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Biography of Wang Wei and Historical Records
Wang Wei (王威) was a steadfast military officer serving under warlord Liu Biao and his successor, Liu Cong, in Jing Province during the late Eastern Han dynasty.
Following Liu Biao’s death in 208 AD, Cao Cao initiated a massive campaign to annex the southern territories. Intimidated by the approaching northern army, influential advisors like Cai Mao and Kuai Yue persuaded the young Liu Cong to capitulate without resistance. However, Wang Wei proposed an audacious counter-strategy to alter the course of the campaign.
According to historical annotations in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the officer realized that Cao Cao would advance recklessly with a lightly guarded vanguard, assuming Jingzhou was already pacified. He urged his lord to deploy an elite ambush in rugged terrain to eliminate Cao Cao and seize control of the central plains. Regrettably, Liu Cong dismissed this daring stratagem and yielded his province, after which the loyal commander disappeared from historical records.
Literary Legacy and Martyrdom
In the classic historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the officer’s image is elevated into a quintessential paragon of devotion within the Three Kingdoms era. While others scrambled to secure personal titles under the new regime, this devoted warrior stood by his defeated master.
When Cao Cao secretly dispatched general Yu Jin to intercept Liu Cong and Lady Cai along the road to Qing Province, Wang Wei fought fiercely against overwhelming enemy numbers, choosing martyrdom over dishonor.
Key Historical & Literary Relationships
- Liu Biao: Governor of Jing Province and his original sovereign.
- Liu Cong: Son of Liu Biao whom he served loyally during the crisis of 208 AD.
- Cao Cao: Northern warlord whose southern advance reshaped the province.
- Yu Jin: Northern commander who orchestrated the literary ambush on the deposed provincial family.
In Novel
Chapter 34
- Wang Wei (王威, Vương Uy): Wang Wei serves Liu Biao in Jingzhou. When Liu Bei is invited to a banquet at Xiangyang, Cai Mao secretly plans to kill him. Kuai Yue arranges for Wang Wei and Wen Pin to hold another banquet for the military officers so that Zhao Yun will be separated from Liu Bei. The plan nearly succeeds, but Liu Bei escapes.
Chapter 41
- Wang Wei (王威, Vương Uy): After Liu Cong surrenders Jingzhou to Cao Cao, Wang Wei remains loyal to Liu Cong and follows him and Cai Furen toward Qingzhou. Cao Cao secretly orders Yu Jin to kill Liu Cong and his mother. When Yu Jin’s troops catch them, Wang Wei fights back in an attempt to protect his former lord. He is killed in the fighting together with Liu Cong and Cai Furen.
History
Identification
- Wang Wei (王威, Vương Uy) is a minor figure associated with the Three Kingdoms tradition.
Historical Evidence
- The exact-name evidence available for this entry is insufficient to construct a detailed independent biography with confidence.
- He should remain distinct from other individuals named Wang Wei until exact-name evidence is established.
Classification
- Needs Audit / Briefly Attested.