Here is the exhaustive biography, ancestral background, historical records, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms narrative for Xin Ping (辛評), courtesy name Zhongzhi (仲治) (d. 204 AD), a key strategist and vassal who initially served Han Fu, then the Yuan family under Yuan Shao, and later acted as a tactician for Yuan Tan during the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
Contents
Ancestry, Early Service Under Han Fu & Defection to Yuan Shao
Xin Ping hailed from Yangzhai County in Yingchuan Commandery and was the older brother of Xin Pi. He began his official career in 189 AD as an adviser to Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province. In 191 AD, facing the rising threat of Gongsun Zan, Xin Ping alongside Xun Chen and Guo Tu persuaded Han Fu to surrender control of Ji Province to Yuan Shao. Following Han Fu’s downfall, Xin Ping entered Yuan Shao’s service, successfully introducing his younger brother Xin Pi to the warlord’s court as well.
Internal Factions at Court, Succession Struggle & Death
During the campaigns against Cao Cao, including the pivotal Battle of Guandu, Xin Ping became deeply embroiled in the intense political factionalism plaguing Yuan Shao’s court, aligning with Guo Tu against Shen Pei. Following Yuan Shao’s death in 202 AD, Xin Ping and Guo Tu supported Yuan Tan in the bitter succession struggle against his younger brother Yuan Shang. When the civil war turned against Yuan Tan, Xin Pi defected to Cao Cao, prompting Shen Pei to massacre eighty members of the Xin family remaining in Ye. In Chapter 33 of the novel, when Xin Ping was sent as an envoy to negotiate Yuan Tan’s surrender, Cao Cao spared him out of respect for his loyalty, but a suspicious Yuan Tan accused him of treason, provoking such extreme anger and anguish that Xin Ping collapsed and died on the spot in 204 AD.
Xin Ping (辛評) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Surrender of Ji Province to Yuan Shao
Serves under Han Fu in Chapter 7. Along with Xun Chen and Guo Tu, advises Han Fu to cede Ji Province to Yuan Shao to secure protection against Gongsun Zan.
Battle of Guandu & Succession Conflict
Serves Yuan Shao during the Guandu campaign. Following Yuan Shao’s death in Chapter 31, Xin Ping champions Yuan Tan’s claim to succession against Yuan Shang.
Envoy Mission & Tragic Death
Sent as an envoy to negotiate Yuan Tan’s surrender to Cao Cao in Chapter 33. Although Cao Cao honors his steadfast loyalty, Yuan Tan accuses him of treachery, causing Xin Ping to collapse and die from extreme grief and anger.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Narrative
In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xin Ping appears as a cunning yet tragic strategist. In Chapter 7, he orchestrates the transfer of Ji Province to Yuan Shao. Later, following Yuan Shao’s demise in Chapter 31, he steadfastly backs Yuan Tan’s bid for leadership. In Chapter 33, after his family in Ye is slaughtered by Shen Pei, Xin Ping visits Cao Cao as an envoy for Yuan Tan. When Cao Cao respects his refusal to change allegiance, Yuan Tan reacts with paranoid fury and accuses him of treason, driving Xin Ping to a fatal stroke.
Key Relationships
Family
- Xin Pi (辛毗, Tân Tỳ) — Younger brother of Xin Ping; both served the Yuan family until the political collapse in Ye, after which Xin Pi defected to Cao Cao.
Friends
- Guo Tu (郭图, Quách Đồ) — A fellow strategist and political ally within the Yuan court who joined Xin Ping in supporting Yuan Tan during the succession struggle.
- Xun Chen (荀谌, Tuân Kham) — A colleague and fellow adviser who collaborated with Xin Ping in 191 AD to persuade Han Fu to surrender Ji Province to Yuan Shao.
Enemies
- Shen Pei (审配, Thẩm Phối) — A bitter political rival in Yuan Shao’s court who ordered the massacre of the Xin family in Ye following the defection of Xin Pi.
- Yuan Shang (袁尚, Viên Thượng) — The younger son of Yuan Shao whose claim to succession was opposed by Xin Ping in favor of Yuan Tan.
- Yuan Tan (袁谭, Viên Đàm) — Although Xin Ping served him as a tactician, Yuan Tan became his ultimate antagonist in 204 AD, accusing him of treason and causing the grief that led to Xin Ping’s death.
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) — A primary military opponent of the Yuan family; while he respected Xin Ping’s loyalty during the 204 AD embassy, he remained the warlord responsible for the downfall of the Yuan faction.
- Gongsun Zan (公孙瓒, Công Tôn Toản) — A northern warlord whose military threat in 191 AD served as the catalyst for Xin Ping’s advice to surrender Ji Province.
Other
- Han Fu (韩馥, Hàn Phức) — The Governor of Ji Province whom Xin Ping served as an adviser until 191 AD, when he facilitated the transfer of the province to Yuan Shao.
- Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu) — The warlord and regional ruler whom Xin Ping served faithfully for many years following the transition of power from Han Fu.
In Novel
Chapter 7
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình): Advisor from Yingchuan, courtesy name Zhongzhi (仲治), who counseled Han Fu (韩馥, Hàn Phức) to yield governance of Jizhou to Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu), subsequently entering Yuan Shao’s service.
Chapter 22
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình): Assisted Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu) in drafting military resolutions and diplomatic missives for the grand Hebei campaign against Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo).
Chapter 31
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình): Retreated with Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu) back to Jizhou following the catastrophic defeat at Cangting.
Chapter 32
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình): Backed the eldest son Yuan Tan (袁谭, Viên Đàm) against Yuan Shang (袁尚, Viên Thượng) during the factional succession conflict following Yuan Shao’s death.
Chapter 33
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình): Serving Yuan Tan (袁谭, Viên Đàm) during the siege of Nanpi by Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo); when sent into the city to persuade his brother Xin Pi (辛毗, Tân Bì) and Shen Pei (审配, Thẩm Phối) to surrender, Shen Pei executed Xin Ping’s entire family on the walls, prompting Xin Ping to collapse and die of acute grief and terror.
In History
Summary
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình), courtesy name Zhongzhi, was an adviser who first served Han Fu (韩馥, Hàn Phức) and later Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu). He was the elder brother of Xin Pi (辛毗, Tân Bì).
Year: 191 AD
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình) joined Xun Chen (荀谌, Tuân Thậm) and Guo Tu (郭图, Quách Đồ) in persuading Han Fu to yield Ji Province to Yuan Shao.
Year: 202 AD
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình) supported Yuan Tan (袁谭, Viên Đàm) during the succession conflict with Yuan Shang (袁尚, Viên Thượng).
Year: 204 AD
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình) was trapped in Ye after his brother Xin Pi defected to Cao Cao. Shen Pei (审配, Thẩm Phối) ordered the execution of the Xin family in Ye, and Xin Ping’s family was killed.
Historical Record
- Xin Ping (辛评, Tân Bình) was a real historical adviser. The novel adds dramatized details concerning his death.
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