Xu Yi

Historical Record

Xu Yi, styled Jicai, was a man of Dongguan ^c:5442. Amid the great upheaval at the end of the Eastern Han, he crossed south of the Yangtze to the Jiangdong region to escape the ravages of war. At that time Sun Ce, who held Jiangdong by force, treated him with courtesy and summoned him to office. Xu Yi, however, did not accept Sun Ce's recruitment; instead he changed his name and disguised himself, and secretly returned to his home commandery ^c:5442.

When Cao Cao was serving as Minister of Works, he recruited Xu Yi as a subordinate official, and Xu Yi accompanied Cao Cao on the western campaign against Ma Chao. After Ma Chao was defeated, the army returned home. Because the Guanzhong region had only just submitted and the situation was still unstable, Cao Cao appointed Xu Yi as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor to garrison and pacify the western capital, Chang'an. During his tenure, Xu Yi won the praise of the Chang'an region through his dignity and trustworthiness ^c:5442. He was then transferred to be Inspector of Yong Province, and not long after returned to court to serve as a subordinate of the Eastern Bureau. At the time, Ding Yi and others enjoyed Cao Cao's deep favor, and they repeatedly squeezed out and slandered Xu Yi, but Xu Yi was never moved and held firm to his principles. Someone once advised Xu Yi that, since Ding Yi was in favor, he ought to find a way to befriend him. Xu Yi replied to this: "His Excellency is so wise and discerning—how could Ding Yi's treachery succeed? Moreover, as for those who serve their lord by villainy, I have my own means to resist them; you had best not counsel me with such other methods." ^c:5442 These words fully displayed his upright and uncompromising character.

Later, Xu Yi served as Administrator of Wei Commandery. When Cao Cao campaigned against Sun Quan, Xu Yi was transferred to be Chief Clerk of the Resident Office. Cao Cao gave high praise to Xu Yi's loyalty and integrity, commending him: "Your loyalty and brightness are no less than that of the ancients." At the same time, Cao Cao pointed out that Xu Yi's character was too severe, and admonished him with the allusion to Ximen Bao, who wore soft leather to temper himself, hoping he would learn to overcome the hard with the soft. Cao Cao placed great hopes in Xu Yi, wishing him to handle affairs in a gentler manner, and declared that with Xu Yi overseeing the resident affairs, he himself could be free of worry over what lay behind him ^c:5442. After the state of Wei was founded, Xu Yi was appointed Master of Writing, once again put in charge of selecting talent, and finally rose to Prefect of the Masters of Writing ^c:5442.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives no independent literary portrayal of the figure Xu Yi. Under Luo Guanzhong's brush, the character of Xu Yi is given no specific plot or dialogue, nor is there any detailed depiction of him in key battles or political events. Therefore, regarding Xu Yi's image, character, and interactions with major figures in the novel, there is no clear record and nothing to be verified. His absence from the novel means his image relies entirely on the historical record ^c:5442.

Key Relationships

* The Cao Wei camp: Throughout his life Xu Yi served chiefly Cao Cao and the Cao Wei regime he founded. Beginning when he was recruited as a subordinate official while Cao Cao was Minister of Works, he successively held the posts of Chief Clerk to the Chancellor, Inspector of Yong Province, subordinate of the Eastern Bureau, Administrator of Wei Commandery, and Chief Clerk of the Resident Office, up to Master of Writing and Prefect of the Masters of Writing after the founding of Wei ^c:5442. He stood in a lord-and-minister relationship with Cao Cao, who highly affirmed his loyalty and ability, but also pointed out that his character was too severe and hoped he would handle government affairs in a gentler manner ^c:5442.
* Ding Yi: There was a clear antagonism between Xu Yi and Ding Yi. Ding Yi and others, being in favor, squeezed out and slandered Xu Yi, but Xu Yi was never moved and held firm to his principles. He once stated plainly that Cao Cao's wisdom was enough to discern Ding Yi's treachery, and that he was confident he could resist those who serve their lord by villainy ^c:5442. This relationship embodies Xu Yi's upright and uncompromising character.
* Sun Ce: During Xu Yi's period of refuge in Jiangdong, Sun Ce treated him with courtesy and summoned him. However, Xu Yi did not accept Sun Ce's recruitment; instead he changed his name and secretly returned to his hometown ^c:5442. This shows that Xu Yi had no intention of submitting to the Sun Ce camp, and also reflects, from another angle, his attachment to his native land or his consideration of the future political course.

Signature Scenes

* Changing his name and returning home in plain dress: When Xu Yi took refuge in Jiangdong, Sun Ce treated him with courtesy and summoned him. Yet he chose to change his name and disguise himself, secretly returning to his hometown ^c:5442. This act not only displayed his unwillingness to submit to Sun Ce's will, but also embodied his persistence in personal choice and his deep feeling for his native land, foreshadowing his later allegiance to Cao Cao.
* Garrisoning and pacifying the western capital: After Ma Chao's defeat, the Guanzhong region had only newly submitted and the situation was unstable. Cao Cao appointed Xu Yi as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor to garrison and pacify the western capital. During his tenure, Xu Yi used his dignity and trust to stabilize the Chang'an region, winning local praise ^c:5442. This fully displayed Xu Yi's outstanding political talent and administrative ability.
* His upright integrity in the face of Ding Yi's squeezing: When Ding Yi and others enjoyed Cao Cao's deep favor and squeezed out Xu Yi, someone advised him to find a way to befriend Ding Yi. Xu Yi firmly replied: "With His Excellency so wise and sagely, how could Ding Yi practice his deceit! Moreover, as for those who serve their lord by villainy, I am able to resist them; you had best counsel me with something else." ^c:5442 This scene vividly portrays Xu Yi's loyal, upright, and pure-and-worthy character, unmoved even in the face of suppression by the powerful.
* Cao Cao admonishing him to "wear soft leather to temper himself": When Cao Cao campaigned against Sun Quan, he appointed Xu Yi as Chief Clerk of the Resident Office. While affirming Xu Yi's "loyalty and brightness," Cao Cao also pointed out that he was "a bit too severe," and admonished him with the allusion to Ximen Bao wearing soft leather to temper himself, that he ought to "use the soft and weak to control the hard and strong" ^c:5442. This dialogue was not only Cao Cao's expectation of Xu Yi, but also became a signature footnote to Xu Yi's character, displaying Cao Cao's insight into and cultivation of talent.