Xun You

Historical Record

Xun You, styled Gongda, was a native of Yingyin in Yingchuan. When He Jin held power at the end of the Han, Xun You was summoned to be a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate ^c:6124. When Dong Zhuo seized power and moved the capital to Chang'an, Xun You, together with the Court Counselor Zheng Tai, He Yong, the Palace Attendant Zhong Ji, the Colonel of Elite Cavalry Wu Qiong, and others, secretly plotted to assassinate Dong Zhuo, holding that Dong Zhuo was without principle and resented by all under heaven, and that although he commanded strong forces, he was in truth a mere commoner; to assassinate him would atone to the people, and by holding the Yao and Han passes to support the royal command and issue orders to all under heaven would be the deed of a Duke Huan or Duke Wen. However, the plot leaked, and He Yong and Xun You were arrested and imprisoned; He Yong, gripped by fear, killed himself, but Xun You behaved as usual in speech and in eating, and in the end was spared because Dong Zhuo was killed ^c:6124.

Afterward, Xun You resigned his post and returned home, then was again recruited as a subordinate of a ducal office, was ranked among the high candidates, and promoted to Chancellor of Rencheng, though he did not take up the post. He considered that Shu Han was rugged and secure, with a populous and prosperous people, and so requested to serve as Administrator of Shu Commandery; but because the roads were blocked he could not reach it, and was stranded in Jing Province ^c:6124. In the first year of Jian'an, when Cao Cao received Emperor Xian of Han and established the capital at Xu, he sent a letter specially to Xun You, saying that with all under heaven in great chaos, this was precisely the time for men of wisdom to exert their minds, and that he should not long sit watching Shu Han; he thereupon summoned him as Administrator of Runan and to enter the court as a Master of Writing. Cao Cao had long heard his name, and after conversing with him was greatly pleased, praising him to Xun Yu and Zhong Yao: "Gongda is no ordinary man; with him to plan affairs, what need have I to worry about all under heaven!" He thereupon made Xun You his Army Adviser ^c:3101.

In the third year of Jian'an, Xun You accompanied Cao Cao on the campaign against Zhang Xiu. He advised Cao Cao to slow his army and wait, holding that although Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao relied on each other for strength, Zhang Xiu, as a roving force, depended on Liu Biao for supplies, and Liu Biao could not supply him for long, so they were bound to break apart and could be lured in; if attacked in haste, the two would surely rescue each other. Cao Cao did not heed his words and advanced to Rang, where the fighting went poorly. Afterward Cao Cao said to Xun You, "It is from not using your words that things came to this." He later adopted Xun You's plan of a surprise force and routed Zhang Xiu ^c:3101.

In the seventh year of Jian'an, Xun You accompanied Cao Cao on the campaign against Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang at Liyang. The following year, Cao Cao wished to campaign against Liu Biao, while Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang fought over Jizhou; Yuan Tan sent Xin Pi to beg surrender and seek rescue. Most of the ministers held that Liu Biao was strong and should be subdued first, and that Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were not worth worrying about. Xun You overruled the objections, pointing out that Liu Biao sat protecting the Yangtze and the Han, from which one could see he had no ambitions for the four quarters; the Yuan clan held the lands of four provinces, with a hundred thousand armored troops, and if the two sons were in concord, then all under heaven would not be settled. Now that the brothers were at enmity, their forces could not both survive, and one should take advantage of their disorder to seize them, and all under heaven could be pacified. Cao Cao adopted his plan, granted Yuan Tan a marriage alliance, and turned to crush Yuan Shang. When Yuan Tan later rebelled, Xun You accompanied the army and Yuan Tan was beheaded at Nanpi, and Jizhou was thereupon pacified. Cao Cao commended Xun You: "The Army Adviser Xun You, since he first assisted me, has followed on every campaign, and in defeating the enemy time and again, the plans were all Xun You's." He enfeoffed him as Marquis of Lingshu Precinct. In the twelfth year of Jian'an, when Cao Cao assessed merits and granted fiefs, he called Xun You "loyal and upright in secret counsel, soothing and settling within and without," ranking him after Xun Yu, increasing his fief by four hundred households for a total of seven hundred, and transferring him to Central Army Adviser. When the state of Wei was first established, Xun You was appointed Prefect of the Masters of Writing ^c:6127.

Xun You was profound and circumspect, with wisdom and discretion. Following Cao Cao on campaign, he often devised strategy within the tent, yet his contemporaries and his own kin never knew what he had said. Cao Cao often praised him: "Outwardly foolish but inwardly wise, outwardly timid but inwardly brave, outwardly weak but inwardly strong; he does not vaunt his good deeds and makes no display of his labors; his wisdom can be matched, but his foolishness cannot—even Yan Hui and Ning Wu could not surpass him" ^c:3102. When Emperor Wen (Cao Pi) was in the Eastern Palace, Cao Cao once told him, "Xun Gongda is a model for men; you should treat him with the utmost courtesy and respect." When Xun You once fell ill and the Heir Apparent Cao Pi went to visit him, he alone bowed in attendance below the bed, which shows the exceptional reverence in which Xun You was held. Xun You was on good terms with Zhong Yao, who once said, "Whenever I am about to take some action, I turn it over and over in my mind, thinking I have nothing to improve upon it; yet when I consult Gongda, his thought always surpasses other men's." Xun You presented in all twelve marvelous stratagems, of which only Zhong Yao knew. Before Zhong Yao had finished compiling and collecting them, Xun You died, and so his stratagems were never fully transmitted to the world ^c:3102. In the nineteenth year of Jian'an, Xun You accompanied Cao Cao on the campaign against Sun Quan and died of illness on the way, at the age of fifty-eight. On hearing of it, Cao Cao wept ^c:3102.

In the Novel

The Xun You of Romance of the Three Kingdoms is basically consistent with the historical figure, but with additions or adjustments to his participation in certain events and to the details, in order to strengthen his image as a strategist and the appeal of the story.

Xun You first appears in the Romance in the sixth year of Zhongping, when He Jin wished to execute the eunuchs, entering the palace together with He Yong, Zheng Tai, and other ministers to install the Crown Prince Bian as emperor ^c:3105. This differs from the historical background in which he was summoned by He Jin and later plotted to assassinate Dong Zhuo because of Dong Zhuo's Coup; the Romance places him at the center of the political stage at an earlier point.

When Cao Cao was recruiting worthy men, Xun You joined Cao Cao together with his uncle Xun Yu, and Cao Cao appointed him Instructor of the Marching Army ^c:3106. Later, when Cao Cao held the Son of Heaven to command the lords and styled himself Grand General and Marquis of Wuping, Xun You was appointed Army Adviser ^c:6130; this differs slightly in sequence from the historical account in which he was summoned by Cao Cao as Administrator of Runan, entered the court as a Master of Writing, and was later appointed Army Adviser, but the final post is consistent.

The Romance places emphasis on Xun You's ingenuity in Cao Cao's military operations. For example, when Cao Cao attacked Lü Bu, Xun You and Guo Jia jointly offered plans. When Cao Cao, having besieged in vain for a long time, wished to withdraw, Xun You strongly urged against it, pointing out that Lü Bu's spirit had already collapsed and that he should be attacked quickly ^c:3108. During the Battle of Guandu, Xun You offered plans several times, such as advising Cao Cao to do battle with Yuan Shao quickly lest provisions run short ^c:6132. After the raid on the grain at Wuchao, he advised Cao Cao to spread word of moving troops to attack Suanzao, Ye Commandery, and Liyang, in order to lure Yuan Shao into dividing his forces, then to strike at the opportunity, finally routing Yuan Shao ^c:13219. These episodes all highlight Xun You's position as an important strategist of Cao Cao.

In the campaign against Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, Xun You's advice is highly consistent with the historical account; he analyzed the situation of Liu Biao and the Yuan brothers, strongly advocating taking advantage of the Yuan clan's internal disorder to seize them ^c:3110. In attacking Huguan Pass, which was guarded by Gao Gan, Xun You offered a false-surrender stratagem to help Cao Cao defeat the enemy ^c:3111.

The Romance also adds some legendary details, such as when Cao Cao gazed up at the heavens from the corner tower on the eastern wall of Jizhou and saw flourishing vapors in the south, with Xun You at his side; Cao Cao sighed that the south could not yet be planned against, and Xun You responded that "with the Chancellor's heavenly might, what could not be subdued?" ^c:3112. Then the two discovered a golden light rising from the ground and dug up a bronze sparrow, which Xun You explained as an auspicious omen, prompting the building of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace ^c:6133. These episodes have no record in the histories and are creations of the Romance to shape the character and add interest to the story.

On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Xun You once advised Cao Cao to use Cai Zhong and Cai He, younger cousins of Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, to feign surrender to Eastern Wu and serve as spies ^c:6135, but this plan ultimately failed. When Cao Cao, flushed with wine and high spirits, wished to take the two Qiao women to enjoy his later years, Xun You reminded Cao Cao, "Let the Chancellor say no more, lest there be a leak" ^c:3115, showing his cautious character. When Cao Cao chained his warships together with iron, and Cheng Yu raised the risk of a fire attack, Cao Cao laughed heartily, while Xun You held that Cheng Yu's words were quite right ^c:13231, consistent with the historical Xun You's profound and circumspect character.

Xun You's end in the Romance also differs from history. The histories record that Xun You died of illness on the way while accompanying Cao Cao's campaign against Sun Quan ^c:3102, whereas the Romance attributes his death to his opposition to Cao Cao's advancement to the rank of King of Wei: after Cao Cao angrily rebuked him, he fell ill from grief and indignation and died, at the age of fifty-eight ^c:3117. This alteration makes Xun You's death more tragic and further highlights his image as one loyal to the House of Han (though in history he showed no clear loyalist inclination toward Han).

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Xun You was an important strategist in Cao Cao's camp, rendering great service to the establishment and consolidation of the Cao Wei regime. From the time Cao Cao received the Son of Heaven and established the capital at Xu, he continually devised strategy for him and was deeply trusted and valued by Cao Cao ^c:3101.
* Dong Zhuo's Faction (rival of): Xun You once took part in the plot to assassinate Dong Zhuo, showing his discontent with and resistance to Dong Zhuo's tyranny ^c:6124.
* Cao Cao (advises in): Xun You was one of Cao Cao's most central strategists, offering marvelous plans in many key battles, such as the campaigns against Zhang Xiu, the pacification of the Yuan brothers, and the Battle of Guandu ^c:3101c:6127. Cao Cao rated him very highly, calling him "outwardly foolish but inwardly wise, outwardly timid but inwardly brave, outwardly weak but inwardly strong" ^c:3102.
* Zhong Yao (friend of): Xun You was close with Zhong Yao, who held his ingenuity in the highest esteem, saying his plans "always surpassed other men's thoughts" ^c:3102. After Xun You died, Zhong Yao even looked after his family affairs, wishing to find a husband for his concubine ^c:3104.
* Xun Yu (cousin/colleague): Xun You and Xun Yu were uncle and nephew, both important strategists of Cao Cao. Cao Cao once ranked Xun You alongside Xun Yu, calling him "loyal and upright in secret counsel, soothing and settling within and without" ^c:6127.
* He Yong (co-conspirator): Xun You once plotted with He Yong and others to assassinate Dong Zhuo ^c:6124.
* Yuan Shao (rival of): In the Battle of Guandu and the campaigns against the Yuan brothers, Xun You devised plans for Cao Cao, finally defeating Yuan Shao and his sons ^{c:6127c:13219}.
* Lü Bu (rival of): When Cao Cao attacked Lü Bu, Xun You strongly urged Cao Cao not to withdraw, ultimately helping Cao Cao capture Lü Bu ^c:3108.
* Zhang Xiu (rival of): Xun You advised Cao Cao to attack Zhang Xiu slowly, but Cao Cao did not heed him; the fighting later went poorly, and only after Cao Cao adopted Xun You's plan of a surprise force was he able to rout Zhang Xiu ^c:3101.
* Liu Biao (rival of): Xun You analyzed that Liu Biao "had no ambitions for the four quarters," advising Cao Cao to first pacify the Yuan clan and afterward plan against Liu Biao ^c:6127.
* Sun Quan (rival of): Xun You died of illness on the way while accompanying Cao Cao's campaign against Sun Quan ^c:3102. In the Romance, Xun You once advised Cao Cao to send Cai Zhong and Cai He to feign surrender to Sun Quan and serve as inside agents (unique to the novel) ^c:6135.
* Ma Teng (rival of): In the Romance, Xun You once advised Cao Cao to lure Ma Teng into the capital and eliminate him first, to cut off trouble in the rear during the southern campaign (unique to the novel) ^c:13232.

Iconic Scenes

* Plotting to assassinate Dong Zhuo: During the period of Dong Zhuo's tyranny, Xun You and He Yong and others secretly plotted to assassinate Dong Zhuo; when the plot leaked, he was arrested and imprisoned, but he remained composed in the face of danger, behaving as usual in speech and eating, and in the end was spared because Dong Zhuo was killed, displaying his exceptional courage and resourcefulness ^c:6124.
* First joining Cao Cao, taken on as Army Adviser: After Cao Cao received the Son of Heaven and established the capital at Xu, he summoned Xun You. Cao Cao had long heard his name, and after conversing with him was greatly pleased, calling him "no ordinary man" and taking him on as Army Adviser; from then on Xun You became one of Cao Cao's central strategists ^c:3101.
* Advising Cao Cao to attack Zhang Xiu slowly: In the campaign against Zhang Xiu, Xun You advised Cao Cao to slow his army and wait, holding that Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao would surely break apart. Cao Cao did not heed him, and after the fighting went poorly, he adopted Xun You's plan of a surprise force and only then routed Zhang Xiu. Cao Cao afterward sighed, "It is from not using your words that things came to this," highlighting Xun You's foresight ^c:3101.
* Strongly advocating taking the Yuan brothers first: When Cao Cao wished to campaign against Liu Biao while Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang fought over Jizhou, most of the ministers advocated pacifying Liu Biao first. Xun You overruled the objections, analyzing the situation of strife between the Yuan brothers, pointing out that one should seize them while they were in disorder, finally helping Cao Cao pacify the north and lay the foundation of his hegemony ^c:6127.
* Offering plans at the Battle of Guandu: During the Battle of Guandu, Xun You offered plans several times, such as advising Cao Cao to do battle with Yuan Shao quickly, and after the raid on the grain at Wuchao, offering the plan of spreading word of moving troops to attack Yuan Shao's rear to lure him into dividing his forces, finally routing Yuan Shao; these plans were crucial to Cao Cao's victory at the Battle of Guandu ^{c:6132c:13219}.
* Digging up the bronze sparrow at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace (unique to the novel): In the Romance, Xun You and Cao Cao discovered a golden light at the corner tower on the eastern wall of Jizhou and dug up a bronze sparrow, which Xun You explained as an auspicious omen, prompting the building of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace and adding a legendary touch to his character ^c:6133.
* Dying of illness on the campaign against Sun Quan: Xun You died of illness on the way while accompanying Cao Cao's campaign against Sun Quan; on hearing of it Cao Cao wept, showing his standing in Cao Cao's heart ^c:3102.
* Dying of grief over opposing Cao Cao's kingship (unique to the novel): In the Romance, Xun You, because he opposed Cao Cao's advancement to King of Wei, was angrily rebuked by Cao Cao and then fell ill from grief and indignation and died; this episode shapes his image as one loyal to the House of Han and adds tragic color to his end ^c:3117.