Shi Bao

Historical Record

(No historical biographical material.)

In the Novel

Shi Bao appears in Romance of the Three Kingdoms as a member of the Cao Wei camp, his role embodied mainly in Sima Zhao's military campaign to suppress the rebellion of Zhuge Dan. When Zhuge Dan raised troops in rebellion at Shouchun and sought aid from Eastern Wu, Sima Zhao decided to lead an army in person to suppress him. On Jia Chong's advice, Sima Zhao petitioned to have the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven Cao Mao set out on campaign together, to show that the cause was just and to ensure stability in the rear ^c:6008.

Sima Zhao then issued an edict and mustered an army of two hundred and sixty thousand. Within this vast force, Shi Bao was appointed Supervisor of the Left Army, and together with the General Who Guards the South Wang Ji, the General Who Pacifies the East Chen Qian, and the Inspector of Yanzhou Zhou Tai, he escorted the Son of Heaven's carriage and marched in grand procession toward Huainan ^c:6008. Although the novel does not describe Shi Bao's personal performance or military strategy in any specific battle in detail, his identity as Supervisor of the Left Army indicates a certain standing within Sima Zhao's military group. His duties likely involved overseeing military discipline and coordinating the movements of the troops—an indispensable link in Sima Zhao's suppression of the rebellion. In the clash between the Wei army and the Eastern Wu vanguard of Zhu Yi and Tang Zi, Wang Ji, as chief vanguard, swiftly defeated the Wu forces and drove them back fifty li ^c:6008. As Supervisor of the Left Army, Shi Bao no doubt took part in the military deployment and execution of this victory. The novel's depiction of Shi Bao emphasizes his functional role within Sima Zhao's military operations rather than independent personal deeds, which accords with the absence of any historical record and reflects the novel's practice of placing figures to advance the plot.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): In the novel Shi Bao served the Cao Wei regime—specifically, during the period when Sima Zhao held power. As a member of the great army with which Sima Zhao suppressed Zhuge Dan's rebellion, he served as Supervisor of the Left Army, embodying his loyalty and service to Cao Wei (in truth the Sima family) ^c:6008.
* Sima Zhao (superior/colleague): Sima Zhao was Shi Bao's direct superior and the commander-in-chief of this campaign against Zhuge Dan. Shi Bao's appointment and duties were all decided by Sima Zhao, and he followed Sima Zhao's command in the military operation ^c:6008.
* Wang Ji, Chen Qian, Zhou Tai (colleagues): Shi Bao, together with Wang Ji (chief vanguard), Chen Qian (deputy vanguard), and Zhou Tai (right army), were all generals under Sima Zhao, jointly taking part in the campaign against Zhuge Dan. Their relationship was one of military cooperation ^c:6008.

Iconic Scenes

* Following Sima Zhao to Suppress Zhuge Dan: Shi Bao's most iconic scene is, as Supervisor of the Left Army, following Sima Zhao in leading an army of two hundred and sixty thousand, escorting the Son of Heaven Cao Mao, and marching in grand procession toward Huainan to suppress Zhuge Dan. This scene highlights his standing and role within Sima Zhao's military group and is the only military action clearly mentioned for him in the novel ^c:6008 (novel only).
* Taking Part in the First Clash between the Wei Army and Eastern Wu: In the course of the campaign against Zhuge Dan, the Wei army clashed with the Eastern Wu vanguard of Zhu Yi and Tang Zi. Although the novel does not specifically describe Shi Bao's personal combat, as Supervisor of the Left Army he no doubt took part in this battle led to victory by Wang Ji, witnessing the Wei army's powerful offensive ^c:6008 (novel only).