Quick Facts
Biography
Gong Du was a bandit operating against the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty of Chinese history. In 200, Cao Cao's rival Yuan Shao sent Liu Bei to Runan to support Gong Du in his operations. The combined forces of Liu Bei and Gong Du were able to kill Cao Cao's general Cai Yang (蔡陽), who was sent to resist them. In 201 Cao Cao himself came to attack; Liu Bei fled south to Liu Biao and Gong Du's men scattered.
In fiction
In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Gong Du was described as a former Yellow Turban rebel allied with Liu Pi, another Yellow Turban. Following the Battle of Guandu during the year of 200, Gong Du cooperated with Liu Bei and Yuan Shao by attacking the rear of Cao Cao's army; however Gong Du ended up being slain by Xiahou Yuan.