Xu Si

Historical Record

Xu Si — his life and deeds are little recorded in the official histories, mentioned chiefly in the form of conversations with others. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Si was once seated together with Liu Bei before Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, the three of them discussing the men of the realm. In this conversation, Xu Si's appraisal of Chen Deng was that he was "a man of lakes and seas whose blustering pride was not curbed"^[1]. Liu Bei expressed doubt at this appraisal and asked Xu Si whether his charge of "blustering pride" had any basis. Xu Si replied that he had once, in a time of war, passed through Xiapi and called on Chen Deng, but Chen Deng did not treat him with the courtesy due a guest; instead he slept by himself on the large couch and made Xu Si sleep on the lower couch^[1].

Hearing this, Liu Bei leveled a sharp criticism at Xu Si's view. Liu Bei pointed out that, in a time of great disorder in the realm when the sovereign had lost his place, Xu Si, as one with "the name of a man of national caliber," ought to have worried for the state and forgotten his household, with a mind to save the age — yet he thought only of "seeking fields and asking after dwellings," and in his talk there was nothing worth adopting. Liu Bei held that this was precisely why Chen Deng had been unwilling to converse deeply with Xu Si. Liu Bei even said jestingly that, had he himself been the petty man, he would have made Xu Si sleep on the ground, not merely on a lower couch^[1]. Liu Biao laughed aloud at this. Liu Bei then went on to praise Chen Deng highly, holding that his literary and martial daring and resolve were rare in ancient or modern times, and that one comparable to him would not easily be found. This record not only reveals the details of Xu Si's dealings with Chen Deng, but, through Liu Bei's appraisal, indirectly displays Xu Si's image and limitations among the gentlemen of the time.

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Si appears as an advisor to Lü Bu, his image revolving chiefly around devising plans for Lü Bu and conducting diplomatic mediation. Unlike his role in historical fact as an onlooker and one appraised, the Xu Si of the novel takes direct part in Lü Bu's military and political activities. For instance, when Cao Cao besieged Xiapi, Xu Si and another advisor, Wang Kai, together offered Lü Bu a plan^[2]. They advised Lü Bu to seek aid from Yuan Shu, using Yuan Shu's troops to attack Cao Cao from within and without. Lü Bu adopted the plan and dispatched Xu Si and Wang Kai as envoys to Shouchun to call on Yuan Shu.

In their dealings with Yuan Shu, Xu Si and Wang Kai faced Yuan Shu's challenges; Yuan Shu accused Lü Bu of being fickle, having once killed his envoy and reneged on the marriage. Xu Si argued that this was all the work of Cao Cao's treacherous schemes^[3]. To bring about the relief force, Xu Si and Wang Kai even pressed upon Yuan Shu the logic that "when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold." Yuan Shu, however, set as a condition that Lü Bu first send his daughter, and only then would he dispatch troops. Xu Si and Wang Kai could only return bearing Yuan Shu's terms. When escorting Lü Bu's daughter out of the city, Xu Si even proposed a specific escort plan, including setting out first at midnight and having Hao Meng bring up the rear^[3]. When Yuan Shu proposed that he get the daughter before dispatching troops, Xu Si and Wang Kai relayed Yuan Shu's demand to Lü Bu and advised Lü Bu to escort her in person so as to break through Cao Cao's heavy encirclement^[4]. Xu Si even, on the sayings that "the malign spirit governs the day" and "tomorrow is greatly auspicious," chose the hour for Lü Bu to escort his daughter, showing his superstition and his concern with fortune and calamity (novel only). These episodes are all unattested in the histories; they are artistic inventions of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms to enrich the character and advance the plot.

Key Relationships

* Lü Bu (advises_in): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Si was an advisor to Lü Bu who repeatedly devised plans for him, especially taking active part in the effort to seek aid from Yuan Shu when Lü Bu was besieged by Cao Cao at Xiapi^[2]. He went as envoy to Shouchun and negotiated with Yuan Shu, trying to secure relief troops for Lü Bu. In the histories there is no record of a direct relationship between Xu Si and Lü Bu.
* Liu Bei (criticized_by): In the record of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Si was seated together with Liu Bei before Liu Biao, and Liu Bei leveled a sharp criticism at Xu Si's words and conduct^[1]. Liu Bei held that Xu Si, though a "man of national caliber," spoke of nothing worthy and thought only of his private interests, lacking a heart that worried for the state and the people. This criticism reveals the great gulf between the two in values and aspiration.
* Chen Deng (criticized_of): When discussing the men of the realm with Liu Bei and Liu Biao, Xu Si appraised Chen Deng as "a man of lakes and seas whose blustering pride was not curbed," and complained that Chen Deng received guests rudely, sleeping by himself on the large couch and making his guest sleep on the lower one^[1]. This reflects Xu Si's personal view of Chen Deng and indirectly occasioned Liu Bei's criticism of Xu Si.
* Yuan Shu (negotiated_with): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Si, as Lü Bu's envoy, went to Shouchun to negotiate with Yuan Shu, asking Yuan Shu to dispatch troops to relieve Lü Bu^[3]. He tried to persuade Yuan Shu and conveyed the conditions Yuan Shu set for relief.

Signature Scene

* Discussing Chen Deng before Liu Biao: This is Xu Si's best-known scene in the official histories. Before Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, Xu Si and Liu Bei discussed the men of the realm. Xu Si's appraisal of Chen Deng was that he was "a man of lakes and seas whose blustering pride was not curbed," and he complained that Chen Deng received guests rudely, sleeping by himself on the large couch and making Xu Si sleep on the lower one^[1]. Hearing this, Liu Bei sternly criticized Xu Si's words and conduct, holding that he lacked a heart that worried for the state and the people and thought only of "seeking fields and asking after dwellings." This scene not only displays Xu Si's character traits but, through Liu Bei's appraisal, underscores the value the gentlemen of the time placed on personal character and devotion to state and family.
* Seeking aid from Yuan Shu for Lü Bu: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Lü Bu was besieged by Cao Cao at Xiapi, Xu Si and Wang Kai advised Lü Bu to seek aid from Yuan Shu. Xu Si then went as envoy to Shouchun and negotiated with Yuan Shu, trying to persuade him to dispatch relief troops for Lü Bu^[3]. Facing Yuan Shu's challenges, he strove to argue Lü Bu's case and conveyed Yuan Shu's condition of first sending the daughter and then dispatching troops. This scene highlights Xu Si's identity in the novel as Lü Bu's advisor and his role in diplomatic mediation (novel only).
* Escorting Lü Bu's daughter out of the city: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, to satisfy Yuan Shu's condition, Lü Bu decided to send his daughter out of the city. Xu Si not only took part in planning the operation but also proposed a specific escort plan, including choosing an auspicious hour, setting out first at midnight, and having Hao Meng bring up the rear^[4]. This scene further displays Xu Si's capacity for detailed arrangement as an advisor, and his loyalty to Lü Bu (novel only).