RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 7 §12
NArgued that without the lips the teeth grow cold, but was told to send the daughter firstCh. 19 §34Ch. 19 §35
Wang Kai 王楷
| Occupation | RStrategist · Attendant Officer NStrategist | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R3 |
Profile
Wang Kai is a figure whose name appears once in Chen Shou's main text, as an Attendant Officer. He has no biography of his own in the Records, and Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name, origin or later career. Records, Wei 7 §12
In the 1st year of Xingping (194), while Cao Cao had gone again to attack Tao Qian, Zhang Miao's younger brother Zhang Chao plotted to rebel against Cao Cao together with Cao Cao's general Chen Gong and the Attendant Officers Xu Si and Wang Kai. Zhang Miao, persuaded by Chen Gong, welcomed Lü Bu, and the commanderies and counties of Yan Province all responded. Records, Wei 7 §12–13
The Records has no assessment of him. In the Romance he appears in Chapter 19 as an adviser of Lü Bu together with Xu Si, and this is the only one of its 120 chapters in which he appears; there is no chapter with his name in its title. He proposes to Lü Bu, besieged by Cao Cao, a plan to renew the request for a marriage alliance with Yuan Shu and obtain relief, and he goes to Shouchun to persuade Yuan Shu. Romance, Ch. 19 §32 · 34
In the Records
When Lü Bu left Yuan Shao to follow Zhang Yang, he called on Zhang Miao, and they clasped hands and swore an oath together; when Yuan Shao heard of this he bore a deep grudge. Zhang Miao feared that Cao Cao would in the end attack him for Yuan Shao's sake and could not rest easy. In the 1st year of Xingping (194), when Cao Cao again went on campaign against Tao Qian, Zhang Miao's younger brother Zhang Chao plotted to rebel against Cao Cao together with Cao Cao's general Chen Gong and the Attendant Officers Xu Si and Wang Kai. Records, Wei 7 §12
Chen Gong persuaded Zhang Miao that, since the provincial army had now gone east on campaign and the province stood empty, they should for the time being welcome Lü Bu, a skilled fighter, govern Yan Province together with him and wait for the times to change, and Zhang Miao followed his advice. Chen Gong led his troops east, welcomed Lü Bu and made him Governor of Yan Province, and occupied Puyang; the commanderies and counties all responded, and only Juancheng, Dong'e and Fan County held out for Cao Cao. Records, Wei 7 §12–13
Chen Shou's main text does not record what part Wang Kai played in this plot or what became of him afterwards. His name appears only in this single passage, in the section on Zhang Miao in Records of Wei 7, the Biographies of Lü Bu, Zhang Miao and Zang Hong. Records, Wei 7 §12
In the Romance
In Chapter 19 of the Romance, Lü Bu, besieged by Cao Cao, is held back by Lady Yan and Diaochan from going out to fight and does nothing but drink day after day. At this point the advisers Xu Si and Wang Kai come in and propose a plan: since Yuan Shu's power is flourishing in Huainan, Lü Bu should renew his request for the marriage once agreed upon, and when Yuan Shu's troops come they can attack from inside and outside together and crush Cao Cao. That same day Lü Bu writes a letter and entrusts it to the two men, and has Zhang Liao and Hao Meng lead a thousand troops to see them out beyond the narrow pass. That night at the second watch the two, escorted by Zhang Liao and Hao Meng, slip past Liu Bei's camp and get out of the city. Romance, Ch. 19 §29–33
When the two reach Shouchun, Yuan Shu demands to know why, having earlier killed his envoy and broken off the marriage, Lü Bu now comes asking. Xu Si says that Lü Bu was misled by Cao Cao's wiles, and when Yuan Shu asks whether Lü Bu would have promised his daughter had he not been hard pressed by Cao Cao's troops, Wang Kai says that if Yuan Shu does not help now, he fears it will be a case of the teeth growing cold when the lips are gone, which would be no blessing for Yuan Shu either. Yuan Shu says that since Lü Bu is fickle and without good faith, he will send troops after the daughter has been sent first. Romance, Ch. 19 §34–35
On the way back, as Xu Si proposes, the two pass Liu Bei's camp first in the middle of the night while Hao Meng guards the rear, but Hao Meng is captured by Zhang Fei and beheaded by Cao Cao. Back in the city, Xu Si and Wang Kai report Yuan Shu's words to Lü Bu in full, and the following night Lü Bu wraps his daughter in cotton, carries her on his back and sets out from the city himself, but cannot break through the encirclement. Romance, Ch. 19 §35–36 · 38–40
Where the Romance differs
The revolt in Yan Province: In Chapter 11 of the Romance, Chen Gong, brought by Zhang Chao, talks Zhang Miao into having Lü Bu raid Yan Province, and Xu Si and Wang Kai do not appear. In the Biographies of Lü Bu, Zhang Miao and Zang Hong in the Records, Zhang Chao plotted to rebel against Cao Cao together with Chen Gong and the Attendant Officers Xu Si and Wang Kai. Romance, Ch. 11 §35–36Records, Wei 7 §12
Title: Chapter 19 of the Romance calls Xu Si and Wang Kai Lü Bu's 'advisers'. The Records gives both men as Attendant Officers. Romance, Ch. 19 §32Records, Wei 7 §12
The envoys to Yuan Shu: In Chapter 19 of the Romance, Xu Si and Wang Kai go to Shouchun and ask Yuan Shu for relief. The Biography of Lü Bu in Chen Shou's main text says only that Lü Bu sent someone to ask Yuan Shu for relief, without naming the envoy. Romance, Ch. 19 §34Records, Wei 7 §25
Yuan Shu's reply: In Chapter 19 of the Romance, Yuan Shu says he will send troops after the daughter has been sent first, and Lü Bu fails in an attempt to break through the encirclement with his daughter on his back. The Biography of Lü Bu in Chen Shou's main text says only that Yuan Shu too could not come to his relief. Romance, Ch. 19 §35 · 39–40Records, Wei 7 §25–26
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 total363 / 1000Rank 828 of 996 · Top 84%Romance total393 / 1000Rank 565 of 1,113 · Top 51%
Romance adaptation index+30Romance total − Records total
- LEA3331−2
- STR3131±0
- INT4248+6
- POL3835−3
- CHA3836−2
- VIR3042+12
- ADP3845+7
- SCH3835−3
- DIP4055+15
- DIS3535±0
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RPlotted with Zhang Chao and Chen Gong to rebel against TaizuWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated from his going as an envoy for Lü BuCh. 19 §32
8 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Attendant OfficerWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated as an adviserCh. 19 §32
RNo direct record — estimated as a civil officialWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated as an adviserCh. 19 §32
RNo direct record — estimated from his part in the plot to rebelWei 7 §12
NProposed renewing the marriage request to Yuan Shu for a joint attack from inside and outsideCh. 19 §32
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Attendant OfficerWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated as an adviserCh. 19 §32
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated from his deedsCh. 19 §32
RNo direct record — estimated from the revolt that exploited Taizu's absenceWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated from his slipping out first past the enemy camp at nightCh. 19 §35
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Attendant OfficerWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated as an adviserCh. 19 §32
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 7 §12
NNo direct record — estimated from his deedsCh. 19 §32
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)
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