Fei Shi

Fei Shi (費詩, onyomi: Hi Uta) is an official during the final years of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Initially a servant under Liu Zhang in Yi province, he came to serve Liu Bei after the latter conquered Yi province.

Role in Games
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Fei Shi does well with political and domestic tasks, with his intellect, politics, and charisma ranging from the mid 60s to mid 70s. His military stats are abysmal in comparison. Fei Shi can be a decent administrator but should absolutely not be used in war.

Historical Information
Fei Shi (?-?), style name: Gongju (公舉), was born in Nan'an County, Qianwei Commandery, around Leshan, Sichuan. He started his career as a minor official under the Warlord of Yi, Liu Zhang as the Prefect of Mianzhu.

In the year 214, after Liu Bei took over Yizhou. He recruited Fei Shi into his new administration. Fei Shi served in various roles between 214-219, including as the Administrator of Zangke. After the Hanzhong campaign, Liu Bei ordered Fei Shi to travel to Jing Province as a messenger in order to inform Guan Yu of his new appointment as General of the Vanguard. When Guan Yu found that Huang Zhong would serve as the General of the Rear, a position equal to Guan Yu's, he was outraged and attempted to decline the appointment.

Fei Shi in order to persuade Guan Yu otherwise told 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!"

After hearing Fei Shi's argument, Guan Yu relented and accepted the new appointment.

During the year 221, after Liu Bei established the state of Shu Han and proclaimed himself Emperor. Fei Shi wrote a memorial to express his opposition to the coronation. He contended that Liu Bei should first focus on defeating Cao Wei and then declare himself Emperor. He quoted the example of Liu Bang, who became Emperor only after defeating Xiang Yu in the Chu-Han contention. His memorial was listed 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."

Liu Bei, feeling upset with Fei Shi's opposition, had him jailed and demoted to serve as a minor official in Yongchang Commandery in Southern Shu.

In the year 225, 2 years after the death of Liu Bei. Fei Shi went with Zhuge Liang on the Nanzhong campaign against the Nanman in Southern Shu. After returning North, they met a Wei defector named Li Hong, who informed them that Wang Chong, a recent Shu turncoat told him when Meng Da defected to Wei, Zhuge Liang was very mad and wished to punish Meng Da's family, but Liu Bei refused.

After receiving this news. Zhuge Liang sent Fei Shi and Jiang Wan back to Chengdu in order to exchange letters with Meng Da. Fei Shi expressed his skepticism and remarked that Meng Da was a disloyal and traitorous turncoat who couldn't be trusted. Zhuge Liang ignored Fei Shi and continued to write to Meng Da.

During the Northern Expeditions against Wei. Fei Shi remained in Chengdu to handle all domestic matters, while Zhuge Liang led the army from Hanzhong. After Zhuge Liang's death in the year 234, he was appointed as a Counsellor Remonstrant during Jiang Wan's regency. He died a bit later.

Fei Shi was succeeded by one son, Fei Li. Fei Li would serve as a Cavalier Regular Attendant under the Jin dynasty after the conquest of Shu. After Fei Shi's death, lots of the most famous and well-known officials of Yi Province with the surname Fei (费) were his descendants.