Gu Cheng 顧承 Zizhi 子直

Contents

Introduction

Gu Cheng (simplified: 顾承, traditional: 顧承, pinyin: Gù Chéng), courtesy name Zizhi (子直), was an Eastern Wu general and official from Wu Commandery. He was the son of Gu Shao (顾邵), grandson of Gu Yong (顾雍), and nephew of Lu Xun. Summoned in the Jiahe period, he was favoured by Sun Quan, who praised him to Gu Yong. He served as Colonel of Cavalry in charge of the Imperial Guard, Chief of the Western Section of Wu Commandery (with Zhuge Ke against the Shanyue—gaining eight thousand troops), General Who Spreads Righteousness, Palace Attendant, and at the Battle of Quebei (241) as General Who Inspires Awe and Supervisor of the Capital Region; with Zhang Xiu he held off the Wei attack and was promoted. Because he and his brother Gu Tan and Zhang Xiu sided with the heir Sun He in the Two Palaces conflict, they were slandered by the faction of Sun Ba and Quan Cong; in 245 all three were exiled to Jiao Province. Gu Cheng died in exile at thirty-seven. His wife, Zhang Wen’s sister, was remarried to a man surnamed Ding and committed suicide on the wedding day. Lu Kai’s Wu xianxian zhuan praised him.

Biography

Background and early service

Gu Cheng was from Wu County (吴县), Wu Commandery (吴郡), in present-day Suzhou. He was the son of Gu Shao and grandson of Gu Yong; his mother was a sister of Lu Xun, so Lu Xun was his maternal uncle.

In the Jiahe period (232–238) Gu Cheng was summoned to the court. Sun Quan took a liking to him and praised him to Gu Yong. He was appointed Colonel of Cavalry (騎都尉) and put in charge of the Imperial Guard (羽林兵).

Western Wu Commandery and Shanyue

He was then made Chief of the Western Section of Wu Commandery (吳郡西部都尉). With Zhuge Ke he campaigned against the Shanyue and obtained an extra eight thousand picked troops; he returned and camped at Zhang Kang (章伉). In the Chiwu period he and the Chief of Xindu Commandery Chen Biao (陈表) led troops in farming at Piling (毗陵), with tens of thousands of men and women.

He was appointed General Who Spreads Righteousness (昭義中郎將) and entered the court as Palace Attendant (侍中).

Battle of Quebei (241) and promotion

In 241 the Battle of Quebei (芍陂) broke out. Gu Cheng was appointed General Who Inspires Awe (奮威將軍) and Supervisor of the Capital Region (京下督). He and Zhang Xiu (张休) and others led troops and successfully resisted the Wei attack. After the battle he was promoted to a general’s rank (杂号将军). The credit and rewards given to Gu Cheng and Zhang Xiu were greater than those given to Quan Cong’s sons Quan Xu (全绪) and Quan Duan (全端), which caused resentment in the Quan family.

Two Palaces conflict and exile

Gu Cheng and his elder brother Gu Tan (顾谭) and Zhang Xiu (son of Zhang Zhao) supported the heir Sun He. They were attacked by the faction of the Prince of Lu Sun Ba. According to the Wu lu, the slander was led by Quan Cong and his sons. It was claimed that Gu Cheng, Gu Tan, and Zhang Xiu had colluded with the Army Supervisor Chen Xun (陈恂) to exaggerate their merit at Quebei. In the eighth year of Chiwu (245) Gu Tan, Gu Cheng, and Zhang Xiu were all exiled to Jiao Province. Gu Cheng died in exile at thirty-seven.

Gu Cheng’s wife was a younger sister of Zhang Wen (张温). After Gu Cheng was exiled she was remarried to a man surnamed Ding (丁氏). On the day of the wedding she took poison and died.

Personality and traits

Ability and favour

Gu Cheng was recognised by Sun Quan and praised to Gu Yong. He governed the western section of Wu, campaigned with Zhuge Ke, farmed at Piling with Chen Biao, and at Quebei with Zhang Xiu helped repel the Wei army. Lu Kai’s Wu xianxian zhuan (吴先贤传) praised him: “Brilliant in inspiring the martial, full of virtue; at home his name was heard, like a swan soaring high.”

Political achievements

Military and civil posts

Gu Cheng served as Colonel of Cavalry (Imperial Guard), Chief of the Western Section of Wu Commandery, General Who Spreads Righteousness, Palace Attendant, General Who Inspires Awe, and Supervisor of the Capital Region. With Zhuge Ke he gained eight thousand troops from the Shanyue campaign; with Chen Biao he oversaw farming at Piling; with Zhang Xiu he resisted the Wei attack at Quebei.

Relationships

Family

Gu Cheng was the grandson of Gu Yong, son of Gu Shao, elder brother of Gu Tan (Gu Tan was Director of Selection and was exiled with him), and nephew of Lu Xun. His wife was Zhang Wen’s sister.

Sun Quan and the Two Palaces

Sun Quan favoured Gu Cheng and praised him to Gu Yong. In the Two Palaces conflict Gu Cheng and Gu Tan sided with the heir Sun He; the Quan family and Sun Ba’s faction slandered them and they were exiled.

Zhang Xiu and Quan Cong

Gu Cheng fought alongside Zhang Xiu at Quebei; both were rewarded above Quan Cong’s sons, which led to Quan Cong’s resentment and the accusation that they had inflated their merit with Chen Xun.

Anecdotes and allusions

Quebei and the dispute over merit

At Quebei, Gu Cheng and Zhang Xiu held off the Wei attack while Quan Xu and Quan Duan struck the enemy. When rewards were distributed, Gu Cheng and Zhang Xiu received higher rank than the Quan brothers. The Quan family resented this and, in the context of the Two Palaces conflict, accused Gu Cheng, Gu Tan, and Zhang Xiu of colluding with Chen Xun to exaggerate their merit.

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms, Wu lu
Type: Historical

Lady Zhang’s suicide

After Gu Cheng was exiled to Jiao Province, his wife (Zhang Wen’s sister) was remarried to a man surnamed Ding. On the wedding day she took poison and died.

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical

Achievements

Gu Cheng’s documented achievements include:

Being favoured by Sun Quan and praised to Gu Yong
As Chief of the Western Section of Wu Commandery, with Zhuge Ke gaining eight thousand troops from the Shanyue campaign
With Chen Biao, overseeing farming at Piling (tens of thousands of people)
At Quebei (241), as General Who Inspires Awe and Supervisor of the Capital Region, with Zhang Xiu resisting the Wei attack and being promoted

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

Gu Cheng is recorded in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志) in the “Biographies of Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, Zhuge Jin, and Bu Zhi” (吳書·張顧諸葛步傳). The Wu lu (in Pei Songzhi’s annotation to Gu Tan’s biography) states that the slander came from Quan Cong and his sons. Wan Sitong’s Wu jiangxiang dashi nianbiao gives the exile in the second month of 245.

Lu Kai’s praise

Lu Kai’s Wu xianxian zhuan: “Brilliant in inspiring the martial, full of virtue; at home his name was heard, like a swan soaring high.” (于铄奋武，奕奕全德；在家必闻，鸿飞高陟。)

Historical evaluations

Lu Kai (Wu xianxian zhuan)

“Brilliant in inspiring the martial, full of virtue; at home his name was heard, like a swan soaring high.”

Legacy

Gu Cheng is remembered as a capable Eastern Wu general and official who was caught up in the Two Palaces conflict. His and Zhang Xiu’s rewards at Quebei provoked the Quan family and contributed to the slander that led to his exile and early death. His wife’s suicide after forced remarriage is often cited as an example of loyalty and tragedy.

References

Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, Zhuge Jin, and Bu Zhi” (吳書·張顧諸葛步傳).
Pei Songzhi. Annotations (Wu lu).
Lu Kai. Wu xianxian zhuan (吴先贤传), in Chuxue ji (初学记), juan 17.