Qin and Han · Deliberation Clerk under Gong Sui

Wang Sheng 王生

Attested BC 70 - BC 49

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Sheng was a Deliberation Clerk under Gong Sui.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 70 to BC 49 宣帝征遂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 101, passage 188

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Gong Sui (龔遂)
Directly stated · Book of Han 101, passage 193

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 7 passages

數年，上遣使者征遂，議曹王生願從。 Some years later the emperor recalled Gong Sui to court. Wang Sheng of his deliberation office asked to accompany him.

功曹以為王生素耆酒，亡節度，不可使。 The chief clerk objected that Wang Sheng was a drunkard without discipline.

王生日飲酒，不視太守。 Wang Sheng drank every day and ignored his governor.

會遂引入宮，王生醉，從後呼，曰：「明府且止，願有所白。」 As Gong Sui was ushered toward the palace, the drunken Wang Sheng hailed him from behind: "Governor, wait—I must speak."

遂還問其故，王生曰：「天子即問君何以治渤海，君不可有所陳對，宜曰『皆聖主之德，非小臣之力也』。」 Gong Sui turned back. Wang Sheng said, "If the emperor asks how you ruled Bohai, volunteer nothing—answer only: 'It was entirely the sagely sovereign's virtue, not this petty official's doing.'"

既至前，上果問以治狀，遂對如王生言。 At audience the emperor did ask about Bohai, and Gong Sui answered exactly as coached.

上以遂年老不任公卿，拜為水衡都尉，議曹王生為水衡丞，以褒顯遂云。 Deeming Gong Sui too aged for a ministerial portfolio, the emperor named him superintendent of the imperial parks and made Wang Sheng his deputy—a gesture meant to honor Gong Sui.