Wei Kang

Wei Kang (onyomi: I Kō) is the popular Inspector of Liang Province. During Ma Chao's rampage in Liang, he defended Ji Castle.

Roles in Games
Wei Kang appears in Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends only as the enemy commander at Ji Castle. He returns in Dynasty Warriors 8 as a recruit-able officer in the game's Ambition Mode, but does not appear regularly elsewhere.

Historical Information
Wei Kang was a man from Jingzhao in Yong Province and the son of Wei Duan, who served the Han as the Governor of Liang Province. Some time during the late 190's, Wei Kang was recommended by Xun Yu to join Cao Cao. His father had served Cao Cao as an agent at that time and was active in Liang Province, brokering peace between Ma Teng and Han Sui. Wei Kang was sent to serve at the western borders of Cao Cao's territory and was even praised by Kong Rong.

Some time after the death of Wei Duan, Wei Kang was named Inspector of Liang Province. In 213, Wei Kang was besieged in Jicheng by Ma Chao. Although facing numerical disadvantages, Wei Kang was encouraged by his officer Yang Fu to keep up the defense. Yang Fu and his cousin Yang Yue managed to hold the invaders off with only around 1,000 men. After eight months, there were no signs of reinforcements, so Wei Kang sent his official Yan Wen east in one night to request urgent reinforcements from Xiahou Yuan.

However, the elderly Yan Wen was caught by Ma Chao's men and Ma Chao tried to use him to his advantage. Yan Wen remained loyal, however, and refused to switch sides. Ma Chao had Yan Wen executed, which terrified Wei Kang and the Administrator of Jicheng. They hesitated to resist Ma Chao further, and although Yang Fu, Zhao Ang and others strongly opposed surrender, Wei Kang, seeing that the people of Jicheng began to starve as well, decided to surrender. Ma Chao had Yang Yue arrested and Wei Kang and the Administrator of Jicheng were murdered by Zhang Lu's general Yang Ang.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Wei Kang appears in chapter 64 of the novel as the Governor of Jicheng. After sending numerous requests for reinforcements to Xiahou Yuan, Wei Kang summoned his men to discuss the situation and most of them advised him to surrender. Only Yang Fu urged him to hold out, but Wei Kang did not see any hope in doing so and ignored his advice. He then opened the gate and surrendered to Ma Chao. Ma Chao, angry at the delay he had suffered in Jicheng, did not feel that Wei Kang's surrender was a true submission and had him and his family executed.