Wang Ji (Jin dynasty)

Wang Ji (王机), courtesy name Lingming (令明; c.289[a] - September or October 315)[2] was a Chinese rebel leader and official during the Jin dynasty (266–420). He occupied Guangzhou in c.312 and styled himself as inspector of the province. While he nominally submitted to the warlord Wang Dun, Wang Dun eventually ordered his subordinate Tao Kan to pacify Guangzhou; Wang Ji died of illness during the pacification.

Life

Wang Ji was from Changsha Commandery; his father Wang Yi (王毅; died c.306)[b] had a stint as Inspector of Guangzhou, and was popular among the natives there.[5] Wang Ji was said to be handsome and magnanimous.[6]

In January 306, Chen Min sent his brother Chen Hui to attack Jiangzhou. At the age of 17 (by East Asian reckoning), Wang Ji led a band and helped to defeat Chen Hui.[7] Wang's father Wang Yi probably died later that year. Wang Ji's elder brother Wang Ju (王矩; died c.306), courtesy name Lingshi (令式), was Administrator of Nanping. Due to his role in defeating Chen Hui, Wang Ju was appointed Inspector of Guangzhou, probably as his father's replacement,[c] but Ju died about a month after he reached Guangzhou.[8]

Wang Ji later befriended Wang Cheng, younger brother of Wang Yan, who was then Inspector of Jingzhou as part of the "three rabbit burrows strategy" (狡兔三窟) Wang Yan had put forward to Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai and regent for Emperors Hui and Huai.[9][d] As Wang Ji admired Wang Cheng, he became a close friend of the latter. Wang Cheng reciprocated the affection; Wang Ji soon became an important henchman of Wang Cheng's rule.[10]

However, both Wang Cheng and Wang Ji were frequently drunk and they neglected administrative affairs; the populace grew increasingly discontent.[11] In c.312,[e] Wang Cheng was eventually forced to relinquish his post of Inspector of Jingzhou after being repeatedly defeated by the rebel Du Tao, and to relocate to Jianye. On his way to Jianye, Wang Cheng offended Wang Dun, who then accused Cheng of consorting with Du Tao, and arranged for Cheng to be strangled.[12] Fearing for his life, Wang Ji asked Wang Dun to appoint him Inspector of Guangzhou, as his father and elder brother had previously held the post; Wang Dun refused. Wen Shao (温卲), a general stationed at Guangzhou, decided to rebel against the incumbent Inspector of Guangzhou Guo Ne (郭讷), and invited Wang to take over as Inspector; Wang then sent about a thousand of his servants and associates to Guangzhou. While Guo sent troops to intercept Wang, as these troops all formerly served under Wang's father or elder brother, they surrendered to Wang instead. Guo then vacated his position and let Wang take over Guangzhou.[13][f]

In c.315, Wang Ji, fearing that Wang Dun may attack him, petitioned Wang Dun for the post of Inspector of Jiaozhou. At around the same time, Du Hong (杜弘), a subordinate of Du Tao, surrendered to Wang Ji. Wang Dun then decided to use Wang Ji and Du Hong to attack Liang Shuo; Dun then nominated Ji as Inspector of Jiaozhou. Wang Ji and Du Hong had reached Yulin Commandery when they were repelled by Liang and his nominee as Inspector of Jiaozhou, Xiu Zhan (修湛; son of Xiu Ze [修则][g]). Wang Ji then returned to Guangzhou together with Du Hong, Wen Shao and Liu Shen (刘沈), a xiucai of Jiaozhou.[15] Wang Dun then sent Tao Kan to pacify Guangzhou. Through Tao's efforts, Wen Shao and Liu Shen were captured and executed, while Wang Ji died of illness and Du Hong surrendered to Wang Dun. Tao Kan's subordinate Xu Gao (许高) dug up Wang's body and beheaded the corpse; Xu also killed Wang's two sons.[16]

Notes

  1. ^ Wang Ji's biography in Book of Jin recorded that he was 17 (by East Asian reckoning) during Chen Hui's (brother of Chen Min) rebellion.[1] The annals of Emperor Hui in Jin Shu and vol.86 of Zizhi Tongjian both recorded that Chen Hui was sent by his brother to attack Jiangzhou in the 12th month of the 2nd year of the Yongxing era; the month corresponds to 1 to 30 Jan 306 in the Julian calendar. By calculation, Wang's birth year should be c.289.
  2. ^ According to Teng Xiu's biography in Book of Jin, Wang Yi was Administrator of Cangwu Commandery under Eastern Wu when Sun Hao surrendered to Jin in May 280; Wang and Teng both surrendered to Jin as well.[3] Ji Han's biography recorded that Wang Yi was Inspector of Guangzhou when he died during Chen Min's rebellion and before Liu Hong.[4]
  3. ^ Ji Han's biography in Book of Jin recorded that while he was supposed to replace Wang Yi as Inspector of Guangzhou, with Liu Hong's death, he was asked to replace Liu as Inspector of Jingzhou; "Xingzhou" (刑州) was likely an erroneous entry.
  4. ^ Sima Yue based himself in Xiang county near Xuchang. The strategy was that if the north were to fall, he can choose to flee to Jingzhou or Qingzhou (with the Wang brothers' clansman Wang Dun as inspector) where the trusted inspector can host him. The plan fell through due to the circumstances that befell the two men, but Wang Cheng and Wang Dun were able to amass so much power in the south because of this. Dun in particular grew so powerful that he became a threat to the Eastern Jin regime until his death in August 324.
  5. ^ By this point, both Sima Yue and Wang Yan had died, while Luoyang had fallen in the Disaster of Yongjia.
  6. ^ Wang Ji's biography in Book of Jin recorded that when Wang approached Guo to ask for his tally (a symbol of his office), Guo sighed, "In the past, Su Wu managed to retain his tally, and past histories sing his praises. This tally is temporarily placed in my care by the heavenly dynasty (i.e. the Jin imperial court). By my honor, I cannot give it to you; you may send your troops to come claim it." Ashamed, Wang Ji dropped his demand.[14]
  7. ^ Xiu Ze had a stint as Inspector of Jiaozhou under Eastern Wu; he was killed in battle against Jin general Mao Jiong in 268. Xiu Zhan's brother Xiu Yun was working alongside Tao Huang when he killed Mao Jiong.

References

  1. ^ (陈恢之乱，机年十七，...) Jin Shu, vol.100
  2. ^ Vol.89 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Wang Ji died of illness in the 8th month of the 3rd year of the Jianxing era of the reign of Emperor Min of Jin; the month corresponds to 15 Sep to 14 Oct 315 in the Julian calendar.
  3. ^ (未克而王师伐吴，修率众赴难。至巴丘而皓已降，乃缟素流涕而还，与广州刺史闾丰、苍梧太守王毅各送印绶...) Jin Shu, vol.57
  4. ^ (属陈敏作乱，江扬震荡，南越险远，而广州刺史王毅病卒，弘表含为平越中郎将、广州刺史、假节。未发，会弘卒, 时或欲留含领刑州。) Jin Shu, vol.89
  5. ^ (王机，字令明，长沙人也。父毅，广州刺史，甚得南越之情。) Jin Shu, vol.100
  6. ^ (机美姿仪，倜傥有度量。) Jin Shu, vol.100
  7. ^ (陈恢之乱，机年十七，率众击破之。) Jin Shu, vol.100
  8. ^ (机兄矩，字令式。...初为南平太守，豫讨陈恢有功，迁广州刺史。将赴职，...至州月馀卒。) Jin Shu, vol.100
  9. ^ ([永嘉元年十一月]乙亥，以王衍爲司徒。衍說太傅越曰：「朝廷危亂，當賴方伯，宜得文武兼資以任之。」乃以弟澄爲荊州都督，族弟敦爲青州刺史，語之曰：「荊州有江、漢之固，青州有負海之險，卿二人在外而吾居中，足以爲三窟矣。」澄至鎭，以郭舒爲別駕，委以府事。澄日夜縱酒，不親庶務，雖寇戎交急，不以爲懷。舒常切諫，以爲宜愛民養兵，保全州境，澄不從。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
  10. ^ (尝慕王澄为人，澄亦雅知之，以为己亚，遂与友善，内综心膂，外为牙爪。) Jin Shu, vol.100
  11. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86 and Jin Shu, vol.100
  12. ^ ([永嘉六年]王澄过诣敦，自以名声素出敦右，犹以旧意侮敦。敦怒，诬其与杜弢通信，遣壮士扼杀之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.88
  13. ^ (王机闻澄死，惧祸，以其父毅、兄矩皆尝为广州刺史，就敦求广州，敦不许。会广州将温卲等叛刺史郭讷，迎机为刺史，机遂将奴客门生千馀人入广州。讷遣兵拒之，将士皆机父兄时部曲，不战迎降；讷乃避位，以州授之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.88
  14. ^ (机遂入城就讷求节，讷叹曰：“昔苏武不失其节，前史以为美谈。此节天朝所假，义不相与，自可遣兵来取之。”机惭而止。) Jin Shu, vol.100
  15. ^ (王机自以盗据广州，恐王敦讨之，更求交州。会杜弘诣机降，敦欲因机以讨硕，乃以降杜弘为机功，转交州刺史。机至郁林，硕迎前刺史修则子湛行州事以拒之。机不得进，乃更与杜弘及广州将温卲、交州秀才刘沈谋复还据广州。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.89
  16. ^ Jin Shu, vol.100 (biography of Wang Ji) and Zizhi Tongjian, vol.89
  • Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
  • Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
  • Lü, Simian (1948), A History of Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties 两晋南北朝史, vol. 1, Shanghai: Kaiming Press
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