CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Xu You许攸
Advisor to Yuan Shao, later defected to Cao Cao, offered the plan at Wuchao, killed due to his achievements.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 5
- RELATION RECORDS
- 11
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Xu You, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
2 figures · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Cao Cao—Xu Youold acquaintance
Ji Kang—Xu Youfather-son
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
2 figures · 4 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Xu You→Cao Caoflee to
Yuan Shao→Xu Youemploy
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Cao→Xu Youkill
Yuan Shao→Xu Yourebuke
Xu Chu→Xu Youslay
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Xu You→Cao Caooffer plan
Du Xi→Xu Youpersuaded to submit
9 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
A general who held troops and did not submit to Cao Cao, persuaded by Du Xi. Had old ties with Cao Cao, killed for relying on his achievements. Xu You of Nanyang participated in Wang Fen's plot to depose the emperor.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Xu You initially served as an advisor to Yuan Shao, advocating for military action. During the Battle of Guandu, because Yuan Shao did not accept his advice, he defected to Cao Cao and offered the plan to burn the grain stores at Wuchao, helping Cao Cao defeat Yuan's army. Later, he followed Cao Cao to pacify Jizhou and proposed a plan to flood the city. Because he was arrogant about his achievements and spoke rudely, he was killed by Xu Chu.
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.
- Literature / legend4 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
6 relations6 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ courteous reception →Xu You
- Cao Cao→ old acquaintance →Xu You
- Xu You→ flee to →Cao Cao
- Xu You→ offer plan →Cao Cao
Verified original text · 6
操先拜于地。攸慌扶起曰：“公乃汉相，吾乃布衣，何谦恭如此？”
courteous reception · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 30
许攸献计曰
ruler-subject · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32
4 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history7 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
6 relations6 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ kill →Xu You
- Xu You→ flee to →Cao Cao
- Xu You→ strategist →Yuan Shao
- Yuan Shao→ employ →Xu You
Verified original text · 6
皆以恃旧不虔见诛
kill · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·崔毛徐何邢鲍司马传
来奔，因说公击琼等。
flee to · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
4 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
Cao Cao barefoot welcomes Xu You
- novel inventionThe classic detail in the novel where Cao Cao 'barefoot came out to welcome' Xu You is not recorded in Chen Shou's main text.
In Chapter 30 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Xu You defects to Cao Cao's camp, Cao Cao is overjoyed: 'Without waiting to put on shoes, he came out barefoot to welcome... Cao Cao bowed to the ground first.' This detail, showing his eagerness for talent, is deeply ingrained. However, comparing with Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Emperor Wu, Chen Shou's main text only records: 'Xu You was greedy for wealth, Shao could not satisfy him, so he came to defect, and then persuaded the Duke to attack Qiong and others.' There is no mention of 'barefoot welcome' or kneeling. This vivid detail actually comes from the anecdote in Pei Songzhi's annotation quoting the 'Cao Man Zhuan'. It can be seen that the novel, in order to shape the character, directly absorbed the unofficial historical hearsay from Pei's annotation and transplanted it into the main plot of the story.
Relationship network
- courteous reception← Cao Cao → Xu YoulitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 30Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32
Original text (2)
操先拜于地。攸慌扶起曰：“公乃汉相，吾乃布衣，何谦恭如此？”
许攸献计曰
Original relation: ruler-subject · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
子远与吾旧交，故相戏耳。
- flee toXu You → Cao Caohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 30
Original text (1)
来奔，因说公击琼等。
Original text (1)
攸曰：“袁绍军粮辎重，尽积乌巢，今拨淳于琼把守。琼嗜酒无备；公可选精兵……
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
绍见书大怒曰：“滥行匹夫！尚有面目于吾前献计耶！
Original text (1)
许攸，智计之士也，为之谋
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
袭曰：“夫惟贤知贤，惟圣知圣，凡人安能知非凡人邪？