Wen Ping

Historical Record

Wen Ping, styled Zhongye, was a man of Wan in Nanyang. He served as a senior general under Liu Biao, charged with guarding the northern frontier ^c:2030. In 208 CE, after Liu Biao died, his son Liu Cong succeeded him. When Cao Cao campaigned against Jing Province, Liu Cong chose to surrender the entire province. Liu Cong summoned Wen Ping to go and surrender with him, but Wen Ping refused, saying that since he had failed to preserve Jing Province, he ought to await punishment ^c:2030.

Only after Cao Cao had crossed the Han River did Wen Ping come to pay his respects. When Cao Cao asked why he came so late, Wen Ping replied sorrowfully: "I was unable to assist Lord Liu of Jing in preserving the realm. Though Jing Province has fallen, I still hoped to hold Hanchuan and preserve the territory, so that in life I would not betray my orphaned, weak lord, and in death would have nothing to be ashamed of underground. Yet things turned out contrary to my wishes, and I have come to this pass. My heart is truly filled with grief and shame, and I had no face to come and see you sooner." With that, he could not help sobbing and weeping ^c:2030. Cao Cao was moved by his words, praised Wen Ping as "a truly loyal subject," and treated him with rich courtesy. Cao Cao then granted Wen Ping military command and ordered him, together with Cao Chun, to pursue Liu Bei at Changban ^c:2030.

After Cao Cao pacified Jing Province, because Jiangxia commandery bordered Eastern Wu and the people's hearts were unsettled, he appointed Wen Ping as Grand Administrator of Jiangxia, putting him in charge of the northern troops and frontier affairs, and conferred on him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes ^c:2030. Wen Ping, together with Yue Jin, campaigned against Guan Yu at Xunkou and rendered military merit, and was thus promoted to Marquis of Yanshou Precinct, with the additional title of General Who Punishes the Rebels ^c:2030. He also attacked Guan Yu's baggage train at Hanjin and burned Guan Yu's ships at Jingcheng ^c:2030.

After Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, Wen Ping's rank was further raised to Marquis of Chang'an District, and he was granted the staff of authority ^c:2034. He and Xiahou Shang together besieged Jiangling, while Wen Ping was separately stationed at Shifan by Miankou, leading a detachment alone to resist the enemy. Repeatedly rendering merit, he was promoted to General of the Rear and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinye ^c:2034.

Sun Quan once personally led an army of fifty thousand to besiege Shiyang, where Wen Ping was stationed, and the situation was extremely critical. Yet Wen Ping held firm without moving, and after more than twenty days of siege Sun Quan was forced to lift it and withdraw. Wen Ping immediately pursued and routed the Wu army ^c:2034. After this battle, Wen Ping's fief was increased by five hundred households, totaling, with his previous holdings, one thousand nine hundred households ^c:2034.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wen Ping is likewise a loyal and valiant general, but his appearance and some episodes are added to and rewritten, making his character more vivid.

Wen Ping first appears in the novel when Liu Biao hosts a banquet for Liu Bei. Cai Mao, Kuai Yue, and others plotted to do away with Liu Bei, and Kuai Yue suggested setting a separate table in an outer hall for Wen Ping and Wang Wei to entertain the military officers, and first sending Zhao Yun away so the deed could be carried out ^c:5486. This shows Wen Ping's important position within Liu Biao's faction, regarded by Cai Mao and the others as a force that could be made use of.

After Liu Bei left Jing Province, he was pursued by Cao Cao at Changban Slope. In the novel, Wen Ping once led troops in pursuit of Zhao Yun; when Zhao Yun, exhausted in man and horse, was at the Changban bridge, he was fortunate to be shielded by Zhang Fei and so escaped ^c:2036. This echoes the historical episode of Wen Ping pursuing Liu Bei together with Cao Chun, though the specific details differ.

After Cao Cao took Jing Province, Wen Ping's surrender to Cao Cao is depicted more dramatically in the novel. When Cao Cao gathered his generals at Xiangyang and did not see Wen Ping, he sent men to inquire, and only then did Wen Ping come to see him. When Cao Cao asked why he came late, Wen Ping's reply was essentially the same as in the histories, expressing his grief and shame at failing to preserve Liu Biao's territory, and he wept ^c:5487. Cao Cao likewise praised him as "a truly loyal subject," appointed him Grand Administrator of Jiangxia, conferred on him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes, and ordered him to lead troops to open the road and pursue Liu Bei ^c:5487. This passage emphasizes Wen Ping's loyalty and righteousness and provides a reasonable psychological motive for his submission to Cao Cao.

On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao sat upon his great naval flagship and arranged his forces. Wen Ping was appointed commander of the left army's blue flag, in charge of part of the navy ^c:5489. When Huang Gai made his feigned surrender and fire attack, Cheng Yu warned Cao Cao that the approaching ships were a trick, and Wen Ping volunteered, saying he was familiar with the water and was willing to go and stop them. He leapt onto a small boat, led patrol boats out to attack, and shouted loudly, "By the Prime Minister's command, the southern ships are not to approach the camp—anchor in midstream!" attempting to stop Huang Gai's ships from drawing near ^c:2037. This episode shows Wen Ping's experience in naval warfare and his composure in danger, though in the end he failed to stop the fire attack (unique to the novel).

In addition, in the novel Wen Ping took part in the scene where Cao Cao held an archery contest at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace. He competed with Cao Xiu, Cao Hong, Zhang He, and others for the brocade robe, each striking the bullseye, displaying his superb archery and martial skill ^c:10988, ^c:5490. This further enriches Wen Ping's image as a martial general (unique to the novel).

Key Relationships

* Liu Biao (serves): Wen Ping was a senior general under Liu Biao, charged with guarding the north. He was utterly loyal to Liu Biao; when Liu Biao died and Liu Cong surrendered to Cao Cao, Wen Ping was deeply grieved and ashamed at failing to preserve Liu Biao's legacy, and was even unwilling to face Cao Cao at once ^c:2030. This loyalty is the core of Wen Ping's character.
* Liu Biao's faction (serves): As an important general of Liu Biao, Wen Ping held a high position within the Jing Province group. In the novel, when Cai Mao, Kuai Yue, and others plotted against Liu Bei, they also took Wen Ping's presence into account and tried to make use of him ^c:5486.
* Cao Cao (serves): After Wen Ping surrendered, he won Cao Cao's high recognition and was given important responsibilities. Cao Cao praised him as "a truly loyal subject" and entrusted him with the post of Grand Administrator of Jiangxia, putting him in charge of frontier affairs bordering Eastern Wu ^c:2030. Under Cao Cao, Wen Ping repeatedly rendered merit, especially distinguishing himself in resisting Sun Quan.
* Cao Wei (serves): After Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, Wen Ping continued to be valued, his rank was raised, and he was granted the staff of authority, becoming an important frontier general of the Cao Wei regime ^c:2034.
* Sun Quan (opponent): As Grand Administrator of Jiangxia, Wen Ping clashed with Sun Quan many times. He held firm at Shiyang, resisting the siege of Sun Quan's army of fifty thousand, and finally repulsed Sun Quan ^c:2034. In the novel, he also tried to stop Huang Gai's fire ships on the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs ^c:2037 (unique to the novel).
* Guan Yu (opponent): Wen Ping campaigned against Guan Yu at Xunkou together with Yue Jin, attacked Guan Yu's baggage train at Hanjin, and burned his ships at Jingcheng, dealing blows to Guan Yu ^c:2030.
* Liu Bei (opponent): After surrendering to Cao Cao, Wen Ping was ordered to pursue Liu Bei at Changban together with Cao Chun ^c:2030. In the novel, he directly pursued Zhao Yun and nearly succeeded ^c:2036.

Iconic Scenes

* Weeping in self-reproach for "failing to assist Lord Liu of Jing": This is Wen Ping's most iconic scene, recorded in detail in both the histories and the novel. When Cao Cao asked why he came late, Wen Ping bitterly confessed that he had failed to assist Liu Biao in preserving Jing Province, was deeply grieved and ashamed, and had no face to come sooner, and with that he sobbed and wept ^c:2030, ^c:5487. This moment profoundly displays Wen Ping's loyalty to his former lord and his fidelity to his duty, and it won him Cao Cao's esteem and employment.
* Holding firm at Shiyang and repulsing Sun Quan: As Grand Administrator of Jiangxia, facing the siege of Sun Quan's army of fifty thousand, Wen Ping held the city of Shiyang for more than twenty days, finally forcing Sun Quan to withdraw, and seizing the moment to pursue and rout the Wu army ^c:2034. This scene fully demonstrates Wen Ping's outstanding military talent and indomitable will, the best illustration of his role as a frontier general.
* Pursuing Liu Bei at Changban (unique to the novel): In the novel, Wen Ping once led troops in pursuit of Zhao Yun and confronted Zhang Fei at the Changban bridge; though he did not succeed, this episode highlights Wen Ping's valor and his execution of Cao Cao's orders ^c:2036.
* Trying to stop the fire attack at the Battle of Red Cliffs (unique to the novel): At the critical moment of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Wen Ping volunteered to try to stop Huang Gai's fire ships ^c:2037. This scene shows his experience in naval warfare and his composure in danger; although he ultimately could not change the outcome, it remains an important showing in the novel.
* Competing in archery for the robe at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace (unique to the novel): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wen Ping competed in archery with Cao Xiu, Cao Hong, Zhang He, and others at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, vying for the brocade robe, each striking the bullseye ^c:10988, ^c:5490. Although this scene is a fictional invention of the novel, it vividly displays Wen Ping's superb skill as a martial general and enriches his image.