The title 'Xinling' refers to Wei Wuji's fief in Xinling, which was awarded to him by his half brother King Anxi on the death of their father in 277 BC.
House Guests
The concept of house guests refers to a social institution during the period when aristocrats would provide food and lodging to talented men and use them as retainers. Lord Xinling, famed for his readiness to provide for talented men, had three thousand retainers in his service at its peak.
When Qin invaded Zhao and besieged its capital Handan, Lord Pingyuan, another of the Four Lords, requested help from Xinling, who was his brother-in-law. Xinling was unable to get help from his master, the King of Wei. However, the Queen of Wei saw him as a benefactor, as he had once arrested the man who murdered her father, so she helped him secure the imperial seal. Using the seal, Xinling killed Wei's general Jin Bi and seized control of the Wei army, installing his own general Zhu Hai. Together, they marched to Handan and successfully rescued it from the Qin forces. He was honored by the King of Zhao above his own brother-in-law and Lord Chunshen of Chu. However, his own half-brother was angry, so Xinling stayed in Zhao for many years rather than return to face the wrath of his own king in Wei.
Later achievements
When Qin invaded Wei itself, the king of Wei requested Xinling to rescue him. Xinling returned and repulsed a greater Qin force with the help of other allies such as Yen, Zhao, and Chu. The only state that he ignored was the powerful state of Qi. After this victory, Xinling was made Prime Minister of Wei, and wrote his own war treatise.
Final Demise
However, Qin later tricked Wei by spreading rumors that Xinling aimed to seize the throne of Wei for himself. They did it in a convincing manner employing a corrupt insider and tricking the CrownPrince of Wei, who was a prisoner in Qin. The King of Wei suspected Xinling but did not take action. Xinling, disappointed with his own brother, resigned. In his retirement, Xinling and his retainers drank too much and died. He was much mourned by the grateful citizens of Wei and his admirers in other states, though not by his own King. Xinling became the epitome of military success that necessitates disobeying superiors and taking initiative at times.
