Cen Wei

Biography & Historical Record

Cen Wei was a fictional military officer of Cao Wei in Luo Guanzhong’s classic historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Serving under Grand Commander Sima Yi during the Sixth Northern Expedition of Zhuge Liang in 234 AD, Cen Wei was assigned to secure logistics and grain transportation. Although Cen Wei does not appear in official historical chronicles such as Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) or Fan Ye’s Book of Later Han (Hou Han Shu), his character serves a vital narrative function in Chapter 102 of the novel, highlighting Zhuge Liang’s legendary invention of the Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses (Mu Niu Liu Ma) and demonstrating the formidable martial prowess of Shu Han general Wang Ping.

In 234 AD, during Zhuge Liang’s final campaign at Mount Qi, the Shu Han army deployed mechanical Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses to transport grain through the treacherous Qinling Mountain passes. Upon learning of these miraculous supply vehicles, Sima Yi ordered Cen Wei to lead a raiding detachment to capture several wooden oxen and bring them back to the Wei camp. Cen Wei successfully executed the ambush, capturing the supply vehicles and bringing them to Sima Yi. Delighted by the success, Sima Yi ordered skilled carpenters to replicate thousands of wooden oxen to supply the Cao Wei army along the Wei River. Unbeknownst to Sima Yi, this initial success was part of Zhuge Liang’s master plan: the wooden oxen contained hidden mechanical locking pins in their mouths, allowing Shu forces to immobilize them easily. When Shu general Wang Ping led a surprise counterattack disguised as divine soldiers, Cen Wei charged forward with his saber to defend the supply convoy. After a brief engagement, Wang Ping struck down and slew Cen Wei on the spot, allowing Shu forces to capture the entire Cao Wei grain shipment.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In Luo Guanzhong’s novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cen Wei appears in Chapter 102 during the northern campaign at Mount Qi. When Zhuge Liang deploys the Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses to solve his army’s logistical supply issues in the rugged mountain terrain, Sima Yi dispatches Cen Wei with a raiding party to capture a few of these mechanical oxen. Cen Wei successfully captures several wooden oxen and brings them back to Sima Yi, who rejoices and orders carpenters to build thousands of replicas for Wei’s supply lines. However, this success falls directly into Zhuge Liang’s trap. When Shu general Wang Ping leads a counterattack disguised as divine soldiers and twists the mechanical tongues of the wooden oxen to lock their wheels, Cen Wei charges out with his saber to defend the grain convoy. Engaging in direct combat with Wang Ping, Cen Wei is slain within a few bouts, allowing Shu Han to seize Cao Wei’s massive grain supplies.

Cen Wei (岑威) — Historical & Literary Timeline

For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Cen Wei on Wikipedia.

Key Relationships

Family

• No information

Friends

• Sima Yi (司马懿, Tư Mã Ý): Grand Commander of Cao Wei who dispatched Cen Wei to raid Shu Han supply lines and capture the Wooden Oxen in 234, subsequently entrusting him with escorting the replicated grain transport convoy.

Enemies

• Wang Ping (王平, Vương Bình): Shu Han general who led a surprise counterattack against the Cao Wei supply convoy at Mount Qi in 234 and slew Cen Wei in a brief duel.
• Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Chancellor of Shu Han whose invention of the Wooden Oxen and strategic locking-pin ruse in 234 lured Cao Wei forces into a trap, leading directly to Cen Wei’s death and the loss of Wei’s grain supply.

Other

• No information