Gong Zhi 鞏志

In Chapter 52 of the Romance, when Zhao Yun takes Guiyang and its administrator Zhao Fan is kept on as Administrator of Guiyang, Zhang Fei shouts, asking whether only Zilong is to win merit while he himself is a useless man, and declares that if he is given just 3,000 troops he will take Wuling Commandery and capture its administrator Jin Xuan alive and present him. In Chapter 53, as Zhuge Liang instructs, Zhang Fei signs a pledge under military law and, leading 3,000 troops, marches through the night for the border of Wuling, while Jin Xuan gathers his officers, inspects his picked troops and weapons, and prepares to go out of the city to meet him. Romance, Ch. 52 §41–44Romance, Ch. 53 §1

At this point the Attendant Officer Gong Zhi remonstrates. Liu Xuande, he says, is an imperial uncle of the Great Han whose benevolence and righteousness are known throughout the realm, and Zhang Yide is moreover matchless in valour, so they must not fight him; accepting surrender is the best course. Jin Xuan flies into a rage, asks whether he means to collude with the bandits and stir up trouble from within, and orders his guards to drag him out and behead him. When the officials all say that beheading one of their own first would bode ill for the army, Jin Xuan rebukes Gong Zhi and sends him away, and leads the troops out himself. Romance, Ch. 53 §2

Meeting Zhang Fei 20 li from the city, Jin Xuan, finding that his subordinate generals are all afraid and no one will go forward, wields his sword and rides out against him himself, but at Zhang Fei's roar, like a great clap of thunder, he turns pale, dares not cross weapons, and wheels his horse round and flees. When he reaches the city, arrows rain down from the wall, and Gong Zhi, standing on the wall, says that Jin Xuan has brought his own ruin by not following the will of Heaven, and that he himself, together with the people, will surrender to the Liu of his own accord. Before he has finished speaking, an arrow strikes Jin Xuan full in the face; Jin Xuan falls from his horse, and the soldiers cut off his head and present it to Zhang Fei. Romance, Ch. 53 §3–4

When Gong Zhi comes out of the city and surrenders, Zhang Fei has him take the seal and ribbon to Guiyang to see Liu Bei. Liu Bei, greatly pleased, has Gong Zhi take over Jin Xuan's post, goes to Wuling in person to settle the people, and then sends a letter to Guan Yu telling him that Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun have each won a commandery. The Romance does not bring Gong Zhi on stage again after this. Romance, Ch. 53 §4–5