Wang Mi
Wang Mi | |
---|---|
Grand General Who Conquers The East ( | |
In office 307 –? | |
Monarch | Liu Yuan |
Grand General ( | |
In office c.October 311[1] – c.November 311 | |
Monarch | Liu Cong |
Personal details | |
Born | Unknown Yantai, Shandong |
Died | c.November 311 Ningling County, Henan |
Relations | Wang Qi (grandfather) |
Courtesy name | Zigu ( |
Peerage | Duke of Donglai ( Duke of Qi ( |
Nickname | Flying Leopard ( |
Wang Mi (died c.November 311[2]), courtesy name Zigu, was a Chinese bandit leader and military general of Han-Zhao during the Western Jin dynasty. He participated in a rebellion led by Liu Bogen during the War of the Eight Princes but after it was quelled, he fled to Mount Zhangguang where he became a notorious outlaw and was given the nickname "Flying Leopard". After two years of banditry, he joined the Xiongnu king, Liu Yuan and his state of Han in 308. He became one of the state's most important commanders in their war against Jin, playing a crucial role in capturing Luoyang during the Disaster of Yongjia. However, Wang Mi's career was cut short after he was assassinated by his peer and rival Shi Le in 311.
Early life
[edit]Wang Mi's family came from a line of officials in Donglai Commandery in the Jiaodong Peninsula. His grandfather, Wang Qi, was the Administrator of Xuantu during the Cao Wei period who greatly contributed in the Goguryeo–Wei War and participated in the conquest of Wei's rival state, Shu Han. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, Wang Qi was appointed as Grand Administrator of Runan. In his youth, Wang Mi was noted to be brave and well-versed, surrounding himself with books and records. He also once worked as a knight-errant (Youxia;
Liu Bogen's rebellion
[edit]During the War of the Eight Princes in April 306,[5] the Prefect of Jian County (惤縣, near Longkou, Shandong), Liu Bogen (
Despite the rebellion's initial success, it soon fell apart the same year with the intervention of the Youzhou warlord Wang Jun. In the wake of Sima Lue's defeat, Wang Jun attacked Liu Bogen in order to aid Lue in recovering his territories. Bogen was killed in battle and Wang Mi decided to lead the remaining forces to the small islets in the east. However, on his way, he was intercepted and defeated by Gou Chun (苟纯). Wang Mi survived the attack and fled to Mount Zhangguang (
As a bandit leader
[edit]Invasion of Qingzhou and Xuzhou
[edit]During his time as an outlaw, Wang Mi led many raids in Qingzhou against its people. His notoriety earned him the name "Flying Leopard (
Siege of Luoyang (308)
[edit]After his recent defeat, Wang Mi decided to submit to Liu Yuan of Han-Zhao. Liu Yuan accepted his submission and appointed him the Duke of Donglai, Inspector of Qingzhou and Great General who Garrisons the East. With a state now backing him up, he gathered his scattered forces and raised his troops' morale. In c.March 308,[11] he sent out several of his generals to pillage Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou and Yuzhou where they killed many of the regions' administrators and prefects. Gou Xi fought Wang Mi's forces multiple time, but this time he could not overcome them. Soon, Wang Mi reached the city of Xuchang, where he emptied the city's arsenal of weapons and equipment in order to rearm his troops.[12] With his momentum looking unstoppable, Wang Mi set his eyes on Luoyang.
As Wang Mi's army marched towards the capital, Sima Yue sent his Marshal, Wang Bin (
Service under Han-Zhao
[edit]During Liu Yuan's reign
[edit]After failing to capture Luoyang, Wang Mi went to formally join Han. Liu Yuan and Wang Mi had once befriended each other in their youths during their time in Luoyang. Thus, when Liu Yuan heard that Wang Mi was coming to join him, he welcomed Wang with opened arms. Upon meeting Liu Yuan, Wang urged him to declare himself as emperor, which Liu would eventually do later that year. Liu Yuan offered Wang Mi a number of posts as part of his welcome, but Wang Mi declined them all; Liu Yuan also praised Wang Mi by comparing him to Dou Rong, Zhuge Liang and Deng Yu.[14]
Under Han, Wang Mi was first tasked in accompanying Liu Yao in invading Henei before joining with Shi Le to attack Linzhang in 308. After that, in October,[15] he and Shi Le besieged Ye, causing the local commander He Yu (
In 309, Wang Mi was appointed to a number of important posts; Palace Attendant, Chief Controller of Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jizhou, and Yangzhou and Governor of Qingzhou. After that, he was sent to campaign against the Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Kun, to capture Huguan county from his territory together with Liu Cong and Shi Le. In order to support Liu Kun, Sima Yue sent Wang Kuang (
Afterwards, Wang Mi participated in Liu Yuan's campaign in Luoyang as a subordinate of Liu Cong. Although Luoyang was poorly defended, the campaign went badly for the Han forces as several of their generals were killed during the assault. Wang Mi advised Liu Cong to retreat as their supplies were beginning to run low, but Liu did not dare to do so without his father's permission. It was not until Liu Yuan recalled his forces that they could retreat, ending the siege in failure.[17]
On 6 January 310,[18] Wang Mi marched his troops south through Huanyuan Pass (轘轅, located approximately 3 kilometers northwest of the Shaolin Monastery in Henan) to invade Xiangcheng commandery but he was defeated by Bao Sheng (
Wang Mi sent a petition to Liu Yuan requesting that his Chief Clerk of the Left, Cao Ni, be appointed General Who Maintains The East in Qingzhou, where he would provide security to Wang's family's members.[20] Wang Mi followed Shi Le in invading Xuzhou, Yuzhou and Yanzhou, routing many of the local generals.
Disaster of Yongjia
[edit]Later in August 310, Liu Yuan died and although his son Liu He succeeded him, He was quickly assassinated by his brother, Liu Cong, making Cong the new emperor only seven days into He's reign. Liu Cong was determined to capture Luoyang, so he sent Liu Can, Liu Yao, Wang Mi and Shi Le to march towards the capital.[21] Wang Mi joined Liu Yao in order to attack Xiangcheng before marching towards Luoyang. Luoyang had barely survived the year before, but conditions in the city had worsened through famines, bandits, and mistrust among the inhabitants of the city. After the death of Sima Yue, Emperor Huai of Jin's new paramount general, Gou Xi, waited for his arrival at Cangyuan (
Although Han had won a very important victory over Jin, Wang Mi would get into a dispute with Liu Yao. Liu Yao resented Wang for entering the capital before he had and sacking the capital despite having given orders not to do so. As punishment, Liu Yao beheaded his General of the Serrated Gate, Wang Yan (
Death
[edit]Wang Mi had long been friends with his colleague, Shi Le, but deep down they were both very suspicious of one another. Shi Le had covertly caught and killed Wang Mi's subordinate Liu Tun who was on his way to inform Cao Ni that he should rally his troops against Shi. Furthermore, Wang Mi's generals Xu Miao (
Soon enough, Wang Mi was caught in a stalemate with an enemy general named Liu Rui (
After the death of Wang Mi, Shi Le sent Liu Cong a petition to justify his actions, calling Wang Mi a rebel. Although Liu Cong was very infuriated by Shi Le's actions, he still wanted to ensure his loyalty to Han, so he gave no punishment to Shi Le and instead rewarded him with positions.[25] Wang Mi's subordinate, Cao Ni, continued to maintain control over Qingzhou, where he would remain until his defeat by Shi Le's nephew, Shi Hu in 323.
Family
[edit]It is not known what happened to Wang Mi's family after Cao Ni's defeat. However, a nephew of Wang Mi named Wang Li (
References
[edit]- ^ ([
永 嘉 五 年 ]九 月 ....。聪以始 安王 曜为车骑大将 军、雍州牧 ,更 封 中 山王 ,镇长安 。以王弥 为大将 军,封 齐公。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87. The month corresponds to 29 Sep to 28 Oct 311 in the Julian calendar. - ^ ([
永 嘉 五 年 ]冬 ,十 月 ,勒请弥 燕 于己吾 。弥 将 往,长史张嵩谏,不 听。酒 酣 ,勒手斩弥而并其众,...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87. The month corresponds to 29 Oct to 26 Nov 311 in the Julian calendar. - ^ Dong Yang's (养; "Zhongdao" was his courtesy name) biography in vol.94 of Book of Jin indicated that he was in the capital Luoyang during the early part of the Tai'shi era (265 - 274) of Emperor Wu's reign (
董 养,字 仲道 ,陈留浚仪人 也。泰 始 初 ,到 洛 下 ,不 干 禄 求 荣。). - ^ (
王 彌 ,東 萊人也。家 世 二 千 石 。祖 頎,魏 玄 菟 太守 ,武 帝 時 ,至 汝 南 太守 。彌 有 才幹 ,博 涉 書記 。少 遊 俠京都 ,隱者 董 仲道 見 而謂之 曰:「君 豺聲豹 視 ,好 亂 樂 禍 ,若 天下 騷擾 ,不作 士 大夫 矣。」) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Jin and vol.86 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Liu Bogen's rebellion occurred in the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Guang'xi era ([
光 熙元年 ]三 月 ,惤令劉 柏 根反 ,....); the month corresponds to 31 Mar to 29 Apr 306 in the Julian calendar. - ^ (
永興 初 ,巾 弦 令 劉 根 起 兵 東 萊,誑惑百姓 ,眾以萬 數 ,攻略 於臨淄,略 不能 距,走 保 聊城。) Book of Jin, Volume 37 - ^ (
惠 帝 末 ,妖賊劉 柏 根 起 於東 萊之惤縣,彌 率 家 僮從之 ,柏 根 以為長 史 。柏 根 死 ,聚徒海 渚 ,為 苟純所 敗 ,亡 入 長 廣山 為 群 賊 。彌 多 權 略 ,凡有所 掠 ,必豫圖 成敗 ,舉無遺 策 。) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ (
彌 多 權 略 ,凡有所 掠 ,必豫圖 成敗 ,舉無遺 策 ,弓馬 迅捷,膂力 過 人 ,青土 號 為 「飛 豹 」) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ [
永 嘉 元年 ]二 月 ,王 弥 寇青、徐 二 州 ,...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The month corresponds to 20 Mar to 18 Apr 307 in the Julian calendar. - ^ (
州 刺史 苟晞逆 擊 彌 ,大破 之 。) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ ([
永 嘉 二 年 ]三 月 ,.....王 弥 收集 亡 散 ,兵 復 大 振 。分遣 诸将攻 掠 青 、徐 、兖、豫 四 州 ,...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The month corresponds to 9 Mar to 6 Apr 308 in the Julian calendar. - ^ (
彌 退 集 亡 散 ,眾復大 振 ,晞與之 連戰 ,不能 克 。彌 進 兵 寇泰山 、魯國、譙、梁 、陳 、汝 南 、潁川、襄 城 諸 郡 ,入 許 昌 ,開府 庫 ,取 器 杖 ,所在 陷沒 ,多 殺 守 令 ,有 眾數萬 ,朝廷 不能 制 。) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ (
太 傅 越 遣 司馬 王 斌 帥 甲 士 五 千 人 入 衞 京師 ,張 軌亦遣 督 護 北宮 純 將兵 衞 京師 。五月 ,彌 入 自 轘轅,敗 官軍 于伊北 ,京師 大震 ,宮城 門 晝 閉。壬 戌 ,彌 至 洛陽 ,屯 于津陽 門 。詔 以王衍都督 征討 諸 軍事 。北宮 純 募 勇士 百 餘人 突陳,彌 兵 大敗 。乙 丑 ,彌 燒 建 春 門 而東,衍遣左 衞 將軍 王 秉追之 ,戰 于七 里 澗,又 敗 之 。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 86. The 5th month of the 2nd year of the Yong'jia era starts from 5 Jun 308 in the Julian calendar. - ^ (
彌 謂 其党劉 靈 曰:「晉 兵 尚 強 ,歸 無 所 厝。劉 元 海 昔 為 質 子 ,我 與 之 周旋 京師 ,深 有 分 契 ,今 稱 漢 王 ,將 歸 之 ,可 乎?」靈 然 之 。乃渡河 歸 元 海 。元 海 聞而大 悅 ,遣 其侍中 兼 御 史 大夫 郊迎,致書於彌曰:「以將軍 有 不 世 之 功 ,超 時 之 德 ,故 有 此迎耳 。遲 望 將軍 之 至 ,孤 今 親 行 將軍 之 館 ,輒拂席 洗 爵,敬 待 將軍 。」及彌見 元 海 ,勸 稱 尊號 ,元 海 謂 彌 曰:「孤 本 謂 將軍 如竇周 公 耳 ,今 真 吾 孔明 、仲 華 也。烈 祖 有 云 :'吾 之 有 將軍 ,如魚之 有水 。'」於是署 彌 司 隸校尉 ,加 侍 中 、特進 ,彌 固辭 。) Book of Jin, Volume 100. "Zhougong", "Kongming" and "Zhonghua" were the courtesy names of Dou, Zhuge and Deng respectively. - ^ ([
永 嘉 二 年 ]九 月 ,汉王弥 、石 勒寇邺,...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The month corresponds to 2 to 30 Oct 308 in the Julian calendar. - ^ (
永 嘉 初 ,寇上黨 ,圍 壺 關 ,東海 王越 遣 淮南 內史王 曠、安 豐太 守衛 乾 等 討之,及彌戰 于高都 、長平 間 ,大敗 之 ,死者 十 六 七 。元 海 進 彌 征 東大 將軍 ,封 東 萊公。) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ (
是 冬 ,復 大發 卒 ,遣 聰 、彌 與 劉 曜、劉 景 等 率 精 騎 五 萬 寇洛陽 ,使 呼 延 翼 率 步卒 繼 之 ,敗 王師 于河南 。聰 進 屯 於西明 門 ,護 軍 賈胤夜 薄 之 ,戰 于大夏 門 ,斬 聰 將 呼 延 顥,其眾遂 潰 。聰 回 軍 而南。壁 于洛水 ,尋 進 屯 宣 陽 門 ,曜屯上東 門 ,彌 屯 廣陽 門 ,景 攻 大 夏 門 ,聰 親 祈 嵩 嶽 ,令 其將劉 厲、呼 延 朗 等 督 留 軍 。東海 王越 命 參 軍 孫 詢、將軍 丘 光 、樓 裒等率 帳 下 勁卒三 千 ,自 宣 陽 門 擊 朗 ,斬 之 。聰 聞而馳 還 。厲懼聰 之 罪 己 也,赴水而死。王 彌 謂 聰 曰:「今 既 失 利 ,洛陽 猶 固 ,殿下 不 如還師 ,徐 為 後 舉。下 官 當 於袞豫 之 間 收 兵 積 穀 ,伏 聽嚴期 。」宣 于修之 又 言 於元海 曰:「歲 在 辛 未 ,當 得 洛陽 。今 晉 氣 猶 盛 ,大軍 不歸 ,必敗。」元 海 馳 遣 黃門 郎 傅 詢召聰 等 還 師 。) Book of Jin, Volume 101 - ^ ([
永 嘉 三 年 ]十 一 月 ,甲 申 ,....。王 弥 南出 轘辕,...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87 - ^ (
彌 復 以二 千 騎 寇襄城 諸 縣 ,河東 、平 陽 、弘 農 、上 党 諸 流人 之 在 潁川、襄 城 、汝 南 、南陽 、河南 者 數 萬 家 ,為 舊居 人 所 不 禮 ,皆 焚燒城 邑,殺 二 千石長吏以應彌。) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ (
彌 乃以左 長 史 曹嶷為 鎮東將軍 ,給 兵 五 千 ,多 齎寶物 還 鄉里 ,招誘亡命 ,且迎其室。) Book of Jin, Volume 101 - ^ (
遣 粲 及其征 東 王 彌 、龍 驤劉曜等率 眾四萬 ,長驅 入洛 川 ,遂 出 轘轅,周旋 梁 、陳 、汝 、潁之間 ,陷 壘壁 百 餘 。) Book of Jin, Volume 102 - ^ ([
永 嘉 五 年 ]六 月 ...丁 酉 ,王 弥 、呼 延 晏克宣 阳门,入南 宫,升 太 极前殿 ,纵兵大 掠 ,悉收宫人、珍宝 。帝 出 华林园门,欲 奔长安 ,汉兵追 执之,幽 于端门。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87 - ^ (其衛
尉 呼 延 晏為使 持 節 、前 鋒 大 都 督 、前 軍 大將軍 。配 禁 兵 二 萬 七 千 ,自 宜 陽 入洛 川 ,命 王 彌 、劉 曜及鎮軍石 勒進師 會 之 。晏比及河南 ,王師 前後 十 二 敗 ,死者 三 萬 餘人 。彌 等 未 至 ,晏留輜重 于張方 故 壘 ,遂 寇洛陽 ,攻 陷 平 昌 門 ,焚東陽 、宣 陽 諸 門 及諸府 寺 。懷 帝 遣 河南 尹 劉 默 距之,王師 敗 於社門 。晏以外 繼 不 至 ,出自 東陽 門 ,掠 王公 已 下 子女 二 百 餘人 而去。時 帝 將 濟 河東 遁,具 船 于洛水 ,晏盡焚之,還 于張方 故 壘 。王 彌 、劉 曜至,復 與 晏會圍 洛陽 。時 城 內饑甚,人 皆 相 食 ,百官 分散 ,莫有固 志 。宣 陽 門 陷 ,彌 、晏入於南宮 ,升 太極 前 殿 ,縱 兵 大 掠 ,悉收宮人 、珍寶 。曜於是 害 諸 王公 及百官 已 下 三 萬 餘人 ,于洛水北 築 為 京 觀 。遷帝及惠帝 羊 後 、傳 國 六 璽於平 陽 。) Book of Jin, Volume 102 - ^ (
彌 之 掠 也,曜禁之 ,彌 不 從 。曜斬其牙門 王 延 以徇,彌 怒 ,與 曜阻兵 相 攻 ,死者 千 餘人 。彌 長 史 張 嵩 諫曰:「明 公 與國 家 共 興 大事 ,事業 甫 耳 ,便 相 攻 討,何 面 見 主上 乎!平 洛 之 功 誠 在 將軍 ,然 劉 曜皇族 ,宜 小 下之 。晉 二王平吳之鑒,其則不 遠 ,願 明 將軍 以為慮 。縱 將軍 阻兵不 還 ,其若子弟 宗族 何 !」彌 曰:「善 ,微 子 ,吾 不 聞此過 也。」於是詣 曜謝,結 分 如初。彌 曰:「下 官 聞過,乃是張 長 史 之 功 。」曜謂嵩 曰:「君 為 硃建矣,豈 況 範 生 乎!」各 賜 嵩 金 百 斤 。彌 謂 曜曰:「洛陽 天下 之 中 ,山河 四 險 之 固 ,城 池宮 室 無 假 營造 ,可 徙平陽 都 之 。」曜不從 ,焚燒而去。彌 怒 曰:「屠 各 子 ,豈 有 帝王 之 意 乎!汝 柰天下 何 !」遂 引眾東 屯 項 關 。初 ,曜以彌 先 入洛 ,不 待 己 ,怨之,至 是 嫌 隙 遂 構。劉 暾說彌 還 據 青 州 ,彌 然 之 。) Book of Jin, Volume 100 - ^ (
王 彌 與 勒,外相 親 而內相 忌 ,劉 暾說彌 使 召曹嶷之兵 以圖勒。彌 爲 書 ,使 暾召嶷,且邀勒共向 青 州 。暾至東 阿 ,勒游騎 獲 之 ,勒潛殺 暾而彌 不知 。會 彌 將 徐 邈、高梁 輒引所部 兵 去 ,彌 兵 漸 衰 。彌 聞勒擒 苟晞,心 惡 之 ,以書賀 勒曰︰「公 獲 苟晞而用之 ,何 其神也!使 晞爲公 左 ,彌 爲 公 右 ,天下 不足 定 也。」勒謂張 賓 曰︰「王公 位 重 而言卑,其圖我 必矣。」賓 因 勸 勒乘彌 小 衰 ,誘 而取之 。時 勒方與 乞活陳 午 相 攻 於蓬關 ,彌 亦 與 劉 瑞相 持 甚急。彌 請救於勒,勒未之 許 。張 賓 曰︰「公 常 恐 不 得 王公 之 便 ,今 天 以王公 授我矣。陳 午 小 豎,不足 憂 ;王公 人傑 ,當 早 除 之 。」勒乃引兵擊 瑞 ,斬 之 。彌 大喜 ,謂 勒實親 己 ,不 復 疑 也。冬 ,十 月 ,勒請彌 燕 于己吾 。彌 將 往,長 史 張 嵩 諫,不 聽。酒 酣 ,勒手斬 彌 而幷其衆,表 漢 主 聰 ,稱 彌 叛逆 。聰 大 怒 ,遣 使 讓 勒「專 害 公 輔,有無 君 之 心 」;然 猶 加 勒鎭東大 將軍 、督 幷‧幽 二 州 諸 軍事 、領 幷州刺史 ,以慰其心。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 87 - ^ (
殷 ,彭之子 也。彭時為 燕 大長 秋 ,以書戒殷曰:「王 彌 、曹嶷,必有子孫 ,汝 善 招撫,勿尋舊怨 ,以長亂 源 !」殷 推求,得 彌 從 子 立 、嶷孫巖 於山中 ,請與相 見 ,深 結 意 分 。彭復遣 使 遺 以車馬 衣服 ,郡 民 由 是 大和 。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 100
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu)
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian