Gongsun Zan

Historical Record

Gongsun Zan, styled Bogui, was a native of Lingzhi in Liaoxi. For his handsome appearance and resonant voice he was esteemed by the Grand Administrator, who gave him his daughter in marriage. He once studied the classics under Lu Zhi, and later served as a commandery clerk. When the Grand Administrator, Liu, was summoned to the office of the Commandant of Justice, Gongsun Zan personally drove his carriage, dressed as a convict-servant, and at Beimang made offerings to the ancestors, speaking with such impassioned fervor that none who saw him could keep from sighing. The Grand Administrator Liu was in the end pardoned, and for this Gongsun Zan was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, made a gentleman of the court, and later promoted to Chief Clerk of the Liaodong Dependent State^[1].

During the Guanghe era, when Liang Province rose in rebellion, Gongsun Zan was ordered to lead three thousand You Province shock cavalry to suppress it. During this time Zhang Chun of Yuyang revolted; Gongsun Zan pursued and attacked him with distinction and was promoted to Cavalry Commandant. Later, when the king of the Dependent-State Wuhuan, Tanzhi, led his people to surrender, Gongsun Zan was promoted to General of the Household and enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting, fighting the Hu peoples for several years. Yet when Qiuliju and others plundered the four provinces of Qing, Xu, You, and Ji, Gongsun Zan was unable to check them effectively^[1].

The court, considering that Liu Yu had virtue and prestige and had once served as Inspector of You Province with his kindness and good faith widely known, appointed him Governor of You Province. After Liu Yu took up his post, he sent envoys to conciliate the Hu, and on hearing the news Qiuliju and his tribes submitted. Gongsun Zan, envious of Liu Yu's achievements, secretly sent men to intercept and kill the Hu envoys. Liu Yu memorialized to disband the various garrison troops, leaving only Gongsun Zan to lead ten thousand foot and horse to garrison Youbeiping. Zhang Chun was finally killed by his own retainer Wang Zheng, whose head was presented to Liu Yu. For this achievement Liu Yu was appointed Grand Commandant, later promoted to Grand Marshal, while Gongsun Zan was appointed General Who Rouses Valor and enfeoffed as Marquis of Ji^[2].

After Dong Zhuo's death, the Son of Heaven sent envoys to increase Liu Yu's fief and put six provinces under his command, while Gongsun Zan was promoted to General of the Vanguard and enfeoffed as Marquis of Yi. Gongsun Zan, however, falsely accused Liu Yu of intending to proclaim himself emperor and coerced the envoy Duan Xun into beheading Liu Yu^[3]. After this, Gongsun Zan grew arrogant and overbearing, harboring grudges and forgetting kindnesses, and committed much slaughter. Liu Yu's former officers Xianyu Fu, Qi Zhou, and others raised up Yan Rou as Wuhuan Major, recruited tens of thousands of Hu and Han, and defeated and killed Zou Dan, the Grand Administrator of Yuyang whom Gongsun Zan had installed. Yuan Shao also sent Qu Yi and Liu Yu's son Liu He with troops to join Xianyu Fu in a combined attack on Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan was defeated in battle after battle and finally retreated to hold Yijing^[3].

At Yijing, Gongsun Zan built ten rings of trenches and raised high towers within them, dwelling himself atop a particularly tall central tower ten zhang high, and stored up more than three million hu of grain. He held that "in the art of war, a hundred towers cannot be attacked," and meant by this to wear down Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao besieged it long without success^[3]. In the fourth year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao threw his whole force against Yijing. Gongsun Zan wished to break out, but was dissuaded by his Chief Clerk Guan Jing. He sent men to seek aid from his son Gongsun Xu, arranging to light a fire as a signal. Yuan Shao's scouts intercepted the letter and lit the fire at the appointed time. Gongsun Zan, mistakenly believing his relief had arrived, sallied out to fight, only to be heavily defeated by Yuan Shao's ambush, and had to withdraw to defend his position^[4]. Yuan Shao then dug tunnels, destroyed the high towers, and gradually closed in on the central tower. Knowing his defeat was certain, Gongsun Zan killed his wife and children and then took his own life^[4].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Gongsun Zan's character is given greater dramatic and emotional color. From his very first appearance he is shown to have deep ties to Liu Bei, depicted as Liu Bei's senior schoolmate^[5]. After the campaign against the Yellow Turban Army, Gongsun Zan recommended Liu Bei to Liu Yu, securing him the post of Magistrate of Pingyuan County^[6].

When Dong Zhuo threw the government into chaos, Gongsun Zan led troops to join the eighteen-lord coalition against Dong Zhuo. Before Hulao Pass he was reunited with Liu Bei and introduced him to Yuan Shao and the other lords. When Guan Yu asked to do battle with Hua Xiong, Yuan Shu scorned his status as a mere mounted archer, but Gongsun Zan made clear that Guan Yu was Liu Bei's sworn brother and had once helped crush the Yellow Turbans together^[7]. This differs from the historical fact, in which Liu Bei was already Magistrate of Gaotang during the anti-Dong campaign, with no episode of Gongsun Zan's introduction.

In the novel, the conflict between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao is depicted as more direct and personal. Gongsun Zan's younger brother Gongsun Yue (unattested in history), while demanding Ji Province from Yuan Shao on Gongsun Zan's behalf, was shot dead by Yuan Shao in Dong Zhuo's name; this directly drove Gongsun Zan to raise troops in anger against Yuan Shao and confront him at Panhe^[8]. This episode greatly intensifies the hatred between the two and sets the stage for the later war. At the Battle of Panhe, Zhao Yun (novel only) makes his first appearance, fighting a great duel with Wen Chou before being taken in by Gongsun Zan^[9].

In the novel, Gongsun Zan's patronage and care for Liu Bei runs throughout. He not only exonerated Liu Bei after he flogged the inspector, sparing him from punishment, but also repeatedly recommended Liu Bei for office^[6]. When Liu Bei needed reinforcements, Gongsun Zan generously lent two thousand horse and foot and allowed Zhao Yun to accompany him^[10]. Thus Gongsun Zan played the important role of patron in Liu Bei's early career, consistent with the historical record that Liu Bei "went to take refuge with the General of the Household Gongsun Zan," though the specific episodes are enriched.

Key Relationships

* Lu Zhi (student_of): Gongsun Zan once studied the classics under Lu Zhi, who was his teacher^[1].
* Liu Yu (enemy_of): Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu were locked in a power struggle in You Province. Gongsun Zan envied Liu Yu's achievements and finally falsely accused Liu Yu of intending to proclaim himself emperor, having him killed^[3].
* Yuan Shao (enemy_of): Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao went from allies to mortal foes. Yuan Shao had once joined Gongsun Zan against Han Fu, but the two later turned against each other over the possession of Ji Province and the death of Gongsun Yue (novel only); in the end Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan at Yijing and drove him to suicide^[4].
* Han Fu (enemy_of): Gongsun Zan once joined Yuan Shao, ostensibly to campaign against Dong Zhuo but in fact to covet Han Fu's Ji Province. Han Fu, under Yuan Shao's coercion and enticement, finally ceded Ji Province to Yuan Shao^[11].
* Gongsun Zan's faction (lord_of): Gongsun Zan was the leader of his faction, with many generals and advisers under him, such as Guan Jing and Zou Dan^[3].
* Liu Bei (patron / protégé): Gongsun Zan was Liu Bei's early patron. He recommended Liu Bei for office and provided him with help and troops when Liu Bei needed them^[6][10].
* Zhao Yun (novel only, subordinate): In the novel, Zhao Yun was at first under Gongsun Zan's command, and later campaigned alongside Liu Bei^[9].

Iconic Scenes

* Offering sacrifices at Beimang: While escorting the implicated Grand Administrator Liu, Gongsun Zan made offerings to the ancestors at Beimang, speaking with impassioned fervor to pour out his loyalty and righteousness, moving all who saw him. This displays his filial righteousness and boldness^[1].
* Striking the Hu beyond the frontier: Gongsun Zan once led several dozen riders out beyond the frontier and met several hundred Xianbei cavalry. Wielding a lance bladed at both ends, he charged into the enemy ranks, killing and wounding dozens, and escaped safely. This battle made the Xianbei no longer dare to enter the frontier lightly, manifesting Gongsun Zan's valor and resourcefulness^[1].
* The Battle of Panhe (novel only): Because his younger brother Gongsun Yue was killed by Yuan Shao's scheme (novel only), Gongsun Zan in anger raised troops and confronted Yuan Shao at Panhe. In this battle Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao traded curses across the river, and Zhao Yun made his first appearance with a brilliant description of his great duel with Wen Chou^[8].
* Holding fast at Yijing: Defeated time after time in the war with Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan finally retreated to hold Yijing, where he built ten rings of trenches and high towers, intending to hold out for the long term. He dwelt atop a particularly tall central tower ten zhang high and stored up vast amounts of grain, holding that "a hundred towers cannot be attacked," meaning by this to exhaust Yuan Shao^[3].
* Suicide at Yijing: After Yuan Shao adopted tunneling tactics and gradually breached Yijing's defenses, Gongsun Zan, knowing the day was lost, killed his wife and children and then immolated himself^[4]. This tragic and brutal end marked the close of his military career.
* Introducing Liu Bei at Hulao Pass (novel only): During the eighteen-lord campaign against Dong Zhuo, Gongsun Zan introduced Liu Bei to Yuan Shao and the others and defended Guan Yu's request to do battle with Hua Xiong, displaying his esteem for Liu Bei and their brotherly bond^[5][7].