Veteran minister whose name gave weight to an oath. His letter to the camp promised Cao Shuang no more than the loss of office; he watched the promise break, and died of remorse within months.
His letter went into the camp promising the regent no more than the loss of office; when the promise was broken, he died of remorse within months.Sanguozhi, Wei shu 15, Biography of Jiang Ji; Zizhi Tongjian, scroll 75
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Relations
- Sima Yi minister & the oath he could not hold — His letter secured the surrender; he asked Sima Yi to keep faith, could not prevail, and died of remorse.
- Cao Shuang the promise that betrayed him — Promised the regent no more than loss of office; ten days later Cao Shuang was executed.
Myth vs record
The story you may know
A willing architect of Sima Yi's coup who profited from the broken oath.
What the sources say
He and Chen Tai carried the promise of safety to the camp; after the executions he asked Sima Yi to keep faith, could not prevail, and died of remorse within months — the coup's quietest casualty.