Wu Yi

Historical Record

Wu Yi, styled Ziyuan, was a native of Chenliu ^c:944. His father had a long-standing friendship with Liu Yan, and so Wu Yi's family followed Liu Yan in migrating into the land of Shu ^c:34. During Liu Zhang's rule over Yi Province, Wu Yi held the post of General of the Household ^c:944. When Liu Bei led his army to attack Yi Province, Wu Yi was ordered to lead troops at Fucheng to resist Liu Bei, but in the end chose to surrender ^c:944.

After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, Wu Yi was given important responsibilities. He was appointed Protector of the Army and General Who Suppresses Rebels ^c:944. More importantly, Liu Bei took Wu Yi's younger sister as his consort—the future Empress Mu ^c:34. This marriage alliance established a deep kinship between Wu Yi and Liu Bei's faction. In the first year of the Zhangwu era (221), Wu Yi was appointed Commander of Guanzhong ^c:944.

In the eighth year of the Jianxing era (230), Wu Yi entered the territory of Nan'an Commandery in the state of Wei together with Wei Yan and successfully routed the forces of the Wei general Fei Yao ^c:944. For his military merit he was granted the rank of Marquis of a Precinct, and was further enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoyang District, while also being promoted to General of the Left ^c:944.

In the autumn, eighth month, of the twelfth year of Jianxing (234), the Chancellor Zhuge Liang died of illness on the banks of the Wei River ^c:4936. After Zhuge Liang's death, the Shu Han court carried out personnel adjustments. Wu Yi was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, given the staff of authority to command Hanzhong, and made Inspector of Yong Province [c:4936, c:944]. His rank was further elevated, and he was promoted in enfeoffment to Marquis of Jiyang ^c:944.

Wu Yi's younger sister, Empress Mu, was established as queen when Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong, and as empress after Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor in the first year of Zhangwu (221) ^c:34. After the Later Lord Liu Shan ascended the throne, she was honored as Empress Dowager, styled the Palace of Lasting Joy ^c:34. In the eighth year of the Yanxi era (245), Empress Mu died and was buried together with Liu Bei at the Hui Mausoleum ^c:34. Wu Yi himself died in the fifteenth year of Jianxing (237) ^c:944. The histories do not record Wu Yi's specific deeds in detail, and so no separate biography was composed for him ^c:944.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms has no independent chapter or detailed depiction of Wu Yi, and his deeds are scarcely mentioned in the novel. It is therefore impossible to extract any literary characterization of Wu Yi from the novel. His absence from the novel means that in popular awareness he is far less known than his sister Empress Mu or his brother-in-law Liu Bei. The historical records about Wu Yi—such as his having served Liu Zhang, then surrendered to Liu Bei and gained high office through military merit and kinship—find no clear reflection in the novel ^c:944. This relates to the novel's narrative manner of focusing on major figures and great historical events; figures who held a certain place in the official histories but did not directly take part in the central conflicts are often omitted or passed over in a single stroke.

Key Relationships

* Liu Zhang's faction: During Liu Zhang's rule over Yi Province, Wu Yi held the post of General of the Household and was ordered to lead troops to resist Liu Bei ^c:944. He stood in a direct subordinate relationship to Liu Zhang's faction and was one of Liu Zhang's relations by marriage ^c:4934.
* Liu Bei's faction / Shu Han: Wu Yi surrendered when Liu Bei attacked Yi Province and was given important responsibilities by Liu Bei ^c:944. He established a deep kinship with Liu Bei's faction, his sister Empress Mu becoming Liu Bei's consort and empress ^c:34. After Shu Han was established, Wu Yi rose to General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the staff of authority to command Hanzhong, and Inspector of Yong Province, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiyang—an important general and official of Shu Han [c:4936, c:944].
* Liu Zhang: Wu Yi was once Liu Zhang's subordinate and resisted Liu Bei on his behalf, then surrendered to Liu Bei, and so may be regarded as having "defected" from Liu Zhang ^c:944.
* Empress Mu (Wu Yi's sister): Wu Yi's younger sister was Liu Bei's consort and empress; this kinship was one of the important factors in Wu Yi's attaining high office in Liu Bei's faction ^c:34.
* Wei Yan: Wu Yi entered the territory of Nan'an together with Wei Yan and routed the Wei general Fei Yao ^c:944.
* Zhuge Liang: After Zhuge Liang's death, Wu Yi was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the staff of authority to command Hanzhong and serve as Inspector of Yong Province, showing his important standing in the Shu Han regime after Zhuge Liang's death ^c:4936.

Signature Scenes

* Surrender to Liu Bei at Fucheng: This was an important turning point in Wu Yi's life. As Liu Zhang's General of the Household, he chose to surrender while resisting Liu Bei at Fucheng, thereby beginning his career in Liu Bei's faction ^c:944. This decision not only preserved himself but also laid the foundation for his later eminent position.
* His sister becoming Liu Bei's consort: After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, he took Wu Yi's sister as his consort, establishing a deep kinship between Wu Yi and Liu Bei ^c:34. This marriage alliance was undoubtedly one of the key factors in Wu Yi's gaining trust and high office in the Shu Han regime, and it also symbolized Liu Bei's effort to win over and integrate the native forces of Yi Province.
* Routing Fei Yao with Wei Yan: In the eighth year of Jianxing, Wu Yi led troops together with Wei Yan into Nan'an and successfully defeated the Wei general Fei Yao ^c:944. This was a notable military achievement for Wu Yi, directly winning him the ranks of Marquis of a Precinct and Marquis of Gaoyang District and his promotion to General of the Left, marking recognition of his military ability.
* Commanding Hanzhong after Zhuge Liang's death: After Zhuge Liang's death, Wu Yi was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the staff of authority to command Hanzhong and serve as Inspector of Yong Province [c:4936, c:944]. This appointment reflects Wu Yi's central standing and important role in the later Shu Han regime; he took on the weighty duty of guarding the frontier and resisting Cao Wei, one of the key figures in the Shu Han military system.