Contents
Biography & Historical Record
A Gui was a leader of the Di tribe in the Longyou region during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was one of the prominent chieftains who joined Ma Chao in his rebellion against the Cao Cao regime following the Battle of Tong Pass. In 212 AD, after Ma Chao retreated and sought refuge among the border tribes, he exerted control over the Di and Qiang leaders. However, growing paranoid and suspicious of his allies, Ma Chao executed A Gui, alleging that he was in treasonous correspondence with the forces of Cao Cao.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the narrative, A Gui represents the various tribal leaders coerced or convinced into the anti-Cao coalition. His death serves to illustrate the increasing isolation and volatile nature of Ma Chao’s leadership during his desperate period of exile after the defeat at Tong Pass.
A Gui — Historical & Literary Timeline
Formation of Alliance
A Gui joins the coalition of warlords and tribal leaders under Ma Chao to resist Cao Cao in the Guanzhong region.
Death of a Chieftain
Following the failure to retake the region, Ma Chao executes A Gui on suspicion of betraying the rebellion to Cao Cao.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Qian Wan (千万, Thiên Vạn): Chieftain of the Xingguo Di tribe who co-led the northwestern tribal confederation alongside A Gui in support of the anti-Cao Cao uprising (211–212 AD).
- Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu): Paramount warlord of Liangzhou. A Gui mobilized thousands of Di warriors from Yinping and Xingguo in 211–212 AD to support Ma Chao’s grand western rebellion following the Battle of Tong Pass.
- Han Sui (韩遂, Hàn Toại): Veteran warlord of Liangzhou who co-directed the western coalition armies.
Enemies
- Xiahou Yuan (夏侯渊, Hạ Hầu Uyên): Senior Grand General of Cao Wei. Launched the western punitive expedition in 212–214 AD, stormed Xingguo and Yinping, decisively crushed the Di rebel strongholds, and slew A Gui in combat.
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Chancellor of Han whose western expansion through Guanzhong provoked A Gui and the Longyou tribal confederations into open armed insurrection (211 AD).
- Zhang He (张郃, Trương Cáp): Senior Wei general who led vanguard assault detachments during the pacification of Liangzhou and the Xingguo Di tribes (214 AD).
Others
- No information
In Novel
Chapter 58
- A Gui (阿贵, A Quý): A Gui is one of the Qiang leaders associated with Ma Chao’s forces. When Ma Chao fights Cao Cao in the northwest, A Gui and other Qiang commanders provide military support. He participates in the coalition’s resistance against Cao Cao and is defeated when Cao Cao’s forces break the coalition.
In History
Background
- A Gui (阿贵, A Quý) was the king of the Xingguo Di people in the western borderlands of the late Eastern Han. He commanded a large tribal following and became involved in the wars of Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu).
212 AD
- After Ma Chao’s defeat in the Guanzhong campaign, he returned to the Longxi region and attempted to establish a power base. A Gui responded by supporting Ma Chao’s uprising and maintained his own forces at Xingguo.
214 AD
- Xiahou Yuan (夏侯渊, Hạ Hầu Uyên) campaigned against the western rebels and attacked Xingguo. A Gui was defeated as Wei forces consolidated their control over the region.
214 AD
- A Gui’s defeat ended the Xingguo Di kingdom as an independent military force. His career illustrates the important role played by Di and Qiang leaders in the struggles between the Han warlords and Cao Wei.