Fei Shi

Fei Shi (onyomi: Hi Shi) is an official who served under Liu Zhang in Yi province until he surrendered to Liu Bei after the latter conquered Yi province. When Liu Bei declared himself emperor, Fei Shi opposed this move and was demoted for criticizing his lord's decision.

Role in Games
Fei Shi appears at Chengdu in Dynasty Warriors 7, where he guards Mainzhu Gate against Shu forces alongside Fei Guan. In Dynasty Warriors 8, Fei Shi returns for Chengdu once more, this time defending the eastern mountain path. He guards the southern route towards the ambush hidden to stop Shu reinforcements from appearing.

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 was born in Jinwei, Nan'an County. His first known appointment was under Liu Zhang, who assigned him the role of Prefect of Mianzhu. When Liu Bei invaded Yi Province, Fie Shi was among the numerous officers attempting to make a stand at Mainzhu, and was also numbered among the commanders who surrendered to Liu Bei in 213.

When Liu Bei reestablished order in Yi at the end of his conquest, Fei Shi was appointed into the new administration. Fei Shi served served as an Commanding Army Attending Official and as Administrator of Zangke. After Liu Bei won the Hanzhong campaign, he proclaimed himself king of Hanzhong and sent Fei Shi to Jing Province with Guan Yu's new seals of appointment as General of the Vanguard. Initially Guan Yu felt slighted at the promotion, as Huang Zhong received the position of General of the Rear, a position equal to Guan Yu's own new promotion. As a result, he didn't want to accept the new appointment.

Fei Shi, in order to persuade Guan Yu to accept his new rank, argued:

“When a man must establish a royal work, he cannot use one comrade alone. In former times Xiao He and Cao Can were boyhood friends of Gaozu (Liu Bang), while Chen Ping and Han Xin came later as refugees. When ranking was discussed, Han Xin held the highest place, but I have no heard that either Xiao He or Cao Can were angry about it. If the Prince of Hanzhong, to honor the house of Han rewards Hansheng (Huang Zhong) for his achievement on another occasion, why must you think he regards you no differently to others? You and his majesty are so close you might have a single body, you feel the same joys and the same sorrows, you share good fortune and ill. I do not believe you should judge his feelings by the highs and lows of official titles or by the size of fiefs and gifts. I am nothing but an errand-boy, acting upon orders. If you refuse the appointment, I shall simply go back. Nonetheless, I shall be sorry for it, and I fear you may regret it too."

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

During the year 221, Liu Bei established the state of Shu Han and proclaimed himself Emperor. Fei Shi was upset at the decision and wrote a memorial to express his opposition to the coronation. He believed Liu Bei should first focus on defeating Cao Wei and then declare himself Emperor. His memorial read as such:

“It is because Cao Cao and his son have coerced their sovereign and usurped his throne that Your Highness is wandering in this land ten thousand li distant from the capital, with soldiers around you, your intention being to punish the rebels. Now the arch-enemy is not yet put down, and you would first proclaim yourself Emperor. I am afraid that the people will become suspicious of you. Formerly, the Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) made an agreement with Chu (Xiang Yu) that he who the first destroys the Qin will be crowned as King. When he butchered Xianyang and seized Ziying, he still thought of declining the throne out of modesty. Now, Your Highness has not issued out of the narrow limits of your domain, yet you would proclaim yourself Emperor! This is not what I, stupid though I am, should recommend you do"

Liu Bei, feeling upset with Fei Shi's opposition, had him demoted to Attending Official of Yongchang Commandery in Southern Shu for supposed disobedience. However, just a few years later in the year 225, Fei Shi's lot improved when he served under Zhuge Liang on the Nanzhong campaign against the Nanman. Once the campaign was over, Fei Shi accompanied Zhuge Liang north, returning to a more active roll on Kongming's staff. Shi was present with Zhuge Liang when Li Hong, a Wei defector, informed him that Meng Da still thought favorably towards Zhuge Liang and may want to defect back to Shu, despite Zhuge Liang previously petitioning unsuccessfully for Meng Da's family to be executed for his defection.

Fei Shi was skeptical of such a tale being true and reminded Zhuge Liang of Meng Da's previous rebellion, assessing the man as arrogant and disloyal. Zhuge Liang wanted to make use of Meng Da's position, so he ignored Fei Shi's assessment and egged Meng Da on, never sending reinforcements to help Da succeed in his rebellion. During the Northern Expeditions against Wei, Zhuge Liang left Fei Shi behind at Chengdu to help manage the domestic matters while he was leading his campaigns. When Zhuge Liang died in 234, Fei Shi was appointed as a Counsellor Remonstrant under Zhuge's successor, Jiang Wan's regency. It was during Wan's tenure as regency that Fei Shi died, being succeeded by his son, Fei Li. Fei Li served both Shu and later the Jin Dynasty as a Cavalier Regular Attendant after the fall of Shu. Sun Sheng's Shu Shipu claims most of the famous and well-known officials of Yi Province with the surname Fei were his descendants.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Fei Shi is first mentioned in Romance of the Three Kingdoms in chapter 65, listed among the many officials of Yi being rewarded by Liu Bei for surrendering to him and thus helping him take control of the province. He next appears in chapter 73, carrying the promotion for Guan Yu, as he did in history. Except this time the promotion is head of the Five Tiger Generals instead of General of the Vanguard. Fei Shi still has to convince Guan Yu to accept the rank and accept Huang Zhong being numbered alongside him. Shi also delivers Liu Bei's orders for Guan Yu to attack Fan Castle and talks Guan Yu down from executing Fu Shiren and Mi Fang when they accidently let a fire get loose in camp. He returns to Yi province shortly afterwards, being later listed among the officers Zhuge Liang promotes and prepares for his northern campaigns. Fei Shi is listed alongside Xi Zheng as general secretaries.