Wang Ji (190 – 9 June 261), courtesy name Boyu, posthumously known as Marquis Jing of Dongwu, was a military general of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He started his career as a low-ranking official under Wang Ling, the governor of Qing Province. During this time, he was noted for exemplary performance and was later transferred to the central government in Luoyang. He was subsequently promoted to the position of a commandery administrator, but was briefly removed from office when the Wei regent Sima Yi ousted his co-regent Cao Shuang in a coup d'état in 249. However, he was quickly recalled to government service, promoted to the position of governor of Jing Province and appointed as a military general. From 251 until his death in 261, Wang Ji maintained close but professional working relationships with the Wei regents Sima Shi and Sima Zhao. During this time, he supervised military operations in Jing, Yu and Yang provinces, and defended Wei's eastern and southern borders against attacks by Wei's rival state, Eastern Wu. He also assisted Sima Shi and Sima Zhao in suppressing two of the three Shouchun rebellions in 255 and 257–258 respectively. In 261, in the months just before his death, he correctly pointed out that two Eastern Wu military officers were pretending to defect to Wei, and managed to stop the Wei forces from falling into a trap.
Early life Wang Ji was from Qucheng County (), Donglai Commandery (), which is located northwest of present-day Zhaoyuan, Shandong.(王基字伯輿，東萊曲城人也。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. He was born in 190 towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. As he lost his father at a young age, he was raised by his uncle Wang Weng (), who treated him well. In return, Wang Ji was very filial towards his uncle.(少孤，與叔父翁居。翁撫養甚篤，基亦以孝稱。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
When Wang Ji turned 16, the local commandery office recruited him to serve as an assistant official. He quit later after realising that he was not interested in the job. He then went to Langya Commandery (琅邪郡; around present-day Linyi, Shandong) for further studies under the Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan.(年十七，郡召為吏，非其好也，遂去，入琅邪界游學。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
As Wang Ling's subordinate Sometime between 220 and 226, the administrative office of Donglai Commandery nominated Wang Ji as a xiaolian (civil service candidate) to the central government of the Cao Wei state. Wang Ji was subsequently appointed him as a Gentleman Cadet ().(黃初中，察孝廉，除郎中。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Around the time, Wang Ling, who had recently assumed office as the Inspector () of Qing Province, recruited Wang Ji to serve as an attendant officer () under him. Later, when Wang Ji was summoned to the imperial capital Luoyang to serve as a librarian (), Wang Ling successfully sought permission from the central government to let Wang Ji remain in Qing Province.(是時青土初定，刺史王凌特表請基為別駕，後召為秘書郎，凌復請還。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Wang Lang, the Minister over the Masses, once asked Wang Ling to transfer Wang Ji to his office in Luoyang. When Wang Ling refused,(頃之，司徒王朗辟基，淩不遣。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Wang Lang wrote to the imperial court to accuse Wang Ling of holding back talents: "Street-level officials who have performed exceptionally well should be promoted to commandery level. Commandery-level officials who have shown good performance should be recommended to the central government. This practice originated from the ancient custom of nobles presenting local talents to their rulers. I have never heard of any regional official refusing to allow his subordinates to serve in the central government."(朗書劾州曰：「凡家臣之良，則升于公輔，公臣之良，則入于王職，是故古者侯伯有貢士之禮。今州取宿衞之臣，留秘閣之吏，所希聞也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Despite Wang Lang's accusation, Wang Ling refused to allow Wang Ji to leave. Throughout his tenure in Qing Province, much of Wang Ling's achievements were actually due to Wang Ji's efforts.(淩猶不遣。淩流稱青土，蓋亦由基恊和之輔也。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Service in the central government Sometime between 230 and 235, Sima Yi, the General-in-Chief () of Wei, summoned Wang Ji to serve under him. Wang Ling had no choice but to let Wang Ji leave. Before Wang Ji reached Sima Yi's office, however, he was quickly reassigned to be a Palace Writer Gentleman ().(大將軍司馬宣王辟基，未至，擢為中書侍郎。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
During his reign from 226 to 239, the Wei emperor Cao Rui started lavish and extravagant palace-building projects. As these projects were labour intensive, they took a heavy toll on the common people, who were recruited as labourers for the projects.(明帝盛脩宮室，百姓勞瘁。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Wang Ji wrote a memorial to Cao Rui to advise him to stop the projects:
Wang Su was known for writing commentaries and annotations on Confucian texts, as well as for expressing his opinions on imperial protocol, etiquette and customs. His views deviated largely from those of the Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan. As Wang Ji studied and followed Zheng Xuan's teachings, he often challenged and disagreed with Wang Su.(散騎常侍王肅著諸經傳解及論定朝儀，改易鄭玄舊說，而基據持玄義，常與抗衡。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Wang Ji was subsequently promoted to the position of Administrator () of Anping Commandery (安平郡; around present-day Hengshui, Hebei). He resigned later because of official reasons.(遷安平太守，公事去官。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
As the Administrator of Anfeng Sometime between 239 and 249, Cao Shuang, the General-in-Chief () of Wei, summoned Wang Ji to serve as an Assistant Gentleman () under him. Wang Ji was later promoted to the position of Administrator () of Anfeng Commandery (安豐郡; around present-day Lu'an, Anhui).(大將軍曹爽請為從事中郎，出為安豐太守。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
During his tenure, Wang Ji governed his jurisdiction strictly but fairly. He also performed some acts of kindness from time to time to win popular support from the masses. As Anfeng Commandery was located near the border between Wei and its rival state Eastern Wu, Wang Ji also set up and strengthened its defences to deter the enemy. He was subsequently given an additional appointment as General Who Attacks Rebels ().(郡接吳寇，為政清嚴有威惠，明設防備，敵不敢犯。加討寇將軍。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Sometime between 245 and 252, there were reports of Eastern Wu forces mobilising and gathering at the Wu imperial capital, Jianye (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). The Wu forces also publicly revealed that they were preparing to attack Wei territories in Yang Province. Zhuge Dan, the Wei governor of Yang Province, sought Wang Ji's opinion on how to counter a Wu invasion.(吳嘗大發衆集建業，揚聲欲入攻揚州，刺史諸葛誕使基策之。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Wang Ji replied: As Wang Ji analysed correctly, Sun Quan did not launch any attack on Wei during this time.(後權竟不能出。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
When Cao Shuang was regent of Wei from 239 to 249, he monopolised power and practised cronyism, which resulted in political corruption and cultural decadence. Wang Ji wrote a text, "Shi Yao Lun" (時要論; "Essay on the Needs of the Time"), to express his views on contemporary politics.(時曹爽專柄，風化陵遲，基著時要論以切世事。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. He then resigned from his post as the Administrator of Anfeng Commandery, using poor health as an excuse. He was soon recalled by the Wei government to serve as the Intendant of Henan (). However, before he assumed office, Cao Shuang was ousted from power in a coup d'état by his co-regent, Sima Yi, and executed along with the rest of his family and associates. As Wang Ji used to be a subordinate of Cao Shuang, he was implicated in the purge and removed from office.(以疾徵還，起家為河南尹，未拜，爽伏誅，基甞為爽官屬，隨例罷。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
As the Inspector of Jing Province Within the same year (249) after his removal from office, Wang Ji was summoned back to serve as a Master of Writing () in the imperial secretariat. In the following year, he was promoted to Inspector () of Jing Province and appointed as General Who Spreads Vehemence (). Shortly after he assumed office, the Wei government ordered him to join the Wei general Wang Chang on a campaign against Eastern Wu.(其年為尚書，出為荊州刺史，加揚烈將軍，隨征南王昶擊吳。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
During the battle, Wang Ji led an army to attack Wu forces led by Bu Xie at Yiling County (夷陵縣; in present-day Yichang, Hubei). Bu Xie and his men retreated behind the city walls, shut the gates and refused to engage Wang Ji in battle. Wang Ji then ordered his troops to pretend to prepare to attack the city, while secretly sending them to capture the Wu army's granary at Xiongfu (). They managed to seize over 300,000 hu of grain and capture a Wu general, Tan Zheng (). Thousands of Wu civilians surrendered to the Wei forces; Wang Ji made arrangements for them to be resettled in Yiling County. The Wei government awarded Wang Ji the title of a Secondary Marquis () to honour him for his achievements.(基別襲步恊於夷陵，恊閉門自守。基示以攻形，而實分兵取雄父邸閣，收米三十餘萬斛，虜安北將軍譚正，納降數千口。於是移其降民，置夷陵縣。賜爵關內侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Wang Ji wrote to Wang Chang and managed to convince him to relocate his base of operations to Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡; around present-day Yunmeng County, Hubei), so that it was nearer to the Wei–Wu border at Xiakou (夏口; in present-day Wuhan, Hubei). After that, the Wu forces did not dare to readily cross the river to attack Wei territory as they did before.(基又表城上昶，徙江夏治之，以偪夏口，由是賊不敢輕越江。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
During his tenure as the Inspector of Jing Province, Wang Jing governed his jurisdiction justly and fairly, maintained good discipline within the army and agricultural sector, and built many schools to promote education. He earned much praise from the residents of Jing Province.(明制度，整軍農，兼脩學校，南方稱之。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Around the time, the Wei government wanted to launch a military campaign against Eastern Wu, so they ordered Wang Ji to come up with a strategy.(時朝廷議欲伐吳，詔基量進趣之宜。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Wang Ji said: The campaign was thus aborted.(於是遂止。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
When Sima Shi succeeded his father Sima Yi as the regent of Wei in 251, Wang Ji wrote to him:(司馬景王新統政，基書戒之曰： ...) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Sima Shi accepted Wang Ji's advice.(景王納其言。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
In 254, after Sima Shi deposed the Wei emperor Cao Fang and replaced him with Cao Mao, Wang Ji was elevated from the status of a secondary marquis to a village marquis under the title "Marquis of Changle Village" ().(高貴鄉公即尊位，進封常樂亭侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Suppressing Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin's rebellion
In 255, the Wei generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin started a rebellion in Shouchun (壽春; around present-day Shou County, Anhui), the capital of Huainan Commandery (), which was called the Chu State () at the time. Wang Ji was appointed as acting Army Supervisor (), granted acting imperial authority, and put in command of the Wei forces stationed in Xuchang. Sima Shi, the Wei regent, led troops from Luoyang, the Wei imperial capital, to suppress the rebellion and met Wang Ji at Xuchang.(毌丘儉、文欽作亂，以基為行監軍、假節，統許昌軍，適與景王會於許昌。) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
When Sima Shi asked him what he thought of Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin's actions, Wang Ji replied: "The local officials in Huainan aren't responsible for starting the rebellion. Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin forced them to rebel by threatening to kill them if they didn't. They will collapse when imperial forces show up. It won't be long before we see Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin's dead bodies being hung at the gates." Sima Shi agreed.(景王曰：「君籌儉等何如？」基曰：「淮南之逆，非吏民思亂也，儉等誑脅迫懼，畏目下之戮，是以尚群聚耳。若大兵臨偪，必土崩瓦解，儉、欽之首，不終朝而縣於軍門矣。」景王曰：「善。」) Sanguozhi vol. 27.
Sima Shi put Wang Ji in command of the vanguard force. At the time, many Wei officials believed that Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin were powerful and difficult to defeat, so the Wei imperial court ordered Wang Ji to hold his position and refrain from engaging the rebels in battle.(乃令基居軍前。議者咸以儉、欽慓悍，難與爭鋒。詔基停駐。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. Wang Ji disagreed: Wang Ji then repeatedly sought permission to attack the rebels. When approval was finally granted, Wang Ji led his troops towards the Yin River (),(基屢請，乃聽進據濦水。) Sanguozhi vol. 27. where he sought permission to attack the rebels: