Xing Yong

Historical Record

Xing Yong, courtesy name Ziang, was a native of Mo in Hejian. He was once recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, and the Minister over the Masses also summoned him to office, but Xing Yong declined every call. To withdraw from the world, he even changed his name and went to Youbeiping, where he associated with Tian Chou. The two lived together for five years. After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, Xing Yong said to Tian Chou, "The turmoil of the Yellow Turbans has lasted more than twenty years; the realm is in chaos and the people scattered. Now I hear that Lord Cao's laws and decrees are strict and clear, and the people are weary of warfare; when disorder reaches its extreme, order follows. I am willing to set an example and be the first to give my allegiance." So he packed his belongings and returned to his home district. Tian Chou praised Xing Yong as "the first among the people to perceive." Xing Yong then went before Cao Cao and served as his guide, helping him capture Liucheng. ^c:3853

Cao Cao summoned Xing Yong to be an aide of Jizhou, and the men of the time praised him, saying, "Stately in virtue and conduct is Xing Ziang." He once served as Chief of Guangzong, but later abandoned his post on account of the mourning for his former lord. The responsible officials petitioned to hold him accountable, but Cao Cao said, "Xing Yong was sincere toward his former lord and had the resolve to keep his integrity," and so did not pursue the matter. Cao Cao again summoned him as an assistant in the office of the Minister of Works, and later appointed him Prefect of Xingtang. During his tenure, Xing Yong encouraged the people in farming and sericulture, greatly improving the local mores. He then entered court as Supervisor of the Retainers in the Chancellor's office, and was transferred to be Governor of the Left of Fengyi. However, he resigned from office on account of illness. At that time, Cao Cao's sons were all selecting officials and subordinates for their high posts, and Cao Cao decreed, "For the officials of a marquis's household, one should choose a man profound and disciplined like Xing Yong." Thus Xing Yong was appointed household steward to Cao Zhi, Marquis of Pingyuan. In Cao Zhi's household, Xing Yong held himself to ritual and propriety, unbending and unyielding, and so did not get along well with Cao Zhi. The Servitor Liu Zhen once wrote to admonish Cao Zhi, saying in his letter: "The household steward Xing Yong is a renowned worthy of the north; from his youth he has kept lofty integrity, profound and tranquil, calm and detached, sparing of speech but rich in reason—truly a refined gentleman. I, Liu Zhen, am hardly fit to stand at his side, yet I receive special favor while Xing Yong is instead held at a distance and slighted. I privately fear that others will think my lord favors the unworthy and does not esteem the worthy, taking only the frivolous flair of a household servitor and forgetting the true substance of his steward. This will draw slander upon my lord, and the fault is no small one—hence I am uneasy at heart." ^c:3854 Xing Yong was later appointed Army Affairs Officer in the Chancellor's office and transferred to be an aide of the Eastern Bureau.

Before Cao Cao had settled on his heir, the Marquis of Linzi, Cao Zhi, was much favored, and Ding Yi and others zealously praised his talent. Cao Cao once asked Xing Yong's opinion on the matter, and Xing Yong replied, "To set aside the legitimate heir for a son of a concubine is a lesson by which the rulers of former ages took warning. I hope Your Highness will deeply consider it!" Cao Cao grasped his meaning. Thereafter Xing Yong was appointed Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and finally transferred to be Grand Tutor. ^c:3854

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Xing Yong an independent and detailed literary treatment. His image and deeds exist mainly in the official histories and were not artistically reworked or expanded by the novel's author. Therefore, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xing Yong is not an active figure with prominent plot lines. The novel does not mention his association with Tian Chou, nor does it detail his specific conduct while serving as aide of Jizhou, Chief of Guangzong, or Prefect of Xingtang. As for his "restraining Cao Zhi with propriety, yielding in nothing" while serving as Cao Zhi's household steward, and Liu Zhen's admonition, the novel likewise has no record. Similarly, on the question of Cao Cao's succession, the novel does not highlight Xing Yong's admonition that "to set aside the legitimate heir for a son of a concubine is a lesson by which former ages took warning." ^c:3854 On the whole, the novel's depiction of Xing Yong is essentially blank, leaving his presence in the novel far below his importance in history.

Key Relationships

* Tian Chou (friend_of): Xing Yong once changed his name and lived with Tian Chou in Youbeiping for five years. After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, Xing Yong was the first to propose giving allegiance to Cao Cao and earned Tian Chou's praise as "the first among the people to perceive." ^c:3853
* Cao Wei (serves): Xing Yong served Cao Cao and his son Cao Pi all his life—from aide of Jizhou, Chief of Guangzong, and Prefect of Xingtang, to Supervisor of the Retainers in the Chancellor's office, Governor of the Left of Fengyi, Army Affairs Officer, and aide of the Eastern Bureau, finally rising to Grand Tutor—an important official of the Cao Wei regime. ^c:3854
* Cao Zhi (mentor_of): Xing Yong served as household steward to Cao Zhi, Marquis of Pingyuan. He restrained Cao Zhi with propriety and would not bend to his wishes, even falling out of favor with Cao Zhi on this account. Liu Zhen once admonished Cao Zhi over this, pointing out Xing Yong's worth and virtue. ^c:3854
* Cao Pi (mentor_of): On the question of Cao Cao's succession, Xing Yong explicitly put forward the view that "to set aside the legitimate heir for a son of a concubine is a lesson by which former ages took warning," implying support for the legitimate eldest son Cao Pi, and was finally appointed Junior Tutor and then Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, assisting Cao Pi. ^c:3854

Iconic Scenes

* First to give allegiance to Cao Cao: After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, Xing Yong said to Tian Chou, "The Yellow Turbans have risen for more than twenty years; the realm seethes and the people are scattered. Now I hear Lord Cao's laws and decrees are strict. The people are weary of disorder, and when disorder reaches its extreme, peace follows. Let me be the first." He then returned to his home district, went before Cao Cao, and served as his guide, helping him capture Liucheng. This act displayed his keen insight into the times and his decisiveness, and earned Tian Chou's praise as "the first among the people to perceive." ^c:3853
* "Stately in virtue and conduct is Xing Ziang": When Cao Cao summoned Xing Yong as aide of Jizhou, his lofty character and conduct won the high praise of the men of the time, who called him "Stately in virtue and conduct is Xing Ziang." ^c:3854 This appraisal became a symbol of his character.
* Sincere toward his former lord, keeping integrity: After serving as Chief of Guangzong, Xing Yong abandoned his post on account of the mourning for his former lord. Faced with the responsible officials' attempt to hold him accountable, Cao Cao deliberately showed clemency, praising him as "sincere toward his former lord, with an unwavering integrity," and excusing him. This reflects Xing Yong's loyal and steadfast character and Cao Cao's cherishing of worthy men. ^c:3854
* Admonishing Cao Cao on the succession: When Cao Cao hesitated over his heir, Xing Yong, faced with Cao Cao's inquiry, plainly stated, "To set aside the legitimate heir for a son of a concubine is a lesson by which former ages took warning. I beg Your Highness to weigh it deeply!" This key admonition not only showed his adherence to the system of legitimate succession but also indirectly influenced Cao Cao's eventual decision to make Cao Pi the heir. ^c:3854
* Liu Zhen's letter admonishing Cao Zhi: In his letter to Cao Zhi, Liu Zhen highly praised Xing Yong's character, calling him "an eminence of the north, who from youth held lofty integrity, profound and tranquil, calm and detached, sparing of speech but rich in reason—truly a refined gentleman," and pointing out that Cao Zhi should not hold Xing Yong at a distance. This letter is both powerful proof of Xing Yong's virtue and a reflection of his adherence to principle and refusal to flatter the powerful in Cao Zhi's household. ^c:3854