CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Yang Xiu杨修
Cao Cao's chief clerk during the Three Kingdoms period, learned and eloquent, but arrogant and unrestrained, ultimately killed by Cao Cao.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 3
- RELATION RECORDS
- 5
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Yang Xiu, 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
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Yang Xiu→Cao Zhiassist
Source record
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
1 figure · 1 record＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Cao Cao→Yang Xiuregistrar
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Cao→Yang Xiuslay
Yang Xiu→Cao Zhially
Yang Xiu→Zhang Songdebate
5 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Cao Cao's chief clerk, supported Cao Zhi, and was killed by Cao Cao. He was killed because he sided with Cao Zhi. As chief clerk, he understood Cao Cao's 'chicken rib' remark.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Yang Xiu served as a minister in the Shang dynasty, deliberating with Bi Gan and others. During the Three Kingdoms period, he was Cao Cao's chief clerk, learned and eloquent, once debating with Zhang Song and deciphering hidden meanings in inscriptions. He was arrogant and unrestrained, writing model answers for Cao Zhi, and was ultimately killed by Cao Cao for causing confusion in the army.
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 / legend3 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations2 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ slay →Yang Xiu
- Yang Xiu→ assist →Cao Zhi
- Yang Xiu→ debate →Zhang Song
Verified original text · 2
喝刀斧手推出斩之，将首级号令于辕门外。
slay · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 72
修亦自恃其才，小觑天下之士。当时见张松言语讥讽，遂邀出外面书院中
debate · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 60
- Official history4 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations3 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ slay →Yang Xiu
- Cao Cao→ registrar →Yang Xiu
- Yang Xiu→ ally →Cao Zhi
Verified original text · 3
以罪诛修
kill · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传
主簿杨修
registrar · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The direct cause of Yang Xiu's execution
- novel inventionThe direct cause of Yang Xiu's execution.
The novel describes that Yang Xiu was executed by Cao Cao for revealing his intention to retreat in the 'chicken rib' incident, on charges of disturbing the army's morale (Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 72: 'Cao Cao angrily said, 'How dare you spread rumors to disturb my army's morale!' and ordered the executioners to take him out and behead him.'). In official history, the main reason for Yang Xiu's execution was his involvement in the succession struggle between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. Cao Cao executed him to eliminate potential trouble (Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biographies of Ren Cheng, Chen, and Xiao: 'The Grand Ancestor, having considered the changes from beginning to end, and because Yang Xiu was talented and resourceful, and also a nephew of the Yuan family, therefore executed Xiu on some charge.').
Relationship network
- slay← Cao Cao → Yang Xiuhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 72
Original text (2)
喝刀斧手推出斩之，将首级号令于辕门外。
以罪诛修
Original relation: kill · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
修亦自恃其才，小觑天下之士。当时见张松言语讥讽，遂邀出外面书院中