Gao Gan
Gao Gan | |
|---|---|
| 高幹 | |
| Inspector of Bing Province (并州刺史) | |
| In office ?–206 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Xian of Han |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Qi County, Kaifeng, Henan |
| Died | 206 |
| Relations | |
| Parent |
|
| Occupation | Warlord |
| Courtesy name | Yuancai (元才) |
Gao Gan (
Life
Gao Gan was from an influential family in Yu County (圉縣), Chenliu Commandery (陳留郡), which is around present-day
In 200 CE, Yuan Shao lost the Battle of Guandu against his rival, Cao Cao, who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead Emperor Xian. After Yuan Shao's defeat, only the troops under Gao Gan's command in Bing Province, numbering about 50,000, were the most organised and highest in morale among all of Yuan Shao's forces.
After Yuan Shao's death in 202, Gao Gan gained support from Guo Yuan and the southern Xiongnu leader Huchuquan to counter Cao Cao's advances into northern China. However, he decided to surrender to Cao Cao in 203 after Guo Yuan's defeat and after internal conflict broke out between Yuan Shao's sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. Cao Cao allowed him to continue serving as the Inspector of Bing Province after his surrender.
Although Gao Gan surrendered to Cao Cao, he was only pretending to do so. In 205, when Cao Cao was away on a campaign against Yuan Shang and the
, attacked Gao Gan at Hu Pass but could not overcome him even after some months of siege.In 206, Cao Cao turned back and personally led his forces to attack Gao Gan. Gao Gan fled from Hu Pass, leaving behind his subordinates Xia Zhao (夏昭) and Deng Sheng (鄧升) to defend the pass, and went to seek help from the Xiongnu. After the Xiongnu refused to help him, Gao Gan headed south towards
See also
References
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).