Gu Shao 顧邵

Gu Shao's father Gu Yong, a man of Wu County in Wu Commandery, served under Sun Quan as Chancellor for nineteen years. The biography of Gu Yong records that his eldest son Gu Shao died early and that, because his second son Gu Yu suffered from a grave illness, his youngest son Gu Ji succeeded him. Records, Wu 7 §27 · 34

Gu Shao's courtesy name was Xiaoze. He read widely in the classics and histories and loved to appraise people. In his youth he was as renowned as his maternal uncle Lu Ji, with Lu Xun, Zhang Dun, Bu Jing and others all ranking just after them. From the promising men of the province and commanderies to gentlemen from every quarter, people came and went to meet him; some left after discussion, others parted having formed a close friendship, and his reputation spread so that he was praised far and near. Sun Quan gave him Sun Ce's daughter in marriage. Records, Wu 7 §37

According to the biography of Pang Tong, when Pang Tong, having escorted Zhou Yu's coffin to Wu after Zhou Yu's death, was about to return west, people gathered at the Chang Gate, and Lu Ji, Gu Shao and Quan Cong all went there. Pang Tong said, 'Master Lu may be called a slow horse with the strength of a swift runner, and Master Gu a slow ox that can bear a heavy load a long way.' Lu Ji and Gu Shao told Pang Tong that when the realm was at peace they would join him in appraising the gentlemen of the whole world, and they formed a deep friendship with him. Records, Shu 7 §4–5

At twenty-seven Gu Shao took his first office as Administrator of Yuzhang. On arriving at his post he sacrificed at the tomb of the former worthy Xu Ruzi and treated his descendants generously, and he banned licentious shrines and improper sacrifices. Whenever there were minor clerks of good ability he had them pursue learning, and he chose the most advanced among them and promoted them to high posts. He raised the good and taught others by their example, and moral transformation spread widely. Records, Wu 7 §37–38

Earlier, Ding Xu of Qiantang had come from the ranks of corvée laborers, Zhang Bing of Yangxian had been born a commoner, and Wu Can of Wucheng and Yin Li of Yunyang had risen from humble origins. Gu Shao raised all of them, made them his friends and built up their reputations for them. When Zhang Bing suffered a great bereavement, Gu Shao personally made mourning garments for him and tied the hempen sash on him. Records, Wu 7 §38

Just as Gu Shao had set out on the road to leave for Yuzhang, Zhang Bing happened to be ill, and those who came to see him off numbered in the hundreds. Gu Shao begged his guests' leave, saying, 'Zhang Zhongjie is ill and suffering and cannot come to bid me farewell. I would regret not seeing him, so I will go back for a moment to take my leave of him. Please wait a little while.' Chen Shou wrote that his care for those beneath him, and his following of goodness wherever it lay, were all of this kind. Records, Wu 7 §39

Ding Xu rose to General of the Household Commanding the Army, Zhang Bing became Administrator of Yunyang, Yin Li Administrator of Lingling, and Wu Can Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. The world regarded Gu Shao as a good judge of men. Gu Shao died in office after five years in the commandery, leaving two sons, Gu Tan and Gu Cheng. Chen Shou's text does not record the year of his birth or of his death. Records, Wu 7 §39

According to the biography of Lü Meng, when Gu Shao, Administrator of Yuzhang, died, Sun Quan asked whom he should appoint in his place. Lü Meng recommended Cai Yi, Administrator of Jiangxia, who had earlier denounced him over a matter concerning his troops, as a fine official who carried out his duties well, and Sun Quan laughed, 'Do you wish to be a Qi Xi?', and appointed Cai Yi. Records, Wu 9 §88

His son Gu Tan became Minister of Ceremonies after the death of his grandfather Gu Yong and took charge of the affairs of the Masters of Writing, but he fell out with Sun Ba, Prince of Lu, was slandered by Quan Ji (全寄), son of Quan Cong, and his father, and was exiled to Jiao Province, where he died at Jiaozhi at the age of forty-two, two years into his exile. His son Gu Cheng was also later exiled to Jiao Province together with his elder brother Gu Tan, Zhang Xiu and others, and died at thirty-seven. Records, Wu 7 §42 · 44–46 · 49

The writing of Zhou Zhao of Yingchuan, included after the biography of Bu Zhi, named Gu of Yuzhang (Gu Shao), Commissioner Zhuge, Chancellor Bu, Commandant of the Guards Yan and Zhang of Fenwei as the most outstanding and exceptional among the gentlemen of the age. Zhou Zhao said that the words of the Analects, 'The Master skillfully led people on step by step' and 'He helps others realize what is good in them and does not help them realize what is bad,' applied to Gu of Yuzhang, and that Ding Xu came from a humble family and Wu Can had been a herdboy, but Gu of Yuzhang brought their merits to light and set them alongside the Lu and Quan families, so that no one was left buried in obscurity and customs grew more generous. Records, Wu 7 §90–92

In his assessment at the end of Volume 7, Chen Shou said that Zhang Cheng and Gu Shao were open-hearted elders who loved and esteemed men of worth, and that because Zhou Zhao's discourse praised them very highly, he recorded it in detail. Records, Wu 7 §100