Sui and Tang · General

Wang Bodang 王伯當

Attested AD 616 - AD 618

Passages: 12
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Bodang was a general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 618 武德元年
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passages 203, 225, 227
AD 618 武德元年九月
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 187
AD 617 to AD 618 narrative preceding 義寧二年
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 141
AD 617 十三年二月
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 87
AD 616 時東郡賊翟讓聚黨萬人
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 66

Family

Kinship Role brothers · Quantity all · Kinship Term brothers 昆季
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 209

Career and standing

Left Martial Guard General 左武衛將軍
AD 618 武德元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 225
commander of part of Zhai Rang's troops 分統其兵
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 141

Places and affiliations

AD 618 武德元年
At Heyang 河陽 · Relation Garrisoned
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 203
AD 618 武德元年九月
At Jinyong 金墉 · Relation Assigned to hold
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 187

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Li Mi (李密) · Direct quotation · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Wang Bodang (王伯當)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passages 209-211, 227-229

Events and relationships

Abandoned Jinyong and garrisoned Heyang
AD 618 武德元年 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 203
Carried Mi plan to Rang
AD 616 時東郡賊翟讓聚黨萬人 · Diplomatic · Intermediary · With Zhai Rang (翟讓)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 66
Embraced Mi and wept until unconscious
Loyalty · Companion · With Li Mi (李密)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 204
Left to hold Jinyong
AD 618 武德元年九月 · Military · Garrison commander · With Li Mi (李密)
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 187
Served as left or right wing
AD 617 十三年二月 · Military · Cavalry wing · With Mi (密)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 87
Tried to stop rebellion then vowed to share life or death
AD 618 武德元年 · Counsel · Adviser · With Li Mi (李密)
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passages 227-229

Show 2 more source-backed claims

AD 618 武德元年
Relation Deputy of · Person Li Mi (李密)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 225
Relation Follower of · Person Mi (密)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 66

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 187
Value historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 141
said his clan was weighty and vowed not to abandon Mi after one defeat
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passages 208, 210-211

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

New Book of Tang, Chapter 84Volume 84 Biographies 9: Li, Mi · 12 passages

時東郡賊翟讓聚黨萬人，密因介其徒王伯當以策幹讓曰：「今主昏於上，人怨於下，銳兵盡之遼海，和親絕於突厥，南巡流連，空棄關輔，此實劉、項挺興之會。 At that time Zhai Rang of Dongjun had gathered a band of ten thousand men. Mi sent his follower Wang Bodang with a plan to approach Rang. "The ruler is benighted above and the people resentful below," he said. "Sharp troops are exhausted at the Liao coast, peace with the Turks is broken, the southern tour drags on, and the capital region is abandoned—this is truly the moment for a Liu Bang or Xiang Yu to rise.

令單雄信、徐世勣、王伯當騎為左右翼，自引麾下急擊長恭等，破之。 He ordered Shan Xiongxin, Xu Shiji, and Wang Bodang as cavalry on the left and right wings, and personally led his own troops in a swift attack on Changgong and the others, defeating them.

密馳入讓壁慰諭，士無敢動者，以徐世勣、單雄信、王伯當分統其兵。 Mi galloped into Rang's camp to reassure the men. None dared stir. He put Xu Shiji, Shan Xiongxin, and Wang Bodang in charge of Rang's troops.

明日，密留王伯當守金墉，自引精兵出偃師，北阻邙山待之。 The next day Mi left Wang Bodang to hold Jinyong and personally led picked troops out of Yanshi, blocking Mount Mang to the north to await him.

時王伯當棄金墉屯河陽，密輕騎歸之，謂曰：「敗矣，久苦諸君，我今自刎以謝眾！」 At that time Wang Bodang had abandoned Jinyong and garrisoned Heyang. Mi rode lightly to join him and said, "I am defeated. I have long troubled you all. Today I shall cut my own throat to apologize to the company!"

伯當抱密慟絕，眾皆泣，莫能仰視。 Bodang embraced Mi and wept until he lost consciousness. All wept, and none could look up.

密又謂伯當曰：「將軍族重，豈復與孤俱行哉？」 Mi again said to Bodang, "General, your clan is weighty. How could you again travel with me alone?"

伯當曰：「昔蕭何舉宗從漢，今不昆季盡行，以為愧。 Bodang said, "In the past Xiao He brought his whole clan to follow the Han. If I do not bring all my brothers now, I would be ashamed.

因朝會進食，謂王伯當曰：「往在洛口，嘗欲以崔君賢為光祿，不意身自為此。」 At a court assembly when presenting food, he said to Wang Bodang, "Back at Luokou I once wished to make Cui Junxian Director of the Imperial Household. I never imagined I would hold the post myself."

未幾，聞故所部將多不附世充者，高祖詔密以本兵就黎陽招撫故部曲，經略東都，伯當以左武衛將軍為密副。 Before long, hearing that many of his former officers did not attach themselves to Shichong, Emperor Gaozu ordered Mi to take his original troops to Liyang to summon and pacify his former followers and plan strategy toward the Eastern Capital, with Bodang as Left Martial Guard General as Mi's deputy.

伯當止之，不從，乃曰：「士立義，不以存亡易慮。 Bodang stopped him, but he would not listen, and then said, "A man who stands on principle does not change his resolve because of survival or destruction.

公顧伯當厚，願畢命以報。 You have always treated Bodang generously. I wish to give my life to repay you.