Wei Huang

Historical Record

As for biographical material on Wei Huang, there is at present no clear record. In official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, no detailed description of a figure named Wei Huang or his life and deeds has been found. The real existence of this figure Wei Huang in history and his specific activities therefore cannot be confirmed from the surviving historical sources.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wei Huang is portrayed as an official whose heart was set on the Han house and who was loyal to the Han dynasty, plotting together with Geng Ji, Jin Yi, and others to attack Cao Cao. He first appears in the first month of spring in the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218 CE), discussing in secret with Geng Ji Cao Cao's increasingly rampant ambition to usurp.^[1] Wei Huang held that Cao Cao "grows more treacherous and wicked by the day and will surely commit acts of usurpation in time to come," and proposed that, as ministers of Han, they should not "join with the wicked to abet evil."^[1]

Wei Huang showed a certain strategy and skill with people in the conspiracy. He recommended his confidant Jin Yi to Geng Ji, saying that Jin Yi was "a descendant of the Han chancellor Jin Midi, who has long harbored the will to attack Cao," and was on close terms with Wang Bi, holding that if they could win Jin Yi as a fellow plotter, "the great affair will be accomplished."^[1] Although Geng Ji had doubts about Jin Yi's friendship with Wang Bi, Wei Huang still insisted on going to persuade him. In the first contact with Jin Yi, Wei Huang and Geng Ji used a probing tactic. They feigned flattery of Jin Yi, saying that since he was on close terms with Wang Bi he would surely rise high, and hoping Jin Yi would "kindly extend a helping hand."^[2] Jin Yi showed great indignation at this, even pouring his tea on the ground and cursing them for "giving no thought to repaying their roots, but wishing to aid a rebel."^[2] It was precisely this loyal and righteous conduct of Jin Yi that made Wei Huang and Geng Ji certain he was a trustworthy ally, whereupon they confessed to him their true intent to attack the traitor.^[2]

After Jin Yi proposed the plan to "act in concert from within and without, kill Wang Bi, seize his military authority, support the imperial carriage, and further ally with the imperial uncle Liu as outside aid," Wei Huang and Geng Ji "clapped their hands in approval."^[2] However, this conspiracy in the end failed because word leaked out. Wei Huang, Geng Ji, and the others were arrested and brought by Xiahou Dun to the marketplace for execution. Before his death, Wei Huang displayed extreme rage; he "struck his cheek against the ground, crying, 'How hateful! How hateful!' and ground his teeth to fragments and died"^[3], his loyal heart and his hatred of Cao Cao plain to see. In the novel, Wei Huang's image is that of a representative loyal champion of Han, and his sacrifice further sets off Cao Cao's cruelty and usurping ambition.

Key Relationships

* Cao Cao (enemy_of): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wei Huang regards Cao Cao as a "traitor" who "grows more treacherous and wicked by the day," and plots to attack him, in the end being put to death by Cao Cao for it.^[1],^[3] This hostile relationship is the core driving force of Wei Huang's actions in the novel. (novel only)
* Geng Ji (ally): Wei Huang and Geng Ji are steadfast allies in the conspiracy against Cao, plotting together and going together to persuade Jin Yi to join.^[1],^[2] They are arrested together and die together, displaying deep comradeship. (novel only)
* Jin Yi (ally): Wei Huang introduces Jin Yi to Geng Ji and joins in persuading Jin Yi to enter the conspiracy against Cao. Jin Yi's loyalty and his strategy win Wei Huang's approval.^[1],^[2] They are champions who together oppose Cao. (novel only)
* Wang Bi (indirect enemy): Wang Bi is Cao Cao's trusted confidant, and Jin Yi's plan is to "kill Wang Bi and seize his military authority" in order to attack Cao, so Wang Bi is the target that Wei Huang and the others must remove in their conspiracy.^[2] (novel only)

Signature Scenes

* Secretly deliberating to attack Cao: Wei Huang and Geng Ji deliberated in secret in the first month of spring in the twenty-third year of Jian'an, pointing out that Cao Cao "grows more treacherous and wicked by the day and will surely commit acts of usurpation in time to come," and proposing that as ministers of Han they should not "join with the wicked to abet evil," displaying his resolve to be loyal to the Han house and resist Cao Cao.^[1] This is the scene in which Wei Huang first displays his political stance and intent to act in the novel. (novel only)
* Persuading Jin Yi: Wei Huang and Geng Ji went together to Jin Yi's residence and, through feigned flattery and probing, in the end successfully persuaded Jin Yi to join the conspiracy against Cao. This scene displays Wei Huang's ability in dealing with people and applying strategy, and also highlights Jin Yi's loyal and righteous heart.^[2] (novel only)
* Dying a martyr in the marketplace: Wei Huang was brought by Xiahou Dun to the marketplace for execution. Before his death, he "struck his cheek against the ground, crying, 'How hateful! How hateful!' and ground his teeth to fragments and died," expressing in a most agonizing manner his boundless hatred of Cao Cao and his loyalty to the Han house, the final fixing of his image of loyalty and righteousness.^[3] (novel only)