Gongsun Zan (pronunciationⓘ) (before 161[a] - April or May 199[b]), courtesy name Bogui, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

During any discussions, he would not waste time on trivial matters and concentrate on the important with great memory and pertinence in his arguments.

When he was exiled to Rinan Commandery (日南郡) in Jiao Province, Gongsun Zan decided to accompany him and prepared rice and meat as offering to his ancestors on the northern hill.

[6] Gongsun Zan was nominated as a xiaolian (civil service candidate) and appointed as Chief Clerk (長史) in Liaodong.

With blade attached on both ends of his spear, he led the charge through the barbarians, killing and wounding them by dozens while losing half of his troop, managing to escape.

However, in the northeast Zhang Chun (張純) started his own rebellion after securing the help of the Wuhuan leader Qiuliju.

[9] Gongsun Zan led his army against Zhang Chun defeating him and for his victory was promoted to Commandant of Cavalry (騎都尉).

[10] However, Gongsun Zan made a costly error as he pursued Zhang Chun without waiting for reinforcements.

When he arrived, Liu Yu sent emissaries to the tribes to resolve the situation peacefully if they killed Zhang Chun.

Liu Yu decided to withdraw troops from their garrisons while Gongsun Zan maintained a presence at Youbeiping Commandery of 10 000 soldiers.

Zhang Chun abandoned his family and fled to the Xianbei but was killed by his subordinate Wang Zheng, who had his head sent to Liu Yu.

[19] A year later, Wei You died of illness and Liu Yu alongside his officials decided to secretly attack Gongsun Zan.

When someone asked him why, he answered that the people from the gentry believe they have a right to hold office on account of their wealthy families and have no gratitude.

Among them were the fortune teller, Liu Weitai, the silk trader, Li Yizi, the merchant Yue Hedang alongside others.

They had immense wealth in the hundreds of millions, some married their daughters to Gongsun Zan's sons and compared themselves to the legends of the past.

[24] Liu Yu's subordinates joined with Wuhuan leader, Yan Rou to fight against Gongsun Zan.

Jointly, they greatly defeated Gongsun Zan's forces led by his Administrator of Yuyang, Zou Dan (鄒丹) and killed him.

[25] Around this time, there was a saying among the local children: "Zhang Yan advances to the south while Yuan Shao is moving to the north.

This created the opposite effect as when Yuan Shao reached Gongsun Zan's southern territories, his officers realized they could not defend themselves and would be without outside help.

[28] Gongsun Zan built ten moats and between all of them, he constructed fortress with a tower at the center to connect them to each other in the middle, surrounded by the other fortifications.

[29][30] Gongsun Zan told his subordinates that as they no longer have the strength to resolve problems by military forces, it was better for them to rest and administer the agriculture.

However, his advisor Guan Jing told him that if he was to leave, the fortress would be surely be lost without his leadership to hold the defenders together.

[33] Afterwards, Gongsun Zan sent a messenger to his son, where he compared Yuan Shao's army to a ghost, constantly trying to overcome his fortifications with their towers, under the sound of drums and horns.

When Gongsun Zan led his soldiers out, he was ambushed and greatly defeated but still managed to retreat back to his castle.

Yuan Shao's soldiers however dug tunnels and supported by underground constructions, they overcame the towers until they reached Gongsun Zan's own central fortress.

Knowing that he was defeated, Gongsun Zan committed suicide through self-immolation, after killing his sisters, wives and children.

Gongsun Zan's army was composed of thousands of strong soldiers, most of them riding white horses therefore they were given this nickname.

He leads an elite cavalry unit called the "White Riders" and has served on the northern and eastern frontiers of the Han Empire by defending the borders from incursions by various non-Han Chinese tribes.

In 191, Gongsun Zan joins the coalition against Dong Zhuo, the warlord who seized power in Luoyang and holds the figurehead Emperor Xian hostage.

Gongsun Zan is one of the main playable characters of the video game Total War: Three Kingdoms, developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega.