Xun Yu, also known by his courtesy name Wenruo, was born in Yingchuan, Yingyin, Henan. His grandfather, Xun Shu, courtesy name Jihe, was the magistrate of Langling County. During the reigns of Emperor Shun and Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty, Xun Shu had already gained prominence. He had eight sons, referred to as the "Eight Dragons." Xun Yu's father, Xun Gun, was the governor of Jinan; his uncle, Xun Shuang, held the title of Minister of Works.
The Xun family was indeed quite powerful! Their ancestors held high positions, and Xun Shu was renowned during the Han Dynasty. Legend has it that he had eight sons, which is quite impressive. His father also served as a governor, and his uncle rose to the position of Minister of Works, a distinguished family indeed!
During his youth, He Yong from Nanyang held him in high regard, saying, "This is a rare talent to assist emperors!" In the first year of Yonghan, he was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official and appointed as the palace guardian. During the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo, he requested a transfer to another position. He was later appointed as the magistrate of Kangfu, but he shortly after resigned and returned home, telling his fellow villagers, "Yingchuan is located in a war-torn region. Whenever chaos erupts in the world, this place is always at the forefront. We should leave quickly and not linger." Many villagers hesitated to leave their hometown. Coincidentally, the Governor of Jizhou, Han Fu, who hailed from the same region, sent someone to welcome him, but no one followed him except for Xun Yu and his family, who arrived in Jizhou. At that time, Yuan Shao had taken Han Fu's position, and he treated Xun Yu with the utmost respect, treating him like an honored guest. Xun Yu's younger brother, Shen, as well as his fellow county officials Xin Ping and Guo Tu, were also favored by Yuan Shao. Xun Yu believed Yuan Shao would ultimately fail to accomplish anything significant, while Cao Cao was a valiant general stationed in Dongjun. In the second year of Chuping, Xun Yu left Yuan Shao and joined Cao Cao. Cao Cao was thrilled and remarked, "This is my Zhang Liang!" He appointed Xun Yu as his strategist at just twenty-nine.
At that time, Dong Zhuo's power was overbearing throughout the country. Cao Cao consulted Yu about countermeasures, and Yu said, "Dong Zhuo is cruel by nature and is bound to end in failure. There is no way to deal with him." Dong Zhuo sent Li Jue and others to attack the Guandong region, burning, pillaging, and slaughtering along the way, only returning after reaching Yingchuan and Chenliu. Most of the locals in Yingchuan were either killed or abducted. The following year, Cao Cao was appointed as the Governor of Yanzhou and later promoted to General of the East. Yu continued to serve as his Marshal. In the first year of Xingping, Cao Cao launched a campaign against Tao Qian, leaving Yu to guard the rear. At this time, Zhang Miao and Chen Gong rebelled in Yanzhou and secretly welcomed Lu Bu. When Lu Bu arrived, Zhang Miao sent Liu Yi to see Yu, saying, "General Lu is here to help Prime Minister Cao attack Tao Qian, so we should quickly supply his army with food." Everyone was confused. Yu knew that Zhang Miao had rebelled, so he immediately ordered the troops to prepare for battle and quickly summoned Xiahou Dun, the Prefect of Dong Commandery, to come to support. All the cities in Yanzhou had surrendered to Lu Bu. At that time, Cao Cao led all his troops to attack Tao Qian, with few troops left behind, and many senior generals were secretly colluding with Zhang Miao and Chen Gong. When Xiahou Dun arrived, he executed dozens of the rebels that night, stabilizing the situation. The Governor of Yuzhou, Guo Gong, led tens of thousands of troops to the city. Some said he was in cahoots with Lu Bu, instilling fear among the people. Guo Gong requested to see Yu, and Yu prepared to go. Xiahou Dun and others said, "You are a senior official of a province; it is very dangerous to go there, absolutely not!" Yu said, "Guo Gong and Zhang Miao have no deep hatred. He is coming aggressively, and his plans are not yet certain; persuade him before he makes up his mind. Even if persuasion fails, we can keep him neutral. If we show suspicion first, he will become angry and make a decision." Guo Gong, seeing Yu's fearlessness, believed that Juancheng would be difficult to attack, so he withdrew his troops. Yu and Cheng Yu discussed together, sending people to persuade the defenders of Fan County and Dong'a County to surrender, ultimately preserving these three cities while awaiting Cao Cao's return. Cao Cao returned from Xu Province and fought with Lu Bu at Puyang, where Lu Bu fled eastward. In the summer of the following year, Cao Cao's army was stationed in Chengshi, resulting in cannibalism among the populace.
Tao Qian has died, and Cao Cao wants to capture Xuzhou, preparing to confront Lu Bu. Guo Jia said, "In the past, Liu Bang first laid a solid foundation before aspiring to dominate the world, capable of winning in offense and maintaining strong defenses, so even in failure, they could ultimately succeed. General, you rose from Yanzhou, pacified the rebellion in Shandong, and the people have rallied behind you. Moreover, the Yellow River and Ji River basins are strategically vital regions. Although they remain relatively easy to defend, just like Liu Bang's Guanzhong and Emperor Guangwu's Henei, they must not be abandoned at all. Now that Li Feng and Xue Lan have been defeated, if you divide your troops to the east to engage Chen Gong, Chen Gong will definitely not dare to look west. We should seize this opportunity to quickly harvest the wheat, stockpile supplies, and then strike Lu Bu decisively. After defeating Lu Bu, we can forge an alliance with the south and Yangzhou to jointly confront Yuan Shu and control the Huai River and Si River basins. If we don’t deal with Lu Bu first, rushing to attack Xuzhou with too many troops will leave other regions vulnerable; with too few troops, the common people will retreat into the city, unable even to gather firewood. Lu Bu will take the opportunity to harass, leading to greater unrest among the populace. Only Juancheng, Fan County, and Wei County can be defended; other places cannot be held, and then Yanzhou will be lost. If we fail to capture Xuzhou, General, what will be our next move? Furthermore, although Tao Qian has died, Xuzhou is not so easily taken. They have learned from past mistakes and will certainly bolster their defenses and support one another. Now is the season for harvesting wheat; they will likely resort to scorched earth tactics against you. You cannot attack, cannot benefit from a surprise attack; in less than ten days, your 100,000 troops could find themselves trapped without even engaging in battle. The last time Xuzhou was attacked, deterrence and punishment had already been established; their descendants still remember the shame of their parents and siblings, and everyone feels threatened and will not easily surrender. Sometimes, you must sacrifice one thing to gain another; exchanging big for small is possible, and weighing the situation, there is no need to worry about an unstable foundation. However, none of these three scenarios are applicable at this moment, and I urge you to consider this carefully." Cao Cao listened to Guo Jia's words and stopped his plan to attack Xuzhou.
Cao Cao began a large-scale harvest of wheat, then fought again with Lu Bu, and divided his troops to pacify other counties. Lu Bu was defeated and fled, and Yanzhou was finally brought under control. In 196 AD, Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turban Army. Emperor Xian of Han returned from Hedong to Luoyang. Cao Cao planned to welcome the emperor to Xuchang, but some believed Shandong was still unstable. Han Xian and Yang Feng had just brought the emperor to Luoyang, and now they were colluding with Zhang Yang. Xun Yu advised Cao Cao, saying: "In the past, Duke Wen of Jin welcomed King Xiang of Zhou, and all the vassals came to submit to him; Liu Bang went east to conquer, wearing mourning clothes to welcome Emperor Yi, and all the hearts of the people turned towards him. Now the monarch is in exile, General, you were the first to raise the banner of righteousness. It's just that Shandong is relatively chaotic, so you can't go to Guanzhong temporarily, but you have sent many generals, risking danger to send messages and make contacts. Although you are defending against enemies outside, you have always been thinking of the imperial family. This reflects your true intention to restore order in the world! Now that the emperor has just returned, Luoyang is desolate and ruined again. Those with aspirations are thinking of restoring the old system, and the people are even more saddened by thinking of the past. Welcoming the emperor now would be a significant act that aligns with the people's wishes; if you serve the people with a fair attitude, it is a great strategy; if you attract talents by promoting justice, it is a great virtue. Even if there are some opposing voices in the world, it will definitely not become an obstacle, this is very clear. What can Han Xian and Yang Feng do? If we don't settle down quickly now, there will be dissent everywhere, and it will be too late to solve it later." Cao Cao followed Xun Yu's advice, went to Luoyang, and welcomed the emperor to Xuchang. Emperor Xian of Han appointed Cao Cao as Grand General and promoted Xun Yu to be a court official, concurrently serving as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing. Xun Yu often had a firm grasp of the overall situation at court; even while Cao Cao was away at war, all military and state matters were discussed with Xun Yu.
Cao Cao once asked Xun Yu, "Who can help me with strategy and planning in your stead?" Xun Yu recommended Xun You and Zhong Yao. Before this, Xun Yu had recommended the advisor Xi Zhi Cai. After Xi Zhi Cai passed away, he recommended Guo Jia. Cao Cao valued Xun Yu's ability to judge people, as those he recommended were all capable, except for Yan Xiang as the Governor of Yangzhou and Wei Kang as the Governor of Liangzhou, both of whom later failed.
After Cao Cao defeated Lu Bu, Yuan Shao was disgruntled. Yuan Shao occupied the area of Hebei, and everyone feared his might. Meanwhile, Cao Cao was contending with Lu Bu in the east while fending off Zhang Xiu in the south. Zhang Xiu defeated Cao Cao's army in Wancheng. Seeing Cao Cao's defeat, Yuan Shao became even more arrogant and sent a disrespectful letter to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was furious and acted out of character, and everyone thought it was because of the loss to Zhang Xiu.
Zhong Yao told Xun Yu about this, and Xun Yu said, "The Prime Minister is so intelligent; he wouldn't dwell on past failures but would surely have other plans in mind." Indeed, Cao Cao asked Xun Yu about this. Cao Cao showed Xun Yu the letter from Yuan Shao and asked, "I want to attack Yuan Shao, this unjust scoundrel, but my strength is inferior to his. What should I do?"
Xun Yu said, "In ancient times, the key to success or failure is whether there are truly capable individuals. Those with capability, even if weak, can become strong; those without capability, even if strong, are likely to become weak. The rise and fall of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu is a good example. Right now, the only one competing with you for power is Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao may seem generous, but deep down he is quite suspicious and uses people with mistrust. In contrast, you are straightforward, not bogged down by details, and genuinely value talent, which puts you ahead of him. Yuan Shao is slow to make decisions and often indecisive, missing out on opportunities; you can make decisive decisions and adapt to changes, which surpasses him in strategy. Yuan Shao's army is loose, lacking a complete system of laws and regulations; even though he has many soldiers, they are not effective. Your laws are clear, and you have distinct rewards and punishments; although your soldiers are few, they are all willing to give their all, surpassing him in military matters. Yuan Shao relies on his family background and puts on a show to seek fame, so those with poor abilities but eager to learn flock to him. You treat people with genuine sincerity and kindness, never pretending, living a simple life, but never stingy towards those who deserve it, so loyal, upright, and truly capable people are willing to serve you, surpassing him in character. You possess these four advantages, helping the emperor and fighting against injustice—who would dare to defy you? No matter how strong Yuan Shao may be, what can he really do?" Cao Cao was very pleased to hear this.
Xun Yu said, "If we don't first take down Lu Bu, it won't be easy to make plans for the north." Cao Cao replied, "Yes, what I'm worried about is that Yuan Shao will attack Guanzhong, instigate the Qiang and Hu to cause chaos, and collude with Shu Han in the south. If that happens, I'll only be able to resist five-sixths of all the forces with the territories of Yanzhou and Yuzhou. What am I supposed to do?" Xun Yu said, "There are more than ten generals in Guanzhong, and no one can command the others; only Han Sui and Ma Chao are truly formidable. When they see the east fighting, they will each occupy their own territory to protect themselves. If we can win them over with kindness, sending envoys to contact them and letting them restrain each other, although it cannot be stable for long, once you've pacified Shandong, they won't dare to act recklessly. You can send Zhong Yao to handle the western front, so you don't have to worry." It is said that within three years, Cao Cao first defeated Zhang Xiu, then defeated Lu Bu in the east, pacified Xuzhou, and then confronted Yuan Shao. Kong Rong said to Xun Yu, "Yuan Shao has a large territory and strong military force, and under his command are clever strategists such as Tian Feng and Xu You to advise him, loyal ministers like Shen Pei and Feng Ji to assist him, and Yan Liang and Wen Chou, two extremely brave generals leading the army. This battle isn't going to be easy!" Xun Yu replied, "Although Yuan Shao has many soldiers, his army is disorganized and lacks discipline. Tian Feng is too stubborn, always contradicting his superiors; Xu You is greedy and lustful, not taking care of affairs at all. Shen Pei is stubborn and opinionated, lacking strategy; although Feng Ji is decisive, he acts on his own, only thinking of himself. These two can be left to manage affairs in the rear; if Xu You breaks the law, Yuan Shao won't let him off the hook. If Xu You isn't let go, he will surely betray Yuan Shao. As for Yan Liang and Wen Chou, they're just a couple of strong fighters; we can take them down in a single fight."
Five years later, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were engaged in continuous battles. Cao Cao defended Guandu, while Yuan Shao surrounded it. With Cao Cao's army running low on supplies, he wrote to Xun Yu to discuss whether to withdraw to Xuchang to lure Yuan Shao into attacking. Xun Yu said, "Although the food supplies are low, it is not as critical as it was during the Chu-Han civil war in Xiangyang and Chenggao. At that time, neither Liu Bang nor Xiang Yu were willing to retreat first, as retreating first would indicate weakness. Although your forces are only one-tenth the size of Yuan Shao's, you have held Guandu with solid defenses, blocking Yuan Shao's crucial supply route for six months. Yuan Shao's troops are demoralized; the situation is clear, he will definitely take action. This is the perfect chance for a surprise attack; we must not miss it!" After hearing Xun Yu's words, Cao Cao decided to hold his ground at Guandu.
Therefore, Cao Cao used surprise tactics to ambush another division of Yuan Shao's army, killing their commander Chunyu Qiong and several others, forcing Yuan Shao to retreat. Later, after Xu You's family was implicated in a crime, Shen Pei arrested Xu You's family. Xu You, in anger, defected to Cao Cao; Yan Liang and Wen Chou were also killed on the battlefield; Tian Feng was executed by Yuan Shao for his counsel; all these events unfolded just as Xun Yu had predicted.
In the year 207 AD, when Cao Cao was attacking Hebei, food supplies were running low. He wanted to take advantage of Yuan Shao's defeat to target Liu Biao. Guo Jia advised him, "Now that Yuan Shao has just been defeated and his subordinates are disheartened, we should take advantage of this opportunity and swiftly eliminate him. If you abandon Yanzhou and Yuzhou now to fight in Jianghan, if Yuan Shao's remaining forces regroup and launch a surprise attack from behind, it will be troublesome." Cao Cao later returned to the Yellow River, where Yuan Shao died from illness. Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River and defeated Yuan Shao's sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. Then Gao Gan and Guo Yuan launched an attack on Hedong, which caused panic in the Guanzhong region. Zhong Yao and Ma Teng, along with their allies, defeated Gao Gan and Guo Yuan. This event is documented in "The Biography of Zhong Yao."
In the year 209 AD, Cao Cao, remembering Guo Jia's previous achievements, granted him the title of Marquis of Wansui Pavilion. In the year 210 AD, Cao Cao captured the city of Ye and became the Governor of Jizhou. Someone suggested to Cao Cao, "We should restore the ancient system of the Nine Provinces so that the jurisdiction of Jizhou will be expanded, and everyone will be on board." Cao Cao was considering this, but Guo Jia advised him, "If you do this, Jizhou will have to govern a lot of regions at once, including Hedong, Fengyi, Fufeng, Xihex, Youzhou, Bingzhou, and more. A few days ago, you defeated Yuan Shang, captured Shen Pei, and sent shockwaves throughout the country. Everyone is afraid of losing their own territory and troops; if you now assign all these areas to Jizhou, everyone will get anxious. Moreover, many say the generals in Guanzhong are planning to hunker down and defend their territory; if they hear about this, they'll definitely think they're next on the chopping block. If chaos really breaks out, even those who want to hold onto their territory will be forced to rebel. By then, Yuan Shang will escape death, Yuan Tan will have ulterior motives, and Liu Biao will firmly occupy the Jianghan region, making it even tougher to bring peace to the realm. I urge you to lead your troops to secure Hebei first, then repair Luoyang, and then move south to control Jingzhou. If they refuse to pay tribute, it’ll be clear what you’re up to, and everyone will behave. When the world is peaceful, then consider restoring the old ways. This is a good way to ensure the long-term stability of the country." Cao Cao then abandoned the plan to restore the Nine Provinces.
At that time, Xun You was a constant strategist for Cao Cao. Guo Jia's older brother, Guo Yan, was the military supervisor in Ye City, responsible for managing affairs in Hebei. When Cao Cao went to launch a surprise attack on Ye City, Gao Gan secretly sent troops to try to execute this plan. Guo Yan caught wind of this plot and killed them all. For this achievement, he was granted the title of marquis. Cao Cao married his daughter to Guo Jia's eldest son, Guo Yun, and later this princess was known as Princess Anyang. Guo Jia and Xun You were both in high-ranking positions, but they were very humble, cautious, frugal, and simple, sharing their salaries with family and friends without saving any money at home. In 214 AD, Cao Cao granted Guo Jia an additional thousand households, making a total of two thousand households.
When Cao Cao wanted to attack Liu Biao, he asked Xun Yu how to strategize the troop deployment. Xun Yu said, "Most of the country is now pacified, and the southern forces will soon be unable to withstand. We can send troops to Wancheng and Yexian first, then move swiftly and stealthily to catch them off guard." Cao Cao executed this plan. Coincidentally, Liu Biao died of illness, so Cao Cao executed Xun Yu's plan and made a direct move towards Wancheng and Yexian. Liu Biao's son, Liu Cong, surrendered along with his territories.
After a few years, Dong Zhao and others felt that Cao Cao should be promoted to Duke and given the Nine Gifts to honor his contributions. They secretly consulted Xun Yu for his opinion. Xun Yu believed that Cao Cao initially raised troops to support the court and stabilize the country; he consistently upheld loyalty and humility. A true gentleman leads by example and should not engage in superficial things. Cao Cao felt somewhat displeased by this. Just as he was about to campaign against Sun Quan, Cao Cao sent Xun Yu to Qi County to reward the troops and left him there, appointing him as the Grand Master of Writing, enabling him to engage in military matters under the Prime Minister. When Cao Cao's army arrived at Ruxukou, Xun Yu fell ill in Shou Chun and died from illness related to his melancholic state at the age of fifty. He was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Jing. The following year, Cao Cao was promoted to Duke of Wei.
Xun Yu's son Xun Yun inherited the title and became a General of the Tiger Elite. Initially, both Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were promoted by Xun Yu, and Cao Pi was very respectful towards him. After Xun Yu's death, Xun Yun maintained a good relationship with Cao Zhi but a strained one with Xiahou Shang, which led to Cao Pi's dislike of Xun Yun. Xun Yun passed away at a young age, and his sons Xun Shen and Xun Yi received some preferential treatment due to being Cao Pi's nephews. Xun Yu's younger brother Xun Miao served as the Minister of Justice, while another brother, Xun Shen, served as the Grand General's Aide. Both brothers gained fame but passed away young. Xun Shen's younger brother Xun Yi became the Minister of Works during the Xianxi period. Xun Yun's son Xun Shen inherited the title and served as a Cavalry Attendant and was granted the title of Marquis of Guangyang. He died at the age of thirty, and his son Xun Yun subsequently inherited the title. Xun Yi reached the position of Chief General, was posthumously honored with the title Loyal Marquis, and was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. His son Xun Kai inherited the title. Xun Yi's wife was the sister of Sima Jing Wang and Sima Wen Wang, and he maintained good relations with both Sima princes. During the Xianxi period, Cao Wei established a five-rank system, which resulted in Xun Kai's title being changed to Nandunzi in recognition of Xun Yi's past achievements in the court.
Xun You, courtesy name Gongda, was the cousin of Xun Yu. His grandfather Xun Tan had served as the Administrator of Guangling. Xun You lost both his parents when he was young. After his grandfather passed away, a former subordinate named Zhang Quan claimed he would guard Xun Tan's tomb. At the age of thirteen, Xun You felt something was off about him and told his uncle Xun Qu: "This guy's expression seems off, like he's done something bad and wants to run away!" Xun Qu immediately investigated and found out that Zhang Quan was indeed a murderer who had escaped. This incident earned Xun You a lot of respect. Later, when He Jin was in power, he recruited Xun You and more than twenty other renowned talents from across the country. Xun You was appointed as a Yellow Gate Gentleman. When Dong Zhuo rebelled and various lords in the east mobilized their forces, Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an. Xun You, along with Zheng Tai, He Yong, Zhong Ji, Wu Qiong, and others, discussed: "Dong Zhuo is too cruel, even more ruthless than Xia Jie and Shang Zhou. Everyone hates him; although he has a strong army, he is just an empty commander. Let's assassinate him directly now, provide an explanation to the people, then occupy Hangu Pass, assist the Emperor, and command the world. This would be a great achievement, comparable to that of Emperor Huan of Han!" Unfortunately, the plan was discovered, and He Yong and Xun You were both arrested. He Yong took his own life in despair, but Xun You remained composed, continuing to eat and drink as usual. He was released only after Dong Zhuo was killed.
He resigned and went back home, but was later reappointed by the court, recommended for a high-ranking position, and appointed as the Prefect of Rencheng, but he did not take up the position. Xun You believed that the Shu Han region was strategically important and prosperous, so he requested to be the Governor of Shu Commandery, but he was unable to make the journey, so he stayed in Jingzhou first. Cao Cao welcomed the emperor's move of the capital to Xuchang and wrote to him, saying, "The world is in chaos now, it’s a time when clever people are needed, but you’ve been sitting back in Shu Han for too long." So, Cao Cao summoned Xun You to be the Governor of Runan and later appointed him as a Minister. Cao Cao had long heard of Xun You's reputation and was very pleased when he spoke with him. He said to Xun Yu and Zhong Yao, "Gongda is no ordinary person. I can discuss things with him. What’s there to worry about?" So, he let Xun You be his military advisor. In the third year of Jian'an, Cao Cao went to conquer Zhang Xiu. Xun You said to Cao Cao, "Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao rely on each other and think they are very powerful, but Zhang Xiu's troops are scattered and rely on Liu Biao for supplies. If Liu Biao cannot provide, they will eventually split. We might as well slow down the advance of the army, wait for them to turn against each other, and then strike, so we can defeat them separately; if we push too hard, they will definitely come to each other's aid." Cao Cao did not listen to him and ended up fighting Zhang Xiu in Rang County. Zhang Xiu panicked, and Liu Biao did indeed come to his aid. As a result, Cao Cao lost the battle. Cao Cao told Xun You, "I didn’t listen to you, and look where that got me." Later, Cao Cao launched a surprise attack and scored a huge victory.
That year, Cao Cao marched from Wancheng to Xiapi to confront Lu Bu, but Lu Bu, having been defeated, held out stubbornly. After many battles, the soldiers were exhausted, and Cao Cao considered withdrawing his troops. Guo Jia and Xun You counseled Cao Cao, "While Lu Bu is indeed brave, he lacks strategic insight. He has suffered three consecutive defeats, and his morale has plummeted. An army's strength lies in its generals; if they falter, the soldiers will inevitably lose their will to fight. Chen Gong, though clever, is often too slow to act. Now is the perfect moment to strike while Lu Bu's morale is low and before Chen Gong has a chance to devise a strategy; we can quickly take down Lu Bu!" So Cao Cao directed the flooding of the city with water from the Yi River and the Si River, leading to the collapse of the city walls and capturing Lu Bu alive.
Later, Cao Cao headed to Bai Ma to rescue Liu Yan, and Xun You proposed a brilliant strategy that led to the defeat of Yan Liang. This event is documented in the "Wuji." After securing Bai Ma City, Cao Cao withdrew his forces and transported the supplies westward along the river. Yuan Shao crossed the river only to encounter Cao Cao. Everyone panicked and urged Cao Cao to retreat to the camp for defense, but Xun You countered, "This is a prime opportunity to seize the enemy; why flee?" Cao Cao smiled in appreciation at Xun You. So Cao Cao cleverly used the supplies as bait, and Yuan Shao's army rushed to seize them, throwing their formation into chaos. Cao Cao then ordered the infantry and cavalry to charge, decimating Yuan Shao's forces and slaying his cavalry general, Wen Chou. Subsequently, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao confronted each other at Guandu.
At this time, Cao Cao's army was running out of food. Xun You said to Cao Cao, "Yuan Shao's supply convoy is on its way. His general's name is an error in the original text, but he is arrogant and looks down on the enemy. We can catch them off guard." Cao Cao asked, "Who will go?" Xun You said, "Xu Huang can go." So Cao Cao sent Xu Huang and Shi Huan to ambush and defeat Yuan Shao's supply convoy, burning their provisions. Coincidentally, Xu You surrendered to Cao Cao and informed him that Yuan Shao sent Chunyu Qiong with over ten thousand troops to meet the supply convoy, whose soldiers were arrogant and lazy, making them vulnerable to a surprise attack. Most people thought it was a long shot, except for Xun You and Jia Xu who persuaded Cao Cao. Cao Cao left Xun You and Cao Hong to guard the camp, and he led his troops to victory, completely annihilating Chunyu Qiong and his men. Yuan Shao's generals Zhang He and Gao Lan, seeing the situation was hopeless, burned their siege weapons and surrendered. Yuan Shao had no option but to ditch his army and run. When Zhang He surrendered, Cao Hong hesitated to take him in. Xun You said to Cao Hong, "Zhang He's strategy was not used; he is just angry, that's why he surrendered. What are you hesitating about?" So Cao Hong accepted Zhang He's surrender.
It was seven years ago when Cao Cao campaigned against Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. The following year, while Cao Cao was busy fighting Liu Biao, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang started fighting each other in Ji Province. Yuan Tan sent Xin Pi to surrender and ask for help. Cao Cao was considering agreeing and asked his subordinates for their opinions. Most thought Liu Biao was a bigger threat and that they should deal with him first, while Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were not a concern.
Xun You, however, said: "The world is in chaos right now, but Liu Biao is staying quietly in the Jianghan region, indicating he has no grand ambitions. The Yuan family occupies four provinces and commands a hundred thousand troops. Yuan Shao is generous and well-liked. If the two brothers can coexist peacefully and preserve their family legacy, who knows how long the chaos will continue! Now that the brothers are at odds, this situation won't hold for long. If one of them absorbs the other, their power will grow even stronger, and it will be even harder to deal with. Since they’re in turmoil now, we should act quickly to restore stability. We cannot miss this opportunity!" Cao Cao responded, "Brilliant!" So he agreed to Yuan Tan's request for peace, and then turned around and defeated Yuan Shang. Later, when Yuan Tan rebelled again, Cao Cao executed him. After pacifying Ji Province, Cao Cao appointed Xun You as the Marquis of Lingshuting in his memorial, stating: "Military Advisor Xun You has fought alongside me, always following orders. Every victory we've won is due to Xun You's strategies."
Twelve years later, Cao Cao ordered a large-scale merit-based rewards and promotions, granting titles and ranks to officials based on their merits. Cao Cao said, "Xun You, who is loyal, upright, and full of wisdom and resourcefulness, even Xun Yu cannot compare to him, with Guan Da (Xun You) being second." Therefore, Xun You was given four hundred households, in addition to the previous seven hundred, totaling one thousand and one hundred households, and he was also promoted to be the Chief Military Advisor. When the Wei Kingdom was newly established, Xun You also became the Minister of the Interior. Xun You was known for his depth and wisdom. Since following Cao Cao into battle, he had always been devising strategies. Even Cao Cao's close associates and his descendants did not know specifically what he had said. Cao Cao often lauded him, "Guan Da, on the surface, looks foolish, but is actually astute; may seem timid, but is actually quite brave; seems weak, but is actually strong inside; he never actively seeks recognition, nor does he seek comfort; his intelligence and talent can be learned by others, but his foolishness cannot be imitated, not even Yan Hui or Ning Wuzi can hold a candle to him!" When Cao Pi became the Crown Prince, Cao Cao said to him, "Xun Guan Da is the role model we should learn from, you must show him great respect." Once when Xun You fell ill, Cao Pi personally went to visit him, and even knelt by his bedside to pay his respects, demonstrating the high regard in which Xun You was held. Xun You shared a close relationship with Zhong Yao. Zhong Yao once said, "Every time I do something, I think it through repeatedly, thinking I have done my best, but when I discuss it with Xun You, he always comes up with better ideas." Xun You contributed a total of twelve brilliant strategies in his lifetime, known only to Zhong Yao. Zhong Yao wanted to compile these strategies, but unfortunately, before he could finish, Xun You passed away, leaving future generations unable to fully grasp them. Later, Xun You followed Cao Cao to campaign against Sun Quan and died on the way. Upon hearing the news, Cao Cao wept for a long time.
The eldest brother was called Ji, but unfortunately, he died young. The second brother inherited the family estate, but he also had no sons, so the family line came to an end. During the Huangchu era, the emperor posthumously conferred the title of Marquis on Ji's grandson Biao, granting him a fief of three hundred households, which was later changed to Qiuyangting Marquis. During the Zhengshi era, Ji was posthumously honored as the Jing Marquis.
Jia Xu, whose courtesy name was Wenhe, hailed from Guzang in Wuwei. He was not well-known when he was young, except for Yan Zhong from Hanyang, who recognized his exceptional talents and predicted that he would become a strategist like Zhang Liang and Chen Ping in the future. Later, Jia Xu passed the imperial examination, became an official, but later resigned due to illness. On his way home, he ran into a rebellion by the Di people in Qian County, and dozens of his companions were captured. In that moment, Jia Xu cleverly claimed, "I am the grandson of General Duan Feng; you should not kill me; my family will surely pay a hefty ransom for my release!" At that time, General Duan Feng had long served as a general on the border, and his reputation spread far and wide across the Western Regions, so Jia Xu pretended to be his grandson to intimidate the Di people.
The Di people, indeed, did not dare to harm him; they formed an alliance and let him go, while the others were all killed. In fact, Jia Xu was not related to Duan Feng at all; he did this merely as a temporary tactic to save his own life. Throughout his life, he faced many similar situations!
When Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, Jia Xu was appointed as Commandant of Pingjin and later promoted to Taolu Colonel. Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, Niu Fu, was stationed in Shaanxi, and Jia Xu worked under Niu Fu. After Dong Zhuo and Niu Fu died, everyone was filled with fear. Colonels Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji wanted to disband and sneak back home. Jia Xu said, "I heard that they are planning to kill all the people from Liangzhou in Chang'an. If you abandon the troops and run alone now, any village chief could easily catch you. It's better for us to go west together, gather troops along the way, attack Chang'an, and avenge Dong Zhuo! Even if we succeed, we can assist the court in pacifying the world; even if we fail, we can still escape in time!" Everyone thought Jia Xu made sense. So Li Jue led the troops to attack Chang'an. This is documented in "The Biography of Dong Zhuo."
Later, Jia Xu was appointed as Left Fengyi. Li Jue and others wanted to bestow a marquis title on him for his achievements, but Jia Xu said, "This is just a way to save my life. I have done nothing worthy of merit!" He firmly declined the reward. Others wanted him to be the Minister of Rites, but Jia Xu said, "The Minister of Rites is a high-ranking official in the court, everyone is watching. I am not well-known enough to handle this position, nor can I control the situation. Even if I personally don't care about wealth and glory, what will happen to the court's reputation?" So he was appointed as a Master of Writing, tasked with selecting officials. He did many beneficial things for the country, and Li Jue and his followers both respected and feared him. After his mother passed away, Jia Xu resigned from his position and returned home to mourn, later being appointed as a Household Counsellor.
Li Jue and Guo Si fought in Chang'an City, and Li Jue invited Jia Xu to serve as the General of Proclamation. They called a truce, brought forward the emperor, protected the ministers, and Jia Xu played a major role in this matter. After the emperor was brought forward, Jia Xu surrendered his seal and insignia and resigned from his position. General Duan Wei was stationed in Huayin, and he was from the same hometown as Jia Xu, so Jia Xu left Li Jue and went to join Duan Wei. Jia Xu, who already had a good reputation, was highly respected by Duan Wei's army. Duan Wei was afraid that Jia Xu would take his power, but he showed great respect to Jia Xu on the surface, which made Jia Xu even more anxious.
Zhang Xiu was in Nanyang, and Jia Xu reached out to him secretly, so Zhang Xiu sent someone to welcome Jia Xu. Just as Jia Xu was about to set off, someone advised him, "Zhang Xiu treats you well; why would you want to leave?" Jia Xu said, "Zhang Xiu is naturally suspicious and wary of me. Although he treats me well, I cannot rely on him. Eventually, he will turn against me. If I go, he will definitely be happy, and he hopes I will bring him reinforcements. He will treat me and my family well. Zhang Xiu lacks a clear strategy and hopes to gain my support, ensuring safety for my family and me."
Therefore, Jia Xu went, and Zhang Xiu respected him greatly and took good care of his family. Jia Xu advised Zhang Xiu to unite with Liu Biao. At that time, Cao Cao was attacking Zhang Xiu but withdrew his troops within a day. Zhang Xiu pursued him on his own. Jia Xu told Zhang Xiu, "You can't pursue him. If you do, you will definitely lose." Zhang Xiu didn't listen and led his troops into battle, which led to a significant defeat. Jia Xu told Zhang Xiu, "Hurry and pursue again; you'll come out on top this time." Zhang Xiu said, "I didn't listen to you and ended up in this situation. We've already lost; how can we pursue?" Jia Xu said, "The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly. Hurry and pursue; you'll come out on top." Zhang Xiu believed him, so he regrouped his scattered soldiers and launched another attack, achieving a complete victory. Zhang Xiu asked Jia Xu, "I pursued the retreating army with elite troops as you said I would lose; I used defeated soldiers to fight victorious soldiers as you said I would win. It all played out just as you said it would; how did that happen?"
Jia Xu said, "This is easily explained. General, although you are skilled in warfare, you are not a match for Cao Cao. Even though the army has just retreated, Cao Cao will definitely provide cover. Although the pursuers are elite, their generals are not as good as Cao Cao, and the soldiers' morale is high, so I’m certain we’ll lose. Cao Cao's assault on you wasn't a mistake. He withdrew without using all his strength, so there must be something going on back home; he has already defeated you and will definitely advance quickly, even if he leaves his generals behind. Although those generals are brave, they are not a match for you, so even if they fight against fleeing soldiers, they can still win." Zhang Xiu nodded, now convinced.
Later, Cao Cao resisted Yuan Shao at Guandu, and Yuan Shao sent someone to recruit Zhang Xiu and even wrote a letter to Jia Xu to form an alliance. Zhang Xiu was inclined to agree, but Jia Xu openly said to Yuan Shao's envoy in front of Zhang Xiu, "Go back and tell Yuan Benchu, if brothers can’t stand each other, how can they tolerate all the talented people out there?" Zhang Xiu was shocked and afraid, saying, "How could this be!" He asked Jia Xu privately, "What should we do?" Jia Xu said, "We might as well surrender to Cao Cao." Zhang Xiu said, "Yuan Shao is powerful and Cao Cao is weak, and they have a feud. Can we join him?" Jia Xu said, "That is exactly why we should join him. Cao Cao is backed by the emperor and controls the land; that’s the first reason we should side with him. Yuan Shao is powerful, and if we, a small force, join him, he will not value us. Cao Cao is currently weaker, and he will be pleased to have us; this is the second reason we should join him. Those who want to rule the world will put aside personal grudges and show their virtues to the world; this is the third reason we should join him. So, General, don’t hesitate!"
Zhang Xiu followed his advice and led his army to surrender to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was very happy to see their surrender and, as he shook Jia Xu's hand, said, "It is you who have helped me gain renown and respect across the realm." Cao Cao appointed Jia Xu as the Commandant of the Capital Guards, granted him the title of Marquis of Duting, and promoted him to Governor of Jizhou. Before Jizhou was completely pacified, he was already involved in military affairs as the Minister of War. Yuan Shao besieged Cao Cao at Guandu, and Cao Cao's food supplies were running out. When he asked Jia Xu for a strategy, Jia Xu said, "You surpass Yuan Shao in intelligence, courage, talent selection, and decisiveness. Despite having these four advantages, the stalemate for half a year has resulted from excessive caution. You must engage in battle decisively, and victory or defeat can be determined in an instant." Cao Cao said, "Alright." He then concentrated his forces to attack and surround Yuan Shao's camp, over thirty miles long, and defeated him. Yuan Shao's army suffered a major defeat, and Hebei was pacified. Cao Cao was appointed Governor of Jizhou, and Jia Xu was transferred to the position of Grand Master of Palace Attendants.
In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao captured Jingzhou and planned to head down to the east of the Yangtze River. Jia Xu advised, "Your Excellency, you have previously defeated the Yuan clan, now have regained the south of the Han, and your reputation is widespread, backed by a powerful army. If you leverage the wealth of the former Chu, reward the soldiers, comfort the people, and enable them to live and work in peace, then you can easily make Jiangdong submit without much effort." Cao Cao did not listen, and his army ultimately achieved little success. Later, Cao Cao fought against Han Sui and Ma Chao in Weinan, and Ma Chao and others requested a peace settlement and asked that their children be appointed as officials. Jia Xu suggested they could feign agreement to their demands. When asked for a strategy, Jia Xu said, "Simply sow discord among them." Cao Cao said, "Understood." He fully embraced Jia Xu's strategy. This incident is documented in the "Records of Wu." In the end, they defeated Han Sui and Ma Chao, thanks to Jia Xu's strategies.
At that time, Wen Emperor was still a general, while Cao Zhi, the Marquis of Linzi, was enjoying great fame. Both of them had their own supporters, and there were even rumors of power grabs. Wen Emperor sent someone to inquire with Jia Xu about how to strengthen his position. Jia Xu said, "General, you should focus on cultivating your moral character, work hard personally, be a humble gentleman, and adhere to the principles of being a good person every day; that will be enough." Wen Emperor listened to his words, seriously reflected on himself, and worked hard to improve his own cultivation.
Later, Cao Cao privately asked Jia Xu some questions, but Jia Xu did not say a word. Cao Cao asked him, "I'm talking to you—why aren't you responding?" Jia Xu said, "I was thinking about something at the time, so I didn't get a chance to respond." Cao Cao asked, "What were you thinking about?" Jia Xu said, "I was thinking about the father and son duo of Liu Biao." Cao Cao laughed heartily, and this secured the crown prince's position. Jia Xu felt that he was not one of Cao Cao's old subordinates, but he had a far-reaching strategy. Fearing that Cao Cao might suspect him, he kept to himself, did not socialize with others, and did not seek to be close to the powerful. People everywhere considered him resourceful and wise.
After Emperor Wen became the emperor, he appointed Jia Xu as Grand Commandant, granted him the title of Marquis of Weishouxian County, and increased his fief by three hundred households, bringing the total to eight hundred households. He also granted two hundred households to Jia Xu's son, Jia Fang, as a marquis, and appointed his eldest son, Jia Mu, as the Commander of the Cavalry. The emperor asked Jia Xu, "I want to go to war and unify the country; should I first attack the state of Wu or Shu?" Jia Xu replied, "To go to war, one must first consider military strength; to govern the country, one must first consider virtue. Your Majesty has rightfully become the emperor and is governing the land. If you can use benevolent governance to win over the people and wait for the right moment, pacifying the realm won't be difficult. Although the states of Wu and Shu are small, they are well-positioned geographically. Liu Bei is talented, Zhuge Liang is good at governing, Sun Quan is good at assessing situations, and Lu Xun is knowledgeable in military strategy. They occupy strategic locations and can fight on rivers and lakes with ships; defeating them in one decisive battle would be quite challenging. In military strategy, securing victory before engaging in battle is crucial, and strategies must be based on the enemy's situation and the capabilities of the generals; only then can one achieve victory in every battle. I have observed the ministers in the court; they lack strategies, and even using the emperor's authority to pressure them may not guarantee success. In the past, Emperor Shun danced and made the Miao tribes submit; I believe we should prioritize civil governance before resorting to military force." Emperor Wen did not listen to him. Later, in the Battle of Jiangling, many soldiers died. Jia Xu died at the age of seventy-seven and was posthumously honored with the title Marquis Su. His son, Jia Mu, inherited his title and later became a county magistrate. After Jia Mu's death, his son, Jia Mo, inherited the title. It is said that Xun Yu was both handsome and elegant, with the talent to assist emperors, but unfortunately, despite his foresight, he was unable to fully achieve his ambitions. It has been noted that Xun Yu was clear and elegant, possessing the demeanor of a royal advisor, but his foresight was not enough to fulfill his aspirations.
Xun You and Jia Xu are in a league of their own; they are both master strategists, able to navigate any situation with ease, and they can be compared to Zhang Liang and Chen Ping. "Xun You, Jia Xu, nearly infallible in strategy, skilled in adapting to shifting circumstances, they are truly second only to Zhang and Chen." These two, one is calm and seasoned, while the other is far-sighted, aided Cao Cao in establishing his dominance during chaotic times; their contributions are truly indispensable.
