Biography
Family Background and Early Years
Gao Huaide was born into a famous military lineage of the Five Dynasties. His grandfather Gao Siji had served as Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army in the late Tang and was renowned for bravery. His father Gao Xingzhou was an even more celebrated general of the Five Dynasties, serving several regimes and eventually becoming the Later Zhou military governor of Tianping and Prince of Qi.
Gao Huaide grew up in military surroundings and acquired martial skills from childhood. He was described as loyal, generous, and free-spirited, with a frank and expansive temperament and little concern for minor conventions. He disliked book learning but was highly knowledgeable about music, could compose tunes himself, and was said to have an exceptionally refined sense of melody.
When Gao Xingzhou was stationed at Yan and Lu, stayed behind in Luoyang, or exercised authority over Song and Bo prefectures, he appointed Gao Huaide as a *yaji*, a trusted military aide attached to the military governor. The appointments trained his son for command and also reflected Gao Xingzhou's confidence in him.
Youthful Service and the Breakout at Qicheng
In 944, the first year of the Later Jin Kaiyun era, Liao forces invaded the frontier. The court appointed Gao Xingzhou commander of the northern vanguard army. Gao Huaide, who had just turned twenty, asked his father for permission to join the campaign.
When the Jin army reached Qicheng, north of present-day Puyang in Henan, it was heavily surrounded by the Liao army while relief forces failed to arrive. The situation became critical. Gao Huaide shot arrows to both sides and repeatedly charged through the enemy formation, forcing opponents back and protecting his father as they broke through the encirclement. For this achievement Gao was appointed Inspector of Luo Prefecture and received costly furs, a jeweled belt, and fine horses from the court.
When Gao Xingzhou was transferred to Yun Prefecture, Gao Huaide became Inspector of Xin Prefecture while continuing to command household troops. During a later Liao invasion, the Later Jin court appointed Gao Xingzhou commander of the Xing–Zhao route while leaving Gao Huaide to defend Suiyang. Du Chongwei then surrendered to Liao, and rebels rose throughout the eastern prefectures. Gao strengthened the defenses and cleared the surrounding countryside of supplies, slowing the Liao advance until Gao Xingzhou returned with reinforcements and the invading troops withdrew.
Service under Later Han and Later Zhou
Under the Later Han, Gao Xingzhou was transferred to Weibo and Tianping, while the court appointed Gao Huaide Inspector of Zhong Prefecture. When Guo Wei, Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou, campaigned against Murong Yanchao and passed Wenshang during the army's concentration, he gave Gao Xingzhou generous gifts and presented Gao Huaide with clothing, a belt, colored silks, and a fully equipped horse, showing the standing already enjoyed by the Gao family.
After Gao Xingzhou's death, Gao Huaide became Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern and Western Guards and concurrently Inspector of Ji Prefecture, then transferred to command the Iron Cavalry. When Liu Chong, ruler of Northern Han, invaded, Chai Rong, Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, led the campaign and appointed Gao Huaide vanguard staff officer. Gao performed well at Gaoping and was promoted for merit to Commander-in-Chief of the Right Wing of the Iron Cavalry, concurrently Training Commissioner of Guo Prefecture.
Campaigns against Southern Tang
Gao followed Emperor Shizong in campaigns against Southern Tang, administering the field headquarters at Luzhou and serving as pacification commissioner. In fighting under the city walls he inflicted more than 700 recorded enemy casualties and was soon promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Left Wing of the Nengjie troops, concurrently Defense Commissioner of Bing Prefecture, and received seven fine horses.
Southern Tang general Liu Renshan held Shouchun while Shu Yuan occupied Zijin Mountain and linked a series of fortified stockades to resist the Later Zhou army. Shizong ordered Gao to take several dozen trusted cavalrymen and reconnoiter the enemy camps. Gao crossed the Huai River during the night. Southern Tang troops did not discover him until dawn and came out to fight. Although heavily outnumbered, Gao captured an enemy deputy commander and returned after thoroughly observing the disposition of the Southern Tang forces. He reported the information to Chai Rong, who was delighted and rewarded him with ceremonial clothing, a gold belt, vessels, money, and a silver-decorated saddle and bridle.
On another occasion, while observing the enemy, Chai Rong saw a general pursuing Southern Tang soldiers, seizing an enemy spear, and returning. He asked his attendants who it was and learned that the officer was Gao Huaide. Shizong summoned him to the traveling court, praised him, and promised him a military governor's insignia, a very high distinction indicating that the emperor already viewed him as suitable for independent regional command.
Supporting Zhao Kuangyin and the Founding of Northern Song
After Chai Zongxun, Emperor Gong of Later Zhou, succeeded to the throne, Gao Huaide was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Cavalry of the Imperial Guards, concurrently military governor of Jiangning, and commander of the cavalry in the northern expeditionary army.
In 960, the seventh year of the Xiande era, Zhao Kuangyin, then commander of the Palace Command, launched the Chenqiao Mutiny, took control of the Later Zhou regime, and founded the Northern Song. As a senior imperial-guard general, Gao participated in the movement that acclaimed Zhao as emperor.
After Emperor Taizu's accession, Gao was appointed deputy commander of the Palace Command, transferred to a command at Hua Prefecture, and made deputy commander for Guannan. He later married Emperor Taizu's younger sister, the Eldest Princess of Yan, and received the title Commandant-Escort. Gao thus became both a founding military notable and a member of the imperial kin, holding a prominent position through control of guard forces and marriage ties.
Suppression of Li Yun's Rebellion
In the fourth lunar month of 960, the first year of the Jianlong era, Li Yun, military governor of Zhaoyi, rebelled against Song at Shangdang in present-day Changzhi, Shanxi, and allied with Northern Han. Emperor Taizu decided to lead the campaign personally but first ordered Gao Huaide to join Shi Shouxin in attacking the rebels.
Gao's troops decisively defeated Li Yun's army south of Ze Prefecture, near present-day Jincheng. In the sixth lunar month Zhao Kuangyin arrived at the front. Li Yun withdrew into Ze Prefecture and eventually died by self-immolation. After the rebellion was suppressed, Gao was promoted for merit to military governor of Zhongwu and Acting Grand Commandant. He later accompanied Emperor Taizu in suppressing unrest at Yangzhou.
Later Years and Death
In 961, the second year of the Jianlong era, Gao was transferred to military governor of Guide. In the autumn of 973, the sixth year of the Kaibao era, he was granted the additional office Participant in Determining Government Matters. That winter, the Eldest Princess of Yan died, and Gao's title Commandant-Escort was removed.
After Zhao Guangyi, Emperor Taizong of Song, ascended the throne, Gao was given the concurrent office Palace Attendant and then the honorific office Acting Grand Preceptor. In the spring of 978 Gao became ill. Emperor Taizong sent the imperial physician Wang Yuanyou and the Daoist Ma Zhi to his residence to treat him, showing the court's continued concern for his health.
In 979 Gao followed Emperor Taizong in the conquest of Northern Han. After Northern Han was destroyed, he was transferred to a command at Cao Prefecture and enfeoffed as Duke of Ji. In 982 he became military governor of Wusheng. He died in the seventh lunar month of that year at the age of fifty-seven. The court posthumously appointed him Secretariat Director, enfeoffed him as Prince of Bohai Commandery, and conferred the posthumous name Wumu.