Wang Rui, styled Tongyao (王叡字通耀; 189), was a civil official who served as Inspector of Jing Province. His animosity with Sun Jian culminated in his demise.
Ancestry
Wang Rui came from Linyi County, Langxie Commandery.[1] Wang Rui's ancestor was a Wang Ji (王吉), who was from Gaoyu County, Langya Commandery, and who served Emperor Xuan of Han.[2]
Wang Rui's father was Wang Ren, the Inspector of Qing Province. Wang Rui was the elder brother of Wang Rong, the father of Wang Xiang and Wang Lan.[1][3]
Wang Rui is also called Wang Min (王敏), possibly to avoid the taboo of Cao Rui.
Life
A time before or in 186, Wang Rui was made Inspector of Jing Province.
In 186, Zhao Ci rebelled and took over six counties of Nanyang Commandery. The court appointed Yang Xu to replace the killed Qin Xie and led troops with Wang Rui to defeat and kill Zhao Ci in a major victory.[4] For possibly these reasons, Wang Rui was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anci County in the same year.[5]
In 188, Wang Rui and Sun Jian worked together on subjugating the rebels Zhou Chao and Su Ma in Lingling and Guiyang Commanderies and succeed. Wang Rui almost always belittled Sun Jian and showed him no respect because he was just a military officer while Wang Rui came from a noble family.[6][7][8]
In late 190, Wang Rui raised an army to kill Dong Zhuo. Wang Rui and the Grand Administrator of Wuling; Cao Yin were at odds, so much so that Wang Rui exclaimed he should first kill Cao Yin before marching against Dong Zhuo. In response, Cao Yin forged a message from imperial envoy Wen Yi and sent it to Sun Jian, demanding that he 'execute' Wang Rui. Sun Jian decided to take this chance to kill Wang Rui and disguised he and his personal army as Wang Rui's troops, marching onto Wang Rui. Wang Rui gazed at them from a high floor and sent someone to ask what they wanted. Sun Jian's troops replied,
"The troops have long battled, laboring bitterly in it. We have gotten awards, but it is not enough for us to get clothes, so we beg of you, sire, to provide for us, that is all."
Wang Rui stated,
"How could I be so stingy?"
Wang Rui came down and promptly opened the treasury to Sun Jian's army, watching them select what they wanted. Wang Rui spotted Sun Jian among them, so he said in a shocked tone,
"Those soldiers seek awards for themselves. Lord Sun, why are you among them?"
Sun Jian replied,
"I received an envoy's orders to execute you, sir."
Wang Rui asked,
"What was my crime?"
Sun Jian replied,
"Guilty of not knowing."
Cornered, Wang Rui drank scrapped gold and committed suicide.[8][9] Wang Rui was replaced by Liu Biao as Inspector of Jing Province by imperial edict.[10]
Legacy
Wang Rui almost brought Jing Province into the war against Dong Zhuo, but his death at the hands of Sun Jian allowed Dong Zhuo to slip in Liu Biao as the new Inspector and effectively neutralize Jing Province.
Personal Info
Name: Wang Rui (王叡)[3][6][8][9][10] or Wang Min (王敏)[4][5]
Style name: Tongyao (通耀)[3]
Death date: Winter 190/Spring 191 (11th/12th lunar month of 1st year of the Chuping era)[4]
