Cheng Yu

Historical Record

Cheng Yu, styled Zhongde, was a native of Dong'e in Dong Commandery. He was eight chi and three cun tall, with a fine beard. During the Yellow Turban turmoil, the county aide Wang Du rose in revolt, burned the granaries, and the magistrate abandoned the town and fled. Cheng Yu used a stratagem to make the people believe that the rebel troops had already arrived, thereby drawing them back into the town to hold it firmly. Unable to take the town, Wang Du was met by Cheng Yu, who led the people out to attack, defeated Wang Du, and preserved Dong'e County. ^c:12963

During the Chuping era, Liu Dai, Inspector of Yanzhou, summoned Cheng Yu to office, but Cheng Yu did not answer the call. At that time Liu Dai was on good terms with both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan; later Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan fell out, and after Gongsun Zan defeated Yuan Shao's army he demanded that Liu Dai send back Yuan Shao's family and break with him. Liu Dai hesitated. His Aide-of-the-Outer-Carriage Wang Yu recommended Cheng Yu, so Liu Dai summoned him for counsel. Cheng Yu analyzed that Gongsun Zan was no match for Yuan Shao and urged Liu Dai not to cast off the near ally Yuan Shao in favor of distant aid from Gongsun Zan. Liu Dai adopted his advice, and Gongsun Zan was indeed heavily defeated by Yuan Shao. ^c:2905

After Liu Dai was killed by the Yellow Turban Army, Cao Cao took control of Yanzhou and again summoned Cheng Yu. Cheng Yu went to take up the post; after speaking with him, Cao Cao was greatly pleased and appointed Cheng Yu magistrate of Shouzhang. When Cao Cao campaigned against Xu Province, he ordered Cheng Yu and Xun Yu to hold Juancheng. Zhang Miao and others revolted and welcomed Lü Bu, and the commanderies and counties responded one after another—only the three towns of Juancheng, Fan, and Dong'e did not stir. Defectors from Lü Bu's army said that Chen Gong intended to attack Dong'e and had also sent Fan Yi to attack Fan. Xun Yu held that Cheng Yu was a man the people looked to, and urged him to return home and persuade them. Cheng Yu first went to Fan County and persuaded the magistrate Jin Yun, who then assassinated Fan Yi and held the town fast. Cheng Yu also dispatched cavalry to cut off the Cangting Ford, preventing Chen Gong from crossing the river. When Cheng Yu reached Dong'e, the magistrate Zao Zhi had already led the officials and people in firm defense. Through the coordinated planning of Cheng Yu and the Yanzhou Attendant Officer Xue Ti, the three towns were preserved and held out for Cao Cao's return. When Cao Cao came back, he grasped Cheng Yu's hand and said, "Without your efforts, I would have had nowhere to return." He then memorialized to make Cheng Yu Chancellor of Dongping, stationing his troops at Fan County. ^c:2906

Cao Cao fought Lü Bu unfavorably at Puyang, and with a locust plague upon them both armies withdrew. Yuan Shao sent men to urge Cao Cao to move his base to Ye, and Cao Cao, having newly lost Yanzhou and exhausted his grain, was inclined to agree. Cheng Yu happened to return at this time, and upon learning of it he remonstrated with Cao Cao, pointing out that although Yuan Shao was strong, his wits were not equal to the task, and that Cao Cao should not submit beneath him. He stressed that although Yanzhou was ravaged, it still held three towns and over ten thousand elite troops, and that if Cao Cao could marshal them, his hegemony could be achieved. Hearing this, Cao Cao gave up the idea of moving to Ye. ^c:2908

After Emperor Xian of Han moved the capital to Xu County, Cheng Yu was appointed a Master of Writing. Because Yanzhou was not yet fully pacified, he was also appointed General of the Household Gentlemen of the East, concurrently Administrator of Jiyin, with command over the affairs of Yanzhou. When Liu Bei lost Xu Province and came to Cao Cao, Cheng Yu urged Cao Cao to kill Liu Bei, but Cao Cao did not heed him. Later, when Cao Cao again sent Liu Bei to Xu Province to intercept Yuan Shu, Cheng Yu and Guo Jia again remonstrated, pointing out that Liu Bei was sure to harbor disloyalty. Cao Cao regretted it but could not catch up. Liu Bei indeed killed Che Zhou in Xu Province and raised troops in rebellion against Cao Cao. Soon afterward, Cheng Yu was promoted to General Who Spreads Awe. When Yuan Shao at Liyang wished to cross south, Cheng Yu held Juancheng with only seven hundred troops. Cao Cao wished to add two thousand more, but Cheng Yu reasoned that Yuan Shao, relying on his great numbers, would despise so small a force and not attack, whereas reinforcements would instead invite an assault. Cao Cao took his advice, and Yuan Shao indeed did not attack. Cao Cao once said to Jia Xu, "Cheng Yu's daring surpasses that of Meng Ben and Xia Yu." Cheng Yu later recruited several thousand desperate men and joined Cao Cao at Liyang to campaign against Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. After Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were driven off, Cheng Yu was appointed General Who Rouses Martial Might and enfeoffed as Marquis of Anguo Village. ^c:2909

When Cao Cao campaigned in Jing Province, Liu Bei fled to Wu. Everyone supposed Sun Quan would surely kill Liu Bei, but Cheng Yu predicted that Sun Quan would not kill him and would instead support Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao. He reasoned that Sun Quan had only newly come to power and was not yet feared within the realm, while Cao Cao's might shook the lands beyond the Yangtze, and Sun Quan could not stand alone. Liu Bei had a heroic reputation, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were each a match for ten thousand men, so Sun Quan would surely borrow their strength. Later Cao Cao patted Cheng Yu on the back and said, "In the defeat of Yanzhou, had I not used your words, how would I have come to this?" At a great gathering of his clansmen Cheng Yu said, "He who knows when enough is enough suffers no disgrace—I may now retire." He then requested to give up his troops and shut his gate, going out no more. ^c:2910

Cheng Yu was stern in temperament and often at odds with others. Someone accused him of plotting rebellion, but Cao Cao instead treated him with even greater favor. After the state of Wei was established, Cheng Yu served as Commandant of the Guards, but was dismissed after a dispute over ceremonial precedence with the Internal Commandant Xing Zhen. When Cao Pi ascended the throne, he again appointed Cheng Yu Commandant of the Guards, advanced his title to Marquis of Anxiang, and increased his fief by three hundred households, to eight hundred in all. He divided enfeoffments so that his younger son Cheng Yan and his grandson Cheng Xiao were made full marquises. Cao Pi had intended to appoint him one of the Three Excellencies, but Cheng Yu died at just this time. Cao Pi wept for him, posthumously granted him the rank of General of Chariots and Cavalry, and gave him the posthumous title Marquis Su. According to the Shiyu, Cao Cao had once been short of grain, and Cheng Yu had plundered his own county to supply three days' provisions, among which were mixed human jerky; for this he lost esteem at court, and so failed to attain the rank of the Three Excellencies. ^c:6020

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cheng Yu is further fashioned into an important advisor of Cao Cao, his entrance coming at the time Cao Cao was recruiting men of talent. Xun Yu recommended Cheng Yu to Cao Cao, who had long known his reputation and so invited Cheng Yu to come forth. Cheng Yu in turn recommended worthies such as Guo Jia to Cao Cao. ^c:6021

When Lü Bu seized Yanzhou, the novel makes clear that it was Xun Yu and Cheng Yu who devised the defense to hold fast the three places of Juancheng, Dong'e, and Fan County, allowing Cao Cao to keep his foothold. ^c:6022 After Cao Cao recovered Yanzhou, Cheng Yu advised advancing the troops to Puyang to fight Lü Bu. ^c:2911 After Emperor Xian of Han moved the capital to Xu, Cao Cao enfeoffed Cheng Yu as Chancellor of Dongping. ^c:6023

When Liu Bei came to Cao Cao, Cheng Yu repeatedly urged Cao Cao to kill him, holding that Liu Bei "would in the end not remain beneath others," but Cao Cao did not heed him. ^c:6024 Later, when Cao Cao sent Liu Bei to Xu Province, Cheng Yu and Guo Jia again remonstrated, pointing out that this was "releasing a dragon into the sea, loosing a tiger back to the mountains." Cao Cao regretted it and sent Xu Chu to pursue, but it was too late. ^c:2914

After the Girdle Edict affair, Cao Cao wished to depose Emperor Xian, but Cheng Yu remonstrated, pointing out that Cao Cao could command the realm because he upheld the name of the House of Han, and that to depose and replace the emperor now would spark war; Cao Cao therefore desisted. ^c:2916 Cheng Yu also advised Cao Cao to "lure Ma Teng into the capital and there deal with him," and analyzed the situations of Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, holding that Liu Bei should not be lightly moved against. ^c:2917

When Cao Cao attacked Xu Province and besieged Guan Yu at Xiapi, Cheng Yu offered a stratagem: first send Liu Bei's surrendered soldiers to feign defection to Guan Yu and draw him out to fight, then feign defeat to lure him deep in, cut off his line of retreat, and then send Zhang Liao to persuade Guan Yu to surrender. ^c:12937 After Guan Yu slew Yan Liang, Cheng Yu again offered Cao Cao a stratagem: to use Guan Yu to break Yuan Shao's troops so that Yuan Shao would suspect Liu Bei and kill him, leaving Guan Yu nowhere to go. ^c:12939 When Guan Yu took leave of Cao Cao, Cheng Yu urged Cao Cao to pursue and kill him to cut off future trouble, but Cao Cao did not heed him. ^c:2919

In the Battle of Guandu, Cheng Yu offered the stratagem of the "ambush on ten sides," luring Yuan Shao in pursuit to the river so that Cao's army fought with its back to the water and thereby defeated Yuan Shao. ^c:2920 After Cao Cao pacified the north, Cheng Yu advised him to plan against the south early. ^c:2922

After Xu Shu went over to Liu Bei, Cheng Yu offered Cao Cao a stratagem exploiting Xu Shu's filial weakness: to lure his mother to Xu Chang and have her write a letter recalling Xu Shu. When Xu Shu's mother was taken by Cao Cao, Cheng Yu again advised Cao Cao not to kill her, reasoning that to do so would invite a name for injustice and would instead steel Xu Shu's resolve to help Liu Bei seek revenge; better to keep her, so that Xu Shu would be divided in body and heart and would not exert himself in aiding Liu Bei. ^c:12951

Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, as Cao Cao drilled his navy in the river fortress, Cheng Yu pointed out that although chaining the boats together with iron made them steady, a fire attack would be hard to evade, and warned Cao Cao to guard against it. Cao Cao only laughed, holding that though Cheng Yu had foresight, there were things he had not seen. ^c:2924 On the day of the battle, when the southeast wind rose, Cheng Yu again warned Cao Cao to be on guard, but Cao Cao still paid no mind. When Huang Gai's feigned-surrender fleet drew near, Cheng Yu watched for a long while, declared that "the approaching boats must be a ruse," analyzed why, and urged Cao Cao not to let them come close—but it was already too late. ^c:2925

On Huarong Road, when Guan Yu blocked Cao Cao's path, Cheng Yu urged Cao Cao to plead with Guan Yu in person, pointing out that Guan Yu "was haughty to superiors yet could not bear to harm inferiors, scorned the strong yet would not bully the weak; clear in gratitude and grievance, and long renowned for faith and honor," and that Cao Cao, having once shown him kindness, could use it to escape the peril. ^c:2926 After Liu Bei gained Jing Province, Cao Cao was greatly alarmed; Cheng Yu analyzed that Sun Quan sending Hua Xin to memorialize on Liu Bei's behalf was meant to set Liu Bei's mind at ease, and offered a stratagem to make Sun Quan and Liu Bei swallow each other up so that Cao Cao could exploit the gap. ^c:12960

Key Relationships

* Wang Du (enemy_of): During the Yellow Turban turmoil, Cheng Yu cleverly devised a plan to defeat the rebellious county aide Wang Du and preserved Dong'e County. ^c:12963
* Liu Dai (advises_in): Liu Dai had summoned Cheng Yu, and in his entanglements with Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan adopted Cheng Yu's advice, avoiding a disadvantageous situation. ^c:2905
* Cao Wei (serves): Cheng Yu was an important advisor to Cao Cao, contributing greatly to his hegemony; Cao Cao once said, "Without your efforts, I would have had nowhere to return." ^c:2906
* Xun Yu (friend_of): Xun Yu and Cheng Yu were both early advisors of Cao Cao, close in their relations, and together devised the defense that preserved the three towns. ^c:2906 In the novel, Xun Yu even recommended Cheng Yu to Cao Cao. ^c:6021
* Lü Bu (enemy_of): Cheng Yu devised the defense holding the three towns against Lü Bu's assault. ^c:2906 In the novel, Cheng Yu also advised Cao Cao to attack Puyang and fight Lü Bu. ^c:2911
* Liu Bei (enemy_of): Cheng Yu repeatedly urged Cao Cao to kill Liu Bei, holding that Liu Bei harbored disloyalty and was a future threat. ^c:2909 In the novel, he bluntly called Liu Bei a case of "releasing a dragon into the sea, loosing a tiger back to the mountains." ^c:2914
* Yuan Shao (enemy_of): Cheng Yu urged Cao Cao not to submit to Yuan Shao and offered stratagems to defeat him. ^c:2908 In the novel, he offered the "ambush on ten sides" stratagem at the Battle of Guandu, helping Cao Cao rout Yuan Shao. ^c:2920
* Guan Yu (respects/respected_by): In the novel, on Huarong Road, Cheng Yu, well aware of Guan Yu's character as one "clear in gratitude and grievance, long renowned for faith and honor," urged Cao Cao to plead in person to escape the trap. ^c:2926
* Xu Shu (outwits): In the novel, Cheng Yu exploited Xu Shu's filial devotion, contriving to lure his mother to Xu Chang and thereby forcing Xu Shu to leave Liu Bei. ^c:2923

Signature Scenes

* Wisely Saving Dong'e: During the Yellow Turban turmoil, Cheng Yu used a ruse to draw the people back into the town to hold it, then led them to defeat Wang Du and preserve Dong'e County. ^c:12963
* Dissuading Liu Dai: When Liu Dai faced the choice between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, Cheng Yu accurately analyzed the situation and urged Liu Dai not to abandon the near for the distant, sparing Liu Dai a blunder. ^c:2905
* Holding the Three Towns to the Death: When Cao Cao campaigned against Xu Province and Zhang Miao and others revolted to welcome Lü Bu, Cheng Yu and Xun Yu together devised the defense that preserved the three towns of Juancheng, Fan, and Dong'e, keeping a foothold for Cao Cao. ^c:2906 On his return, Cao Cao grasped Cheng Yu's hand and said, "Without your efforts, I would have had nowhere to return." ^c:2906
* Dissuading Cao Cao from Moving to Ye: When Cao Cao, his grain exhausted, wished to move to Ye and attach himself to Yuan Shao, Cheng Yu argued down all dissent, urging Cao Cao not to submit beneath Yuan Shao, and firmed up Cao Cao's resolve toward hegemony. ^c:2908
* Predicting Sun Quan Would Not Kill Liu Bei: After Cao Cao's Jing Province campaign, when Liu Bei fled to Wu and everyone supposed Sun Quan would surely kill him, Cheng Yu alone predicted that Sun Quan would support Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao—and his judgment proved exactly right. ^c:2910
* Devising to Win Over Xu Shu (novel only): Cheng Yu exploited Xu Shu's filial weakness, contriving to lure his mother to Xu Chang and thereby forcing Xu Shu to leave Liu Bei, and urged Cao Cao not to kill the mother so that Xu Shu would be divided in body and heart and not exert himself in aiding Liu Bei. ^c:2923, ^c:12951
* Warning of Fire Attack Before Red Cliffs (novel only): Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cheng Yu repeatedly warned Cao Cao to guard against a fire attack, pointed out the hidden danger of the chained boats, and noted the oddness of Huang Gai's feigned-surrender fleet—but Cao Cao failed to heed him. ^c:2924, ^c:2925
* Urging Cao Cao to Plead on Huarong Road (novel only): When Cao Cao was blocked by Guan Yu on Huarong Road, Cheng Yu, knowing Guan Yu's character as one "clear in gratitude and grievance," urged Cao Cao to plead with him in person, and so they escaped the peril. ^c:2926
* Devising to Set Sun and Liu Against Each Other (novel only): After Liu Bei gained Jing Province, Cheng Yu offered Cao Cao a stratagem—by memorializing on behalf of Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu and giving heavy use to Hua Xin—to make Sun Quan and Liu Bei swallow each other up, so that Cao Cao could reap the gain as the fisherman profits from their strife. ^c:12960