Sun Gao

Historical Record

Sun Gao was a figure of the late Eastern Han, with no certain dates of birth and death, who held a military post in the Eastern Wu regime. He and Fu Ying and others were close old generals of Sun Yi, deeply favored by Sun Yi. During Sun Yi's tenure in Danyang, because of his fierce temperament, he often clashed with others. Later, while feasting the local officials, Sun Yi was attacked and killed by an assassin, Bian Hong. After committing the deed, Bian Hong fled into the mountains and was finally hunted down and captured. However, the Administrator of Danyang, Gui Lan, and Dai Yuan pushed the blame for killing Sun Yi onto Bian Hong, and seized the opportunity to occupy Sun Yi's military headquarters, embezzle his property, and take possession of Sun Yi's wives, concubines, and attendants. Gui Lan even intended to forcibly take Sun Yi's wife, Lady Xu^[1].

To preserve herself and await a chance for revenge, Lady Xu feigned consent to Gui Lan, using the pretext of "begging to wait until the last day of the month to set out a sacrifice and remove mourning garb" to delay for time. While awaiting her opportunity, Lady Xu secretly sent confidants to contact Sun Gao, Fu Ying, and other former subordinates of Sun Yi. She tearfully told Sun Gao and Fu Ying of the evil deeds of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan and expressed her determination to seize the chance for revenge, hoping they would lend a hand. Sun Gao and Fu Ying, mindful of the favor Sun Yi had shown them in life, said that the reason they had not at once died for him was precisely to seek a chance for revenge^[1].

Under Lady Xu's planning, Sun Gao, Fu Ying, and more than twenty of Sun Yi's attendants secretly bound themselves in alliance and plotted together. On the last day of the month, after completing the sacrifice, Lady Xu bathed and changed her clothes, showing an air of joy to lull Gui Lan. Seeing this, Gui Lan thought Lady Xu had no further misgivings and gladly went to her. When Gui Lan entered Lady Xu's chamber, Lady Xu cried out, and Sun Gao and Fu Ying rushed forth and together killed Gui Lan. Then the other conspirators outside also slew Dai Yuan together. Once it was done, Lady Xu put on mourning garb again and offered the heads of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan in sacrifice to Sun Yi. When Sun Quan learned of this, he had the remaining partisans of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan exterminated by clan, and promoted Sun Gao and Fu Ying to Generals of the Standard, also rewarding the other participants^[1].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun Gao's image largely accords with the historical record, but the details of his role in the revenge are depicted more vividly and dramatically, highlighting his spirit of loyalty and righteousness. In the novel, Sun Gao and Fu Ying are Sun Yi's trusted old generals, deeply valued by Sun Yi^[2]. When Sun Yi was killed, the evil deeds of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan filled them with righteous indignation, but they were unable to take revenge at once. Lady Xu secretly summoned Sun Gao and Fu Ying, tearfully told them of the crimes of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan—especially Gui Lan's wish to take her by force—and clearly stated that her feigned consent to Gui Lan was to await a chance for revenge, hoping Sun Gao and Fu Ying could assist^[2].

When Sun Gao and Fu Ying heard Lady Xu's request, they both wept and said that they had long been mindful of Sun Yi's favor, and the reason they had not at once died for him was precisely to seek a chance to avenge Sun Yi. They fully supported Lady Xu's plan and pledged their service^[2]. On the night of the revenge, Lady Xu set out a banquet to entertain Gui Lan, and when he was drunk, invited him into an inner chamber. At this time, Sun Gao and Fu Ying had long been hidden behind the curtains. When Lady Xu gave a great cry, the two leapt out with blades; Fu Ying cut Gui Lan down with one stroke, and Sun Gao struck again, killing him on the spot. Then Dai Yuan was lured into the headquarters and likewise killed by Sun Gao and Fu Ying. The novel also specially notes that after the revenge, Lady Xu put on mourning garb again and offered the heads of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan before Sun Yi's spirit^[3]. After Sun Quan arrived at Danyang and saw that Lady Xu had avenged her husband, he enfeoffed Sun Gao and Fu Ying as Generals of the Standard, ordered them to guard Danyang, and brought Lady Xu back to the residence to live out her years. Through these details, the novel further strengthens the image of Sun Gao as loyal and resolute, and highlights his key role in the act of revenge.

Key Relationships

* Sun Yi (lord): Sun Gao was a close old general of Sun Yi, deeply favored by him. After Sun Yi was killed, Sun Gao, mindful of the old favor, conspired with Lady Xu to avenge Sun Yi and slew Gui Lan and Dai Yuan^[1].
* Lady Xu (wife of Sun Yi): Sun Gao and Lady Xu together planned and carried out the act of revenge for Sun Yi. The combination of Lady Xu's cunning and Sun Gao's martial force finally rooted out the enemies^[1].
* Fu Ying (colleague/comrade): Sun Gao and Fu Ying were two trusted old generals of Sun Yi; in the act of revenge for Sun Yi, the two always fought side by side, together completing the assassination of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan^[1].
* Gui Lan, Dai Yuan (enemies): Gui Lan and Dai Yuan were the chief culprits who killed Sun Yi and seized his property. Sun Gao and Fu Ying, with Lady Xu's assistance, successfully slew the two, avenging Sun Yi^[1].
* Sun Quan (sovereign): When Sun Quan learned that Sun Gao and the others had avenged Sun Yi, he commended them and promoted Sun Gao to General of the Standard, affirming their loyal and righteous conduct^[1].

Signature Scenes

* Plotting revenge in secret: After Sun Yi was killed, Sun Gao and Fu Ying were secretly summoned by Lady Xu. Faced with Lady Xu's weeping and her plea for revenge, Sun Gao, mindful of Sun Yi's kindness, resolutely declared his willingness to assist Lady Xu and plot together to avenge Sun Yi. This scene displays Sun Gao's loyal, righteous, and resolute character^[2] (novel only).
* Assassinating Gui Lan and Dai Yuan: Under Lady Xu's careful arrangement, Sun Gao and Fu Ying lay hidden in the inner chamber. When the drunken Gui Lan entered, Sun Gao and Fu Ying, at Lady Xu's signal, leapt out from the curtains and together stabbed Gui Lan and Dai Yuan to death. This scene was the most decisive moment of Sun Gao's life and the ultimate expression of his loyal and righteous act, directly changing the situation in Danyang and winning him Sun Quan's appreciation and promotion^[3].
* Being enfeoffed General of the Standard: After successfully avenging Sun Yi, Sun Gao and Fu Ying's loyal and righteous conduct won Sun Quan's recognition. Sun Quan came in person to Danyang; not only did he exterminate by clan the remaining partisans of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan, but he also promoted Sun Gao and Fu Ying to Generals of the Standard to commend their achievements. This scene marks the turning point of Sun Gao's career, rising at one stroke from a former general to an important military officer of the Sun-Wu regime^[1].