Xu Miao

Historical Record

Xu Miao, styled Jingshan, was a man of Ji in the state of Yan. He was disciplined and prudent in nature, lofty in aspiration, pure in conduct, broad in talent, and bold in spirit. He was lofty without being wild, pure without being rigid, learned yet able to keep to essentials, and fierce yet able to restrain himself. After Cao Cao pacified Heshuo, he summoned Xu Miao as Aide for Military Planning to the Chancellor, had him serve on trial as Prefect of Fenggao, and then brought him into court as Secretary-Clerk of the Eastern Bureau. When the state of Wei was first established, Xu Miao was appointed Gentleman of the Masters of Writing ^c:5473.

At that time the court had issued a prohibition on liquor, yet Xu Miao privately drank to the point of utter drunkenness. When the Investigator Zhao Da came to ask about Cao Cao's affairs of state, Xu Miao said drunkenly, "I have hit the Sage." Zhao Da reported this to Cao Cao, and Cao Cao was greatly angered upon hearing it. Fortunately the General Who Crosses the Liao, Xianyu Fu, interceded with an explanation: "On ordinary days, drunken men call clear liquor 'the Sage' and cloudy liquor 'the Worthy.' Xu Miao is disciplined and prudent by nature; he merely misspoke through drunkenness." Xu Miao was thereby spared punishment ^c:5473.

Thereafter Xu Miao successively served as Grand Administrator of Longxi, then was transferred to Nan'an. After Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, he held in turn the posts of Chancellor of Qiao, Grand Administrator of Pingyang, Grand Administrator of Anping, and Agricultural Commandant of Yingchuan, achieving outstanding results wherever he went, and was therefore granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. Once, when Cao Pi visited Xu Chang, he asked Xu Miao, "Have you 'hit the Sage' again?" Xu Miao replied, "In ancient times Zisun perished over the matter of Guyang, and Yushu was punished for drinking; my own fondness is the same as these two men's, and I cannot restrain myself, so at times I still 'hit the Sage.' Yet the woman with the goiter became famous for her ugliness, while I have become known and remembered by Your Majesty through drunkenness." Cao Pi laughed heartily at this and said to those around him, "His reputation is not falsely established." Xu Miao was then promoted to Army Advisor to the General Who Soothes the Army ^c:5473.

During the reign of Emperor Ming, because Liang Province lay remote and bordered the frontier of Shu Han to the south, Xu Miao was appointed Inspector of Liang Province and entrusted with the heavy duties of holding the tally and concurrently serving as Colonel Who Protects the Qiang. When Xu Miao took up his post, it happened that Zhuge Liang had sent troops out to Mount Qi, and the three commanderies of Longyou rebelled in response. Xu Miao immediately dispatched his Army Adviser and the Grand Administrator of Jincheng and others to attack the Nan'an rebels, and successfully crushed them ^c:2012.

The Liang Province region suffered from scant rainfall year-round, and grain was scarce. Xu Miao memorialized the court, proposing to repair the salt ponds of Wuwei and Jiuquan to collect grain from the Hu peoples, and to vigorously open up paddy fields, recruiting the poor to farm them. Under his governance, every household among the people grew prosperous and the granaries were filled with grain and fodder. He also used the surplus military provisions within the province's borders to buy gold, silk, dogs, and horses for the court's use. Xu Miao gradually confiscated the weapons privately hoarded among the people and stored them in the official armories. Then, through benevolence and righteousness, he transformed the people, established schools, made clear his admonitions, prohibited lavish burials, put an end to licentious sacrifices, praised good conduct and censured evil, so that the local customs greatly improved and the people turned their hearts to him. The commercial roads of the Western Regions became passable, and the remote peoples came one after another to offer tribute—all of which was credited to Xu Miao's achievements ^c:2012.

Xu Miao earned merit in the campaign against the rebel Qiang chieftain Kewu, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting with a fief of three hundred households, with the additional rank of General Who Establishes Might. In his dealings with the Qiang and the Hu, Xu Miao did not haggle over minor faults; if anyone committed a major crime, he would first inform the leaders of the tribe so that they understood, and only after they consented would he execute and publicly display the offender. Thus he won the trust of the various peoples and also made them stand in awe of him. He distributed all his rewards among his officers and men, keeping no savings at home, so that the food and clothing of his wife and children were not ample. When the Son of Heaven learned of this, he commended him and from time to time supplied what his household needed. Xu Miao impeached the wicked and corrected miscarriages of justice, so that within the borders of Liang Province all was clear and orderly ^c:2012.

In the first year of the Zhengshi era, Xu Miao was recalled to court to serve as Grand Minister of Agriculture. Later he was promoted to Colonel-Director of Retainers, and the officials all held him in awe. After leaving office over a matter of public business, he was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Several years later, the court again appointed him Minister of Works. Xu Miao sighed and said, "The Three Excellencies are officials who discourse on the Way; if there is no suitable candidate the post is better left vacant—how can a sick old man like me presumptuously occupy it?" He firmly declined and would not accept ^c:5476.

In the first year of the Jiaping era, Xu Miao died at home at the age of seventy-eight, holding the rank of Grand Master, and the court buried him with ducal rites, granting him the posthumous title Marquis Mu. His son Xu Wu inherited the rank. In the sixth year of the Jiaping era, the court, recalling men of pure integrity, issued an edict: "To exalt the worthy and display virtue is what the sage kings esteemed; to raise up the good and teach is what Confucius praised. Thus the late Minister of Works Xu Miao, the General Who Conquers the East Hu Zhi, and the Commandant of the Guards Tian Yu all served in office under the former dynasty, served through four reigns, went out to command the armies and came in to assist in governance, were loyal and pure in public service, anxious for the state and forgetful of self, did not pursue private wealth, and after their deaths left no surplus property at home. I greatly commend them. Let Miao and the others' households be granted two thousand hu of grain and three hundred thousand cash, and let this be proclaimed throughout the realm." ^c:5476

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives no specific literary portrayal of Xu Miao, nor does it mention his deeds. Thus the novel contains no independent episode or dialogue concerning Xu Miao, and his presence in the novel is almost nil. This stands in sharp contrast to his role in the official history as an important official, especially the outstanding ability and incorrupt character he displayed in the governance of Liang Province. The narrative focus of the novel rests mainly on warfare and the conflicts of major figures, and officials like Xu Miao, who excelled at local administration and internal affairs, are often given insufficient attention.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Xu Miao served the Cao Wei regime throughout his life, spanning the four rulers Cao Cao, Cao Pi, Cao Rui, and Cao Fang, holding many important offices including Aide for Military Planning to the Chancellor, Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Grand Administrator of Longxi, Inspector of Liang Province, Grand Minister of Agriculture, and Colonel-Director of Retainers—he was a pillar minister of the Cao Wei regime ^c:5473, ^c:2012, ^c:5476.
* Zhuge Liang (fights_in): While Xu Miao served as Inspector of Liang Province, he encountered Zhuge Liang's dispatch of troops to Mount Qi, which led the three commanderies of Longyou to rebel. Xu Miao reacted swiftly, dispatching his Army Adviser and the Grand Administrator of Jincheng to crush the rebels, stabilizing the situation in Liang Province and indirectly taking part in the military confrontation with Shu Han ^c:2012.
* Han Guan (friend_of): The historical sources make no mention of a relationship between Xu Miao and Han Guan; this is a fabricated relationship.

Signature Scene

* Drunkenly "Hitting the Sage": During the liquor prohibition, Xu Miao privately drank to utter drunkenness and was caught and reported by the Investigator Zhao Da. He explained his drunken state with the phrase "hitting the Sage," and nearly incurred punishment, but was spared thanks to Xianyu Fu's explanation. After Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, he still teased Xu Miao about this matter, and Xu Miao replied cleverly, displaying his wit and candor, and was thereby praised by Cao Pi as one whose "reputation is not falsely established" ^c:5473. This scene vividly depicts Xu Miao's character: even a man disciplined and prudent by nature has his spontaneous side, and is able to defuse a crisis and win his ruler's esteem.
* Governing Liang Province with Outstanding Merit: While serving as Inspector of Liang Province, Xu Miao faced the complex situation of grain shortage in a remote frontier region, the threat of Shu raiders, and the instability of the Qiang and Hu. Through a series of measures—repairing salt ponds, opening up paddy fields, confiscating private weapons, and promoting benevolent and righteous instruction—he made the people of Liang Province prosperous, society stable, the Western Regions passable, and the frontier peoples submissive. He earned merit in the campaign against the rebel Qiang chieftain Kewu, and kept himself pure and incorrupt, distributing his rewards among his officers and men and keeping no surplus wealth at home, thereby winning the Son of Heaven's commendation ^c:2012. This was the most glorious page of his political career, fully displaying his outstanding administrative talent and noble character.