The Brilliant Strategist: Guo Jia

Guo Jia, a strategist in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, often lived in seclusion in the mountains and forests, yet built connections with outstanding people across the land, hoping that one day he would meet a worthy lord and fulfill his ambitions. He first entered Yuan Shao's service, but after spending several dozen days in his camp, decided Yuan Shao was no worthy lord and left in a fury. He then went into seclusion for another six years, during which he married and had a child. In the first year of Jian'an, his friend Xun Yu introduced him to Cao Cao. Guo Jia knew nothing of court etiquette: he appeared before Cao Cao in disheveled clothes, looking unkempt, and spoke his mind without holding anything back. Far from disliking this unconventional character, Cao Cao took an immediate liking to him, and Guo Jia gradually became one of his most trusted confidants. Guo Jia then devised plans to capture Zhang Xiu and Lü Bu, and dealt Yuan Shao a crushing defeat at Guandu, establishing the Cao clan's absolute dominance in the north. Cao Cao revered and respected Guo Jia, and the two often drank together and discussed the realm. Tragically, however, Guo Jia did not live to see Cao Cao unite the land. He fell gravely ill and died on the way back from the campaign against the Wuhuan. Thus, a peerless and brilliant strategist passed away quietly, like the waters of the Yangtze flowing east: in the end, its waves wash away all heroes.