Jia Xu

Historical Record

Jia Xu, styled Wenhe, after Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang first served as Commandant of Pingjin in the capacity of an aide to the Grand Commandant, later being promoted to Colonel Who Chastises Caitiffs. After Dong Zhuo's downfall and the death of his son-in-law Niu Fu, Dong Zhuo's former subordinates Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and others wished to disband and return home. At this point Jia Xu displayed his deep foresight, strongly urging them to lead their troops westward to attack Chang'an and avenge Dong Zhuo, declaring that if they succeeded they could hold the state and campaign across the realm, and if they failed they could still withdraw to safety ^c:3654. The generals adopted his plan and indeed captured Chang'an and seized control of the court. Yet Jia Xu did not claim credit for it; when Li Jue and the others wished to enfeoff him as a marquis, he firmly declined, saying this was merely "a plan to save our lives — what merit is there in it!" ^c:3654.

Afterward Jia Xu was appointed Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, but again he declined, saying his reputation was insufficient to command others' respect; in the end he was made a Secretariat official in charge of selecting officers, achieving much in setting things right, and was both trusted and feared by Li Jue and his associates ^c:3654. During the internal strife between Li Jue and Guo Si, Jia Xu repeatedly admonished them with reason, and when the Son of Heaven left Chang'an, he did his utmost to protect the ministers from slaughter ^c:3654. After the Emperor's Return to the East, Jia Xu surrendered his seal and ribbon and went to Duan Wei, a man from his own commandery. But because Duan Wei was suspicious, Jia Xu felt uneasy and later transferred his allegiance to Zhang Xiu ^c:3654.

Under Zhang Xiu, Jia Xu advised him to ally with Liu Biao. When Cao Cao campaigned against Zhang Xiu, Jia Xu accurately predicted the course of battle: first he urged Zhang Xiu not to pursue Cao Cao, saying pursuit would surely bring defeat, then he urged him to pursue again, saying victory was certain — all as he foretold ^c:3657. On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao sought to recruit Zhang Xiu; Jia Xu publicly rebuffed Yuan Shao's envoy, pointing out that Yuan Shao could not even tolerate his own brothers — how then could he tolerate the realm's great men? He went on to persuade Zhang Xiu to submit to Cao Cao, citing three advantages: that Cao Cao upheld the Son of Heaven, thirsted for talent, and could set aside private grudges ^c:3657. Zhang Xiu adopted his advice and submitted to Cao Cao, who was overjoyed and, grasping Jia Xu's hand, said, "It is you who has made me trusted and esteemed throughout the realm," and memorialized to make him Bearer of the Mace, enfeoffing him as Marquis of Duting ^c:3657.

When Cao Cao was locked in stalemate with Yuan Shao at Guandu and his provisions were running out, Jia Xu offered counsel, pointing out that Cao Cao "surpassed Yuan Shao in wisdom, in courage, in employing men, and in seizing the decisive moment," urging him to strike decisively, and in the end Cao Cao crushed Yuan Shao ^c:3657. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, after Cao Cao took Jing Province and wished to sail down the Yangtze, Jia Xu advised that he should first pacify the people and build up his strength rather than rush into war. Cao Cao did not adopt this, and as a result was defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs ^c:6390. At the Battle of Weinan, faced with Han Sui and Ma Chao's plea for peace, Jia Xu advised Cao Cao to feign agreement and employ a stratagem of estrangement, ultimately succeeding in breaking apart the coalition of Ma Chao and Han Sui ^c:6390.

When Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were contending for the position of heir, Cao Pi sought Jia Xu's counsel on how to protect himself. Jia Xu advised him to "cultivate virtue and breadth of mind, devote himself to the work of a plain scholar, be diligent morning and night, and never depart from the duty of a son." Cao Pi acted accordingly and applied himself rigorously ^c:3658. Cao Cao once privately asked Jia Xu about the matter of succession; Jia Xu kept silent, then said, "I was thinking of Yuan Benchu [Yuan Shao] and Liu Jingsheng [Liu Biao] and their sons," hinting that Cao Cao should take warning from how Yuan Shao and Liu Biao had brought on internal turmoil through improper succession, which ultimately led Cao Cao to name Cao Pi as heir ^c:3658. Knowing well that he was not one of Cao Cao's old retainers and that his stratagems ran deep, Jia Xu, to avoid suspicion, shut his gate and kept to himself, formed no private associations, and made no marriage alliances with great houses, all to preserve himself ^c:3658. After Cao Pi ascended the throne, he made Jia Xu Grand Commandant and advanced his title to Marquis of Weishouxiang ^c:6391. Cao Pi once asked Jia Xu whether to attack Wu or Shu first; Jia Xu advised civil measures before military, waiting for them to change of their own accord, but Cao Pi did not adopt this and later launched the Jiangling campaign, in which many soldiers died ^c:6391. Jia Xu lived to seventy-seven and was given the posthumous title Marquis Su.

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Jia Xu's resourcefulness and cautious temperament are further heightened and intensified. After Dong Zhuo's death, when Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others wished to disband, Jia Xu offered the plan to "fight into Chang'an and avenge Dong Zhuo," and spread the rumor that "Wang Yun is about to purge all the people of this region," successfully inciting the Liang Province troops to storm into Chang'an ^c:3659. This largely accords with the historical record, but the novel depicts the details of the incitement more vividly.

Facing the combined forces of Ma Teng and Han Sui, Jia Xu advised "deep trenches and high ramparts, holding firm to resist them," waiting until the enemy's provisions ran out and they withdrew before pursuing — showing his steady military strategy ^c:3660. When Li Meng and Wang Fang, underestimating the enemy, asked to give battle, Jia Xu predicted, "If we fight now, we shall surely suffer defeat," and cleverly arranged for them to meet the enemy, his judgment ultimately borne out ^c:3660. When Li Jue wished to kill Fan Chou, Jia Xu offered the plan of setting a banquet to seize and kill him, avoiding open conflict — revealing his ruthless side ^c:14562.

During the period when Li Jue and Guo Si held the Son of Heaven hostage, Jia Xu, though serving as Li Jue's strategist, still secretly harbored an intent to uphold the Han house. He once secretly instructed the Qiang, falsely claiming a secret edict from the Son of Heaven, causing the Qiang troops to withdraw and weakening Li Jue's power ^c:14564. He also advised Emperor Xian to enfeoff Li Jue as Grand Marshal, so that, coveting the rank, Li Jue would relax his guard, creating an opportunity for Yang Feng to take action ^c:14565. These episodes are not clearly recorded in the histories; they are artistic embellishments by the novel to shape Jia Xu's image as one "whose body was in Cao's camp but whose heart was with Han."

After Zhang Xiu surrendered to Cao Cao, because Cao Cao took Zhang Ji's wife, Lady Zou, Zhang Xiu was enraged and wished to rebel. Jia Xu offered the plan of first feigning compliance, then striking when Cao Cao came out of his tent to confer ^c:14569. This accords with the historical record that Cao Cao lost Dian Wei, Cao Ang, and others to Zhang Xiu's rebellion, but the details of the specific scheme are the novel's invention. Jia Xu's two predictions during Zhang Xiu's pursuit of Cao Cao — "He cannot be pursued; to pursue him is to court defeat" and "This time the pursuit will surely bring a great victory" — along with his explanation of the underlying principles of war, are portrayed in the novel in greater detail and with more dramatic flair, further highlighting his uncanny ability to read the enemy ^c:3668.

In the contest for the heir's position between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, the novel has Jia Xu directly offer Cao Pi the counsel to "cultivate virtue and breadth of mind, devote himself to the work of a plain scholar, be diligent morning and night, and never depart from the duty of a son" ^c:3671. When Cao Cao asked about the succession, Jia Xu's reply, "I was thinking of Yuan Benchu and Liu Jingsheng and their sons," is portrayed in the novel as the key factor that directly moved Cao Cao to resolve on naming Cao Pi ^c:3671. In addition, the novel adds a scene in which, when Cao Cao was gravely ill, Jia Xu, together with Cao Hong, Chen Qun, Sima Yi, and others, was entrusted with the affairs after his death, further underscoring his important position within the Cao Wei camp ^c:6395.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Jia Xu ultimately submitted to Cao Cao and became his important strategist, rendering great service in unifying the north and establishing the Cao Wei regime. After Cao Pi ascended the throne, Jia Xu was appointed Grand Commandant ^c:6391.
* Dong Zhuo's Faction (advisor): Jia Xu served early on under Dong Zhuo; after Dong Zhuo's downfall, he persuaded Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others to attack Chang'an, becoming the core strategist of Dong Zhuo's former subordinates ^c:3654.
* Yan Zhong (friend_of): Not directly mentioned in the histories, but Jia Xu had dealings with Duan Wei of his own commandery, later leaving because of Duan Wei's suspicious nature ^c:3654.
* Li Jue (advises_in): During the period when Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others captured Chang'an and seized control of the court, Jia Xu offered them counsel and did much to set things right during their internal strife ^c:3654. In the novel, Jia Xu once offered Li Jue the plan of setting a banquet to seize and kill Fan Chou ^c:14562.
* Zhang Xiu (advises_in): After leaving Duan Wei, Jia Xu went over to Zhang Xiu and offered him counsel, including allying with Liu Biao and the tactical arrangements in the fighting against Cao Cao ^c:3657. Ultimately Jia Xu persuaded Zhang Xiu to submit to Cao Cao ^c:3657.
* Liu Biao (advises_in): Jia Xu once urged Zhang Xiu to ally with Liu Biao ^c:3657. In the novel, Jia Xu once advised that Liu Biao return to Jing Province while Zhang Xiu guarded Xiangcheng, so they might serve as lips and teeth to each other ^c:14576.
* Cao Pi (advises_in): When Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were contending for the heir's position, Jia Xu offered Cao Pi counsel that helped him succeed ^c:3658. In the novel, Jia Xu directly advised Cao Pi to "cultivate virtue and breadth of mind, devote himself to the work of a plain scholar, be diligent morning and night, and never depart from the duty of a son" ^c:3671.
* Han Sui and Ma Chao (opposes): At the Battle of Weinan, Jia Xu offered the stratagem of estrangement, successfully breaking apart the coalition of Han Sui and Ma Chao ^c:6390. In the novel, Jia Xu describes in greater detail the process by which Cao Cao adopted his "counter-estrangement scheme" ^c:3669.
* Yuan Shao (opposes): Jia Xu once publicly rebuffed Yuan Shao's envoy and urged Zhang Xiu not to go over to Yuan Shao ^c:3657.
* Hua Tuo (intercedes_for): In the novel, Jia Xu once advised Cao Cao not to kill Hua Tuo, calling him "a fine physician with few equals in the world" ^c:14591 (novel-only).

Signature Scenes

* Urging Li Jue and Guo Si to attack Chang'an: After Dong Zhuo's death, when Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others wished to disband and return home, Jia Xu overruled the consensus and urged them to lead their troops to attack Chang'an and avenge Dong Zhuo, ultimately succeeding in seizing control of the court. Though this plunged the realm into chaos, it also established Jia Xu's reputation as a "venomous strategist" ^c:3654.
* Firmly declining marquisate and the vice directorship: After capturing Chang'an, Jia Xu firmly declined the marquisate and the post of Vice Director of the Secretariat, holding that he had no merit and insufficient reputation — reflecting his deep understanding of self-preservation and his insight into the rules of officialdom ^c:3654.
* Reading the enemy like a god to help Zhang Xiu defeat Cao Cao: In the fighting between Zhang Xiu and Cao Cao, Jia Xu twice accurately predicted the course of battle, first urging Zhang Xiu not to pursue Cao Cao and then urging him to pursue, both succeeding, so that Zhang Xiu was wholly convinced ^c:3657. In the novel, Jia Xu's analysis of the two engagements is even more penetrating, further highlighting his resourcefulness ^c:14576.
* Persuading Zhang Xiu to submit to Cao Cao: Faced with recruitment from both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, Jia Xu publicly rebuffed Yuan Shao's envoy and, citing reasons such as "upholding the Son of Heaven to command the realm" and "setting aside private grudges to show virtue to all within the four seas," successfully persuaded Zhang Xiu to submit to Cao Cao, who was overjoyed and called him the one "who has made me trusted and esteemed throughout the realm" ^c:3657.
* Offering the plan at Guandu to defeat Yuan Shao: At the critical moment in the Battle of Guandu when Cao Cao's provisions were running out, Jia Xu advised Cao Cao to strike decisively, pointing out that Cao Cao "surpassed Yuan Shao in wisdom, in courage, in employing men, and in seizing the decisive moment," and in the end Cao Cao crushed Yuan Shao and pacified the north ^c:3657.
* Counsel at Red Cliffs not adopted: After Cao Cao took Jing Province and wished to sail down the Yangtze, Jia Xu advised that he should first pacify the people rather than rush into war. Cao Cao did not adopt this, and as a result was defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs, bearing out Jia Xu's foresight ^c:6390.
* Breaking Ma Chao and Han Sui with the stratagem of estrangement at Weinan: In the Battle of Weinan against Ma Chao and Han Sui, Jia Xu advised Cao Cao to feign agreement to the plea for peace and employ a stratagem of estrangement, successfully breaking apart the enemy and finally routing Ma Chao and Han Sui ^c:6390.
* Helping Cao Pi win the succession: In the contest for the heir's position between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, Jia Xu cleverly used the cautionary precedents of Yuan Shao and Liu Biao and their sons to hint that Cao Cao should set up his eldest son, ultimately leading Cao Cao to name Cao Pi as heir ^c:3658.
* Shutting his gate and forming no private associations: Knowing well that his stratagems ran deep, Jia Xu, to avoid Cao Cao's suspicion, adopted a low-key and cautious way of life, forming no ties with great houses and engaging in no private associations, all to preserve himself, and so became a man admired by those in the realm who discussed wisdom and strategy ^c:3658.
* Appointed Grand Commandant by Cao Pi: After Cao Pi ascended the throne, grateful for Jia Xu's contribution in the contest for the succession, he appointed him Grand Commandant, placing him among the Three Excellencies ^c:6391.