Family background

Guo Huai was from Yangqu County (陽曲縣), Taiyuan Commandery, which is located southwest of present-day Yangqu County, Shanxi. His grandfather Guo Quan (郭全) and father Guo Yun (郭縕) served as the Grand Minister of Agriculture (大司農) and Administrator (太守) of Yanmen Commandery (near present-day Xinzhou, Shanxi) respectively in the Eastern Han dynasty.

Life in the Eastern Han dynasty

Guo Huai started his career in the middle of the Jian'an era (196–220) of Emperor Xian's reign in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He was nominated as a xiaolian (civil service candidate) and was subsequently appointed as an assistant official in Pingyuan Commandery.

Service under Cao Cao

When Cao Pi held the position of General of the Household for All Purposes (五官中郎將) between 211 and 220, he recruited Guo Huai to serve as an officer in the law enforcement bureau under his charge. Guo Huai was later reassigned to be a clerk in the military affairs bureau of the office of the Imperial Chancellor, the position held by Cao Pi's father Cao Cao, the warlord who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead Emperor Xian since 196.

In 215, Guo Huai accompanied Cao Cao on a campaign against a rival warlord, Zhang Lu, in Hanzhong Commandery. After defeating Zhang Lu and capturing Hanzhong Commandery, Cao Cao left his general Xiahou Yuan behind to guard Hanzhong against possible attacks by another rival warlord, Liu Bei, who was in the nearby Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing). Guo Huai also remained in Hanzhong and served as a Major (司馬) under Xiahou Yuan's command.

In 217, Liu Bei launched a campaign to seize control of Hanzhong Commandery from Cao Cao's forces. Guo Huai did not participate in the initial battles as he was ill. After Xiahou Yuan was killed in action at the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 219, there was much panic and fear among Cao Cao's forces in Hanzhong as they had lost their commander. Guo Huai managed to restore order and stability within Cao Cao』s forces in two ways: First, he gathered and regrouped the soldiers who scattered when Xiahou Yuan was killed. Second, he nominated Zhang He to replace Xiahou Yuan as the commander of Cao Cao's forces in Hanzhong.

The following day, when Cao Cao's forces received news that Liu Bei's forces were preparing to cross the Han River to attack them, most of Cao Cao's officers suggested that they should make camp on the riverbank and take advantage of the river as a natural barrier to resist the enemy, who had superiority in numbers. Guo Huai disagreed and said: "This isn't the best move because it reveals our weakness to the enemy and can't deter them. Why don't we make camp further away from the river, lure the enemy to attack our camp, and strike back when they are halfway across? We can defeat Liu Bei if we do this." Zhang He and the other officers followed Guo Huai's plan. When Liu Bei saw that the enemy camp was further away from the river, he became suspicious and did not send his troops across the river to attack. Guo Huai also ordered his troops to strengthen their defences and show Liu Bei's forces that they were prepared to hold their ground. Cao Cao was very pleased when he heard about what Guo Huai did. He also approved Zhang He's command and ordered Guo Huai to continue serving as a Major under Zhang He.

Service under Cao Pi

Following Cao Cao's death in March 220, his son Cao Pi succeeded him as the Imperial Chancellor and vassal King of Wei (魏王) under the Eastern Han dynasty. Cao Pi awarded Guo Huai the title of a Secondary Marquis (關內侯) and reassigned him to be the Chief Clerk (長史) under the General Who Guards the West (鎮西將軍).

Later that year, Cao Pi appointed Guo Huai as acting Army Protector Who Attacks the Qiang (征羌護軍) and ordered him to join Zhang He and Yang Qiu in leading imperial forces to attack Zheng Gan's (鄭甘) bandit forces and the Lushui barbarians (盧水胡) in the Guanzhong region. They succeeded in their mission and restored peace and stability in the Guanzhong region.

Life in the Three Kingdoms period

Service under Cao Pi

In late 220, Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, ended the Eastern Han dynasty, and established the Cao Wei (or Wei) state with himself as the new emperor. As Guo Huai fell sick on his journey to the imperial capital Luoyang and had to rest until he was well, he showed up late to congratulate Cao Pi on his coronation. Later, while hosting a banquet to celebrate his coronation, Cao Pi sternly asked Guo Huai in front of all the guests: "In the past, when Yu the Great called the nobles to attend an assembly at Tushan, Fangfeng showed up late and was executed as punishment. Today, you showed up late for the festivities. Why is that so?" Guo Huai replied: "I heard that the Five Emperors taught and ruled their people by virtue. The use of punishments started in the Xia dynasty when its rule began to weaken. Today, as I am living in an age comparable to that of Yao and Shun's time, I know that I won't face the same fate as Fangfeng."

Cao Pi was so pleased to hear Guo Huai's response that he appointed him as the acting Inspector (刺史) of Yong Province and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Sheyang Village (射陽亭侯). Guo Huai was officially commissioned as the Inspector of Yong Province about five years later. Sometime between 220 and 226, Guo Huai led Wei forces to suppress a rebellion by the Qiang chieftain Biti (辟蹏) in Anding Commandery (安定郡; around present-day Zhenyuan County, Gansu). Whenever the Qiang and other tribal leaders in Yong Province expressed their willingness to submit to Wei rule, Guo Huai always sent his subordinates to gather information about their clans (e.g. demographics) first. When he spoke to the leaders, he surprised and impressed them with his knowledge about their clans. He also paid close attention to, and showed understanding towards the concerns they had. The people in Yong Province praised him as a brilliant and wise governor.

Service under Cao Rui

Battle of Jieting

In 228, Wei's rival state Shu Han (or Shu) launched the first of a series of invasions on Wei territories in Yong Province. Zhuge Liang, the Imperial Chancellor of Shu, led the campaign and deployed his troops at Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous areas around present-day Li County, Gansu). He then sent Ma Su to lead the Shu vanguard to attack Jieting (街亭; in present-day Qin'an County, Gansu) and Gao Xiang to lead another force to station at Liucheng (柳城; in present-day Zhangjiachuan, Gansu) as backup for Ma Su.

In response to the Shu invasion, Zhang He led an army to attack Ma Su at Jieting and inflicted a devastating defeat on the enemy. At the same time, Guo Huai also led a force to attack Gao Xiang's camp at Liucheng and succeeded in destroying it. Guo Huai then followed up by attacking Tangti (唐蹏), a rebellious Qiang tribal chief from Longxi Commandery (around present-day Longxi County, Gansu), and defeated him at Fuhan County (枹罕縣; southwest of present-day Linxia County, Gansu). The Wei government granted him the additional appointment of General Who Establishes Might (建威將軍) to honour him for his achievements.

Battle of Jianwei

In the spring of 229, when Shu forces led by Chen Shi attacked Wudu (武都; around present-day Cheng County, Gansu) and Yinping (陰平; present-day Wen County, Gansu) commanderies, Guo Huai led Wei forces to resist them. However, he retreated when he heard that Zhuge Liang had led a Shu army to Jianwei (建威; in present-day Longnan, Gansu) as backup for Chen Shi. The Shu forces then conquered Wudu and Yinping commanderies.

Battle of Mount Qi

In 231, during the Battle of Mount Qi between Wei and Shu, when the Wei army ran short of food supplies, the Wei government considered transporting food supplies from the Guanzhong region to the frontline at Longxi Commandery because the granaries in Longxi were empty. Guo Huai turned to the local Qiang and Di tribes for aid and managed to convince them to donate food supplies to the Wei army. He then allocated them accordingly such that all units had sufficient food supplies. The Wei government reassigned him from his position as General Who Establishes Might (建威將軍) to General Who Spreads Martial Might (揚武將軍).

Battle of Wuzhang Plains

In 234, Guo Huai joined Sima Yi in leading Wei forces to resist another Shu invasion led by Zhuge Liang. When Sima Yi and his troops were stationed at the south of the Wei River, Guo Huai urged them to move to the plains on the north bank of the river as he foresaw that Zhuge Liang would attempt to seize the plains. When the other officers disagreed, Guo Huai said, "If Zhuge Liang crosses the Wei River and occupies those plains, his troops will have access to the mountains in the north. If they block the road through the mountains, it will cause fear and panic among the people living in the region. This isn't helpful to our State." Sima Yi agreed with Guo Huai and sent him to occupy the plains. While Guo Huai and his men were building a camp on the plains, they came under attack by Shu forces but managed to drive them back.

Several days later, when Guo Huai received news that Zhuge Liang was planning to launch an attack in the west, his subordinates wanted to strengthen the defences in the west. Guo Huai was the only one who recognised that it was a ruse, and that Zhuge Liang was actually planning to attack Yangsui (陽遂; the area north of the Wei River in present-day Mei and Fufeng counties, Shaanxi). He was proven right later as the Shu forces attacked Yangsui at night. However, as Guo Huai had set up defences earlier, the Shu forces failed to capture Yangsui.

Service under Cao Fang

First Shu invasion

In 240, the Shu general Jiang Wei continued Zhuge Liang's aggressive foreign policy towards Wei and launched the first of a series of invasions of Wei. Guo Huai led Wei forces to repel the invaders at Longxi Commandery and forced them into the territory of the Qiang tribes. After Jiang Wei and his troops retreated back to Shu, Guo Huai followed up by attacking the Qiang tribes led by Midang (迷當). He also managed to pacify more than 3,000 Di clans in the region and resettled them in the Guanzhong region. The Wei government promoted him to General of the Left (左將軍) in recognition of his achievements.

Resettling Xiongnu clans in Gaoping County

Liang Yuanbi (梁元碧), a Xiongnu leader in Liang Province, led more than 2,000 clans to submit to Wei rule. Guo Huai wrote to the Wei government, requesting permission for the Xiongnu clans to be resettled in Gaoping County (高平縣; present-day Guyuan, Ningxia), Anding Commandery (安定郡). He also established the office of the Commandant of Xichuan (西川都尉) to oversee their safety. For his efforts, Guo Huai was promoted to General of the Vanguard (前將軍), in addition to his appointment as the Inspector (刺史) of Yong Province.

Pulling back from a campaign against Shu

In 244, Guo Huai served as the vanguard commander when Xiahou Xuan led Wei forces to attack Shu. During the campaign, Guo Huai sensed that the Wei army was at a disadvantage so he immediately pulled back his troops and managed to minimise the Wei losses. He was conferred imperial authority by the Wei government after returning from the campaign.

Second Shu invasion

In 247, the Qiang tribes, led by Ehe (餓何), Shaoge (燒戈), Fatong (伐同), Ezhesai (蛾遮塞) and others, started a rebellion against Wei in four commanderies: Longxi, Nan'an (南安; around present-day Wushan County, Gansu), Jincheng (金城; around present-day Lanzhou, Gansu) and Xiping (西平; around present-day Xining, Qinghai). They attacked several cities and towns in the area, and called for Shu forces to support them.

The Wei government ordered Xiahou Ba to lead troops to garrison at the flank. When Guo Huai and his forces showed up at Didao (狄道; around present-day Lintao County, Gansu), his advisers suggested that they should attack Fuhan County (枹罕縣; in present-day Linxia County, Gansu) and pacify the Qiang tribes first before dealing with the Shu invaders. Guo Huai predicted that Jiang Wei would attack Xiahou Ba's position, so he headed south to reinforce Xiahou Ba. As he expected, Jiang Wei did attack Xiahou Ba at the west of the Tao River, but retreated when Guo Huai and his reinforcements showed up. Guo Huai then moved on to attack the Qiang rebels, killed Ehe and Shaoge, and forced the thousands of Qiang clans to surrender.

Third Shu invasion

In 248, Qiang rebels led by Ezhesai (蛾遮塞) occupied fortresses in Heguan (河關; in the vicinity of present-day Dingxi, Gansu) and Baitu (白土; in present-day Minhe County, Qinghai) counties and used them as defences against Wei forces across the Tao River. Guo Huai pretended that he was going to attack from upstream, but actually secretly ordered his troops to cross the river downstream to attack Baitu. The assault was successful and the rebels were defeated. Zhiwudai (治無戴) led his tribal forces to attack Wuwei Commandery but left his family in Xihai Commandery (西海郡; near the Juyan Lake Basin, Inner Mongolia). When Guo Huai learnt about it, he led his troops to attack Xihai Commandery, but encountered Zhiwudai and his forces, who were on their way back from Wuwei Commandery. The two armies clashed at the north of Longyi County (龍夷縣), with the Wei forces emerging victorious and Zhiwudai's forces retreating.

Jiang Wei led Shu forces from Shiying (石營; northwest of present-day Xihe County, Gansu) to Qiangchuan (彊川) to rendezvous with Zhiwudai and his retreating forces. He left Liao Hua behind in Chengzhong Mountain (成重山) to build a fortress and gather the remaining Qiang forces and keep them as hostages in the fortress. When Guo Huai heard about Jiang Wei's advances, he wanted to divide his forces into two groups to attack the enemy. His officers, however, had a different opinion. They expected to Jiang Wei to head west to meet Zhiwudai and combine their forces, while Liao Hua would remain behind to defend the Shu position at Chengzhong Mountain. If they split their army into two, their attacking power would be greatly reduced, and they might end up in a situation where they were able to neither resist Jiang Wei nor capture Liao Hua's position. They urged Guo Huai to concentrate on advancing westward to attack Jiang Wei and Zhiwudai separately before they could meet up.

Guo Huai stood by his initial plan and said, "If we attack Liao Hua, we can catch the enemy off guard. Jiang Wei will then definitely turn back to save Liao Hua. By the time he returns, we would have already defeated Liao Hua. By doing so, we can make Jiang Wei and his men weary from travelling forth and back. If Jiang Wei does not meet the barbarians, the barbarians will retreat on their own. This is the best approach." He then instructed Xiahou Ba to lead one detachment to pursue Jiang Wei towards Tazhong (沓中; northwest of present-day Zhugqu County, Gansu), while he led the other group to attack Liao Hua. As Guo Huai foresaw, Jiang Wei did turn back to save Liao Hua and failed to meet up with Zhiwudai. As a reward for his contributions, the Wei government promoted Guo Huai from a village marquis to a Marquis of a Chief District (都鄉侯).

Fourth Shu invasion

In 249, Guo Huai was promoted to General Who Attacks the West (征西將軍) and put in charge of supervising military operations in Yong and Liang provinces.

In the autumn of 249, Jiang Wei led Shu forces on a fourth invasion of Wei and built two fortresses at Qushan (麴山; southeast of present-day Min County, Gansu), which were respectively guarded by the Shu officers Ju An (句安) and Li Xin (李歆). He also contacted the Qiang tribes and requested assistance from them in harassing the Wei-controlled commanderies in Yong Province. After discussing with Chen Tai, the Inspector of Yong Province, Guo Huai ordered him, Xu Zhi and Deng Ai to lead Wei forces to attack the Shu fortresses at Qushan and cut off their food and water supplies. Ju An and Li Xin led their men to taunt Deng Ai to attack them, but Deng Ai ignored them. As time passed, the two fortresses gradually ran out of supplies. Jiang Wei led his troops from Mount Niutou (牛頭山; west of present-day Zhaohua District, Guangyuan, Sichuan) to reinforce the fortresses. They encountered Chen Tai and his army along the way. Chen Tai ordered his army to build forts to resist Jiang Wei and his troops but refrain from engaging the enemy. At the same time, he also wrote to Guo Huai and requested his help in attacking Mount Niutou. Guo Huai did so and led his forces across the Tao River in preparation for attacking Mount Niutou.

After Jiang Wei retreated, Ju An and Li Xin became isolated at the Shu fortresses at Qushan, so they had no choice but to surrender to the Wei forces. Guo Huai then led his troops further west to attack the restless Qiang tribes and forced them to surrender.

Promotions and awards

In 250, the Wei emperor Cao Fang issued an imperial edict to praise Guo Huai for his contributions and achievements throughout his tenure of over 30 years in the Guanzhong region. He also promoted Guo Huai to General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍), granted him full imperial authority, and ordered him to be accorded treatment equivalent to that accorded to the Three Ducal Ministers. Guo Huai remained in charge of supervising military operations in Yong and Liang provinces.

Guo Huai was also promoted from a district marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Yangqu" (陽曲侯), with a marquisate comprising 2,780 taxable households. The Wei government then took out 300 households from his marquisate, created a new marquisate, and awarded it to one of his sons under a village marquis title.

Death

Guo Huai died on 23 February 255 during Cao Mao's reign. He was posthumously appointed as General-in-Chief (大將軍) and granted the posthumous title "Marquis Zhen" (貞侯).

Family and relatives

Guo Huai married a younger sister of the Wei general Wang Ling. In 251, Wang Ling started a rebellion in Shouchun (壽春; around present-day Shou County, Anhui) against Wei but failed and ended up being captured. He committed suicide while being escorted as a prisoner to Luoyang. The Wei imperial court ordered the arrest and execution of his family members. When the imperial censors came to arrest Guo Huai's wife (because she was Wang Ling's sister), Guo Huai's subordinates and thousands of Qiang, Di and Xiongnu tribal leaders came to ask Guo Huai to beg the imperial court to spare his wife, but he reluctantly refused. As his wife was being taken away, many people who lined the path to see her off shed tears, tried to grab her hands, and even wanted to attack the guards to save her. Guo Huai's five sons came to see their father and kowtowed until their foreheads bled while begging their father to save their mother. Guo Huai, moved by his sons' filial piety, changed his mind and ordered his subordinates to bring his wife back. Thousands of Guo Huai's men pursued the imperial censors on horseback, caught up with them, and brought back Guo Huai's wife within a few days. Guo Huai then wrote a letter to the Wei regent Sima Yi: "My five sons are willing to sacrifice their lives for their mother. If they lose their mother, I lose them too. Without my five sons, I will no longer exist. If I have violated the law by seizing back my wife from the imperial censors, I am willing to see the Emperor and take full responsibility for my actions." After reading Guo Huai's letter, Sima Yi made an exception for Guo Huai's wife and pardoned her.

One of Guo Huai's sons, Guo Tong (郭統), inherited his father's peerage and became the next Marquis of Yangqu (陽曲侯). He also served under the Wei government and the highest appointment he held was Inspector (刺史) of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan). After Guo Tong's death, his son Guo Zheng (郭正) succeeded him as the next Marquis of Yangqu. Sometime between 264 and 265, the Wei government established a new five-rank nobility system and converted Guo Huai's peerage from the Marquis of Yangqu to the Viscount of Fenyang (汾陽子).

Guo Huais younger brothers and their families

Guo Pei

Guo Pei (郭配), whose courtesy name was Zhongnan (仲南), served as the Administrator (太守) of Chengyang Commandery (城陽郡; around present-day southeastern Shandong). Guo Pei had at least two daughters: one of them married Pei Xiu; the other, named Guo Huai (郭槐), married Jia Chong. Guo Pei also had two sons: Guo Zhan (郭展), whose courtesy name was Taishu (泰舒); and Guo Yu (郭豫), whose courtesy name was Taining (泰寧). Guo Zhan performed well in office and rose to the position of Minister Coachman (太僕); Guo Yu served as a military adviser (參軍) to the Chancellor of State (相國), but died early. Guo Yu's daughter married Wang Yan (王衍; 256–311), a notable scholar of the early Western Jin dynasty.

Guo Zhen

Guo Zhen (郭鎮), whose courtesy name was Jinan (季南), served as a Supervisor of the Internuncios (謁者僕射). Guo Zhen's son, Guo Yi (郭弈), had the courtesy name Taiye (泰業) and served as the Inspector of Yong Province (雍州刺史) and a Master of Writing (尚書) during the Western Jin dynasty. Shan Tao, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, once praised Guo Yi for being virtuous and magnanimous.

Guo Liang

Guo Liang (郭亮) was a younger brother of Guo Huai. One of his descendants, Guo Zuo (郭祚; 449–515), served as an official under the Northern Wei dynasty.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Guo Huai is a minor character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the historical figures and events before and during the Three Kingdoms period of China. In the novel, he dies in 253 after being fatally wounded by an arrow fired by Jiang Wei during the sixth of Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions.

In popular culture

Guo Huai is a playable character in the seventh and eighth instalments of Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series.

生平

郭淮之祖父郭全曾任大司農，父親郭縕曾任雁門太守。建安中期郭淮舉孝廉，為平原府丞。曹丕為五官中郎將時，召郭淮署為門下賊曹，後轉為丞相兵曹議令史。

重整軍勢

215年，郭淮隨曹操征討漢中。曹操回軍後，留夏侯淵守漢中，而郭淮為夏侯淵的司馬。

218年，劉備進攻漢中。次年正月，劉備軍的將領黃忠在定軍山擊敗並斬殺大將夏侯淵，曹軍大敗，退守陽平關東。郭淮因病，未參加此戰。夏侯淵戰死後，郭淮收集夏侯淵殘兵，曹軍無主，三軍慌亂。郭淮和杜襲收斂散卒，推舉張郃為主帥，皆已漸漸穩得局面，並協助他成功據守漢水，劉備退回。不久，曹操讓張郃假節，以郭淮為張郃司馬。

鎮壓叛亂

220年，曹丕即王位，賜郭淮關內侯，轉為鎮西長史。又行征羌護軍，與護左將軍張郃、冠軍將軍楊秋討山賊鄭甘、盧水叛胡等，皆平之。至此關中平定，百姓得以安居樂業。同年10月，曹丕稱帝，群臣進京祝賀，郭淮因病遲到，但因巧妙的回答未受責罰。曹丕升郭淮為雍州刺史，封射陽亭侯。其後幾年，郭淮多次鎮壓羌族叛亂，威鎮邊疆。

街亭之戰

228年，蜀漢軍第一次北伐，諸葛亮派馬謖守街亭、高翔守柳城。張郃率軍攻打街亭，郭淮則率軍裝作攻擊的形式，屯兵柳城，為了牽制敵軍，最後在街亭之戰取得勝利。隨後郭淮又在枹罕破羌人唐氾，加建威將軍。

禦蜀屏障

229年，漢軍第三次北伐，漢將陳式進攻武都、陰平二郡。郭淮率兵救援，在建威遭到諸葛亮主力的阻擊，被迫退走。漢軍遂攻佔武都、陰平二郡。231年，漢軍第四次北伐，郭淮奉命隨司馬懿防禦漢軍。當時隴右缺糧，郭淮招撫羌人，恩威並施，調集糧草，遂解軍糧之急，轉為揚武將軍。234年，漢軍第五次北伐，郭淮隨司馬懿渡渭水據守，先後提出搶佔北原，備守陽遂的建議，因此成功防禦蜀軍。

方策精詳

240年，漢將姜維出隴西，郭淮成功防守，之後多次平定少數民族叛亂，升為左將軍。後又轉拜前將軍，仍為雍州刺史。

244年，曹爽、夏侯玄等伐蜀，郭淮為前鋒。郭淮分析形勢不利，及時撤軍，才不至大敗。回軍後，郭淮假節。247年，雍、涼等地的羌胡族人背魏降蜀，蜀將姜維率兵出隴右接應，留廖化於成重山築城。郭淮、夏侯霸與姜維交戰於洮西。郭淮打算分兵進攻渢中，諸將認為姜維西聯羌、胡族人，廖化防守天險，分兵相對，兵力會轉弱，進不能制衡姜維，退不能拔掉廖化的天險，計不可行，不如合兵攻取西邊，令胡、蜀來不及交接，破其交接之兵。郭淮說：「如今攻取廖化，可出其不意，姜維一定擔心後方受到襲擊。姜維會竭盡救援，這樣廖化會被平定，而且這樣可使姜維疲憊趕至。姜維不接應胡人，胡人不見姜維接應便會撤退，這是一舉兩得之策。」郭淮打算利用夏侯霸作為姜維攻擊的對象，姜維果真進攻夏侯霸於為翅。郭淮率軍進攻廖化，姜維知道後趕至救援廖化，正如郭淮所料的計策，再從渢中轉向南解救夏侯霸，姜維見狀便撤退，部分投降的羌胡部落入漢境，未遷走者皆為郭淮擊平。

曲城之戰

249年，郭淮升為征西將軍，都督雍、涼兩州軍事。同年，姜維進攻雍州；靠近曲山築城，牽制魏軍，並派句安、李歆駐防，羌胡人聯合發動進攻附近的地方。魏國派征西將軍郭淮和雍州刺史陳泰統領萬人去抵擋，郭淮聽從陳泰的計謀。郭淮命陳泰率領討蜀護軍徐質，南安太守鄧艾圍曲城，切斷運糧通道和城外水源。句安等來挑戰，將士困窘，分糧食月。姜維領兵救援，進至牛頭山，與陳泰相持。陳泰兵部隊堅守不要出戰，自己南渡白水，靠水東行，使得郭淮率兵進至牛頭山，合兵一起打算切斷姜維退路，姜維察覺，撤退出牛頭山。郭淮進軍到洮水，在與蜀軍交戰中擊敗廖化，俘虜蜀將句安。鄧艾建議讓他屯兵白水北岸，姜維自己率兵進攻洮水，並派廖化到白水南岸牽制鄧艾，鄧艾查破廖化破綻；晚上成功襲取洮城，姜維懼怕便撤退，句安、李歆等人孤立無援，最後獻城投降。

250年五月，郭淮因前功升為車騎將軍，儀同三司，持節、都督如故，並進封陽曲侯，食邑共2780戶，分出300戶，封其一子亭侯。

正元二年正月癸未日（255年2月23日），郭淮去世，被追贈為大將軍，諡貞侯，兒子郭統繼嗣。郭統死後，子郭正繼嗣。

逸聞

情義救妻

根據《世說新語》記載，郭淮之妻王氏是揚州都督司空王凌之妹。嘉平三年(251年)王凌謀反失敗後，被司馬懿下令夷族，王氏亦被牽連。郭淮原本已經默默接受這樣的安排，但是王氏離開雍州前五個孩子哀痛至極，苦苦哀求郭淮救母一命，叩頭至血流滿面。郭淮不忍，於是上表請求司馬懿法外開恩。司馬懿考慮許久之後，同意了特赦。

與寒貧事

郭淮任車騎將軍時，曾想幫石德林，問其想要的東西，石氏不答，由於家境考慮，郭淮「取其脯一朐、糒一升而止」。

評價

• 陳壽：「郭淮方策精詳，垂問秦、雍。」

• 曹芳：「昔漢川之役，幾至傾覆。淮臨危濟難，功書王府。在關右三十餘年，外征寇虜，內綏民夷。比歲以來，摧破廖化，禽虜句安，功績顯著，朕甚嘉之。」

• 拓跋宏：「先賢后哲，頓在一門。」

• 郭祚：「昔臣先人以通儒英博，唯事魏文。」

• 洪邁：「張遼走孫權于合肥，郭淮拒蜀軍于陽平，徐晃卻關羽于樊，皆以少制眾，分方面憂。」

家庭

祖輩

• 祖父郭全，東漢大司農

• 父親郭縕，東漢雁門太守

夫人

• 太原王氏，王淩之妹

弟弟

• 郭配，字仲南，城陽太守

• 郭鎮，字季南，謁者僕射

• 郭亮，北魏侍中、金紫光祿大夫、并州大中正、尚書右僕射、東光文貞公郭祚的七世祖

子孫

• 郭統，魏荊州刺史，襲陽曲侯

• 郭正，襲陽曲侯，後改封汾陽子

侄輩

• 郭展，字泰舒，郭配子，西晉太僕

• 郭豫，字泰寧，郭展弟，相國參軍

• 郭槐，郭配之女，賈充夫人，晉惠帝皇后賈南風之母

• 郭氏，郭配之女，裴秀妻

• 郭奕 (西晉)，字泰業，西晉雍州刺史、尚書、平陵簡男。於《晉書·列傳十五》有傳

藝術形象

三國演義

演義中的郭淮在第七十回「猛張飛智取瓦口隘，老黃忠計奪天盪山」初次登場，勸說曹洪不要將敗於張飛的張郃處死，使其攻打葭萌關；夏侯淵戰死於定軍山後，又推舉張郃為主將，收拾殘局。第九十三回時，由曹真推舉為副將，此後屢次與漢軍交戰。諸葛亮死後，姜維率領北伐軍與司馬昭交戰，將司馬昭圍困于鐵籠山上，並約羌王派兵相助。郭淮先擊敗羌王，繼而和司馬昭裡應外合，大勝姜維。郭淮追殺沒槍、有弓卻無箭的姜維，以弓箭射向姜維，卻被其躲過接住箭，反被姜維射擊致命。

影視

• 1994年電視劇《三國演義》：常玉平、孫啟成飾演

• 2010年電視劇《三國》：張歉飾演

• 2016年電視劇《一統三國》：程相銀飾演

• 2017年電視劇《軍師聯盟》：何翔飾演

漫畫遊戲

• 真三國無雙系列 / 無雙OROCHI系列（光榮公司開發，蒲田哲配音）

• 漫畫《蒼天航路》（王欣太）

• 漫畫《火鳳燎原》（陳某）:設定為新一代殘兵成員兼軍師，父親郭昂為上一代殘兵成員，其後同為上一代殘兵成員的張雷所照顧，在官渡之戰篇以年幼時期登場和王雙拜祭小孟，於周瑜亡命篇時正式登場，與同組織成員王雙、燎原廣和黃皓關係友好，在行刺周瑜失敗後為了避免曹家追究而安排燎原廣和黃皓去南方，王雙「投靠」周瑜靜待時機，並盡得周瑜信任，後被周瑜得悉詐降，在周瑜設計火攻下和王雙、賈詡困於大火中，幸得馬鈞及其設計的指南車逃離並會合曹真。