Guo Jia

Guo Jia; recommended by Cheng Yu to Cao Cao in the same recruiting wave; becomes Cao Cao's most-trusted strategist until his death in chapter 33.

Talks Cao Cao out of killing Liu Bei's messenger - answer with fair words, then strike - and when Yanzhou falls, urges making peace with Liu Bei 'at any cost' to race home. On the march he warns of an ambush at the Taishan defile; Cao Cao laughs it off, and for once is right.

Guo Jia; advises Cao Cao through the Puyang sequence.

Guo Jia; advises on the Xuchang relocation.

Argues Liu Bei's life out of the balance: killing one hero who came for protection would scare off every able man the cause needs. Cao Cao: 'what you say exactly fits what I think.'

Saves Cao Cao from his own sword in the trampled wheat with the Spring-and-Autumn precedent: the law does not reach the most important. The hair falls instead of the head.

Delivers the ten-points speech - Yuan Shao's ten weaknesses against Cao Cao's ten excellences, from administration to war - then aims the conclusion: destroy Lü Bu first, before the north is engaged, and 'smite before they are fully prepared'.

Guo Jia; advises Cao Cao to flood the city when conventional siege stalls.

Guo Jia; warns Cao Cao that letting Liu Bei out is a fatal mistake; ignored.

Guo Jia; with Cao Cao at court.

Reads Yuan Shao as too dilatory and jealousy-riddled to move - 'you could settle the east in one battle' - and later warns that any envoy sent to talk Guan Yu around will suffer for it.

His verdict on Sun Ce - frivolous, unready, 'a stupid swaggerer who will die at the hands of some mean person' - is repeated to the wounded conqueror's face by Zhang Hong, and comes true within the chapter.

Guo Jia; advises Cao Cao through the Hebei campaign - counsels patience and lets the brothers exhaust each other.

Overrides the officers on the Wuhuan expedition - 'the peoples of the desert will not be prepared against us' - then, dying of the desert climate in his cart, gives the celerity doctrine that wins White Wolf Hills. Left at Yezhou, he dies at thirty-eight, leaving the sealed testament that delivers the Yuan brothers' heads without a march: wait, and Gongsun Kang's fear will do the work.

Guo Jia; named in passing in the chapter's recap of his recent death and posthumous honours.

The absent adviser Cao Cao mourns in the hour of safety, beating his breast - 'alas for Guo Jia! I grieve for Guo Jia!' - a lament aimed squarely at the silent, shamed advisers around him.