Prince of Lanling Gao Changgong

Gao Changgong was a high-ranking general of the Northern Qi dynasty, granted the title of Prince of Lanling (蘭陵王) after receiving a fiefdom in Lanling County, southern Shandong. Renowned as a brilliant strategist, he often outwitted his opponents on the battlefield. Gao Changgong was also famed for his striking handsomeness, even among his brothers who were celebrated for their looks. To mask his beauty and instill fear in his enemies, he wore a fearsome mask in combat.

One of Gao Changgong's notable achievements was repelling the First Turkic Khaganate’s assault on Jinyang (modern-day Taiyuan). However, his most legendary feat was the 564 A.D. rescue during the siege of Jinyong (near present-day Luoyang). Leading only 500 cavalrymen, he broke through an army of 100,000 Northern Zhou soldiers to reach the city gates, astonishing the defenders. When the soldiers inside did not recognize him, he removed his helmet and mask, sparking their courage and prompting them to join the battle outside. Together, they defeated the Northern Zhou forces.