Xun Xu

Historical Record

(No biographical material in the histories)

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xun Xu is a figure with little screen time but whose words are pivotal, appearing chiefly in the late period of Wei during Sima Zhao's administration. He appears in the office of Attendant Officer (congshi zhonglang) and plays an important advisory role in Sima Zhao's planning of the major military operation to conquer Shu ^c:3063.

In Chapter 115 of the novel, when Deng Ai reported to Sima Zhao that Jiang Wei was practicing military agricultural colonies at Dazhong and presented in detail a map of his deployment—more than forty camps arrayed like a long snake—Sima Zhao was deeply troubled, regarding Jiang Wei as a "deadly menace." At this point, Jia Chong proposed a strategy of assassinating Jiang Wei in order to avoid the toil of mobilizing a large army ^c:3063. Xun Xu, however, offered a different view. He held that the Shu Han second sovereign Liu Shan was indulging in wine and women and favored the eunuch Huang Hao, causing the great ministers of the court each to feel imperiled. Jiang Wei's colonizing at Dazhong was precisely a scheme to avoid disaster. Therefore, Xun Xu judged that if a great general were sent to attack him, victory would certainly be won, with no need at all to employ an assassin ^c:3063.

Xun Xu's remarks not only refuted Jia Chong's proposal of assassination; more importantly, he accurately discerned the political corruption within Shu Han and Jiang Wei's situation, thereby providing strong theoretical support for Sima Zhao's resolve to conquer Shu. After hearing him, Sima Zhao "laughed heartily and said: 'These words are most excellent. I wish to conquer Shu—who can serve as general?'" ^c:3063. Xun Xu then went a step further and recommended Deng Ai as the chief general for the conquest of Shu, suggesting Zhong Hui as his deputy, holding that "Deng Ai is a fine talent of the age; with Zhong Hui as his deputy as well, the great undertaking will succeed" ^c:3063. Sima Zhao was greatly pleased at this, considering that "these words precisely accord with my intent," and at once summoned Zhong Hui, ultimately settling the strategic plan for conquering Shu. These two lines of dialogue from Xun Xu directly brought about Sima Zhao's decision to conquer Shu and recommended the core generals, displaying his foresight as a strategist and his precise judgment of the situation.

In Chapter 120, Xun Xu appears again, but with only two lines of dialogue and no specific content given, hinting that he continued to play an advisory role within Sima Zhao's faction ^c:3063.

Key Relationships

* Sima Zhao (advises_in): Xun Xu was an important strategist for Sima Zhao; in the key decision to conquer Shu, he offered Sima Zhao strategic advice and recommended core generals, deeply trusted and heeded by Sima Zhao ^c:3063 (novel only).
* Jiang Wei (opponent_of_strategy): Xun Xu's advice was directly aimed at Jiang Wei's colonizing activity at Dazhong; he analyzed the true intent behind this move and on that basis brought about Sima Zhao's decision to conquer Shu ^c:3063 (novel only).
* Deng Ai (recommended_by): Xun Xu recommended Deng Ai to Sima Zhao as the chief general for the conquest of Shu, regarding him as "a fine talent of the age" ^c:3063 (novel only).
* Zhong Hui (recommended_as_deputy): Xun Xu likewise recommended Zhong Hui as Deng Ai's deputy, to accomplish together the great undertaking of conquering Shu ^c:3063 (novel only).
* Jia Chong (debates_with): On the strategy for conquering Shu, Xun Xu's view differed from Jia Chong's; he successfully refuted Jia Chong's proposal of assassination and put forward a more comprehensive plan for the conquest ^c:3063 (novel only).

Signature Scene

Xun Xu's signature scene is concentrated in Chapter 115 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the passage in which he offers Sima Zhao the strategy for conquering Shu ^c:3063. At the time, Sima Zhao was troubled by the threat of Jiang Wei, and Jia Chong proposed resorting to assassination. Xun Xu, however, stepped forward and put forth a wholly different view. He first gave an in-depth analysis of the political situation within Shu Han, pointing out that the foolishness of Liu Shan and the monopoly on power by Huang Hao had made Jiang Wei's colonizing at Dazhong in fact a measure to avoid disaster, rather than a genuine intent to invade the Central Plains ^c:3063. This insight displayed Xun Xu's precise grasp of the enemy's internal situation.

He then clearly pointed out that, since Jiang Wei's colonizing was meant to avoid disaster, sending a great army to attack directly would surely win, with no need to use an assassin. This judgment not only refuted Jia Chong's view but, more importantly, provided Sima Zhao with a more legitimate and feasible plan of military action ^c:3063.

Subsequently, Xun Xu went on to recommend the two key generals Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, laying a foundation of talent for Sima Zhao's grand design to conquer Shu. After hearing him, Sima Zhao "was greatly pleased and said: 'These words precisely accord with my intent.'" ^c:3063 This scene fully displays Xun Xu's wisdom and influence as a strategist; his two lines of dialogue directly propelled the course of the major historical event in Romance of the Three Kingdoms in which Wei destroyed Shu Han, and it is his most representative moment in the novel.