Xu You 許攸 was an advisor to Yuan Shao. During the Battle of Guandu, he defected to Cao Cao and told him about Yuan Shao's poorly defended supply base in Wuchao, eventually leading to Yuan Shao's defeat. However, his brazen attitude after his pivotal role irritated Cao Cao and soon, Xu You was executed.
Biography[]
Not much is known about Xu You's early life aside that he was a friend of both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.[1] He was part of a plot led by Wang Fen 王芬 to depose Emperor Ling in favor of the Marquis of Hefei. The plot failed, though Xu You managed to escape any sort of punishment.[2] After this, Xu You served Yuan Shao. He did not participate in the debate for the next heir of the Yuan family, but he was hated by his fellow peers due to his greediness, with his wife arrested as a warning. Shen Pei 審配 told Yuan Shao that Xu You's family were locked up on charges of corruption, which made Yuan Shao more careful when dealing with him.
Xu You became an adviser at the Battle of Guandu and kept advising Yuan Shao to send troops to defend their lightly defended supply depot at Wuchao. Yuan Shao however did not heed his advise and told him, "You still have the cheek to present your strategies in front of me?" Xu You was furious at his response and quickly left Yuan Shao's services and joined Cao Cao.
During his service to Cao Cao, he informed the warlord about Yuan Shao's granaries at Wuchao and advised him to attack there disguised as Yuan Shao's men to completely drain the entire morale of the Yuan army. Cao Cao's men were suspicious of him but Xun You and Jia Xu urged Cao Cao to take his plan into action. The plan worked and Wuchao was all burnt down by Cao Cao's men. It is said that when Cao Cao was presented with the captured yet defiant Chunyu Qiong, Xu You successfully advocated for his execution, saying, "Tomorrow, he will look in a mirror and become a person that would gradually never forget [a humiliation]."[3]
After the Battle of Guandu and subsequent victorious battles against the Yuan clan's forces, Xu You became increasingly proud of himself and showed no signs of restraining his behavior. Soon, Xu You addressed Cao Cao in public by his childhood name, and even claimed, "Aman, sir, if you did not get me, then you would not get Ji Province!" Cao Cao laughed and said, "Your words are true!" Although Cao Cao acted friendly, he was secretly furious at Xu You. Finally, Xu You was reported to have said to his retinue at Ye's Eastern Gates, "If that family did not get me, then they would not be able to leave or enter these gates!" An irritated Cao Cao had him arrested and executed.[4]
Notes[]
Fact vs. Fiction[]
Historically…
- …Xu You was executed not by Xu Chu, but by Cao Cao.
References[]
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Cui Yan 『攸字子遠，少與袁紹及太祖善。』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Cao Cao 『頃之，冀州刺史王芬、南陽許攸、沛國週旌等連結豪傑，謀廢靈帝，立合肥侯，以告太祖，太祖拒之。芬等遂敗。』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Cao Cao 『時有夜得仲簡，將以詣麾下，公謂曰：「何為如是？」仲簡曰：「勝負自天，何用為問乎！」公意欲不殺。許攸曰：「明且鑒於鏡，此益不忘人。」乃殺之。』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Cui Yan 『攸自恃勳勞，時與太祖相戲，每在席，不自限濟，至呼太祖小字，曰：「某甲，卿不得我，不得冀州也。」太祖笑曰：「汝言是也。」然內嫌之。其後從行出鄴東門，顧謂左右曰：「此家非得我，則不得出入此門也。」人有白者，遂見收之。』