Fa Zheng | Shu

Name: Fa Zheng

Age: 36 (Born 176 AD)

Appearance: Fa Zheng is a tall, handsome and slender man-- and well aware of his own villainous attractiveness. Usually seen with a calm smirk or a glare, and dresses more casually in comparison to his fellow officers, in Shu’s signature shades of green. Dark, menacing eyes, and medium length hair that is cut to slightly fall over one of his eyes. Typically wears a gold pendant with several purple beads strung onto it.

Personality: Fa Zheng openly refers to himself as a "deviant trickster", using his craftiness and intelligence to devise highly unorthodox strategies for the benefit of Shu. Fa Zheng is a vindicative double-edged sword: he always remembers to repay his debts (whether morally just or unjust) yet never forgets those who have wronged him, making him an outsider with a sinister edge to other Shu characters akin to his historical counterpart. Despite his willingness to place Liu Bei into danger, Fa Zheng is genuinely loyal to his lord, even to the point where he is well-aware that he would need a counterpoint to his own way of doing things that would tarnish Liu Bei's dreams of a world of benevolence.

In his eyes, all people have inherent doses of retribution within themselves, though Fa Zheng admits that his perception is different from most. Shu soldiers report that Fa Zheng had left Liu Zhang simply because of being served a cold meal. Furthermore, Fa Zheng also handles attempts at revenge with the same amount of careful planning as with all his other strategies, given he too understands when things get too excessive for all sides of the conflict (be it when payback is already served or when resources and current conditions are taken into question). Thus, Fa Zheng always thinks of the right time to pay people back.

Among Shu's strategists, Fa Zheng shows respect to Zhuge Liang, but at the same time he may also belittle him as well. Zhuge Liang is forced to admit that Fa Zheng's usefulness to their cause cannot be denied. Likewise, Fa Zheng cannot help but work with him due to their mutual desire to help their lord, but he doesn't think too highly of his fellow strategist's choice of thinking with only his brains rather than also considering how factors like rationale and emotions may play. It is also because of this, however, that gives him the audacity to openly question and defy his lord's decisions during emotionally-charged moments. He is self-aware of his own villainous behavior.

Fa Zheng is a man with uncommon talent in strategy and judgment; however, there is nothing redeeming about his morality or personal character, which naturally earns him the ire of many of his colleagues. Upon being given power by Liu Bei, Fa Zheng abuses it in order to execute old enemies of his as well as often ignoring the law. Liu Bei however, takes no action against Fa Zheng due to him being a valued ally. Despite Fa Zheng’s cruel nature, Liu Bei strongly values him as an advisor.

Fa Zheng wields an urumi in battle. He’s a solitary person, preferring to spend time alone so as not to ruin the moods of the much more cheerful members of Shu. He gets along with and respects those of a similar mindset to him, who are unafraid to admit to their villainous thoughts and honest about cruel behaviors.

Background: Fa Zheng, born in 176, moved to Yi Province with his friend Meng Da during a famine in the early reign of Emperor Xian. They joined Governor Liu Zhang, where Fa Zheng served as the Prefect of Xindu County and later as Colonel Who Advises the Army. Despite these roles, Fa Zheng felt alienated and frustrated by his lack of important appointments, which hindered his ability to make a significant impact in his career. He also faced criticism from some of his peers from Youfufeng, who had also relocated to Yi Province, speaking ill of him in front of Liu Zhang. Despite this, Fa Zheng maintained a close friendship with Zhang Song, who shared his view that Liu Zhang was an incompetent governor.

In 208, after returning to Yi Province, Zhang Song advised Liu Zhang to break ties with Cao Cao and instead form an alliance with Liu Bei. Zhang Song recommended Fa Zheng to be Liu Zhang's representative in meeting Liu Bei. Fa Zheng initially hesitated and refused the task but eventually agreed. Upon returning from his mission, Fa Zheng informed Zhang Song that Liu Bei had grand ambitions and convinced him to join Liu Bei's cause. This marked the beginning of Fa Zheng’s growing loyalty to Liu Bei.

By 211, Liu Zhang became fearful of Cao Cao’s looming threat, realizing that Cao Cao’s expansion would bring him into conflict with Liu Zhang. Zhang Song proposed that Liu Zhang invite Liu Bei to Yi Province for help, and Liu Zhang agreed. He sent Fa Zheng as an envoy to Liu Bei, who, after receiving Fa Zheng's counsel, decided to claim Yi Province for himself. Liu Bei led his forces into the territory, meeting Liu Zhang at Fu County. Eventually, Liu Bei moved to Jiameng, before turning south to attack Liu Zhang. At this point, Fa Zheng had defected from Liu Zhang to join Liu Bei, helping to solidify Liu Bei's position in the region.