Xu Shao

Historical Record

Xu Shao, courtesy name Zijiang, was a man of Pingyu in Runan. In his youth he and his cousin Xu Jing became known in their home district for appraising people, praised by their contemporaries as exemplars of "judging the worth of men." Privately, however, the two cousins were not on good terms. Xu Shao once served as a commandery Merit Officer and used his authority to push Xu Jing aside, preventing any advancement in his career, so that Xu Jing for a time had to make a living grinding fodder for horses^[1].

Later, Liu Yi of Yingchuan became Governor of Runan; he recommended Xu Jing as an accounts officer and nominated him as Filial and Incorrupt, after which Xu Jing was appointed Gentleman of the Department of State Affairs, in charge of the selection of talent. After Emperor Ling died, Dong Zhuo seized control of the government and appointed Zhou Bi of Hanyang as Minister of Personnel; Zhou Bi and Xu Jing deliberated together, taking charge of the promotion and demotion of the realm's gentlemen, weeding out those of poor conduct and elevating worthy men living in retirement. They successively recommended Xun Shuang, Han Rong, and Chen Ji of Yingchuan to serve as ministers or commandery governors, appointed the Master of State Affairs Han Fu as Governor of Jizhou, the Palace Attendant Liu Dai as Inspector of Yanzhou, Zhang Zi of Yingchuan as Governor of Nanyang, Kong Zhou of Chenliu as Inspector of Yu Province, and Zhang Miao of Dongjun as Governor of Chenliu. At the same time Xu Jing was transferred to Governor of Ba Commandery, but he did not take up the post and was instead appointed Vice Censor-in-Chief^[1].

When Han Fu and the others took up their posts, each raised troops in response, intending to attack Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo was furious at this and demanded of Zhou Bi: "You all said worthy and able men should be elevated and employed. I followed your advice, unwilling to go against the hearts of the realm. Yet the men you employed, the moment they took up their posts, turned around and plotted against me. Why should I bear such a name!" He then ordered Zhou Bi out and had him beheaded outside. Xu Jing's cousin Chen Xiang Yang also conspired with Kong Zhou, and Xu Jing, fearing he would be put to death by Dong Zhuo, fled to Kong Zhou. After Kong Zhou died, Xu Jing then attached himself to Chen Yi, Inspector of Yangzhou. After Chen Yi died, since Xu Gong, Commandant of Wu Commandery, and Wang Lang, Governor of Kuaiji, had old ties with Xu Jing, he went to take refuge with them. Even while in flight, Xu Jing was able to care for his kin and manage his livelihood, displaying his benevolent side^[1]. The histories record relatively little about Xu Shao himself; his chief deeds emerge through his feud with Xu Jing and his talent for appraising people.

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Shao's image is presented chiefly through his appraisal of Cao Cao; though his appearance is brief, it plays a key role in shaping Cao Cao's character. In the novel Xu Shao is depicted as a Runan notable "of repute for knowing men." In his youth, Cao Cao made a point of visiting Xu Shao to ask what kind of man he was^[2].

At first Xu Shao did not answer directly. Under Cao Cao's repeated pressing, Xu Shao finally gave that appraisal handed down through the ages: "You are an able minister in an age of order, a treacherous hero in an age of chaos." Far from being angered, Cao Cao "was greatly pleased to hear it"^[2]. This scene in the novel greatly reinforces Cao Cao's image as a "treacherous hero," foreshadowing his future rise and deeds in an age of chaos. The novel's depiction of Xu Shao stresses his authority as a "knower of men" rather than any specific official conduct. Compared with the histories' account of Xu Shao's private feud with Xu Jing and his pushing Xu Jing aside in office, the novel focuses more on his transcendent standing as an appraiser of men and makes no mention of his conflict with Xu Jing — a marked difference from the historical biographies. Xu Shao's appearance in the novel serves chiefly as a tool for shaping Cao Cao's early image, not as an independent character with a complex history.

Key Relationships

* Xu Jing (rival_of): Xu Shao's relationship with his cousin Xu Jing was complex and tense. The histories record that the two were both renowned in youth and famed for "judging the worth of men," yet privately did not get along. Xu Shao used his authority as commandery Merit Officer to push Xu Jing aside, blocking his career, so that Xu Jing for a time had to support himself^[1]. This rivalry and exclusion is an important part of Xu Shao's image in the histories, showing his influence in local politics and his conflicts with his own kin. The novel makes no mention of this relationship.
* Cao Cao (mentor_of): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Shao's appraisal of Cao Cao as "an able minister in an age of order, a treacherous hero in an age of chaos"^[2] had a profound effect on Cao Cao's image, indeed laying the foundation for Cao Cao's "treacherous hero" designation. Though Xu Shao was not Cao Cao's mentor in any literal sense, his appraisal, which laid bare Cao Cao's essence in a single phrase, served a guiding and prophetic function, and so may be seen as a kind of spiritual "mentor_of" relationship (novel only).

Signature Scene

* Pushing Xu Jing aside: While serving as commandery Merit Officer, Xu Shao used his authority to push aside his cousin Xu Jing, leaving him unable to advance and even forced to "support himself by grinding with a horse mill"^[1]. This scene is the most controversial event in the histories concerning Xu Shao, and the one that best reveals his character, exposing his maneuvering in local politics and his complex relations with his own kin.
* Appraising Cao Cao: In his youth Cao Cao made a point of visiting Xu Shao to ask what kind of man he was. Xu Shao finally appraised him as "an able minister in an age of order, a treacherous hero in an age of chaos"^[2]. This scene is Xu Shao's signature moment in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms; it not only shaped Cao Cao's classic image but also established Xu Shao's authority as a "knower of men," exerting a profound influence on later understanding of Cao Cao and his age (novel only).