Gao Jiong

Also known as Zi Zhaoxuan

Gao Jiong, courtesy name Zhaoxuan, claimed descent from Tiao in Bohai; his father Gao Bin had served Dugu Xin and been granted the Dugu surname. When Yang Jian became chancellor of Northern Zhou he made Gao his secretary, and in 580 Gao volunteered to supervise the army that crushed Yuchi Jiong's revolt. Under the new Sui dynasty he was left vice director of the Department of State Affairs, recommended Su Wei, Yang Su, Heruo Bi and Han Qinhu, and proposed the household-assessment system used to uncover unregistered families. In the 588 campaign against Chen he served as chief of staff to Yang Guang, Prince of Jin, and effectively ran the war that ended Chen the next year. In 599 his opposition to deposing the crown prince Yang Yong and Empress Dugu's distrust cost him his posts. In 607 he was executed at sixty-seven for privately criticising Emperor Yang's extravagance; the History of Sui says all under heaven mourned him.