Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán) was a regional warlord and administrator during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was the nephew of the powerful warlord Yuan Shao (袁紹, Viên Thiệu). Following the death of his uncle, Gao Gan served Yuan Shang (袁尚, Viên Thượng). Initially, he was appointed as the Governor of Bing Province (Bingzhou) by Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) began his northern campaigns, Gao Gan initially submitted to Cao Cao to preserve his position. However, he eventually rebelled, seeking to reclaim the north for the Yuan family. His defiance led to a direct confrontation with Cao Cao’s forces. After losing the strategic pass of Huguan, Gao Gan attempted to flee to the Xiongnu tribes to seek refuge, but he was intercepted and executed by Shang Liao (上獠, Thượng Liêu) before he could reach his destination.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Gao Gan is depicted as a man who constantly wavered between loyalty to his bloodline and the pragmatic necessity of submitting to the rising power of Cao Cao. His rebellion is portrayed as the final gasp of the Yuan clan’s influence in the northern provinces.
In the novel, Gao Gan’s betrayal of Cao Cao is a significant subplot that forces Cao Cao to personally lead the campaign into the harsh mountainous terrain of Bing Province. His eventual demise is framed as the inevitable consequence of opposing the mandate of the central government.
Gao Gan — Historical & Literary Timeline
The Battle of Guandu
Gao Gan assists Yuan Shao during the pivotal conflict against Cao Cao.
Rebellion against Cao Cao
Upon seeing the Yuan clan collapse, Gao Gan attempts to seize control of Bing Province for himself, betraying his initial pledge to Cao Cao.
The Final Defeat
After the loss of Huguan, Gao Gan flees, only to be captured and executed by a local border official.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Gao Gan on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu): His maternal uncle and patron who appointed him as the Governor of Bing Province. Gao Gan assisted him during the Battle of Guandu in 200 AD.
- Yuan Shang (袁尚, Viên Thượng): His cousin. Following Yuan Shao’s death, Gao Gan supported Yuan Shang in the succession dispute against Yuan Tan and served him during the collapse of the Yuan clan’s power.
- Yuan Tan (袁谭, Viên Đàm): His cousin. Gao Gan opposed Yuan Tan’s faction during the internal conflict that fractured the Yuan family after Yuan Shao’s death.
Friends
- Huchuquan (呼厨泉, Hô Chu Tuyền): The Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu. During his rebellion against Cao Cao in 205 AD, Gao Gan sought to form an alliance with him and later attempted to flee to his territory for refuge after the fall of Huguan.
Enemies
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): His primary rival. Gao Gan initially submitted to Cao Cao to preserve his position but rebelled in 205 AD to reclaim the north for the Yuan clan, leading to a direct military campaign that resulted in the loss of Huguan in 206 AD.
- Shang Liao (上獠, Thượng Liêu): A local official who intercepted, captured, and executed Gao Gan in 206 AD as he attempted to flee after his defeat at Huguan.
Other
- No information
In Novel
Chapter 22
- Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán): Nephew of Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu), courtesy name Yuancai (元才), appointed Governor of Bingzhou and commander of a major regional army during Yuan Shao’s campaigns against Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo).
Chapter 32
- Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán): Mobilized Bingzhou cavalry to reinforce Yuan Shang (袁尚, Viên Thượng) and Yuan Tan (袁谭, Viên Đàm) against Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) following Yuan Shao’s death.
Chapter 33
In History
Period I
- Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán) was a relative and maternal nephew of Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu) and became one of Yuan Shao’s important regional commanders. He was appointed Inspector of Bing Province and governed the area on Yuan Shao’s behalf.
Year: 200 AD
- Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán) remained in Yuan Shao’s camp during the confrontation with Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) at Guandu. After Yuan Shao’s defeat, Gao Gan continued to control Bing Province.
Year: 204 AD
- Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán) surrendered to Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) after Cao Cao’s campaign against the Yuan family. He was temporarily allowed to retain his position in Bing Province.
Year: 206 AD
- Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán) rebelled against Cao Cao and seized Huguan. Cao Cao’s generals Li Dian (李典, Lý Điển) and Yue Jin (乐进, Nhạc Tiến) besieged him, and Cao Cao later personally led the campaign. Gao Gan fled after Huguan fell, attempted to seek assistance from the Xiongnu and then from Liu Biao (刘表, Lưu Biểu), but was intercepted and killed while traveling south.
Gallery
3 comments
Gao Gan (onyomi: Kō Kan) is Yuan Shao‘s nephew and the Governor of Bing Province.
Historical Information
Gao Gan was born in Chenliu in Yan Province. He was the son of Gao Gong, who was a cousin of Yuan Shao, and the older cousin of Gao Rou. He also married one of Yuan Shao’s daughters. After the coalition against Dong Zhuo disbanded, Gao Gan was sent with Xun Chen to persuade the Governor of Ji Province, Han Fu, to surrender, which was successful. During the following years, Yuan Shao built a power base in Hebei and Gao Gan was eventually made Governor of Bing Province.
Yuan Shao was soundly defeated by Cao Cao at Guandu and died two years later. Yuan Shang succeeded him and Gao Gan’s position was confirmed. In 202, he sent his general Guo Yuan to try to ally with Ma Teng and the Southern Xiongnu to attack Cao Cao. However, Ma Teng was persuaded by Cao Cao’s envoy Zhang Ji to side with Cao Cao, who sent Ma Chao and Pang De to defeat Guo Yuan. In 204, Yuan Shang’s advisor Shen Pei was defeated and killed at Ye and Cao Cao gained control over Ji Province. Gao Gan decided to nominally surrender Bing Province to him and joined him with his men. Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi were defeated by Cao Cao and fled to the Wuhuan tribes in the north, which probably inspired Gao Gan to hope that the Yuan family would regain domination over Hebei with the Wuhuan. Thus, he decided to rebel against Cao Cao in 206 and led his troops to Hu Pass. However, he was defeated by Cao Cao’s generals Yue Jin and Li Dian and attempted to flee south to join Liu Biao. He was captured by a local police captain on the way and killed.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Gao Gan is introduced in chapter 31 as the nephew of Yuan Shao who led 50,000 troops to aid Yuan Shao at Cangting after his defeat at Guandu. Yuan Shao was ambushed numerous times by Cao Cao’s forces and Gao Gan and Yuan Xi were wounded by the enemy, but they all managed to escape. In the next chapter, Gao Gan arrived with Yuan Xi to help Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang at Liyang against Cao Cao. In chapter 33, Gao Gan defended Hu Pass against Cao Cao’s forces led by Yue Jin, Li Dian and Zhang Yan. He managed to hold them back until two former Yuan retainers, Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang, approached the gate and told him that they wanted to switch sides again. Gao Gan trusted them and let them in. Together, they led their forces to attack Cao Cao’s camp, but they fell right into an ambush. Gao Gan, realizing that he had fallen for a ruse, tried to return, but found that Hu Pass was already occupied by Yue Jin and Li Dian. Gao Gan fled to the Xiongnu tribes and asked them for help, but their chieftain Ce Xian refused as he had no business with Cao Cao. Finally, Gao Gan tried to flee south to Liu Biao, but was captured by Cao Cao’s men on the way and executed.
Cao Cán (chữ Hán: 高幹; ?-206) là tướng tham gia cuộc chiến tranh quân phiệt thời Tam Quốc trong lịch sử Trung Quốc.
Trấn giữ Tinh châu
Cao Cán là cháu gọi quân phiệt Viên Thiệu bằng cậu.[1] Ông theo Viên Thiệu từ khi Viên Thiệu còn là Thái thú Bột Hải – chức do Đổng Trác phong năm 189.
Năm 191, cuộc chiến chống quyền thần Đổng Trác do Viên Thiệu phát động không thành công, các chư hầu quay sang thôn tính lẫn nhau. Viên Thiệu muốn chiếm cả Ký châu của Hàn Phức nhưng sợ không đủ sức, bèn nghe theo kế của Phùng Kỷ, sai sứ đi mời Công Tôn Toản ở Liêu Đông cùng đánh và chia đôi Ký châu. Khi Công Tôn Toản mang quân tới sát lãnh địa uy hiếp Ký châu, Hàn Phức sợ hãi. Đoán được tâm lý lo lắng của Hàn Phức, Viên Thiệu sai Cao Cán đi cùng mưu sĩ Tuân Thầm đến dọa Hàn Phức, khuyên nhường chức châu mục Ký châu cho Viên Thiệu. Hàn Phức nghe theo, nhường chức cho Viên Thiệu làm châu mục Ký châu.[2]
Năm 199, Viên Thiệu tiêu diệt quân phiệt Công Tôn Toản, làm chủ Hà Bắc. Ngoài Ký châu tự trấn thủ, Viên Thiệu giao cho con cả Viên Đàm giữ Thanh châu, con thứ Viên Hy giữ U châu, còn Cao Cán được sai giữ Tinh châu.
Năm 200, Viên Thiệu đại bại ở trận Quan Độ. Cao Cán trong số các tướng lĩnh hộ tống Viên Thiệu chạy về Ký châu. Sau đó ông trở về trấn thủ Tinh châu.
Thất bại
Năm 202, Viên Thiệu qua đời. Tào Tháo lợi dụng các con Viên Thiệu là Viên Đàm và Viên Thượng tranh giành quyền lực, chia rẽ và tấn công anh em họ Viên. Năm 204, Viên Thượng thất thế định chạy sang Tinh châu, nhưng Cao Cán không dung nạp. Viên Thượng phải chạy sang U châu với Viên Hy. Cao Cán bỏ họ Viên, sai sứ sang gặp Tào Tháo xin hàng.[3] Tào Tháo chấp thuận, cho ông tiếp tục làm Thứ sử Tinh châu.
Tào Tháo thấy họ Viên suy kiệt, thừa cơ tấn công tiêu diệt Viên Đàm năm 205. Anh em Viên Hy và Viên Thượng bỏ chạy lên dựa vào thủ lĩnh bộ tộc Ô Hoàn là Đạp Đốn. Tào Tháo mang quân đánh Ô Hoàn.
Sử ghi: giữa lúc Tào Tháo đánh Ô Hoàn thì đột nhiên Cao Cán làm phản. Nhưng các sử gia cho rằng nguyên nhân không rõ ràng và rất có thể vì lúc đó việc lợi dụng Cao Cán để diệt họ Viên không còn nên ông bị Tào Tháo quy kết làm phản.[3] Tào Tháo sai Nhạc Tiến, Lý Điển đi đánh Cao Cán để thôn tính Tinh châu, tiến vào ải Hồ Quan.
Giữa lúc đó, Đạp Đốn cũng bị Tào Tháo đánh bại, cùng anh em Viên Thượng, Viên Hy chạy lên Liêu Đông, nơi thủ lĩnh Công Tôn Khang trấn giữ.
Tào Tháo trong khi tác chiến với Ô Hoàn lại sai Thái thú Hà Đông chặn đường rút về nam của Cao Cán. Lý Điển và Nhạc Tiến đánh Hồ Quan mãi không hạ được khiến Tào Tháo phải thân chinh mang đại quân đến.
Hai bên giao chiến từ tháng giêng tới tháng 3 năm 206, Tào Tháo mới giành được ưu thế. Trước tình hình nguy cấp, Cao Cán để Hồ Quan cho một bộ tướng trấn giữ, còn mình bỏ Tinh châu chạy lên phía bắc, chạy sang đất Hung Nô cầu cứu Thiền vu Nam Hung Nô. Thiền Vu Nam Hung Nô không đồng ý xuất quân giúp Cao Cán, ông đành trở về Tinh châu.[4] Nhưng trên đường chạy về, ông bị Đô úy Thượng Lạc là Vương Diễm bắt giết. Không rõ năm đó Cao Cán bao nhiêu tuổi.
Không lâu sau (207), Viên Thượng và Viên Hy đến Liêu Đông gặp Công Tôn Khang, bị Khang giết chết để hàng Tào Tháo.
Trong Tam Quốc diễn nghĩa
Cao Cán trong tiểu thuyết Tam quốc diễn nghĩa của La Quán Trung không phải là cháu mà là con rể của Viên Thiệu. Tác phẩm không đề cập việc ông đầu hàng Tào Tháo khi anh em họ Viên chưa bị diệt hẳn. Việc ông qua cầu viện Nam Hung Nô không thành cũng được thực hiện khi thành Hồ Quan đã mất.
Gao Gan (pronunciationⓘ) (died 206), courtesy name Yuancai, was a minor warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was a maternal nephew and subordinate of the warlord Yuan Shao.
Life
Gao Gan was from an influential family in Yu County (圉縣), Chenliu Commandery (陳留郡), which is around present-day Qi County, Kaifeng, Henan. He was also a maternal nephew of the warlord Yuan Shao, who controlled most of the territories in northern China from the 190s to his death in 202. Gao Gan held the appointment of Inspector (刺史) of Bing Province, which was one of the four provinces in northern China under Yuan Shao’s control around 200 CE. He governed Bing Province for about seven years.
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[b] 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 Wuhuan tribes, Gao Gan seized the opportunity to start a rebellion in Bing Province. He took the Administrator of Shangdang Commandery (上黨郡; a commandery in Bing Province) hostage and fortified his defences at Hu Pass (壺關; west of present-day Lucheng, Shanxi). Cao Cao’s forces, led by Li Dian and Yue Jin, 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 Jing Province to seek aid from Liu Biao, the provincial governor. However, along the way, Wang Yan (王琰), the Colonel-Director of Retainers (司隸校尉), led his troops to intercept Gao Gan, killed him, and then presented his head to Cao Cao.