Records of Shu 7: Biographies of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng

Records of Shu 7: Biographies of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng

Pang Tong

龐統

Pang Tong, courtesy name Shiyuan, was a man of Xiangyang. In his youth he seemed plain and dull, and no one recognized his worth. Sima Hui of Yingchuan was pure and refined and had a gift for judging men. When Pang Tong was about twenty he went to see Sima Hui. Sima Hui was up in a tree picking mulberry leaves; he had Pang Tong sit beneath the tree, and they talked together from day until night. Sima Hui thought him most remarkable and declared that Pang Tong ought to be the foremost of the scholars of the southern provinces. From this Pang Tong gradually became known. Later the commandery appointed him Officer of Merit. By nature he loved to appraise men, and he worked hard at fostering them.

龐統字士元，襄陽人也。少時樸鈍，未有識者。潁川司馬徽清雅有知人鑒，統弱冠往見徽，徽採桑於樹上，坐統在樹下，共語自晝至夜。徽甚異之，稱統當南州士之冠冕，由是漸顯。¹後郡命為功曹。性好人倫，勤於長養。

Whenever he praised someone, he usually rated him above his actual ability. People of the time found this strange and asked him why. Pang Tong answered, “Now the realm is in great disorder, the proper Way has declined, and good men are few while bad men are many. I wish to raise up customs and advance the work of the Way. If I do not speak well of people, their reputations will not be worth aspiring to, and if reputations are not worth aspiring to, few will do good. Now if I raise up ten and am wrong about five, I still gain half. If by this I can exalt the moral teaching of the age and make men of ambition exert themselves, is that not acceptable?”

每所稱述，多過其才，時人怪而問之，統答曰：「當今天下大亂，雅道陵遲，善人少而惡人多。方欲興風俗，長道業，不美其譚即聲名不足慕企，不足慕企而為善者少矣。今拔十失五，猶得其半，而可以崇邁世教，使有志者自勵，不亦可乎？」

Zhou Yu, a general of Wu, helped the First Ruler take Jing Province, and accordingly took charge as Grand Administrator of Nan Commandery. When Zhou Yu died, Pang Tong escorted his coffin to Wu, and many of the people of Wu had heard of his name. When he was about to return west, they all gathered at the Chang Gate; Lu Ji, Gu Shao and Quan Cong all went there. Pang Tong said, “Master Lu may be called a nag with the strength of a swift runner, and Master Gu may be called a plodding ox that can carry a heavy load a long way.” To Quan Cong he said, “You love giving and yearn for renown, much like Fan Zizhao of Runan.

吳將周瑜助先主取荊州，因領南郡太守。瑜卒，統送喪至吳，吳人多聞其名。及當西還，並會昌門，陸績、顧劭、全琮皆往。統曰：「陸子可謂駑馬有逸足之力，顧子可謂駑牛能負重致遠也。」¹謂全琮曰：「卿好施慕名，有似汝南樊子昭。²

Though your wisdom and strength are not great, you are still one of the fine men of the age.” Lu Ji and Gu Shao said to Pang Tong, “When the realm is at peace, we should like to join you in appraising the scholars within the four seas.” They formed a close bond with Pang Tong, and he returned.

雖智力不多，亦一時之佳也。」績、劭謂統曰：「使天下太平，當與卿共料四海之士。」深與統相結而還。

When the First Ruler took charge of Jing Province, Pang Tong, as an Attendant Officer, acted as Magistrate of Leiyang, but he did not govern the county and was dismissed from office. Lu Su, a general of Wu, sent the First Ruler a letter saying, “Pang Shiyuan is not a talent for a county of a hundred li. Only if he is placed in the post of Headquarters Officer or Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage will he first be able to stretch his thoroughbred’s stride.” Zhuge Liang also spoke of him to the First Ruler. The First Ruler met him and had an excellent conversation with him; he thought very highly of his capacity and made him Headquarters Officer. In closeness and favor he was second only to Zhuge Liang, and at length he and Zhuge Liang were both made General of the Household and Military Adviser. Zhuge Liang stayed behind to guard Jing Province, and Pang Tong followed the First Ruler into Shu.

先主領荊州，統以從事守耒陽令，在縣不治，免官。吳將魯肅遺先主書曰：「龐士元非百里才也，使處治中、別駕之任，始當展其驥足耳。」諸葛亮亦言之於先主，先主見與善譚，大器之，以為治中從事。¹親待亞於諸葛亮，遂與亮併為軍師中郎將。²亮留鎮荊州。統隨從入蜀。

When Liu Zhang, Governor of Yi Province, met the First Ruler at Fu, Pang Tong offered a plan: “Now, taking advantage of this meeting, you can seize him on the spot. Then, General, without the toil of using troops, you will settle a whole province while sitting still.” The First Ruler said, “I have only just entered another man’s domain, and my kindness and good faith are not yet known. This will not do.” After Liu Zhang had returned to Chengdu, and the First Ruler was about to campaign north against Hanzhong on Liu Zhang’s behalf, Pang Tong again advised him: “Secretly select your best troops, march day and night by double stages, and strike straight at Chengdu. Liu Zhang is not martial, and he has never made any preparations. When a great army suddenly arrives, it will be settled at a single stroke. This is the best plan.

益州牧劉璋與先主會涪，統進策曰：「今因此會，便可執之，則將軍無用兵之勞而坐定一州也。」先主曰：「初入他國，恩信未著，此不可也。」璋既還成都，先主當為璋北征漢中，統復說曰：「陰選精兵，晝夜兼道，徑襲成都；璋既不武，又素無預備，大軍卒至，一舉便定，此上計也。

Yang Huai and Gao Pei are Liu Zhang’s famous generals. Each of them, relying on strong troops, holds Guantou, and I hear that they have several times written to Liu Zhang remonstrating with him and urging him to send you back to Jing Province, General. Before you reach them, send word to them saying that there is an emergency in Jing Province and you wish to go back to its rescue, and at the same time have your men pack their baggage and outwardly make a show of returning. These two already admire your heroic fame and will be glad to see you go, so they will surely come to see you with light cavalry. You can then seize them, advance and take over their troops, and so march on Chengdu. This is the middle plan.

楊懷、高沛，璋之名將，各仗強兵，據守關頭，聞數有箋諫璋，使發遣將軍還荊州。將軍未至，遣與相聞，說荊州有急，欲還救之，並使裝束，外作歸形；此二子既服將軍英名，又喜將軍之去，計必乘輕騎來見，將軍因此執之，進取其兵，乃向成都，此中計也。

To withdraw to Baidi, link up with Jing Province, and slowly come back to take it — this is the worst plan. If you hesitate and do not go, you will end up in great difficulty. You cannot stay here long.” The First Ruler approved of the middle plan. He at once beheaded Yang Huai and Gao Pei and turned back toward Chengdu, and every place he passed he conquered. At Fu he held a great gathering, set out wine and had music played, and said to Pang Tong, “Today’s gathering may be called a joyous one.” Pang Tong said, “To attack another man’s domain and make merry over it is not the army of a humane man.”

退還白帝，連引荊州，徐還圖之，此下計也。若沈吟不去，將致大困，不可久矣。」先主然其中計，即斬懷、沛，還向成都，所過輒克。於涪大會，置酒作樂，謂統曰：「今日之會，可謂樂矣。」統曰：「伐人之國而以為歡，非仁者之兵也。」

The First Ruler was drunk and said angrily, “When King Wu attacked the tyrant Zhou, his men sang in front and danced behind. Was he not a humane man? Your words are improper. Get up and leave at once!” At this Pang Tong hesitated and then withdrew. The First Ruler soon regretted it and asked him to come back. Pang Tong returned to his former seat without so much as a glance or a word of apology, and ate and drank as if nothing had happened. The First Ruler said to him, “In the argument just now, who was at fault?” Pang Tong replied, “Both lord and subject were at fault.” The First Ruler laughed heartily, and the feasting was as merry as before.

先主醉，怒曰：「武王伐紂，前歌後舞，非仁者邪？卿言不當，宜速起出！」於是統逡巡引退。先主尋悔，請還。統復故位，初不顧謝，飲食自若。先主謂曰：「向者之論，阿誰為失？」統對曰：「君臣俱失。」先主大笑，宴樂如初。¹

Advancing, they besieged Luo County. Pang Tong led his men in an attack on the city, was struck by a stray arrow, and died, at the age of thirty-six. The First Ruler grieved bitterly for him and shed tears whenever he spoke of him. He appointed Pang Tong’s father a Consultant and then promoted him to Grandee Remonstrant, and Zhuge Liang personally bowed to him. Pang Tong was posthumously granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass, with the posthumous title Marquis Jing. Pang Tong’s son Pang Hong, courtesy name Jushi, was upright and blunt and outspoken in his judgments of others. He slighted and treated with contempt the Director of the Secretariat, Chen Zhi, was held back by Chen Zhi, and died as Grand Administrator of Fuling.

進圍雒縣，統率眾攻城，為流矢所中，卒，時年三十六。先主痛惜，言則流涕。拜統父議郎，遷諫議大夫，諸葛亮親為之拜。追賜統爵關內侯，諡曰靖侯。統子宏，字巨師，剛簡有臧否，輕傲尚書令陳祗，為祗所抑，卒於涪陵太守。

Pang Tong’s younger brother Pang Lin, as Headquarters Officer of Jing Province, took part in the campaign of Huang Quan, General Who Guards the North, against Wu. When the army was defeated, he followed Huang Quan into Wei. Wei enfeoffed him as a full marquis, and he rose to be Grand Administrator of Julu.

統弟林，以荊州治中從事參鎮北將軍黃權征吳，值軍敗，隨權入魏，魏封列侯，至鉅鹿太守。¹

Fa Zheng

法正

Fa Zheng, courtesy name Xiaozhi, was a man of Mei in Fufeng. His grandfather Fa Zhen was known for his pure integrity and high reputation. At the beginning of Jian’an, when famine struck the realm, Fa Zheng and Meng Da, a man of the same commandery, went together into Shu and attached themselves to Liu Zhang. After a long while he became Magistrate of Xindu, and he was later summoned and appointed Colonel of Military Counsel. Not only was he given no real responsibility, he was also slandered as unprincipled by other emigrants from his own province and district, and he could not achieve his ambitions. Zhang Song, Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage of Yi Province, was on good terms with Fa Zheng. Judging that Liu Zhang was not a man with whom great things could be done, he often sighed about it in private.

法正字孝直，扶風郿人也。祖父真，有清節高名。¹建安初，天下饑荒，正與同郡孟達俱入蜀依劉璋，久之為新都令，後召署軍議校尉。既不任用，又為其州邑俱僑客者所謗無行，志意不得。益州別駕張松與正相善，忖璋不足與有為，常竊嘆息。

When Zhang Song returned from meeting Lord Cao in Jing Province, he urged Liu Zhang to break with Lord Cao and ally himself with the First Ruler. Liu Zhang said, “Who could serve as envoy?” Zhang Song then recommended Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng declined, but went because he had no choice. On his return, Fa Zheng praised the First Ruler to Zhang Song as a man of heroic strategy. The two of them secretly plotted and coordinated their plans, hoping to raise him up together as their lord, but they had no opportunity yet. Later, when Liu Zhang heard that Lord Cao meant to send generals to attack Zhang Lu and became fearful, Zhang Song took the chance to persuade Liu Zhang that he should invite the First Ruler and have him attack Zhang Lu, and again had Fa Zheng carry the commission.

松於荊州見曹公還，勸璋絕曹公而自結先主。璋曰：「誰可使者？」松乃舉正，正辭讓，不得已而往。正既還，為松稱說先主有雄略，密謀協規，願共戴奉，而未有緣。後因璋聞曹公欲遣將征張魯之有懼心也，松遂說璋宜迎先主，使之討魯，復令正銜命。

After delivering Liu Zhang’s message, Fa Zheng secretly offered the First Ruler a plan: “With your heroic talent, enlightened General, take advantage of Governor Liu’s weakness. Zhang Song, a pillar of the province, will respond from within. Then, drawing on the abundant wealth of Yi Province and relying on the natural defenses of this Storehouse of Heaven, accomplishing your great enterprise will be as easy as turning over your hand.” The First Ruler agreed. He went upriver westward and met Liu Zhang at Fu. He went north as far as Jiameng, then turned back south and took Liu Zhang’s territory.

正既宣旨，陰獻策於先主曰：「以明將軍之英才，乘劉牧之懦弱；張松，州之股肱，以響應於內；然後資益州之殷富，馮天府之險阻，以此成業，猶反掌也。」先主然之，溯江而西，與璋會涪。北至葭萌，南還取璋。

Zheng Du advised Liu Zhang, “The General of the Left has come to attack us with an isolated army far from home. His troops number fewer than ten thousand, his men are not yet attached to him, he lives off the grain in the fields, and his army has no baggage train. Our best plan would be to drive all the people of Baxi and Zitong west of the Fu River, burn every granary and all the grain in the fields, raise our ramparts high and dig our moats deep, and wait quietly. When they come and challenge us to battle, do not accept. When they have long had nothing to live on, within a hundred days they will surely withdraw of their own accord. If we attack them as they withdraw, we will certainly capture them.”

鄭度說璋曰：¹「左將軍縣軍襲我，兵不滿萬，士眾未附，野谷是資，軍無輜重。其計莫若盡驅巴西、梓潼民內涪水以西，其倉廩野谷，一皆燒除，高壘深溝，靜以待之。彼至，請戰，勿許，久無所資，不過百日，必將自走。走而擊之，則必禽耳。」

The First Ruler heard of this and was troubled, and asked Fa Zheng about it. Fa Zheng said, “In the end he will not be able to use it. There is nothing to worry about.” Just as Fa Zheng had said, Liu Zhang told his subordinates, “I have heard of resisting the enemy to give the people peace, but I have never heard of uprooting the people to avoid the enemy.” He then dismissed Zheng Du and did not use his plan. When the army besieged Luo, Fa Zheng sent Liu Zhang a letter: “I, Zheng, am by nature without skill, and the covenant of friendship has been broken and impaired. I feared that those around you would not understand the whole course of events and would surely lay all the blame on me, so that I would be covered in shame until my death and the disgrace would reach even to you. Therefore I have cast myself away abroad and have not dared to return and report on my mission.

先主聞而惡之，以問正。正曰：「終不能用，無可憂也。」璋果如正言，謂其群下曰：「吾聞拒敵以安民，未聞動民以避敵也。」於是黜度，不用其計。及軍圍雒城，正箋與璋曰：「正受性無術，盟好違損，懼左右不明本末，必並歸咎，蒙恥沒身，辱及執事，是以捐身於外，不敢反命。

Fearing that your sacred ears would find my voice foul and hateful, I have not written respectfully to you in the meantime. Recalling the favor you once showed me, I look toward you with sorrow. Yet I reflect that from first to last I laid bare my heart to you; from the very beginning to the end I truly hid nothing and held nothing back. It is only that I was foolish and dull and my plans were shallow, so that my sincerity failed to move you, and it has come to this. Now the affairs of your state are already in danger and disaster is fast approaching. Though I have been cast away abroad and my words may well earn hatred and blame, I still long to say all that is in my heart and so exhaust what loyalty remains to me.

恐聖聽穢惡其聲，故中間不有箋敬，顧念宿遇，瞻望悢悢。然惟前後披露腹心，自從始初以至於終，實不藏情，有所不盡，但愚闇策薄，精誠不感，以致於此耳。今國事已危，禍害在速，雖捐放於外，言足憎尤，猶貪極所懷，以盡餘忠。

Your original intention, enlightened General, is something I know well: you sincerely did not wish to lose the goodwill of the General of the Left. That things have nonetheless come to this is because those around you did not understand how heroes conduct their affairs. They thought that faith could be broken and oaths defiled, and they egged each other on with bravado. As the days and months went by, they sought only what pleased the ear and delighted the eye, flattering you and following your wishes, and never looked far ahead to make deep plans for the state. Once the crisis had broken out, they again failed to weigh the balance of strength, but supposed that because the army of the General of the Left was far from home and had no stores of grain, they could strike the few with the many and hold out against him for a long time.

明將軍本心，正之所知也，實為區區不欲失左將軍之意，而卒至於是者，左右不達英雄從事之道，謂可違信黷誓，而以意氣相致，日月相遷，趨求順耳悅目，隨阿遂指，不圖遠慮為國深計故也。事變既成，又不量強弱之勢，以為左將軍縣遠之眾，糧谷無儲，欲得以多擊少，曠日相持。

Yet from the pass to this place, every position they have passed through has been broken; your detached posts and outlying garrisons are melting away day by day. Though there are ten thousand troops below Luo, they are all soldiers whose ranks have been broken and generals whose armies have been defeated. If they wish to contend in a single day’s battle, the strength of the troops and generals is truly no match. As for those who wish to set distant deadlines and count on their grain, our camps and defenses here are already secure and our grain is already stored up, while your territory, enlightened General, shrinks day by day, your people grow more distressed each day, your enemies become ever more numerous, and the places you must supply are distant and vast.

而從關至此，所歷輒破，離宮別屯，日自零落。雒下雖有萬兵，皆壞陳之卒，破軍之將，若欲爭一旦之戰，則兵將勢力，實不相當。各欲遠期計糧者，今此營守已固，谷米已積，而明將軍土地日削，百姓日困，敵對遂多，所供遠曠。

By my foolish reckoning, you will surely be exhausted first and will not be able to hold out for long. Even if both sides merely stood guard, you could not bear it; yet now Zhang Yide’s army of several tens of thousands has already pacified Badong and entered the borders of Qianwei, dividing to pacify Zizhong and Deyang, and is advancing along three roads at once. How will you resist them? Those who originally made plans for you, enlightened General, must have said that this army was far from home and without grain, that supplies could not reach it, and that its troops were few and had no reinforcements. But now the road to Jing Province is open and the troops have increased several tenfold; moreover Sun, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, has sent his younger brother along with Li Yi, Gan Ning and others as their reinforcements.

愚意計之，謂必先竭，將不復以持久也。空爾相守，猶不相堪，今張益德數萬之眾，已定巴東，入犍為界，分平資中、德陽，三道並侵，將何以御之？本為明將軍計者，必謂此軍縣遠無糧，饋運不及，兵少無繼。今荊州道通，眾數十倍，加孫車騎遣弟及李異、甘寧等為其後繼。

If it is a contest of the position of guest and host, with victory measured in territory, we now hold all of Badong, more than half of Guanghan and Qianwei is already pacified, and the single commandery of Baxi is no longer yours, enlightened General. By my reckoning, the only place Yi Province can rely on is Shu Commandery, and Shu too is ruined. Two thirds are lost, officials and people are worn out and distressed, and eight households in ten are thinking of rebellion. If the enemy is far away, the people cannot bear the labor service; if the enemy draws near, they will change masters overnight.

若爭客主之勢，以土地相勝者，今此全有巴東，廣漢、犍為，過半已定，巴西一郡，復非明將軍之有也。計益州所仰惟蜀，蜀亦破壞；三分亡二，吏民疲困，思為亂者十戶而八；若敵遠則百姓不能堪役，敵近則一旦易主矣。

The counties of Guanghan are a clear example of this. Moreover, Yufu and Guantou are truly the gates of fortune and disaster for Yi Province. Now both gates are wide open, the strong cities have all fallen, your armies have all been broken, and your troops and generals are all gone, while the enemy advances along several roads at once and has already entered the heartland. If you merely sit and defend the capital and Luo, the situation of survival or ruin can be seen plainly. This is only the broad outline, the rough view from outside; the remaining twists and turns are hard to describe fully in words. Even I, in my great foolishness, know that this situation cannot be restored. How then could the wise and intelligent strategists around you, enlightened General, fail to see this reckoning?

廣漢諸縣，是明比也。又魚復與關頭實為益州福禍之門，今二門悉開，堅城皆下，諸軍並破，兵將俱盡，而敵家數道併進，已入心腹，坐守都、雒，存亡之勢，昭然可見。斯乃大略，其外較耳，其餘屈曲，難以辭極也。以正下愚，猶知此事不可覆成，況明將軍左右明智用謀之士，豈當不見此數哉？

They merely snatch at luck from morning to evening, seeking acceptance and currying favor, without thought for long-range plans, and none of them is willing to exert his heart to offer a good plan. If matters come to an end and the situation grows desperate, each will seek to save his own life and rescue his own household; they will twist and turn and act quite differently from their present counsel, and will not die in the face of danger for you, enlightened General. Yet your honored house will still suffer the grief of it. Though I have incurred the slander of disloyalty, in my heart I believe that I have not betrayed your sagely virtue, and when I consider the duty that was mine, my heart truly aches in secret.

旦夕偷幸，求容取媚，不慮遠圖，莫肯盡心獻良計耳。若事窮勢迫，將各索生，求濟門戶，展轉反覆，與今計異，不為明將軍盡死難也。而尊門猶當受其憂。正雖獲不忠之謗，然心自謂不負聖德，顧惟分義，實竊痛心。

Ever since the General of the Left first came here, he has clung to his old feelings for you and truly bears you no ill will. In my foolish opinion, you should seek a change of course and so preserve your honored house.” In the nineteenth year they advanced and besieged Chengdu. Liu Zhang’s Grand Administrator of Shu Commandery, Xu Jing, was about to climb over the wall and surrender, but the affair was discovered and he did not succeed. Because danger and ruin were close at hand, Liu Zhang did not execute Xu Jing. After Liu Zhang had submitted, the First Ruler thought little of Xu Jing because of this and did not employ him. Fa Zheng advised him, “In the realm there are men who have won an empty reputation without the substance, and Xu Jing is one of them.

左將軍從本舉來，舊心依依，實無薄意。愚以為可圖變化，以保尊門。」十九年，進圍成都，璋蜀郡太守許靖將逾城降，事覺，不果。璋以危亡在近，故不誅靖。璋既稽服，先主以此薄靖不用也。正說曰：「天下有獲虛譽而無其實者，許靖是也。

But now that you, my lord, are just founding your great enterprise, you cannot explain matters to everyone in the realm house by house. Xu Jing’s inflated fame has spread throughout the four seas; if you do not treat him with courtesy, people everywhere will take this to mean that you, my lord, despise worthy men. You should honor him and treat him with great respect so as to dazzle those near and far, following the example of how the King of Yan once treated Guo Wei.” The First Ruler then treated Xu Jing generously. He made Fa Zheng Grand Administrator of Shu Commandery and General Who Displays Martial Might; outside he governed the capital region, and within he was chief strategist.

然今主公始創大業，天下之人不可戶說，靖之浮稱，播流四海，若其不禮，天下之人以是謂主公為賤賢也。宜加敬重，以眩遠近，追昔燕王之待郭隗。」先主於是乃厚待靖。¹以正為蜀郡太守、揚武將軍，外統都畿，內為謀主。

He repaid every kindness, even a single meal, and every grudge, even a hostile glance, and on his own authority he killed several men who had slandered or injured him. Someone said to Zhuge Liang, “Fa Zheng is far too high-handed in Shu Commandery. General, you should report this to our lord and curb his arbitrary use of power.” Zhuge Liang answered, “When our lord was at Gong’an, to the north he feared the might of Lord Cao, to the east he dreaded the pressure of Sun Quan, and close at hand he was afraid that Lady Sun would stir up trouble right at his elbow. At that time he was trapped whether he advanced or retreated. Fa Xiaozhi became his wings, so that he could at last soar freely and could no longer be held down. How can we stop Fa Zheng from doing as he pleases?”

一餐之德，睚眥之怨，無不報復，擅殺毀傷己者數人。或謂諸葛亮曰：「法正於蜀郡太縱橫，將軍宜啟主公，抑其威福。」亮答曰：「主公之在公安也，北畏曹公之強，東憚孫權之逼，近則懼孫夫人生變於肘腋之下；當斯之時，進退狼跋，法孝直為之輔翼，令翻然翱翔，不可復制，如何禁止法正使不得行其意邪！」

Earlier, Sun Quan had given his younger sister to the First Ruler in marriage. She was quick-witted, strong-willed and fierce, with the air of her elder brothers. More than a hundred of her serving maids all stood in attendance holding swords, and every time the First Ruler went in, he felt a chill in his heart. Zhuge Liang also knew that the First Ruler had always loved and trusted Fa Zheng, and that is why he spoke as he did.

初，孫權以妹妻先主，妹才捷剛猛，有諸兄之風，侍婢百餘人，皆親執刀侍立，先主每入，衷心常凜凜；亮又知先主雅愛信正，故言如此。¹

In the twenty-second year Fa Zheng advised the First Ruler, “Cao Cao forced Zhang Lu to surrender and pacified Hanzhong in a single stroke, yet instead of using this momentum to go after Ba and Shu, he left Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to garrison and hold it, and hurried back north himself. This is not because his wisdom fell short or his strength was insufficient; it must be that he has worries and pressures at home. Now, when I weigh the talents and strategy of Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He, they are no match for our state’s generals. If we raise our whole army and go to attack them, we will surely be able to defeat them.

二十二年，正說先主曰：「曹操一舉而降張魯，定漢中，不因此勢以圖巴、蜀，而留夏侯淵、張郃屯守，身遽北還，此非其智不逮而力不足也，必將內有憂偪故耳。今策淵、郃才略，不勝國之將帥，舉眾往討，則必可克。

Once we have defeated them, we can extend farming and store up grain, and watch for cracks and openings. At best we can overthrow the rebel enemy and honor and uphold the royal house; at the middle we can nibble away at Yong and Liang Provinces like silkworms at mulberry leaves and widen our territory; and at the least we can firmly hold the strategic points and make a plan for lasting endurance. This is surely Heaven giving it to us, and the moment must not be lost.” The First Ruler approved of his plan and led his generals forward into Hanzhong, and Fa Zheng went with him. In the twenty-fourth year the First Ruler crossed the Mian south from Yangping, advanced little by little along the mountains, and built camps at Mount Dingjun and Xingshi.

克之之日，廣農積谷，觀釁伺隙，上可以傾覆寇敵，尊獎王室，中可以蠶食雍、涼，廣拓境土，下可以固守要害，為持久之計。此蓋天以與我，時不可失也。」先主善其策，乃率諸將進兵漢中，正亦從行。二十四年，先主自陽平南渡沔水，緣山稍前，於定軍、興勢作營。

Xiahou Yuan led troops to contest the ground. Fa Zheng said, “Now we can attack.” The First Ruler ordered Huang Zhong to take the high ground, beat the drums, raise a war cry and attack, and he utterly defeated Xiahou Yuan’s army; Xiahou Yuan and others lost their heads. When Lord Cao came west on campaign and heard of Fa Zheng’s plan, he said, “I always knew Xuande was not capable of this. Someone must have taught him.”

淵將兵來爭其地。正曰：「可擊矣。」先主命黃忠乘高鼓譟攻之，大破淵軍，淵等授首。曹公西征，聞正之策，曰：「吾故知玄德不辦有此，必為人所教也。」¹

When the First Ruler was established as King of Hanzhong, he made Fa Zheng Director of the Secretariat and General Protector of the Army. Fa Zheng died the following year, at the age of forty-five. The First Ruler wept for him for several days. His posthumous title was Marquis Yi. His son Fa Miao was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass and rose in office to Commandant of Imperial Carriages and Grand Administrator of Hanyang. Although Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng differed in their tastes and values, they valued each other for the sake of the public good, and Zhuge Liang always marveled at Fa Zheng’s cunning and resourcefulness. After the First Ruler took the imperial title, he was about to campaign east against Sun Quan to avenge the shame of Guan Yu. Many of his ministers remonstrated, but he heeded none of them.

先主立為漢中王，以正為尚書令、護軍將軍。明年卒，時年四十五。先主為之流涕者累日。諡曰翼侯。賜子邈爵關內侯，官至奉車都尉、漢陽太守。諸葛亮與正，雖好尚不同，以公義相取。亮每奇正智術。先主既即尊號，將東征孫權以復關羽之恥，群臣多諫，一不從。

In the second year of Zhangwu the great army suffered a crushing defeat, and the First Ruler returned and stayed at Baidi. Zhuge Liang sighed, “If Fa Xiaozhi were still alive, he could have restrained the sovereign and kept him from going east; and even if he had gone east again, he would surely not have come to such ruin.”

章武二年，大軍敗績，還住白帝。亮嘆曰：「法孝直若在，則能制主上，令不東行；就復東行，必不傾危矣。」¹

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Pang Tong had a refined love of judging men and applied himself to classical learning and careful strategy; in his time the people of Jing and Chu regarded him as an outstanding talent. Fa Zheng clearly foresaw success and failure and had remarkable plans and calculations, but he was not praised for virtue or integrity. If we compare them with the ministers of Wei, was Pang Tong not a close second to Xun Yu, and Fa Zheng a peer of Cheng Yu and Guo Jia?

評曰：龐統雅好人流，經學思謀，于時荊、楚謂之高俊。法正著見成敗，有奇畫策算，然不以德素稱也。儗之魏臣，統其荀彧之仲叔，正其程、郭之儔儷邪？