Worthy Prince of the Left

Historical Record

Regarding the Worthy Prince of the Left, there is no direct, explicit record in the Records of the Three Kingdoms or other official histories. The Worthy Prince of the Left of the Xiongnu mentioned in the sources was typically a prominent figure ranking just below the Xiongnu Chanyu, responsible for commanding the various tribes of the Xiongnu left wing. However, during the period when Cao Cao unified the north and came into conflict or contact with the Wuhuan, the Xiongnu, and other minority polities, the histories record no specific, detailed interaction between any particular Worthy Prince of the Left and Cao Cao or a particular figure in Cao Cao's camp. Therefore, from the standpoint of historical biography, detailed records concerning the specific deeds of the Worthy Prince of the Left during the Three Kingdoms period—especially any dealings with the Central Plains regime—are lacking.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Worthy Prince of the Left, as a representative figure of the Xiongnu, is given a particular literary coloring in his image and role. He appears chiefly against the backdrop of Cao Cao Pacifies Hebei and the pursuit of Yuan Shao's remnant forces. After Gao Gan lost Huguan, finding himself with nowhere to turn, he sought to borrow the strength of the Xiongnu to oppose Cao Cao. He fled to the Chanyu's territory, where he happened to encounter the Worthy Prince of the Left of the northern barbarians.^[1] Gao Gan dismounted and prostrated himself, telling the Worthy Prince of the Left that Cao Cao was annexing territory and intended to encroach upon Xiongnu lands, hoping the Worthy Prince of the Left would send troops to aid him and jointly oppose Cao Cao, so as to preserve stability in the north.^[1]

However, the Worthy Prince of the Left clearly refused this request. He stated bluntly: "I have no enmity with Cao Cao—how could he invade my territory? You wish to make me forge a grudge against the house of Cao!"^[1] He then dismissed Gao Gan. This episode has no basis in the histories; it is a fiction invented by Romance of the Three Kingdoms to shape the legitimacy of Cao Cao's unification of the north and to portray the cautious attitude of minority polities toward the situation in the Central Plains. The Worthy Prince of the Left's words display not only his clear-eyed grasp of the situation but also indirectly highlight the smoothness of Cao Cao's military operations in the north and his influence in the frontier regions. Though the Worthy Prince of the Left appears here with only a single line of dialogue, he plays a pivotal turning-point role, leaving Gao Gan entirely without external support and ultimately driving him to his end.

Key Relationships

* Relationship with Gao Gan: The relationship between the Worthy Prince of the Left and Gao Gan was a brief one, established by Gao Gan's plea for aid. Gao Gan tried to use the Worthy Prince of the Left's strength to oppose Cao Cao, but the Worthy Prince of the Left refused his request, dashing Gao Gan's hopes.^[1] (novel only)
* Relationship with Cao Cao: The Worthy Prince of the Left had no direct clash or dialogue with Cao Cao, but his attitude toward Cao Cao was one of "no enmity"—that is, no grudge—and he did not believe Cao Cao would invade his territory.^[1] This relationship reflects the Worthy Prince of the Left's wariness and caution toward Cao Cao's power, avoiding direct conflict with the powerful Central Plains regime (novel only).
* Relationship with the Xiongnu Chanyu: As the Worthy Prince of the Left, his standing within the Xiongnu ranked just below the Chanyu, and he was the supreme commander of the Xiongnu left wing. Although the novel does not directly depict his interactions with the Chanyu, his words and conduct represented an official Xiongnu high-level attitude toward the Central Plains situation (novel only).

Iconic Scene

The Worthy Prince of the Left's most iconic scene is the episode in Chapter 33 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms in which he dismisses the desperate Gao Gan.^[1] At that time, having lost Huguan and with nowhere to go, Gao Gan pinned his hopes on the Xiongnu. He fled to the Chanyu's territory and happened upon the Worthy Prince of the Left. Gao Gan dismounted and prostrated himself, tearfully begging the Worthy Prince of the Left to send troops to aid him in jointly opposing Cao Cao, claiming that Cao Cao intended to invade Xiongnu lands.^[1]

However, the Worthy Prince of the Left was unmoved by Gao Gan's words. With a clear head and a decisive attitude, he directly refuted Gao Gan's claims. He declared plainly: "I have no enmity with Cao Cao—how could he invade my territory? You wish to make me forge a grudge against the house of Cao!"^[1] These ringing words not only rejected Gao Gan's plea for aid but also exposed Gao Gan's intent to sow discord. The Worthy Prince of the Left then dismissed Gao Gan, leaving him entirely without hope of external support, and he was ultimately killed by the commandant Wang Yan. Although the Worthy Prince of the Left appears only briefly in this scene with but a single line, his decisive judgment and accurate reading of the situation leave a deep impression on the reader and propel Gao Gan toward his tragic end (novel only).