Jump to content

Wang Ling (Three Kingdoms)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named Wang Ling, see Wang Ling (disambiguation).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.
Wang Ling
王淩
Grand Commandant (太尉)
In office
28 January 250[1] – 15 June 251
MonarchCao Fang
Preceded byJiang Ji
Succeeded bySima Fu
Minister of Works (司空)
In office
c.October 248[2] – 28 January 250
MonarchCao Fang
Preceded byGao Rou
Succeeded bySun Li
General of Chariots and Cavalry
(車騎將軍)
In office
2 July 241 – October or November 248
MonarchCao Fang
Preceded byHuang Quan
Succeeded byGuo Huai
General Who Attacks the East
(征東將軍)
In office
240 (240) – 2 July 241
MonarchCao Fang
Personal details
Born172
Qi County, Shanxi
Died(251-06-15)15 June 251[a]
Children
  • Wang Guang
  • Wang Feixiao
  • Wang Jinhu
  • Wang Mingshan
Relatives
OccupationMilitary general, politician
Courtesy nameYanyun (彥雲)
PeerageMarquis of Nan District
(南鄉侯)

Wang Ling (172—15 June 251),[a] courtesy name Yanyun, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Early life and joining Cao Cao

[edit]

Wang Ling's family fled to the countryside after his uncle, Wang Yun, was executed in 192 for fomenting Lü Bu's assassination of warlord Dong Zhuo. Later he was declared xiaolian, a crucial nomination to be considered for civil service appointments, and became the Administrator of Zhongshan Commandery (中山太守). His excellent public service was noticed by chancellor Cao Cao, who moved him into his office.[4]

Service in Cao Wei

[edit]

In late 220, after Cao Cao's death in March that year, his heir Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate and established the state of Cao Wei.

During Cao Pi's reign,[5] Wang Ling engaged in several battles with Eastern Wu. As the Inspector of Yan Province, he attacked Sun Quan under the command of Zhang Liao. His victory led to his promotion to General Who Builds Martialism (建武將軍).

Cao Pi died in June 226 and was succeeded by his heir Cao Rui. During the Battle of Shiting against Eastern Wu, Wang Ling rescued the besieged general Cao Xiu.

In c.November 231,[6] a Wu officer Sun Bu (孫布) secretly sent a messenger to meet Wang Ling, who was then Inspector of Yang Province, and convey his desire to defect to Wei. Sun Bu also said in his message: "As we are too far apart from each other, I cannot come to you. You will need to send troops to escort me over." Wang Ling then passed the letter to Man Chong and asked him to send a convoy of troops to escort Sun Bu to Yang Province. Man Chong suspected that Sun Bu was pretending to defect so he refused and wrote a reply to Sun Bu in Wang Ling's name: "It is good to hear that you have recognised the folly of your ways and now desire to leave your tyrannical government and return to the path of righteousness. This is truly commendable. However, as much as I would like to send troops to escort you over, I do not think it is a good idea. If I send too few troops, they will not be able to protect you. If I send too many troops, the Wu government will find it suspicious. I think you should secretly make plans for yourself first and act accordingly when the time comes."[7]

Man Chong was not on good terms with Wang Ling, who spread rumours that Man Chong was addicted to alcohol, physically unfit for his job, and unruly and defiant. When the rumours reached the Wei imperial capital Luoyang, an official Guo Mou (郭謀) suggested to the emperor to summon Man Chong to Luoyang and see if the rumours were true, as opposed to immediately removing Man Chong from office. Cao Rui heeded the suggestion. When Man Chong met the emperor, he appeared to be in good health and remained sober after consuming one dan of alcohol. Cao Rui thus concluded that the rumours were untrue and ordered Man Chong to return to his post.[8][9] Man Chong, however, wanted to remain in Luoyang so he repeatedly sought permission from Cao Rui but was denied. Cao Rui told him, "In the past, Lian Po ate and drank heavily to show that he was in good health, while Ma Yuan turned his body to look backward while he was on horseback to show that he was still fit for battle. You aren't even old, yet you say you're old. Why don't you compare yourself with Lian Po and Ma Yuan? You should be thinking about defending the border and serving your country."[10]

Before Man Chong left for Luoyang, he instructed his chief clerk, who was in charge during his absence, not to give Wang Ling command of any of his troops. Wang Ling, unable to get any troops from Man Chong's units, had to send his own subordinates and 700 soldiers from his own units to meet Sun Bu. As Man Chong foresaw, Sun Bu was indeed pretending to defect. Wang Ling's subordinates and 700 men fell into an ambush and suffered heavy casualties.[11]

Cao Rui died in January 239, and was succeeded by Cao Fang. On 2 July 241,[12] Wang Ling was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍) after a major victory against Wu general Quan Cong. He was also granted a fiefdom consisting of 1350 households.[13]

Rebellion

[edit]
Main article: Wang Ling's Rebellion

In 241 (the second year of the Zhengshi era)[b], Wang Ling was appointed Minister of Works, while his nephew Linghu Yu (令狐愚) became the Inspector of Yan Province (兗州刺史). Later, Wang Ling lost faith in Cao Fang's ability to rule after Sima Yi's coup d'etat in the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs succeeded in turning the emperor against Sima Yi's rival, Cao Shuang. As a result, Wang Ling conspired to replace emperor Cao Fang with his uncle Cao Biao. The conspiracy suffered a setback, however, when Linghu Yu died of an illness. The plot was discovered and Sima Yi led an army to Wang before he could prepare himself for a defense. After Wang Ling surrendered to Sima Yi with the promise of a pardon, he was forced to commit suicide, and his family members and associates were condemned to family annihilation.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Cao Fang's biography in the Sanguozhi recorded that Wang Ling committed suicide on the jiayin day of the 5th month of the 3rd year of the Jiaping era of Cao Fang's reign.[3] This date corresponds to 15 June 251 in the Julian calendar. A Weilüe annotation in Wang's biography in vol.28 of Sanguozhi recorded that Wang was 80 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died.
  2. ^ As per the customs of the time, Cao Fang continued to use Jingchu (Cao Rui's last era name) as the era name of the first year of his reign. Cao Rui died on the 1st day of the 3rd year of the Jingchu era (22 Jan 239 in the Julian calendar).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ([嘉平元年]冬十二月辛卯，以司空王凌为太尉。) Sanguozhi, vol.04
  2. ^ ([正始九年]秋九月，以车骑将军王凌为司空。) Sanguozhi, vol.04. The month corresponds to 5 Oct to 2 Nov 248 in the Julian calendar.
  3. ^ ([嘉平三年]五月甲寅，淩自殺。) Sanguozhi vol. 4.
  4. ^ Sanguozhi, vol.28
  5. ^ Sanguozhi, vol.28
  6. ^ Vol.72 of Zizhi Tongjian dated the events to the 10th month of the 5th year of the Taihe era; the month corresponds to 13 Nov to 11 Dec 231 in the Julian calendar.
  7. ^ (其明年[太和五年]，吳將孫布遣人詣揚州求降，辭云：「道遠不能自致，乞兵見迎。」刺史王淩騰布書，請兵馬迎之。寵以為必詐，不與兵，而作報書曰：「知識邪正，欲避禍就順，去暴歸道，甚相嘉尚。今欲遣兵相迎，然計兵少則不足相衞，多則事必遠聞。且先密計以成本志，臨時節度其宜。」) Sanguozhi vol. 26.
  8. ^ (世語曰：王淩表寵年過耽酒，不可居方任。帝將召寵，給事中郭謀曰：「寵為汝南太守、豫州刺史二十餘年，有勳方岳。及鎮淮南，吳人憚之。若不如所表，將為所闚。可令還朝，問以方事以察之。」帝從之。寵旣至，進見，飲酒至一石不亂。帝慰勞之，遣還。) Shiyu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 26.
  9. ^ (初，寵與淩共事不平，淩支黨毀寵疲老悖謬，故明帝召之。旣至，體氣康彊，見而遣還。) Sanguozhi vol. 26.
  10. ^ (寵屢表求留，詔報曰：「昔廉頗彊食，馬援據鞌，今君未老而自謂已老，何與廉、馬之相背邪？其思安邊境，惠此中國。」) Sanguozhi vol. 26.
  11. ^ (寵會被書當入朝，勑留府長史：「若淩欲往迎，勿與兵也。」淩於後索兵不得，乃單遣一督將步騎七百人往迎之。布夜掩擊，督將迸走，死傷過半。) Sanguozhi vol. 26.
  12. ^ jimao day of the 6th month of the 2nd year of the Zhengshi era, per vol.04 of Sanguozhi
  13. ^ Sanguozhi, vol.28
Stub icon

This biographical article related to the military of China is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wang_Ling_(Three_Kingdoms)&oldid=1291974798"