Qi Fang戚方

History vs. fiction

Qi Fang. A bandit, was attacked by Yue Fei. As a reserve general, led his followers in rebellion and attacked Zhenjiang. As a commander in the Yue family army, mistakenly killed Wang Chengliang and was punished with thirty strokes. As a general in the Yue family army, shot Yue Fei with a hidden arrow and was killed by Niu Gao. Originally a water bandit, was captured by Yang Zaixing and then surrendered to Yue Fei.

• based on factA bandit, was attacked by Yue Fei. As a reserve general, led his followers in rebellion and attacked Zhenjiang. As a commander in the Yue family army, mistakenly killed Wang Chengliang and was punished with thirty strokes. As a general in the Yue family army, shot Yue Fei with a hidden arrow and was killed by Niu Gao. Originally a water bandit, was captured by Yang Zaixing and then surrendered to Yue Fei.

  Historically, Qi Fang indeed existed. His deeds are recorded in sources such as the History of Song. For example, the biography of Yue Fei records: "An imperial edict ordered the attack on Qi Fang. Fei camped with three thousand men at Kuling. Fang fled, but soon brought more troops. Fei personally led a thousand men and fought dozens of engagements, all victorious. When Zhang Jun's troops arrived, Fang surrendered. Fan Zongyin reported that Zhang Jun came from western Zhejiang and highly praised Fei's ability, so Fei was promoted to be the military governor of Tong and Tai prefectures and concurrently the prefect of Tai. Fei declined, requesting a difficult and important post on the Huainan East Circuit, to recover the prefectures of that circuit, and to advance gradually, so that Shandong, Hebei, Hedong, and the capital area could be recovered in sequence." In the novel "The Story of Yue Fei", chapter 48 records: "Along the way, they arrived at Guazhou. Marshal Han had already prepared boats and invited General Yue's army to cross the Yangtze. After meeting, he kept Yue to rest for three days, then parted and returned to the capital. There was nothing noteworthy on the road. Soon they approached Lin'an, and a scout reported: 'The water bandit Qi Fang is leading troops to attack Lin'an urgently, so we have come to report.' The marshal then ordered the camp to be set up at Jiadi Lane. He immediately ordered Yang Zaixing to lead three thousand men and horses to go to the rescue."