Quick Facts
Biography
Jiang Ji (died 249), courtesy name Zitong, was an official of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period. He was Jiang Xiu (蔣秀)'s father and Jiang Kai (蔣凱)'s grandfather.
Life
At early years, he was famous in the region of Huai River (淮河) along with Hu Zhi (胡質:?-250) and Zhu Ji (朱績).
During the reign of the Emperor Cao Rui (reign 226-239), he became a "Secondary Marquis" (關內侯). In 228, being lured by a fake surrender of Eastern Wu general Zhou Fang (Three Kingdoms), Cao Xiu planned to attack Eastern Wu and advanced deeply into the front line Huancheng (皖城). Jiang Ji opposed Cao Xiu's advance by the reason that the Cao Xiu's army could be cut behind by the Eastern Wu's forces of Zhu Ran. At this Battle of Shiting, Cao Xiu suffered a crucial defeat.
During the reign of the emperor Cao Fang (reign 239-255), he was promoted to Grand Commandant (太尉).
In January 249, Sima Yi launched coup d'état to seize power from Cao Shuang. While the emperor Cao Fang and Cao Shuang left the capital Luoyang to visit Cao Rui's tomb, Sima Yi rallied a group of anti-Cao Shuang officials, closed all the gates of Luoyang and also took over the floating bridge at the Luo River. He sent an edict to Cao Fang in the name of Empress Dowager Guo, accusing Cao Shuang of dominating and corrupting the government, and demanding that Cao Shuang and his brothers be removed from power.
Jiang Ji was one of the main participants of the coup at the Sima Yi's side. Jiang Ji sent a letter to Cao Shuang and said that "Sima Yi and Jiang Ji were concerned solely with the military powers in the hands of Cao Shuang and Cao Shuang's brothers, as Sima Yi had sworn pointing to River Luo."
Soon after, Cao Shuang surrendered. When Cao Shuang was about to be executed by Sima Yi, Jiang Ji asked Sima Yi to save Cao Shuang's life saying that Cao Zhen's family should not be exterminated considering the reputation of Cao Zhen. However Sima Yi did not accept his advice and executed the whole family of Cao Shuang.
According to Shiyu (世語), Jiang was said to be bothered by this because he had urged Cao Shuang to surrender on the condition that Cao Shuang's life would be saved, and that he failed to keep his promise. A few months after, he died in April, 249.
