Gao Shun

Gao Shun
General of Lü Bu
Born	(Unknown)
Died	198
Names
Traditional Chinese	高順
Simplified Chinese	高顺
Pinyin	Gāo Shùn
Wade–Giles	Kao Shun
Other names	Formation breaker (陷陣營)

Gao Shun (died 198) was a military general serving the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Although he only had 700 men under his command, his unit was nicknamed as the "camp crusher (or formation breaker)" for its destructive charges, and Gao came to be known as Lü's most able commander. His noted accomplishments included conquest of Xiaopei and the subsequent victory over a relief force led by Xiahou Dun, a prominent general under the "imperial warlord" Cao Cao. In the same year, however, Cao personally laid a siege on Lü Bu's base in Xiapi, and defeated and captured Lü. Gao Shun was then executed along with his lord.

According to Pei Songzhi's annotation in Chen Shou's Records of Three Kingdoms, Gao Shun, from Shang Dang, was a stern and incorrupt man, with an air of authority and few words. As an unblemished and pure person, Gao Shun refused alcohol and undue gifts. It is also stated in Records of Heroes (英雄記) by Wang Can that Gao only commanded 700 men, but his men were considered equivalent to a thousand, and they were a well-equipped, well-trained, and disciplined elite force. Whenever his battalion fought, they were always successful of breaking into enemy formation, and could perform well, even if surrounded by enemies, so they were collectively called the "camp crusher".

Zang Ba, the head of the bandit leaders around Mount Tai, attacked and defeated the Chancellor of Langye, Xiao Jian, at Ju. He then seized Xiao's treasure and provisions, and promised to present them to Lü Bu. When he reneged on his words, however, Lü Bu went to ask for the goods himself. Gao Shun objected: "Your authority and reputation are known and respected everywhere. How can you ask for something and fail to obtain it? Yet you are going in person to beg for a present. If for some reason you are not successful, you will surely lose face." The rapacious Lü Bu could not follow Gao's words. Indeed, Zang turned Lü down, and the Bandits of Mount Tai no longer listened to Lü's orders.

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