Lord Xinling (
Chinese: 信陵君, d. 243 BC), born Wei Wuji (魏無忌), was a prominent aristocrat, statesman and general of the
Warring States period
The Warring States period in history of China, Chinese history (221 BC) comprises the final two and a half centuries of the Zhou dynasty (256 BC), which were characterized by frequent warfare, bureaucratic and military reforms, and ...
and one of the
Four Lords of the Warring States. The son of
King Zhao of Wei, and the half-brother of
King Anxi of Wei, he served the
State of Wei
Wei (; ) was one of the seven major State (Ancient China), states during the Warring States period of ancient China. It was created from the three-way Partition of Jin, together with Han (Warring States), Han and Zhao (state), Zhao. Its territo ...
as Senior General.
Biography
The title 'Xinling' refers to Wei Wuji's fief in Xinling (present day Ningling County in
Henan
Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...
), which was awarded to him by his half brother King Anxi on the death of their father in 277 BC.
House guests
The concept of house guests (門客) refers to a social institution during the period when aristocrats would provide food and lodging to talented men and use them as retainers. Lord Xinling, famed for his readiness to provide for talented men, had three thousand retainers in his service at its peak.
The Battle of Handan
When
Qin invaded Zhao and besieged its capital
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwest of Hebei province, China. The southernmost prefecture-level city of the province, it borders Xingtai on the north, and the provinces of Shanxi on the west, Henan on the south and Shando ...
,
Lord Pingyuan, another of the Four Lords, requested help from Xinling, who was his brother-in-law. Xinling was unable to get help from his master, the King of Wei. However, the Queen of Wei saw him as a benefactor, as he had once arrested the man who murdered her father, so she helped him secure the imperial seal. Using the seal, Xinling attempted to seize control of the Wei army, but was met with refusal from the Wei general Jin Bi. Xinling then sent a retainer called Zhu Hai, who assassinated General Jin by pummelling the latter to death with a heavy hammer, and installed Zhu Hai as his own general. Together, they marched to Handan and successfully defeated the Qin forces, relieving the siege. He was honored by the King of Zhao above his own brother-in-law and
Lord Chunshen of Chu. However, his own half-brother
King Anxi was angry with the theft of the seal and the summary killing of General Jin, so Xinling stayed in Zhao for many years rather than return to face the wrath of his own king in Wei.
Later achievements
When Qin invaded Wei itself, the King of Wei requested Xinling to rescue him. Xinling returned and repulsed a greater Qin force with the help of other allies such as
Yan,
Zhao, and
Chu
Chu or CHU may refer to:
Chinese history
* Chu (state) (c. 1030 BC–223 BC), a state during the Zhou dynasty
* Western Chu (206 BC–202 BC), a state founded and ruled by Xiang Yu
* Chu Kingdom (Han dynasty) (201 BC–70 AD), a kingdom of the H ...
. The only state that he ignored was the powerful state of
Qi. After this victory, Xinling was made Prime Minister of Wei, and wrote his own war treatise.
Death
However, Qin later tricked Wei by spreading rumors that Xinling aimed to seize the throne of Wei for himself. They did it in a convincing manner employing a corrupt insider (senior noble) and tricking the Crown Prince of Wei, who was a prisoner in Qin. The King of Wei suspected Xinling but did not take action. Xinling, disappointed with his own brother, resigned. In his retirement, Xinling and his retainers drank too much and died. He was much mourned by the grateful citizens of Wei and his admirers in other states, though not by his own King.
Xinling became the epitome of military success that necessitates disobeying superiors and taking initiative at times.
[Six Kingdoms by Gypsy publication, Asia Books]
References
{{Four Lords of the Warring States
Zhou dynasty nobility
Generals of the Warring States period
243 BC deaths
Deified Chinese men