52 Facts About Gongsun Zan

Gongsun Zan, courtesy name Bogui, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Gongsun Zan was born in Lingzhi, Liaoxi Commandery, which is present-day Qian'an, Hebei.

Gongsun Zan sent him to study under the tutelage of Lu Zhi, where he bonded with Liu Bei, one of his classmates.

Since Gongsun Zan was older, Liu Bei treated him like an older brother.

Gongsun Zan was appointed as official serving in a commandery.

Gongsun Zan drove his chariot and supported him during the travel.

When he was exiled to Rinan Commandery in Jiao Province, Gongsun Zan decided to accompany him and prepared rice and meat as offering to his ancestors on the northern hill.

Gongsun Zan was nominated as a xiaolian and appointed as Chief Clerk in Liaodong.

Gongsun Zan was promoted to Prefect of Zhuo County.

Gongsun Zan led his army against Zhang Chun defeating him and for his victory was promoted to Commandant of Cavalry.

However, Gongsun Zan made a costly error as he pursued Zhang Chun without waiting for reinforcements.

Soon, Qiuliju came to Zhang Chun's aid and they forced Gongsun Zan to fall back.

Gongsun Zan fled to the town of Guanzi in Liaoxi, where Qiuliju besieged him for over 200 days.

Gongsun Zan was unable to prevent them from looting and killing common people.

Gongsun Zan served as Inspector of You Province and had good relations with the foreigners.

Gongsun Zan was appointed with greater authority as Governor of You Province.

However, Gongsun Zan was afraid that Liu Yu's achievement would outshine his own.

Liu Yu decided to withdraw troops from their garrisons while Gongsun Zan maintained a presence at Youbeiping Commandery of 10 000 soldiers.

Gongsun Zan knew that Yuan Shu was lying and didn't want to send soldiers.

Gongsun Yue died at the Battle of Yangcheng and Gongsun Zan blamed Yuan Shao for his cousin's death.

Gongsun Zan wrote a memorial to the imperial court, where he listed Yuan Shao's crimes.

Gongsun Zan appointed Yan Gang as Inspector of Ji Province, Tian Kai as Inspector of Qing Province, Shan Jing as Inspector of Yan Province alongside his own officials to the commanderies and counties.

Gongsun Zan then fled to Bohai and later alongside Gongsun Fan returned to Ji, where the relation with Liu Yu deteriorated.

Gongsun Zan conquered Juyong and captured Liu Yu, taking him back to Ji.

Also, Gongsun Zan was promoted to General of the Vanguard and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yi.

Gongsun Zan forced Duan Xun to justify the execution of Liu Yu under the pretense that Liu Yu wanted to proclaim himself Emperor.

Gongsun Zan would disagree with him, attacking them as he believed they couldn't be controlled.

Therefore, Gongsun Zan prevented Liu Yu from bestowing rewards to the foreigners.

Liu Yu wanted to attack him however he was dissuaded by his official, Wei You who told him that he needed to be tolerant of Gongsun Zan's flaws as he was a man of great military and politic talents and those abilities were needed to secure the realm.

However, Gongsun Zan's soldiers surrounded by hostile forces managed to force their way through the city's gate to regroup, pushed on by the fear of total anhilation.

Gongsun Zan used this, distraught them with a fire before leading his soldiers to the attack.

Gongsun Zan then captured him alongside the families of his subordinates.

Gongsun Zan killed the government officials and the people of the scholar-gentry.

Gongsun Zan had all the well educated scholars and officials sent to far away lands.

Gongsun Zan associated with the arrogant and bold, from the common people.

Jointly, they greatly defeated Gongsun Zan's forces led by his Administrator of Yuyang, Zou Dan and killed him.

Gongsun Zan built ten moats and between all of them, he constructed fortress with a tower at the center to connect them to each other in the middle, surrounded by the other fortifications.

Gongsun Zan built his own castle, where he provisioned it with his grain supplies.

Gongsun Zan told his subordinates that as they no longer have the strength to resolve problems by military forces, it was better for them to rest and administer the agriculture.

Yuan Shao wrote a long letter, where he tried to convince Gongsun Zan to amend their relations.

However, Gongsun Zan gave no answer and further develop his military base.

Gongsun Zan told his advisor Guan Jing that although people are fighting everywhere, none of them can stand around his fortress for long.

Gongsun Zan then sent his son, Gongsun Xu requesting help from the Heishan bandits.

Gongsun Zan wanted to lead his cavalry out of the siege and joined with them to attack Ji Province.

Gongsun Zan had a dream of his fortress being destroyed and thought he would be defeated.

When Gongsun Zan led his soldiers out, he was ambushed and greatly defeated but still managed to retreat back to his castle.

Gongsun Zan then selected thousands of white horses for his soldiers, calling them the "White Horse Righteous Followers".

Gongsun Zan's army was composed of thousands of strong soldiers, most of them riding white horses therefore they were given this nickname.

Gongsun Zan is a character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the events before and during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Gongsun Zan leads an elite cavalry unit called the "White Riders" and has served on the northern and eastern frontiers of the Han Empire by defending the borders from incursions by various non-Han Chinese tribes.

In 191, Gongsun Zan joins the coalition against Dong Zhuo, the warlord who seized power in Luoyang and holds the figurehead Emperor Xian hostage.

Gongsun Zan is one of the main playable characters of the video game Total War: Three Kingdoms, developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega.