Fei Shi (Three Kingdoms)

Fei Shi was from Nan'an County (南安縣), Qianwei Commandery (犍為郡), which is around present-day Leshan, Sichuan. He originally served under Liu Zhang, the Governor of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), as the Prefect of Mianzhu County (綿竹縣).[1]

In 214, after the warlord Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang, Fei Shi came into the service of Liu Bei. Between 214 and 219, Fei Shi held a number of appointments in Liu Bei's administration, including Administrator (太守) of Zangke Commandery (牂牁郡). Around 219, after Liu Bei declared himself King of Hanzhong, he tasked Fei Shi with travelling to Jing Province to inform Guan Yu about his appointment as General of the Vanguard (前將軍). However, when Guan Yu learned that Huang Zhong would server as the General of the Rear (後將軍), he angrily said "I to no end would accept to share the same rank as this old soldier!". He was adamant in his resolution to not accept the appointment.[2]

Fei Shi to convince Guan Yu said to him :

“When someone is looking to realize an hegemon's enterprise, he cannot act as one and must embrace the multitude. During the Chu–Han Contention, Xiao He and Cao Can were long friends of Gaozu (Liu Bang) while Chen Ping (Han dynasty) and Han Xin served his archenemy and joined him far latter however among them the one to reach the highest rank was Han Xin yet Xiao He and Cao Can never complained about this. Now that our King is at Hanzhong thanks to the great achievements of Huang Zhong, he must greatly honors him yet in his thought when looking at the low and the high, how can Huang Zhong be your lordship's equal? Even more knowing that the King with your lordship are like one body sharing whether it is happiness or sorrow, disaster or fortune all the same. Now I humbly for your lordship believes that it would not be appropriate to calculate the prestige of office's title and accept salary and rank as you would think fit. However I am just the emissary sent to present the office and if your lordship is resolute in his refusal then I would return. This is only because I fear the pity of such an action and that you would later regret it that I am inflexible in my will![3]

After Guan Yu heard Fei Shi's argument, he was greatly moved and hurriedly accepted the appointment.[4]

In 221, when Liu Bei declared himself emperor and established the Shu Han state, Fei Shi wrote a memorial to express his strong objection to Liu Bei's coronation. He argued that Liu Bei should not declare himself emperor until he had vanquished Shu's rival state, Cao Wei, which replaced the Eastern Han dynasty in 220; he cited the example of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han dynasty, who only declared himself emperor after defeating his rival Xiang Yu in the Chu–Han Contention. His memorial was as such :

“Your highness because the Cao, son and father forced the abdication of the righful ruler and stole the throne therefore raised troops in all the Empire, travelled and battled with the resolution to defeat the rebels. Yet the great enemy is not yet vanquished and one may fear that if you enthrone yourself so soon the heart of the people would not be ready. In the past Gaozu agreed with Xiang Yu that the first to capture the capital of Qin would be titled King. Yet after long and harduous tasks and when he reached the capital, he was still hesitant to take the title so all the more for your highness in such a position, how can you wish to enthrone yourself? This is just an honest advice from your foolish servant that believe you shouldn't act as such.[5]

Liu Bei was so displeased that he had Fei Shi imprisoned and later demoted to serve as a low-ranking official in Yongchang Commandery (永昌郡) in the remote southern parts of Shu.[6]

In 225, Fei Shi accompanied Zhuge Liang on the southern campaign against rebel forces in southern Shu's Nanzhong region and when they returned and reached Hanyang County (漢陽縣) met a surrendered man named Li Hong (李鴻). When Li Hong met Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan and Fei Shi were in attendance. Li Hong reported that recently he met and Meng Da and Wang Chong (王沖) who just recently deserted from Shu told him that when Meng Da defected to Wei, your enlightened excellency (Zhuge Liang) was very angry and wished to punish Meng Da's wives and children by association however Xianzhu (Liu Bei) refused to listen to your advice. When he heard this, Meng Da said that your excellency understands human principles and acting as such wouldn't be acting in a human way. He truly did not believe what Wang Chong said and greatly trusts and admire you. It is only that he has no way to return to you.[7]

When he heard of this, Zhuge Liang told Jiang Wan and Fei Shi to return to the capital and start exchanging letters with Meng Da. Fei Shi answered to him that Meng Da is a petty man. While in the past, he betrayed a man lacking authority (Liu Zhang), he betrayed again Xianzhu. This man has no allegiance, how is he worthy to write letters with him? Zhang Liang was silent and couldn't answer.[8]

Zhuge Liang wanted to convince Meng Da to help him from the outside and so with him exchange letters :

“During the previous years as I returned from the southern campaign at the end of the year I encountered Li Hong at Hanyang and so heard of news about you. How you must endure this situation while hoping that one day, It comes to change. Unfortunately Meng sir, this was truly Liu Feng's fault for offending you and so harming Xianzhu's reputation of treating scholar with respect. I also heard from Li Hong thant Wang Chong spread lies but you answered that you knew my feelings and so refused to believe him. When I see your trust, I wish to repair our old friendship and so regretfully look east, awaiting news of you.[9]

Meng Da received letters from Zhuge Liang and start communicating with him. He told him that he wished to rebel against Wei. However, Wei sent Sima Yi to campaign against him and defeated then beheaded Meng Da. Due to the swift actions of Sima Yi and because he doubted the sincerity of Meng Da, Zhuge Liang couldn't rescue him.[10]

When Zhuge Liang launched a series of military campaigns against Shu's rival state Wei, Fei Shi remained in the Shu capital Chengdu to handle domestic affairs. He was appointed as a Counsellor Remonstrant (諫議大夫) sometime after Zhuge Liang's death in 234, when Jiang Wan was the head of government in Shu. He died not long later.[11]

Fei Shi had at least one son, Fei Li (费立). Fei Li served as Cavalier Regular Attendant under the Jin dynasty. After Fei Shi's death, many of the most prominent and reputed officials of Yi Province with the surname Fei (费) were his descendants.[12]

The previously mentioned Wang Chong was a man from the commandery of Guanghan (廣漢). He served as a General of Standard (牙門將) and was a subordinate of Li Yan. However, he was hated by him and in fear of punishment surrendered to Wei. Wei government appointed him as the Administrator of Leling (樂陵太守).[13]

• Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms