Wu Jing

Historical Record

Wu Jing, whose style is unrecorded, was an old subordinate of Sun Jian in the Three Kingdoms period, and also Sun Ce's maternal uncle. He long followed Sun Jian on campaign, earning military merit, and was given the office of Cavalry Commandant^[1]. After Sun Jian's death, Wu Jing attached himself to Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu appointed Wu Jing Grand Administrator of Danyang, whereupon Wu Jing led troops to attack the then Grand Administrator of Danyang, Zhou Xin, and successfully took possession of Danyang Commandery^[1].

After Sun Ce crossed east to the Jiangdong region, he joined Sun He, Lü Fan, and others in going to attach himself to Wu Jing, and together they attacked the mountain bandit Zu Lang of Jingxian^[1]. However, because of the expansion of Liu Yao's power, Wu Jing came under Liu Yao's pressure and exclusion and was forced to abandon Danyang Commandery and go north to attach himself once more to Yuan Shu^[1]. Yuan Shu appointed Wu Jing Commander of the Army and General of the Household, and together with Sun Ben he attacked Fan Neng and Yu Mi, who were garrisoned at Hengjiang, as well as Ze Rong and Xue Li at Moling^[1]. During this period, while Sun Ce was fighting at Niuzhu, surrendered bandits seized the chance to rebel, and Wu Jing took charge of attacking and capturing these rebels^[1].

Later, Wu Jing also took part in the campaign against Liu Yao. After Liu Yao was defeated, he fled to Yuzhang^[1]. Sun Ce dispatched Wu Jing and Sun Ben to Shouchun to report the situation to Yuan Shu. At that time Yuan Shu was contending with Liu Bei for Xu Province, and so he appointed Wu Jing Grand Administrator of Guangling^[1]. However, when Yuan Shu later usurped the imperial title, Sun Ce wrote to admonish him, but Yuan Shu would not heed. Sun Ce then severed relations with Yuan Shu and sent word to inform Wu Jing. On receiving the message, Wu Jing immediately abandoned the office of Grand Administrator of Guangling and returned east to attach himself to Sun Ce^[1]. Sun Ce reappointed Wu Jing Grand Administrator of Danyang. The Han court sent the Court Counselor Wang Pu south, and memorialized to appoint Wu Jing General Who Displays Valor, continuing to serve as Grand Administrator of Danyang^[1].

In 203 CE, Wu Jing died^[2]. His son Wu Fen inherited his command, was appointed a general, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinting. After Wu Fen died, his son Wu An succeeded him. Wu An was killed for being caught up in the factional strife of Sun Ba, the Prince of Lu^[2]. Wu Fen's younger brother Wu Qi succeeded to the position and was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Capital Precinct. After Wu Qi died, his son Wu Zuan succeeded him. Wu Zuan's wife was the daughter of Teng Yin; after Teng Yin was put to death, Wu Zuan too was killed along with the others^[2].

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives relatively little depiction of Wu Jing, concentrated mainly in Chapters 15 and 38 and mostly related to Sun Ce's enterprise in Jiangdong. In the novel, Wu Jing, as Sun Ce's maternal uncle, gave important support to Sun Ce when he first set out. For example, when Sun Ce borrowed troops from Yuan Shu, Wu Jing, as a subordinate of Yuan Shu, also offered counsel to Sun Ce and provided help. The novel, however, does not develop in detail Wu Jing's specific deeds during his tenure as Grand Administrator of Danyang, nor does it deeply portray his complex relationships with Liu Yao, Yuan Shu, and others, all of which are recorded in detail in the histories^[1]. In the novel, Wu Jing appears more as a supporting character, setting off Sun Ce's valor and the hardship of his enterprise, while the account of his personal achievements and political career is rather sketchy, differing from his image in the historical sources as a regional grand administrator who took part in numerous campaigns.

Key Relationships

* Sun Jian: Wu Jing long followed Sun Jian on campaign with merit, an old subordinate of Sun Jian^[1].
* Sun Ce: Wu Jing was Sun Ce's maternal uncle, giving important support and help in the early period of Sun Ce's enterprise, and once campaigned against Zu Lang together with Sun Ce^[1]. Sun Ce also reappointed Wu Jing Grand Administrator of Danyang^[1].
* Yuan Shu: Wu Jing twice attached himself to Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu appointed him Grand Administrator of Danyang and Grand Administrator of Guangling^[1]. However, after Yuan Shu usurped the imperial title, Wu Jing resolutely abandoned the office of Grand Administrator of Guangling, returned east to Sun Ce, and severed relations with Yuan Shu^[1].
* Liu Yao: Wu Jing was once pressed by Liu Yao and abandoned Danyang Commandery to go north and attach himself to Yuan Shu^[1]. Later, Wu Jing also took part in the campaign against Liu Yao^[1].
* Sun Ben: Wu Jing fought together with Sun Ben on many occasions, including campaigning against Fan Neng and Yu Mi, and reporting the situation to Yuan Shu^[1].

Signature Scenes

* The contest for Grand Administrator of Danyang: Appointed by Yuan Shu, Wu Jing campaigned against and took possession of Danyang Commandery, becoming Grand Administrator of Danyang^[1]. This was an important early political and military achievement, displaying his military ability and his loyalty to Yuan Shu.
* Attaching himself to Sun Ce and campaigning against Zu Lang: After Sun Ce crossed east to Jiangdong, Wu Jing received him, and together with Sun Ce, Sun He, Lü Fan, and others jointly campaigned against the Jingxian mountain bandit Zu Lang^[1]. This event marks the close cooperation between Wu Jing and Sun Ce's faction and laid the foundation for Sun Ce's establishment in Jiangdong.
* Abandoning Guangling to return to Sun Ce: After Yuan Shu usurped the imperial title, Sun Ce broke with Yuan Shu. On receiving Sun Ce's notice, Wu Jing immediately abandoned the office of Grand Administrator of Guangling and returned east to Sun Ce^[1]. This act reflects Wu Jing's loyalty to the Sun clan and his defense of the Han house, and was an important turning point in his political career.