Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Mi Fang (died after 222 AD), 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 Ju County, Donghai Commandery, Mi Fang was the younger brother of the wealthy gentry leader and official Mi Zhu, and his younger sister became a wife of Liu Bei. Because of these close familial ties, Mi Fang enjoyed a high standing and deep trust within Liu Bei’s inner circle during their early years of hardship across northern and central China.
In 219 AD, during the height of the Jing Province campaign, Mi Fang was stationed at Nanjun as the administrator of Jiangling, serving alongside Fu Shiren under the command of Guan Yu. Due to a long-standing personal grievance and lack of provisions or discipline, relations between Guan Yu and the two officers deteriorated sharply. Capitalizing on this friction, Eastern Wu’s general Lü Meng launched a stealth invasion of Jing Province. Surrounded and persuaded by emissaries from Wu, Mi Fang and Fu Shiren surrendered Jiangling without a fight, effectively sealing Guan Yu’s doom at Maicheng. Following his surrender, Mi Fang served under Eastern Wu, but he was frequently scorned and mocked by Wu officials such as Yu Fan for his betrayal of his former lord and master. Mi Fang passed away in Eastern Wu some years after his defection.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s epic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Mi Fang is depicted as a deeply flawed and cowardly officer whose treachery changes the course of the Three Kingdoms era. Initially sharing in the trials of Liu Bei alongside his brother Mi Zhu, Mi Fang participates in various campaigns and demonstrates courage in early chapters, such as accidentally shooting Cao Cao’s general Cao Ren’s helmet off or assisting in defense.
However, his fatal flaw culminates in Chapter 73–76. Entrusted by Guan Yu to guard the vital supply depot at Jiangling alongside Fu Shiren, Mi Fang neglects his duties, causing a massive fire that destroys military stores. When Guan Yu threatens to punish him severely upon his return, fear and resentment drive Mi Fang into the arms of Eastern Wu. His shameful surrender hands Jiangling over to Lü Meng, cuts off Guan Yu’s retreat, and directly leads to the capture and execution of the legendary Shu general. In later chapters, Mi Fang’s remorse is highlighted when he encounters his former colleague Liu Bei’s vengeance or faces public humiliation in Wu.
Notable Quotes & Famous Sayings
- “We have already surrendered to the Kingdom of Wu; why speak of former loyalties here?” — Mi Fang’s defensive retort when rebuked or confronted by loyalists after his betrayal.
Mi Fang (糜芳) — Historical & Literary Timeline
196 AD
Joining Liu Bei’s Cause
Following his brother Mi Zhu’s immense financial backing, Mi Fang joins Liu Bei’s military command, assisting in administrative and protective duties during times of war.
200 AD
Reuniting the Family
Mi Fang assists in locating and safeguarding Liu Bei’s scattered family members after the sudden collapse of Xuzhou defenses under Cao Cao’s onslaught.
208 AD
The Battle of Changban
Mi Fang fights alongside Zhao Yun and other officers to protect Liu Bei’s family during the chaotic nocturnal retreat from Xiangyang at Changban.
219 AD
The Supply Fire at Jiangling
Entrusted to guard military supplies at Jiangling under Guan Yu’s supreme command, Mi Fang’s negligence causes an accidental fire, prompting Guan Yu to vow strict execution upon his return.
219 AD
The Betrayal of Jing Province
Persuaded by Eastern Wu’s emissary Yu Fan and gripped by fear of Guan Yu’s wrath, Mi Fang and Fu Shiren surrender Jiangling to Lü Meng, trapping Guan Yu at Maicheng.
222 AD
Regret and Service in Wu
Serving under Eastern Wu, Mi Fang attempts to redeem himself in battle against Shu but faces widespread contempt from Wu officials, culminating in deep social isolation.
Key Relationships
Family
- Mi Zhu (糜竺, Mi Trúc): Elder brother and wealthy merchant who provided the financial foundation for Liu Bei’s early campaigns; he remained a loyal official of Shu Han despite his brother’s betrayal.
- Lady Mi (糜夫人, Mi phu nhân): Younger sister who became a wife of Liu Bei; her marriage solidified the Mi family’s early alliance with the warlord.
Friends
- Fu Shiren (傅士仁, Phó Sĩ Nhân): Fellow officer and co-commander at Nanjun; he conspired with Mi Fang to surrender the Jing Province supply bases to Eastern Wu in 219 AD.
Enemies
- Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ): The commander of Jing Province whose strict military discipline and threats of execution following a supply fire in 219 AD drove Mi Fang to defect.
- Lü Meng (吕蒙, Lữ Mông): Eastern Wu general who orchestrated the stealth invasion of Jing Province and accepted the surrender of Mi Fang and Fu Shiren.
- Yu Fan (虞翻, Ngu Phiên): Eastern Wu official who frequently mocked and publicly humiliated Mi Fang for his treacherous nature after his defection.
Other
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): Former sovereign and brother-in-law; Mi Fang served him for years during the early period of hardship before ultimately betraying him in 219 AD.
In Novel
Chapter 16
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương): Mi Fang serves alongside his brother Mi Zhu in Liu Bei’s Xu Province administration and military organization during the struggle with Lü Bu and Yuan Shu.
Chapter 41
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương): During Cao Cao’s attack on Jingzhou, Mi Fang is separated from Liu Bei’s main group and returns wounded, with arrows in his face. He falsely reports that Zhao Yun has gone over to Cao Cao. Liu Bei refuses to believe the accusation and insists that Zhao Yun’s loyalty is beyond question. Mi Fang’s report therefore becomes one of the dramatic moments immediately before Zhao Yun’s rescue of the Liu family.
Chapter 65
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương): After Liu Bei establishes control of Yi Province, Mi Fang is listed together with Mi Zhu and other long-serving Jingzhou officials among those receiving promotion and rewards.
Chapter 73
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương): Guan Yu appoints Mi Fang and Fu Shiren as his vanguard officers for the campaign against Fan Castle. Before the army leaves, the two men drink in their camp and accidentally start a fire that destroys weapons, artillery and military provisions and kills some of their own soldiers. Guan Yu orders them executed, but Fei Shi intervenes. Guan Yu instead has each man beaten forty times, strips them of their vanguard seals and assigns Mi Fang to guard Nanjun while Fu Shiren guards Gong’an, warning that any further failure will bring execution.
Chapter 75
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương): While Guan Yu is attacking Fan Castle, Eastern Wu secretly moves against Jingzhou. Sun Quan and Lü Meng arrange for Yu Fan to persuade Fu Shiren to surrender Gong’an. After Fu Shiren defects, Sun Quan orders him to go to Nanjun and persuade Mi Fang to surrender as well. Mi Fang is therefore placed under direct pressure at the moment Jingzhou’s rear collapses.
Chapter 76
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương): Fu Shiren reaches Nanjun and tells Mi Fang that Gong’an has surrendered and that resistance is hopeless. Mi Fang initially protests that they have received great favor from Liu Bei and should not betray him, but fear of Guan Yu’s punishment and the collapse of Jingzhou overcome his loyalty. He opens Nanjun to Eastern Wu and joins Fu Shiren in surrendering to Lü Meng, directly cutting off Guan Yu’s route of retreat.
Chapter 83
- Mi Fang (糜芳, Mi Phương): During Liu Bei’s campaign against Wu, Mi Fang and Fu Shiren are serving under Eastern Wu with Ma Zhong. Their own soldiers resent them for having surrendered Jingzhou and begin discussing killing them. Mi Fang proposes killing Ma Zhong and returning to Liu Bei with Ma Zhong’s head as proof of repentance. He and Fu Shiren attack and kill Ma Zhong, then go to Liu Bei’s camp claiming that they surrendered to Wu only because of necessity. Liu Bei rejects their plea for mercy, saying he cannot face Guan Yu in the afterlife if he forgives them. He orders Guan Xing to strip both men, place them before Guan Yu’s memorial, and personally execute them by dismemberment as a sacrifice to Guan Yu.
In History
Summary
- Mi Fang (麋芳, Mi Phương), courtesy name Zifang, was the younger brother of Mi Zhu (糜竺, Mi Trúc) and a military official serving Liu Bei.
Year: 219 AD
- Mi Fang (麋芳, Mi Phương) surrendered to Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) during the Wu attack on Jing Province, contributing to the fall of Guan Yu and Liu Bei’s Jing territories.
Historical Record
- Mi Fang (麋芳, Mi Phương) was a real historical figure. The historical record identifies his defection to Sun Quan as a major cause of Guan Yu’s defeat. citeturn0search0turn0search2
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