Wang Lang王朗

History vs. fiction

In official history, he was a learned and erudite Minister of Education for the state of Wei, while in the novel he is portrayed as a villain who is scolded to death before the battle lines.

• novel inventionDebated with Zhuge Liang before the battle and was scolded to death

  According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Wang Lang, Wang Lang died of illness in Luoyang in the second year of Taihe (228 CE) and never went to the front lines; the claim that he was scolded to death is purely fictional. The original text: 「太和二年薨，谥曰成侯。子肃嗣。」 (Source: Book of Wei, Biographies of Zhong Yao, Hua Xin, and Wang Lang.txt)

• attestedDefended Kuaiji against Sun Ce and was versed in classical studies

  The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Wang Lang records that when he served as the Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, he steadfastly defended against Sun Ce, and later submitted to Wei, successively holding the post of Minister over the Masses, and was proficient in classical studies with writings. The original text: 「孙策渡江略地。朗功曹虞翻以为力不能拒，不如避之。朗自以身为汉吏，宜保城邑，遂举兵与策战，败绩，浮海至东冶。」 (Source: Book of Wei, Biographies of Zhong Yao, Hua Xin, and Wang Lang.txt)