Xun You (157–214), courtesy name Gongda, was a native of Yingyin, Yingchuan (present-day Xuchang, Henan). Xun Yucongzi (荀彧) was a strategist under Cao Cao at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and later the first Shang Shu Ling of the Duchy of Wei (not the Shang Shu Ling of the Han Dynasty).
Cao Wei Shangshu Ling Xun You (TV stills)
Xun You was born in the Yingchuan Xun family of the Shi family, and about the Yingchuan Xun family, the author has made a little ink here. The earliest ancestors of the Xun family can be traced back to xunxi (?) of the Jin state during the Spring and Autumn period. - In 651 BC, Ji was surnamed Yuanshi (原氏), and his name was 匭,字息, hence the name Yuan 聓), and it is said that he was the first Xiangguo since the history of the Jin Dynasty. Xun Xi's eldest grandson Xun Lin's father (?) - In 593 BC, Ji surname Xun (荀氏, name Lin Father), Xun Lin's father was once the general of The Zhongxing, so he took the official as the clan, not the Zhongxing clan, and later the Zhongxing clan was destroyed by the Zhi clan (Xun Xi's younger grandson, the descendant of Xun Lin's younger brother Xun Shou, not the Zhi clan, in fact, it was the same as the Zhongxing clan), and some clans changed back to the Xun surname in order to avoid disasters. During the Warring States period, the famous thinker, philosopher, and educator, the Confucian scholar Xunzi (c. 313-238 BC, Xun surname, name, and character Qing), originally lived in the Zhao Kingdom, and was a descendant of Xun Lin's father. During the reign of Emperor He of the Eastern Han Dynasty (79-106, named Liu Zhao, fourth emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, reigned 88-106), the Xun family produced a Xun Shu (83-149, Zi Jihe, the eleventh grandson of Xunzi), known for his high moral integrity, and was the first well-known figure recorded by the Xun family in Yingchuan, as the Marquis of Langling. Xun Shu had eight sons, who were highly praised by the scholar class at that time, and were called "Eight Dragons": Xun Jian (Zi Bo Ci), the governor of Langling County; Xun Shu (Zi Zhongci, the father of Xun Yu), who was Jinan Xiang; Xun Jing (Zi Shu Ci), shi guan unknown; Xun Tao (zi Ci Guang), Shi Guan unknown; Xun Wang (zi Meng Ci), for Kunyang County Ling (Note: According to the Official System of the Han Dynasty, the first in charge of the big county was called the county commander, and the small county was called the county magistrate); Xun Shuang (zi Ci Ming), sikong (one of the three dukes); Xun Su (zi Jingci), for wuyang county ling; Xun Xu (zi youci), for Situ Tuan. Xun Shu's brother (name unknown) had two sons, Xun Yu (荀昱) and Xun Tan (荀昙), who conspired with the general Dou Wu to kill eunuchs (168) and were killed at the same time as Li Bing (169), while Xun Tan was imprisoned for life (i.e., not allowed to be an official for life).
Xun You was Xun Tan's grandson, so according to the genealogy, he counted Xun Yu's subordinate son (that is, cousin nephew); according to the patriarchal system of the Two Han Dynasties, Wei, Jin, and Northern Dynasties, the common great-grandfather was from the clan, and xun You's father was with Xun Yu's great-grandfather, so he was a brother, and Xun You was Xun Yu's subordinate. Xun You's father, Xun Yi ( 荀彝 ) , served as a governor , but died at an early age , so he lived with his grandfather Xun Tan ( who had served as the Taishou of Guangling and was imprisoned for life by Zhu Lian ) .
In the second year of Jianning (169), Xun You's grandfather Xun Tan died, and one of his subordinates, a former official named Zhang Quan, took the initiative to ask for the tomb of Xun Tan. Xun You looked at his face and said to his uncle Xun Qu, "The look on this person's face is abnormal, I guess he has done something treacherous!" Xun Qu took the opportunity to interrogate him when he slept at night, and sure enough, Zhang Quan confessed that it was because he had killed people, fled abroad, and wanted to hide himself in the name of guarding the tomb. Since then, people have treated Xun You differently.
In April of the sixth year of Zhongping (189), emperor Ling of Han died, and Emperor Shao of Han (Emperor Ling's eldest son Liu Yan) succeeded to the throne, and his uncle He Jinbingzheng recruited more than 20 famous soldiers from Hainei to become officials. Among them, Gao included Xun You, and He Jin worshiped him as the Yellow Gate Attendant. In July, Dong Zhuo entered Beijing to cause rebellion, and Xun You conspired with Zheng Tai, Changshi He, Shi Zhongzhong, And Yue Qiao to assassinate Dong Zhuo, so he was imprisoned and abandoned his official and returned home after being released from prison. Soon he was recruited by the government again, ranked first in the examination, and was promoted to rencheng minister, but did not go to the post. Xun You felt that the land in central Shu was dangerous and the people's life was solid, and asked to serve as the taishou of Shu County, but because the road was not smooth, he was temporarily stationed in Jingzhou.
In August of the first year of Jian'an (196), Cao Cao officially welcomed Emperor Xian of Han to The capital of Xu County (present-day eastern Xuchang, Henan); in November, Emperor Xian of Han made Cao Cao a sikong, a military general, and a hundred officials. Xun Yu was appointed Shangshu Ling (chief executive of the state), and from then on Xun Yu often had to stay in the rear, so he recommended Xun You and Zhong Yu as former military advisers for Cao Cao. Cao Cao then wrote to Xun You, saying: "Fang is in chaos today, and when the wise men are tired, gu guan has changed into Shu Han for a long time! "Conscripted Xun You as the Taishou of Runan, and entered the Shang Shu. Since then, Xun You has become Cao Cao's military master.
In March of the third year of Jian'an (198), Cao Cao consulted Zhang Xiu for the third time. Xun You felt that the situation was very unfavorable at that time, and advised Cao Cao: "Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao are dependent on each other, and after a long time, Liu Biao's strength will not be able to support, and he will definitely split with Zhang Xiu." I might as well slow down and wait for it to change, if I attack urgently, Liu Biao will desperately fight to save it. Cao Cao did not listen to the advice, sent troops to Zhang Xiu, Liu Biao did indeed send troops to rescue, Cao Jun lost. Cao Cao said to Xun You, "I didn't listen to Mr. Xunyou' words. So he set up a strange soldier to fight with Zhang and Liu again, and broke it.
In September of the third year of Jian'an (198), Lü Bu attacked Cao Cao's ally Liu Bei, and Cao Cao led an army to conquer Lü Bu, and Lü Bu was defeated and retreated to pi (picheng town, pizhou, Jiangsu) to hold the city. Cao Cao was anxious to capture the city, and the soldiers were very tired, so they wanted to retreat. Xun You and Guo Jia persuaded: "Lü Bu is brave and unscrupulous, and now that he has been defeated in many battles, his sharpness has been lost, and Chen Gong has the wisdom and strategy to be slow. Now that Lü Bu's morale had not yet been restored, and Chen Gong's plan had not yet been decided, he could take this opportunity to forge ahead and attack quickly, and he could break Lü Bu. Cao Cao then flooded the city with the waters of Yi and Si, attacked Xia Pi, and captured Lü Bu (in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar).
In the fifth year of Jian'an (200), Yuan Shao cao officially declared war. In February, Yuan Shao first sent the general Yan Liang to besiege Baima (白馬; present-day eastern Hua County, Henan), and in April, Cao Cao personally led his troops north to relieve the siege. Xun You believed that the enemy's strength was strong and it was not appropriate to confront him head-on, and proposed a combat strategy of attacking the west and rescuing the white horse. Cao Cao listened to his advice and led his troops to Yanjin first, disguised as crossing the river to attack Yuan Shao's rear, and Yuan Shao was indeed counted in Yanjin. Cao Cao, with Zhonglang's general Zhang Liao (張辽) and the general Guan Yu (关羽) as the forward, and the general Xu Huang (徐晃) as his successor, defeated Yuan's army, and Yan Liang himself was beheaded by Guan Yu. After the siege of Baima was lifted, Cao Cao led 600 cavalry to escort grain and grass to retreat along the river, and encountered Yuan Shao's 5,000 or 6,000 pursuing troops. When the generals saw that the enemy was outnumbered, they were all frightened and persuaded Cao Cao to retreat to the camp. Xun You, knowing the enemy's weakness, said, "This is a good time to annihilate the enemy, so why retreat?" Cao Cao and Xun You had a common heart, ordering the soldiers to unsaddle and release their horses, discard the weight, and lure Yuan Jun; when the Yuan army approached and competed for the weight, Cao Cao suddenly ordered him to get on his horse and launch a rapid attack, breaking the Yuan army and killing his general Wen Ugly.
As a result of the previous victories, this and the other, Cao Yuan and Yuan gradually became a confrontational situation in Guandu, and the two sides ran out of food. Xun Youjin said: "Yuan Shao's grain will arrive, and his grain general Han Meng is capable but light enemy, and attacking him will surely win." And recommended Xu Huang to lead the troops. So Cao Cao sent Xu Huang and Shi Zhuo to intercept him halfway, defeated Han Meng, and burned the military supplies he was escorting. Just when Xu You, a strategist of the Yuan army, came to surrender, saying that Yuan Shao had sent Chun Yu qiong to lead more than 10,000 soldiers to escort grain and grass, and the generals were arrogant and the soldiers were slack, and could intercept the attack halfway. Everyone doubted him, but only Xun You and Jia Xu persuaded Cao Cao to obey. Cao Cao then left Xun You and Cao Hong to guard the camp, and he himself led an attack to defeat the Yuan army, killing Chun Yuqiong and others. The Yuan generals Zhang Guo and Gao Lan were not taken seriously because of their plans, and they also came to the Guandu camp to surrender, but the main general Cao Hong was suspicious and did not dare to accept it. Xun You advised Cao Hong: "Zhang Guo was not adopted by Yuan Shao because of his plan, and he came to defect in anger, and there was no need to doubt it. Cao Hong accepted the surrender of Zhang and Gao.
In the eighth year of Jian'an (203), a year after Yuan Shao's death, his eldest son Yuan Tan and third son Yuan Shang (袁尚) competed for Jizhou (i.e., for the right to succeed to the throne). Yuan Tan sent Xin Bi to ask for help, and Cao Cao Xuzhi. The generals believed that Liu Biao in the south was very strong and should attack it first, and Eryuan was no longer worried. Xun You believed: "The world is in turmoil, but Liu Biao only holds the river and the Han, and obviously does not have the ambition to come to the world. The Yuan clan occupies the land of four states and has 100,000 soldiers, and if Yuan Shao's second son gets along harmoniously, it is not easy for us to seek it. Now that they have made enemies, they should hurry up and seek it, and the opportunity must not be lost. Cao Cao followed Xun You's advice, defeated Yuan Shang first, then killed Yuan Tan, and pacified Jizhou. He also performed the credit of Xun You, and Emperor Xian of Han made him the Marquis of Lingshuting.
In the twelfth year of Jian'an (207), Cao Cao ordered that meritorious deeds be rewarded, and Xun You was transferred to the Chinese Army Division for his meritorious service by adding 400 households to 1,100 households. From then on, Xun You no longer often accompanied the conquest, but stayed in the rear for Cao Cao and was responsible for punishment.
In May of the eighteenth year of Jian'an (213), Cao Cao was made the Duke of Wei, and the State of Wei was formally established, with Xun You as the first Shang Shu Ling. Note: Cao Wei almost completely modeled on the Han system to establish the Three Dukes and Six Secretaries, after the establishment of the Kingdom of Wei (Jin Wang of Wei) in April of the 21st year of Jian'an (216); when the Duchy of Wei was established, Cao Cao only established the official position of inner court (Shangshu Ling and other officials of the inner court).
In July of the nineteenth year of Jian'an (214), Xun You died at the age of fifty-eight after cao Cao's southern expedition to Sun Quan, and he was deeply remembered by Cao Cao, and Cao Cao shed tears every time he thought of him.
In November of the fifth year of the reign of Wei Zheng (244), Emperor Cao Fang of Wei issued an edict to add the title of Marquis of Jinghou and sacrifice Xun You to the Taizu Temple.
Xun You had two sons: the eldest son, Xun You, who had the demeanor of Xun You, but unfortunately died early; the second son, Xun Shi, inherited the title of heir, but Xun Shi had no children, and Xun You had no heirs. According to historical records: during the early years of Emperor Wen of Wei (220-226), Xun Biao, the grandson of Xun You, was made the Marquis of Lingshu Ting (邑三百戶), and later transferred to the Title of Marquis of Qiuyang Ting; this Xun Biao was likely to be the grandson of Xun You's successor, as a descendant.
Cao Wei Shangshu Order Xun You portrait
Xun You was known as Cao Cao's "mastermind", good at flexible and changeable tactics and military tactics, and he was highly praised by Cao Cao for his meticulous and low-key and scheming behavior. During his lifetime, he set up a total of twelve plans, and he had a good relationship with Zhong Xuan, so only Zhong Xuan knew about it; unfortunately, Zhong Xuan died before he was completely sorted out, so future generations do not know. It is said that Xun You also wrote history books during his lifetime in Shang Shutai's busy schedule, and there is a volume of Wei Guanyi, which is now extinct.
Ironically, Xun You died of indignation because of his reluctance to support Cao Cao as the Duke of Wei and the establishment of the State of Wei, but Xun You became the first Shang Shu Ling of the State of Wei (and led the signature "Persuasion into the Duke of Wei"). Shang Shutai was in a central position during the Wei and Jin dynasties of the Two Han Dynasties, controlling the administration of the world, and was a very important department of real power. Xun Yu's death without cooperation and Xun You's cooperation in the prominent position prove that the Yingchuan Xun clan has compromised on its political tendencies. As a top door valve, what can you do without cooperating with those in power in that turbulent era?