Wang Mi (died November 311([永嘉五年]冬，十月，勒请弥燕于己吾。弥将往，长史张嵩谏，不听。酒酣，勒手斩弥而并其众，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87. The month corresponds to 29 Oct to 26 Nov 311 in the Julian calendar.), courtesy name Zigu, was a Chinese bandit leader and military general of the Han-Zhao dynasty. He participated in a rebellion led by Liu Bogen during the War of the Eight Princes but after it was quelled, he fled to Mount Zhangguang where he became a notorious bandit and was given the nickname "Flying Leopard". After two years of banditry, he joined the Han-Zhao dynasty in 308. He became one of the state's most important commanders in their war against the Jin, playing a crucial role in capturing Luoyang during the Disaster of Yongjia. However, Wang Mi's career was cut short after he was assassinated by his peer and rival Shi Le in 311.
Background and early life Wang Mi's family came from a line of officials in Donglai Commandery in the Jiaodong Peninsula. His grandfather Wang Qi, courtesy name Kongshuo (孔硕),(〈《世语》曰：颀字孔硕，东莱人，晋永嘉中大贼王弥，颀之孙。〉) Wei Jin Shiyu annotation in Sanguozhi, vol.28 was the Administrator of Xuantu during Cao Fang's reign; he greatly contributed in the Goguryeo–Wei War, where he served under Guanqiu Jian.([正始]六年....俭遣玄菟太守王颀追之...) Sanguozhi, vol.28. In 247, Wang Qi was appointed Administrator of Daifang Commandery; he then assigned officials to mediate between Himiko, queen of Wa and Himikoko, king of Kununokuni.([正始]其八年，[带方]太守王颀到官。 倭女王卑弥呼与狗奴国男王卑弥弓呼素不和， 遣倭载斯（、）乌越等诣郡，说相攻击状。) Sanguozhi, vol.30 As Administrator of Tianshui, Wang Qi participated in the conquest of Wei's rival state, Shu Han, where he served under Deng Ai.(艾遣天水太守王颀等直攻维营...) Sanguozhi, vol.28. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, Wang Qi was appointed as Administrator of Runan.
In his youth, Wang Mi was noted to be brave and well-versed, surrounding himself with books and records. He also once worked as a knight-errant (Youxia), offering his service around Luoyang. A hermit named Dong Zhongdao encountered Wang Mi on the road and said to him, "My Lord speaks like a wolf and looks like a leopard. Excellent in confusion, happy with misfortune, assumes all under heaven is disturbed and agitated: not the acts of a scholar and nobleman!"(王彌，東萊人也。家世二千石。祖頎，魏玄菟太守，武帝時，至汝南太守。彌有才幹，博涉書記。少遊俠京都，隱者董仲道見而謂之曰：「君豺聲豹視，好亂樂禍，若天下騷擾，不作士大夫矣。」) Book of Jin, Volume 100
Liu Bogen's rebellion During the War of the Eight Princes in April 306,Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Jin and vol.86 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Liu Bogen's rebellion occurred in the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Guang'xi era ([光熙元年]三月，惤令劉柏根反，....); the month corresponds to 31 Mar to 29 Apr 306 in the Julian calendar. the Prefect of Jian County (near Longkou, Shandong), Liu Bogen staged a revolt in Donglai. Hearing this, Wang Mi brought his followers along with him to join the rebellion and was appointed as Bogen's Chief Clerk. The rebels invaded the capital of Qingzhou in Linzi and the commander of Qingzhou, Sima Lue sent Liu Tun to quell the rebellion. However, the rebels defeated Tun and Sima Lue was forced out of Qingzhou.(永興初，巾弦令劉根起兵東萊，誑惑百姓，眾以萬數，攻略於臨淄，略不能距，走保聊城。) Book of Jin, Volume 37
Despite the rebellion's initial success, it fell apart later that year with the intervention of the Youzhou warlord Wang Jun. In the wake of Sima Lue's defeat, Wang Jun attacked Liu Bogen to aid Lue in recovering his territories. Bogen was killed in battle and Wang Mi decided to lead the remaining forces to the small islets in the east. However, on his way, he was intercepted and defeated by Gou Chun. Wang Mi survived the attack and fled to Mount Zhangguang (in present-day Pingdu, Shandong) to become a bandit.(惠帝末，妖賊劉柏根起於東萊之惤縣，彌率家僮從之，柏根以為長史。柏根死，聚徒海渚，為苟純所敗，亡入長廣山為群賊。彌多權略，凡有所掠，必豫圖成敗，舉無遺策。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
As a bandit leader
Invasion of Qingzhou and Xuzhou During his time as an bandit, Wang Mi led many raids in Qingzhou against its people. His notoriety earned him the name "Flying Leopard (飛豹)" by locals.(彌多權略，凡有所掠，必豫圖成敗，舉無遺策，弓馬迅捷，膂力過人，青土號為「飛豹」) Book of Jin, Volume 100 In March or April 307, Wang Mi invaded Qingzhou and Xuzhou.[永嘉元年]二月，王弥寇青、徐二州，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The month corresponds to 20 Mar to 18 Apr 307 in the Julian calendar. He declared himself Grand General Who Conquers the East and executed any official he could find. Emperor Huai's regent, Sima Yue, sent Ju Xian to repel Wang Mi but Wang defeated and killed him. The Inspector of Yanzhou, Gou Xi, was then sent instead and Wang Mi's forces were routed.(州刺史苟晞逆擊彌，大破之。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
Siege of Luoyang (308) After his recent defeat, Wang Mi decided to submit to Liu Yuan of Han-Zhao. Liu Yuan accepted his submission and appointed him the Duke of Donglai, Inspector of Qingzhou and Great General who Garrisons the East. With a state now backing him up, he gathered his scattered forces and raised his troops' morale. In March 308,([永嘉二年]三月，.....王弥收集亡散，兵復大振。分遣诸将攻掠青、徐、兖、豫四州，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The month corresponds to 9 Mar to 6 Apr 308 in the Julian calendar. he sent out several of his generals to pillage Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou and Yuzhou where they killed many of the regions' administrators and prefects. Gou Xi fought Wang Mi's forces multiple time, but this time he could not overcome them. Soon, Wang Mi reached the city of Xuchang, where he emptied the city's arsenal of weapons and equipment to rearm his troops.(彌退集亡散，眾復大振，晞與之連戰，不能克。彌進兵寇泰山、魯國、譙、梁、陳、汝南、潁川、襄城諸郡，入許昌，開府庫，取器杖，所在陷沒，多殺守令，有眾數萬，朝廷不能制。) Book of Jin, Volume 100 With his momentum looking unstoppable, Wang Mi set his eyes on Luoyang.
As Wang Mi's army marched towards the capital, Sima Yue sent his marshal, Wang Bin, to defend the capital. The governor of Liangzhou, Zhang Gui, also sent his general Beigong Chun to reinforce the city. When Wang Mi finally arrived at Luoyang on 23 June 308, the Minister Over the Masses, Wang Yan, was appointed to command the army against him. The defences of Luoyang succeeded in overwhelming and driving away Wang Mi. On 26 June 308, Wang Mi burned the city gates before retreating, but Wang Yan sent Wang Bing to pursue him and he was defeated once more at Seven Li Gully.(太傅越遣司馬王斌帥甲士五千人入衞京師，張軌亦遣督護北宮純將兵衞京師。五月，彌入自轘轅，敗官軍于伊北，京師大震，宮城門晝閉。壬戌，彌至洛陽，屯于津陽門。詔以王衍都督征討諸軍事。北宮純募勇士百餘人突陳，彌兵大敗。乙丑，彌燒建春門而東，衍遣左衞將軍王秉追之，戰于七里澗，又敗之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 86. The 5th month of the 2nd year of the Yong'jia era starts from 5 Jun 308 in the Julian calendar.
Service under Han-Zhao
During Liu Yuan's reign After failing to capture Luoyang, Wang Mi went to formally join the Han. Liu Yuan and Wang Mi had once befriended each other in their youths during their time in Luoyang. Thus, when Liu Yuan heard that Wang Mi was coming to join him, he welcomed Wang with open arms. Upon meeting Liu Yuan, Wang urged him to declare himself emperor, which Liu would do later that year. Liu Yuan offered Wang Mi a number of posts as part of his welcome, but Wang Mi declined them all; Liu Yuan also praised Wang Mi by comparing him to Dou Rong, Zhuge Liang and Deng Yu.(彌謂其党劉靈曰：「晉兵尚強，歸無所厝。劉元海昔為質子，我與之周旋京師，深有分契，今稱漢王，將歸之，可乎？」靈然之。乃渡河歸元海。元海聞而大悅，遣其侍中兼御史大夫郊迎，致書於彌曰：「以將軍有不世之功，超時之德，故有此迎耳。遲望將軍之至，孤今親行將軍之館，輒拂席洗爵，敬待將軍。」及彌見元海，勸稱尊號，元海謂彌曰：「孤本謂將軍如竇周公耳，今真吾孔明、仲華也。烈祖有云：'吾之有將軍，如魚之有水。'」於是署彌司隸校尉，加侍中、特進，彌固辭。) Book of Jin, Volume 100. "Zhougong", "Kongming" and "Zhonghua" were the courtesy names of Dou, Zhuge and Deng respectively.
Under Han, Wang Mi was first tasked in accompanying Liu Yao in invading Henei before joining with Shi Le to attack Linzhang in 308. After that, in October,([永嘉二年]九月，汉王弥、石勒寇邺，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The month corresponds to 2 to 30 Oct 308 in the Julian calendar. he and Shi Le besieged Ye, causing the local commander He Yu to abandon the city. Emperor Huai sent Pei Xian to camp at Baima (near present-day Hua County, Henan) to defend against Wang Mi.
In 309, Wang Mi was appointed to a number of important posts; Palace Attendant, Chief Controller of Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jizhou, and Yangzhou and Governor of Qingzhou. After that, he was sent to campaign against the Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Kun, to capture Huguan county from his territory together with Liu Cong and Shi Le. In order to support Liu Kun, Sima Yue sent Wang Kuang and others to attack Wang Mi but Wang routed them. Meanwhile, Liu Cong and Shi Le defeated Liu Kun's forces and captured Huguan.(永嘉初，寇上黨，圍壺關，東海王越遣淮南內史王曠、安豐太守衛乾等討之，及彌戰于高都、長平間，大敗之，死者十六七。元海進彌征東大將軍，封東萊公。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
Afterwards, Wang Mi participated in Liu Yuan's campaign in Luoyang as a subordinate of Liu Cong. Although Luoyang was poorly defended, the campaign went badly for the Han forces as several of their generals were killed during the assault. Wang Mi advised Liu Cong to retreat as their supplies were beginning to run low, but Liu did not dare to do so without his father's permission. It was not until Liu Yuan recalled his forces that they could retreat, ending the siege in failure.(是冬，復大發卒，遣聰、彌與劉曜、劉景等率精騎五萬寇洛陽，使呼延翼率步卒繼之，敗王師于河南。聰進屯於西明門，護軍賈胤夜薄之，戰于大夏門，斬聰將呼延顥，其眾遂潰。聰回軍而南。壁于洛水，尋進屯宣陽門，曜屯上東門，彌屯廣陽門，景攻大夏門，聰親祈嵩嶽，令其將劉厲、呼延朗等督留軍。東海王越命參軍孫詢、將軍丘光、樓裒等率帳下勁卒三千，自宣陽門擊朗，斬之。聰聞而馳還。厲懼聰之罪己也，赴水而死。王彌謂聰曰：「今既失利，洛陽猶固，殿下不如還師，徐為後舉。下官當於袞豫之間收兵積穀，伏聽嚴期。」宣于修之又言於元海曰：「歲在辛未，當得洛陽。今晉氣猶盛，大軍不歸，必敗。」元海馳遣黃門郎傅詢召聰等還師。) Book of Jin, Volume 101
On 6 January 310,([永嘉三年]十一月，甲申，....。王弥南出轘辕，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87 Wang Mi marched his troops south through Huanyuan Pass (approximately northwest of the Shaolin Monastery in Henan) to invade Xiangcheng commandery but he was defeated by the Qihuo general, Bo Sheng at Xinji (in modern Fugou County, Henan). However, at the same time, many refugees in Yingchuan, Xiangcheng, Runan, Nanyang, and Henan commanderies were rebelling in order to join Wang Mi. These refugees, who initially fled to escape the fighting, were discriminated against by the local populace. To show their loyalty to Wang Mi, they set fire to the towns and cities and killed the chief clerks and local officials.(彌復以二千騎寇襄城諸縣，河東、平陽、弘農、上党諸流人之在潁川、襄城、汝南、南陽、河南者數萬家，為舊居人所不禮，皆焚燒城邑，殺二千石長吏以應彌。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
Wang Mi sent a petition to Liu Yuan requesting that his Chief Clerk of the Left, Cao Ni, be appointed General Who Maintains The East in Qingzhou, where he would provide security to Wang's family's members.(彌乃以左長史曹嶷為鎮東將軍，給兵五千，多齎寶物還鄉里，招誘亡命，且迎其室。) Book of Jin, Volume 101 Wang Mi followed Shi Le in invading Xuzhou, Yuzhou and Yanzhou, routing many of the local generals.
Disaster of Yongjia