Wang Ji

Wang Ji (onyomi: Ō Ki) is an official who served the Cao Wei government. His talent for government management was well recognized by his superiors. However, his rise within the government was fairly slow until Sima Yi recruited. Both Sima Shi and Sima Zhao also highly valued his advice and he fought to defeat both Wu invasions and rebellions in Shouchun.

Role in Games
Wang Ji first appears in Dynasty Warriors 7 during Wang Ling's Rebellion. He joins Hu Zun in a northern attack on Wang Feixiao. When the Wu reinforcements arrive, Wang Ji is one of the closest officers and will engage them. At the battle of Dongxing, Wang Ji joins in the northern half of Zhuge Dan’s charge into the enemy fort, getting caught in the fire attack with the rest of the forces. During the second half of this battle, Wang Ji remains trapped in the northern castle, dueling Quan Yi, in need of rescue. Ji joins Zhong Hui at Guanqui Jian & Wen Qin's Rebellion, where he again fights the Wu reinforcements. Wang Ji is stationed in the east, closest to the Wu forces during Zhuge Dan's Rebellion.

Dynasty Warriors 8 has Wang Ji appear at similar battles as DW7. At the East Gates Battle (Dongxing), Wang Ji joins Huan Jia in combat with Lu Kang. He joins in the main push afterwards. At Guanqui Jian & Wen Qin's Rebellion, Wang Ji defends the main camp, fighting against Wen Yang's assault. During Zhuge Dan's Rebellion, Wang Ji is among the reinforcements taking the main road towards the castle Zhuge Dan is holed up within. When several Wu officers defect to Wei, Wang Ji helps protect Quan Duan from vengeful Wu officers.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, Wang Ji has appeared since the third title, and typically appears in later dated scenarios. He has very high domestic skills, in the mid 80s. His war skills are likewise quite respectable, typically ranging in the low 70s.

Early Career
Wang Ji was born to Wang Bao in Qucheng County of Donglai Commentary. His father passed away when he was still young, so his uncle, Wang Weng, took over his care and upbringing. Ji in return treated his uncle as if he was his father. At age 16, Wang Ji was offered a position as an assistant to a local governing official, but instead chose to study under Zheng Xuan.

Within a few more years, Wang Ji was recommended to work within the Cao Wei government. Wang Ling quickly recruited Wang Ji into his entourage before Wang Ji even reached the capital. Wang Ling had recently been appointed as the inspector of Qing Provence and he made Wang Ji an assistant officer. Wang Ling found Boyu quite a useful subordinate and came to rely upon him. Ling relied upon him so much that when the Wei government summoned Ji to Luoyang for a position as a librarian for the royal court, Wang Ling blocked the appointment. Later, when minister of the masses Wang Lang attempted to once more transfer Wang Ji to the capital, Ling blocked the appointment once more. Wang Lang wrote an official complaint to the royal court to complain about Wang Ling's continued efforts to keep Boyu's talents to himself.

During his tenure under Wang Ling, Wang Ji wrote a memorial to Cao Rui, criticizing the emperor's massively expensive construction projects. He argued that the resources of the Wei state should be focused on ending the war with Shu and Wu before undertaking such expensive luxuries. He drew from examples of nature and famous historical tales. His basic argument was: “I hope that Your Majesty will learn from Dongyezi's mistake, think about the analogy of water and people, give the exhausted horses some time to recover, and reduce the burden on the people.”

Eventually Cao Shuang himself took an interest in Wang Ji's talent and appointed him as administrator of Anfeng Commandery, where he successfully managed the region effectively. When Cao Shuang began to operate extreme decadence, Boyu resigned from his post in protest. He wrote Shi Yao Lun (Essay on the Needs of the Times) to criticize Shuang's excessiveness, which provoked Cao Shuang to summon him to the capital as part of his cabinet. However, shortly after Wang Ji entered Cao Shuang's entourage, Shaung was deposed and executed by Sima Yi. The new regent dismissed Wang Ji due to his association with Shaung's court.

Within the same year, however, Sima Yi repented his dismissal of Wang Ji, as he recognized his talents and made him a Master of Writing within the royal court. In the year 250, Wang Ji was sent to Jing Province to help with the governance there and defend against Wu aggression. When Wang Chang was sent on a campaign to Yiling, Wang Ji was ordered to help him as General Who Spreads Vehemence. The Wu general Bu Xie commanded the enemy forces and he holed up in Yiling. Caught in a stalemate of siege, Wang Ji ordered his men to keep up the pretense of encircling the castle while attacking the granary, seizing their food and capturing the officer in charge, Tan Zheng, and his men.

Boyu took many Wu civilians hostage once the remaining Wu forces could no longer risk engagement. These citizens were relocated into the lands more securely under the control of Wei. He also recommended Wang Chang push up his offensive lines further south to threaten the Wu camps on the northern side of the Yangtze river. Between the stolen supplies, new looming Wei fortress, and depopulated area made crossing the river for raids into Wei much harder for Wu and they soon stopped. When Sima Yi wished to press the advantage against Wu, Wang Ji wrote a response, discouraging further immediate attacks on Wu. “If we launch a campaign now and fail to conquer Wu, we will not only lose morale but also waste resources. Therefore, we should attack only when we are well-prepared. If we do not build more canals, stockpile more food supplies and construct more warships, even if we station troops north of the river, we will not gain any strategic advantage.”

Southern Conflicts
When Sima Shi took over as regent of Wei from his father, Wang Ji found himself favored by the new leader. When Cao Fang was forcefully abdicated to Cao Mao, Shi promoted Wang Ji to Marquis of Changle Village. The forced abdication also provoked Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin to rebel down at Shouchun. As Wang Ji was stationed near the area, he was appointed head of the defending forces at Xuchang. Boyu's proximity to the rebellion offered him the opportunity to strike first, before the rebels had fully established their defensive points. However, Sima Shi wanted to gather all of his forces to strike a decisive blow and consequently ordered Wang Ji to merely hold fast and wait for his arrival. Wang Ji tactfully suggested that he could make better use of his resources in securing different strategic locations before Guanqui Jian or Wen Qin could reach them, thus hemming in the threat and preparing the way for Sima Shi's main force. The regent of Wei agreed and Wang Ji captured Nandun before Guanqui Jian could reach it and took Xiang County when Wen Qin left it to attack Deng Ai at Yan Province.

For his efforts, Wang Ji was made Marquis of Anle District, a promotion to district Marquis. With this promotion, Wang Ji remembered to repay the kindness of his uncle (Wang Weng) for raising him as a child. To this end, Wang Ji secured permission to grant 200 of his households to his cousin and son of Wang Weng, Wang Qiao.

Two years later when Zhuge Dan rebelled, Wang Ji was once more close at hand to fight the rebellion. This time he received orders to secure the strategic points along the Yangtze river in an attempt to hold back Wu reinforcements from reaching Zhuge Dan's elite rebel soldiers. Boyu disagreed with this plan, fearing his forces would be cut off and destroyed one at a time. Instead of merely following his orders, Wang Ji wrote a request to take up a single defense at Qiutou. Ji was granted his request, and he remained besieged there until Sima Zhao, the new head of the Sima clan and Commander-in-Chief, arrived with his reinforcements. Wang Ji joined in the battle and Zhuge Dan was slain, his forces captured or scattered.

When Sima Zhao wished to push the advantage and have the Wu defectors/captives lead his army south to destroy Wu, Wang Ji opposed the plan. He reasoned that they’d already gained a great victory and risked pushing too far and losing their victory by overstepping their reach. He used the example of Cao Cao's victory over Yuan Shao at Guandu as a guideline for taking the victory afforded to avoid setbacks. Sima Zhao agreed and contented himself with having pacified the area.

After the campaign, Sima Zhao tried to appoint Wang Ji as Marquis of Dongwu, which would have been another promotion to county Marquis. Wang Ji, however, declined the promotion and insisted his subordinates were more worthy of reward. His reasoning being that leading a simple defense of a city was not a feat worth granting great rewards. As Wang Ji continued his service to Wei, he received other promotions, including being placed in charge of the military forces in Jing Province. The household count of his marquis also increased to 5,700 households around this time.

In 261, the Wu officers Deng You and Li Guang offered to surrender to Wei and Wang Ji doubted the sincerity of their offer. Sima Zhao, however, saw this as the opening to invade Wu he was seeking and wanted to capitalize upon the perceived opening. Wang Ji quickly sent two strongly worded letters advising Sima Zhao against his plans. He essentially pleaded for time to verify the stories Deng You and Li Guang's subordinates had brought to Zhao's subordinate, Hu Lie. Sima Zhao's respect for Wang Ji caused him to take a second look at their tales and he too began to suspect a trap. Zhao ordered all the forces to stop their advance and the scheme was revealed, as Wu intended to lure the Wei forces in with false surrenders of their officers. Sima Zhao praised Wang Ji for not acting the siccofant by offering good advice even when disagreeing with the de facto ruler of Wei.

Wang Ji passed away shortly after this incident, at the age of 72. He was posthumously named the Minister of Works, Marquis of Jing, and Marquis of Dongwu, the same title he had declined some years ago. This honor allowed his oldest son, Wang Hui, to assume the post of Marquis of Dongwu as well, advancing the family name in thanks to Wang Ji's valued service.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Wang Ji's appearance in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is entirely focused on his contributions to ending the second and third Shouchun rebellions. In chapter 110, Wang Ji reprises his role as one of the commanding officers helping to put down Guanqui Jian and Wen Qin's Rebellion. Boyu takes the initiative of taking Nandun before Guanqui Jian could seize it for its military advantage. Wang Ji later is part of the military forces surrounding Xiangcheng, with Jian trapped inside. After Guanqui Jian and Wen Qin's rebellion is put down, Wang Ji remains in Jing province as a military inspector.

In the following chapter, Wang Ji is appointed General Who Attacks the South, who alongside Chen Qian (who is made General Who Attacks the East), prepares to attack Zhuge Dan. Wang Ji first moves to intercept the Wu reinforcements that Zhu Yi leads to aid Zhuge Dan. Wang Ji himself duels Zhu Yi and Yi's subordinate officer Tang Zi, defeating both within three bouts each. In the following chapter, Wang Ji and Chen Qian join in the siege of Shouchun, where the two prevent Zhu Yi from completing the pincer attack by Wu and Zhuge Dan. Having stymied the Wu forces, Wang Ji then participates in the ensuing assault on Shouchun. During the final assault on the fortress, Wang Ji leads his forces to the western gate, where he encounters Yu Quan. In Wang Ji's last mention, he attempts to convince Yu Quan to surrender, but ultimately had to slay him to stop the determined warrior.