| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 傅士仁, 傅士仁, Fù Shìrén |
| Nickname | Defector of Jing Province |
| Other name | Phó Sĩ Nhân |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Pei Commandery, Yu Province (豫州沛国; quận Bái, Dự Châu) |
| Died | 222 |
| Death Reason | Executed by Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) historically; killed by Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) during the Yiling campaign in the novel |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Eastern Wu |
| Battles | Battle of Changban, Battle of Fan Castle |
Biography & Historical Record
Fu Shiren (died after 222 AD), alternative name Fu Ren, was a military officer who served under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period before defecting to Eastern Wu. Born in Pei Commandery, Fu Shiren followed Liu Bei through various hardships and military campaigns across central China. When Liu Bei established his base in Jing Province, Fu Shiren was appointed alongside Mi Fang to assist Guan Yu in defending the region’s vital territories.
In 219 AD, during the critical campaign of Fan Castle, Fu Shiren was stationed at Gong’an. Tensions and conflicts flared between Guan Yu and his subordinate officers due to lack of provisions and strict disciplinary measures. Taking advantage of this vulnerability, Eastern Wu’s commander Lü Meng orchestrated a covert invasion. Following the defection of Mi Fang at Jiangling, Fu Shiren was persuaded or coerced into surrendering Gong’an to Eastern Wu. This betrayal crippled Guan Yu’s rear guard, directly causing the fall of Jing Province and Guan Yu’s subsequent execution. Fu Shiren subsequently served under Eastern Wu, participating in later military movements before fading from historical records.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s epic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Fu Shiren is portrayed as an unreliable, weak-willed officer whose treachery seals the doom of the Shu Han forces in Jing Province. Initially appearing as a loyal subordinate of Liu Bei, Fu Shiren participates in various campaigns and shares in the trials of the early state-building period.
His critical role unfolds in Chapters 73 to 76. Stationed at Gong’an under Guan Yu’s command, Fu Shiren fails to send required supplies and provisions for the frontline troops at Fan Castle, leading to a severe reprimand from Guan Yu’s messenger, Zhai Yuan. Stung by anger and paralyzed by fear of Guan Yu’s strict military punishment, Fu Shiren is visited by Eastern Wu’s emissary Yu Fan, who persuades him to surrender. Following Mi Fang’s lead, Fu Shiren opens the gates of Gong’an to Eastern Wu. In subsequent chapters, when tasked along with Mi Fang to capture their former comrade Liu Bei during the campaign of Yiling, Fu Shiren experiences intense remorse, assassinates Mi Fang, and attempts to defect back, only to be executed cruelly by Sun Quan.
Notable Quotes & Famous Sayings
- “Guan Yu is arrogant and tyrannical; if we return, we will surely face capital punishment. Surrendering to Wu is our only path to survival.” — Fu Shiren discussing his decision to betray Shu with Mi Fang.
Fu Shiren (傅士仁) — Historical & Literary Timeline
The Flight from Changban
Fu Shiren participates in protecting Liu Bei’s entourage and family during the harrowing civilian retreat chased by Cao Cao’s elite cavalry at Changban.
Failure of Provisions at Gong’an
Stationed at Gong’an to manage military supplies for Guan Yu’s northern expedition, Fu Shiren fails to deliver provisions on time and lashes out against Guan Yu’s courier.
Surrendering Gong’an to Eastern Wu
Influenced by Yu Fan and driven by fear of Guan Yu’s wrath, Fu Shiren follows Mi Fang’s example and surrenders the strategic city of Gong’an to Eastern Wu forces.
Regret, Mutiny, and Execution
Ordered to attack Shu alongside Mi Fang during the Battle of Yiling, Fu Shiren turns on Mi Fang in deep remorse, kills him, and attempts to re-defect, but Sun Quan orders him executed as a traitor.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Fu Shiren on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương) — A fellow officer in Jing Province who served alongside him; they acted in concert to surrender their respective posts to Eastern Wu in 219 AD, though Fu Shiren later killed him in the novel version.
Enemies
- Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ) — The commander of Jing Province whose strict disciplinary measures and demands for supplies during the 219 AD Fan Castle campaign created the friction that led to Fu Shiren’s betrayal.
- Lü Meng (吕蒙, Lã Mông) — The Eastern Wu commander who orchestrated the strategic invasion of Jing Province, exploiting the internal discord between Fu Shiren and Guan Yu.
- Yu Fan (虞翻, Ngu Phiên) — An Eastern Wu emissary who successfully persuaded Fu Shiren to defect to the side of Sun Quan during the 219 AD campaign.
- Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) — The ruler of Eastern Wu who accepted Fu Shiren’s surrender but ultimately ordered his execution after Fu Shiren attempted to re-defect to Shu following the Battle of Yiling in 222 AD.
Other
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) — The sovereign of Shu Han whom Fu Shiren served for many years, including during the retreat from Changban in 208 AD, before ultimately betraying him by surrendering Jing Province.
Appearance
In Novel
Chapter 73
- Fu Shiren (傅士仁, Phó Sĩ Nhân): Guan Yu appoints Fu Shiren and Mi Fang as vanguard officers for the attack on Fan Castle. Before the campaign begins, they drink in their camp and accidentally cause a fire that destroys weapons, artillery and provisions and kills some soldiers. Guan Yu orders them executed, but Fei Shi persuades him to spare them. Each receives forty strokes, loses his vanguard seal, and is reassigned to a defensive post; Fu Shiren is sent to guard Gong'an and is warned that another failure will bring death.
Chapter 75
- Fu Shiren (傅士仁, Phó Sĩ Nhân): When Lü Meng's forces secretly seize Jingzhou, Fu Shiren closes Gong'an and initially prepares to defend it. Yu Fan sends him a surrender letter by attaching it to an arrow. Fu Shiren remembers Guan Yu's anger and decides that surrender is safer. He opens the gates, receives Yu Fan and formally submits Gong'an to Eastern Wu. Lü Meng then persuades Sun Quan to use Fu Shiren to bring Mi Fang over as well, and Sun Quan orders Fu Shiren to go to Nanjun with a small cavalry escort to persuade Mi Fang.
Chapter 76
- Fu Shiren (傅士仁, Phó Sĩ Nhân): Fu Shiren reaches Nanjun and urges Mi Fang to surrender, arguing that Gong'an has already fallen and that their position is hopeless. Mi Fang initially resists, but Fu Shiren's argument succeeds and the two officers surrender Nanjun to Eastern Wu. Their defections leave Guan Yu without the Jingzhou bases needed to retreat and reinforce his army.
Chapter 83
- Fu Shiren (傅士仁, Phó Sĩ Nhân): Serving under Ma Zhong during Liu Bei's campaign against Wu, Fu Shiren and Mi Fang hear their own soldiers condemning them for the loss of Jingzhou. Fu Shiren initially warns Mi Fang not to return to Liu Bei because he expects punishment. Nevertheless, he joins Mi Fang in attacking and killing Ma Zhong and then goes to Liu Bei's camp to claim repentance. Liu Bei refuses to forgive either man and orders Guan Xing to strip them and execute them by dismemberment before Guan Yu's memorial.
In History
Summary
- Fu Shiren (傅士仁, Phó Sĩ Nhân) is the name used in Romance of the Three Kingdoms for the historical officer Shi Ren (士仁).
Historical Record
- Shi Ren (士仁) was a real historical officer associated with Liu Bei's Jing Province administration. The form Fu Shiren (傅士仁) is a literary naming/error found in the novel rather than the securely attested historical name. citeturn0search25
COMMENTS (0)