Jiang Wei
From Three Kingdoms Online Community
Jiang Wei, stylename Boyue, was a native of Ji in Tian Shui. His father died while he was young and he lived with his mother. He was fond of the learning of Zheng Xuan.
Fu Zi says: As a man, Jiang Wei was eager to win name and fame. Secretly he supported men who would lay down their life for him. He did not give his attention to the tasks appropriate to a commoner.
He served in the Tian Shui prefecture as Shang Qi Yuan. The Imperial Protector of Liangzhou appointed him a Chong Shi. Because his father, Jiang Qiong, who had once been Gong Cao of the Tian Shui prefecture, with his own body protected the person of the prefect and commander of Tian Shui when the Qiang barbarians revolted, and thus died as a warrior, Jiang Wei was given the title of Zhonglang and appointed as Assistant in the Military Affairs of his own prefecture.
In the sixth year of Jian Xing [CE 228], the Prime Minister Zhuge Liang led his army to Qishan. At that time, the Governor of Tian Shui had gone on a tour of inspection; Jiang Wei as well as the Gong Cao, Liang Xu, the Zhu Pu, Yin Shang, and the Zhu Ji, Liang Qian etc. were in his suite. Hearing that the Shu army was about to arrive, and that the various counties of Tian Shui had revolted and joined the Shu, the Governor became suspicious that Jiang Wei and others would become disloyal. So that night he fled to Shang Bang. When they saw that the Governor had gone, Jiang Wei and his men went after him, but they came too late to the city gate of Shang Bang, which was already closed. Not being admitted, Jiang Wei and his men returned to Ji, which would not admit them either. In the end, Jiang Wei and his men all came to Zhuge Liang. At that time, Ma Su had been defeated at Jieting so Zhuge Liang returned, taking with him more than a thousand households of the Xi county as well as Jiang Wei and his men. It was thus that Jiang Wei lost his mother.
[Yu Huan's] Wei Lue says: Ma Zun, the Governor of Tian Shui, leading Jiang Wei and various other subordinate officers, was in the company of Guo Huai, the Ci Shi (Governor) of Yongzhou on his way from the west to Lo Men on a tour of inspection. Hearing that Zhuge Liang had already reached Qishan, Guo Huai looked at Ma Zun and said, "This is not going to turn out well". He then led him to the east and returned to Shang Bang. Remembering that Ji county, the residence-city of his prefecture, was to the west, and fearing that the under-officials and people were inclined to be rebellious, Ma Zun followed Guo Huai and went. At that time, Jiang Wei said to Ma Zun, "Your Excellency ought to return to Ji county." Ma Zun said to Jiang Wei and the others, "You may all return. The rebels are indeed everywhere; let us scatter." Jiang Wei could do nothing with Ma Zun. But, his home being at Ji, he finally returned to Ji together with the under-officials of Tian Shui, such as Shangguan Zi Xiu and others. In Ji, the under-officials and the people were glad to see Jiang Wei and the others back. They then forced them to see Zhuge Liang. Being compelled, the two men came together to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang was greatly pleased to see them and sent his subordinates to summon the people of Ji. At that time, the vanguard of Zhuge Liang was defeated by Zhang He and Fei Yu, etc., so that he retreated bringing with him Jiang Wei and others. Thus Jiang Wei could not return and finally entered Shu. The various Wei troops attacked Ji county and captured Jiang Wei's mother, wife, and children. But because Jiang Wei had not gone voluntarily, they did not kill the members of his family, but only imprisoned them to make him return. This account seems to be different to that given in San Guo Zhi.
Zhuge Liang appointed Jiang Wei his Cang Cao Yuan, gave him the added title of Feng Yi Jiang Jun, and had him enfeoffed as Lord (Ting Hou) of Tangyang. At that time, he was twenty-seven years old. Zhuge Liang wrote a letter to Zhang Yi, the Chang Shi of the Prime Minister's palace left behind, and Jiang Wan, the Can Jun saying, "Jiang Boyue is loyally assiduous towards the affairs of the day and his thoughts are fine and exact. As for his qualities, Yongnan (Li Shao) and Qichang (Ma Liang) are not his equals. He is a superior gentleman of Liangzhou". He again wrote to them, "Wait till I have him train the five or six thousand men of the Central Hu Bu detachment. Jiang Boyue is very competent in military affairs; not only is he courageous and proficient in warfare, but his heart is loyal to the House of Han and his talents combine those of other people. I shall instruct him thoroughly in warfare and shall also send him to the palace to be received in audience by the Sovereign."
Sun Sheng's Za Ji: Earlier, when Jiang Wei came to Zhuge Liang, he lost his mother. Later he received a letter from her, ordering him to search for the Dang Gui (medicinal plant but also means "ought to return"). Jiang Wei said, "When there is a good land of a hundred jing, one should not stick to single mou. If one has a Yuan Zhi (also a medicinal plant but also means "great ambition"), one needs no Tang Gui."
Later on, he was promoted to be Zhong Jian Jun and General Who Conquers the West.
In the twelth year of Jian Xing [CE 234], Zhuge Liang died suddenly. Jiang Wei returned to Chengdu and was appointed Instructor General of the Left in command of the army, General Who Assists the Han, and enfeoffed as Lord (Hou) of Ping Xiang. In the first year of Yan Xi [CE 238], he convinced the Grand Commander, Jiang Wan to station in Hanzhong. Jiang Wan had already appointed someone as Da Sima and thus appointed Jiang Wei as Sima. Numerous times, Jiang Wei led his auxiliary troops to enter the West. In the sixth year of Yan Xi [CE 243], he was appointed General Who Subdues the West and Inspector (Ci Shi) of Liangzhou. In the tenth year of Yan Xi [CE 247], he was appointed as General Who Protects and together with the Grand Commander, Fei Wei [Yi], they worked on matters of the Emperor's Secretariat (Shang Shu). In the same year, the Ping Kang barbarians of Wen Shan rebelled and Jiang Wei led a multitude of troops to subdue them. He again set forth to the Longxi, Nan An, and Jincheng boundary and battled with the Grand Commander of Wei, Guo Huai, Xiahou Ba, and others west of the Tao river. The King of the Hu barbarian, Zhi Wudai and his followers surrendered. Jiang Wei then returned with his troops. In the twelth year of Yan Xi [CE 249], he again advanced past Xiping but unable to conquer, he returned. Jiang Wei believed he was familiar the culture and military ways of the West, so that he could entice the Qiang and Hu tribes to act as his "wings" and thus capture the region west of Long (in Gansu province). Each time Jiang Wei wished to undertake a large military operation, Fei Wei always rejected it and fearing lest he did not follow, restricted Jiang Wei's troops to no more than ten thousand.
[Xi Zuochi's] Han Jin Chun Qiu says: Fei Wei said to Jiang Wei, "We are far less comparable to the late Prime Minister. Even his schemes were not able to conquer the Zhong Xia (Middle Land), let alone us. Furthermore, we should protect the State, govern the people well, and guard the dynasty. Performing these duties we can wait till someone capable comes along. Do not have the thought that victory and defeat are determined by mere luck. If you are inferior, then it will be too late to regret."
In the spring of the sixteenth year [CE 253], Fei Wei died. In the summer, Jiang Wei led his troops, numbering to the tens of thousands, out of Shi Ying, passed Dong Ting, and surrounded Nan An. The Wei Governor (Ci Shi) of Yongzhou, Chen Tai, arrived at Luo Men to relieve the situation. Jiang Wei's supplies were exhausted and he returned. The next year [CE 254], all external and internal military affairs were added to his responsibilities. Again, he led his troops out of Longxi where Li Jian, who guarded Di Dao, surrendered the city. He advanced and surrounded Xiang Wu, confronting the Wei general, Xu Zhi. Beheading Xu Zhi, he defeated the Wei army who then retreated. After many victories, Jiang Wei accumulated a lot of surrendered people, so he selected the civilians of the three counties of He Jian, Di Dao and Lin Tao to return with him. After, in the eighteenth year [CE 255], together with the General of Chariots, Xiahou Ba and others, he again led his troops out to Di Dao and heavily defeated the Wei governor (Ci Shi) of Yongzhou, Wang Jing, at Tao Xi. Wang Jing's casualties amounted to tens of thousands. Wang Jing retreated and defended the city of Di Dao which was later surrounded by Jiang Wei. The Wei General Who Conquers the West, Chen Tai, advanced his troops to relieve the situation at Di Dao and Jiang Wei retreated to his station at Zhong Ti.
In the nineteenth year [CE 256], Spring, Jiang Wei was immediately appointed as the Grand Commander (Da Jiang Jun). Making preparations for another expedition, he arranged a date to meet with the General Who Subdues the West, Hu Ji at Shang Bang. But Hu Ji did not turn up hence Jiang Wei was heavily defeated by the Wei General, Deng Ai at Duan valley. Jiang Wei's troops were scattered and many had died. Many ordinary people complained and the region West of Long was constantly disturbed. Jiang Wei apologised and asked to be demoted. He was demoted to General of the Rear but assumed the responsibilities of the Grand Commander.
In the twentieth year [CE 257], the Wei General Who Conquers the East, Zhuge Dan, rebelled in Huainan, thus dividing up the troops of the Region within the Passes (Guanzhong). Jiang Wei wanted to take advantage of the vulnerable Qin Chuan (Region of Qin), and led tens of thousands of troops out through the Luo valley and arrived at Chen Ling. At the time, lots of grain was amassed at Chang Cheng (Great Wall?) while not a lot of soldiers guarded it. Hearing that Jiang Wei was about to arrive, lots of people became frightened. The Grand Commander of Wei, Sima Wang repelled him along with Deng Ai from Long You, all troops near the Chang Cheng. Jiang Wei stationed at Mang Shui (river), camping on the mountains. Sima Wang and Deng Ai were strongly stationed near the Wei river and were challenged repeatedly by Jiang Wei but were ignored. In the first year of Jing Yao [CE 258], Zhuge Dan was defeated, hence Jiang Wei returned to Chengdu. He was reinstated as Grand Commander.
(The next paragraph was adapted from the Zi Zhi Tong Jian, translated by Achilles Fang in "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms)
Formerly, when the First Sovereign (Liu Bei) stationed Wei Yan in Hanzhong, he filled the various encampments with troops and thus warded the enemy off; when the enemy came to attack, they were prevented from entering the territory. At the battle of Xingshi, when Wang Ping offered resistance to Cao Shuang, this strategem was again adopted. When Jiang Wei came to direct affairs he proposed: "These various encampments indeed conform to the Zhou Yi principle of defence of the double gates, but are only sufficient to ward off the enemy; they do not bring us any extraordinary victory. A better is this: hearing of the approach of the enemy, we should withdraw our troops from these various encampmentsand assemble our grain in the two cities of Hancheng and Lecheng, to which the troops should also retreat, and allow the enemy to enter the plain; we should strengthen our garrison in the passes and thus ward the enemy off. On the day we are invaded, we should order the mobile detachments to make a simultaneous sally and look for the weak positions in the enemy's line. The enemy may attack but will not capture our passes; finding no stray grain in the field and having to transport their provisions from a distance of a thousand li (miles), they will naturally be reduced to extremity and fatigue. On the day they retreat, we should let our troops from these two cities make a simultaneous sally and uniting their strength with the mobile detachment strike at the enemy. This is the art of exterminating the enemy." Thereupon the Latter Sovereign ordered the commander of Hanzhong, Wu Qi, to withdraw to Hanshou, the Military Supervisor, Wang Han to Lecheng, and Jiang Bin to Hancheng while Xi'an, Jian Wei, Wu Wei, Shi Men, Wu Cheng, Jian Chang, and Lin Yuan were each to defend themselves.
In the fifth year [CE 262], Jiang Wei commanded his army out of Han and Hou He but was defeated by Deng Ai and thus retreated to Tazhong. Jiang Wei, originally from another kingdom, launched campaigns every year yet his accomplishments were very little. The eunuch, Huang Hao who controlled power from within the government and the General of the Right, Yan Yu co-operated together. Huang Hao wanted to remove Jiang Wei and Wei suspected this. Fearing this, he never returned to Chengdu.
[Chang Qu's] Hua Yang Guo Zhi says: Jiang Wei loathed Huang Hao's hold on authority and asked the Latter Sovereign to execute him. The Latter Sovereign said, "Hao is only a small official. He was always at odds with Dong Yun and I hated him for that. Why would thy gentleman take notice of him?" Jiang Wei realised Huang Hao cannot removed, and fearing lest his words bring him danger, asked to leave. The Latter Sovereign ordered Huang Hao to apologise [to Jiang Wei]. Wei said to Huang Hao that he would go to Tazhong to grow wheat, thus he avoided internal conflicts.
In the sixth year [CE 263], Jiang Wei memoralised to the Latter Sovereign saying, "I have heard Zhong Hui is in charge of the troops of Guanzhong and desires to advance on us. We should dispatch simultaneously Zhang Yi and Liao Hua to guard Yang An Pass and Yinping bridge in case they attack". Huang Hao believed in witchcraft and said the enemy would eventually be defeated and no action need be taken. He asked the Latter Sovereign to ignore the memorial and not let the various ministers know about it. Zhong Hui headed for Luo Valley while Deng Ai entered Tazhong. General of the Left Chariots, Liao Hua, was dispatched to Tazhong to assist Jiang Wei, General of the Left, Zhang Yi and General Who Assists the State, Dong Jue, and others hastened to Yang An Pass and hoped to assist from the outside. Arriving at Yinping, they heard the Wei general, Zhuge Xu, was attacking Jianwei and thus they waited to see what to do next. In the remainder of the month, Jiang Wei was severly defeated by Deng Ai and retreated to Yinping. Zhong Hui attacked the two cities of Hancheng and Lecheng, dispatching a force to attack the Pass. Jiang Shu opened up the city gates and surrendered while Fu Qian fought but died.
[Xi Zuochi's] Han Jin Chun Qiu says: Jiang Shu's troops went out to surrender. [Before this] Jiang Shu craftily said to Fu Qian, "Now the enemy has arrived but has not attacked us yet we defend behind closed gates. This does not seem a good plan." Qian replied, "When accepting orders to defend the city, holding out is an achievement. But to disobey orders and go out to battle, the loss of the commander brings no benefit to the State." Shu said, "You can defend the city and hold out while I go out and engage the enemy and hopefully overcome them. We will each follow our own plans then." Then he led his troops out. Fu Qian heard that the Jiang Shu went to Yinping and surrendered to Hu Lie. Hu Lie took advantage of the lack of forces and raided the city. Fu Qian died during the struggle.
[Qiao Zhou's] Shu Ji says: Jiang Shu was the Wu Xing Du but did not perform his duties well. The Shu government ordered someone replace him and he was left to assist in the defence of Hanzhong. Jiang Shu hated how he was treated, thus he opened up the gates and surrendered. Zhong Hui attacked Lecheng but was unable to capture it. Hearing that the other Passes had fallen, he pushed further. Zhang Yi and Dong Jue arrived in Hanshou while Jiang Wei and Liao Hua abandoned Yinping and retreated. Zhang Yi and Dong Jue together defended Jian Ge against Zhong Hui. Zhong Hui wrote to Jiang Wei saying, "Marquis, you are talented in both literature and the military and cherish great plans. Your aiding of Ba and Han resounds throughout the Middle Land and there is no-one near or far who has not heard of your name. Those of the past who are equals are Wu Zha and Zheng Qiao." Jiang Wei did not respond to his letter but arranged his camp to guard against danger. Zhong Hui could not capture him and since supplies were transported from a county far away, his generals discussed about whether or not to return.
Since Deng Ai entered Shu from the road Jing Wu and passed Jinpoing, he defeated Zhuge Zhan at Mian Zhu. The Later Ruler asked to surrender to Deng Ai, thus he acquired Cheng Du. When Jiang Wei and others heard of the defeat of Zhuge Zhan, he also heard the rumor that the Later Ruler would defend Cheng Du, or he would go east to Wu or South to Jian Ning. Thus Jiang Wei led his troops to Guan Han and Qi Dao to seek the truth. When he heard the Later Ruler's edict, he laid down his armor and went to Zhong Hui before the army of Pei. The generals and soldiers got so angry that they tried to slice the rocks.
Jin Ji: Zhong Hui asked Jiang Wei, "Why did you come so late?" Jiang Wei put on a solemn face and replied with tears, "It is fast for me to get here today!" Zhong Hui awed at that.
Zhong Hui treated Jiang Wei and others with generosity. He gave back their seals as authorities. Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei rode in the same cart and sat on the same blanket, Zhong Hui said to his secretary (Zhang Shi) Du Yu, "If I shall compare Bo Yue (Jiang Wei's style) to the scholars of the Middle Land, Gong Xiu (Zhuge Dan), Tai Chu cannot win over him."
[Guo Song's Wei-Jin] Shi Yu: At that time the Shu officers are all talented from under the Heaven, yet none can surpass Jiang Wei.
Zhong Hui then trapped Deng Ai and put him in a jail car. Then Hui and Jiang Wei arrived at Cheng Du, Zhong Hui declared himself Governor of Yizhou and rebelled.
[Chang Qu's] Hua Yang Guo Zhi: Jiang Wei told Zhong Hui to kill the generals who come from the North. After they are all dead, he would kill Zhong Hui and bury all the Wei soldiers to restore the Mandate of Shu. He secretly send a letter to the Later Ruler, "I wish Your Majesty can swallow the shame for several more days, your vassal will enable the country to rise again, and the suns and moons to shine after darkness."
Sun Sheng's Jin Yang Qiu: Sheng followed the General who Pacifies the West to conquer Shu at the earlier years of Yong He [CE 345-356]. I saw the elders and Jiang Wei's secret letter to Liu Shan after he surrendered, which implies he pretended to serve Zhong Hui so he can kill him and restore the land of Shu. Yet Zhong Hui got defeated and destroyed. The people of Shu are still sad about it today. Sheng believes in the ancient saying, "Don't get into a predicament because then your name will be shamed, don't obtain what is not yours because then you will be in danger. If one is in shame and danger, his death will approach soon" fits Jiang Wei well. Deng Ai arrived at Jiang You with only a little soldiers. Jiang Wei can neither express his loyalty at the city of Mian Zhu nor command the five generals to support the ruler of Shu and think of ways to gain the land later. Yet he wavered back and forth. For a weak country, he can only march his soldiers at the border of Wei, but he laid hope for a great achievement based on a conquered country. How foolish that is!
Your vassal Song Zhi does not agree with Sun Sheng's criticism regarding Jiang Wei. At that time, Zhong Hui's grand army is at Jian Ge. Jiang Wei and his generals camped at advantageous spots to prevent the advancement of Zhong Hui, who started to talk about retreating thus Shu could be saved. However, Deng Ai sneaked in through a side path and went to his rear. When Zhuge Zhan got defeated, Cheng Du was destroyed automatically. If Jiang Wei returned to save the capital, then Zhong Hui could attack from the rear. With the circumstance, how can he take care of both sides at once? Yet by criticizing Jiang Wei for not defending Mian Zhu or supportting the Later Ruler, it is against logic. Zhong Hui wanted to bury all the Wei generals alive and give Jiang Wei a large amount of troops to be the vanguard. If all the Wei generals were dead and the soldiers laid at the hand of [Jiang] Wei, then it would not be hard to kill Zhong Hui and restore Shu. One who's accomplishment outside of logic is considered to be strange, yet one cannot be judged because of the results. If Tian Dan's strategy did not work then he would be considered foolish as well.
He wanted to give Jiang Wei five thousand troops and make him the vanguard. The Wei generals got angry and they killed Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei along with Jiang Wei's wife.
[Guo Song's Wei-Jin] Shi Yu: When Jiang Wei is killed and his body torn apart. They found his gallbladder to be as big as a Dou.
Xi Zheng Zhu Lun commenting on Jiang Wei: Jiang Boyue had the burden of both a grand commander and as well as a minister. The house he lived in was very simple. He did not have much money. Though he had many concubines, they were all frugal. He did not arrange any music or entertainment. He was also frugal with the food he ate, the clothes he wore, the transportation he took, etc. After being paid his salary, he would have nothing left afterwards. But he was not corrupt, greedy, or lavish and did not restrain himself in order to give himself a good name. Thus he led a very simple and meagre life. The common people commented that he only looked up to those above while stepping on those below him. However, he may not have been as the people described and their views are inaccurate. For someone like Jiang Wei who dedicated himself to study and who led a very frugal and simple life, he should be set as an example for others to follow.
Sun Sheng says: I do not agree with this commentary of Xi Shi! A gentleman should be conscious and careful when he is above others. There is nothing exceptional about him being filial and loyal since any person in that position should be. He was originally a servant of Wei but later went to Shu. Such a thing shows that he did it to gain benefits and hence cannot be considered by loyal. Since he was very frugal to others like his relatives, etc. this cannot be considered filial. To fight his original kingdom, this cannot be considered to be righteous. After he was defeated and surrounded [by the Shu troops], he did not commit suicide, thus he cannot be considered honourable. Achieving no merits, the people were put through a tough time by him. Raised to such a high position of authority, his enemies were still out about, thus this cannot be considered bravery. Of the five attributes of loyalty, filial piety, honour, righteousness, and bravery, Jiang Wei possesses none of them. He is a traitor of Wei and the shameless face of a dying State. His external disposition of being a great general, I have grave doubts about. While he likes to study, he is prone to being arrogant while not have any real knowledge.
Your servant Pei Songzhi believes Xi Zheng's commentary on Jiang Wei can only be taken at face value but in reality, it is not an accurate reflection. His good attributes were that he loved to study and was very frugal in life. The books Ben Zhuan and Wei Lue both say that Jiang Wei had no rebellious thoughts when he surrendered to Shu. Sun Sheng's harsh commentary was only valid on the point of filial piety when Jiang Wei left his mother. But his other criticisms are considered excessive and inaccurate. Thus both commentaries tend to deviate from the truth.
Chen Shou comments: Jiang Wei was able as both a scholar and commander and desired a lot of fame. However he was mostly unsuccessful till his death. Lao Zi said: "To rule a large State is like cooking a small dish." You have to be patient and from the bottom, work your way up to the top before you can be successful. Gan Bao says: Jiang Wei was the Chancellor of Shu. His State was destroyed, his Sovereign surrendered, and he subsequently died. Alas, it is a pity! Unfortunately, it is not hard to die but hard to choose how to die. All martyrs in the past died in the end, not because they wanted to die, but because knowing that since life was short, it was better to die in an honourable way.
Translator Notes
The first three paragraphs of the translation was done by Achilles Fang and presented in his book, "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms"
Wiki Note
This biography was done by both Shu-Han Zhao Lie Di and Empress Zhang. I have not recieved permission from the latter to post this biography and it may be taken down at any moment, I apologize ahead of time should she wish this to be taken down.
