CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Xu Shu徐庶

Wei (Cao)History × Fiction

Disguised as Shan Fu, actually Xu Shu, appointed military advisor by Liu Bei.

DIRECT FIGURES
4
RELATION RECORDS
8
SOURCE WORKS
2

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Xu Shu, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

2 figures · 4 records
02
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

2 figures · 2 records
03
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

2 figures · 2 records

6 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms

A Qin dynasty alchemist, led boys and girls into the sea to seek the elixir of immortality, stopped at Danzhou. ; A close friend of Zhuge Liang, once recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei.

In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Disguised as Shan Fu, actually Xu Shu, appointed military advisor by Liu Bei. ; Xu Shu, disguised as Shan Fu, served as Liu Bei's military advisor, devised plans to defeat Cao Ren, later resigned because his mother was imprisoned. ; Originally served Liu Bei, defected to Cao Cao because his mother was imprisoned, after her death he kept vigil at her tomb.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. 7 profile notes
    7 relations11 verified quotations
    • Cao CaodispatchXu Shu
    • Xu Shuflee toCao Cao
    • Xu Shumilitary advisorLiu Bei
    • Xu Shubid farewellLiu Bei
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 操乃召徐庶至,谓曰

      dispatch · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 41

    2. 若得元直去,吾无忧矣

      dispatch · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 48

    9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. 2 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Cao CaokillXu Shu
    • Xu Shumilitary advisorLiu Bei
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 乃遣刺客杀之。

      kill · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·董二袁刘传

    2. 诸葛孔明者,卧龙也

      recommend · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·诸葛亮传

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History vs. fiction

A famous Wei and Shu scholar-official who, in official history, was chivalrous and fond of martial arts before turning to study, and who recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei.

  • According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei, saying, 'Zhuge Kongming is the Sleeping Dragon.' Later, because his mother was captured, he took leave of Liu Bei and went to Wei.

  • The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Wen Hui and others record that Xu Shu rose to the positions of Right General of the Household and Censor-in-Chief in Wei. The saying 'in Cao Cao's camp, he never spoke a word' is a legend.

Relationship network

5 figures · 22 links
Xu ShuXu ShuCao CaoCao CaoLiu BeiLiu BeiZhuge LiangZhuge LiangPang TongPang Tong
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·诸葛亮传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 35; Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·董二袁刘传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 36; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 37; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 38; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 39; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 41

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.