Wang Ru

Life

Early life and rebellion Wang Ru was a native of Xinfeng County (新豐; south of present-day Weinan, Shaanxi), Jingzhao Commandery and initially served as a military official in Yong province under the Western Jin dynasty. As northern China fell into unrest, he and numerous refugees moved to Wancheng to avoid the chaos.

In 310, the imperial court issued an edict ordering all refugees to return to their hometown. However, Wang Ru and his fellow refugees refused, as the Guanzhong region was still devasted by war and famine. The General Who Attacks the South, Shan Jian and the Household General of the South, Du Rui (杜蕤) sent their soldiers to ensure that the refugees leave at the appropriate time, but Wang Ru secretly formed a pact with a group of ruffians and launched a night raid on the Jin armies, defeating them.

Soon, Du Rui brought his whole force to attack Wang Ru, but Wang met them at Nieyang (涅陽; in present-day Nanyang, Henan) and decisively defeated them. Shan Jian, believing the situation to beyond his control, withdrew to Xiakou (夏口; in present-day Wuhan, Hubei). Wang Ru advanced to captured Xiangcheng, where he was joined by the likes of Pang Shi (龐實), Yan Yi (嚴嶷) and Hou Tuo (侯脫). Together, they raided the various towns and killed the local magistrates and officials. Wang's forces eventually grew to 40,000 or 50,000 strong, and he proclaimed himself Grand General and acting Governor of Si and Yong provinces. He also attached himself to the rebel Han-Zhao dynasty in the north and camped himself at Rang county (穰縣; present-day Dengzhou, Henan).

Later in the year, the Jin capital at Luoyang, threatened by famine and the encroachment of Han forces, issued an urgent call for reinforcements. Shan Jian attempted to relieve them by sending his general Wang Wan (王萬), but they were once again defeated by Wang Ru at Nieyang. Wang Ru began to plunder the region between the Han and Mian rivers before advancing towards Shan's base at Xiangyang. Shan Jian sent Zhao Tong (趙同) to repel him, but he too found no success. With his morale sapped, Zhao Tong returned to Xiangyang to fortify the city. The Inspector of Jing province, Wang Cheng led his army from Jiangling to rescue Shan Jian, but Wang Ru fought back and drove them away. his soldiers was suffering from a severe famine and began attacking each other over food. The Jin army took advantage to launch a punitive expedition, prompting many of Wang's troops to surrender. With no other choice, Wang Ru surrendered to the Jin commander, Wang Dun.

Wang Dun's cousin, Wang Leng admired Wang Ru's bravery and asked Wang Dun to give him over as a subordinate. Wang Dun initially refused, warning his cousin that Wang Ru was an unruly person, while Wang Leng was too temperamental to handle him. When Wang Leng insisted, Wang Dun gave in. Wang Leng made Wang Ru a close aide and treated him well, but Wang Ru often got into fights with Wang Dun's subordinates. To reprimand him, Wang Leng had him flogged, which deeply humiliated Wang Ru.