Wang Si 王思
| Occupation | ROfficial · Inspector of Yu Province | Faction | Wei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | R | Biography in | Book of Wei |
| Born | Native place | Jiyin Commandery | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R8 |
Profile
Wang Si was a man of Jiyin. While serving as Clerk of the Western Bureau under Taizu (Cao Cao), he offended Taizu's wishes in reporting on business and was to receive a heavy punishment, but when his colleague Liang Xi was seized in his place, he galloped back and confessed his own fault. Taizu said of the two men, 'There were two men of righteousness in my army.' Records, Wei 15 §35
Later he was promoted to inspector at the same time as Liang Xi and was put in charge of Yu Province, and he rose to the rank of the Nine Ministers and was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Under Emperor Ming (Cao Rui), while he was Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, a memorial was submitted proposing that Xin Pi replace him, but when the emperor asked, Liu Fang and Sun Zi took Wang Si's side, and Xin Pi was not appointed. Records, Wei 15 §36Records, Wei 25 §16–18Records, Wei 14 §156
He is briefly recorded after the biography of Liang Xi in Records of Wei 15, the Biographies of Liu, Sima, Liang, Zhang, Wen and Jia. Chen Shou wrote that he was a capable official but harsh and petty, without a sense of the larger whole. He does not appear in the Romance. Records, Wei 15 §34 · 36
In the Records
At first Wang Si of Jiyin was a Clerk of the Western Bureau together with Liang Xi. When Wang Si, reporting on business on his duty day, offended the wishes of Taizu (Cao Cao), Taizu was enraged and ordered the officer responsible to be summoned so that a heavy punishment could be inflicted. At that moment Wang Si happened to have stepped out for a short while, so Liang Xi went in his place to answer and was seized. Records, Wei 15 §35
Wang Si then galloped back, confessed his own fault and said that his offense deserved death. Taizu, admiring that Liang Xi had said nothing and that Wang Si knew his duty, said, 'Who would have thought there were two men of righteousness in my army!' Records, Wei 15 §35
Later the two were promoted at the same time to be inspectors, and Wang Si was put in charge of Yu Province. Chen Shou wrote that Wang Si too was a capable official, but harsh and petty, without a sense of the larger whole. He rose to the rank of the Nine Ministers and was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Records, Wei 15 §36
After Emperor Ming (Cao Rui) ascended the throne, the Director of the Palace Secretariat Liu Fang and the Prefect of the Palace Secretariat Sun Zi enjoyed the ruler's trust and decided the government affairs of the day. At that time the Supervisor of the Attendants Bi Gui memorialized that the Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat Wang Si was a diligent veteran official but inferior to Xin Pi in loyalty, clear-sightedness and strategy, and that Xin Pi should replace Wang Si. When the emperor asked Liu Fang and Sun Zi, the two replied that His Majesty employed Wang Si truly to make use of his practical effectiveness, not out of regard for empty reputation, and that Xin Pi was indeed clear-sighted and upright but unbending and self-willed by nature. In the end Xin Pi was not employed and went out to become Minister of the Guards. Records, Wei 25 §16–18
In the biography of Liu Fang and Sun Zi, Chen Shou wrote that the two were good at obeying and following the ruler's wishes, never openly spoke of right and wrong, and incurred the criticism of the world because they held back Xin Pi and helped Wang Si. Records, Wei 14 §156
Chen Shou's main text does not record the year or circumstances of Wang Si's death. Records, Wei 15 §34–36Records, Wei 25 §17Records, Wei 14 §156
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
This person does not appear in the Romance, so only the Records score (Chen Shou’s main text) is given.
- LEA35
- STR31
- INT40
- POL62
- CHA40
- VIR55
- ADP52
- SCH38
- DIP38
- DIS38
Evidence by ability
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a civil officialWei 15 §36
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a civil officialWei 15 §36
RWas judged inferior to Xin Pi in loyalty, clear-sightedness and strategyWei 25 §17
RA capable official who rose through Inspector of Yu Province to the Nine Ministers; a diligent veteran officialWei 15 §36Wei 25 §17
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 15 §36
RPraised as a man of righteousness for confessing his own fault in place of a colleague, though harshWei 15 §35Wei 15 §36
RGalloped back and gave himself up, earning Taizu's admirationWei 15 §35
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 15 §36
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 15 §36
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 15 §36
Records 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.
Allegiance history
- Wei · Records · Records vol. 15 「正始中，爲大司農」