CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Xun Yu荀彧
Cao Cao's strategist, opposed the granting of the Nine Bestowments, was forced to commit suicide.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 14
- RELATION RECORDS
- 18
- SOURCE WORKS
- 4
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Xun Yu, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
3 figures · 3 records＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Xun Yu→Sima Yirecommend
Xun Yu→Xun Yourecommend
Xun Yu→Guo Jiarecommend
02KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
3 figures · 3 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Xun Yu—Xun Shuangreceive funeral
Xun You—Xun Yunephew
Xun Yu—Xun Shugrandparent-grandchild
03ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
4 figures · 5 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Xun Yu—Cao Caostrategist
Xun Yu→Yuan Shaoflee to
04CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
4 figures · 4 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Cao→Xun Yuorder suicide
Xun Yu→Yuan Shaoabandon lord
05THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
3 figures · 3 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Xun Yu→Hua Tuoplead
Zhao Yan→Xun Yusuggest
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · History of Song
As Shangshu Ling, he sent someone to welcome his uncle Shuang and deliver Yong's corpse. He pleaded for Hua Tuo, but Cao Cao did not comply. As Shangshu Ling, he recommended Zhongchang Tong as Shangshu Lang.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Book of the Later Han
Xun Yu initially joined Cao Cao as a marching military advisor, and later often guarded Juancheng and Xudu. He dissuaded Cao Cao from attacking Xuzhou, proposed the strategies of 'two tigers fighting over food' and 'driving the tiger to swallow the wolf', and analyzed Yuan Shao's weaknesses, suggesting to conserve strength before launching a southern campaign. When Cao Cao was granted the Nine Bestowments, Xun Yu opposed it and was forced to death.
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.
- Official history7 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
10 relations11 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ accept advice →Xun Yu
- Xun Yu→ strategist →Cao Cao
- Cao Cao→ order suicide →Xun Yu
- Xun Yu→ abandon lord →Yuan Shao
Verified original text · 11
封彧万岁亭侯，邑一千户
reward · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
操与语大恱，曰：“吾子房也。”
assist · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend22 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations9 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ accept advice →Xun Yu
- Xun Yu→ strategist →Cao Cao
- Cao Cao→ order suicide →Xun Yu
Verified original text · 9
遂以为行军司马
employ · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10
操喜，从之
obey · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history17 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
11 relations14 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ accept advice →Xun Yu
- Xun Yu→ strategist →Cao Cao
- Cao Cao→ order suicide →Xun Yu
- Xun Yu→ flee to →Yuan Shao
Verified original text · 14
以为司马，时年二十九。
appoint · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传
表封彧为万岁亭侯。
enfeoff · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传
12 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
History of Song
1 relations1 verified quotations- Xun Yu→ strategist →Cao Cao
Verified original text · 1
荀彧止其退避
strategist · History of Song, 列传_ch. 359
History vs. fiction
Discrepancy in the description of Xun Yu's death
The commentary in Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biographies of Xun Yu, Xun You, and Jia Xu only says: 'The commentary says: Xun Yu was pure and elegant, with the demeanor of a king's assistant, yet his keen insight and foresight failed to fulfill his aspirations.' In Chapter 61 of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it explicitly describes his sigh: 'Xun Yu sighed and said: "I did not expect to see this matter today!" ... Wenruo's talent was renowned throughout the world; pitifully, he lost his footing in the powerful family.' This attributes his death to his opposition to Cao Cao's advancement to Duke of Wei.
Relationship network
- accept advice← Cao Cao → Xun Yuhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 17Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 30Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 37Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
Original text (8)
封彧万岁亭侯，邑一千户
Original relation: reward · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
遂以为行军司马
Original relation: employ · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10
操喜，从之
Original relation: obey · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
荀彧谏曰
乃作书遣人赴许昌问荀彧。
Original relation: ask plan · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 30
操从之
以为司马，时年二十九。
Original relation: appoint · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传
表封彧为万岁亭侯。
Original relation: enfeoff · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传
- strategistXun Yu → Cao Caohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·和常杨杜赵裴传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 21Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 61Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传History of Song, 列传_ch. 359
Original text (8)
操与语大恱，曰：“吾子房也。”
Original relation: assist · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
荀彧入谏曰：“昔高祖保关中，光武据河内，皆深根固本，以正天下。进足以胜敌，退足以坚守，故虽有困，终济大业。明公本首事兖州，且河、济乃天下之要地，是亦昔之关中、河内也。今若取徐州，多留兵则不足用，少留兵则吕布乘虚寇之，是无兖州也。若徐州不得，明公安所归乎？今陶谦虽死，已有刘备守之。徐州之民，既已服备，必助备死战。明公弃兖州面取徐州，是弃大而就小，去本而求末，以安而易危也：愿熟思之。”
Original relation: remonstrate · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
彧又曰：“可写书与车胄就内图之。”
Original relation: offer plan · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 21
侍中荀彧曰……不可。丞相本兴义兵
彧报曰：“辄白曹公，公文下郡，绵绢悉以还民。”
Original relation: report · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·和常杨杜赵裴传
与荀彧书，议欲还许。彧以为
彧去绍从太祖。太祖大恱曰：“吾之子房也。”
Original relation: offer service · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传
荀彧止其退避
- order suicide← Cao Cao → Xun Yuhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·荀彧荀攸贾诩传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 61Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
Original text (3)
操馈之食，发视，乃空器也，于是饮药而卒
操闻深恨之，以为不助己也
Original relation: force to death · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 61
太祖馈彧食，發之乃空器也，於是饮药而卒。
Original text (2)
初平二年，乃去绍从操
遂以奇兵破绍，绍退走
Original relation: defeat · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
Original text (1)
彧独将宗族至冀州。而袁绍已夺馥位，待彧以上宾之礼。
Original text (1)
三年，遂擒吕布，定徐州
Original text (1)
戏志才等，皆称其举
Original text (1)
进彧为汉侍中，守尚书令。
Original text (1)
彧又进操计谋之士从子攸
Original text (1)
荀攸字公达，彧从子也。
Original text (1)
荀彧请曰：“佗术实工，人命所县，宜含宥之。”
Original text (1)
戏志才等，皆称其举
Original text (2)
遣人西迎叔父爽
兄子悦、彧并知名
Original relation: uncle-nephew · Book of the Later Han, 荀韩锺陈列传
Original text (1)
朗陵令淑之孙也
Original text (1)
彧以为太祖本兴义兵以匡朝寧国，秉忠贞之诚，守退让之实；君子爱人以德，不宜如此。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
乃书与荀彧曰：“今阳安郡当送绵绢，道路艰阻，必致寇害
Original text (1)