Gao Yu

Gao Yu (高郁) (died 929) was a chief strategist for the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms state Chu. He was said to be instrumental in the consolidation of power that allowed Chu's first ruler, Ma Yin, to found the Chu state, but was later, in Ma Yin's old age, hated by Ma Yin's son (and eventual successor) Ma Xisheng, who ordered him executed in 929 without prior approval from Ma Yin.

It is not known when Gao Yu was born, but it is known that he was from Yang Prefecture (揚州, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu). Historical records do not indicate how he became a follower of Ma Yin's, but as Ma, who was then a follower of Sun Ru, had fought under Sun during Sun's attempt to take over Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered at Yang Prefecture), Gao might have joined Ma's army then. In any case, by 896, when Ma had just been commissioned the acting military governor of Wu'an Circuit (武安, headquartered in modern Changsha, Hunan) (which would eventually form the foundation block for the Chu state) by then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, Ma employed Gao as his chief strategist. That year, when Ma considered trying to elicit the good will of nearby warlords Cheng Rui the military governor (Jiedushi) of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei) and Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan (who had prevailed over Sun in the struggle for Huainan), by sending them gifts, Gao pointed out that Cheng lacked actual abilities and needed not be feared, and that given the enmity that had developed between Yang's and Ma's troops (as they had battled during Yang's and Sun's struggle for control of Huainan), any attempt at an alliance would be fruitless. Gao instead emphasized maintaining a good relationship with the imperial government, comforting the people, and training the troops. Ma agreed with these suggestions.

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