Xun Yu

Career start

Xun Yu was a second cousin of Xun Yu . His grandfather Xun Tan was the ruler of the Guanglin area.

In 189, He Jin , who led the struggle for power with the enochom Jiang Shi, called to his service more than 20 educated people from all over the country, including Xun Yu. Xun Yu was appointed minister of the yellow gate (黃門侍郎). This low-ranking post gave him, however, the opportunity to enter the palace, which helped He Jin establish control over the imperial court.

In 192, after Dong Zhuo usurped power, Xun Yu and several other officials made plans to kill him, but they were revealed. Xun Yu and several others were arrested. One of his accomplices, He Yong, killed himself in fear, while Xun Yu remained calm as before. Fortunately for him, the usurper was killed as a result of the conspiracy of Lu Bu and Wang Yun , and Xun Yu was released from prison.

He quit and returned home, but soon returned to service. He was offered the position of Chancellor (相) Renchen (任 城), in fact equal to the position of ruler of the region. He refused and instead asked for the posts of ruler of the (太守) Shu (蜀郡) province in Yizhou ( Sichuan ), as he considered this place to be safer and more prosperous. However, the roads there were cut off and, not reaching his destination, he settled in Jingzhou.

In the service of Cao Cao

When Cao Cao took control of the emperor Xian-di , Cao Cao's chief adviser and Xun Yu's relative, Xun Yu, advised that Xun Yu also be invited as an adviser. Cao Cao called him and made him ruler of Rongan Province (汝南 郡), and then imperial secretary (尚書). Cao Cao was very impressed with his abilities and also appointed him an army mentor (軍師). Since that time, Xun Yu constantly accompanied Cao Cao on military campaigns and served as an adviser to him at headquarters, while Xun Yu remained in Xuchang, where he controlled the internal affairs of Cao Cao and the emperor’s court.

In 1984. Cao Cao fought with Zhang Xiu , who was supported by Liu Biao . Xun Yu suggested that Liu Biao would not be able to supply Zhang Xu with food for a long time, and their union would soon break up, and advised Cao Cao to refrain from major operations. Cao Cao disobeyed him and attacked Zhang Xiu in Jean County, but Liu Biao came to the rescue and stopped Cao Cao. He wished he had listened to the advice. After that, Cao Cao ambushed and was able to defeat the opponents. Soon, however, Yuan Shao began to prepare an attack on his capital and Cao Cao was forced to return.

Xun Yu supported Cao Cao’s idea of ​​attacking Lu Bu when he entered into an alliance with the proclaimed emperor Yuan Shu . Although many advisers feared Zhang Xu and Liu Biao, Xun Yu believed that they had not yet recovered from their recent defeats and would not be a threat. Cao Cao launched a campaign against Lu Bu. The campaign began successfully and Lu Bu was thrown back to his capital, Xapi, but Cao Cao's army forces began to deplete, and he was thinking of retreating. Then Xun Yu and Guo Jia convinced him to continue the siege and destroy Lu Bu until he became too strong. The besiegers turned the rivers I and Sy to Syapi. The city was flooded, and they were able to capture Lu Bu in captivity. Lu Boo was executed.

Campaigns against Yuan Shao and his sons

After defeating Lu Bu Cao, Cao entered into a confrontation with Yuan Shao . In 200, General Yuan Shao- Yan Liang besieged the Baima fortress in the Dong region, which was controlled by Liu Yan. Cao Cao came to the rescue of Liu Yan. The Yuan Shao army was too large and Xun Yu advised the detachment to distract it, and at that time suddenly attack Yan Liang. The plan was completely successful and Yan Liang was killed in the Guan Yuem battle. After that, Cao Cao decided to leave the position and move west to the Yan crossing. Yuan Shao crossed the river, his vanguard attacked Cao Cao's carts and ambushed him and Xun Yu. Infantry and cavalry attacked the robbery soldiers, their commander Wen Chow was killed, and other generals fled.

Yuan Shao and Cao Cao met at the decisive battle of Guangdu , where Xun Yu was an adviser to the latter. On his advice, Cao Cao sent Xu Huang to attack the convoy supplying the army of Yuan Shao. A successful raid left Yuan Shao without a significant portion of supplies. At that time, adviser Yuan Shao - Xu Yu ran over to Cao Cao's side and spoke about the poorly guarded supply base of Wao. Cao Cao officers doubted, but Xun Yu and Jia Xu convinced him to use this opportunity. Cao Cao personally went on the attack on Uchao, and Xun Yu and Cao Hong remained to guard Cao Cao's camp. Cao Cao defeated the troops guarding Uchao and set fire to the food stores. The defense commander, Uchao Chunyu Qiong, and other officers were captured and executed. At this time, Cao Hong and Xun Yu repelled Zhang He 's attack, and when Zhang He wanted to run away, Xun Yu convinced Cao Hong to accept him. After this, Cao Cao's army went on the offensive, the front of Yuan Shao crumbled, and he himself abandoned the army and fled. Cao Cao captured many prisoners.

2 years after the failed campaign, Yuan Shao died, and his sons Yuan Shan and Yuan Tan began to fight for the inheritance. Yuan Shan defeated Yuan Tan, and Yuan Tan took refuge in Pingyuan. Yuan Tan sent Ambassador Xin Pi to Cao Cao, and Xun Yu advised Yuan Tanya to support him. Cao Cao sent an army to the possessions of Yuan Shang, and he retreated back to Yecheng , lifting the siege from Pingyuan. In the spring of 204, Yuan Shan renewed the siege of Pingyuan. Cao Cao in response laid siege to Yecheng. After 5 months, Yuan Shan came to the rescue of the city, but Cao Cao was driven back. In desperation, the officers in Yecheng rebelled against their boss Shen Pei and surrendered the city of Cao Cao. While Cao Cao besieged Yecheng, Yuan Tan instead of helping him tried to expand his territory at the expense of the possessions of Yuan Shan. After the siege of Echeng, Cao Cao attacked him and threw him from Pingyuan to Nanpi. At the beginning of 205, Cao Cao took Nanpi and executed Yuan Tanya. Yuan Shan and Yuan Xi were betrayed by their own troops and fled to Wuhan . In 207, Cao Cao opposed Wuhuan and defeated them. The Yuan brothers fled to Liaodong to Gunsun Kang, but he executed them sent their heads to Cao Cao. With this, the subordination of northern and central China was completed.

In 207, Cao Cao introduced many of his officers for the award of destinies. He also tried to increase the allotment of Xun Yu and give him permission to build a large estate, similar to the three gunas. Xun Yu sent to Cao Cao Xun Yu to clarify that Xun Yu refuses these honors. Xun Yu himself was made a Lunshu Hou , and his possessions were increased to 700 yards. He was also appointed the central central mentor of the army (中 軍師).

Further Life and Death

Subsequently, Xun Yu served as a civilian manager. In 213, Xun Yu presented a collective petition of officials, according to which Cao Cao received the title of Wei Gong . Xun Yu became the head of the secretariat (尚書 令) of the principality of Wei. As in the case with other Wei dignitaries and commanders, lavish titles and positions did not so much reflect the real hierarchy and responsibilities, but rather were a way of legitimizing the Cao Cao regime and a form of reward for merit.

Xun Yu was considered a calm person, but also very wise and receptive. If he did not support the proposal, then he fought against it until it was withdrawn. Having become one of Cao Cao’s advisers, he developed plans only with him, never discussing them openly, even with his closest relatives. Despite his high position, he was modest and led an unassuming lifestyle. As well as his relative Xun Yu - Xun Yu had a reputation as a Han loyalist.

Xun Yu died in 214 during a campaign against Sun Quan . His eldest son, Ji, was like him, but he died early. The next son, Shi, succeeded him, but he did not have sons. In the reign of Wen-di, inheritance was restored and his title was poured by his grandson Biao. Under Cao Fang, Xun Yu was given the posthumous title of Ching-hou (敬侯).

• de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A biographical dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD).
  
• Chen Shaw . Records of the Three Kingdoms .
  
• Syma Guang . Zi ji tun jian .