Chen Gong 陈宫

Chen Gong served as advisor to Lü Bu after the latter fled Yuan Shao's service. Cao Cao for the majority of Cao Cao's campaigns.

Biography
When the Inspector of Yan province, Liu Dai, died trying to fight Yellow Turban bandits, the officials in need of a replacement. At the time, Chen Gong was a subordinate of Cao Cao and so acted as his agent to convince the officials to summon Cao Cao. Chen Gong said to the officials: "The empire is divided and our province has no master, Cao Cao of Dong commandery has ability to command the world. If you invite him to govern the province he will certainly give peace and life to the people." It was thus agreed that Cao Cao should be invited in.

Battle of Yan Province
The Battle of Yan Province was a rebellion orchestrated by Chen Gong.

At the time, Zhang Miao was also unsure of his safety with Cao Cao, so Chen Gong went to him and convinced him to rebel, saying: "The empire is divided and fallen, and the brave men rise up together. With the forces of a thousand li you occupy a land which is open on four sides to war.17 You hold your sword and you look around proudly, and you are good enough to be a leader of men. Yet you prefer to take your orders from another. Isn't that mean-spirited?"

"Now the provincial army is away fighting in the east and this area is empty. Lü Bu is a strong soldier and a superb fighting man. Call him in for a while, govern Yan province together, watch the situation of the empire and wait for the changes of circumstance. Now is the ideal time for such a strategic move."

Though Chen Gong convinced Zhang Miao and several others to rebel, the rebellion was quickly quashed by Xun Yu, Cheng Yu and Xiahou Dun before it could prove fatal to Cao Cao. Ultimately, Cao Cao returned to Yan province and Chen Gong was forced to flee to Xu province with Lu Bu.