Who is Jiang Wei?
According to Kongming.net:
Place of Birth: Ji County, Tian Shui Prefecture (Presently Gangu
County in Gansu Province)
Lifespan: AD 205 – 264 (59 Years)
Titles: Great General, General of the Rear Army, Minister of War.
Lord of Dangyang
Family: Wife and two daughter [killed by the Wei troops in AD 264]
During an uprising in Tian Shui Prefecture, Jiang Wei’s father was killed
protecting the Prefect. Jiang Wei was still very young, but later he took
up his father’s post as Imperial Corpsman, and continued to serve in Ji
County.
When Zhuge Liang launched his Northern Campaign against Wei, Jiang Wei
and the Prefect were patrolling outside. Afraid that Jiang Wei would defect
to Shu, the Prefect sneaked out of their camp at night and locked the
city gates. Jiang Wei could not go back, and thus he went over to Zhuge
Liang’s camp. Kongming recognized him as a talented officer and after
the subsequent defeat at Jie Ting, Zhuge Liang took Boyue with him when
he went back to Cheng Du. Jiang Wei was appointed as General Who Displays
Righteousness and titled Lord of Dangyang Precinct. At that time, Jiang
Wei was only twenty-seven years old.
He was later promoted to General Who Conquers the West and Commander of
the Central Army. In the year AD 234, Zhuge Liang died at Wu Zhang and
Jiang Wan took over his position. Boyue was promoted to Commander of the
Right, General Who Upholds the Han, and titled Lord of Pingxiang. In the
sixth year of [Yan Xi] (AD 243), Jiang Wei took up the posts of Minister
of War, General Who Guards the West, and General of the Guard. The same
year, Jiang Wei led troops against a minor uprising in Han Shang county,
Ping Kang Prefecture.
After the death of Wei Commander Sima Zhao, Jiang Wei started a new campaign
against Wei. Boyue was confident in his abilities to use the northern
tribes to his advantage, but Fei Wei rejected his proposals and limited
the amount of troops that Jiang Wei was allowed to use. Jiang Wei scored
the initial victory at Tao river, but was driven back by Deng Ai. A year
later Boyue took up the post of Great General, but his aid Li Hui did
not arrive and the Shu army suffered a crushing defeating. The casualty
count was very high, and the area west of Long Shan was destroyed. Jiang
Wei received heavy criticism from the populace and had himself demoted
to General of the Rear Army and Acting Great General.
In the year AD 257, Zhuge Dan rebelled against Wei, and Jiang Wei took
the opportunity to attack Wei in the west. Deng Ai and Sima Wang held
back the invasion, and when Zhuge Dan’s rebellion was put down, Jiang
Wei retreated.
In the fifth year of [Yin Yao] (AD 262), Jiang Wei led another Northern
Campaign against Wei, but was again bested by Deng Ai. Jiang Wei was uneasy
about his position in the Shu court, and after hearing about a possible
assassination plot by Huang Hao and Yan Yu, Jiang Wei did not return to
Cheng Du, but stayed in Han Zhong.
The next year, Jiang Wei warned the Emperor Liu Chan that Zhong Hui and
Deng Ai would invade Shu through Guan Zhong. However, the court eunuch
Huang Hao used a shaman to predict failure for Wei, and Jiang Wei’s plans
for defense were rejected.
Jiang Wei’s predictions came true and Zhong Hui and Deng Ai invaded Shu
at two points. Jiang Wei resisted Zhong Hui’s attack, but Liao Hua could
not defend against Deng Ai, and after the defeat of Zhuge Zhan at Mian
Zhu gate, Shu was lost. Liu Chan surrendered to Wei, and Jiang Wei was
ordered to surrender his troops to Zhong Hui, who treated him well. Zhong
Hui made false allegations against Deng Ai and took the Protectorship
of Yi Zhou. Together with Jiang Wei, he attempted to raise a rebellion.
However they received no support from the Wei troops, and Zhong Hui, Jiang
Wei and their families were put to death in year AD 264.
Jiang Wei in Koei
Jiang Wei is a playable character the Koei video game series Dynasty Warriors. He is portrayed as an inherently kind and noble individual with a fierce desire to learn and a deep respect for brilliant men, friend and foe alike. Jiang wields a trident called the "Blink" in battle and generally wears leather and cloth of a decidedly Westernised appearance. Although initially an officer of Wei and serving under Ma Zun, Jiang is soon convinced by his revered idol Zhuge Liang to join Shu Han, where his potential would be properly appreciated. Even if the player is successful in defeating Zhuge Liang while serving Cao Wei, Jiang will inevitabley flee to the Kingdom of Shu when Ma Zun begins to fear Jiang's abilities. Here, Jiang becomes Zhuge's most promising and talented prodigy, with key battles involving Zhuge teaching Jiang how to lead an offensive, conduct a siege, etc.
Jiang Wei's "Musou Mode" (story mode) culminates in the Battle of Wu Zhang Plains, wherein Zhuge Liang's escalating illness forces Jiang Wei to assume control of the Shu army whilst pitted against Wei's most brilliant and deadly strategist, Sima Yi, after Zhuge finally succumbs to sickness. Jiang successfully rallies the panic-stricken, retreating Shu Han army and turns the tide against Sima as he prematurely celebrates his "victorious" campaign. After uniting China under the Shu Han banner, Jiang Wei is shown assuming the position of chief strategist to Liu Shan (alternately named Liu Chan in the game), retiring his trident in favour of Zhuge Liang's "White Feather."
In Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series, Jiang Wei is known as "Zhuge Liang's Scholarly Heir".