Wang Ji (王机), courtesy name Lingming (令明; 289 – September or October 315)Vol.89 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Wang Ji died of illness in the 8th month of the 3rd year of the Jianxing era of the reign of Emperor Min of Jin; the month corresponds to 15 Sep to 14 Oct 315 in the Julian calendar. was a Chinese rebel leader and official during the Jin dynasty (266–420). He occupied Guangzhou in 312 and styled himself as inspector of the province. While he nominally submitted to the warlord Wang Dun, Wang Dun eventually ordered his subordinate Tao Kan to pacify Guangzhou; Wang Ji died of illness during the pacification.
Life Wang Ji was from Changsha Commandery; his father Wang Yi (王毅; died 306) had a stint as Inspector of Guangzhou, and was popular among the natives there.(王机，字令明，长沙人也。父毅，广州刺史，甚得南越之情。) Jin Shu, vol.100 Wang Ji was said to be handsome and magnanimous.(机美姿仪，倜傥有度量。) Jin Shu, vol.100
In January 306, Chen Min sent his brother Chen Hui to attack Jiangzhou. At the age of 17 (by East Asian reckoning), Wang Ji led a band and helped to defeat Chen Hui.(陈恢之乱，机年十七，率众击破之。) Jin Shu, vol.100 Wang's father Wang Yi probably died later that year. Wang Ji's elder brother Wang Ju (王矩; died 306), courtesy name Lingshi (令式), was Administrator of Nanping. Due to his role in defeating Chen Hui, Wang Ju was appointed Inspector of Guangzhou, probably as his father's replacement, but Ju died about a month after he reached Guangzhou.(机兄矩，字令式。...初为南平太守，豫讨陈恢有功，迁广州刺史。将赴职，...至州月馀卒。) Jin Shu, vol.100
Wang Ji later befriended Wang Cheng, younger brother of Wang Yan, who was then Inspector of Jingzhou as part of the "three rabbit burrows strategy" (狡兔三窟) Wang Yan had put forward to Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai and regent for Emperors Hui and Huai.([永嘉元年十一月]乙亥，以王衍爲司徒。衍說太傅越曰：「朝廷危亂，當賴方伯，宜得文武兼資以任之。」乃以弟澄爲荊州都督，族弟敦爲青州刺史，語之曰：「荊州有江、漢之固，青州有負海之險，卿二人在外而吾居中，足以爲三窟矣。」澄至鎭，以郭舒爲別駕，委以府事。澄日夜縱酒，不親庶務，雖寇戎交急，不以爲懷。舒常切諫，以爲宜愛民養兵，保全州境，澄不從。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86 As Wang Ji admired Wang Cheng, he became a close friend of the latter. Wang Cheng reciprocated the affection; Wang Ji soon became an important henchman of Wang Cheng's rule.(尝慕王澄为人，澄亦雅知之，以为己亚，遂与友善，内综心膂，外为牙爪。) Jin Shu, vol.100
However, both Wang Cheng and Wang Ji were frequently drunk and they neglected administrative affairs; the populace grew increasingly discontent.Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86 and Jin Shu, vol.100 In 312, Wang Cheng was eventually forced to relinquish his post of Inspector of Jingzhou after being repeatedly defeated by the rebel Du Tao, and to relocate to Jianye. On his way to Jianye, Wang Cheng offended Wang Dun, who then accused Cheng of consorting with Du Tao, and arranged for Cheng to be strangled.([永嘉六年]王澄过诣敦，自以名声素出敦右，犹以旧意侮敦。敦怒，诬其与杜弢通信，遣壮士扼杀之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.88 Fearing for his life, Wang Ji asked Wang Dun to appoint him Inspector of Guangzhou, as his father and elder brother had previously held the post; Wang Dun refused. Wen Shao (温卲), a general stationed at Guangzhou, decided to rebel against the incumbent Inspector of Guangzhou Guo Ne (郭讷), and invited Wang to take over as Inspector; Wang then sent about a thousand of his servants and associates to Guangzhou. While Guo sent troops to intercept Wang, as these troops all formerly served under Wang's father or elder brother, they surrendered to Wang instead. Guo then vacated his position and let Wang take over Guangzhou.(王机闻澄死，惧祸，以其父毅、兄矩皆尝为广州刺史，就敦求广州，敦不许。会广州将温卲等叛刺史郭讷，迎机为刺史，机遂将奴客门生千馀人入广州。讷遣兵拒之，将士皆机父兄时部曲，不战迎降；讷乃避位，以州授之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.88
In 315, Wang Ji, fearing that Wang Dun may attack him, petitioned Wang Dun for the post of Inspector of Jiaozhou. At around the same time, Du Hong (杜弘), a subordinate of Du Tao, surrendered to Wang Ji. Wang Dun then decided to use Wang Ji and Du Hong to attack Liang Shuo; Dun then nominated Ji as Inspector of Jiaozhou. Wang Ji and Du Hong had reached Yulin Commandery when they were repelled by Liang and his nominee as Inspector of Jiaozhou, Xiu Zhan (修湛; son of Xiu Ze [修则]). Wang Ji then returned to Guangzhou together with Du Hong, Wen Shao and Liu Shen (刘沈), a xiucai of Jiaozhou.(王机自以盗据广州，恐王敦讨之，更求交州。会杜弘诣机降，敦欲因机以讨硕，乃以降杜弘为机功，转交州刺史。机至郁林，硕迎前刺史修则子湛行州事以拒之。机不得进，乃更与杜弘及广州将温卲、交州秀才刘沈谋复还据广州。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.89 Wang Dun then sent Tao Kan to pacify Guangzhou. Through Tao's efforts, Wen Shao and Liu Shen were captured and executed, while Wang Ji died of illness and Du Hong surrendered to Wang Dun. Tao Kan's subordinate Xu Gao (许高) dug up Wang's body and beheaded the corpse; Xu also killed Wang's two sons.Jin Shu, vol.100 (biography of Wang Ji) and Zizhi Tongjian, vol.89
Notes
References
Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu). Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.