Wang Zifu

Historical Record

Wang Zifu's life and deeds are little recorded in the official histories, appearing chiefly in the time of Emperor Xian of Han, in the secret plot of the General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng and others to assassinate Cao Cao. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Dong Cheng, the maternal uncle of Emperor Xian, received a secret edict hidden in the emperor's girdle, intending to do away with Cao Cao. Before Liu Bei had left the capital Xu, he once had a conversation with Cao Cao, in which Cao Cao said, "The heroes of the realm today are only you, my lord, and Cao Cao himself," and on hearing this Liu Bei dropped his chopsticks. Thereafter Liu Bei secretly allied with Dong Cheng, the colonel of the Changshui regiment Zhong Ji, the general Wu Zilan, Wang Zifu, and others, jointly plotting to assassinate Cao Cao ^c:2756. However, before their plan could be put into action, the matter was exposed. In the end Dong Cheng and the whole group were executed by Cao Cao over this affair. In the Diary of Emperor Xian's Daily Life there is a conversation between Dong Cheng and Wang Zifu, in which Dong Cheng said to Wang Zifu, "Guo Duo with a few hundred troops broke Li Jue's tens of thousands of men—it depends only on whether you stand with me! In former days at the gate of Lü Buwei, it was through Zichu that he rose high; today it is by you that I shall do the same." Wang Zifu replied to this, "I am too fearful to take it on, and our troops are few." Dong Cheng pressed his persuasion further, also mentioning that Zhong Ji and Wu Shuo were likewise his trusted men, and the plot was thereupon settled ^c:2756. The official histories describe Wang Zifu only as a participant in this secret plot, with no further detail on his character, specific office, or end, nor any deep account of his particular role in the affair.

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Zifu's image is endowed with richer literary color and dramatic quality. As a close friend of Dong Cheng, he was drawn into the plot to kill Cao Cao after Dong Cheng obtained the girdle edict from Emperor Xian. In the novel, Wang Zifu's entrance is quite dramatic. He went to Dong Cheng's study and found Dong Cheng asleep across his desk, with a piece of white silk pressed beneath his sleeve faintly revealing the character "We" (the imperial first person); he quietly took it out to read and learned the secret of Dong Cheng's wish to kill Cao Cao ^c:2757. Then Wang Zifu, with the testing words "I was only joking," first pretended that he meant to inform against Dong Cheng, but in fact used this to test Dong Cheng's resolve and to declare his own heart—that he was loyal to the house of Han and willing to lend a hand ^c:12664. This episode has no record in the official histories and is an artistic creation of the novel to shape character and heighten tension. Wang Zifu not only joined the plot himself but also recommended the general Wu Zilan, and together with Dong Cheng, Zhong Ji, Wu Shuo, and others swore a pledge of righteousness, vowing to requite their Han sovereign ^c:12664.

In the novel, Wang Zifu showed a certain rashness and immaturity in the course of the plot. For instance, during the Lantern Festival he once proposed to Dong Cheng a seemingly feasible plan: to use Liu Biao and Ma Teng raising troops to tie down Cao Cao, and, while Xu Chang was empty, to gather servants and bondsmen to storm Cao Cao's residence ^c:2758. This plan, however, was never carried out, and instead led to the exposure of the plot. After Cao Cao saw through the plot, Wang Zifu and three others were detained at a banquet by Cao Cao, who directly questioned them about their plot with Dong Cheng ^c:12672. Wang Zifu and the others tried to conceal it, but Cao Cao summoned Qing Tong to confront them, and their lies fell apart of themselves. Faced with Cao Cao's interrogation, Wang Zifu and the others showed panic and dismay, and in the end could not escape the fate of being killed. The novel's portrayal makes Wang Zifu a loyal minister of the house of Han—loyal and brave, but lacking in stratagem and experience.

Key Relationships

* Cao Cao (dies_in): Wang Zifu's relationship with Cao Cao was hostile. Wang Zifu took part in Dong Cheng's plot, intending to assassinate Cao Cao, and was in the end killed by Cao Cao for it ^c:2756. In the novel, Wang Zifu once used "I was only joking" to test Dong Cheng, showing his hatred of Cao Cao and his loyalty to the house of Han ^c:12664.
* Dong Cheng (friend_of): Wang Zifu and Dong Cheng were close friends and allies. In both the official histories and the novel, Wang Zifu took part with Dong Cheng in the plot to kill Cao Cao ^c:2756. In the novel, Wang Zifu was on such close terms with Dong Cheng that he could enter Dong Cheng's study directly without being announced ^c:2757. They together swore a pledge of righteousness, vowing to serve the house of Han to the death ^c:12664.
* Zhong Ji, Wu Zilan, Wu Shuo: Wang Zifu and these three were all important members of Dong Cheng's plotting group. In the official histories they are mentioned together as participants in the plot ^c:2756. In the novel, Wang Zifu not only deliberated with Zhong Ji and Wu Shuo but also recommended Wu Zilan to join, and together they signed the pledge of righteousness ^c:12664.

Iconic Scenes

* Discovering the girdle edict and testing Dong Cheng: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Zifu went to Dong Cheng's study and found Dong Cheng asleep across his desk, with Emperor Xian's girdle edict pressed beneath his sleeve. After quietly taking out and reading the edict, he tested Dong Cheng with the words "You mean to kill Lord Cao! I shall go and inform," and only after Dong Cheng was thrown into a panic did he reveal his true heart—that he was loyal to the house of Han and willing to lend a hand. This scene vividly displays Wang Zifu's alertness and his loyalty to the house of Han, an important part of his characterization ^c:2757, ^c:12664 (unique to the novel).
* Swearing the pledge of righteousness with Dong Cheng and the others: Wang Zifu, together with Dong Cheng, Zhong Ji, Wu Shuo, Wu Zilan, and others, wrote their names on white silk and swore a pledge of righteousness, vowing to kill Cao Cao to the death and serve the house of Han. This scene symbolizes their shared resolve and loyalty to the house of Han and is the key moment in the formation of the plotting group ^c:12664 (unique to the novel).
* Interrogated by Cao Cao after the plot was exposed: After the plot was exposed, Wang Zifu and his fellow conspirators were detained at a banquet by Cao Cao and interrogated. Cao Cao directly revealed their plot and summoned Qing Tong to confront them; Wang Zifu and the others tried to conceal it but in the end failed. This scene is a turning point in Wang Zifu's life, foreshadowing his tragic end ^c:12672 (unique to the novel).
* Taking part in Dong Cheng's plot: Wang Zifu plotted with Dong Cheng, Zhong Ji, Wu Zilan, and others to assassinate Cao Cao—an event recorded in the official histories and Wang Zifu's chief deed in history. Although the plot ultimately failed, Wang Zifu, as one of the participants, had his name entered into the historical record ^c:2756.