RNo direct record — estimated from his suppressing the rebellionWei 1 §159
NCao Cao called him loyal and diligent, with a heart like iron and stoneCh. 69 §24
Wang Bi 王必
| Occupation | ROfficial · Chief Clerk to the Chancellor NOfficial · Chief Clerk | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | R? N? Unverified | Native place | |
| Died | R218 N(same) Unverified | Place of death | |
| Cause of death | RKilled NKilled Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R7 |
Profile
Wang Bi was Chief Clerk to the Chancellor under Cao Cao. He has no biography of his own in the Records, and in Chen Shou's main text he appears once, in the entry for the 1st month of the 23rd year of Jian'an (218) in the Annals of Emperor Wu. At that time the Han Chief Imperial Physician Ji Ben rebelled together with the Privy Treasurer Geng Ji, the Director of Rectitude Wei Huang and others, attacked Xu and burned Wang Bi's camp, and Wang Bi, together with Yan Kuang, Agricultural General of the Household of Yingchuan, attacked and beheaded them. Records, Wei 1 §159
In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 69, once in its 120 chapters, and no chapter has his name in its title. The Romance portrays him as a man who, on Cao Cao's orders, takes overall command of the Imperial Guard in Xudu, and who, during the uprising of Jin Yi, Geng Ji and others, is struck by an arrow and dies when the wound festers. Romance, Ch. 69 §23–24 · 34 · 43
In the Records
In the 1st month of spring in the 23rd year of Jian'an (218), the Han Chief Imperial Physician Ji Ben rebelled together with the Privy Treasurer Geng Ji, the Director of Rectitude Wei Huang and others, attacked Xu and burned the camp of Wang Bi, Chief Clerk to the Chancellor. Wang Bi, together with Yan Kuang, Agricultural General of the Household of Yingchuan, attacked and beheaded them. Records, Wei 1 §159
This entry is the only place in Chen Shou's main text where Wang Bi appears. The Annals of Emperor Wu do not record his courtesy name or origin, or what became of him after the rebellion was put down. Records, Wei 1 §159
In the Romance
In Chapter 69 of the Romance, when Guan Lu says that there will surely be a fire in Xudu the following spring, Cao Cao stays in Ye Commandery, has Xiahou Dun patrol back and forth around Xudu, and puts the Chief Clerk Wang Bi in overall command of the troops and horses of the Imperial Guard. When the Registrar Sima Yi says he fears that Wang Bi, who loves wine and is lax by nature, may not be equal to the post, Cao Cao replies that Wang Bi is a man who followed him throughout the time he cut his way through thorns and endured every hardship, that he is loyal and diligent and his heart is as firm as iron or stone, and leaves him in the post. Wang Bi leads the Imperial Guard and camps outside the Donghua Gate of Xudu. Romance, Ch. 69 §23–24
In the 1st month of spring in the 23rd year of Jian'an, Geng Ji and Wei Huang resolve to strike at Cao Cao and draw in Jin Yi, who is on very close terms with Wang Bi. Jin Yi proposes to kill Wang Bi and seize his command by acting together from inside and outside, and before the appointed day he visits Wang Bi and urges him to light lanterns at the Lantern Festival to show an air of peace and prosperity. Wang Bi thinks this right and has all the residents of the city hang up lanterns. Romance, Ch. 69 §25–26 · 29 · 33
On the night of the fifteenth of the 1st month, while Wang Bi is feasting with the commanders of the Imperial Guard in the camp, after the second watch a fire breaks out behind the camp and a great shout goes up. Wang Bi mounts and goes out through the south gate, runs into Geng Ji, is struck in the shoulder by an arrow and flees toward the west gate. Pursued, he abandons his horse and goes on foot to knock at Jin Yi's door, and from behind the door Jin Yi's wife asks, 'Have you killed that fellow Wang Bi?' Only then does Wang Bi realize that Jin Yi is one of the conspirators, and he runs straight to Cao Xiu's house and reports that Jin Yi, Geng Ji and others have plotted rebellion together. Romance, Ch. 69 §34–36
Cao Xiu holds off the enemy within the city, and Xiahou Dun arrives with a large army, surrounds Xudu and captures Geng Ji and Wei Huang. By then Wang Bi has already died after his arrow wound festered, and Cao Cao has him given a generous burial and then puts Cao Xiu in overall command of the troops and horses of the Imperial Guard. Romance, Ch. 69 §36–37 · 43
Where the Romance differs
Who rebelled: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Jin Yi devises the plan and, together with Geng Ji and Wei Huang, draws in Ji Miao and Ji Mu, the two sons of the Imperial Physician Ji Ping, and Ji Ping is said to have been killed earlier by Cao Cao in the affair of Dong Cheng's girdle edict. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, the Han Chief Imperial Physician Ji Ben rebelled together with the Privy Treasurer Geng Ji, the Director of Rectitude Wei Huang and others. Jin Yi's name does not appear in the main text of the Annals of Emperor Wu. Romance, Ch. 69 §29–30Records, Wei 1 §159
Cao Cao's trust: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Sima Yi objects that Wang Bi loves wine and is lax by nature, and Cao Cao defends him as a man who followed him in hard times. This exchange is not in the Annals of Emperor Wu in Chen Shou's main text. Romance, Ch. 69 §24Records, Wei 1 §159
The lanterns of the Lantern Festival: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Wang Bi has lanterns hung in the city at Jin Yi's urging, and that night the uprising breaks out. The Annals of Emperor Wu record only that the rebellion broke out in the 1st month of spring in the 23rd year of Jian'an (218). Romance, Ch. 69 §33–34Records, Wei 1 §159
Who put it down: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Wang Bi is struck by an arrow, flees and reports the plot to Cao Xiu, and the revolt is put down by Cao Xiu and Xiahou Dun. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Wang Bi himself, together with Yan Kuang, Agricultural General of the Household of Yingchuan, attacked and beheaded the rebels. Romance, Ch. 69 §34–37Records, Wei 1 §159
Death: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Wang Bi dies after his arrow wound festers, and Cao Cao has him given a generous burial. The Annals of Emperor Wu in Chen Shou's main text say neither that Wang Bi was wounded nor anything of his death. Romance, Ch. 69 §43Records, Wei 1 §159
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total418 / 1000Rank 506 of 996 · Top 51%Romance total380 / 1000Rank 672 of 1,113 · Top 61%
Romance adaptation index−38Romance total − Records total
- LEA5030−20
- STR4035−5
- INT4025−15
- POL4535−10
- CHA4042+2
- VIR5072+22
- ADP4545±0
- SCH3533−2
- DIP3535±0
- DIS3828−10
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RHis camp was burned, but together with Yan Kuang he put down the rebellion of Ji Ben and othersWei 1 §159
NWas feasting in camp on the night of the fifteenth and was thrown into confusion by the uprisingCh. 69 §34
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §159
NAccepted Jin Yi's suggestion to light lanterns and failed to detect the plotCh. 69 §33Ch. 69 §35
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Chief Clerk to the ChancellorWei 1 §159
NNo direct record — record of his announcing the festival in the cityCh. 69 §33
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §159
NWas on very close terms with Jin Yi, who plotted rebellionCh. 69 §26
5 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his putting down the rebellionWei 1 §159
NWas struck in the shoulder by Geng Ji's arrow and fledCh. 69 §34
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §159
NNo direct record — estimated from his command of the Imperial GuardCh. 69 §24
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §159
NRealized Jin Yi was a conspirator and ran to report to Cao XiuCh. 69 §36
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §159
NNo direct record — estimated from his deedsCh. 69 §24
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §159
NNo direct record — estimated from his deedsCh. 69 §33
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Related events (1)
- Five Loyal Ministers Die Resisting the Han Traitor 218 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).