, Liu Bei was said to have wept day after day for him and gave him the posthumous rank of "Marquis of Wing"; he was the only person who was given a posthumous marquis rank by Liu Bei. According to Zhuge Liang
's opinion, if Fa Zheng was still alive, he would have prevented Liu Bei from attacking Sun Quan
in the aftermath of Guan Yu
's death, but if Liu Bei had gone anyway, he would not have lost the Battle of Xiaoting
.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Xiaozhi (孝直), was an advisor to the warlord Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Originally, Fa Zheng and his friend Meng Da
Meng Da
Meng Da was a military general who served under Liu Zhang, Liu Bei, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Takeover of Yi Province:...
went to work for Liu Zhang
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
in Yi Province, but Liu Zhang was not a good judge of character and Fa Zheng felt unappreciated. Fa Zheng held the post as Prefect of Xindu, and then became Military Consultant Colonel. Fa Zheng then was defamed by someone else, he felt disparaged. His friend Zhang Song
Zhang Song
Zhang Song was an advisor to the warlord Liu Zhang during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He plotted to remove his lord from power and replace him with Liu Bei.-Biography:...
also felt Liu Zhang was not a good leader. With Zhang Song's advice, Fa Zheng became the envoy to Liu Bei to ask him to bring his army into Yi province to defeat Zhang Lu's invading army. Upon talking with Liu Bei, Fa Zheng thought Liu Bei was a wise leader and so he secretly planned to subvert Liu Zhang's territory to give to Liu Bei instead. He then helped with Liu Bei's invasion of the region that would become known as Shu Han.
After the death of Pang Tong
Pang Tong
Pang Tong was an advisor to Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was nicknamed "Young Phoenix" by his uncle Pang Degong due to his ugly appearance but great capabilities and talent...
, Fa Zheng was arguably the greatest tactician in Shu Han and was the most reliable vassals for Liu Bei. At Liu Bei's invasion of Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, he acted as military advisor for Liu Bei, then, successfully defeated Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's army and seized Hanzhong. When he died in 220 at the age of 44 because of an illness, Liu Bei was said to have wept day after day for him and gave him the posthumous rank of "Marquis of Wing"; he was the only person who was given a posthumous marquis rank by Liu Bei. According to Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
's opinion, if Fa Zheng was still alive, he would have prevented Liu Bei from attacking Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
in the aftermath of Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
's death, but if Liu Bei had gone anyway, he would not have lost the Battle of Xiaoting
Battle of Xiaoting
The Battle of Xiaoting, also known as the Battle of Yiling and the Battle of Yiling and Xiaoting, was fought between the states of Eastern Wu and Shu Han in 222 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
.
Appointments and titles held
- Prefect of Xindu (新都令)
- Military Consultant Colonel (軍議校尉)
- Administrator of Shu Commandery (蜀郡太守)
- General Who Spreads Martial Might (揚武將軍)
- Chief Imperial Secretary (尚書令)
- General Who Protects the Army (護軍將軍)
- Marquis Yi (翼侯) - granted to Fa Zheng posthumously