Du Xi

Historical Record

Du Xi, styled Zixu, was a native of Dingling in Yingchuan. His great-grandfather Du An and grandfather Du Gen were both renowned scholars of earlier generations. In his youth Du An entered the Imperial Academy with a reputation as a prodigy, was noted for his lofty detachment from the vulgar, once bored a hole in his wall to hide his books out of unwillingness to associate with the imperial in-laws, and later, as Magistrate of Wan, fearing no power, executed a man who had come to take revenge and thereby resigned himself. He was afterward summoned and appointed Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery, transforming customs through ritual ^c:5735. Du Gen, when Empress Dowager He Xi held court, was arrested for blunt remonstrance and nearly lost his life; but because of his weighty virtue and devotion to public duty he survived, lived in seclusion for fifteen years, and only re-emerged after the empress dowager's death, rising to Grand Administrator of Jiyin, governing through virtue and yielding ^c:5735.

While taking refuge in Jing Province from the troubles, Du Xi was treated with the courtesy due a guest by Liu Biao. He once admonished his fellow countryman Fan Qin, pointing out that Liu Biao was not a lord who could quell disorder and that he should not serve him, and declaring that his own resolve was to await the right moment rather than to attach himself to Liu Biao. Hearing this, Fan Qin accepted the charge with feeling, and Du Xi thereupon went south to Changsha ^c:5735.

In the early Jian'an era, when Cao Cao welcomed Emperor Xian of Han and made Xu the capital, Du Xi fled back to his home district. Cao Cao appointed him Magistrate of Xi'e. At that time Xi'e County lay on the southern frontier and was overrun by bandits; the other magistrates had the people enter the city to protect themselves, leaving the fields desolate and the people in hardship. Du Xi, well aware that there was a bond of kindness between himself and the people, sent the old and weak to disperse and tend the fields and kept the able-bodied on guard, and the people all rejoiced. When Jing Province sent ten thousand men to attack the city, Du Xi gathered more than fifty officials and commoners and swore an oath with them. Those whose relatives were outside and who wished to protect themselves he let go, but the assembly all kowtowed and pledged to fight to the death. Du Xi personally wielded arrows and stones and led the men with united effort. The officials and people, moved by his kindness, all fought to the death for him. In this battle they slew several hundred of the enemy, while on Du Xi's side over thirty died and eighteen were wounded; in the end the city was breached. Du Xi led the wounded officials and people in breaking out of the encirclement; though casualties were heavy, not one betrayed him. He gathered the scattered people and removed them to the Mopo camp, and the officials and people, admiring his virtue, came to him as though returning to kin ^c:5736.

Later, the Director of Retainers Zhong Yao recommended Du Xi as Gentleman-Consultant and Army Adviser, and Xun Yu likewise recommended him to Cao Cao, who thereupon appointed Du Xi Libationer of the Chancellor's Army. After the state of Wei was established, Du Xi was appointed Attendant, serving together with Wang Can and He Qia. Although Wang Can was broadly learned and richly informed and was often close to Cao Cao, Cao Cao held Du Xi and He Qia in even greater esteem. Du Xi once conversed alone with Cao Cao deep into the night, and Wang Can grew jealous on that account. He Qia laughingly remarked that the affairs of the world could hardly all be known, advising Wang Can not to be too fixated ^c:2491.

Du Xi later took up the post of Chief Clerk of the Chancellor and followed Cao Cao on the campaign against Zhang Lu of Hanzhong. After Cao Cao withdrew his army, he appointed Du Xi Commandant of the Imperial Equipage and left him to oversee military affairs in Hanzhong. Du Xi soothed and enlightened the people, so that more than eighty thousand of them were glad to be relocated to Luoyang and Ye ^c:2491. After Xiahou Yuan was slain by Liu Bei, the officers and men of the army were aghast. Du Xi, together with Zhang He and Guo Huai, jointly took charge of military affairs and, as an expedient, raised Zhang He to be commander to steady the morale of the troops, and the three armies were thereby settled. When Cao Cao was returning east, he needed to select someone to remain as Chief Clerk of the Resident Office to guard Chang'an; those chosen by the officials in charge were mostly unfit, and Cao Cao sighed, "To set aside a fine steed and not ride it, why bustle about searching elsewhere?"—and finally appointed Du Xi Chief Clerk of the Resident Office to garrison Guanzhong ^c:2491.

Xu You held troops to assert himself and uttered many slights against Cao Cao. Cao Cao was furious and wished to attack him. Most of his officials urged conciliation, but Cao Cao laid his blade across his knees, his face set, and would not listen. Du Xi came in wishing to remonstrate, and Cao Cao warned him in advance: "My plan is fixed; say no more." Du Xi replied: "If Your Highness's plan is right, your servant should help Your Highness accomplish it; if Your Highness's plan is wrong, then even if accomplished it ought to be changed. For Your Highness to forbid your servant to speak—how does this differ from those below not being able to express themselves?" Cao Cao asked: "Xu You slights me—how can he be tolerated?" Du Xi countered: "What sort of man does Your Highness consider Xu You?" Cao Cao answered: "An ordinary man." Du Xi advanced his counsel: "Only the worthy know the worthy, only the sage know the sage—how can an ordinary man know one who is no ordinary man? Now, with wolves and jackals blocking the road, you would deal first with the fox; people will say Your Highness avoids the strong and attacks the weak, that to advance is no bravery and to retreat is no benevolence. I have heard that a crossbow of a thousand jun does not loose its trigger for a mouse, and a bell of ten thousand dan does not sound its note when struck by a straw. What is the trifling Xu You, that he should trouble your martial spirit?" Cao Cao praised his words, treated Xu You generously, and Xu You thereupon submitted ^c:2492. Du Xi also once advised Cao Cao, pointing out that Xiahou Shang's friendship with the crown prince did not make him a beneficial friend and did not warrant special treatment. Emperor Wen (Cao Pi) was at first displeased to hear it, but later recalled Du Xi's words with appreciation. Du Xi's character of being "gentle yet not to be transgressed" can be glimpsed from this ^c:2492.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Du Xi's image is reflected mainly in his role as an aide of Cao Cao, taking part in several important political and military events. In Chapter 66, when Cao Cao had finished reading a memorial, he called off the southern campaign, set up schools, and invited and treated men of letters with courtesy. At this time the four Attendants Wang Can, Du Xi, Wei Kai, and He Qia proposed to honor Cao Cao as King of Wei. However, the Director of the Secretariat Xun You opposed this, holding that Cao Cao had already reached the office of Duke of Wei and been granted the Nine Bestowals, his rank being already at its height, and that he should not be further advanced to the rank of king. On hearing this, Cao Cao flew into a rage, considering that Xun You was imitating Xun Yu, and Xun You thereupon fell ill from grief and indignation and died. Cao Cao afterward gave Xun You a lavish burial and temporarily set aside the matter of claiming kingship ^c:2493. In this episode, Du Xi, as one of those favoring Cao Cao's claim to the title King of Wei, differs from his image in history where he remonstrated with Cao Cao, but it still reflects his standing as Cao Cao's trusted confidant.

In Chapter 71, Du Xi is mentioned in a military action. After Huang Zhong slew Xiahou Yuan, the Cao troops collapsed in great disorder. Zhang He led troops to engage Huang Zhong but was attacked from both sides by Huang Zhong and Chen Shi and fled in defeat. Zhao Zilong then suddenly appeared, and Zhang He, greatly alarmed, led his beaten troops fleeing toward Mount Dingjun. At this point Du Xi appeared and informed Zhang He that Mount Dingjun had already been taken by Liu Feng and Meng Da. Zhang He was greatly alarmed, and together with Du Xi led the beaten troops to make camp by the Han River and sent urgent word to Cao Cao. When Cao Cao heard of Xiahou Yuan's death, he was overcome with grief and recalled Guan Lu's prophecy. Cao Cao personally led a great army to come and avenge Xiahou Yuan, with Xu Huang as vanguard. Reaching the Han River, Zhang He and Du Xi advised Cao Cao to move the provisions on Micang Mountain and store them in the North Mountain camp before advancing, and Cao Cao agreed ^c:12343. In this episode, Du Xi, as a military aide, took part in analyzing the post-battle situation and offering counsel, but his specific role in the Battle of Mount Dingjun is unattested in history.

Key Relationships

* Liu Biao's faction (defected_from): Du Xi once took refuge in Jing Province and was treated with guest courtesy by Liu Biao. But he did not think well of Liu Biao, considering him no lord to quell disorder, and ultimately chose to leave ^c:5735.
* Cao Wei (serves): Du Xi was an important strategist and official of Cao Cao, rising from Magistrate of Xi'e to Libationer of the Chancellor's Army, then Attendant, Chief Clerk of the Chancellor, and finally Chief Clerk of the Resident Office, making important contributions to the establishment and stability of the Cao Wei regime ^c:2491.
* Cao Cao (advises_in): Du Xi advised Cao Cao on many occasions, especially in handling the matter of Xu You, where with his manner of remonstrating "gently yet without transgression" he successfully persuaded Cao Cao to win over Xu You, avoiding unnecessary conflict ^c:2492. In the novel, Du Xi also took part in urging Cao Cao to become King of Wei (novel only) ^c:2493.
* Xu You (advises_in): Du Xi successfully remonstrated with Cao Cao, leading him to give up attacking Xu You, who had slighted him, and instead to treat him generously, finally bringing Xu You to submit ^c:2492.
* Zhang He and Guo Huai (cooperates_with): After Xiahou Yuan fell in battle, Du Xi, together with Zhang He and Guo Huai, steadied the morale of the troops and raised Zhang He to be commander ^c:2491.
* Wang Can and He Qia (colleagues): Du Xi served together with Wang Can and He Qia as Attendants, all held in esteem by Cao Cao ^c:2491.
* Xiahou Shang (criticizes): Du Xi once advised Cao Cao, pointing out that Xiahou Shang's friendship with the crown prince did not make him a beneficial friend ^c:2492.

Iconic Scenes

* Admonishing Fan Qin not to attach himself to Liu Biao: While in Jing Province, Du Xi bluntly told his fellow countryman Fan Qin that Liu Biao was no enlightened lord and not worth committing oneself to, displaying his ability to judge men and circumstances and his lofty aspiration ^c:5735.
* Holding the city at Xi'e, moving the officials and people: Faced with the siege of the Jing Province army, Du Xi moved the officials and people by kindness to defend the city together. Even after the city was breached, not one of the people betrayed him, and they followed him in relocation, reflecting his outstanding leadership and deep popular esteem ^c:5736.
* A solitary midnight audience, Cao Cao's esteem: Du Xi once conversed alone with Cao Cao deep into the night, and Cao Cao held him in high esteem, even provoking Wang Can's jealousy—proof of Du Xi's standing and influence in Cao Cao's mind ^c:2491.
* Gentle yet not to be transgressed, persuading Cao Cao: When Cao Cao wished to attack Xu You, Du Xi, with his distinctive manner of remonstrance, skillfully led Cao Cao to recognize that Xu You was no great threat, finally persuading him to win over Xu You and avoiding an unnecessary conflict, fully displaying his character of being "gentle yet not to be transgressed" and his superb political wisdom ^c:2492.
* Stabilizing Hanzhong, soothing the people: After Xiahou Yuan fell in battle, Du Xi, together with Zhang He and Guo Huai, steadied the morale of the troops. He also, while overseeing the army in Hanzhong, soothed and enlightened the people, so that more than eighty thousand of them were glad to be relocated, displaying his outstanding ability in governance ^c:2491.
* Deliberating to honor Cao Cao as King of Wei (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Du Xi, together with Wang Can and others, deliberated to honor Cao Cao as King of Wei; though opposed by Xun You, this also reflects his core standing within Cao Cao's group and his support for Cao Cao ^c:2493.
* Offering counsel after the Battle of Mount Dingjun (novel only): After Xiahou Yuan fell in battle, Du Xi, together with Zhang He, advised Cao Cao to move the provisions, providing a strategy for Cao Cao's subsequent military actions and displaying his supporting role in military matters ^c:12343.