Wang Zhi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Wang Zhi (汪直)
Alias(es)	Fatty Wang; Tang Ruoshan (唐若山), his former identity as Xuanwu Camp commander 75 76
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Poyang County garrison; formerly the Eight Great Camps' Xuanwu Camp; later the Great Han 25 76 263
Occupation/Role	Hundred Household Commander; former Xuanwu Camp commander; later Marquis Liangzhou and Grand Master of Grand Provision 25 76 263
Status	Alive; later appears as Prince Beixuan/“Grand Ancestor Gao,” a Divine Intent Realm cultivator 557
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Bone Tempering Perfection	77	After falling from his former cultivation, his damaged meridians and internal organs leave him unable to advance beyond this realm.
Mystic Elephant recovery	175	Following treatment for his old injuries, he advances by minor realms every three to five days and expects to soon regain Great Perfection.
Grandmaster Elephant Realm	192, 209	Regains his Grandmaster Elephant cultivation and manifests the Xuanwu Heavenly Gang through his Mo Dao. He later states that he has reached Great Perfection and may attempt Martial Saint in roughly two years.
True Force Realm	267	Counted among Great Han’s True Force Martial Artists alongside Rong Yanqiu.
Divine Intent Realm	557	Appears before the Jianlong Emperor as an “extremely burly Divine Intent Realm cultivator.”

Background and History

Xuanwu Camp and the Longqing 57 disaster

Wang Zhi’s true identity is Tang Ruoshan, former commander of the Eight Great Camps’ Xuanwu Camp and a disciple of Governor Sun Xiangzong. During the fifty-seventh year of Longqing, Governor Sun was recalled to the capital and imprisoned while Southern Xu launched a major invasion. Tang Ruoshan’s forces needed reinforcements to open a route through Kangning Prefecture before attacking Lingchuan, but the already-assembled capital army deliberately delayed its advance. 76

According to Wang Zhi, the Xuanwu Camp was sent into a battle designed to consume it. The camp was annihilated, including his junior brother, and Governor Sun later severed their master-disciple relationship—not because Wang Zhi failed to protect Sun’s son, but because Wang considered the camp’s destruction an unforgivable command failure. 76

Wang survived with his meridians and internal organs severely damaged. His cultivation fell dramatically, leaving him stuck at Bone Tempering Perfection unless his injuries could be healed. 77

Poyang County commander

By the time Chen Sanshi joins the Poyang garrison, Wang Zhi serves publicly as a sixth-rank Hundred Household Commander. He initially accepts Chen’s silver without teaching him, dismissing ordinary talent as unworthy of investment. Once Chen demonstrates exceptional aptitude, Wang immediately claims the payment obliges him to teach “wholeheartedly,” takes Chen away from rival commanders, and personally instructs him in the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique. 18 21

Wang recognizes Chen’s potential after Chen cultivates Qi and Blood in six days using the demanding Vast Exhalation method. He promises to secure Chen’s elite-selection qualification, offers protection within Poyang County, and advises him on the military’s weapon system. Though Wang recommends the saber for faster advancement, he accepts Chen’s decision to continue practicing the spear. 25

He later gives Chen access to advanced spear techniques reserved for himself, explaining the differing focuses of the Flying Snake Sweeping Wind Spear, Heavenly Python Breaking Formation Spear, and Indestructible Golden Snake Spear. 54

Search for redemption

Wang’s patronage of Chen is partly driven by his desire to return to Governor Sun’s service. He asks Chen to deliver a message if Chen enters the Eight Great Camps: Wang wishes to atone for his past crimes, even if only by becoming a stable hand or dying on a suicide mission. 36

After Sun Buqi recognizes him as Tang Ruoshan, Wang initially denies the accusation. He eventually confesses his past to Chen Sanshi and accepts responsibility for the Xuanwu Camp’s destruction. 75 76

Recovery and later service

After receiving treatment for his old injuries, Wang’s recovery accelerates. He regains the Grandmaster Elephant Realm and fights beside Chen during later campaigns with his Xuanwu Heavenly Gang and Mo Dao. 175 192

He remains one of Chen’s senior brothers and most reliable commanders through the Northern Liang campaigns and the founding of Great Han. He is granted the title Marquis Liangzhou and appointed Grand Master of Grand Provision. 171 263

By the time of his audience with the Jianlong Emperor, Wang has become Prince Beixuan, known as Grand Ancestor Gao. He petitions the throne to abolish the Spirit Grain tax, arguing that repeated taxation, war, and the depletion of farmland have made the burden unbearable for common people. 557

Appearance

Wang is repeatedly called “Fatty Wang” and is described as a stout, armored martial officer. At forty-three, he remains physically formidable despite his ruined meridians; after recovering his cultivation, he is later described as extremely burly. 53 75 557

• Usually carries a saber or Mo Dao rather than a spear. 86 192
• Wears armor in military service. 75
• Keeps a simple, poorly maintained home despite his reputation for accumulating money. 77
• Often appears with wine, food, or a flask in hand. 25 209

Personality

Wang presents himself as greedy, shameless, and opportunistic. He accepts silver from Chen Sanshi, Liang Zhan, and wealthy Poyang families, openly treating payment as the basis of his reliability. He nevertheless insists that the money he earns has “legitimate uses.” 18 25 51 101

Beneath this mercenary exterior, Wang is intensely loyal to those he accepts as his own. He personally teaches Chen, protects him from local rivals, accompanies him on dangerous missions, and repeatedly places himself between Chen and enemies. 21 36 80 83

His defining trait is unresolved guilt over the Xuanwu Camp. He considers his own survival insignificant beside Chen’s future, seeks a chance to die in the Eight Great Camps, and reacts sharply to court officials whose conduct recalls the political betrayal that destroyed his camp. 36 86 213 247

Abilities & Skills

Martial cultivation

Wang retains combat experience far beyond what his injured Bone Tempering cultivation initially suggests.

• Easily blocks Chen Sanshi’s full-strength Blood Tempering spear thrust with a scabbard. 25
• Kills an enemy squad leader with a single saber strike during the barbarian campaign. 86
• Recovers the Grandmaster Elephant Realm and manifests Xuanwu Heavenly Gang through his Mo Dao. 192
• Later advances into the True Force and Divine Intent realms. 267 557
• His former injuries initially prevent him from progressing past Bone Tempering Perfection. 77

Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique

Wang teaches Chen Sanshi the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique, an advanced breathing method associated with the Eight Great Camps.

• Instructs Chen to unify posture training, spear handling, and breathing. 21
• Teaches the use of stored breath to stimulate acupoints and reinforce movement. 21
• Explains that its superior quality produces a greater long-term gap in Qi and Blood than ordinary methods. 25

Military instruction and assessment

Wang has extensive knowledge of cultivation, weapon training, and military advancement.

• Identifies Chen’s Qi and Blood as Supreme Grade and explains Innate Martial Physiques. 54
• Recommends weapon paths based on their training difficulty and battlefield use. 25
• Possesses numerous cultivation manuals below the Viscera Refining level, retained from his departure from the Xuanwu Camp. 90
• Recognizes that Luo Dongquan’s displayed strength exceeds what his stated realm should permit. 89

Command and recruitment

Wang remains an effective military leader despite his disgrace and injury.

• Commands men as a Hundred Household Commander in Poyang and accompanies Chen on reconnaissance and battlefield missions. 25 80
• Helps Chen’s forces absorb the Great Halberd Camp by offering its soldiers a choice between following Chen or being treated as enemies. 222
• Confronts withdrawing court troops at Kunyang City, denouncing their retreat as desertion while Chen is absent. 247

Equipment

• Mo Dao — Wang’s primary later weapon; used to manifest the Xuanwu Heavenly Gang. 192
• Saber — Used in earlier campaigns, including the killing of a barbarian squad leader. 86
• Black Wind Horse — Used while campaigning with Chen’s forces. 209 228
• Cultivation manuals — Keeps a chest of techniques below the Viscera Refining level. 90

Relationships

• Chen Sanshi — Mentor, protector, senior brother, and later subordinate commander. Wang teaches Chen the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique, shields him from Poyang’s political threats, and entrusts him with his plea for redemption. 21 36 171
• Sun Xiangzong — Former master and Governor of Liangzhou. Wang’s failure in the Xuanwu Camp disaster leads Sun to sever their master-disciple relationship. 76
• Sun Buqi — Recognizes Wang as Tang Ruoshan and confronts him over the Xuanwu Camp’s destruction. 75
• Fang Qingyun — Fellow senior brother from the Eight Great Camps. Wang recognizes Fang from the Longqing 57 era and later discusses court affairs with him and Chen. 114 171
• Xu Wencai — Chen’s strategist and Wang’s acquaintance. Xu deduces Wang’s former identity and asks him to intervene when Chen risks repeating Wang’s past mistake. 146
• Liang Zhan — A wealthy young master who attempts to hire Wang to eliminate Chen. Wang accepts Liang’s silver while feigning confusion over the target. 25 36
• Luo Dongquan — A Poyang officer Wang openly distrusts. Wang argues against allowing Luo to accompany Chen on a dangerous mission and later suspects Luo is concealing his true strength. 80 89

Notable Quotes

“Tell Lord Governor that I, Wang, wish to atone for my past crimes!” 36

“Even if it's just to be a stable hand, or to go on a suicide mission, I want to die in the Eight Great Camps!” 36

“I, Wang, always deliver when I get paid!” 101