Is “Stabilizing Jiaozhou and debating the scholars” true?
based on fact
The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wu, Biography of Bu Zhi records his achievements in pacifying Jiao and Guang and rising to the position of Chancellor; the Romance of the Three Kingdoms fictionalizes a scene where he challenges Zhuge Liang during his visit to Wu and is refuted.
Bu Zhi
In official history, he pacified Jiao and Guang, rising to the rank of Grand Marshal; in fiction, he is depicted as challenging Zhuge Liang during his visit to Wu and being refuted.