Xu Jing许靖

History vs. fiction

The official history records that Xu Jing was initially slighted by Liu Bei for attempting to defect over the city wall, and only after Fa Zheng's persuasion was he treated generously; the novel does not mention Liu Bei's slight or Fa Zheng's persuasion, but directly appoints him as Chief Clerk.

• based on factXu Jing was slighted by Liu Bei after his failed attempt to defect over the city wall

  The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biographies of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng records: 'Zhang's Shu commandery administrator Xu Jing was about to defect over the city wall, but the matter was discovered and did not succeed. Zhang, seeing that danger and ruin were near, did not execute Jing. After Zhang submitted, the Former Lord (Liu Bei) slighted Jing for this and did not employ him. Zheng (Fa Zheng) said... 'You should show him respect...' The Former Lord then treated Jing generously.' In the official history, Liu Bei initially looked down on him because of his attempted defection, and only after Fa Zheng's persuasion did he receive generous treatment. However, in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 65 only writes: 'Suddenly it was reported that Shu commandery administrator Xu Jing had defected over the city wall and surrendered.' After that, when Xuande rewarded his officials, Xu Jing was directly appointed as Left General's Chief Clerk, without mentioning Liu Bei's initial slight or Fa Zheng's persuasion, simplifying the plot.