Xin Pi (178 or before - 235), courtesy name Zuozhi, was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Along with his elder brother Xin Ping, he started his career in the late Eastern Han dynasty as an adviser to the warlord Yuan Shao. Following Yuan Shao's death and a power struggle between Yuan Shao's sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, Xin Pi initially sided with Yuan Tan but later defected to Yuan Shao's rival Cao Cao, while seeking Cao Cao's aid on Yuan Tan's behalf in the fight against Yuan Shang. As a result, his family members were executed by Shen Pei, a Yuan Shang loyalist who blamed Xin Pi for the downfall of the Yuan family. After avenging his family, Xin Pi served as an official under Cao Cao, who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead Emperor Xian. After the Cao Wei state replaced the Eastern Han dynasty, Xin Pi continued serving under Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, the first Wei emperor, and later under Cao Rui, Cao Pi's son. Throughout his service in Wei, he was known for being outspoken and critical whenever he disagreed with the emperors and his colleagues. His highest appointment in the Wei government was the Minister of the Guards (). He died around 235 and was survived by his son Xin Chang and daughter Xin Xianying.
Family background Xin Pi was from Yangzhai County (), Yingchuan Commandery (), which is around present-day Yuzhou, Henan.(辛毗字佐治，潁川陽翟人也。) Sanguozhi vol. 25. His ancestors were actually from Longxi Commandery (隴西郡; around present-day Dingxi, Gansu), but they migrated to Yingchuan Commandery during the Jianwu era (25–56 CE) of the reign of Emperor Guangwu in the early Eastern Han dynasty.(其先建武中，自隴西東遷。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Service under Yuan Shao and Yuan Tan Xin Pi and his elder brother Xin Ping served as advisers to the warlord Yuan Shao, who controlled much of northern China from 191 to 202.(毗隨兄評從袁紹。) Sanguozhi vol. 25. When the warlord Cao Cao, who was also Yuan Shao's rival, held the position of Minister of Works () in the Han central government between 196 and 208, he invited Xin Pi to serve in his administration but Xin Pi refused.(太祖為司空，辟毗，毗不得應命。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Following Yuan Shao's death in 202, internal conflict broke out between his sons Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan over the succession to their father's place. Yuan Shao's followers also split into two camps – one supporting Yuan Shang and the other backing Yuan Tan. In 203, when Yuan Shang attacked Yuan Tan at Pingyuan County, Guo Tu advised Yuan Tan to make peace with Cao Cao and ally with Cao Cao to counter Yuan Shang. After Yuan Tan reluctantly agreed, Guo Tu nominated Xin Pi to serve as Yuan Tan's representative to meet Cao Cao.(及袁尚攻兄譚於平原，譚使毗詣太祖求和。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.(英雄記曰：譚、尚戰於外門，譚軍敗奔北。郭圖說譚曰：「今將軍國小兵少，糧匱勢弱，顯甫之來，久則不敵。愚以為可呼曹公來擊顯甫。曹公至，必先攻鄴，顯甫還救。將軍引兵而西，自鄴以北皆可虜得。若顯甫軍破，其兵奔亡，又可斂取以拒曹公。曹公遠僑而來，糧餉不繼，必自逃去。比此之際，趙國以北皆我之有，亦足與曹公為對矣。不然，不諧。」譚始不納，後遂從之。問圖：「誰可使？」圖荅：「辛佐治可。」譚遂遣毗詣太祖。) Yingxiong Ji annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Persuading Cao Cao to ally with Yuan Tan against Yuan Shang Around the time, Cao Cao was planning for an invasion of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) and had stationed his troops at Xiping County (西平縣; southeast of present-day Wuyang County, Henan). When Xin Pi met Cao Cao, he conveyed Yuan Tan's message and sought Cao Cao's support in dealing with Yuan Shang. Although Cao Cao was initially pleased to hear that Yuan Tan wanted to ally with him against Yuan Shang,(太祖將征荊州，次于西平。毗見太祖致譚意，太祖大恱。) Sanguozhi vol. 25. a few days later he changed his mind and wanted to attack Jing Province first. He also hoped that in doing so, the Yuan brothers would continue to fight each other.(後數日，更欲先平荊州，使譚、尚自相弊。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Some days later, when Xin Pi attended a feast hosted by Cao Cao, he noticed that Cao Cao had changed his mind after observing his facial expressions, so he spoke to Cao Cao's adviser Guo Jia. After Guo Jia told him, Cao Cao asked Xin Pi: "Can Yuan Tan be trusted? Can Yuan Shang be defeated?"(他日置酒，毗望太祖色，知有變，以語郭嘉。嘉白太祖，太祖謂毗曰：「譚可信？尚必可克不？」) Sanguozhi vol. 25. Xin Pi replied:
Cao Cao was very much pleased with Xin Pi's words, and he agreed to aid Yuan Tan. Xin Pi officially joined Cao Cao's army not too long after. Cao Cao then marched his forces to Liyang (黎陽, near present-day Xun County, Henan).(太祖曰：「善。」乃許譚平，次于黎陽。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Service under Cao Cao Battle of Ye
In 204, Xin Pi accompanied Cao Cao on a campaign against Yuan Shang. Earlier on, when conflict first broke out between Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, Xin Pi decided to side with Yuan Tan and follow him to Pingyuan County but he left his family members behind in Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei). Yuan Shang later had Xin Pi's family members arrested and imprisoned. During the Battle of Ye, when Yuan Shang's adviser Shen Pei saw that Cao Cao's forces had broken through Ye's defences, he blamed Xin Pi for the downfall of the Yuan family so he ordered his men to execute all of Xin Pi's family members except for his children, Xin Chang and Xin Xianying. After Ye fell to Cao Cao's forces, Xin Pi rushed to the prison to free his family but it was too late as all of them were already dead, save for his children.(先賢行狀曰： ... 初，譚之去，皆呼辛毗、郭圖家得出，而辛評家獨被收。及配兄子開城門內兵，時配在城東南角樓上，望見太祖兵入，忿辛、郭壞敗兾州，乃遣人馳詣鄴獄，指殺仲治家。是時，辛毗在軍，聞門開，馳走詣獄，欲解其兄家，兄家已死。) Xianxian Xingzhuang annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 6.
After the battle, Xin Pi found Shen Pei, who was being escorted as a captive to be brought before Cao Cao. He started hitting Shen Pei on the head with his horse whip while scolding him: "Slave, today you shall meet your doom!" Shen Pei looked at Xin Pi and replied: "You dog! It is because of you that Cao Cao conquered Ji Province. I can't wait to kill you, but too bad it turns out that today I am at your mercy."(是日生縛配，將詣帳下，辛毗等逆以馬鞭擊其頭，罵之曰：「奴，汝今日真死矣！」配顧曰：「狗輩，正由汝曹破我兾州，恨不得殺汝也！且汝今日能殺生我邪？」) Xianxian Xingzhuang annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 6. After Cao Cao met Shen Pei, he considered releasing Shen Pei but Xin Pi started crying and insisting that he wanted Shen Pei dead as justice for his family, so Cao Cao had no choice but to order Shen Pei's execution.(有頃，公引見，謂配：「知誰開卿城門？」配曰：「不知也。」曰：「自卿子榮耳。」配曰：「小兒不足用乃至此！」公復謂曰：「曩日孤之行圍，何弩之多也？」配曰：「恨其少耳！」公曰：「卿忠於袁氏父子，亦自不得不爾也。」有意欲活之。配旣無撓辭，而辛毗等號哭不已，乃殺之。) Xianxian Xingzhuang annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 6.
After the Battle of Ye, Cao Cao recommended the Han central government to appoint Xin Pi as a Consultant ().(明年攻鄴，克之，表毗為議郎。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Hanzhong Campaign
In 217, when Cao Cao ordered his general Cao Hong to lead troops to attack Liu Bei's forces at Xiabian County (下辨縣; northwest of present-day Cheng County, Gansu), he also appointed Xin Pi and Cao Xiu to serve as Cao Hong's deputies. Cao Cao also issued a memo to them as follows: "In the past, when Emperor Gaozu indulged in luxury and women, Zhang Liang and Chen Ping were there to point out his mistakes. Today, Zuozhi and Wenlie will ensure that (Cao Hong) will not be careless."(乆之，太祖遣都護曹洪平下辯，使毗與曹休參之，令曰：「昔高祖貪財好色，而良、平匡其過失。今佐治、文烈憂不輕矣。」) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
After Xin Pi returned from the campaign, he was appointed as the Chief Clerk () to the Imperial Chancellor (), the position held by Cao Cao in the Han central government.(軍還，為丞相長史。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Service under Cao Pi After Cao Cao died in early 220, his son Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian later that year, ended the Eastern Han dynasty, and established the Cao Wei state with himself as the new emperor. After Cao Pi took the throne, he appointed Xin Pi as a Palace Attendant and awarded him the peerage of a Secondary Marquis ().(文帝踐阼，遷侍中，賜爵關內侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Advising Cao Pi against changing the starting date of the calendar year At the time, there was a discussion in Cao Pi's imperial court on the issue of whether to change the starting date of the calendar year. Xin Pi argued that it was unnecessary to do so since there was a peaceful transition from the Eastern Han dynasty to the Cao Wei state, just like how Yu succeeded Shun in ancient times. He pointed out that the ruling dynasty only changed the starting date when it replaced its predecessor through violence, such as the Shang dynasty replacing the Xia dynasty and the Zhou dynasty replacing the Shang dynasty in turn. He also quoted sayings from Confucius and the Zuo zhuan which mentioned that the starting date of the calendar year set in the Xia dynasty was the most legitimate one, and therefore it would be best for the Cao Wei state to follow it. Cao Pi heeded Xin Pi's suggestion.(時議改正朔。毗以魏氏遵舜、禹之統，應天順民；至於湯、武，以戰伐定天下，乃改正朔。孔子曰「行夏之時」，左氏傳曰「夏數為得天正」，何必期於相反。帝善而從之。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Advising Cao Pi against relocating residents from Hebei to Henan On one occasion, Cao Pi considered relocating 100,000 households from Ji Province (present-day Hebei) to the lands south of the Yellow River in present-day Henan.(帝欲徙兾州士家十萬戶實河南。) Sanguozhi vol. 25. At the time, the people were suffering from famine as locust swarms had destroyed their crops. Although his officials strongly objected to the relocation, Cao Pi was bent on proceeding with his plan.(時連蝗民饑，群司以為不可，而帝意甚盛。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
When Xin Pi and other officials requested an audience with him, Cao Pi knew that they were going to dissuade him from relocating the households, so he put on a stern face when he met them. While the others became afraid upon seeing the emperor's facial expression and did not dare to speak up,(毗與朝臣俱求見，帝知其欲諫，作色以見之，皆莫敢言。) Sanguozhi vol. 25. Xin Pi asked: "How did Your Majesty come up with the idea of relocating those households?" Cao Pi asked him in return: "Do you think it is inappropriate?" Xin Pi replied: "Indeed. I do believe it is inappropriate." Cao Pi then said: "I am not going to discuss it with you."(毗曰：「陛下欲徙士家，其計安出？」帝曰：「卿謂我徙之非邪？」毗曰：「誠以為非也。」帝曰：「吾不與卿共議也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Xin Pi said: "Your Majesty doesn't think I am incapable. That is why you appoint me as a close aide and adviser. Why then wouldn't you discuss it with me? I am not speaking up because it is a private matter to me, but because it is an issue of concern to the state. Why do you need to get angry at me?"(毗曰：「陛下不以臣不肖，置之左右，廁之謀議之官，安得不與臣議邪！臣所言非私，乃社稷之慮也，安得怒臣！」) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
When Cao Pi ignored him and walked back to his personal chambers, Xin Pi followed him and held on to his sleeve. Cao Pi became so annoyed that he forcefully pulled Xin Pi's hand off his sleeve and retreated into his chambers. When he came out later after a long time, he asked Xin Pi: "Zuozhi, what made you so impatient just now?"(帝不荅，起入內；毗隨而引其裾，帝遂奮衣不還，良乆乃出，曰：「佐治，卿持我何太急邪？」) Sanguozhi vol. 25. Xin Pi replied: "If Your Majesty relocates those households, you will lose the people's hearts. Besides, they are already suffering from famine." Cao Pi eventually did relocate those households but only 50,000 instead of 100,000.(毗曰：「今徙，旣失民心，又無以食也。」帝遂徙其半。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Speaking up against Cao Pi's hunting of pheasants On another occasion, when Xin Pi accompanied Cao Pi on a pheasant hunting trip, the emperor remarked: "What a joy it is to hunt pheasants!" Xin Pi responded: "Your Majesty may see it as a joy, but your subjects see it as a pain." Cao Pi became unhappy and hardly went out hunting again from then on.(嘗從帝射雉，帝曰：「射雉樂哉！」毗曰：「於陛下甚樂，而於羣下甚苦。」帝默然，後遂為之稀出。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
Advising Cao Pi against attacking Eastern Wu
In 223, during the Battle of Jiangling between Wei and its rival state Eastern Wu, Xin Pi served as a military adviser to the Wei general Cao Zhen. After he returned from the battle, Cao Pi elevated him from the status of a secondary marquis to a village marquis under the title "Marquis of Guangping Village" ().(上軍大將軍曹真征朱然于江陵，毗行軍師。還，封廣平亭侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 25.
When Cao Pi later planned to launch a large-scale invasion of Wu, Xin Pi attempted to dissuade him by saying: