Wang Su

Historical Record

Wang Su, styled Ziyong, was born in Kuaiji. At the age of eighteen he studied the *Taixuan* under Song Zhong, and was able to interpret it in still greater depth^[1]. During the Huangchu era, he was appointed Cavalier Gentleman-Attendant of the Yellow Gate. In the third year of Taihe, he was promoted to Cavalier Regular Attendant. The following year, when the Grand Marshal Cao Zhen campaigned against Shu, Wang Su submitted a memorial forcefully setting forth the evils of marching deep into perilous terrain with provisions failing, pointing out that "to transport grain a thousand li leaves the soldiers with a hungry look; to gather firewood before cooking means the army is never full a night ahead"^[1], and citing King Wu's campaign against Zhou and the campaigns of Wu and Wen against Quan as examples, he stressed the importance of according with Heaven, knowing the times, and being versed in adaptation. His advice in the end prompted Cao Zhen to withdraw his troops. He also once submitted memorials proposing the holding of mourning for great ministers and the offering of fruits at the ancestral temple, and put forward fundamental governmental reforms such as "abolishing posts that have no business and cutting emoluments that are not urgent"^[1], advocating the restoration of the rite of attending court every fifth day, so that offices might be substantive and each fulfill its function.

During the Qinglong era, when the Duke of Shanyang (Emperor Xian of Han) died, Wang Su submitted a memorial proposing that he be posthumously titled "Filial and Presented Emperor of Han," and explained the difference between the appellations "Huang" (August) and "Di" (Emperor), holding that "Huang" was the lighter of the two, so as to avoid the suspicion of "two kings over the same land"^[2]. However, Emperor Ming did not adopt this, and in the end he was posthumously titled Filial and Presented Emperor of Han. Thereafter Wang Su served as Regular Attendant concurrently overseeing the Imperial Library, and concurrently as Libationer of the Chongwen Observatory. During the Jingchu era, in response to such problems as the building of palaces causing hardship to the people's livelihood and hasty executions, Wang Su again submitted a memorial, pointing out that "the living people are few, and the shields and spears are not yet laid to rest; truly this is a time to rest the people and favor them, to bring peace to those near and far in quietude"^[3]. He advised halting works that were not urgent and dismissing the laborers to return to farming, and stressed that the state ought to take good faith as its foundation and avoid breaking faith with the people. He also raised objections to the hasty punishments of the time, citing the precedents of Zhang Shizhi and the Duke of Zhou, and stressing that human life is of the utmost weight and punishments ought to be applied with caution.

In the first year of Zhengshi, Wang Su went out to serve as Administrator of Guangping. He once deeply lamented the late recluse Zhang Jian and ordered that his household be commended, so as to console the departed and exhort posterity^[4]. He was later summoned back on official business and appointed Gentleman-Consultant, and soon promoted to Palace Attendant and Master of Ceremonies. At that time the Grand General Cao Shuang monopolized power and employed He Yan and others; Wang Su once sternly criticized them as "of the sort of Hong Gong and Shi Xian"^[5], arousing Cao Shuang's wariness. He was later dismissed over a matter concerning the ancestral temple, and reappointed Superintendent of the Imperial Household. When two fish appeared on the roof of the armory, the officials took it as auspicious, but Wang Su held that "fish are born in the depths yet here are aloft on a roof; a scaled creature has lost its proper place. Surely the border generals will have a calamity of abandoned armor?"^[5]—foretelling the later defeat at Dongguan. He then transferred to be Intendant of Henan.

In the sixth year of Jiaping, Wang Su, holding the staff of authority and concurrently Master of Ceremonies, with the legal carriage went to welcome the Duke of Gaogui Precinct at Yuancheng. That same year, a white vapor crossed the sky, and Prince Jing of Sima (Sima Shi) asked the reason; Wang Su answered, "this is the banner of Chiyou; surely there will be disorder in the southeast?"^[6], and advised Prince Jing to cultivate himself and bring peace to the people. The following year, Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled, and Prince Jing again consulted Wang Su for a plan to secure the state. Citing Guan Yu's loss of Jing Province as an example, Wang Su advised comforting the families of the Huainan soldiers and cutting off their route of return, which would surely bring them to "the momentum of collapse"^[6]. Prince Jing adopted his plan and ultimately put down the rebellion. Thereafter Wang Su was promoted to Central Leader of the Army, with the additional title of Cavalier Regular Attendant, and his fief increased by three hundred households to a total of two thousand two hundred households. In the first year of Ganlu, Wang Su died at the age of sixty-two, with disciples in mourning garb numbering in the hundreds^[6]. He was posthumously honored as General of the Guards, with the posthumous title Marquis Jing. His son Wang Yun inherited his position, but had no heir, and the fief was extinguished. In the fourth year of Jingyuan, Wang Su's son Wang Xun was enfeoffed as Marquis of Lanling. During the Xianxi era, Wang Xun was re-enfeoffed as Viscount of Cheng. Wang Su's daughter married Prince Wen of Sima (Sima Zhao)—that is, Empress Wenming—and bore Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, and Prince Xian of Qi, Sima You.

In the Novel

In the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Wang Su's image centers mainly on his remonstrances regarding court affairs and his assistance to the Sima clan, with his character of brightness, uprightness and wide learning given further literary embellishment.

In Chapter 99, when Cao Zhen and Sima Yi campaigned against Shu, the army was bogged down by days of heavy rain. The Gentleman-Attendant of the Yellow Gate Wang Su submitted a memorial to the lord of Wei, pointing out that "to transport grain a thousand li leaves the soldiers with a hungry look; to gather firewood before cooking means the army is never full a night ahead"^[7], and analyzing in detail the evils of penetrating deep into perilous terrain with provisions failing, advising that the troops be rested. This passage is basically consistent with the historical record of Wang Su's remonstrating memorial during Cao Zhen's campaign against Shu, reflecting Wang Su's foresight in military strategy^[8].

In Chapter 109, the Duke of Gaogui Precinct, Cao Mao, was welcomed and installed as Emperor by Sima Shi. At the welcoming ceremony, Cao Mao wished to return the courtesies of the civil and military officials, but the Grand Commandant Wang Su at once stopped him, saying "the sovereign ought not to return the courtesy"^[9], manifesting his stance of upholding the sovereign's dignity and adhering to ritual propriety. This detail is not clearly recorded in the histories, being an artistic embellishment by the novel to shape the images of Cao Mao's humility and Wang Su's loyalty to ritual law.

In Chapter 110, when Sima Shi fell gravely ill from a tumor in his left eye and Huainan was in urgent peril, he consulted the Grand Commandant Wang Su for a countermeasure. Wang Su again raised the example of Guan Yu's loss of Jing Province, advising that the families of the Huainan soldiers be comforted and their route of return cut off, so as to bring them to "the momentum of collapse"^[10]. This stratagem is basically consistent with the historical record, once more highlighting Wang Su's distinctive insight in military analysis. After Sima Shi died of illness, Sima Zhao hesitated whether to return to Luoyang, and Wang Su advised the lord of Wei, Cao Mao, to enfeoff Sima Zhao to set his heart at ease, and personally bore the edict there^[11]. This further reinforces Wang Su's image as a senior minister of the court who offered counsel to stabilize the political situation at critical moments.

Key Relationships

* Song Zhong (student_of): In his youth Wang Su studied the *Taixuan* under Song Zhong^[1].
* Cao Wei (serves): Wang Su served the Cao Wei regime all his life, holding such important posts as Cavalier Gentleman-Attendant of the Yellow Gate, Cavalier Regular Attendant, Overseer of the Imperial Library, Master of Ceremonies, Superintendent of the Imperial Household, and Intendant of Henan^[1].
* Zhang Jian (advises_in): Wang Su once deeply lamented the late recluse Zhang Jian and ordered that his household be commended, so as to console the departed and exhort posterity^[4].
* Sima Shi (advises_in): Wang Su offered counsel to Sima Shi on many occasions, including the strategy for putting down the rebellion of Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin^[6].
* Sima Zhao (father_in_law_of): Wang Su's daughter married Prince Wen of Sima (Sima Zhao) and was the mother of Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan^[6].
* Cao Mao (advises_in): When the Duke of Gaogui Precinct, Cao Mao, ascended the throne, Wang Su reminded him to mind the rituals proper to a sovereign^[9] (unique to the novel).

Signature Scenes

* Remonstrating Against Cao Zhen's Campaign Against Shu: When Cao Zhen campaigned against Shu, Wang Su submitted a memorial forcefully setting forth the evils of penetrating deep into perilous terrain with provisions failing, ultimately prompting Cao Zhen to withdraw his troops and averting greater losses^[1]. This event is also depicted in detail in the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, emphasizing Wang Su's foresight and discernment^[7].
* On "Huang" and "Di": After the death of the Duke of Shanyang (Emperor Xian of Han), Wang Su submitted a memorial proposing that he be posthumously titled "Filial and Presented Emperor of Han," and discoursed on the difference between the appellations "Huang" and "Di," reflecting his profound understanding of ritual law and history^[2].
* Criticizing Cao Shuang's Employment of Men: During Cao Shuang's monopoly of power, Wang Su once sternly criticized his employment of He Yan and others as "of the sort of Hong Gong and Shi Xian," displaying his bright, upright and outspoken character^[5].
* Foretelling the Defeat at Dongguan: When two fish appeared on the roof of the armory and the officials took it as auspicious, Wang Su held that this was "a scaled creature having lost its proper place," foretelling the later defeat at Dongguan, showing his keen insight^[5].
* Offering the Plan to Put Down the Huainan Rebellion: When Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled, Wang Su, citing Guan Yu's loss of Jing Province as an example, advised Prince Jing of Sima to comfort the families of the Huainan soldiers and cut off their route of return, successfully putting down the rebellion^[6]. This scene is also depicted in the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, highlighting Wang Su's military stratagems^[10].
* Dissuading Cao Mao from Returning Courtesies: When the Duke of Gaogui Precinct, Cao Mao, ascended the throne and wished to return the courtesies of the civil and military officials, Wang Su at once stopped him, upholding the sovereign's dignity^[9] (unique to the novel).