Xu Shu
Encyclopedia
Xu Shu was an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He initially served Liu Bei
before joining Cao Cao in 208.
, Henan
). As a youth, he enjoyed practising swordplay. Between 190 and 193, Xu and his friend Shi Dao (石韜) travelled south to Jing Province, where they met and befriended Zhuge Liang
and Pang Tong
.
Xu came to serve Liu Bei
when the latter was residing in Xinye
, under the warlord Liu Biao
of Jing Province. Around 208, Liu Biao died and was succeeded by his son, Liu Cong. Cao Cao
's forces invaded Jing Province and Liu Cong surrendered to Cao. Liu Bei was forced to flee southward, accompanied by Xu. However, during the chaos, Xu's mother was captured by Cao Cao's troops. Xu decided to leave Liu Bei and serve Cao.
In 220, Cao Cao died and was succeeded by his son Cao Pi
, who forced Emperor Xian of Han
to abdicate in his favour, marking the start of the Cao Wei
dynasty. Cao Pi appointed Xu as Right General of the Household (右中郎將) and Imperial Secretary (御史中丞).
Between 228 and 234, Zhuge Liang launched a series of Northern Expeditions against the state of Cao Wei. When Zhuge heard that Xu was serving in Cao Wei, he sighed, "Wei has so many capable people! Why don't I see those two men have their talents put to use?" (The two men refer to Xu Shu and Shi Dao.) Xu eventually died of illness.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Xu played an important role in recommending Zhuge Liang
to Liu Bei
. The account of how he switched allegiance from Liu to Cao Cao
was also greatly dramatized.
In the novel, Xu first met Liu Bei near Xinye
and agreed to become Liu's advisor. Not long later, Cao Cao sent Cao Ren
to lead an army to attack Liu Bei. Cao Ren deployed a Eight Gates Golden Locks Formation (八門金鎖陣) during the battle against Liu's army. Liu's forces were initially unable to break the formation, until Xu pointed out the weaknesses in the formation. Liu's generals followed Xu's instructions on how to attack the formation and succeeded in breaking it, defeating Cao Ren's army.
When Cao Cao heard of how Xu broke the formation, he was impressed and wanted to Xu to serve him. Cao invited Xu's mother to meet him and requested for her to write a letter to her son, asking her son to come and serve him. Xu's mother refused and denounced Cao Cao as a traitor and attempted to hit Cao with her walking stick. Cao was furious and ordered Xu's mother to be executed, but his strategists advised him against it, and Cao eventually had her confined. He sent Cheng Yu
to visit her, and Cheng lied that he was Xu's friend and wanted to help Xu. Over time, Xu's mother gradually trusted Cheng and Cheng picked up her handwriting. Cheng then wrote a letter to Xu in his mother's handwriting, luring him to Cao Cao's side.
Xu was a filial son and he wept when he heard that his mother was confined by Cao Cao. Liu Bei was reluctant to let Xu leave but Xu insisted. While leaving, Xu suddenly turned back to Liu and recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu before riding off to meet his mother. When Xu reunited with his mother, he discovered that he had been tricked. His mother was angry with him for failing to recognize the mistake and she committed suicide. Xu was devastated and swore never to give advice to Cao Cao even though he remained on Cao's side until his death.
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He initially served Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
before joining Cao Cao in 208.
Biography
Xu was a native of Yingchuan (present-day XuchangXuchang
Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
). As a youth, he enjoyed practising swordplay. Between 190 and 193, Xu and his friend Shi Dao (石韜) travelled south to Jing Province, where they met and befriended Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
and Pang Tong
Pang Tong
Pang Tong was an advisor to Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was nicknamed "Young Phoenix" by his uncle Pang Degong due to his ugly appearance but great capabilities and talent...
.
Xu came to serve Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
when the latter was residing in Xinye
Xinye County
Xinye is one of the counties of Nanyang that lies in the southwest of Henan province in central China. Its south is Xiangfan city of Hubei province . Itseast is Tanghe county of Nanyang. Its west is county-level city...
, under the warlord Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
of Jing Province. Around 208, Liu Biao died and was succeeded by his son, Liu Cong. Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's forces invaded Jing Province and Liu Cong surrendered to Cao. Liu Bei was forced to flee southward, accompanied by Xu. However, during the chaos, Xu's mother was captured by Cao Cao's troops. Xu decided to leave Liu Bei and serve Cao.
In 220, Cao Cao died and was succeeded by his son Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
, who forced Emperor Xian of Han
Emperor Xian of Han
Emperor Xian of Han , personal name Liu Xie, style name Bohe, was the last emperor of the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
to abdicate in his favour, marking the start of the Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
dynasty. Cao Pi appointed Xu as Right General of the Household (右中郎將) and Imperial Secretary (御史中丞).
Between 228 and 234, Zhuge Liang launched a series of Northern Expeditions against the state of Cao Wei. When Zhuge heard that Xu was serving in Cao Wei, he sighed, "Wei has so many capable people! Why don't I see those two men have their talents put to use?" (The two men refer to Xu Shu and Shi Dao.) Xu eventually died of illness.
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Xu played an important role in recommending Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
to Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
. The account of how he switched allegiance from Liu to Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
was also greatly dramatized.
In the novel, Xu first met Liu Bei near Xinye
Xinye County
Xinye is one of the counties of Nanyang that lies in the southwest of Henan province in central China. Its south is Xiangfan city of Hubei province . Itseast is Tanghe county of Nanyang. Its west is county-level city...
and agreed to become Liu's advisor. Not long later, Cao Cao sent Cao Ren
Cao Ren
Cao Ren was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He played a significant part in assisting Cao Cao in the civil wars leading to the end of the Han Dynasty...
to lead an army to attack Liu Bei. Cao Ren deployed a Eight Gates Golden Locks Formation (八門金鎖陣) during the battle against Liu's army. Liu's forces were initially unable to break the formation, until Xu pointed out the weaknesses in the formation. Liu's generals followed Xu's instructions on how to attack the formation and succeeded in breaking it, defeating Cao Ren's army.
When Cao Cao heard of how Xu broke the formation, he was impressed and wanted to Xu to serve him. Cao invited Xu's mother to meet him and requested for her to write a letter to her son, asking her son to come and serve him. Xu's mother refused and denounced Cao Cao as a traitor and attempted to hit Cao with her walking stick. Cao was furious and ordered Xu's mother to be executed, but his strategists advised him against it, and Cao eventually had her confined. He sent Cheng Yu
Cheng Yu
Cheng Yu , originally named Cheng Li and changed his name to Yu after dreaming of the sun on top of Mount Tai, was one of the major advisors to the Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao, and became a high-ranking official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China...
to visit her, and Cheng lied that he was Xu's friend and wanted to help Xu. Over time, Xu's mother gradually trusted Cheng and Cheng picked up her handwriting. Cheng then wrote a letter to Xu in his mother's handwriting, luring him to Cao Cao's side.
Xu was a filial son and he wept when he heard that his mother was confined by Cao Cao. Liu Bei was reluctant to let Xu leave but Xu insisted. While leaving, Xu suddenly turned back to Liu and recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu before riding off to meet his mother. When Xu reunited with his mother, he discovered that he had been tricked. His mother was angry with him for failing to recognize the mistake and she committed suicide. Xu was devastated and swore never to give advice to Cao Cao even though he remained on Cao's side until his death.