Guo Huai (185-253) was the Grand Marshal of Wei. Under the direction of Cao Zhen and Sima Yi, he advanced to Mt. Qi to do battle with Shu in one of its northern campaigns. He was constantly on the move, and gained small victories in numerous locations but was never able to achieve more than that. He was eventually shot with an arrow by Jiang Wei and died. He was given the rank of Grand General posthumously.
Biography[]
A painting of Guo Huai.
Guo Huai was born in 185 AD, he served under Cao Cao, and that was a comrade-at-arms and a friend of Xiahou Yuan, his lord's cousin. Guo Huai was also introduced to his son Xiahou Ba, and the three fought at the Battle of Mt. Dingjun together in 219 AD.
During the battle, Xiahou Yuan was killed by Liu Bei's general, Huang Zhong with an arrow, and Guo Huai made a vow to fight for Cao Cao's dreams in the place of Xiahou Yuan. During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions against Wei, Guo Huai was one of the major commanders.
He fought against Zhuge Liang of Shu Han in addition to the Qiang and Xiongnu tribes that raided Wei, and gained experience in anti-barbarian warfare. He never led a huge victory against Shu, with only small victories in numerous locations. Guo Huai was also famous for being a sickly person, always coughing and being ill.
When Shu general, Jiang Wei made his campaign north in 253 AD, he brought along with him the Qiang king, Midang and his generals, Ehe Shaoge and E Zhesai. Guo Huai subjugated the tribe, forcing them to show the Wei army to Jiang Wei's camp before killing them. He was targeted in an elaborate plan by the Shu general, Li Jian, who stole Wei uniforms and entered his camp to lead a surprise attack, and he also fought against Yueying, who besieged his camp.
Deng Ai rescued him from encirclement, and Guo Huai later encountered Xiahou Ba, who had fled to serve in Shu after his relative Cao Shuang was killed by Wei Regent-Marshal, Sima Yi. Before he could deal the finishing blow to Xiahou Ba, Guo Huai was shot in the face with an arrow by Jiang Wei, who rescued Xiahou Ba. The arrow was removed from his face, but he bled out and died. He was posthumously made Grand General.