Su Fei 蘇飛

Contents

Introduction

Su Fei (蘇飛) was a commander of Jiangxia under Liu Biao’s subordinate Huang Zu and a close friend of Gan Ning. He repeatedly recommended Gan Ning to Huang Zu, but Huang Zu would not employ him. When Gan Ning decided to leave and join Sun Quan, Su Fei had him appointed Magistrate of Zhuxian (邾長) so that he could leave his post and cross the river. After Sun Quan took Jiangxia in 208, Su Fei was captured. Sun Quan had two boxes prepared for the heads of Huang Zu and Su Fei. Su Fei sent someone to ask Gan Ning for help. At a feast Gan Ning left his seat, kowtowed until he bled, and begged Sun Quan to spare Su Fei, saying that without Su Fei he would have “perished in the ditches” and never served Sun Quan. Sun Quan was moved and pardoned Su Fei. The Wei shu records that after Chibi, Yue Jin, stationed at Xiangyang, defeated Guan Yu and “Su Fei” (蘇非); some identify this Su Fei with Su Fei.

Biography

Jiangxia and friendship with Gan Ning

Su Fei served under Huang Zu as commander (都督) of Jiangxia. Gan Ning, then with Huang Zu, had “bold talent” but had once been an outlaw (“Brocade Sails”); Su Fei recommended him to Huang Zu many times, but Huang Zu did not use him and even had people try to win over Gan Ning’s followers. Gan Ning wished to leave but feared he could not get away and was troubled. Su Fei understood. He invited Gan Ning to drink and said: “I have recommended you several times; the lord will not employ you. The days pass; a man’s life is short. You should plan for yourself—perhaps you will find a true friend.” Gan Ning was silent for a long time, then said: “I have the will but do not know what to do.” Su Fei said: “I will recommend you as Magistrate of Zhuxian (邾長). You can then manage your own coming and going.” Gan Ning thanked him. Su Fei put this to Huang Zu, and Huang Zu agreed to send Gan Ning to Zhuxian. Gan Ning then gathered several hundred followers and crossed the river to join Sun Quan.

Capture and Gan Ning’s plea

In 208 Sun Quan attacked and defeated Huang Zu at Jiangxia. He had two boxes made to present the heads of Huang Zu and Su Fei. Su Fei sent someone to beg Gan Ning for help. Gan Ning said: “Even if Su Fei had not sent word, could I forget him?” At a feast for the generals, Gan Ning left his seat, kowtowed, and with tears and blood said to Sun Quan: “Su Fei’s kindness in the past—if Gan Ning had not met Su Fei, I would have perished in the ditches and could not have offered my life under your command. Now Su Fei’s crime deserves execution, but I beg you to spare his life.” Sun Quan was moved and said: “I will pardon him for your sake. But if he runs away, what then?” Gan Ning said: “Su Fei has escaped dismemberment and received the grace of a new life. Even if you drove him away he would not go—how would he plan to flee? If he did, I would offer my head in his place.” Sun Quan then pardoned Su Fei.

Personality and traits

Su Fei was a loyal friend to Gan Ning: he recommended him repeatedly to Huang Zu and, when Gan Ning could not leave openly, arranged his appointment as Magistrate of Zhuxian so that he could defect. After his capture, Gan Ning repaid that loyalty by pleading for his life.

Political achievements

Under Huang Zu: Commander of Jiangxia; repeatedly recommended Gan Ning; had Gan Ning sent as Magistrate of Zhuxian so he could leave (208). After 208: spared by Sun Quan at Gan Ning’s request.

Relationships

Gan Ning

Su Fei and Gan Ning were close. Su Fei recommended Gan Ning to Huang Zu and later had him sent to Zhuxian so he could join Sun Quan. When Sun Quan was about to execute Su Fei, Gan Ning kowtowed and begged; Sun Quan pardoned Su Fei.

Huang Zu

Su Fei served Huang Zu as Jiangxia commander. Huang Zu did not accept his recommendations of Gan Ning.

Sun Quan

Sun Quan had Su Fei captured in 208 and initially intended to put his head in a box with Huang Zu’s. He pardoned Su Fei after Gan Ning’s plea.

Anecdotes and allusions

“Even if Su Fei had not sent word, could I forget him?”

When Su Fei sent someone to ask Gan Ning for help, Gan Ning said he would not have forgotten Su Fei even without the message—and then begged Sun Quan to spare him.

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms (Gan Ning biography), Wu shu (Pei Songzhi commentary)
Type: Historical

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Su Fei appears in the novel as under Huang Zu; he repeatedly recommends Gan Ning and invites him to drink, telling him he has had him made Magistrate of Zhuxian so he can leave. When Sun Quan attacks, Su Fei fights with Chen Jiu and Deng Long; Chen and Deng are killed and Su Fei is captured by Pan Zhang. Sun Quan orders Su Fei executed; Su Fei asks Gan Ning for help and Gan Ning pleads with Sun Quan, who then pardons him.

Identification with “Su Fei” in Wei shu

The Wei shu (Yue Jin biography) says that after Chibi, Yue Jin remained at Xiangyang and “attacked Guan Yu and Su Fei (蘇非), and they all fled; the various counties in Nan Commandery and the valley barbarians came to Yue Jin and surrendered.” The graph 非 is different from 飛; some scholars treat this as the same person (Su Fei), others as a different name or scribal variant.

Achievements

Documented achievements include: Jiangxia commander under Huang Zu; recommending Gan Ning; arranging Gan Ning’s appointment as Magistrate of Zhuxian so he could defect; spared by Sun Quan after Gan Ning’s plea (208).

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

Su Fei is not given a standalone biography. He appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms in the biography of Gan Ning (吳書·程黃韓蔣周陳董甘凌徐潘丁傳), and in the Wu shu cited by Pei Songzhi. The Wei shu (樂進傳) mentions Yue Jin defeating “Guan Yu and Su Fei (蘇非)” at Xiangyang after the takeover of Jing Province; the identity of this “Su Fei” with the Jiangxia commander is uncertain.

Legacy

Su Fei is remembered as the Jiangxia commander who helped Gan Ning leave Huang Zu and join Sun Quan, and who was spared by Sun Quan when Gan Ning repaid that debt by begging for his life.

References

Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, and others” (吳書·程黃韓蔣周陳董甘凌徐潘丁傳), Gan Ning biography.
Pei Songzhi. Commentary citing Wu shu (吳書).
Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, “Biographies of Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, Zhang He, and Xu Huang” (魏書·張樂于張徐傳), Yue Jin biography (蘇非).
Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), chapters on Jiangxia.