Records of the Three Kingdoms
Tian Feng, courtesy name Yuanhao, was from Julu, or by another account from Bohai. In Yuan Shao’s camp he was known for bluntness and often contradicted Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao attacked Liu Bei, Tian Feng urged Yuan Shao to strike Cao Cao’s rear. Yuan Shao refused because a son was ill. Tian Feng struck the ground with his staff.
In 200 Yuan Shao decided to march south. Tian Feng argued that Cao Cao used troops well, and that Yuan Shao should hold, wear him down, and split his forces, not seek an immediate decision. Yuan Shao said this was breaking the army’s spirit and put Tian Feng in prison. When news of the defeat arrived, someone congratulated Tian Feng and said he would now be used. Tian Feng said that if the army had won he might live; now that it had lost, Yuan Shao would be ashamed and he himself would die. Yuan Shao had him killed.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The novel makes Tian Feng the one man before Guandu who sees the position. In prison, hearing of the defeat, he says he will not live. Yuan Shao, ashamed and angry, sends a sword into the jail.
The book uses the death to show that Yuan Shao could not hear what he disliked. The calm at the end is the novel’s emphasis.
Reference: Wikipedia · Tian Feng