During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Quan's men in Soochow were also full of talents, but only a handful of them were able to prosper like Gu Yong and perform well from beginning to end. Why?
Gu Yong was so lucky all his life, not only because of his own talent, but also because of his personality charm.
At that time, Gu was the head of the four families of Wu Jun, Gu, Lu, Zhu and Zhang, and was also a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River. When Gu Yong was a child, Cai Yong, a famous scholar in the Eastern Han Dynasty, fled to the south. Gu Yong's father asked Gu Yong to learn piano and calligraphy from Cai Yong.
Gu Yong is witty and calm, and is deeply loved by Cai Yong. Cai Yong gave his real name "Yong" to this disciple. And because of the teacher's admiration, Gu Yong's word is "Yuan Tan".
Praised by university teachers and Gu Yong's outstanding talent, Gu Yong was recommended as the county magistrate of Hefei at the age of "weak crown" at the age of 20, and later served as a local official in Lou County, Qu 'a and Shangyu, all of which made good achievements.
In the fifth year of Jian 'an (200 years), Sun Quan was appointed as the prefect of Huimeng, but Sun Quan did not arrive. Instead, Gu Yong was appointed as the acting prefect of Huiji County, with full authority to handle all affairs. Gu Yong also lived up to expectations and managed his members in an orderly way, winning the hearts of the people.
In this way, Gu Yong gradually entered the power center of Sun Quan with his own talents. In the fourth year of Huang Wu (225), Prime Minister Sun Shao died of illness. Sun Quan didn't choose Zhang Zhao, the supposed minister, as the prime minister, but appointed Gu Yong as the prime minister.
Gu Yong is outspoken and self-disciplined. Sun Quan likes drinking, and often drinks and makes merry with a group of courtiers. Gu Yong didn't criticize Sun Quan as severely as Zhang Zhao did, but sat at the same table with everyone, but he was teetotal and taciturn.
Gu Yong's attitude is far more intimidating than Zhang Zhao's harsh words and looks. Sun Quan and other ministers often dare not be presumptuous when they see Gu Yong like this, for fear of being accused by Gu Yong. Sun Quan sighed for this: "Gu Gong is here, which is unpleasant."
Gu Yong is low-key and doesn't like publicity. In the first year of Huang Wu (22 1), Sun Quan called Wu Hou and named Gu Yong his hometown. After Gu Yong was sealed, he didn't even tell his family. Later, his family learned about it from others.
Gu Yong's character is so low-key and quiet. The ancients said that "quiet and wise", a calm and peaceful mind can insight into the world. Therefore, Sun Quan also commented on Gu Yong: "If it is not for the public, it must be said."
Every time Sun Quan encounters something difficult to solve, he will send his men down to discuss with Gu Yong. If Gu Yong agrees with Sun Quan, please invite people to dinner and discuss the details over dinner. If you are not satisfied, you won't invite people to dinner. After such a long time, Sun Quan simply asked his subordinate Gu Gong what he said, and directly asked, "Did Gu Gong invite you to dinner?"
Gu Yong, no matter to his boss, peers or even subordinates, even if he holds different opinions when he speaks, he will not violently refute the other party, but will start from a more rational aspect and then guide the other party into his own thinking, so as to finally agree with his own opinions.
Gu Yong is generous to outsiders, but strict with his family. On one occasion, Sun Quan married his niece and hosted a banquet for three generations of Gu Yong.
At the banquet, Gu Yong's grandson, Gu Tan, drank a few glasses of wine, behaved badly, and danced in public, unable to stop.
The next day, Gu Yong severely criticized Gu Tan face to face: "You regard pollution as virtue, and I respect humility. Yesterday, Xiao He and haing s ngor made great contributions. Every time they see Gaudi, they seem speechless. Han Wuyong also believes in thrift. If you are in the country, you would rather sweat, but what's wrong with books? However, due to the wealth of the portal, I see that I am a favorite. Why can't I dance in Zhi Zhi? Although I was drunk, it was also because I forgot respect and modesty. Philly, who ruined my family, too. " (Biography of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Gu and Zhuge Bu)
Gu Yong's last few words, Gu Tan is not modest and prudent enough, for fear that his family will be defeated by you. Gu Tan was ashamed after hearing this, and it took more than an hour to be driven away by Gu Yong.
Gu Yong served as Prime Minister in Wu Dong for 19 years. He never chooses officials according to personal preferences and grudges, but tries his best to put the right talents in the right positions and once appointed, he trusts them wholeheartedly. As the saying goes, "there is no doubt about employing people, and there is no doubt about employing people."
Gu Yong also often visited the people, asked them about their sufferings, and put forward effective improvement measures. With the careful assistance of Gu Yong 19, Wu Dong has achieved all-round prosperity, so Gu Yong is known as "the famous image of Wu Dong".
In the sixth year of Wu Chiwu (243), Gu Yong fell ill at the age of 76. Sun Quan asked Annabel, a famous doctor, to go to Gufu to treat Gu Yong. After Annabel's treatment, he didn't tell him about his illness.
A few days later, Sun Quan worshipped Gu Yong's second son, Ji Gu, as the riding captain. When Gu Yong learned that he was dying, he said to his family, "I can't afford to die, so I have to worship him." Sure enough, a few days later, Gu Yong died.
After Gu Yong's death, Sun Quan personally went to mourn in plain clothes, and later wrote a letter praising Gu Yong: "Loyal the virtuous and assist the country with courtesy." And posthumous title "Su Hou".
In the last years of Wu, Lu Kai, the late minister of Wu and nephew of Lu Xun, praised Gu Yong: "The Han Dynasty was assisted by Xiao (He) and Cao (Shen), and the former emperors were caring and flat." Comparing Gu Yong with Xiao He and Cao Can in the early Han Dynasty, we can see how much influence Gu Yong had in the history of Wu Dong.
References in this article: The history of the Three Kingdoms, micro-history, and the Three Kingdoms are actually very informative.