Ju Shou

Historical Record

Ju Shou, styled Gongyu, was a native of Guangping. From a young age he harbored grand ambitions and was rich in strategy. He once served as an Aide-de-camp (bie jia) of his province, was nominated as a man of flourishing talent (maocai), held office as magistrate of two counties, and later became Aide-de-camp to Han Fu, who memorialized to have him appointed Cavalry Commandant.^[1] After Yuan Shao took possession of Jizhou, he summoned Ju Shou. Ju Shou offered Yuan Shao a strategy, pointing out that Yuan Shao's fame was already spread across the realm; that at the time of the deposition and enthronement his loyalty and righteousness had blazed forth; that riding out alone had made Dong Zhuo fearful, and that crossing the river northward had made Bohai bow its head. He advised Yuan Shao to consolidate the lands of the four provinces, gather the talents of heroes, command a host of a million, welcome Emperor Xian of Han in the western capital, restore the ancestral temple at Luoyi, issue commands to the realm, and punish those who had not submitted; by contending for supremacy in this way, none in the realm could withstand him. Yuan Shao was overjoyed on hearing this, calling it his heart's desire, and at once memorialized to appoint Ju Shou as Army Supervisor and General Who Rouses Might.^[1]

However, when Yuan Shao wished to welcome the Son of Heaven and make Ye the capital, Ju Shou again advised him, stressing that welcoming the court was both a matter of great righteousness and an urgent priority; if not planned early, someone would surely act first. He pointed out that authority lies in not missing the moment, and that merit lies in swiftness, urging Yuan Shao to plan for it. But Guo Tu, Chunyu Qiong, and others held the opposing view, arguing that the house of Han had long been in decline, and that welcoming the Son of Heaven would instead constrain Yuan Shao's authority. Yuan Shao failed to adopt Ju Shou's advice.^[2]

Before the Battle of Guandu, Ju Shou and Tian Feng again remonstrated, holding that years of continuous campaigning had exhausted the people, the granaries had no reserves, and it was not the time to raise a great army. They advised first sending an envoy to present a report of triumph to the Son of Heaven, attending to farming and giving the people respite; if the way was not opened, then to memorialize that the Cao clan was blocking the royal road, and afterward to advance and garrison Liyang, gradually develop operations south of the river, increase the building of boats and ships, repair weapons and equipment, and dispatch detachments of elite cavalry to raid the enemy's borders, leaving Cao Cao no peace, while their own side awaited the weary at ease—within three years the great enterprise could be settled. However, Shen Pei and Guo Tu argued for an immediate attack, holding that Yuan Shao was a divine warrior who straddled the strong and populous lands north of the Yellow River, and that to strike Cao Cao would be as easy as turning over one's hand. Ju Shou rebutted that rescuing from chaos and punishing the violent are the marks of a righteous army, while relying on numbers and strength is the mark of an arrogant army; that Cao Cao's laws were already enforced and his soldiers well drilled, not to be compared with Gongsun Zan; and that to abandon a course of perfect safety and raise an army without just cause was truly a cause for worry on Yuan Shao's behalf. Guo Tu and the others cited King Wu's campaign against Zhou as a precedent, and slandered Ju Shou, saying, "He supervises and controls both inner and outer affairs, and his might overawes the whole army. If his influence grows, how will he be controlled?" Because of this Yuan Shao grew suspicious of Ju Shou and divided the office of Army Supervisor among three commanders, with Ju Shou, Guo Tu, and Chunyu Qiong each in charge of one army.^[2]

Yuan Shao advanced his army to Liyang and sent Yan Liang to attack Liu Yan at Baima. Ju Shou remonstrated that Yan Liang was impatient and narrow in temperament, and that though valiant he should not be entrusted with sole command; Yuan Shao did not heed him. Yan Liang was in the end defeated and beheaded by Cao Cao.^[3] After Yuan Shao crossed the river, Ju Shou again remonstrated that the army should remain garrisoned at Yanjin and divide its forces toward Guandu; if victorious, it would not be too late to recall them, but if there were trouble, the host would not be able to return. Yuan Shao still did not heed him. Facing the river, Ju Shou lamented, "Above, ambition is overflowing; below, merit is the only pursuit. O endless Yellow River, shall I ever return?" and resigned on the pretext of illness. Yuan Shao thereupon resented him and assigned the troops under his command to Guo Tu.^[3]

As the Battle of Guandu dragged on, Yuan Shao's army ran short of grain. Yuan Shao sent Chunyu Qiong and others with over ten thousand troops to escort supply carts from the north. Ju Shou suggested dispatching the general Jiang Qi to form a separate supporting force on the flank, to cut off Cao Cao's raiders, but Yuan Shao once more refused. Chunyu Qiong was finally routed by Cao Cao at Wuchao, and Yuan Shao's army collapsed. Ju Shou was unable to cross the river with Yuan Shao and was captured by Cao Cao's forces. Cao Cao had an old acquaintance with Ju Shou and treated him generously, but Ju Shou still schemed to return to the Yuan clan, and in the end was put to death.^[3]

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Ju Shou is portrayed as a loyal and far-sighted strategist whose repeated accurate predictions and advice went unheeded because of Yuan Shao's stubborn self-will, ultimately leading to Yuan Shao's downfall.^[4]

Ju Shou first appears during Yuan Shao's seizure of Jizhou. At that time Yuan Shao exploited the conflict between Gongsun Zan and Han Fu and finally succeeded in taking control of Jizhou. Ju Shou, together with Tian Feng, Xu You, and Feng Ji, was then appointed by Yuan Shao as a strategist to share charge of provincial affairs.^[5]

On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Ju Shou and Tian Feng together advised Yuan Shao, advocating a protracted strategy; they held that Cao Cao's army was short of provisions and would profit from a swift battle, while Yuan Shao's army had grain and should hold defensively at a measured pace, so that with the passage of months Cao's army would defeat itself without a fight. However, Yuan Shao was misled by the pro-war faction of Guo Tu, Shen Pei, and others, who held that the advice of Ju Shou and Tian Feng was sapping the army's morale; he even imprisoned Tian Feng and rebuked Ju Shou.^[4] Seeing Tian Feng imprisoned, Ju Shou sensed that the tide was turning against them; he gave away his entire family fortune and took leave of his kinsmen, lamenting, "I go off with the army—if we win, my prestige will know no bounds, but if we lose, I will not be able to preserve even my own life!"^[6]

When Yan Liang attacked Baima, Ju Shou again remonstrated, pointing out that Yan Liang was impatient and narrow in temperament and, though valiant, should not be entrusted with sole command; Yuan Shao did not heed him, and Yan Liang was in the end beheaded by Guan Yu.^[7] After Yan Liang's defeat and death, Yuan Shao wished to behead Liu Bei, but Ju Shou pointed out that the one who had slain Yan Liang must be Guan Yu.^[8]

When Yuan Shao wished to cross the Yellow River in pursuit of Cao Cao, Ju Shou again proposed the strategy of remaining garrisoned at Yanjin and dividing forces toward Guandu, but Yuan Shao angrily denounced him for sapping the army's morale, locked Ju Shou up within the army, and declared that after defeating Cao he would punish him together with Tian Feng.^[9][10] On the eve of the raid on the Wuchao grain stores, Ju Shou observed the heavens at night and discovered that Venus was moving in retrograde, encroaching upon the divisions of the Ox and the Dipper; sensing the danger of a raiding enemy, he hurried to seek an audience with Yuan Shao and advised strengthening the defenses at Wuchao. However, Yuan Shao regarded him as an offender uttering wild words to mislead the multitude; instead he had the guard watching over Ju Shou executed and continued to keep Ju Shou imprisoned.^[11]

After Yuan Shao's defeat, Ju Shou, being imprisoned, was unable to escape and was captured by Cao Cao's forces. Cao Cao treated him with great courtesy, praised his loyalty and righteousness, and lamented, "Had I obtained you earlier, the realm would give me no cause for concern." But Ju Shou's heart still belonged to the Yuan clan; he attempted to steal a horse and return to Yuan, and was in the end put to death by Cao Cao. Ju Shou's expression did not change even unto death, and Cao Cao lamented, "I have wrongly killed a man of loyalty and righteousness!" He had him buried with generous rites, raising a grave for him at the Yellow River ford, with the inscription "Tomb of the Loyal and Valiant Lord Ju."^[12]

Key Relationships

* Yuan Shao (advises_in, advisor): Ju Shou was an important strategist of Yuan Shao, repeatedly offering him sound counsel, such as advising him to welcome Emperor Xian in order to command the realm^[1], advising a protracted strategy before the Battle of Guandu^[2], and warning of the grain raid before the Battle of Wuchao^[11] (unique to the novel). However, Yuan Shao often failed to heed his words, ultimately leading to his downfall.
* Yuan Shao's Faction (advisor): As one of the core strategists of Yuan Shao's Faction, Ju Shou planned and schemed for Yuan Shao together with Tian Feng, Xu You, Guo Tu, Shen Pei, and others. His strategic views were similar to those of Tian Feng, both advocating steady, methodical advance, in contrast to the aggressive proposals of Guo Tu, Shen Pei, and others.^[2]
* Yan Liang (advises_in): Before Yan Liang's attack on Baima, Ju Shou had reminded Yuan Shao that Yan Liang was impatient in temperament and should not be entrusted with sole command.^[3] This advice is also reflected in the novel^[7], but Yuan Shao failed to adopt it, leading to Yan Liang's death in battle.
* Cao Cao (betrayed_by): After Yuan Shao's defeat, Ju Shou was captured by Cao Cao. Cao Cao treated him with great courtesy and admired his talent, but Ju Shou's heart still belonged to the Yuan clan; he attempted to flee back and was in the end put to death by Cao Cao.^[12]

Iconic Scenes

* Offering Yuan Shao the strategy of welcoming the Son of Heaven: Ju Shou presented Yuan Shao with the strategy of "holding the Son of Heaven to command the lords," pointing out that Yuan Shao should welcome Emperor Xian of Han in the western capital, restore the ancestral temple at Luoyi, and issue commands to the realm, contending for supremacy in this way so that none could withstand him. Yuan Shao was overjoyed at this and appointed Ju Shou as Army Supervisor.^[1] Although this advice was ultimately not adopted by Yuan Shao, its strategic vision was far-sighted, coinciding with Cao Cao's later success.
* Forcefully urging a protracted strategy before the Battle of Guandu: Before the Battle of Guandu, Ju Shou and Tian Feng together forcefully urged Yuan Shao to adopt a protracted strategy, holding that Cao Cao's army was short of provisions and that they should await the weary at ease. However, Yuan Shao was misled by the pro-war faction and failed to heed them; instead he grew suspicious of Ju Shou and split up his office of Army Supervisor.^[2] In the novel, Yuan Shao went further and imprisoned Ju Shou.^[10]
* Warning of the Wuchao grain raid: In the novel, on the eve of the Battle of Wuchao, Ju Shou observed the heavens at night and foresaw Venus moving in retrograde, encroaching upon the divisions of the Ox and the Dipper; judging that the grain depot at Wuchao might face the danger of a raid, he hurried to advise Yuan Shao to strengthen its defenses. However, Yuan Shao regarded this as malicious words to mislead the multitude and failed to adopt it.^[11] (unique to the novel)
* Loyal and unyielding after capture: After Yuan Shao's defeat, Ju Shou was captured by Cao Cao. Although Cao Cao treated him with great courtesy and praised his talent, Ju Shou's heart still belonged to the Yuan clan; he attempted to steal a horse and return to Yuan, and was in the end put to death. His expression did not change even unto death, displaying his loyal and unyielding character.^[12] Cao Cao buried him with generous rites and inscribed his tomb "Tomb of the Loyal and Valiant Lord Ju."^[12] (unique to the novel)