Chen Gong

Magistrate of Zhongmou who recognizes the captured 'merchant' as Cao Cao, then frees him at midnight, moved by his loyalty, and abandons office to follow him. Revolted by the slaughter of Lu Boshe's household and then of the old man himself, he ends the chapter standing over the sleeping Cao Cao, sword thoughts in his heart - 'if I spare him, he will do more harm later.'

Opens the chapter standing over the sleeping Cao Cao, sword drawn - then reflects that killing the man he followed for righteousness' sake would itself be unrighteous, and rides away east to Dongjun before sunrise.

Comes in haste to intercede for Tao Qian - 'your worthy father met his death at the hands of Zhang Kai; Tao Qian is guiltless, and the people more innocent still.' Cao Cao rebuffs him with 'you once abandoned me', and Chen Gong, unable to face Tao Qian, rides off to serve Zhang Miao at Chenliu - the posting from which he will strike in ch11.

Chen Gong; opens the Lu Bu/Cao Cao war by inviting Lu Bu to seize Yanzhou while Cao Cao is besieging Xuzhou. Sets the strategy that will tie Cao Cao up for two years.

Chen Gong; engineers the Puyang ambush that nearly kills Cao Cao, then loses the city to Cao Cao's counter-ruse and retreats with Lu Bu south.

Steers Lü Bu away from a rematch with Cao Cao and toward Liu Bei's Xuzhou, then smooths the seal scene with 'the strong guest does not oppress his host'.

Chen Gong; adviser to Lu Bu during the Xuzhou betrayal - encourages the night raid.

Chen Gong; persuades Lu Bu to keep Liu Bei alive at Xiaopei as a useful subordinate rather than crushing him outright.

Chen Gong; adviser to Lu Bu through the chapter.

Blames the invasion on the two Chens' courting of Xuchang and demands their heads - the accusation Chen Deng laughs off with 'heaps of rotting straw'. Commands the Yidu division against Chen Ji in the five-way defense.

Warns Lü Bu that the Chens' flattery hides something - 'no ears for loyal words' - and, hunting near Xiaopei, intercepts the courier whose letter proves him right. He then rides with Zang Ba to raise the four Taishan bandit chiefs against Yanzhou.

Chen Gong; refuses any plea bargain on the White Gate Tower scaffold - kneels, asks only that his elderly mother be cared for, and walks calmly to his execution. Cao Cao honors the request.