Lai Gong

Historical Record

Lai Gong, whose dates of birth and death are unknown, is mentioned in the histories chiefly through his offices and the major events in which he took part, reflecting his role in the complex political landscape from the end of the Eastern Han into the early Three Kingdoms. Lai Gong first served under Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province. According to the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, after the Inspector of Jiaozhou, Zhang Jin, was killed by his general Qu Jing, Liu Biao sent Lai Gong to Jiaozhou to succeed Zhang Jin as Inspector of Jiaozhou. At the same time, Liu Biao also sent Wu Ju to succeed the deceased Grand Administrator of Cangwu, Shi Huang, the two taking up their posts together^[1]. This shows that Lai Gong held a certain standing and ability within Liu Biao's faction, capable of being entrusted with guarding the frontier.

The Han court, however, reacted to this move. When the Han learned that Zhang Jin had died, it did not approve Liu Biao's sending of Lai Gong, but instead granted a sealed letter to the Grand Administrator of Jiaozhi, Shi Xie, appointing him General of the Household Who Pacifies the South, overseeing seven commanderies, and continuing as Grand Administrator of Jiaozhi. In the sealed letter the court explicitly stated that Liu Biao's sending of Lai Gong was an act of "spying on the southern lands"^[1]. This reflects the tangled power struggle between the central authority and regional powers at the time, and Liu Biao's attempt to extend his influence.

Later, Lai Gong's political career took a turn, and he transferred his service to the Shu Han regime. In the course of Liu Bei's establishment of Shu Han, Lai Gong played an important role. In 219 CE, when the assembled officials memorialized to set up Liu Bei as King of Hanzhong, Lai Gong was among them. In the capacity of General Who Guards the Distant, he, together with the General Who Pacifies the West Ma Chao, the General of the Left Xu Jing, the Military Adviser General Zhuge Liang, the General Who Routs Bandits Guan Yu, the General Who Conquers Caitiffs Zhang Fei, the General Who Conquers the West Huang Zhong, the General Who Spreads Martial Might Fa Zheng, the General Who Founds the Enterprise Li Yan, and one hundred and twenty men in all, jointly memorialized, setting forth Cao Cao's crimes and arguing the necessity of setting up Liu Bei as King of Hanzhong and appointing him Grand Marshal. They held that this was to guard the altars of state and shed light for ten thousand generations, and proposed taking Hanzhong, Bashu, Guanghan, and Jianwei as the realm, with appointments to follow the old precedents of the feudal kings at the founding of the Han^[2]. This memorial was an important political proclamation of Liu Bei's kingship, and Lai Gong's being among the co-signers shows his standing within the Shu Han camp and his support for Liu Bei's regime.

After Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor, Lai Gong continued to hold important office in the Shu Han regime. In 221 CE, Liu Bei posthumously honored his consort Lady Wu as Empress Zhaolie and had her buried together with himself. In this process Lai Gong is mentioned again. He, together with the Grand Master of Ceremonies and other officials, deliberated according to the principles of the *Book of Rites* and the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, holding that "a mother is honored through her son," and, citing precedents such as Emperor Gao's posthumous honoring of the Grand Empress Dowager Zhaoling as Empress Zhaoling, proposed posthumously honoring Lady Wu as Empress Zhaolie and burying her together with the late emperor. The proposals of Lai Gong and the others were ultimately adopted, with the Grand Commandant announcing it to the ancestral temple and proclaiming it to the realm^[3]. This shows that Lai Gong held not only military office in the Shu Han court but also a voice and influence in ritual institutions and political decisions, an important part of the Shu Han regime.

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, the figure of Lai Gong is not given detailed development or an independent storyline. Unlike the histories, which record his offices and participation in major events, the novel scarcely mentions Lai Gong at all. He has no independent chapter of appearance, no specific words or deeds, and no depiction of his character or military talent. Thus, in the narrative of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Lai Gong is an entirely overlooked figure, his importance in the historical record going unrepresented.

The novel's selection and shaping of historical figures tends to favor those with dramatic conflict, heroic deeds, or the capacity to drive the main plot forward. Although Lai Gong took part in important events such as Liu Bei's kingship and the posthumous honoring of the empress in the histories, his role was more that of a member of collective decision-making than of an independent actor. This circumstance of being "unrecorded in detail" in the novel leaves Lai Gong's literary image nearly nonexistent, in sharp contrast with his having held important offices in the histories such as Inspector of Jiaozhou and General Who Guards the Distant.

Key Relationships

* Shu Han: Lai Gong was an important official of the Shu Han regime, serving as General Who Guards the Distant. He took part in the important political act of setting up Liu Bei as King of Hanzhong^[2], and after Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor, he deliberated with the Grand Master of Ceremonies and other officials on the posthumous honoring of Empress Zhaolie^[3], showing his standing and influence in the Shu Han court.
* Liu Biao's faction: Before Liu Bei's rise, Lai Gong was a member of the faction under Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province. He was once sent by Liu Biao to Jiaozhou to succeed the slain Inspector of Jiaozhou, Zhang Jin^[1]. This shows that Lai Gong also held important office within Liu Biao's faction, being one of those who carried out Liu Biao's attempts to expand his sphere of power.

Signature Scenes

* Sent on mission to Jiaozhou: Liu Biao sent Lai Gong to Jiaozhou to succeed the slain Inspector of Jiaozhou, Zhang Jin, in an attempt to control this strategic region. The Han court, however, did not approve this move, but instead appointed Shi Xie General of the Household Who Pacifies the South, and stated that Liu Biao's move was an act of "spying on the southern lands"^[1]. This event reveals the political reality of the late Eastern Han, with regional powers carving out domains and central authority in decline.
* Co-signing the memorial to set up the King of Hanzhong: In the capacity of General Who Guards the Distant, Lai Gong, together with Ma Chao, Xu Jing, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Fa Zheng, Li Yan, and one hundred and twenty men in all, jointly memorialized, arguing the necessity of Liu Bei taking the title King of Hanzhong and being appointed Grand Marshal, and proposing taking Hanzhong, Bashu, Guanghan, and Jianwei as the realm. This memorial was an important cornerstone of the legitimacy of Liu Bei's regime, and Lai Gong's participation highlights his political standing within the Shu Han camp^[2].
* Taking part in the posthumous honoring of Empress Zhaolie: In the course of Liu Bei posthumously honoring his consort Lady Wu as Empress Zhaolie and burying her together with himself, Lai Gong, together with the Grand Master of Ceremonies and other officials, deliberated according to ritual law and proposed posthumously honoring Lady Wu as Empress Zhaolie and burying her together with the late emperor. This scene displays Lai Gong's participation in Shu Han's ritual institutions and political decisions, and his contribution to the stability and legitimacy of the Shu Han regime^[3].