Ren Kui 任夔
| Occupation | RGeneral NGeneral · Headquarters Officer | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | R? N? Unverified | Native place | |
| Died | R218 N(same) Unverified | Place of death | RXiabian County |
| Cause of death | RKilled in battle NKilled in battle Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R1 |
Profile
Ren Kui was a subordinate general of Wu Lan, the general whom Liu Bei sent to Xiabian. He has no biography of his own in the Records, and his name appears once in the Annals of Emperor Wu, Records of Wei 1. In the 22nd year of Jian'an (217), when Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Wu Lan and others to be stationed at Xiabian, Taizu (Cao Cao) sent Cao Hong to resist them, and in the spring of the 23rd year of Jian'an (218) Cao Hong defeated Wu Lan and beheaded his general Ren Kui and others. Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name or origins. Records, Wei 1 §156 · 158–160
Of the 120 chapters of the Romance he appears only in Chapter 69, and no chapter has his name in its title. He appears as the lieutenant of Wu Lan, Ma Chao's vanguard; when Wu Lan wants to withdraw, he says that unless they first break the enemy's momentum they will have no face to see Mengqi (Ma Chao), and challenges Cao Hong to fight, only to be cut down by Cao Hong's blade within three bouts. Romance, Ch. 69 §45–46
In the Records
According to the Annals of Emperor Wu, after Cao Pi, General of the Household for All Purposes, was made Crown Prince of Wei in the 10th month of winter in the 22nd year of Jian'an (217), Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Wu Lan and others to be stationed at Xiabian, and Taizu sent Cao Hong to resist them. Records, Wei 1 §156–158
The Biography of Cao Xiu records this battle as follows. Sending Cao Hong to attack Wu Lan at Xiabian, Taizu made Cao Xiu Chief Commandant of Cavalry and had him take part in Cao Hong's army, telling him, 'Though you are an adviser to the army, you are in fact its commander.' When Liu Bei stationed Zhang Fei at Gushan, intending to cut off the army's rear, Cao Xiu said that they should strike Wu Lan quickly before the enemy could gather, and that if Wu Lan were defeated, Zhang Fei would flee of his own accord. Cao Hong followed this, advanced and routed Wu Lan, and Zhang Fei did indeed flee. Records, Wei 9 §55–56
The Annals of Emperor Wu, after recording the rebellion of Ji Ben and others at Xu in the 1st month of spring in the 23rd year of Jian'an (218), records that Cao Hong defeated Wu Lan and beheaded his general Ren Kui and others. In the 3rd month Zhang Fei and Ma Chao fled to Hanzhong, and Qiang Duan, a Di chieftain of Yinping, beheaded Wu Lan and sent his head. The biography of Zhang Ji, Inspector of Yong Province, also records that he defeated Wu Lan at Xiabian together with Cao Hong. Records, Wei 1 §159–160Records, Wei 15 §43
The Biography of the First Sovereign records that in the same year Liu Bei advanced on Hanzhong at the head of his generals and sent the generals Wu Lan, Lei Tong and others separately to Wudu, but that all of them were wiped out by Lord Cao's army. In Chen Shou's main text the only place where Ren Kui's name appears is this one passage of the Annals of Emperor Wu, and how he was beheaded is not recorded. Records, Shu 2 §37Records, Wei 1 §160
In the Romance
In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Cao Cao, having heard Guan Lu's divination, receives a report that Liu Bei has sent Zhang Fei and Ma Chao to be stationed at Xiabian with the aim of taking the pass. Cao Cao is about to enter Hanzhong in person, but because of Guan Lu's word that there will be a fire in Xudu next spring he stays at Ye Commandery, and he sends Cao Hong with 50,000 troops to help Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He hold Dongchuan. Romance, Ch. 69 §22–23
On reaching Hanzhong, Cao Hong has Zhang He and Xiahou Yuan occupy the strategic points and advances his troops in person to meet the enemy. At that time Zhang Fei is holding Baxi together with Lei Tong, while Ma Chao, having reached Xiabian, makes Wu Lan his vanguard and sends him out to reconnoiter, and Wu Lan runs straight into Cao Hong's troops. When Wu Lan wants to withdraw, his lieutenant Ren Kui says that the enemy has only just arrived, and that unless they first break its keen edge they will have no face to see Mengqi. Romance, Ch. 69 §45
Ren Kui spurs his horse and, levelling his spear, challenges Cao Hong, who rides out in person, sword in hand. Within three bouts Cao Hong cuts Ren Kui down from his horse and presses the attack, and Wu Lan returns badly defeated. When Ma Chao rebukes him for underestimating the enemy and losing without orders, Wu Lan answers that they lost because Ren Kui would not listen to him. Ma Chao tells him to hold the narrow passes firmly and not to give battle, and reports to Chengdu to await instructions. Romance, Ch. 69 §46
When Ma Chao does not come out for several days, Cao Hong suspects a trick and withdraws to Nanzheng. Asked by Zhang He why he is pulling back his troops when he has already slain an enemy general, Cao Hong replies that he is troubled by Guan Lu's saying that a great general would be lost in this land. Romance, Ch. 69 §47
Where the Romance differs
The line-up at Xiabian: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Ma Chao makes Wu Lan his vanguard at Xiabian, while Zhang Fei holds Baxi together with Lei Tong. In the Records, the Annals of Emperor Wu state that Liu Bei stationed Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Wu Lan and others at Xiabian, and the Biography of Cao Xiu states that Liu Bei stationed Zhang Fei at Gushan, intending to cut off the rear of Cao Hong's army. Romance, Ch. 69 §45Records, Wei 1 §158Records, Wei 9 §55
How he died: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Ren Kui, rather than follow Wu Lan's wish to withdraw, challenges Cao Hong on his own and, after three bouts with him, is cut down by his blade. In the Records, the Annals of Emperor Wu state only that Cao Hong defeated Wu Lan and beheaded his general Ren Kui and others, without saying who beheaded him or how. The Biography of Cao Hong does not mention the battle at Xiabian. Romance, Ch. 69 §45–46Records, Wei 1 §160Records, Wei 9 §47–52
Who led the battle: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Cao Hong comes out in person, sword in hand, and slays Ren Kui, while Cao Xiu is put in overall command of the Imperial Guard in place of Wang Bi, who has died when an arrow wound festered. In the Biography of Cao Xiu in the Records, Taizu attached Cao Xiu to Cao Hong's army, saying that he was in fact its commander, and Cao Hong followed Cao Xiu's advice to strike Wu Lan quickly and routed him. Romance, Ch. 69 §43 · 46Records, Wei 9 §55–56
After the battle: In Chapter 69 of the Romance, Wu Lan returns defeated and is rebuked by Ma Chao, and Cao Hong, wary of Guan Lu's words, withdraws to Nanzheng. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Zhang Fei and Ma Chao fled to Hanzhong in the 3rd month and Qiang Duan, a Di chieftain of Yinping, beheaded Wu Lan and sent his head, and the Biography of the First Sovereign states that Wu Lan, Lei Tong and others were all wiped out by Lord Cao's army. Romance, Ch. 69 §46–47Records, Wei 1 §160Records, Shu 2 §37
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.
- LEA4035−5
- STR4538−7
- INT3528−7
- POL3131±0
- CHA3533−2
- VIR4250+8
- ADP3528−7
- SCH3131±0
- DIP3133+2
- DIS3331−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
No ability differs by 10 or more — the Romance portrays this person much as the Records do.
10 similar abilities — show evidence
RAs a general under Wu Lan, was defeated and beheaded by Cao HongWei 1 §160
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a lieutenant under Ma ChaoCh. 69 §45
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NTook up his spear and challenged Cao Hong, but was cut down within three boutsCh. 69 §46
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NUnderestimated the enemy and went out to fight without orders, and Wu Lan's force was badly defeatedCh. 69 §46
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a lieutenant under Ma ChaoCh. 69 §45
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a lieutenant under Ma ChaoCh. 69 §45
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NWent out to fight, saying he would have no face to see Mengqi unless they broke the enemy's keen edgeCh. 69 §45
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NIgnored Wu Lan's call to withdraw, went out to fight and was defeatedCh. 69 §45Ch. 69 §46
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a lieutenant under Ma ChaoCh. 69 §45
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a lieutenant under Ma ChaoCh. 69 §45
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a general under Wu LanWei 1 §160
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a lieutenant under Ma ChaoCh. 69 §45
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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