Wang Zhong

Historical Record

Wang Zhong was a Cao Wei general. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, after Liu Bei took Xiapi, he killed the inspector of Xu Province Che Zhou, left Guan Yu to guard Xiapi, and himself returned to Xiaopei. At this time Chang Ba of Donghai rebelled, and many commanderies and counties also turned away from Cao Cao and went over to Liu Bei, so that Liu Bei's forces reached several tens of thousands. Liu Bei sent Sun Qian to form an alliance with Yuan Shao. Faced with this situation, Cao Cao sent Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to lead troops to attack Liu Bei^[1]. This military action, however, did not succeed, and Liu Dai and Wang Zhong failed to defeat Liu Bei. In the fifth year of Jian'an (200 CE), Cao Cao personally campaigned east against Liu Bei, and Liu Bei was in the end defeated. Cao Cao took over Liu Bei's forces, captured Liu Bei's wife, and seized Guan Yu, returning with them. The historical record of Wang Zhong is relatively brief, focusing chiefly on his taking part in the military action against Liu Bei on Cao Cao's order, which ended in failure.

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Zhong's image is endowed with more literary color and concrete detail. Together with Liu Dai he was assigned by Cao Cao to lead an army of fifty thousand to Xu Province to attack Liu Bei^[2]. Cao Cao's intent in this was not truly to expect them to defeat Liu Bei, but rather to make a show of strength and pin Liu Bei down so that he himself could concentrate on dealing with Yuan Shao. Cheng Yu had voiced concern over this, holding that Liu Dai and Wang Zhong were not equal to the task, and Cao Cao too admitted frankly that they were no match for Liu Bei and that this was merely a feint. After receiving Cao Cao's order pressing them to attack, Liu Dai and Wang Zhong deliberated in camp and in the end decided by drawing lots that Wang Zhong would lead half the troops to attack Xu Province first^[3].

When Wang Zhong led his troops to attack the city, he encountered Guan Yu. It was early winter, with snow falling thick and fast. Guan Yu rode out to challenge him, and Wang Zhong spoke insolently, claiming that Chancellor Cao had come in person. Enraged, Guan Yu engaged Wang Zhong. The novel describes how Guan Yu first reined his horse in a feigned retreat to lure Wang Zhong into pursuit, then wheeled his horse and with one stroke of his blade took Wang Zhong alive^[4]. Wang Zhong was escorted to Xu Province, where Liu Bei asked his identity, and only then did Wang Zhong say that this campaign had been undertaken on Cao Cao's order as a show of strength, and that Cao Cao had not come in person. In view of Wang Zhong's having acted under orders, and with Guan Yu inclined toward reconciliation, Liu Bei did not put him to death but imprisoned him for the time being and provided him with wine and food^[5]. The Wang Zhong of the novel appears somewhat rash in underestimating the enemy, of middling martial skill, and in the end becomes Guan Yu's captive—adding, in comparison with the "failed to take it" of the historical record, more dramatic detail and the figure's incompetence.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Wang Zhong was a general under Cao Cao, serving Cao Wei on orders. In both history and the novel, he took orders directly from Cao Cao and took part in the military action against Liu Bei^[1].
* Liu Dai (colleague): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Zhong was dispatched by Cao Cao together with Liu Dai to attack Xu Province jointly. The two were partners in the military action, even deciding by drawing lots who would go into battle first^[3] (unique to the novel).
* Liu Bei (hostile): Wang Zhong attacked Liu Bei on Cao Cao's order and was Liu Bei's military opponent. In the novel, he was even captured alive by Liu Bei's subordinate general Guan Yu^[4] (unique to the novel).
* Guan Yu (hostile/captor): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Zhong fought Guan Yu directly and was in the end captured alive by him. Guan Yu was Wang Zhong's direct opponent and the man who brought about his capture^[4] (unique to the novel).

Iconic Scenes

* Attacking Liu Bei on orders: Wang Zhong, on Cao Cao's order, led troops together with Liu Dai to attack Liu Bei. This is the key event in which he appears in both history and the novel, marking his identity and duty as a general of Cao Cao^[1].
* Drawing lots to go into battle: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Zhong and Liu Dai decided by drawing lots who would attack Xu Province first. This scene displays the two men's hesitation and lack of resolve in military decision-making^[3] (unique to the novel).
* Captured alive by Guan Yu: Wang Zhong fought Guan Yu outside the city of Xu Province and was in the end captured alive by Guan Yu's stratagem. This scene is Wang Zhong's best-known episode in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, highlighting Guan Yu's martial prowess and Wang Zhong's incompetence^[4] (unique to the novel).
* Released by Liu Bei: After being captured alive by Guan Yu, Wang Zhong was escorted to Liu Bei. In view of his having acted under orders, and with Guan Yu inclined toward reconciliation, Liu Bei did not kill Wang Zhong but imprisoned him for the time being and provided him with wine and food^[5] (unique to the novel). This scene embodies Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness and also foreshadows the later plot.