生平

早年生活

王浑曾任大将军曹爽的掾，正始十年（249年）司马懿发动高平陵之变，斩杀曹爽，浑循例遭罢黜。尔后复出，先后任怀县县令、参安东将军（司马昭）军事，散骑黄门侍郎、散骑常侍。咸熙年间改任越骑校尉。父亲王昶死后承袭其爵位京陵侯。

主镇地方

泰始元年十二月（266年），魏元帝曹奂禅让帝位予司马炎，西晋建立，王浑加任扬烈将军，迁徐州刺史。在徐州刺史任内曾开仓赈济饥荒，而深得人民信赖。后来，王浑又转任东中郎将，监淮北诸军事，并镇守许昌。

王浑后又转征虏将军、改监豫州诸军事、假节领豫州刺史。因豫州与东吴接壤，王浑就在当地宣扬西晋政府的威信，令很多不满孙皓统治的东吴人士前来投靠西晋。后东吴将领武昌左部督薛莹和夏口督鲁淑号称领兵十万，分别进攻新息和弋阳；当时正值各州兵马休息的日子，各地都少了一旅的兵力，东吴都不提防晋军会到临。但王浑则率军悄悄渡过淮河，出其不意地攻击东吴军，并将其击破。王浑后来又迁安东将军，都督扬州诸军事并镇守寿春。此时东吴又在皖城大举耕作，意图为进攻储蓄军备。王浑于是派扬州刺史应绰督淮南诸军进攻皖城的田地，不但击破在当地镇守的军队，更烧毁大量谷物、稻苗和船只。王浑又在东面边界列兵，观察对面东吴的地形和城池，准备筹划进攻方略。

平吴一统

咸宁五年（279年）十一月，司马炎决定发动灭吴战争，王浑亦领兵从横江出击，又派部下进攻东吴各城，都一一击破，东吴重兵把守的濡须、东关都被晋军绕过而没能阻拦晋军。东吴厉武将军陈代和平虏将军朱明见此更前来投降西晋。此时东吴荆州已大致落入晋军之手，各路军队又攻向建业，孙皓于是派丞相张悌督丹阳太守沈莹、护军孙震和副军师诸葛靓率三万兵抵挡晋军，张悌领兵渡江到牛渚并围困王浑所派的城阳都尉张乔。王浑于是又派安东司马孙畴和扬州刺史周浚进击，并将吴军击破，张悌、沈莹和孙震都战死，又杀了七千八百多人，震惊东吴。及后孙皓派使者送降书给王浑、王浚和琅邪王司马伷，但王浑因按兵不动，而王浚则一路沿长江到建业，并受降后才渡江。王浚当时因从蜀地直攻至建业而威名远播，但王浑却认为他自己率先攻破孙皓中央的军队，功劳应当最大，只因当时按兵不动才令王浚比他更快到建业；故此王浑非常不甘心，后悔没有在击破张悌后立刻进攻建业，更加多次上奏要揭发王浚的罪状，称他不受节度，要求要用槛车押王浚回洛阳，但司马炎都不应允，而王浑此举更被人讥讽。及后，司马炎称许王浑的军功，让他进爵为京陵公，增邑八千户。王浑及后转任征东大将军，重新镇守寿春。当时王浑不常用刑，处事果断，而且又妥善安抚了当时心中畏惧西晋政权的东吴遗民，令江东都安定起来，民心都归附。

位至三公

太康六年（285年）正月，王浑被徵召为尚书左仆射，加散骑常侍。此时司马炎听从荀勖等人的建议，打算让一直在洛阳任官的弟弟齐王司马攸送返封国，王浑上书谏止但司马炎不听。太熙元年（290年）正月，王浑升任司徒。不久司马炎逝世，太子司马衷继位，王浑又加任侍中，封国又获赐士官的殊荣。次年，皇后贾南风联合楚王司马玮诛除辅政的太傅杨骏和他的党羽，铲除杨氏的势力后，司马玮又意图杀新任的太宰汝南王司马亮夺权，手下公孙宏劝司马玮找身为旧臣的王浑支持，稳定众人的心，但王浑却以疾病为由回府第，又命府第一千多名家兵闭门抗拒司马玮，司马玮不敢强逼。同年，司马玮杀司马亮后，贾南风又诛杀司马玮，并总揽朝政，王浑此时则带兵前来上任司徒，获加录尚书事。

王浑早前任官都有非常好的称誉，但自从任司徒后，声望却日渐减退。元康七年（297年），王浑逝世，享年七十五岁，谥号为元公。

性格特徵

• 史称他沉雅有器量，但在他在平灭东吴后与王浚争功而心生不忿，更上书诬告王浚违反节度要除去他，这种行为在当时惹来讥讽。其后在杨骏被诛后，王浑以旧臣而获增加所领士兵，但王浑则以司徒是文职和一时得宠为由拒绝增兵，都让他们为官属所管。当时的人则认为他谦虚而识体。

家庭

兄弟姐妹

• 王深，冀州刺史

• 王俊

• 王沦，曹魏大将军参军

• 王湛，西晋汝南郡太守、关内侯

妻

• 锺琰，一名锺琰之，锺繇曾孙女（《世说新语·贤媛》）

• 颜氏。徐州民女，王浑任徐州刺史时娶为后妻，但成礼时没有答拜，故其子王济不视之为后母，而视为妾（《世说新语·尤悔》）

子女

• 王尚，王浑长子，王浑击退薛莹等军后因父功而获封关内侯，早死。

• 王济，王浑次子，嗣子，为人奢侈。在西晋官至侍中。

• 王澄，王浑三子，王浑平灭东吴后获封亭侯，既有辩才又有才思文采，曾任清要显达的职位。

• 王汶，王浑四子，既有辩才又有才思文采，曾任清要显达的职位。

• 王氏，嫁卫恒，生卫玠

• 王氏，嫁裴楷

孙

• 王卓，王济庶长子，嗣子，任给事中。

• 王聿，王济庶次子，嗣嫡母常山公主而封敏阳侯。

Early life and career

Early career in Cao Wei

Wang Hun was born the son of the Cao Wei general, Wang Chang, who was from the Wang clan of Jinyang County (晋阳; present-day Taiyuan, Shanxi) in Taiyuan Commandery. Wang Hun began his career as a subordinate of the General-In-Chief, Cao Shuang. In 249, Sima Yi carried out a coup at Gaoping Tombs, executing Cao Shuang and many of his partisans. However, Wang Hun was merely dismissed from his office, and he would later return to the government shortly after, serving a series of offices including as military advisor of Sima Zhao.

Service in Xuzhou, Yuzhou and Yangzhou

After Wei was dissolved and Jin was formed in 266, Wang Hun was appointed General Who Spreads Vehemence and the Inspector of Xuzhou. During his time in Xuzhou, a famine had broken out. In response, Wang Hun opened up the granaries and warehouses to feed the people, causing the local populace to highly revere him. Later, he was tasked in defending Xuchang and oversaw military affairs in Huaibei.

Wang Hun was eventually transferred to Yuzhou, where he was given military command over the province and was acting Inspector. As Yuzhou was bordered with Jin's southern rival state, Eastern Wu, Wang Hun began publicizing his state's prestige, attracting many migrants from Wu. At the time, two Wu generals, Xue Ying and Lu Shu, were boasted to have a total of 100,000 soldiers under their wing. The pair attacked Jin at Yiyang and Xinxi (新息; southwest of present-day Xi County, Henan) during a day when most of the Jin soldiers were on leave and only one brigade was defending the areas. Despite that, Wang Hun took what little he had and led them to secretly cross the Huaihe. Xue Ying and Lu Shu did not anticipate the Jin army to attack, so Wang Hun routed them.

Wang Hun was later once again transferred, this time to Yangzhou, where he served as General Who Stabilizes the East as well as Commander of military affairs in Yangzhou and defended the city of Shouchun. Wu had been heavily cultivating in Wancheng (宛城; in present-day Nanyang, Henan) in preparation to attack. Wang Hun ordered the Inspector of Yangzhou, Ying Chou (应绰), to raid Wancheng's farmlands. Ying Chou destroyed the local garrison in Wancheng and burnt much of Wu's grains, rice seedlings and ships before returning. Afterwards, Wang Hun positioned troops at the eastern border, observing the terrains and enemy cities for Jin's future plans of invasion.

Friendship with Liu Yuan

Wang Hun was friends with a Xiongnu noble named Liu Yuan, who would later be known as the founder of Han Zhao, one of the pivotal states of the Sixteen Kingdoms. At this point, Liu Yuan was still a Jin official, and Wang Hun, along with his son Wang Ji (王济), would often talk on behalf of him to Sima Yan. Liu Yuan was liked by Sima Yan but not by Sima Yan's advisors. In 279, he was recommended twice to be given command over an army, – first against Wu and then against the Xianbei rebel Tufa Shujineng – but Sima Yan was advised not to in both times.

Liu Yuan became depressed at what he perceived as a mistreatment of him, and this change of behaviour was noticed by Sima Yan's brother, Sima You. Fearing that he would rebel, Sima You told his brother that Liu Yuan should be removed at once. However, Wang Hun intervened and argued that executing someone the emperor had no suspicion with would be both unfair and not a good look for the state. Sima Yan sided with Wang Hun over the matter, so Liu Yuan was spared.

Conquest of Wu

In December 279, Sima Yan launched a grand invasion of Wu to unify China once and for all. Prior to the conquest, Wang Hun sent a petition cautioning that Sun Hao was planning to attack north. The court believed that Sun Hao had no such plan, but did take steps in strengthening the defences to make the conquest easier. Once the conquest began, the Jin generals were divided and marched to different locations, with Wang Hun being Hengjiang (横江; southeast of present-day He County, Anhui).

Along the way, Wang Hun captured Xunyang (寻阳; southwest of present-day Huangmei County, Hubei), Gaowang (高望; southwest of present-day Pu County 浦县), and Laixiang (赖乡) as well as the Wu general Zhou Xing (周兴). He also received the surrenders of Chen Dai (陈代) and Zhu Ming (朱明). Hearing of Wang Hun's advances, Sun Hao ordered his Prime Minister, Zhang Ti, along with Zhuge Jing, Sun Zhen (孙震) and Shen Ying (沈莹) with 30,000 soldiers to cross the Yangtze and resist the Jin general. Zhang Ti scored an early victory, capturing Wang Hun's subordinate Zhang Qiao (张乔), but faced difficulties in his next encounter with Wang Hun's other subordinate, Zhou Jun (周浚). Eventually, Zhou Jun, joined by a rebelling Zhang Qiao, overwhelmed the Wu army. Zhang Ti, Sun Zhen, and Shen Ying were killed alongside 7,800 of their soldiers. Zhuge Jing managed to escape while the surviving soldiers scattered and fled.

Zhang Ti's death shook the state of Wu, and the defeat of his army meant that the bulk of the Wu military had been destroyed. Even so, Wang Hun failed to capitalize on his victory by remaining cautious with his next move. Meanwhile, Wang Hun's colleague Wang Jun began making his preparation on arriving first at Wu's capital, Jianye. Wang Hun's subordinate, He Yun (何恽), alerted him about this, but Wang Hun refused to listen, as he believed that they should wait for further instructions. He also thought that Wang Jun would not go against orders, as it was planned that he would be placed under Wang Hun's authority once Wang Jun reached Jianye.

Shortly after, Wang Hun accepted surrenders from Wu's Minister Over the Masses, He Zhi (何植), and the general Sun Yan (孙晏). He, Wang Jun and Sima Zhou received envoys from the Emperor of Wu, Sun Hao, who stated that he was prepared to give his surrender to anyone of them. On 1 May, Wang Jun quickly sailed over to Jianye to meet with Sun Hao. Wang Hun sent a letter to Wang Jun ordering him to stop and discuss together first, but Wang Jun ignored him. In the end, Wang Jun arrived at Jianye and received Sun Hao's surrender, thus ending the Three Kingdoms and unifying China.

Dispute with Wang Jun

Wang Hun only crossed the Yangtze one day after Wang Jun entered Jianye. After hearing of Sun Hao's surrender, Wang Hun grew dejected and was resentful towards Wang Jun. He was on the verge of attacking Wang Jun, but tensions between the two temporarily subsided after Wang Jun handed Sun Hao over to Wang Hun as a compromise. Not long after, Wang Hun submitted a petition accusing Wang Jun of violating orders and committing crimes. Wang Hun had powerful friends in the court, and Wang Ji was married to Sima Yan's sister, so the court heavily sided with Wang Hun in the ordeal. They called for Wang Jun to be brought back to Luoyang in a prison cart, but Sima Yan refused, although he acknowledged that Wang Jun had committed transgressions during the conquest. Later, Wang Hun and his supporters began raking up accusations against Wang Jun, including claims that he and his men partook in looting and burning palaces, but Wang Jun was able to defend and explain himself.

Sima Yan ordered his minister, Liu Song, to give the final verdict. Liu Song gave Wang Hun the chief achievement while Wang Jun was given the middle achievement. Despite Liu Song's verdict, Sima Yan was not satisfied with the outcome and would reward Wang Jun handsomely at a later time. Although the situation was resolved, the two men held on to their disdain for one another. In court, Wang Hun would often boast about his achievements in the conquest and storm out whenever he felt upset over not getting to claim victory. Meanwhile, Wang Jun increased his personal security, fearing that Wang Hun may kill him one day. During a visit from Wang Hun, Wang Jun surrounded himself with disciplined guards first before letting Wang Hun in.

Later life and career

Shortly after the conquest, Sima Yan would praise Wang Hun for his merits during the war and promoted his peerage to Duke of Jingling, placing 8,000 households under him. In 280, Wang Hun was reassigned as General Who Stabilizes the East and sent back to defend Shouchun. As Jin had just conquered Wu, Wang Hun refrained from carrying out too many punishments and acted decisively. The former people of Wu in Jiangdong who were initially fearful of the new regime were pacified by Wang Hun's rule and came to respect him.

In 282, Sima Yan sent Sima You away from the capital to a princely fief at the advice of Xun Xu and Feng Dan (冯紞), a decision which sparked heated debate. Wang Hun wrote a petition against this, arguing that Sima You should remain in the capital and be more involved in politics, but his petition was rejected. In 285, Wang Hun was made Supervisor of the Left of the Masters of Writing. Wang Hun was said to be inappropriate for the office, so for the most part he consulted Wang Ji who was more capable than him. In 290, Wang Hun was appointed Minister Over the Masses.

Sima Yan died in 290 and his developmentally disabled son, Emperor Hui, ascended the throne. Wang Hun was appointed Palace Attendant and was awarded with his own non-commissioned officers. In 291, a series of coups took place orchestrated by Empress Jia. After killing her co-regent Yang Jun, the Empress and her ally, Sima Wei, planned to kill Sima Liang. Sima Wei sought Wang Hun to use his popular image as a way to downplay his actions to the public. However, Wang Hun refused, pretending to be ill and locking himself up in his residence with more than a thousand guards. Sima Wei did not dare to force Wang Hun out and carried on without him. In the middle of the year, Empress Jia turned on Sima Wei and executed him. Wang Hun led his troops into the palace and was rewarded with the office of Manager of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing.

After becoming Minister Over the Masses, Wang Hun's fame went into a gradual decline. He died at the age of 75 on 4 September 297 and was posthumously named Duke Yuan of Jingling. His eldest son, Wang Shang (王尚) died early, so Wang Ji was established as Wang Hun's heir. However, Wang Ji died before his father, so Wang Hun's feudal titles ended up with his grandson, Wang Zhuo (王卓), instead.