In the history of the Ming Dynasty, there were only three civil officials who relied on their battle merits to be knighted, they were Jingyuan Bo Wang Ji, Weining Bo Wang Yue, and Xinjian Bo Wang Shouren. Wang Yue and Wang Shouren have been introduced before, so what kind of person is Jingyuanbo Wang Ji? It turned out that Wang Ji was the first civil official to obtain a knighthood by virtue of his battle merits, and his reputation was very prominent, which can be said to be the southwest of Megatron. However, Wang Ji's reputation is very bad and even criticized, so what is going on?
First, the beginning of the edge
Wang Ji (王骥), also known as Shangde, was a native of Xinji, Hebei, who passed the Jin Shi examination in the fourth year of Yongle (1406) and was made a soldier. Wang Ji's career was relatively smooth, and he successively served as deputy envoy of Shanxi Zhaochasi, Yin of Shuntianfu, and Right Attendant of the Bingbu, and in the ninth year of Xuande (1434), he served as the Shangshu of the Bingbu. Don't look at Wang Ji as a scholar, he is tall and strong, "he rides and shoots, he is resolute and bold, and he knows how to be smooth." In the second year of Orthodoxy (1437), Wang Ji was ordered to go to the northwest.
Wang Ji acted resolutely, killing An Jing, the commander who was the first to escape, and then "paraded the generals, divided the troops and drew the ground, so that their respective defenses and the border were solemn", and then he also "decided to change the law, and the soldiers had to rest and transfer to the province". Not long after, Tatars invaded the Ming border again, and Wang Ji was ordered to lead an army to conquest. In the end, the Ming army won a great victory, "parting ways and fighting for more than a thousand miles." When the news reached Beijing, Emperor Ming Yingzong decreed that Wang Ji "concurrently serve as Dali Qing and support Erli." Soon after, Wang Ji was recalled to Beijing.
Second, the third conquest of the Luchuan
In the sixth year of the reign (1441), at the instigation of Wang Zhen, the Ming Dynasty launched a war against Luchuan. When choosing the manager, Wang Zhen believed that Wang Ji could take the role, and Wang Ji "also wanted to be effective". Therefore, Ming Yingzong "paid homage to General Jiang Guiping, Li An and Liu Ju as deputies, and Ji Governor of military affairs, and Dafa the southeastern Daoist soldiers 150,000 to ask for it." Wang Ji's performance on the battlefield was still good, he even personally commanded the Chinese army, engaged the enemy army, "the thief was defeated, and the victory reached Ma'anshan."
In May of the seventh year of the orthodox reign (1442), Wang Ji's class returned to the dynasty, and the Mingying Sect sent the household attendant Wang Zhi to "welcome labor with sheep wine and give a feast to the gate of heaven". After that, Wang Ji received a series of honors, "Feng Tui Cheng Xuanli Wuchen, Tejin Ronglu Daifu, Shangzhu Guo, Jing Yuanbo, Years Lu 1,200 Stones, Hereditary Command Tongzhi, Bestow Sable Cicada Crown Jade Belt". However, the war in Luchuan did not end, and Wang Ji went to the southwest twice to preside over the war against Luchuan.
Third, the reputation is mixed
The Battle of Luchuan caused heavy losses to the Ming Dynasty and caused great controversy, "the speaker blamed Ji and other teachers for spending money, and stirred the world with a corner". Zhan Ying, the instructor of Huikawa Wei, also impeached Wang Ji for "covering up defeat for merit". However, under the protection of Wang Zhen, Wang Ji was safe and sound. It can be seen that Wang Ji has a good relationship with Wang Zhen. In the fourteenth year of the reign (1449), Wang Ji went to the south to quell the Miao Rebellion. By the time his class returned to the dynasty, Emperor Jingtai had already taken the throne.
After that, Emperor Jingtai asked Wang Ji to "supervise Nanjing". After Wang Ji arrived in office, he "taught him with the military law", but he was not valued by Shangshu Yuqian of the military department, and he was forced to retire soon after. In 1457, Shi Heng and others launched a rebellion to seize the gate, and Wang Ji also participated in it, so he was rewarded. In 1460, Wang Ji died of illness at the age of 83. Wang Ji's reputation was mixed, mainly because he commanded the Battle of Luchuan and his relationship with Wang Zhen, and he also participated in the Battle of the Gate Race, so he was criticized by his contemporaries.
References: 1. "Ming Shi Record"; 2. "History of Ming"