Did Gu Li, the Wu general, really threaten to kill Sun Quan's boat crew if they didn't change course during a storm?
He really only threatened the guy steering the boat. For some context:
Originally, Gu Li was a servant to Sun Quan, but because Sun Quan respected his courage and integrity, Gu Li became one of his bodyguards. He was prominent at Hefei, where he helped Sun Quan jump over a broken bridge to safety. He was enfeoffed for this.
Later, Sun Quan was sailing along the Yangzi river, near Wuchang, when a storm came. Sun Quan believed that the ship would be safe, but Gu Li disagreed. He threatened the helmsman until the man steered for shelter. Sun Quan teased Gu Li, accusing him of being afraid of water. Gu Li remained calm and explained that the ship was topheavy and likely to turn over in a storm, and if Sun Quan were to be drowned it would be an incalculable loss. Sun Quan was impressed and thereafter called Gu Li by his style name as a sign of respect.
