Wang Zhen'e

Grandson of Wang Meng and vanguard of Liu Yu's northern expedition, who led a fleet straight into Chang'an and destroyed Later Qin.

Life

Grandson of Wang Meng

Wang Zhen'e was the grandson of Wang Meng, Chancellor of Former Qin. Born on the fifth day of the fifth month, his family wanted to give him away, but his grandfather Wang Meng said the child was extraordinary and named him Zhen'e. After Former Qin fell he drifted south and joined Liu Yu.

Surprise attack on the Wei River

In 416, when Liu Yu launched his northern expedition against Later Qin, Wang Zhen'e served as vanguard, taking Xuchang and Luoyang along the way. In 417 he led a fleet up the Wei River with all the soldiers rowing inside the holds; the Qin troops on the banks saw boats moving with no one aboard and thought it the work of the gods.

Burning the boats

Reaching the walls of Chang'an, he had his soldiers eat their fill, abandon the boats and go ashore, saying, "Our homes are south of the Yangtze, and the boats have drifted away; the only choice is to fight to the death." He stormed Chang'an in one stroke, and Later Qin fell. In 418 he was killed by his colleague Shen Tianzi, who distrusted him.

Legacy

Wang Zhen'e was the general with the greatest achievements in Liu Yu's northern expeditions, and his abandoning his boats to fight to the death and storm Chang'an is a famous example in Chinese military history.

Major works & achievements

• Entered Chang'an and destroyed the Later Qin

Did you know? His grandfather Wang Meng was a renowned chancellor of the Former Qin, yet he himself destroyed another Guanzhong regime on behalf of the Eastern Jin.

Key dates

• 416Vanguard of the Northern Expedition
• 417Led a fleet into the Wei River and entered Chang'an
• 418Killed by Shen Tianzi