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Wang Chang | |
|---|---|
| 王昶 | |
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| Minister of Works (司空) | |
| In office 26 September 258 – July or August 259 | |
| Monarch | Cao Mao |
| Preceded by | Lu Yu |
| Succeeded by | Wang Guan |
| General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍) | |
| In office 14 June 255 – 26 September 258 | |
| Monarch | Cao Mao |
| Preceded by | Sun Zi |
| Senior General Who Attacks the South (征南大將軍) | |
| In office 16 May 251 – 14 June 255 | |
| Monarch | Cao Fang /Cao Mao |
| General Who Attacks the South (征南將軍) | |
| In office c. 240s – 16 May 251 | |
| Monarch | Cao Fang |
| Inspector ofXu Province (徐州刺史) | |
| In office c. 240s – c. 240s | |
| Monarch | Cao Fang |
| General Who Spreads Vehemence (揚烈將軍) | |
| In office 227–? | |
| Monarch | Cao Rui |
| Inspector ofYan Province (兗州刺史) | |
| In office ?–226 | |
| Monarch | Cao Pi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | July or August 259[a] |
| Relations | seeWang clan of Taiyuan |
| Children |
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| Parent |
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| Occupation | Military general, politician |
| Courtesy name | Wenshu (文舒) |
| Posthumous name | Marquis Mu (穆侯) |
| Peerage | Marquis of Jingling (京陵侯) |
Wang Chang (died July or August 259),[a]courtesy nameWenshu (文舒), was a Chinese military general and politician of the state ofCao Wei during theThree Kingdoms period of China.
Wang Chang was from the samecommandery asWang Ling, and both of them were already quite well known when they were still young. Wang Chang became a tutor toCao 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) ofLuoyang, and Inspector ofYan Province (兗州刺史). After Cao Pi died in 226, his successorCao 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 theQin andHan 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) andMilitary Book (兵書), to the Wei imperial court.
In 236, Grand CommandantSima Yi recommended Wang Chang to the second Wei emperorCao Rui as a talent. Wang Chang was appointed as the Inspector ofXu 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 inJing andYu provinces.
Wang Chang noticed that his base at Wancheng was too far away fromXiangyang, 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 stateEastern Wu attacked them, their armies would not be able to provide support in time. Hence, Wang Chang changed his base toXinye, 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 generalZhu Ju was recently dismissed bySun Quan and forced to commit suicide. Wang Chang felt that the time was ripe to attack Wu, so he orderedZhou 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 theYangtze River and defeated the Wu generalShi 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 andGuanqiu Jian also proposed their respective plans. The Wei regentSima Shi accepted their proposals and ordered them to attack Wu from three directions. Wang Chang was assigned to attackNan Commandery, but due to Hu Zun and Zhuge Dan's defeat by the Wu generalZhuge Ke, Wang Chang was forced to retreat.
In 255, the Wei generalsGuanqiu Jian andWen Qin starteda rebellion inShouchun. 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 starteda rebellion in Shouchun, this time with support from Wu forces. Wang Chang led his army to put pressure on Wu forces at Jiangling, led byShi 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 toMinister 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 theposthumous title "Marquis Mu" (穆侯).