[ Asked by Yuan Tan to provide aid on advice of Wang Xiu. Pardoned by Cao Cao in AD 205.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Kuan T‘ung
Simplified Chinese: 管统
Birthplace: Unknown
Rank and Titles
Grand Administrator of Donglai; Grand Administrator of Le’an (AD 203–205)
Literary Appearances
Zizhi tongjian: 64
Biography
Guan Tong served as Grand Administrator of Donglai under Yuan Tan. Early in the year, when Liu Xun raised a force at Tayin and opposed Yuan Tan, Yuan Tan despaired, “Now the whole province has rebelled! What have I done wrong?” Wang Xiu said, “Guan Tong is Grand Administrator of Donglai. Although he is on the coast he has not rebelled, and he will certainly come to help. Some days later Guan Tong did come to help, but his wife and children, who he left behind, were killed by bandits. Yuan Tan appointed him Grand Administrator of Le’an.
After Cao Cao defeated Yuan Tan in early AD 205 all of Tan’s cities had surrendered to Cao Cao except Guan Tong in Le’an, who refused. When captured, Cao Cao ordered Wang Xiu to take Guan Tong’s head, but Wang Xiu saw Guan Tong as the loyal servant of a fallen state and, loosing his bonds, sent him to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was pleased and chose to pardon him, and he appointed Wang Xiu Senior Clerk in his offices as Minister of Works. (1)
(1): ZZTJ 64; trans. de Crespigny, Rafe; To Establish Peace II 64 pp. 17, 37. It is not known what happened to Guan Tong after Cao Cao pardoned him. There is no mention of him having joined rank with Cao Cao.