Gao Rou (174 – October or November 263), courtesy name Wenhui, was a Chinese politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a younger relative of Gao Gan. He previously served under the warlords Yuan Shao and Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty.
Service under Cao Cao In April 211, Cao Cao sent Zhong Yao and Xiahou Yuan to lead an army to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong Commandery. As they were due to pass through the Guanzhong region along the way, Gao Rou advised Cao that by sending a large army westwards, Ma Chao and Han Sui would believe that the army was targeted at them; they would then rise in rebellion. What Cao Cao should do was to first pacify the Guanzhong region; once the region is stabilised, Zhang Lu would surrender once an edict was issued to him. Cao Cao ignored Gao; when Zhong Yao entered Guanzhong, Ma and Han did indeed rebel.(太祖欲遣锺繇等讨张鲁，柔谏，以为今猥遣大兵，西有韩遂、马超，谓为己举，将相扇动作逆，宜先招集三辅，三辅苟平，汉中可传檄而定也。繇入关，遂、超等果反。) Sanguozhi, vol.24
Service under Cao Wei Gao Rou was one of several officials who petitioned for clemency on behalf of Bao Xun; Cao Pi rejected their petitions and executed Bao.Sanguozhi, vol.12
During the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs, Sima Yi granted imperial authority to Gao Rou, who was then already 75 years old and the Minister over the Masses (司徒), appointed him as acting General-in-Chief (大將軍), and ordered him to take command of Cao Shuang's troops. He also told Gao Rou, "You're now like Zhou Bo."(於是假司徒高柔節，行大將軍事，領爽營，謂柔曰：「君為周勃矣。」) Jin Shu, vol. 1.
On 3 June 260 (the day after Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao), Gao Rou was among the senior officials (including Sima Zhao, Sima Fu and Zheng Chong) who petitioned Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously instate Cao Mao as the "Duke of Gaogui Village" (高貴鄉公) and bury Cao Mao with the ceremonies befitting that of a prince.([甘露五年五月]庚寅，太傅孚、大将军文王、太尉柔、司徒冲稽首言：“伏见中令，故高贵乡公悖逆不道，自陷大祸，依汉昌邑王罪废故事，以民礼葬。臣等备位，不能匡救祸乱，式遏奸逆，奉令震悚，肝心悼栗。春秋之义，王者无外，而书‘襄王出居于郑’，不能事母，故绝之于位也。今高贵乡公肆行不轨，几危社稷，自取倾覆，人神所绝，葬以民礼，诚当旧典。然臣等伏惟殿下仁慈过隆，虽存大义，犹垂哀矜，臣等之心实有不忍，以为可加恩以王礼葬之。”太后从之。) Sanguozhi, vol.04
See also Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms
Notes
References
Further reading Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi). Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotated Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).