Wang Jun

Historical Record

Wang Jun, styled Shizhi, has no detailed account of his life in the *Records of the Three Kingdoms* or other official histories. He was not a central figure active on the political or military stage during the Three Kingdoms period, and so receives little ink in the histories. Of his origins, early experiences, official advancements, and specific achievements, the sources make almost no mention. This makes it impossible for us to give an objective account of Wang Jun's life from the standpoint of the official histories. Unlike those generals or strategists whose names are inscribed in history, he has no clear biography nor is he recorded in detail in the biographies of others. As for the historical portion of Wang Jun, we can only regretfully acknowledge that the extant historical sources do not contain enough information to construct his biography. ^c:5932

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Wang Jun (styled Shizhi), as a key general in the Jin dynasty's campaign to destroy Wu, is given a rather vivid and valiant portrayal. He first appears when Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, was planning the campaign against Wu. At that time the Wu ruler Sun Hao was cruel and tyrannical and had wholly lost the hearts of the people, and the Jin Inspector of Yi Province, Wang Jun, submitted a memorial requesting an attack on Wu; his memorial was impassioned, analyzing Wu's present weakness and proposing a strategy for attacking it. ^c:5932 This act displayed Wang Jun's foresight and his courage to take responsibility.

In the course of the campaign against Wu, Wang Jun further displayed his decisive and resolute military talent. When his fleet reached Sanshan and met fierce winds and high waves, and the fleet reported that it could not advance, Wang Jun flew into a rage, drew his sword and rebuked them, insisting on pressing forward. With the bold declaration, "I mean to take the Stone City forthwith—how can you speak of stopping!" he beat the drums and advanced in force, displaying his resolve to sweep all before him. ^c:12724 This spirit of pressing dauntlessly onward in the face of difficulty is an important stroke in the novel's portrayal of Wang Jun's valor. In the end the Wu general Zhang Xiang sought to surrender, and Wang Jun cleverly made use of him, ordering him to serve as the vanguard and win merit, advancing right up to the foot of the Stone City, so that the Jin troops could enter the city smoothly. When Sun Hao heard of it, he wished to cut his own throat, but at the urging of the Secretariat Director Hu Chong and the Chamberlain for the Imperial Insignia Xue Ying, he followed the example of Liu Shan, bore a coffin and bound himself, and led his civil and military officials to surrender to Wang Jun. Wang Jun treated him with the rites due a king, released his bonds, and burned his coffin, displaying his magnanimity. ^c:12724

After returning in triumph to court, Wang Jun escorted Sun Hao to Luoyang for an audience with the Jin emperor. During the dialogue between the Jin emperor and Sun Hao, Wang Jun was present as a meritorious officer of the campaign against Wu. Jia Chong once challenged Sun Hao over the cruel punishments he had inflicted in the south, and Sun Hao's reply indirectly set off Wang Jun's image as the meritorious officer who ended Wu's tyranny. In the end the Jin emperor bestowed great rewards: Wang Jun was enfeoffed as Grand General Who Upholds the State, and the rest of the officers and men each received their rewards. ^c:5933 Through these episodes, the novel shapes Wang Jun into a commander of the campaign against Wu who was both wise and brave, decisive and resolute, and generous toward others, his achievements occupying a pivotal place in the Jin dynasty's unification of the realm. These detailed military operations and dialogue, however, have no clear record in the histories and are largely literary creation and artistic elaboration.

Key Relationships

* The Sima clan (serves): In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* Wang Jun is a general of the Jin dynasty, serving the Jin dynasty established by the Sima clan. As Inspector of Yi Province, he actively responded to Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan's, call to attack Wu, and in the end completed the great work of unification. His military operations and political stance all revolved closely around the rule of the Sima clan. ^c:5932

Iconic Scenes

* Submitting a memorial to request the attack on Wu: As Inspector of Yi Province, Wang Jun, while Emperor Wu of Jin hesitated, was the first to submit a memorial requesting an attack on Wu, analyzing in detail Wu's present decline and proposing a feasible strategy for the campaign, displaying his outstanding strategic vision and bold political resolve. This became an important mark of his appearance, and laid the foundation for Jin's eventual unification of the Three Kingdoms. ^c:5932 (novel only)
* Spreading sail and breaking the waves, driving straight for the Stone City: In the course of the campaign against Wu, Wang Jun's fleet met wind and waves, but heedless of the fleet's protests he drew his sword and rebuked them, insisting on beating the drums and advancing, and in the end reached the foot of the Stone City smoothly. This scene highlights Wang Jun's resolute and decisive military command and his determination to sweep all before him, and is a concentrated embodiment of his valiant image. ^c:12724 (novel only)
* Receiving the surrender of Sun Hao: After taking the Stone City, Wang Jun accepted the surrender of the Wu ruler Sun Hao. He treated him with the rites due a king, released his bonds, and burned his coffin, displaying his magnanimity. This scene marks the fall of Wu and the unification under Jin, and thereby established the historical standing of Wang Jun as the key figure who ended the chaotic age of the Three Kingdoms. ^c:12724 (novel only)