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Chapter 710 Gongsun Kang
There is no accurate information about Gongsun Kangqi's birth and death dates, but his place of origin is Xiangping, Liaodong.
He was a warlord who held power in the Liaodong region during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Gongsun Du, the governor of Liaodong, the elder brother of Gongsun Gong, the general of chariots and cavalry, and the father of Gongsun Yuan.
After Gongsun Du's death, Gongsun Kang succeeded him as the governor of Liaodong. During his reign, he engaged in numerous military conflicts with the Dongyi forces, including Goguryeo.
In 207 AD, Gongsun Kang successfully captured Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi and presented their heads to Cao Cao, for which he was granted the title of Marquis of Xiangping.
In 209 AD, Gongsun Kang launched a major military campaign, severely damaging Goguryeo and capturing its capital. He then launched an attack on Han Ye and established Daifang Commandery.
After Gongsun Kang's death, his two sons were still young, so Gongsun Gong succeeded him. After Cao Pi became emperor, he posthumously granted Gongsun Kang the title of Grand Marshal.
Gongsun Kang was the eldest son of Gongsun Du, who rose from a minor official position in Xuantu Commandery and was looked down upon by the people of Liaodong Commandery. Initially, Gongsun Zhao, a native of Liaodong Commandery, served as the acting magistrate of Xiangping County and appointed Gongsun Kang as a squad leader.
After Gongsun Du became the governor of Liaodong, he led an eastern expedition against Goguryeo and a western campaign against the Wuhuan, his power shaking the overseas regions. Taking advantage of the chaos in the Central Plains, he proclaimed himself Marquis of Liaodong and Governor of Pingzhou, and his attire resembled that of the emperor.
In the ninth year of Jian'an (204 AD), Gongsun Du passed away, and Gongsun Kang succeeded him as the governor of Liaodong. He then gave the seal of the Marquis of Yongning Township, which Cao Cao had previously granted to Gongsun Du, to his younger brother, Gongsun Gong.
In the tenth year of Jian'an (205 AD), after Yuan Tan was defeated by Cao Cao, Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao to pacify the coastal area. Zhang Liao defeated Liu Yi, the governor of Yingzhou appointed by Gongsun Du, and Gongsun Kang lost the counties of Donglai that his father had managed for many years.
Gongsun Kang said to Liang Mao and the other generals, "I heard that Cao Cao has gone on a long campaign and Ye City is unprepared for defense. Now I want to use 30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry to attack Ye City directly. Who can resist us!"
All the generals agreed. Gongsun Kang then looked at Liang Mao and asked, "What do you think of this idea?"
Liang Mao replied, “Recently, the country has been in great turmoil, and the nation is on the verge of collapse. General, you command an army of over 100,000 men, yet you sit at home watching the successes and failures of all sides. Is this how a subject of a ruler should act? Cao Cao, concerned about the nation's crisis and impending doom, pitied the suffering of the people, and led a righteous army to punish the wicked and treacherous villains for the sake of the people. His merits are immense, and his virtue is widely recognized; he is truly unparalleled. Because the country has only recently been pacified and the people have begun to settle down, I have not punished you for your transgressions! But you, General, wish to launch an attack westward. The outcome of your actions, whether you live or die, will be decided in less than a morning. General, you should think carefully!”
The generals were shocked and moved by Liang Mao's words. After a long while, Gongsun Kang said, "What Liang Mao said is right."
In 207 AD, Cao Cao personally led his army to conquer the Wuhuan. By August, in the Battle of White Wolf Mountain, Cao Cao's army had inflicted heavy losses on the Wuhuan and Yuan Shang's forces.
At that time, Liaodong Chanyu Supuwan (also known as Supuyan) and the brothers Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi fled to Gongsun Kang, accompanied by several thousand cavalry.
At this point, someone suggested to Cao Cao that they should press their advantage and pursue the enemy. However, Cao Cao said, "I only need to wait for Gongsun Kang to bring me the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. There is no need to use troops to continue the pursuit." After that, Cao Cao withdrew his troops from Liucheng and returned.
After Yuan Shang fled to Liaodong, he discussed with Yuan Xi, saying, "Now that we are in Liaodong, Gongsun Kang will surely come to see me. I will kill him with my own hands for my brother, and then occupy Liaodong. We can use this to expand our own power."
Gongsun Kang also planned to capture Yuan Shang to claim credit, so he arranged for strong and brave soldiers in the stable beforehand, and then came out to invite Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi.
Yuan Xi became suspicious and didn't want to go in, but Yuan Shang forced him to go in, so Yuan Xi went in with him. Before they could even sit down, Gongsun Kang ordered his ambush soldiers to seize them and make the two of them sit on the frozen ground.
Yuan Shang said to Gongsun Kang, "When you're still alive, you can't stand the cold. Could you give us a mat to sit on?" Gongsun Kang replied, "Your head is about to travel ten thousand miles. What use is a mat to you?"
So he executed Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, and sent their heads, along with Su Pu Wan's, to Cao Cao. One of Cao Cao's generals asked, "You had already withdrawn your troops, yet Gongsun Kang killed Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. Why is that?"
Cao Cao said, "Gongsun Kang has always been afraid of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. If I attack them quickly, they will join forces to resist; if I give them a break, they will fight each other. It is the circumstances that make them do this." Cao Cao enfeoffed Gongsun Kang as the Marquis of Xiangping and appointed him as the Left General.
During the reign of Bogu, Goguryeo constantly harassed Liaodong and also took in more than 500 families of fleeing Hu people.
In the fourteenth year of Jian'an (209 AD), Gongsun Kang launched an attack on Goguryeo, captured its capital, and burned its towns. Boguzi Baqi complained to the people that he, as the eldest son, could not inherit the throne, so he and Juannu Jia each led their troops of more than 30,000 men to surrender to Gongsun Kang.
During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Han Ye was powerful and could not be controlled by the prefectures and counties, so most of the people migrated to the Korean Peninsula.
Later, Gongsun Kang divided the wasteland south of Tunyou County into Daifang Commandery, and sent Gongsun Mo, Zhang Chang and others to collect refugees from various places and raise an army to attack Han Hui. Only then did some of the original residents leave.
After Gongsun Kang died, his sons Gongsun Huang and Gongsun Yuan were still young, so the officials of Liaodong recommended Gongsun Gong to be the governor of Liaodong.
In the second year of the Huangchu era (221 AD), after Cao Pi, the Emperor Wen of Wei, became emperor, he sent an envoy to appoint Gongsun Gong as General of Chariots and Cavalry with the authority to act on behalf of the emperor, and granted him the title of Marquis of Pingguo. He also posthumously granted Gongsun Kang the title of Grand Marshal.
Gongsun Yuan later submitted a memorial to Emperor Ming of Wei, pleading for his own cause, stating that Gongsun Kang had once killed Sun Quan's envoy.
Gongsun Kang, whose given name was Yong and courtesy name was Gongshou, was the cousin of Zhao Yun, a famous general of Shu Han. He was born into a prominent family whose members had served as officials for generations and held a high position.
However, it was precisely this illustrious family background that ensured Gongsun Kang received protection and support from his family throughout his upbringing.
Although Gongsun Kang was not an outstanding military general, he possessed remarkable political wisdom. At the beginning of the Shu Han dynasty, Gongsun Kang was appointed as the governor of Yizhou, responsible for governing the Yizhou region.
During his tenure, he actively implemented a series of policies that greatly improved the lives of the people in Yizhou.
At the same time, he was adept at cultivating relationships with various factions and skillfully handling various political crises, which enabled the Shu Han regime to develop steadily.
Gongsun Kang, as Zhao Yun's cousin, always maintained absolute loyalty to the Shu Han imperial family. From the very beginning of the Shu Han dynasty, he actively participated in political struggles, helping the emperor resolve his problems.
After the Shu Han regime gradually consolidated, he offered advice and strategies to the country on many occasions, contributing to the prosperity of Shu Han.
It was this quality of loyalty that enabled Gongsun Kang to always protect himself and his family during the turbulent Three Kingdoms period.
Gongsun Kang was adept at handling interpersonal relationships, maintaining good relations with the Shu Han imperial family, court officials, and various regional warlords. This enabled him to consistently receive support and assistance from all sides during political crises. Furthermore, he formed alliances with like-minded individuals, working together for the benefit of the state.
It was this extensive network of interpersonal relationships that enabled Gongsun Kang to consistently escape danger during the turbulent Three Kingdoms period.
In conclusion, Gongsun Kang's continued good fortune was due not only to his family background, political acumen, loyalty, and interpersonal relationships, but also to the favor of fate.
In the chaotic Three Kingdoms period, it was no easy feat to ensure the safety of oneself and one's family. Gongsun Kang's life was undoubtedly a legend of good fortune.
In 207 AD, during the Three Kingdoms period, a time of numerous heroes and fierce competition for power, the surrender of Gongsun Kang, the governor of Liaodong, became a pivotal moment in history.
The subsequent Battle of Liaodong was one of the most exciting military expeditions in the late Three Kingdoms period, showcasing a clash of wisdom and courage.
Gongsun Kang was Gongsun Zan's younger brother and had served as the governor of Liaodong. Prior to this, Liaodong had become a powerful region under Gongsun Zan's rule, serving as an important military and political center in the north.
However, with the defeat and death of Yuan Shao, his sons Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi fled to Liaodong to seek refuge, attempting to rely on Gongsun Kang's strength to fight against Cao Cao.
After Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi defected to Gongsun Kang, Gongsun Kang's situation became complicated. On the one hand, he wanted to maintain his position, and on the other hand, he realized Cao Cao's strength and unstoppable power.
To avoid antagonizing Cao Cao, Gongsun Kang made a crucial decision: to kill Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi and surrender to Cao Cao. He presented the heads of the two Yuans to Cao Cao as a sign of his loyalty, becoming Cao Cao's vassal.
Gongsun Kang's surrender was not only a choice for personal survival but also a wise judgment of the situation. Cao Cao's power was constantly expanding, and Gongsun Kang realized that only by allying with Cao Cao could he guarantee the peace of Liaodong and his own political standing. Thus, he became part of Cao Cao's regime, contributing to the unification of the north.
Time flew by, and in the year 238 AD, Gongsun Yuan, a descendant of Gongsun Kang, inherited the position of Prefect of Liaodong. Unlike Gongsun Kang, Gongsun Yuan did not choose to maintain a close relationship with Cao Wei.
Instead, he harbored rebellious intentions and attempted to break free from Cao Cao's control. Gongsun Yuan's rebellion was not only a challenge to the Cao Wei regime but also a major shock to the situation in the Liaodong region.
Faced with Gongsun Yuan's rebellion, Emperor Cao Rui of Wei reacted swiftly, dispatching Sima Yi to lead a large army to conquer Liaodong. Sima Yi was an outstanding general of Wei, renowned for his exceptional military talent. This expedition became a crucial battle for Wei in consolidating its northern border and quelling the rebellion.
The strategic deployment for the Liaodong Campaign was meticulous. After understanding the enemy's situation, Sima Yi adopted a strategy of "encirclement without attack," first cutting off Gongsun Yuan's supply lines to weaken his fighting power.
At the same time, Sima Yi actively waged psychological warfare, taking advantage of the internal divisions within Gongsun Yuan's forces to incite his generals to surrender, ultimately leading to a siege.
After several fierce battles, Gongsun Yuan was ultimately forced to retreat under the dual pressure of insufficient troops and low morale.
The changing battle situation posed a huge threat to Gongsun Yuan, who was ultimately defeated in a decisive battle and died as a result.
The Battle of Liaodong was not only a military expedition, but also a significant historical turning point in the late Three Kingdoms period. First, this battle consolidated Wei's rule in the north and eliminated potential threats on the border.
Through this battle, the State of Wei further strengthened its control over the Liaodong region, ensuring the security of its border defenses.
Secondly, the Liaodong Campaign demonstrated Sima Yi's exceptional military talent and political acumen. Through this war, he not only quelled the rebellion but also further enhanced his position in the Wei Kingdom.
In later historical developments, Sima Yi, with his outstanding political and military talents, eventually seized real power in the Wei Kingdom, laying the groundwork for the later changes in the Cao Wei regime.
At the same time, the Liaodong Campaign also provided important lessons for later history. The various tactical applications and command techniques used in the battle provided rich experience for later military strategists.
As Cao Cao said, "War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, a road to survival or ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected." This battle once again proved the importance of military decision-making and strategic deployment.
Gongsun Kang's surrender and the Battle of Liaodong are two major events that cannot be ignored in the historical development of the Three Kingdoms period. Gongsun Kang's wise choice not only ensured his own safety but also contributed to the stability of the Liaodong region.
The Liaodong Campaign had a profound impact on both military and political levels, demonstrating the cruelty of war and the complexity of power struggles.
The story of Gongsun Kang and Gongsun Yuan reflects the profound thoughts of people in that era regarding survival and power, and also provides valuable historical lessons for later generations.
Whether it was Gongsun Kang, who followed the times, or Gongsun Yuan, who dared to resist, their choices left an indelible mark on history.
Gongsun Kang was the eldest son of Gongsun Du, and his younger brother was Gongsun Gong. After their father's death, he inherited his father's ambition and continued to rule as a local tyrant in Liaodong. Although he was less shrewd than his father.
After reaching adulthood, Gongsun Kang entered officialdom, serving as the acting magistrate of Xiangping County, a subordinate state of Liaodong. Gongsun Zhao summoned him to serve as a squad leader, intending to humiliate Gongsun Du, who came from a humble background.
However, after Gongsun Du became the governor of Liaodong, the first person he dealt with was him. He was beaten to death in the bustling marketplace of Xiangping.
From then on, he began his campaigns in the south and north, conquering the surrounding small states and becoming the de facto ruler of Liaodong and the surrounding areas. His attire was similar to that of the emperor.
Later, after his father's death, Gongsun Kang succeeded him to his position, but his ambition continued. He wanted to accomplish what his father had failed to do: "to become emperor," but his plans were suppressed by Cao Cao, who had already gained considerable power.
After the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao defeated Yuan Tan, and Zhang Liao also took the opportunity to defeat Liu Yi. This caused Gongsun Kang to lose Donglai County, which his father had managed for many years, and he suffered a huge loss.
Later, Cao Cao launched a distant expedition to Ye City, leaving its defenses undefended. Gongsun Kang then considered sending troops to attack Ye City and sought the opinions of his subordinates. Most agreed, except for one man named Liang Mao.
Cao Cao led a righteous army, and his achievements and virtues were outstanding. It's already a stroke of luck if he doesn't cause you trouble.
After some persuasive arguments, Gongsun Kang was convinced. In the Battle of White Wolf Mountain, Cao Cao decisively defeated the armies of the Wuhuan and Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang fled to Liaodong, hoping to gain Gongsun Kang's protection, and ideally, to replace him.
However, Cao Cao had already written to him demanding the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. At this point, Gongsun Kang was also somewhat afraid that Cao Cao would come looking for trouble. (End of Chapter)
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