Gou Xi came to prominence as a general under the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, after he quelled the rebellions of Gongshi Fan, Ji Sang and Shi Le.
21 Facts About Gou Xi
1.
2.
Gou Xi plotted with Emperor Huai of Jin to depose Yue as regent, which caused Yue to die of stress shortly after, and Gou Xi being instated to the positions of Grand General and Grand Commander.
3.
That same year, Gou Xi was captured and later executed by Shi Le.
4.
Gou Xi hailed from Shanyang County in Henei Commandery and was of humble origins.
5.
In 304, Gou Xi participated in Sima Yue's campaign against Sima Ying which ended in defeat for Yue at Dangyin.
6.
In 306, Gou Xi's army killed Gongshi Fan while he and his soldiers were trying to cross the Yellow River from Baima.
7.
Gou Xi pursued the duo and broke through eight ramparts, killing more than ten thousand of the rebels.
8.
In Yanzhou, Gou Xi was said to have administered well while enforcing strict laws over the provinces.
9.
Sima Yue and Gou Xi were both initially on good terms to the point that they were described as close as brothers whenever they were in court.
10.
Sima Yue and Pan Tao both saw Yanzhou as a strategically important province and did not trust Gou Xi in holding it.
11.
When Gou Xi arrived in Qingzhou to assume his posts, he immediately implemented excessively strict laws and oversaw many executions each day, earning him the nickname 'Butcher '.
12.
In 310, Gou Xi became furious about this issue and sent a petition to Yue asking him to behead the slanderers, but Yue refused.
13.
Meanwhile, Emperor Huai of Jin, who hated Sima Yue for abusing his power, decided to reach out to Gou Xi and collaborate with him, which Gou Xi agreed to.
14.
Gou Xi did so, but had to return to Qingzhou when Cao Ni broke into Langye.
15.
Gou Xi fled to Gaoping in the middle of the night while many of his soldiers surrendered to Cao Ni.
16.
At Gaoping, Gou Xi gathered new troops and rebuilt his army.
17.
However, Yue had previously noticed that Emperor Huai and Gou Xi were exchanging letters frequently, and this time he sent his cavalry to intercept Emperor Huai's envoys.
18.
Gou Xi wrote a petition to the emperor asking him to move the capital over to Cangyuan in Yanzhou.
19.
Gou Xi even sent his official, Liu Hui, with boats, 500 guards and grains to escort the Emperor from Luoyang.
20.
Emperor Huai's surviving nephew, Sima Duan, fled to Cangyuan, where Gou Xi proclaimed him as the new crown prince and moved his base to Mengcheng.
21.
Just a month later, Gou Xi plotted with Wang Zan to assassinate Shi Le, but the plan was discovered, and Shi Le put the two of them as well as Gou Chun to death.