RFor his lord's sake, repeatedly wrote to him to beware of Liu BeiShu 7 §8
NPlotted to assassinate Liu Bei, saying he would rid his lord of a worryCh. 62 §17
Gao Pei 高沛
| Occupation | RNGeneral | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Cause of death | RExecuted NExecuted Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R2 |
Profile
Gao Pei was a general under Liu Zhang, Governor of Yi Province. He has no separate biography in the Records, and his name appears only in a single passage of the Biography of Pang Tong. Pang Tong called him and Yang Huai renowned commanders of Liu Zhang who each relied on strong troops to hold the passes, and said he had heard that the two had repeatedly written to Liu Zhang urging him to send Liu Bei back to Jing Province. Records, Shu 7 §8
Liu Bei approved the middle one of Pang Tong's three plans, to seize Yang Huai and Gao Pei and take over their troops, and at once beheaded the two and turned toward Chengdu. Records, Shu 7 §8–9
In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 61 as a general whom Liu Zhang sets to guard Fushui Pass together with Yang Huai, and appears in 2 of its 120 chapters; his name is in the title of Chapter 62, 'Taking Fu Pass, Yang Huai and Gao Pei Are Beheaded'. The Romance depicts him proposing to Yang Huai that they hide blades on their persons and stab Liu Bei at the send-off, and then being seized and beheaded in front of the tent. Romance, Ch. 61 §7Romance, Ch. 62 §17 · 20–22
In the Records
In the 16th year of Jian'an (211), Liu Zhang grew afraid on hearing that Cao Cao meant to send Zhong Yao and others to Hanzhong to attack Zhang Lu, and on Zhang Song's advice he sent Fa Zheng to welcome Liu Bei. Liu Zhang added to Liu Bei's troops so that he could attack Zhang Lu and put him in command of the Baishui army; Liu Bei went north to Jiameng, but instead of attacking Zhang Lu at once he bestowed generous favors to win the people's hearts. Records, Shu 2 §27–29
When Liu Zhang met Liu Bei at Fu County, Pang Tong proposed seizing Liu Zhang on the spot, but Liu Bei refused, saying that he had only just entered another's domain and his kindness and good faith were not yet known. After Liu Zhang returned to Chengdu, when Liu Bei was to go north on Liu Zhang's behalf to attack Hanzhong, Pang Tong offered three plans. To pick crack troops in secret, press on day and night and strike Chengdu directly was the upper plan. Records, Shu 7 §7
In the middle plan Pang Tong said that Yang Huai and Gao Pei were Liu Zhang's renowned commanders who each relied on strong troops to hold the passes, and that he had heard they had repeatedly written to Liu Zhang urging him to send Liu Bei back to Jing Province. So, before reaching them, Liu Bei should inform them that there was an emergency in Jing Province and he meant to go back to its rescue, and have his baggage packed to give the outward appearance of returning; the two men, admiring Liu Bei's renown and glad to see him leave, would surely come on light horse to see him, and he should then seize them, take over their troops and head for Chengdu. To fall back to Baidi, link up with Jing Province and make plans at leisure was the lower plan. Records, Shu 7 §8–9
Liu Bei approved the middle plan, at once beheaded Yang Huai and Gao Pei and turned toward Chengdu, winning wherever he passed. In Chen Shou's main text Gao Pei's name appears only in this passage of the Biography of Pang Tong, and his courtesy name and origin are not recorded. Records, Shu 7 §8–9
The Biography of the First Sovereign records the events of this time as follows. The next year, when Cao Cao campaigned against Sun Quan, Liu Bei said he would go east to rescue Guan Yu and asked Liu Zhang for 10,000 soldiers and supplies, but Liu Zhang granted only 4,000 soldiers and gave only half of everything else. When a letter Zhang Song had sent to Liu Bei and Fa Zheng was exposed by the report of Zhang Song's elder brother Zhang Su, and Liu Zhang beheaded Zhang Song and ordered the commanders guarding the passes to forward no more documents to Liu Bei, Liu Bei, enraged, summoned the Commander of the Baishui Army, Yang Huai, rebuked him for his discourtesy and beheaded him. Gao Pei's name does not appear in the Biography of the First Sovereign. Records, Shu 2 §30–31
In the Romance
In Chapter 61 of the Romance, when Liu Bei leaves for Jiameng Pass to hold off Zhang Lu, the commanders urge Liu Zhang to have senior generals hold the passes everywhere firmly to guard against a revolt by Liu Bei. Liu Zhang refuses at first, but when many of them press him earnestly, he has the two men Yang Huai and Gao Pei, Area Commanders of Baishui, guard Fushui Pass and returns to Chengdu. Romance, Ch. 61 §6–7
In Chapter 62, when Liu Bei sends an envoy to Chengdu asking for troops, money and provisions, Yang Huai and Gao Pei learn of this as the envoy reaches the pass, and Yang Huai, leaving Gao Pei to guard the pass, goes into Chengdu with the envoy. When Yang Huai, Liu Ba and Huang Quan remonstrate, Liu Zhang hands over only 4,000 old and weak soldiers and 10,000 hu of rice, and still has Yang Huai and Gao Pei hold the pass firmly. When Liu Bei, enraged at the reply, tears up the letter, Pang Tong offers three plans; the middle plan is that if Liu Bei falsely puts forward the pretext of returning to Jing Province, Yang Huai and Gao Pei, the renowned commanders of Shu, will surely come to see him off, so they should be seized and killed on the spot, the pass taken and Fu City captured, and then Chengdu made the goal. Liu Bei chooses the middle plan. Romance, Ch. 62 §5–10
After Zhang Song is put to death, Liu Bei leads his troops back toward Fu City, first sending a man to Fushui Pass to invite Yang Huai and Gao Pei to come out of the pass to say farewell. Gao Pei, saying 'Xuande deserves to die', proposes that each of them hide a sharp blade on his person and stab him at the send-off to rid their lord of this worry, and Yang Huai agrees, saying 'That plan is excellent'. The two leave the pass with only 200 attendants, leaving the rest of their troops on the pass. Romance, Ch. 62 §14 · 16–17
When a whirlwind on the banks of the Fu River blows down the banner bearing the character 'Commander' (shuai 帥) in front of Liu Bei's horse, Pang Tong says Yang Huai and Gao Pei must be harboring an intent to assassinate, and Liu Bei puts on heavy armor and wears a precious sword in readiness. The two, coming leading sheep and bringing wine, see that no precautions have been taken, rejoice inwardly that he has fallen into their trap, and offer Liu Bei a drink; but Liu Bei, after sending the attendants out of the central camp, shouts 'Seize these two rebels!', and Liu Feng and Guan Ping, coming out from behind the tent, seize one each. Romance, Ch. 62 §18–21
When they are searched, a sharp blade is found on each of them. As Liu Bei still hesitates, Pang Tong says that the two had meant to kill their lord from the start and even death would not atone for their crime, and he shouts to the executioners to behead Yang Huai and Gao Pei in front of the tent. Liu Bei tells the captured attendants that the two were executed because they sowed discord between him and his brother and hid blades to assassinate him, and Pang Tong has the attendants go in front and call out below the pass, 'The two generals have come back on urgent business'. Liu Bei's main army takes Fu Pass without a drop of blood on its blades, and at this news Liu Zhang is greatly alarmed. Romance, Ch. 62 §22–24 · 27
Where the Romance differs
The assassination plot: In Chapter 62 of the Romance, Gao Pei proposes hiding blades on their persons and stabbing Liu Bei at the send-off, and Yang Huai goes along with it. The Biography of Pang Tong in the Records says nothing of the two trying to harm Liu Bei; Pang Tong reckoned that, admiring Liu Bei's renown and glad to see him leave, they would come on light horse to see him. Romance, Ch. 62 §17Records, Shu 7 §8
Pang Tong's middle plan: Pang Tong in Chapter 62 of the Romance proposes seizing and killing the two at the send-off. Pang Tong in the Biography of Pang Tong in the Records said to seize them when they came to see Liu Bei, take over their troops and then head for Chengdu, and the beheading is recorded as happening after Liu Bei adopted the plan. Romance, Ch. 62 §9Records, Shu 7 §8–9
How he died: In Chapter 62 of the Romance, after a blade is found on his person, Gao Pei is beheaded in front of the tent at Pang Tong's command. The Biography of Pang Tong in the Records says only that Liu Bei approved the middle plan and at once beheaded Yang Huai and Gao Pei, without stating where or how, and the Biography of the First Sovereign records only that Liu Bei summoned Yang Huai alone, rebuked him for his discourtesy and beheaded him, without naming Gao Pei. Romance, Ch. 62 §22Records, Shu 7 §9Records, Shu 2 §31
Guarding the pass: In Chapter 61 of the Romance, Liu Zhang has Yang Huai and Gao Pei guard Fushui Pass, and in Chapter 62 Gao Pei guards the pass alone while Yang Huai is in Chengdu. The Biography of Pang Tong in the Records says only that the two each relied on strong troops to hold the passes, and does not name the pass they held. Romance, Ch. 61 §7Romance, Ch. 62 §5Records, Shu 7 §8
Remonstrating with Liu Zhang: In Chapter 62 of the Romance, Yang Huai goes to Chengdu with the envoy and urges Liu Zhang not to give Liu Bei troops and provisions, while Gao Pei stays at the pass. In the Biography of Pang Tong in the Records, Pang Tong said he had heard that both men had repeatedly written to Liu Zhang urging him to send Liu Bei back to Jing Province. Romance, Ch. 62 §5–6Records, Shu 7 §8
How the pass was taken: In Chapter 62 of the Romance, Pang Tong sends the two men's 200 attendants ahead to get the pass opened, and Fu Pass is taken without a drop of blood. The Biography of Pang Tong in the Records records that after the two were beheaded Liu Bei turned toward Chengdu, winning wherever he passed, and the Biography of the First Sovereign records that after beheading Yang Huai, Liu Bei went straight into the pass, took the wives and children of the commanders and soldiers as hostages, and advanced to Fu County and seized the city. Romance, Ch. 62 §23–24Records, Shu 7 §9Records, Shu 2 §31–32
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 total407 / 1000Rank 569 of 996 · Top 58%Romance total345 / 1000Rank 929 of 1,113 · Top 84%
Romance adaptation index−62Romance total − Records total
- LEA5545−10
- STR4542−3
- INT4230−12
- POL3131±0
- CHA3835−3
- VIR5542−13
- ADP3525−10
- SCH3131±0
- DIP4233−9
- DIS3331−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RRepeatedly urged that Liu Bei be sent back to Jing ProvinceShu 7 §8
NPlotted an assassination at the send-off, but it was exposed when he was searchedCh. 62 §17Ch. 62 §22
RFell in with Pang Tong's plan and was beheaded by Liu BeiShu 7 §8Shu 7 §9
NThinking no precautions had been taken, let his guard down, entered the tent and was seizedCh. 62 §18Ch. 62 §21
6 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his being called a renowned commanderShu 7 §8
NNo direct record — estimated from his capture by Liu Feng and Guan PingCh. 62 §21
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerShu 7 §8
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 62 §20
RRepeatedly wrote to Liu Zhang to remonstrateShu 7 §8
NApproached under the pretense of a farewell, but was seen throughCh. 62 §20
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerShu 7 §8
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 62 §17
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 (2)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Related events (1)
- Fu Pass Taken, Yang Huai and Gao Pei Slain 212 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).