Wang Zhi

Historical Record

Based on the existing historical sources, such as the official histories including the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, direct historical material on Wang Zhi is absent. In these verifiable factual records, there is no mention of a figure named Wang Zhi, nor are any events or deeds connected with him recorded. From a historiographical standpoint, therefore, Wang Zhi is not a figure with any clear historical record.

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Wang Zhi is portrayed as a scheming local administrator whose image is closely tied to Guan Yu's feat of "passing five passes and slaying six generals." Wang Zhi first appears while Guan Yu is escorting his two sisters-in-law on a journey of a thousand li in search of his sworn brother. He served as Administrator of Xingyang and was related by marriage to Han Fu, whom Guan Yu had slain^[1]. When he learned that Guan Yu had killed Han Fu, he conceived a malicious plan to do away with Guan Yu in secret. On the surface he treated Guan Yu with extraordinary cordiality, inviting Guan Yu and his party into the city to rest, arranging a guesthouse, and providing meals, intending to lull Guan Yu into complacency^[1].

Wang Zhi's true aim, however, was at the third watch to direct his subordinate Hu Ban to set fire to the guesthouse and burn Guan Yu and his attendants to death. He even personally led troops in support to ensure the plan would not fail. This episode fully displays Wang Zhi's sinister cunning and vengeful nature. Exploiting his authority as a local official, he sought to take revenge on Guan Yu, but in the end his scheme came to nothing because of a stirring of conscience in Hu Ban^[2].

After Guan Yu saw through his scheme and escaped through the city gate, Wang Zhi personally led troops in pursuit and loudly cursed Guan Yu. In the ensuing clash, Wang Zhi spurred his horse and leveled his spear and charged straight at Guan Yu, only to be cut in two at the waist by a single stroke of Guan Yu's blade, ending his life^[2]. In the narrative of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Wang Zhi is the sixth general slain by Guan Yu in the course of "passing five passes and slaying six generals"; his appearance and death further set off Guan Yu's loyalty, righteousness, and martial valor, and add dramatic turns to Guan Yu's thousand-li search for his brother. Through the character of Wang Zhi, the novel displays the complex mentality of local officials and the cruel struggle between opposing camps in an age of chaos. Wang Zhi does not appear in the histories, and all his deeds are unique to the novel.

Key Relationships

* Guan Yu (enemy_of): Wang Zhi's relationship with Guan Yu is hostile. Wang Zhi harbored resentment because Guan Yu had slain his relative by marriage Han Fu, and so plotted to entrap Guan Yu, only to be slain by him in the end^[2] (novel only).
* Han Fu (relative by marriage): Wang Zhi was related to Han Fu by marriage^[1]. Han Fu's having been slain by Guan Yu was the direct reason for Wang Zhi's desire to take revenge on Guan Yu (novel only).
* Hu Ban (subordinate): Hu Ban was Wang Zhi's officer, directed by Wang Zhi to carry out the plan to burn Guan Yu. In the end, however, Hu Ban was moved by Guan Yu's loyalty, righteousness, and dignified bearing, and instead helped Guan Yu escape^[2] (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

* Setting a banquet at Xingyang with murderous intent hidden: When Guan Yu and his party arrived at Xingyang, Wang Zhi outwardly received them warmly, arranging a guesthouse and sending a feast, while secretly plotting to set fire and burn Guan Yu to death at the third watch. This scene fully displays Wang Zhi's sinister cunning and the danger at every step along Guan Yu's path in search of his brother^[1] (novel only).
* Hu Ban's warning and Guan Yu's escape: Before carrying out the arson plan, Wang Zhi's subordinate Hu Ban, out of admiration for Guan Yu's dignity, loyalty, and righteousness, secretly warned Guan Yu, exposing Wang Zhi's plot. Hu Ban also helped Guan Yu open the city gate so that he could escape. This scene is the key turning point in Guan Yu's escape, and also reflects the appeal of Guan Yu's personal charisma even to those in the enemy camp^[2] (novel only).
* Pursuit outside the city, Wang Zhi slain: After Guan Yu escaped the city, Wang Zhi led troops in pursuit and came into direct conflict with Guan Yu. In the end Wang Zhi was cut in two at the waist by a single stroke of Guan Yu's blade, becoming one of the figures in Guan Yu's "passing five passes and slaying six generals." This scene is Wang Zhi's end in the novel, and further consolidates the image of Guan Yu as the Saint of War^[2] (novel only).