Shen Fang

Biodata

Background / History

Shen Fang served as the Prefect of Zhangwei during the Qingzhou famine. When Liu Shuyue proposed issuing bonds and implementing work-relief programs, he refused: extracting money and grain from wealthy families and merchants, in his view, would create a more difficult crisis than managing the refugees outside the city 13.

His relief policy remained deliberately limited. He distributed one bowl of thin porridge per day according to an outdated count of three thousand refugees, despite their rapidly increasing numbers; he later admitted that he had kept the refugees concentrated near Zhangwei rather than letting them disperse 15 27. He also concealed that no additional relief grain was expected because the higher authorities had never intended to provide it 28.

As the military prepared to seize the refugees' food and suppress their southward movement, Shen Fang could not stop the order and followed the troops out of the city. When Liu Shuyue blocked their path with heavenly thunder, he warned General Gong Lingwu not to cross her line, recognizing that an Immortal Master's sword could kill people as readily as demons 28 29.

Later, Shen Fang arrived at Mala Village as the King of Qi's envoy, carrying a demand that Liu Shuyue surrender. After witnessing the settlement's resources and stability, he offered to have Zhangwei personnel escort further refugees safely to the village, calling it a chance to avoid becoming “the sinner cursed by the people of Qingzhou” 35. Chen Xuan suspects Shen Fang's visit also served to assess Mala Village as a possible refuge should Great Qi lose a war with the Luo Kingdom 36.

Personality

Shen Fang is politically cautious and pragmatic. As prefect, he prioritizes Zhangwei's internal stability and the interests of its established residents, judging powerful gentry and merchants to be a more immediate threat than desperate refugees 13 18.

He is neither openly bloodthirsty nor consistently compassionate. He recognizes Liu Shuyue's sincere wish to save the refugees and appears reluctant to use force, yet he accepts the government's abandonment of relief efforts as the refugees' “fate” and proposes taking their grain to make a military seizure appear more presentable 15 28.

His conduct at Mala Village shows flexibility. Rather than blindly following the King of Qi's interests, he adapts to the changed circumstances, treats Liu Shuyue with renewed respect, and seeks a practical outcome that may preserve both refugees and his own future 35 36.

Relationships

• Liu Shuyue — Political opponent turned uneasy collaborator. He rejected her famine-relief proposals and initially viewed her growing influence with concern, but later delivered the King of Qi's letter personally and offered assistance relocating refugees to Mala Village 13 19 35.
• Chen Xuan — Initially suspected Chen Xuan to be a figure of status comparable to Liu Shuyue; later accepted Liu's claim that Chen was her fellow Daoist from beyond the abyssal sea 15 35.
• County Lieutenant Tang — Subordinate and confidant with whom Shen Fang discusses Zhangwei's refugee policy, Liu Shuyue's political position, and the court's intentions 15 18.
• Gong Lingwu — A general whose demand to seize the refugees' food places Shen Fang in a difficult position. Shen Fang later urges him to be cautious of Liu Shuyue's thunder barrier 27 29.
• King of Qi — His sovereign; Shen Fang serves as the king's envoy by delivering the ultimatum ordering Liu Shuyue's surrender 35.

Trivia

• Shen Fang was skilled enough to react immediately to Chen Xuan's unexpected appearance in the prefectural residence, initially assuming an assassination attempt 13.
• He is married and is shown speaking harshly to his wife while privately displaying affection toward her 19.