Chen Gong had been an official when Cao Cao was the prefect of Dongjun. In the third year of Chuping (192 years), he had used diplomatic means to take over Yanzhou, which was in a state of no master because the governor, Liu Dai, had died in battle with the Qingzhou Yellow Turban Army. He had also won the support of Bao Xin, the minister of North, so that Cao Cao could become the governor of Yanzhou and pacify the Qingzhou Yellow Turban Army.
In the first year of Xingping (194 years), Cao Cao led his troops to attack Tao Qian and stayed behind to guard Dongjun. However, he plotted a rebellion with Zhang Miao, the prefect of Chenliu, Zhang Miao's younger brother Zhang Chao, Xu Si and Wang Kai, and led Lu Bu into Yanzhou. At that time, the governors of several counties in Yanzhou responded to the rebellion, leaving only Juancheng, Fancheng and Dong 'e counties still under Cao Cao's territory.
He had defeated Cao Cao several times, but in the end, he was still defeated by Cao Cao's ingenious strategy and tactics. He was forced to flee to Xuzhou with Lu Bu to join Liu Bei.
As for Chen Gong's motive for betraying Cao Cao, according to the research of historians, it was possible that Cao Cao had ordered the execution of several Yanzhou celebrities because those celebrities criticized Cao Cao's eunuch background. Chen Gong had always had friendly relations with Yanzhou celebrities, and some of the celebrities who were ordered to be executed by Cao Cao might be Chen Gong's friends.
In the middle of the night of the sixth month of the first year of Jian 'an (Year 196), Hao Meng, a native of Hanoi under Lu Bu's command, rebelled under Yuan Shu's instigation. He led his troops to attack Xiapi, where Lu Bu ruled. The city's defense was strong and could not be broken through. Lu Bu did not know who the rebel was, so he led his family to escape to Gao Shun's camp. Gao Shun asked,"General, are you hiding anything?"
Lu Bu replied,"This is the voice of the Hanoi people."”
Gao Shunfeng guessed that Hao Meng was the one who rebelled, so he led his troops to Xiapi to quell the rebellion. He shot Hao Meng's troops with bows and arrows, and returned to camp at dawn.
(Ce Fu Yuan Gui records that Lu Bu and Gao Shun went to quell the rebellion together.）
Hao Meng's general Cao Xing fought with Hao Meng. Hao Meng stabbed Cao Xing and Cao Xing cut off one of Hao Meng's arms. Gao Shun took advantage of the situation to cut off Hao Meng's head and carried the injured Cao Xing on a bed to see Lu Bu.
Lu Bu asked Cao Xing about the origin of this matter, and Cao Xing replied,""Hao Meng was instigated by Yuan Shu to rebel.”
"Who are the accomplices?" asked Lu Bu.”
Cao Xing replied that Chen Gong was an accomplice. At that time, Chen Gong was sitting beside Lu Bu and his face was red. Everyone else noticed it.
Because Chen Gong was a general, Lu Bu did not pursue the matter.
"When Hao Meng rebelled, she asked me if it was possible. I said General Lu was invincible, but Hao Meng was still confused.
Lu Bu said to Cao Xing,"You're really a good fighter."”
After Cao Xing recovered, he would lead Hao Meng's remaining troops.
In the winter of the third year of Jian 'an (198), when Cao Cao's army besieged Xiapi, Cao Cao wrote a letter to Lu Bu, stating the pros and cons. Lu Bu was afraid and planned to surrender.
"Cao Cao has come from afar," said Chen Gong,"and we cannot stay too long. If the general leads the infantry and cavalry to station outside the city, I will lead the remaining troops to defend the city. If the Cao army attacks the general, I will lead the troops to attack their back. If Cao Cao's army attacks the city, the general will come to the rescue outside. In less than a month, the Cao army will run out of food. If we counterattack, we can defeat the enemy.”Lu Bu agreed and planned to leave Chen Gong and Gao Shun to defend the city while he led the cavalry to cut off the Cao army's grain route.
Lu Bu's wife said to Lu Bu," Chen Gong and Gao Shun have always been at odds. Once the general leaves the city, Chen Gong and Gao Shun will certainly not be able to work together to defend the city. If anything were to happen, where would the general stand? Moreover, Cao Cao treated Chen Gong like a parent treating a child in his arms. Chen Gong even abandoned Cao Cao to join us. When Chen Gong had not surpassed Cao Cao, you handed over the whole city to him, leaving your wife and children behind, and went far away alone. If something changes, can I be your wife again?”Lu Bu gave up on that plan.
In November of the same year, Cao Cao dug trenches to surround Xiapi City.
However, after a long time of not being able to conquer it, the soldiers were very tired, and he planned to retreat.
Xun You and Guo Jia said,"Lu Bu is brave but not resourceful. Now that he has been defeated in successive battles, his spirit has weakened. The three armies depended entirely on the general's situation. Once the general's spirit weakened, the three armies would lose half of their morale. Although Chen Gong was resourceful, he was not flexible enough. Now, they should take advantage of Lu Bu's lack of vigor and Chen Gong's lack of intelligence to launch a fierce attack to destroy Lu Bu.”
Therefore, Cao Cao's army dug ditches and guided Yi River and Surabaya River to irrigate the city. After another month, Lu Bu was even more embarrassed. He climbed up the city wall and said to the Cao soldiers,""Don't force me like this, I want to surrender myself to Ming Gong.”
Chen Gong stopped him, saying,"Cao Cao is just a traitor. How can he be called a Ming Gong?" If we surrender now, it will be like hitting a rock with an egg. How can we save our lives?”
In December, Lu Bu's morale collapsed. Hou Cheng, Wei Xu and Song Xian rebelled and surrendered to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao once tried to persuade him to become an official again, but Chen Gong was unmoved. He went to the execution ground and died. Cao Cao ordered the heads of Lu Bu, Chen Gong, and Gao Shun to be sent to Xudu to be buried.
From then on, the Chen family was supported by Cao Cao.
It was said that before Chen Gong was executed, Cao Cao could not bear to kill him, so he asked Chen Gong," Gongtai, what will happen to your son if you die?”
"I heard that a wise ruler who rules the world with benevolence would not kill other people's sons.”
Cao Cao asked again,"Gongtai, what will happen to your mother after you die?"”
"I heard that those who govern the world with filial piety will not kill other people's mothers.”
Cao Cao had no choice but to kill Chen Gong and agree that from now on, your mother and child will be treated as his own. Therefore, Chen Gong's family has always been provided for by Cao Cao.
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