RRebelled and was put down by Zhuge LiangShu 13 §49
NKilled Yong Kai and Zhu Bao, surrendered and became Administrator of YizhouCh. 87 §21
Gao Ding 高定
| Occupation | RRuler · King of the Yi NRuler · Administrator of Yuexi Commandery | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R7 |
Profile
Gao Ding was a king of the Yi tribes of Yuexi. When Li Yan was Administrator of Qianwei, Gao Ding sent troops to besiege Xindao County but was routed by Li Yan's relief force and fled, and after the death of the First Sovereign he rebelled in the south together with Yong Kai and Zhu Bao. Records, Shu 10 §42Records, Shu 3 §4Records, Shu 13 §15
In the 3rd year of Jianxing (225), on his southern campaign, Zhuge Liang first advanced to Yuexi and attacked him. When Zhuge Liang set out on the road to attack Yong Kai, Yong Kai had already been killed by Gao Ding's followers. Records, Shu 3 §6Records, Shu 13 §15 · 27 · 49
He has no biography of his own in the Records; his name appears in the Biography of the Later Sovereign and in the biographies of Li Yan, Li Hui, Lü Kai and Zhang Ni. Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name, origin or death. In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 87, as Administrator of Yuexi Commandery, and his name does not appear in the chapter title. The Romance portrays him being led by Zhuge Liang's stratagem to suspect Yong Kai, attacking Yong Kai and Zhu Bao in turn, and presenting their heads to be made Administrator of Yizhou. Records, Shu 3 §4Records, Shu 10 §42Records, Shu 13 §15 · 27 · 49Romance, Ch. 87 §2 · 19–26
In the Records
After Chengdu was pacified, Li Yan became Administrator of Qianwei and General Who Promotes Enterprise. In the 23rd year of Jian'an (218), when the bandits Ma Qin, Gao Sheng and others rose at Qi County and reached as far as Zizhong County, Li Yan put them down leading only 5,000 troops of the commandery. Continuing from this, the Biography of Li Yan records that when Gao Ding, a chieftain of the non-Han peoples of Yuexi, sent troops to besiege Xindao County, Li Yan galloped to the rescue and the enemy were all routed and fled. Li Yan was additionally made General Who Supports Han. Records, Shu 10 §42
The Biography of the Later Sovereign records that in the summer of the 1st year of Jianxing (223), Zhu Bao, Administrator of Zangke, rebelled with his commandery, and that before this Yong Kai, a powerful clan leader of Yizhou Commandery, had rebelled, sent the Administrator Zhang Yi (張裔) away to Wu and held the commandery without submitting, and Gao Ding, king of the Yi of Yuexi, had also rebelled. The Biography of Li Hui records that when the First Sovereign died, Gao Ding ran wild in Yuexi, Yong Kai ran rampant in Jianning, and Zhu Bao rebelled in Zangke. Records, Shu 3 §4Records, Shu 13 §15
In the 3rd month, in the spring of the 3rd year of Jianxing (225), Chancellor Zhuge Liang campaigned against the four southern commanderies. Zhuge Liang first advanced to Yuexi, while Li Hui headed along the road to Jianning. When Zhuge Liang had set out on the road to attack Yong Kai, Yong Kai had already been killed by Gao Ding's followers. Records, Shu 3 §6Records, Shu 13 §15 · 27
On reaching the south, Zhuge Liang submitted a memorial saying that Lü Kai, an officer of Yongchang Commandery, the Assistant of the Commandery Wang Kang and others had kept their loyalty for more than ten years, and that though Yong Kai and Gao Ding pressed them from the northeast, Lü Kai and the others held to righteousness and had no dealings with them. Records, Shu 13 §27
The Biography of Zhang Ni records that in Yuexi Commandery, after Zhuge Liang had attacked Gao Ding, the Sou and Yi rebelled repeatedly and killed the Administrators Gong Lu and Jiao Huang, and that thereafter the administrators did not dare go to the commandery but stayed at Anding County, more than 800 li away, so that the commandery existed in name only. Chen Shou's main text does not record what became of Gao Ding after he was attacked. Records, Shu 13 §49 · 15
In the Romance
In Chapter 87 of the Romance, in the 3rd year of Jianxing, an urgent report arrives from Yizhou: the Man king Meng Huo has raised 100,000 Man troops and invaded the borders, Yong Kai, Administrator of Jianning, has joined with Meng Huo in rebellion, and the two men Zhu Bao, Administrator of Zangke Commandery, and Gao Ding, Administrator of Yuexi Commandery, have surrendered their cities. The troops under the three men all serve as Meng Huo's guides and attack Yongchang Commandery. When Zhuge Liang comes in person with a great army, Yong Kai divides his forces along three routes, with Gao Ding taking the central route, and Gao Ding makes E Huan the vanguard of his front division. Romance, Ch. 87 §2 · 10
When E Huan is captured by Wei Yan, Zhang Yi (張翼) and Wang Ping, Zhuge Liang unties him, entertains him with wine and food, and sends him back, saying that Gao Ding is a loyal and righteous man who has been led astray by Yong Kai and telling him to urge Administrator Gao to submit quickly. Gao Ding is moved, but when Yong Kai calls this a ruse to sow discord, he is left half-believing. Then, when the troops of Yong Kai and Gao Ding attack the Shu camp, fall into an ambush and are captured in great numbers, Zhuge Liang spreads a rumor that Gao Ding's men will be spared and Yong Kai's men put to death, then releases them all, and deliberately announces loudly to Gao Ding's men that Yong Kai has offered to present the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. Romance, Ch. 87 §11–16
When a man Gao Ding has sent to probe the true situation is caught and brought in, Zhuge Liang pretends to take him for Yong Kai's man, scolds him, asking why, having agreed to present the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao, they have missed the date, and gives him a secret letter for Yong Kai. On reading the letter Gao Ding is furious and consults E Huan, and on his advice holds a banquet and invites Yong Kai, but Yong Kai, suspicious, does not come. That night Gao Ding storms Yong Kai's camp, Yong Kai's troops fall into disorder of their own accord, and as Yong Kai flees along a mountain path he is struck from his horse by the halberd of E Huan, who lies in ambush, and E Huan cuts off his head. Romance, Ch. 87 §17–21
When Gao Ding presents Yong Kai's head, Zhuge Liang orders him beheaded as a false surrenderer and shows him a letter of surrender said to have been secretly sent by Zhu Bao. Gao Ding says it is Zhu Bao's ruse to sow discord and offers to capture Zhu Bao and bring him back. Gao Ding goes with E Huan to Zhu Bao's camp and rebukes Zhu Bao, and E Huan strikes Zhu Bao from his horse with his halberd. When Gao Ding presents Zhu Bao's head, Zhuge Liang says that he deliberately had him kill the two traitors so as to show his loyalty, makes Gao Ding Administrator of Yizhou in command of all three commanderies, and makes E Huan his lieutenant (yajiang). The Romance does not mention Gao Ding after this. Romance, Ch. 87 §22–26
Where the Romance differs
Status: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, Gao Ding is Administrator of Yuexi Commandery, who surrenders his city and becomes a guide for Meng Huo. In the Records he is described as king of the Yi of Yuexi in the Biography of the Later Sovereign and as a chieftain of the non-Han peoples of Yuexi in the Biography of Li Yan, and Meng Huo does not appear in Chen Shou's main text. Romance, Ch. 87 §2Records, Shu 3 §4Records, Shu 10 §42Records, Shu 5 §24
When he rebelled: In Chapter 87 of the Romance he rises in the 3rd year of Jianxing in step with Meng Huo's rebellion. The Records state that he had already rebelled before Zhu Bao's revolt in the 1st year of Jianxing (223), and earlier still he had besieged Xindao County and been routed by Li Yan. Romance, Ch. 87 §2Records, Shu 3 §4Records, Shu 10 §42
Yong Kai's death: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, Gao Ding, having seen Zhuge Liang's secret letter, attacks Yong Kai's camp, and his lieutenant E Huan stabs Yong Kai and cuts off his head. The Biography of Lü Kai in the Records says only that when Zhuge Liang set out on the road to attack Yong Kai, Yong Kai had already been killed by Gao Ding's followers, and no stratagem of Zhuge Liang appears. Romance, Ch. 87 §18–21Records, Shu 13 §27
Zhu Bao's death: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, Gao Ding's lieutenant E Huan stabs Zhu Bao to death and Gao Ding presents his head. Chen Shou's main text in the Records records only that Zhu Bao rebelled in Zangke and does not say how he died. Romance, Ch. 87 §25–26Records, Shu 3 §4Records, Shu 13 §15 · 30
His end: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, Gao Ding surrenders to Zhuge Liang, becomes Administrator of Yizhou and commands three commanderies. In the Records, Zhuge Liang, on his southern campaign, first advanced to Yuexi and attacked Gao Ding, and there is no record of his surrendering or receiving office. Romance, Ch. 87 §26Records, Shu 13 §15 · 49
Li Yan's relief: The episode in the Biography of Li Yan in the Records in which Gao Ding besieged Xindao County and was routed by Li Yan does not appear in Chapter 87 of the Romance. Records, Shu 10 §42Romance, Ch. 87 §2–26
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total352 / 1000Rank 891 of 996 · Top 90%Romance total442 / 1000Rank 270 of 1,113 · Top 25%
Romance adaptation index+90Romance total − Records total
- LEA4550+5
- STR4040±0
- INT3532−3
- POL3840+2
- CHA4552+7
- VIR2245+23
- ADP2862+34
- SCH3131±0
- DIP3338+5
- DIS3552+17
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RRebelled when the First Sovereign died and ran wild in YuexiShu 3 §4Shu 13 §15
NJoined the rebellion but, moved by Kongming's virtue, submittedCh. 87 §2Ch. 87 §13
RNo direct recordShu 13 §27
NAccepted E Huan's plan and attacked Yong Kai's camp; E Huan cut down Yong Kai as he fledCh. 87 §19
7 similar abilities — show evidence
RBesieged Xindao County but was routed by Li Yan's relief force and fledShu 10 §42
NLed the central route of 50,000 to 60,000 men and made E Huan his vanguardCh. 87 §10
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as a Yi kingShu 10 §42
NNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as a Yi commanderCh. 87 §21
RNo direct recordShu 13 §15
NBelieved Kongming's ruse to sow discord, suspected Yong Kai and turned against himCh. 87 §14Ch. 87 §19
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as a Yi king of YuexiShu 3 §4
NNo direct recordCh. 87 §26
RNo direct record — estimated from his leading a following in YuexiShu 13 §15
NMany of Yong Kai's soldiers wished to come over to him, and he surrendered at the head of both forcesCh. 87 §17Ch. 87 §22
RNo direct recordShu 13 §15
NNo direct recordCh. 87 §10
RNo direct recordShu 13 §15
NNo direct recordCh. 87 §25
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Romance · Romance ch. 87 「孔明又唤高定的人问之」 · Q124424558
Related events (1)
- Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign 225 · Command
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).