Gao Shun
Encyclopedia
Gao Shun was a military general serving under the warlord Lü Bu
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. Although he only had 700 men under his command, he was nicknamed as the "camp crusher (or formation breaker)" for his destructive charges, and came to be known as Lü's most able commander. His noted accomplishments included conquest of Xiaopei
and the subsequent victory over a relief force led by Xiahou Dun
, a prominent general under Cao Cao
. In the same year, however, Cao personally laid a siege on Lü Bu's base in Xiapi
, and defeated and captured Lü. Gao Shun was then executed along with his lord.
's annotation in Chen Shou
's Records of Three Kingdoms
, Gao Shun was a serious man, with an air of authority and few words. Gao was an unblemished and pure person, who was very strict in nature. Therefore, he refused alcohol or send/accept undue gifts. It is also stated in Records of Heroes (英雄記) by Wang Can
that Gao only commanded 700 men, but they were well-equipped and disciplined elite force. Whenever his battalion fought, they were always successful of breaking into enemy formation, and could perform well, even if surrounded by enemies.
Zang Ba
, the head of the bandit leaders around Mount Tai
, attacked and defeated the Chancellor of Langye, Xiao Jian, at Ju. He then seized Xiao's treasure and provisions, and promised to present them to Lü Bu. When he reneged on his words, however, Lü Bu went to ask for the goods himself. Gao Shun objected: "Your authority and reputation are known and respected everywhere. How can you ask for something and fail to obtain it? Yet you are going in person to beg for a present. If for some reason you are not successful, you will surely lose face." The rapacious Lü Bu could not follow Gao's words. Indeed, Zang turned Lü down, and the Bandits of Mount Tai no longer listened to Lü's orders.
One night in 198, a subject of Lü Bu named Hao Meng
rebelled. Hao ordered his troops to surround the government house of Xiapi, where Lü Bu resided. The startled Lü Bu had to climb over the wall of the toilet and escape to the camp of Gao Shun, who then led a force to quell the rebellion. By the next morning Hao and his troops had all been forced to retreat back to their own camp. Cao Xing
, a subordinate of Hao, then opposed his superior and the two dueled. Cao was injured in the fight but cleaved an arm off Hao Meng. Gao had also identified the rebels, and arrived the scene to finish off Hao Meng.
Although Lü Bu knew Gao Shun was very loyal, his advice was not always welcome. Furthermore, Lü trusted Gao even less after the incident of Hao Meng, and stripped Gao of his commission and reassigned his troops to Wei Xu
, who was Lü's relative. Whenever there was a battle, however, Gao Shun would be reinstated. Despite this treatment, he remained eternally loyal and never bore a grudge against his lord.
Lü Bu, whose actions were seldom consistent, made decisions hastily. For that, Gao often remonstrated him by saying, "When you start something, you never think of the details. Whenever there is a choice between the way to success or the possibility of failure, you always make the wrong decisions!" Lü appreciated his loyalty, yet could not follow his advice.
In the same year, Lü Bu was threatened by Liu Bei
, who constantly built up forces, so he sent Gao to attack Xiaopei
, fortress city of Liu. Cao Cao then sent his trusted general Xiahou Dun to rescue Xiaopei, but the allied forces were defeated by Gao. In the end, Liu had to desert the city to take shelter under Cao. In the winter of 198, Cao and Liu came back with a sizable army and attacked Lü's homebase
, when the city finally fell, Gao Shun was captured along with Lü Bu. Showing no fear nor resistance, Gao then saw Cao shifting his attention to him, and guards surrounding Gao hustled him in front of Cao. "Anything to say?" Cao Cao asked him. Not wishing to join Cao, Gao remained silent and accepted his fate. Cao then had him executed along with Chen Gong
.
The heads of Lü Bu, Chen Gong, Gao Shun and others were sent to Xuchang and subsequently were buried.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Gao Shun was said to have dueled Xiahou Dun
during an encounter outside Xiaopei.
After forty to fifty bouts, Gao Shun was outmatched and had to retreat. Xiahou Dun urged his mount forward and chased Gao Shun deep into the enemy ranks. Then Cao Xing
, a subject of Gao Shun, secretly took aim and fired an arrow at Xiahou Dun. The arrow hit the target right in the left eye. With a cry, Xiahou Dun pulled out the arrow along with his eyeball, which he swallowed.
His spear firmly held up, Xiahou Dun then came straight for Cao Xing. With no time to react, Cao Xing was impaled through the face and died beneath his nemesis' horse. Gao Shun then turned and rallied his troops forward to defeat Xiahou Dun.
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. Although he only had 700 men under his command, he was nicknamed as the "camp crusher (or formation breaker)" for his destructive charges, and came to be known as Lü's most able commander. His noted accomplishments included conquest of Xiaopei
Xiaopei
Xiaopei is an ancient Chinese town located in present-day Pei County, Jiangsu. During the late Han Dynasty period, it was under the jurisdiction of Xu Province, governed by Tao Qian. Before Tao died, he handed his governorship over to Liu Bei. Liu Bei took refuge in Xiaopei when Lü Bu seized Xu...
and the subsequent victory over a relief force led by Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Cao Cao's original family name was Xiahou, but his father Cao Song was the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng, so Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao share blood relations...
, a prominent general under Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
. In the same year, however, Cao personally laid a siege on Lü Bu's base in Xiapi
Battle of Xiapi
The Battle of Xiapi was a battle fought by the forces of Lü Bu against the allied armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei in 198 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, and defeated and captured Lü. Gao Shun was then executed along with his lord.
Biography
According to Pei SongzhiPei Songzhi
Pei Songzhi was commissioned by Emperor Wen of Liu Song to write a commentary on Chen Shou's Records of Three Kingdoms, providing additional detail omitted from the original work. His commentary, completed in 429, became integral to later editions of the Records, making the joint work three times...
's annotation in Chen Shou
Chen Shou
Chen Shou was a historian during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known as the author of Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.-Biography:...
's Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...
, Gao Shun was a serious man, with an air of authority and few words. Gao was an unblemished and pure person, who was very strict in nature. Therefore, he refused alcohol or send/accept undue gifts. It is also stated in Records of Heroes (英雄記) by Wang Can
Wang Can
Wang Can was a politician, scholar and poet during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He contributed greatly to the establishment of laws and standards during the founding days of the Principality of Wei – predecessor to the later Cao Wei kingdom – under Cao Cao...
that Gao only commanded 700 men, but they were well-equipped and disciplined elite force. Whenever his battalion fought, they were always successful of breaking into enemy formation, and could perform well, even if surrounded by enemies.
Zang Ba
Zang Ba
Zang Ba was a general during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He served the warlord Tao Qian initially, followed by Lü Bu and finally Cao Cao and his successors, but for the most part of his career, he remained semi-autonomous over his troops and eastern China...
, the head of the bandit leaders around Mount Tai
Mount Tai
Mount Tai is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city of Tai'an, in Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The tallest peak is the Jade Emperor Peak , which is commonly reported as tall, but is described by the PRC government as .Mount Tai is one of the...
, attacked and defeated the Chancellor of Langye, Xiao Jian, at Ju. He then seized Xiao's treasure and provisions, and promised to present them to Lü Bu. When he reneged on his words, however, Lü Bu went to ask for the goods himself. Gao Shun objected: "Your authority and reputation are known and respected everywhere. How can you ask for something and fail to obtain it? Yet you are going in person to beg for a present. If for some reason you are not successful, you will surely lose face." The rapacious Lü Bu could not follow Gao's words. Indeed, Zang turned Lü down, and the Bandits of Mount Tai no longer listened to Lü's orders.
One night in 198, a subject of Lü Bu named Hao Meng
Hao Meng
Hao Meng was a military general serving under the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He rebelled against his lord and was killed by Gao Shun.-In fiction:...
rebelled. Hao ordered his troops to surround the government house of Xiapi, where Lü Bu resided. The startled Lü Bu had to climb over the wall of the toilet and escape to the camp of Gao Shun, who then led a force to quell the rebellion. By the next morning Hao and his troops had all been forced to retreat back to their own camp. Cao Xing
Cao Xing
Cao Xing was a military general serving under the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Little was documented about Cao Xing in historical records except for an incident described in Wang Can's Records of Heroes ....
, a subordinate of Hao, then opposed his superior and the two dueled. Cao was injured in the fight but cleaved an arm off Hao Meng. Gao had also identified the rebels, and arrived the scene to finish off Hao Meng.
Although Lü Bu knew Gao Shun was very loyal, his advice was not always welcome. Furthermore, Lü trusted Gao even less after the incident of Hao Meng, and stripped Gao of his commission and reassigned his troops to Wei Xu
Wei Xu
Wei Xu was a military general serving under the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.-Biography:When Lü Bu wandered the land, Wei closely followed him in the journey, together, they routed the Heishan Bandits, and fended off attacks from Yuan Shu...
, who was Lü's relative. Whenever there was a battle, however, Gao Shun would be reinstated. Despite this treatment, he remained eternally loyal and never bore a grudge against his lord.
Lü Bu, whose actions were seldom consistent, made decisions hastily. For that, Gao often remonstrated him by saying, "When you start something, you never think of the details. Whenever there is a choice between the way to success or the possibility of failure, you always make the wrong decisions!" Lü appreciated his loyalty, yet could not follow his advice.
In the same year, Lü Bu was threatened by Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, who constantly built up forces, so he sent Gao to attack Xiaopei
Xiaopei
Xiaopei is an ancient Chinese town located in present-day Pei County, Jiangsu. During the late Han Dynasty period, it was under the jurisdiction of Xu Province, governed by Tao Qian. Before Tao died, he handed his governorship over to Liu Bei. Liu Bei took refuge in Xiaopei when Lü Bu seized Xu...
, fortress city of Liu. Cao Cao then sent his trusted general Xiahou Dun to rescue Xiaopei, but the allied forces were defeated by Gao. In the end, Liu had to desert the city to take shelter under Cao. In the winter of 198, Cao and Liu came back with a sizable army and attacked Lü's homebase
Battle of Xiapi
The Battle of Xiapi was a battle fought by the forces of Lü Bu against the allied armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei in 198 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, when the city finally fell, Gao Shun was captured along with Lü Bu. Showing no fear nor resistance, Gao then saw Cao shifting his attention to him, and guards surrounding Gao hustled him in front of Cao. "Anything to say?" Cao Cao asked him. Not wishing to join Cao, Gao remained silent and accepted his fate. Cao then had him executed along with Chen Gong
Chen Gong
Gong Chen was an advisor to the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. However, he started his career under Cao Cao before defecting to Lü Bu and was executed when the latter was defeated by Cao....
.
The heads of Lü Bu, Chen Gong, Gao Shun and others were sent to Xuchang and subsequently were buried.
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Gao Shun was said to have dueled Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Cao Cao's original family name was Xiahou, but his father Cao Song was the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng, so Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao share blood relations...
during an encounter outside Xiaopei.
After forty to fifty bouts, Gao Shun was outmatched and had to retreat. Xiahou Dun urged his mount forward and chased Gao Shun deep into the enemy ranks. Then Cao Xing
Cao Xing
Cao Xing was a military general serving under the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Little was documented about Cao Xing in historical records except for an incident described in Wang Can's Records of Heroes ....
, a subject of Gao Shun, secretly took aim and fired an arrow at Xiahou Dun. The arrow hit the target right in the left eye. With a cry, Xiahou Dun pulled out the arrow along with his eyeball, which he swallowed.
His spear firmly held up, Xiahou Dun then came straight for Cao Xing. With no time to react, Cao Xing was impaled through the face and died beneath his nemesis' horse. Gao Shun then turned and rallied his troops forward to defeat Xiahou Dun.