Gu Li (fl. 214–226) was a close aide of Sun Quan, a Chinese warlord of the late Eastern Han dynasty who later became the founding emperor of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period.
Gu Li | |
|---|---|
| Close Attendant (親近監) | |
| In office ?–? | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | Unknown |
| Gu Li | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 谷利 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Life
editGu Li was initially a servant under Sun Quan. Sun Quan liked him for his attentive and forthright personality and promoted him to the position of Close Attendant (親近監). Gu Li was loyal, daring, and direct in speech, so Sun Quan trusted him even more and regarded him as a close aide.[1]
In 215, during the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, when Sun Quan was caught up in a fierce counterattack led by the enemy general Zhang Liao, he managed to break out of the encirclement and headed towards the ford. However, the bridge linking the north and south ends of the ford had been destroyed by Zhang Liao's men, leaving a gap more than one zhang wide. Gu Li came behind Sun Quan's horse, instructed his lord to sit tight and grab the reins firmly, then gave the horse a few whips to drive it forward. Sun Quan's horse successfully leapt across the broken bridge and brought its rider to safety. For his effort, Gu Li was later awarded the title of a Marquis of a Chief Village (都亭侯) by Sun Quan.[2]
Around 226, Sun Quan had a large vessel constructed in Wuchang and he named the ship "Chang'an" (長安). He sailed on it towards Diaotaiyi (釣臺沂) but encountered a storm along the way. Gu Li then ordered the crew to head towards Fankou (樊口; northwest of present-day Echeng District, Ezhou, Hubei). Sun Quan said, "We should go to Luozhou (羅州; present-day Huazhou, Guangdong)." However, Gu Li brandished his sword at the crew and threatened, "I'll execute any person who does not go to Fankou." Upon reaching the port at Fankou, the storm had not subsided yet so they remained there. Sun Quan then asked Gu Li, "Were you afraid of the river?" Gu Li knelt down and said, "Your Majesty is the master of thousands. You should not venture into treacherous waters and brave the storm. The ship may be large and steady, but if you encounter danger, what will happen to the state? That was why I strongly objected (to sailing towards Luozhou)." When Sun Quan heard that, he respected Gu Li even more and started calling Gu by his surname since then.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ (谷利者，本左右給使也，以謹直為親近監，性忠果亮烈，言不苟且，權愛信之。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 47.
- ^ (江表傳曰：權乘駿馬上津橋，橋南已見徹，丈餘無版。谷利在馬後，使權持鞍緩控，利於後著鞭，以助馬勢，遂得超渡。權旣得免，即拜利都亭侯。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 47.
- ^ (江表傳曰：權於武昌新裝大船，名為長安，試泛之釣臺沂。時風大盛，谷利令柂工取樊口。權曰：「當張頭取羅州。」利拔刀向柂工曰：「不取樊口者斬。」工即轉柂入樊口，風遂猛不可行，乃還。權曰：「阿利畏水何怯也？」利跪曰：「大王萬乘之主，輕於不測之淵，戲於猛浪之中，船樓裝高，邂逅顛危，柰社稷何？是以利輒敢以死爭。」權於是貴重之，自此後不復名之，常呼曰谷。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 47.
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).