Wang Chang (Three Kingdoms)

Wang Chang (died July or August 259),[lower-alpha 1] courtesy name Wenshu (文舒), was a military general and official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Wang Chang
王昶
Minister of Works (司空)
In office
26 September 258 (26 September 258) – July or August 259 (July or August 259)
MonarchCao Mao
Preceded byLu Yu
Succeeded byWang Guan
General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍)
In office
14 June 255 (14 June 255) – 26 September 258 (26 September 258)
MonarchCao Mao
Preceded bySun Zi
Senior General Who Attacks the South
(征南大將軍)
In office
16 May 251 (16 May 251) – 14 June 255 (14 June 255)
MonarchCao Fang / Cao Mao
General Who Attacks the South (征南將軍)
In office
c. 240s (c. 240s) – 16 May 251 (16 May 251)
MonarchCao Fang
Inspector of Xu Province (徐州刺史)
In office
c. 240s (c. 240s) – c. 240s (c. 240s)
MonarchCao Fang
General Who Spreads Vehemence
(揚烈將軍)
In office
227 (227) – ? (?)
MonarchCao Rui
Inspector of Yan Province (兗州刺史)
In office
? (?) – 226 (226)
MonarchCao Pi
Personal details
BornUnknown
Taiyuan, Shanxi
DiedJuly or August 259[lower-alpha 1]
Relationssee Wang family of Taiyuan
Children
  • Wang Hun
  • Wang Shen
  • Wang Lun
  • Wang Zhan
FatherWang Ze
OccupationGeneral, official
Courtesy nameWenshu (文舒)
Posthumous nameMarquis Mu (穆侯)
PeerageMarquis of Jingling
(京陵侯)
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Wang.

Early life

Wang Chang was from the same commandery as Wang Ling, and both of them were already quite well known when they were still young. Wang Chang became a tutor to Cao Pi when the latter was still a prince. After Cao Pi became the emperor of Wei, Wang Chang was appointed as a Gentleman of Scattered Cavalry (散騎侍郎), Agriculture Officer (洛陽典農) of Luoyang, and Inspector of Yan Province (兗州刺史). After Cao Pi died in 226, his successor Cao Rui promoted Wang Chang to General Who Spreads Vehemence (揚烈將軍) and granted the title of a Secondary Marquis. When Wang Chang was serving in Yan Province, he was still concerned about affairs in the imperial court. He felt that the system of governance in Wei, inherited from the Qin and Han dynasties, was too strict and flawed. He decided to draft a new constitution for the state, and submitted two memorials, Discussion on Governance (治論) and Military Book (兵書), to the Wei imperial court.

Battles against Eastern Wu

In 236, Grand Commandant Sima Yi recommended Wang Chang to the second Wei emperor Cao Rui as a talent. Wang Chang was appointed as the Inspector of Xu Province and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuguan Village (武觀亭侯). He was later appointed General Who Attacks the South (征南將軍) and acting supervisor of military affairs in Jing and Yu provinces.

Wang Chang noticed that his base at Wancheng was too far away from Xiangyang, an important city on Wei's southern border. Besides, the military camps in that region were quite scattered and their naval force was far away at Xuanchi. If enemy forces from Wei's rival state Eastern Wu attacked them, their armies would not be able to provide support in time. Hence, Wang Chang changed his base to Xinye, ordered drills to be conducted for their naval forces, and promoted agriculture to build up food supplies.

In 250, the political turmoil in Wu had just ended and the Wu general Zhu Ju was recently dismissed by Sun Quan and forced to commit suicide. Wang Chang felt that the time was ripe to attack Wu, so he ordered Zhou Tai to attack Wu (巫), Shigui (柹歸) and Fangling (房陵) counties; Wang Ji to attack Yiling (夷陵); while he personally led an attack on Jiangling (江陵). Wang Chang's troops used bamboo splints to build bridges to cross the Yangtze River and defeated the Wu general Shi Ji, killing Zhongli Mao (鍾離茂) and Xu Min (許旻), returning victorious to Wei with many spoils of war. For his contributions, Wang Chang was promoted to Senior General Who Attacks the South (征南將軍) and promoted from a village marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Jingling" (京陵侯).

In 252, Wang Chang proposed his plan to attack Wu again. At the same time, Zhuge Dan, Hu Zun and Guanqiu Jian also proposed their respective plans. The Wei regent Sima Shi accepted their proposals and ordered them to attack Wu from three directions. Wang Chang was assigned to attack Nan Commandery, but due to Hu Zun and Zhuge Dan's defeat by the Wu general Zhuge Ke, Wang Chang was forced to retreat.

Suppressing rebellions

In 255, the Wei generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin started a rebellion in Shouchun. Wang Chang was promoted to General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍) and tasked with sending troops to help suppress the rebellion. In 257, another Wei general, Zhuge Dan started a rebellion in Shouchun, this time with support from Wu forces. Wang Chang led his army to put pressure on Wu forces at Jiangling, led by Shi Ji and Quan Xi (全熙), and prevent them from coming to Zhuge Dan's aid. In 258, after Zhuge Dan's rebellion was crushed, Wang Chang was promoted to Minister of Works (司空) and rewarded with an additional 1,000 taxable households in his marquisate. He died in the following year and was granted the posthumous title "Marquis Mu" (穆侯).

Family
  • Father: Wang Ze (王澤), served as Administrator of Dai Commandery in the Eastern Han dynasty
  • Sons:
  • Grandsons:
    • Wang Shang (王尚), Wang Hun's eldest son, held a marquis title, died at a young age
    • Wang Ji (王濟), Wang Hun's second son, served as a Palace Attendant during the Jin dynasty
    • Wang Cheng (王澄), Wang Hun's third son, held a marquis title, served as an official during the Jin dynasty
    • Wang Wen (王汶), Wang Hun's fourth son, served as an official during the Jin dynasty
    • Wang Cheng (王承), Wang Zhan's son, served as an Inner Attendant in Donghai Commandery
  • Great-grandsons:
    • Wang Zhuo (王卓), Wang Ji's eldest son, served as an official
    • Wang Yu (王聿), Wang Ji's second son, married a Jin dynasty princess, held the title of Marquis of Minyang
    • Wang Shu (王述), Wang Cheng's son, served as a Master of Writing and General of the Guards during the Jin dynasty
  • Great-great-grandson:
    • Wang Tanzhi (王坦之), Wang Shu's son, served as a General of the Household and the Inspector of Xu and Yan provinces during the Jin dynasty
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See also

Notes
  1. Cao Mao's biography in the Sanguozhi recorded that Wang Chang died in the 6th month of the 4th year of the Ganlu era of Cao Mao's reign.[1] This month corresponds to 7 July to 5 August 259 in the Gregorian calendar.

References
  1. ([甘露四年]夏六月，司空王昶薨。) Sanguozhi vol. 4.
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