Historical Record
Wei Miao was a general of the state of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period; his life is little recorded in the official histories, appearing chiefly during the period when Sun Chen dominated the government. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, after Sun Chen's offering of birthday felicitations was rejected by Sun Xiu, he grew resentful and, while drinking with the General of the Left Zhang Bu, let slip words of discontent, declaring: "The Emperor would not have been set up but for me; now my offering of respects is rebuffed, which is to treat me no differently from an ordinary subject—I must change my plans again.". Zhang Bu reported these words to Sun Xiu, sowing a rift in Sun Xiu's heart toward Sun Chen. Even so, Sun Xiu at first still mollified Sun Chen, rewarding him several times and promoting him to Palace Attendant, sharing with Zhang Bu the handling of documents. Yet Sun Chen's arrogance did not abate, and someone even accused him of harboring resentment and insulting his superior, intending to revolt. Sun Xiu handed the accuser over to Sun Chen for disposal, and Sun Chen killed him, which only made Sun Chen more fearful within. To protect himself, Sun Chen requested to be transferred out to garrison Wuchang with troops; Sun Xiu consented and allowed him to muster over ten thousand crack troops of the central camp under his command and to draw weapons from the armory. It was at this crucial moment that the general Wei Miao advised Sun Xiu, pointing out that "if Sun Chen is outside, there will surely be an upheaval". Wei Miao's warning, together with the Palace Guard officer Shi Shuo's report that "there are signs Sun Chen intends to revolt", together prompted Sun Xiu to resolve, plotting with Zhang Bu, Ding Feng, and others, to finally do away with Sun Chen at a banquet.
In the Novel
In Chapter 113 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wei Miao's image and role are further shaped and strengthened, though the basic plot remains consistent with history. The novel describes in detail how Sun Chen, after his birthday felicitations to Sun Xiu were rejected, turned instead to drink with Zhang Bu and uttered still more violent words: "When I first deposed the Prince of Kuaiji, people all urged me to be ruler. Because the present sovereign is worthy, I set him up. Now my offering of respects is rebuffed—this means I shall be treated lightly hereafter. Sooner or later I will show you!". After Zhang Bu secretly reported these words to Sun Xiu, Sun Xiu "was greatly afraid, uneasy day and night". Sun Chen then dispatched the Secretariat Gentleman Meng Zong to muster fifteen thousand crack troops of the central camp to garrison Wuchang and "took all the weapons in the armory and gave them to him". It was in this tense atmosphere that the general Wei Miao, together with the Palace Guard officer Shi Shuo, secretly memorialized Sun Xiu, stating outright: "Sun Chen has moved troops outside and has carried off all the weapons in the armory—an upheaval is sure to come soon.". In the novel, the reports of Wei Miao and Shi Shuo directly prompted Sun Xiu to summon Zhang Bu for deliberation and finally led to Ding Feng's stratagem to remove Sun Chen. In Ding Feng's plan, Wei Miao and Shi Shuo were charged with "external affairs," while Zhang Bu was responsible for the "inside response". Compared with the terse record of the official histories, the novel grants Wei Miao a clearer sense of participation and role, making him an important member of Sun Xiu's action to remove Sun Chen, rather than merely an adviser.
Key Relationships
* Sun Xiu (advises_in): Wei Miao's relationship with Sun Xiu is the most central thread of his life. In both history and the novel, Wei Miao played the role of advising Sun Xiu and warning of Sun Chen's revolt. His counsel directly prompted Sun Xiu to resolve to take action to remove the powerful minister Sun Chen, thereby consolidating Sun Xiu's imperial authority. In the novel, Wei Miao was further assigned by Ding Feng to handle "external affairs" and took direct part in the plan to remove Sun Chen, further underscoring his standing as a trusted confidant and important adviser of Sun Xiu.
* Sun Chen (warns_against): Wei Miao's counsel pointed directly at the potential threat posed by Sun Chen. He clearly stated that Sun Chen "outside will surely cause an upheaval", revealing the true intent of Sun Chen's transfer to garrison with troops. In the novel, Wei Miao's warning was more specific, noting that Sun Chen "has moved troops outside and carried off all the weapons in the armory—an upheaval is sure to come soon", making Sun Chen the core object of Wei Miao's warning.
* Zhang Bu, Ding Feng, Shi Shuo (cooperates_with): In the action to remove Sun Chen, Wei Miao was not alone. Together with the Palace Guard officer Shi Shuo, he reported Sun Chen's irregular movements to Sun Xiu. In the novel, Ding Feng's stratagem linked Wei Miao, Shi Shuo, Zhang Bu, and others together in the joint action against Sun Chen. This cooperative relationship reflects the forces loyal to imperial authority around Sun Xiu, jointly resisting Sun Chen's domination.
Iconic Scenes
* Secretly memorializing Sun Xiu, warning of Sun Chen's revolt: This is Wei Miao's most iconic scene in both the historical materials and the novel. After Sun Chen had been permitted to move troops out to garrison Wuchang and draw weapons from the armory, Wei Miao came forward and advised Sun Xiu that "if Sun Chen is outside, there will surely be an upheaval". This scene displays Wei Miao's political acuity and loyalty and directly drove forward Sun Xiu's eventual decision to remove Sun Chen. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this scene is depicted as more tense and specific, with Wei Miao and Shi Shuo memorializing together, emphasizing that Sun Chen "has moved troops outside and carried off all the weapons in the armory—an upheaval is sure to come soon", so that Sun Xiu "was greatly alarmed," accelerating the execution of the plan to remove Sun Chen. This act of Wei Miao's is the sole yet crucial mark he left in Three Kingdoms history, directly influencing the political course of Wu.
Relationships
2 relationships
Lord & vassal1
Other1
Lines
- 史 ch.64 §62→ Sun Xiu
「綝居外必有變」
Chapters2 回 ▸
- 史ch.64
- 演ch.113
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- I am Wei Miao; my courtesy name is not recorded in the histories. At the time, Sun Chen asked to be sent to garrison at
Life events2 ▸
- 0258-01-01 · JianyeSun Chen's Regency and Sun Xiu's Restoration· Advisor
- 0258-01-01 · JianyeExecution of Sun Chen at the Lari Feast· Witness