Tian Feng
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Tian Feng (田豊) (? - 200) was an advisor of warlord Yuan Shao during the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty in ancient China.
After defeating Gongsun Zan and absorbing many of his forces, Yuan Shao intended to invade the capital, Xu Chang, which was in Cao Cao's possession at that time. Tian Feng, along with Ju Shou objected to Yuan Shao's plan. With the supporting argument for the attack from Shen Pei and Guo Tu, Yuan Shao refused to heed his advice and imprisoned him on pretext of reducing the troops' morale.
Tian Feng is proven to have analyzed the situation correctly. In the field, Yuan Shao failed to do anything due to his indecisiveness while his commanders are too busy with the hostilities among themselves.
After hearing that Cao Cao diverted his troops to invade Liu Bei, Tian Feng urged Yuan Shao to invade Xu Chang. However, Yuan Shao does not want to raise the troops since his most dearest son was sick. Disappointed, Tian Feng exclaimed "It is such a pity! Just as a unique opportunity presents itself, everything is spoiled by the illness of a child."
When Liu Bei was defeated, Yuan Shao wanted to invade Cao Cao for the second time. Tian Feng tried to stop Yuan Shao reasoning that the golden opportunity had passed. For his advice, he was imprisoned again. The resulting battle between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao is known as the Battle of Guandu. This decisive battle resulted in Yuan Shao's disastrous defeat.
Upon hearing Yuan Shao's defeat, the warden on the prison thought that Yuan Shao will come to his senses and free Tian Feng because his wise words proved to be correct. However, Tian Feng said "The Imperial Protector (Yuan Shao) appears liberal, but he is jealous and forgetful of honest advice. Had he been victorious, he might have pardoned me. Now that he has been defeated and put to shame, I may not hope to live." Yet again, he was correct. When Yuan Shao returned, he seeks Tian Feng's death.
Before he was executed, he said "An able person born into this world who does not recognize and serve the right lord is ignorant. Today I die, but I am not deserving of pity."
[edit] References
- Luo Guanzhong; tr. Roberts Moss (1995). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Foreign Language Press. ISBN 7-119-00590-1.
- Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9.
[edit] See also
- Three Kingdoms
- Personages of the Three Kingdoms
- Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms
