Gongsun Xu

Historical Record

Gongsun Xu was the son of Gongsun Zan, a warlord who carved out territory at the end of the Eastern Han. In the fourth year of Jian'an (199 CE), his father Gongsun Zan was besieged by Yuan Shao's main army at Yijing. While encircled, Gongsun Zan dispatched Gongsun Xu to seek aid from the Black Mountain bandits, and planned to personally lead his charging cavalry in a breakout through the mountains to the southwest, intending to join forces with the Black Mountain host, run rampant within Jizhou, and cut off Yuan Shao's rear. ^c:202 However, his Chief Clerk Guan Jing dissuaded him, arguing that his officers and men held firm only because they cared for their families and looked to Gongsun Zan as their mainstay. If Gongsun Zan left at this moment, the army's morale would scatter, Yijing would fall in an instant, and Gongsun Zan would lose his foundation, drifting into the wilds with nothing achieved. Gongsun Zan heeded Guan Jing's counsel and did not break out. ^c:202

While awaiting reinforcements, Gongsun Zan wrote to Gongsun Xu, arranging that once the relief force arrived, a beacon fire would be raised to the north as a signal, whereupon Gongsun Zan would sally from the city to strike Yuan Shao from within and without. ^c:202 According to the *Dianlüe*, Gongsun Zan described in his letter the ferocity of Yuan Shao's assault, lamenting that he was at his wits' end, urging Gongsun Xu to swiftly request that Zhang Yan lead light cavalry to the rescue, and stressing that if he himself were defeated, then however vast the realm, Gongsun Xu too would have no place to rest. ^c:202 However, this letter was intercepted by Yuan Shao's scouts. Yuan Shao's strategist Chen Lin altered the letter's contents, but kept the plea for rescue similar to the account in the *Dianlüe*. ^c:202

Yuan Shao's scouts, following the arrangement in the letter, raised the beacon on schedule. Gongsun Zan, mistakenly believing the relief force had arrived, led his troops out of the city to give battle to Yuan Shao. Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao had prepared in advance, laid an ambush, and routed Gongsun Zan's forces. Gongsun Zan could only withdraw back into the city to hold out. ^c:202 Yuan Shao then adopted tunneling tactics, digging tunnels to break through Gongsun Zan's towers and parapets, gradually closing in on the central area of Yijing. Knowing his defeat was sealed, Gongsun Zan finally killed his own wife and children, then took his own life. ^c:202 Gongsun Xu's own end is not clearly recorded in the historical sources, but the destruction of his father Gongsun Zan also foretold that whatever role Gongsun Xu might have played had come to an end.

In the Novel

(No material from the novel)

Key Relationships

* Gongsun Zan (kin_of): Gongsun Xu was the son of Gongsun Zan. When Gongsun Zan was besieged by Yuan Shao at Yijing, he pinned his hopes on Gongsun Xu leading a relief force to break the siege, and to this end wrote a letter arranging a beacon-fire signal to strike Yuan Shao from within and without. ^c:202 In the letter Gongsun Zan placed great hopes on Gongsun Xu, holding that father and son shared the same fate, and that if he himself were defeated, Gongsun Xu too would have no place to stand. ^c:202 This father-son bond is the only clearly recorded key relationship for Gongsun Xu in the historical sources, and the whole of the meaning of his existence.

Signature Scenes

* The Plea for Aid at Yijing: When Gongsun Zan was besieged by Yuan Shao at Yijing, he dispatched Gongsun Xu to seek aid from the Black Mountain bandits and planned to strike Yuan Shao from within and without. ^c:202 Gongsun Zan wrote to Gongsun Xu arranging a beacon-fire signal, hoping Gongsun Xu could lead troops in time to fight Yuan Shao together. ^c:202 However, this letter was intercepted by Yuan Shao, causing Gongsun Zan's plan to come to nothing and ultimately leading to his defeat and death. This event is Gongsun Xu's most important appearance in the historical sources, and the embodiment of how his fate was bound tightly to that of his father Gongsun Zan.