Gao Lan

Historical Record

Gao Lan, a general under Yuan Shao, was active in the historical record chiefly during the critical period of the Battle of Guandu. In the winter, tenth month, of the year 200 CE, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao had long been locked in stalemate at Guandu. Yuan Shao dispatched Chunyu Qiong and others to lead a force of over ten thousand to transport grain to Wuchao, some forty li from Yuan Shao's main camp. At this time Yuan Shao's adviser Xu You, whose greed for wealth had gone unsatisfied, defected to Cao Cao and offered him the plan of a surprise raid on Wuchao. Cao Cao adopted this plan, left Cao Hong to guard the camp, and personally led five thousand foot and horse to Wuchao under cover of night^[1].

When Cao Cao successfully raided Wuchao, smashed Chunyu Qiong's force, and burned all of Yuan Shao's grain and supplies, Yuan Shao was greatly alarmed at the news. He at first thought that since Cao Cao was occupied at Wuchao, he could exploit the opening and attack Cao Cao's main camp, and so dispatched his eldest son Yuan Tan along with Zhang He, Gao Lan, and others to attack the camp guarded by Cao Hong^[1]. When Zhang He, Gao Lan, and the others learned that Wuchao had been taken, however, they made a crucial decision: to lead their troops in surrender to Cao Cao. Their surrender directly brought about the great rout of Yuan Shao's army. Yuan Shao and Yuan Tan were forced to abandon their army and flee, crossing the river to escape. Cao Cao then took advantage of the moment to seize all of Yuan Shao's supplies, registers, and treasures, and captured his followers^[1].

The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Scroll 6, again mentions that Gao Lan and Zhang He, after the defeat at Wuchao, led their troops in surrender to Cao Cao, noting that this caused Yuan Shao's army to collapse utterly^[2]. The historical record of Gao Lan is relatively brief, focusing chiefly on his surrender at the Battle of Guandu, the most prominent event in his historical trajectory.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Gao Lan's image and experiences are more richly portrayed, with a certain deviation from history. In the novel, Gao Lan and Zhang He are often spoken of together as great generals in Yuan Shao's command, appearing jointly in Yuan Shao's military deployments. For example, in the early stage of the Battle of Guandu, when Yuan Shao arrayed his forces in strict order, Gao Lan stood at the front of the line together with Zhang He, Han Meng, Chunyu Qiong, and other generals^[3].

The novel elaborates in detail on Gao Lan's motive for surrendering to Cao Cao. After the grain at Wuchao was burned, Yuan Shao believed the slanders of his adviser Guo Tu. Guo Tu falsely accused Zhang He and Gao Lan of deliberately failing to exert themselves in attacking Cao Cao's camp, and claimed they had long intended to surrender to Cao Cao. Yuan Shao flew into a rage and summoned the two to be punished. Guo Tu even sent men ahead to inform Zhang He and Gao Lan that Yuan Shao meant to kill them. On hearing this, Gao Lan at once drew his sword and cut down the messenger who had come to deliver the order, and said to Zhang He that Yuan Shao, believing slanders, would surely be captured by Cao Cao; they should not sit and await death, but would do better to go over to Cao Cao. Zhang He likewise expressed this intent^[4].

Gao Lan and Zhang He then led their own troops to Cao Cao's camp in surrender. At first Xiahou Dun doubted their surrender, but Cao Cao received them with magnanimity, praising their surrender as akin to Weizi leaving Yin or Han Xin going over to Han. Cao Cao thereupon enfeoffed Zhang He as Deputy General and Marquis of Duting, and Gao Lan as Deputy General and Marquis of Donglai, at which the two were greatly pleased^[5].

Gao Lan's end in the novel, however, differs markedly from history. When Liu Bei was defeated and fled to Runan, Cao Cao sent Cai Yang in pursuit, but Cai Yang was cut down by Guan Yu. Cao Cao then sent Zhang He and Gao Lan to pursue Liu Bei. As Liu Bei fled in panic and was about to face Gao Lan himself, Zhao Yun suddenly charged out, ran Gao Lan through with a single thrust of his spear, and sent him tumbling from his horse^[6]. This episode has no basis in the histories and is an artistic invention of the novel to highlight Zhao Yun's valor and the plight of Liu Bei's faction.

Key Relationships

* Yuan Shao's Faction (serves): Gao Lan was originally an important general under Yuan Shao, named together with Zhang He, serving Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu. However, owing to Yuan Shao's misjudgments and Guo Tu's slanders, Gao Lan ultimately turned away from Yuan Shao^[4].
* Cao Cao (defected_to) / Cao Wei (defected_to): At the critical moment of the Battle of Guandu, Gao Lan and Zhang He together surrendered to Cao Cao, an act that played a decisive part in the rout of Yuan Shao's army. Cao Cao received them and granted them offices^[5].
* Zhang He (comrade-in-arms / fellow defector): Gao Lan and Zhang He were generals who fought side by side under Yuan Shao, and they kept a consistent stance and action in deciding to surrender to Cao Cao^[4].
* Zhao Yun (dies_in): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Gao Lan ultimately dies at Zhao Yun's hand, an episode unique to the novel meant to display Zhao Yun's martial prowess^[6] (novel-only).

Iconic Scenes

* Attacking Cao Cao's camp together with Zhang He at the Battle of Guandu: After the raid on Wuchao, Yuan Shao dispatched Gao Lan and Zhang He to attack Cao Cao's main camp, attempting to relieve Wuchao by attacking elsewhere. This is one of Gao Lan's military actions clearly recorded in the histories^[1].
* Surrendering to Cao Cao with Zhang He after the defeat at Wuchao: This is a key turning point present in both history and the novel. The histories record that, on learning Wuchao had been taken, they surrendered to Cao Cao, directly causing Yuan Shao's army to collapse^[1]. The novel elaborates in detail on Guo Tu's slanders and on Gao Lan and Zhang He's decision to surrender out of dissatisfaction with Yuan Shao^[4].
* Run through by Zhao Yun: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, while pursuing Liu Bei, Gao Lan was struck down beneath his horse by a sudden thrust from Zhao Yun. This scene became Gao Lan's final end in the novel and also highlighted Zhao Yun's martial prowess^[6] (novel-only).
* Enfeoffed as Deputy General and Marquis of Donglai: After surrendering to Cao Cao, Gao Lan was enfeoffed by Cao Cao as Deputy General and Marquis of Donglai in order to reassure and reward him, showing Cao Cao's tolerance of surrendered generals and his strategy of recruiting talent^[5] (novel-only).