Yang Xi

Historical Record

Yang Xi, courtesy name Wenran, was a native of Wuyang in Qianwei. In his youth he was already as renowned as Cheng Qi of Baxi, Yang Tai of Ba Commandery, and Zhang Biao of Shu Commandery^[1]. Yang Xi especially esteemed Cheng Qi as the foremost among them, and Chancellor Zhuge Liang was well aware of this. In his early twenties, Yang Xi began as a provincial recording clerk and rose to military supervisory attendant, in charge of criminal cases. In judging cases and applying the law he was decisive in resolving difficult matters and praised as fair and proper, after which he was recruited by the office as registrar^[1].

After Zhuge Liang died, Yang Xi served as gentleman of the right selection bureau in the imperial secretariat. The inspector Jiang Wan then invited him to serve as administrative attendant. When Jiang Wan was appointed Grand General and opened his own office, he again recruited Yang Xi as an eastern bureau aide, and later promoted him to advisor of the southern gentlemen-of-the-household, assisting the commander of Nanzhong while concurrently serving as Administrator of Jianning. After being recalled to Chengdu due to illness, he was appointed army-protector supervisor, then went out as Administrator of Zitong, and finally returned to court as colonel of archers who shoot by sound. In whatever post he held, Yang Xi was known for being incorruptible, frugal, and untroubling to the people^[1].

Though Yang Xi's nature was simple and indolent and he was not given to fine speech, he never sought to please others with sweet words, nor did he overstep propriety to cultivate the powerful. In handling official affairs, his documents were terse and to the point, with hardly any redundancy^[2]. Yet toward old friends he was deeply sincere and warmly honest. He had known Han Yan and Li Tao of Baxi since childhood, and their friendship was deep. Later, when Han Yan fell gravely ill and bedridden, and Li Tao was cast off by the world for misconduct, Yang Xi consistently supported and relieved them, treating them with the same generous kindness as before^[2].

At the time, people held that Qiao Zhou had no talent for the age, and few respected him; only Yang Xi valued Qiao Zhou, once praising him: "We of the younger generation, in the end, cannot match this venerable elder." Discerning people therefore esteemed Yang Xi all the more^[2].

In the twentieth year of Yanxi (257 CE), Yang Xi followed Grand General Jiang Wei on campaign as far as Mangshui. Yang Xi had long been unconvinced by Jiang Wei in his heart, and in his cups, amid talk and laughter, he often let slip arrogant and mocking remarks. Jiang Wei appeared magnanimous outwardly but harbored deep resentment within and could not tolerate it. After the army returned, the relevant officials, following Jiang Wei's intent, impeached Yang Xi, and he was reduced to a commoner. In the fourth year of Jingyao (261 CE), Yang Xi died^[1].

During Jiang Wan's tenure, the eastern bureau aide Yang Xi was simple in nature and not given to speech. When Jiang Wan conversed with him, Yang Xi sometimes gave no reply. Someone wished to slander Yang Xi before Jiang Wan, saying: "When you speak to Yang Xi he does not respond—is it not too much for Yang Xi to be so arrogant toward his superior!" But Jiang Wan said: "Men's hearts differ, just as their faces do; to comply to one's face but speak ill behind one's back is what the ancients warned against. If Yang Xi wished to agree with my words, that would not be his true heart; if he wished to refute my words, it would expose me as wrong. So he keeps silent—this is Yang Xi's virtue."^[3]

In the Novel

(No novel material)

Key Relationships

* Jiang Wan (serves): Yang Xi served as Jiang Wan's administrative attendant and eastern bureau aide. Jiang Wan showed great understanding and tolerance of Yang Xi's reticence, regarding it as a sign of Yang Xi's sincerity rather than arrogance^[3]. This attitude of Jiang Wan's reflected his character of "holding to the Way in his likes and dislikes"^[3].
* Cheng Qi (friend_of): In his youth Yang Xi was as renowned as Cheng Qi, and Yang Xi always esteemed Cheng Qi as the foremost among them^[1].
* Zhuge Liang (friend_of): Chancellor Zhuge Liang was well aware of Yang Xi's talent and character^[1]. After Zhuge Liang's death, Yang Xi continued to hold important posts in the Shu Han regime^[1].
* Jiang Wei (rival_of): Yang Xi had long been unconvinced by Jiang Wei in his heart, and once spoke arrogantly and mockingly to Jiang Wei while drunk. Jiang Wei harbored resentment as a result, leading to Yang Xi being reduced to a commoner^[1].
* Han Yan, Li Tao (friend_of): Yang Xi had been close to the two since childhood, and even after they fell into ruin, Yang Xi remained loyal to old friendships, doing his utmost to support and relieve them, with affection as warm as before^[2].
* Qiao Zhou (respects): When others thought little of Qiao Zhou, Yang Xi alone had discernment, greatly respected him, and praised his talent^[2].

Signature Scenes

* Jiang Wan understands Yang Xi's silence: When Jiang Wan conversed with Yang Xi, Yang Xi sometimes gave no reply. Someone sought to slander Yang Xi over this, but Jiang Wan held that Yang Xi's silence was a sign of his sincerity—unwilling to feign agreement or to refute directly—reflecting Yang Xi's "dwelling in sincerity and abiding in generosity," while also displaying Jiang Wan's magnanimity and judgment of men^[3].
* Mocking Jiang Wei while drunk: Yang Xi had long been unconvinced by Jiang Wei, and on one occasion, in his cups, his words betrayed arrogance and mockery toward Jiang Wei. This directly provoked Jiang Wei's resentment and ultimately led to Yang Xi being reduced to a commoner. This event vividly embodies Yang Xi's character—"simple, indolent, and sparing, not flattering others with sweet words"—and his side that disdained power and dared to express his true thoughts, but it also reflects his poor skill in handling complex relationships, especially his bluntness toward superiors^[1].
* Supporting old friends: Yang Xi consistently gave both material and moral aid to the ailing Han Yan and the disreputable Li Tao, with affection as warm as before. This fully displays his character of "loyalty to old friendships, dwelling in sincerity and abiding in generosity," never abandoning friends even when they fell into ruin^[2].
* Esteeming Qiao Zhou alone: When the world generally thought little of Qiao Zhou's talent, Yang Xi alone had the discernment to praise his talent highly, saying, "We of later generations, in the end, cannot match this elder." This reflects not only Yang Xi's judgment of men but also his character of independent judgment, refusing to follow the crowd^[2].