Wang Guan (Three Kingdoms)

Wang was from Linqiu (廩丘) in Dong Commandery, which was located between present-day Henan and Shandong provinces. He was orphaned at a young age and, by gentry standards, grew up poor, but he became a man of energy and ambition. == Service to Wei emperors ==

On March 220, Cao Cao died and was succeeded by his eldest living son Cao Pi and on 11 December Emperor Xian of the Eastern Han dynasty abdicated, Cao Pi becoming the founding Emperor of the Wei dynasty. then as a Supervisor in the Ministry of Justice (). Afterwards, he was appointed as the Administrator () of Nanyang () and Zhuo () commanderies. Zhuo had a particular problem with raids from the nearby Xianbei people, so Wang Guan ordered large families to band together as a garrison and construct a fortress while he went to the court to send officials to help. Not everybody was keen but Wang Guan refused to set a deadline and without the pressure, people cooperated and built the walls quickly. It is said that, once this was done, the raiding ceased. Cao Pi died on 29 June 226 and was succeeded as Emperor by his son Cao Rui on the same day. The areas labelled severe would see labour and tax demands decreased but in exchange, the head would have to send a family member as hostage. The official wished to designate Zhuo in a lesser category During one of Cao Rui's visits to Xuchang Despite Cao Rui's impulsive nature, Wang Guan refused to flatter the Emperor and it would be Sima Yi, as Grand Commandant (太尉), who would encourage Wang Guan's career. With the patronage of one of the most senior officials at court, Wang Guan would serve once more in the Imperial Secretariat. He was promoted to Intendant of Henan in charge of the capital commandery and then became one of the Nine Ministers as Minister Steward, in charge of the finances of the imperial family. == Service during regencies ==

On 22 January 239, Cao Rui died leaving the adopted child Cao Fang to ascend the throne. A regency ensued with Sima Yi and imperial kinsman Cao Shuang in charge but the pair fell apart and Cao Shuang would push Sima Yi into retirement. Wang Guan however is said to have opposed Cao Shuang's attempts to abuse his power. When Cao Shuang sought timber for personal use, Wang Guan raided the timber office, and he repeatedly enforced laws to prevent Cao Shuang getting access to treasuries within the government offices. As Cao Shuang felt uncomfortable with Wang Guan for this reason, he demoted Wang Guan to Minister Coachman (). However, the records are known to be hostile towards Cao Shuang and there may have been other reasons Cao Shuang moved a Sima Yi partisan to another ministerial role. Sima Yi launched a coup against his rival on 5 February 249. Wang Guan participated in the coup by becoming a temporary general, the Central Commander of the Army (), the position of Shuang's brother Cao Xi () and taking over Cao Xi's troops. After Cao Shuang was executed on 9 February, Sima Yi arranged for Wang Guan to receive the title of a Secondary Marquis () and was appointed as a Master of Writing () and Chief Commandant of Escorting Cavalry (). In 254, Cao Fang had grown up and sought to overthrow his controller, Sima Yi's son Sima Shi but the plots failed and Cao Fang was deposed and jailed for life on 17 October. Sima Shi and his ministers, following the precedent of the deposed Former Han Liu He, accused Cao Fang of being a sexual deviant morally unworthy of the throne with Wang Guan one of the names to sign these accusations. When the young Cao Mao came to the throne, Wang Guan was promoted to Marquis of Zhongxiang Village () and made a Household Counsellor () and Left Supervisor of the Masters of Writing (). On 2 June 260, Cao Mao sought to free himself from his controller Sima Zhao, Sima Shi's brother, but was killed in the streets by Sima loyalists. On 27 June, the last Wei Emperor, Cao Huan ascended the throne. Wang was also appointed as Excellency of Works(), reaching one of the three highest ministerial posts. However, unlike during Cao Fang's abdication, Wang Guan's name is not listed on any of the memorials around Cao Mao's death and Wang Guan tried to refuse the promotion. Sima Zhao rejected the refusal and dispatched an envoy. Wang Guan took the post but resigned, hanging up his seals of office and returned home. == Death and legacy ==

Wang Guan died at home in the winter of 260. His posthumous title was "Solemn Marquis", and he was succeeded to his noble rank by his son Wang Kui (王悝). After Shu-Han fell and Sima Zhao became King of Jin, in 264 he revived the Five Feudal Ranks of Zhou with Wang Kui, in honour of his father, becoming a viscount. Praised for his governance in the posts he held outside the capital, In 256, Lu Yu (盧毓; son of Lu Zhi) unsuccessfully tried to reject promotion to Excellency by suggesting alternative appointments, including Wang Guan. ==See also==