RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NSeeing Cao Cao in danger, at once let loose the oxen and horses of the campCh. 58 §44
Ding Fei 丁斐
| Occupation | RGeneral · Colonel NOfficial · Prefect of Weinan County | Faction | Wei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Pei Commandery Unverified | |
| Cause of death | RIllness Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R7 |
Profile
Ding Fei was a Colonel under Cao Cao. In the 16th year of Jian'an (211), when Cao Cao, facing Ma Chao and others at Tong Pass, was crossing the river northward and Ma Chao rushed at the boats and pressed the attack, Ding Fei let loose oxen and horses to bait the enemy, and while the enemy fell into disorder trying to seize them, Cao Cao was able to cross. Records, Wei 1 §109–111
He has no biography of his own in the Records, and in Chen Shou's main text his name appears only in this one passage of Records of Wei 1, the Annals of Emperor Wu. Chen Shou's text does not record his courtesy name, origin or death. In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 58, as Prefect of Weinan County, and his name does not appear in the chapter title. The Romance portrays him driving the oxen and horses out of the camp from atop the southern hills to rescue Cao Cao, who is being pursued by Ma Chao, and being made Colonel Director of the Army for this service. Records, Wei 1 §111Romance, Ch. 58 §44–46
In the Records
In the 16th year of Jian'an (211) the warlords of Guanzhong suspected that Zhong Yao meant to attack them, and Ma Chao rebelled together with Han Sui, Yang Qiu, Li Kan, Cheng Yi and others and garrisoned Tong Pass. In the autumn, in the 7th month of that year, Cao Cao marched west and encamped facing them across the pass, and secretly sent Xu Huang, Zhu Ling and others to cross at the Puban Ford by night and set up camp west of the Yellow River. Records, Wei 1 §109–110
As Cao Cao was crossing north from Tong Pass, before he had finished crossing, Ma Chao rushed at the boats and pressed the fight. The Colonel Ding Fei then let loose oxen and horses to bait the enemy, and while the enemy scrambled in disorder to seize them, Cao Cao was at last able to cross. Cao Cao then advanced south along the Yellow River, building a walled roadway as he went. Records, Wei 1 §111
In Chen Shou's main text Ding Fei's name appears only in this one place. Chen Shou recorded neither his courtesy name nor his origin, nor any of his other deeds or his death. Records, Wei 1 §111
In the Romance
In Chapter 58 of the Romance, Cao Cao divides his army into three to cross the Wei River and, leading a hundred guards himself, sits on the southern bank watching. When Ma Chao suddenly bears down on them, Xu Chu carries Cao Cao on his back onto a boat, and as Ma Chao follows along the river pouring arrows on them, the boat spins round and round in the rushing current. Romance, Ch. 58 §40–44
At this moment Ding Fei, Prefect of Weinan County, is on the southern hills; seeing Ma Chao pursuing Cao Cao so hotly and fearing for Cao Cao's life, he drives every ox and horse in the camp outside. With the hills and fields filled with oxen and horses, the Xiliang soldiers turn back and scramble to seize them, losing all thought of pursuit, and thanks to this Cao Cao escapes. Romance, Ch. 58 §44–45
When Xu Chu says that had someone not let loose the oxen and horses to lure the bandits away, the bandits would have pressed across the river with all their strength, Cao Cao asks who that person was. Told that it was Ding Fei, Prefect of Weinan County, he thanks Ding Fei when he comes in to see him, saying that but for his fine plan he would have been captured by the bandits, and at once makes him Colonel Director of the Army. When Ding Fei warns that the bandits have withdrawn only for the moment and will surely return tomorrow, so they must be held off with a good plan, Cao Cao replies that he has already made preparations and has his commanders build a walled roadway along the river and dig pits. The Romance does not mention Ding Fei after this. Romance, Ch. 58 §46–47
Where the Romance differs
His office: In Chapter 58 of the Romance, Ding Fei appears as Prefect of Weinan County and receives the post of Colonel Director of the Army from Cao Cao for this deed. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records he is already described as a Colonel at the time of this battle, and nothing is said of his receiving an office for it. Romance, Ch. 58 §44 · 46Records, Wei 1 §111
Where the animals were released: In Chapter 58 of the Romance, Ding Fei drives the oxen and horses out of the camp from atop the southern hills. The Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records say only that the Colonel Ding Fei let loose oxen and horses to bait the enemy, without saying where he released them. Romance, Ch. 58 §44Records, Wei 1 §111
The river being crossed: In Chapter 58 of the Romance, Cao Cao is pursued by Ma Chao while crossing the Wei River. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Ma Chao's attack came as Cao Cao was crossing north from Tong Pass, and the Wei River was crossed only later, in the 9th month. Romance, Ch. 58 §40 · 44Records, Wei 1 §111–112
Cao Cao's words: In Chapter 58 of the Romance, when Ding Fei comes in to see him, Cao Cao thanks him, saying that but for his plan he would have been captured, and Ding Fei reminds him that the bandits will come again. The Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records record no words exchanged between the two. Romance, Ch. 58 §46Records, Wei 1 §111
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total411 / 1000Rank 541 of 996 · Top 55%Romance total436 / 1000Rank 299 of 1,113 · Top 27%
Romance adaptation index+25Romance total − Records total
- LEA4240−2
- STR3533−2
- INT6266+4
- POL4245+3
- CHA3840+2
- VIR4245+3
- ADP4555+10
- SCH3535±0
- DIP3542+7
- DIS3535±0
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
9 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
RLet loose oxen and horses to bait Ma Chao's army so that Taizu could crossWei 1 §111
NLet loose oxen and horses to lure away the bandits and foresaw their renewed attack the next dayCh. 58 §44Ch. 58 §46
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
RNo direct record — estimated from his office of ColonelWei 1 §111
NNo direct record — estimated from his being Prefect of Weinan CountyCh. 58 §44
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Wei · Records · Records vol. 9 「初，斐隨太祖」